#8: AIC Reflection

In the AIC Simulation I played the part of Amr Moussa, and represented Egypt. 
The Comments my NSA made about my progress in the AIC Simulation included as follows:

Amr Moussa,  It seems like you have gotten very involved and started to really enjoy working with the simulation. Your communication with all of the different teams played a powerful role in how your team was able to leverage its position. Thank you for all of your hard work and I wish you the best as you continue with your next steps.

I found our NSA  helpful in our simulation, however halfway through the simulation he fell ill. Unfortunately he forgot to let us know so we had no idea why he wasn't submitting or even commenting on our action forum's, weekly reports, or press releases. When he finally replied to our inquiring emails the simulation was nearly over. However I did enjoy participating in the simulation. I especially enjoyed interacting with players from the other team, and commenting on the different issues which presented themselves throughout the  simulation.
In the AIC Simulation, Egypt quickly made strides to achieve our Goals, the greatest of which was to achieve Palestinian Statehood. However as the simulation went on Israel and the US made it clear that they did not agree with our goal. Although we were strongly supported by Russia, Iran, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, all of whom were our closest allies.  

The one complaint I have regarding the AIC was the emailing system, as I had some difficulties with sending messages, as it kept sending blank messages, which I found very frustrating. However apart from this, I found the entire simulation very interesting and hope to one day take part in another simulation.    

#7: Sir Edmund Burke Quote

"All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." - Sir Edmund Burke, 1769.

If our world was split into 'good and evil', I fear that the evil would almost definitively outweigh the good. I feel the reason for this is because people are always so concerned with rooting out the evil that 'good' no longer plays an important role in their line of thinking.
There is never one clear-cut solution to any problem which is why many people simply choose the easiest route. This quote highlights one of the ideals that our society lives by, "that it is easier to do nothing than something, even if that something could potentially lead to a positive future".
The most obvious example for this is global warming. People are happy to continue their lives with the knowledge that they will never have to live to deal with the consequences of Global Warming - so why bother making a change? It is much easier to simply ignore the news, and the campaigns raising awareness for global warming and simply continue to drive to work in their SUV's, and rely on future generations to deal with the problem.
This quote outlines the reality that doing nothing about a pressing issue will only worsen the outcome. For all it takes for evil to truly 'take root' is for good, responsible people to do nothing. 

#6: To Act or not to Act

I believe that there are opportunities that present themselves to us every day, whether we choose to act on these opportunities defines who we are as human beings.

Whether its standing up in front of your school to do a presentation on poverty in Africa, or saying hi to the new kid on his first day. Actions speak louder than words and its our actions which truly show the world who we strive to be.

However taking action is not always the easiest thing to do, especially when it seems like everyone else is content with either ignoring or being unaware of the problem at hand. Just because its a popular decision, doesn't mean its the right decision. 

An example I would like to use for this is  the London riots, last summer in the UK. These riots were headed by a group of anarchists who used the accidental shooting of a petty criminal by police as an excuse to riot against authority, particularly local businesses and the police. As it was the summer holidays, school children participated, as well as the unemployed and some professional workers workers who joined for the 'fun' of it. None of these people had taken the time to consider the consequences of their action, for example Chelsea Ives. Chelsea Ives was a promising athlete and singer, and was chosen to promote the London 2012 Olympic Games. However on August 7th she was caught by a CCTV Camera trashing a police car and looting a cellphone shop with fellow teenagers. If Chelsea had thought before she acted, or even taken into consideration the consequences of her actions she would still be competing in the Olympic games, instead she is facing possible jail time. Chelsea chose to follow what her friends were doing, she chose to follow the crowd, because it was the easier thing to do. 

Although this example is not a positive one it really highlights the importance of "thinking before you act". There are so many ways to make a positive difference in this world, the only hard part is knowing when to act.  

#5: Historical Quote

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
-Michael Althsuler

This quote is signficant to me because it highlights the importance of making good use of the time given to you. Not everyone is given the chance to pursue their ambitions or to fulfill their dreams.

Lately we have been talking alot about social rights activists, and their struggles to make their voices heard. An example that really struck out to me was Wangari Maathai. Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan woman who decided to make a difference, even though she was threatened, beaten and abandoned by her husband becasue of her beliefs, she continued to fight for what she believed in. Which is why in 2005 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts towards woman's rights in Kenya.

It is people like Wangari Maathai, who make every moment count. They take control of their future, and work to make their opinion count, it does not matter how insignificant you may think you are, because if you believe enough in a cause and work hard enough to make a difference, you will be noticed and your opinion will be listened to.