When Qabbani expressed his ideas with some men most of them replied things such as it is from God, and that he cannot do anything about it, and why does one get married, etc. I am starting to think that they are using religion as an excuse. They believe everything they do is what God wants them to do.

Until what point should religion be an excuse?

We’ll have to wait to see what happens.

Authors and influential figures before the 20^th century had varying views of progress in relation to modernity.  Progress in history made some intellectuals perceive a better future, while others observed some injustices that affected the working class and women. Scientists and other significant figures created new ideals that would cause modernity. Newton and his new mathematical model of the universe or the fact that Locke believed everyone was born with natural laws no one could violate are just a couple of examples.

The world’s progress before and during the 20^th century caused that various prominent figures perceived a better future. Jean Antonie Nicholas was optimistic about progress; he believed progress only lead people towards perfection. “Will not every nation one day arrive at the state of civilization attained by those people who are most enlightened, most free, most exempt from prejudices, as the French” (Condorcet).  Authors fromThe Economist stated that we can’t always be thinking about the past golden ages we have to find our golden age in our future. To look at the past, won’t create a better future  “We look upon the Past with respect and affection as a series of steppingstones, to that high and advanced position which we actually hold and from the Future we hope for the realisation of those dreams, almost of perfectibility, which a comparison of the Past with the Present entitles us to indulge in” (The Economist). The start of public education and the fact that citizens had more personal freedom are only a couple of examples that demonstrate that people can expect a better future, if the world keeps progressing. Some writers expressed their optimistic perspective on their work like Walt Whitman “I see freedom, completely arm’d and victorious and very haughty, with Law on one side and Peace on the other…I see the frontiers and boundaries of the old aristocracies broken/ I see the landmarks of European kings removed, I see this day the People beginning their landmarks”  (Whitman).

A consequence of these progressive steps is the drastic social alterations; a middle class was created, called bourgeoisie. But also, as the industry expanded in Europe, a big part of the population joined the industrial working class. But as the ideas of classical liberalism spread around Europe, giving more freedom to citizens, the working class had the poorest conditions ever seen. Sometimes the intellectual individuals don’t realize the injustices that lower class citizens have to go through, but at the time, between the 19^th and 20^th century, various writers expressed their ideals with their work. Friedrich Engels believed Modernity caused inequalities. He thought maybe some were favored by this evolution but unfortunately many weren’t. ““…the class struggle between proletariat and bourgeoisie came to the front in the history of the most advanced countries in Europe.”(Engels) Also, the fact that the machinery used for daily work became more advanced caused that a large number of  agricultural workers that had to find a new job in the city. Olive Schreiner, just as Engels, believed that a high percent of the society was disadvantaged to this progression. This progression, called urbanization affected millions of European citizens when the Industrial Revolution began. “Scientifically constructed machinery are taking the place of the simple manipulation of the human hand- there has arisen, all the world over, a large body of males who find that their ancient fields of labour have slipped or are slipping from them, and who discover that the modern world has no place or need for them.” (Schreiner)

When women started to work the population was divided in two. Some believed it was a big step for women’s rights, which it was, but many others thought that it was an injustice that the society expected women to both work twelve hours a day and also take care of the family. A Declaration of Beliefs by the New Youth states “We regard the respect for women’s rights and personal dignity as a necessary ingredient in social progress. We also hope that women should be thoroughly aware that they, too, have responsibilities towards the society in which they live.” Schneider thought that women never had the opportunity to decide whether or not they could manage to combine their work with their family, it was an obligation for them to both work and be a good mother, “In our woman’s field of labour, matters have tended to shape themselves wholly otherwise! The changes which have taken place during the last centuries, and which we sum up under the compendious term “modern civilization,” have tended to rob woman, not merely in part but almost wholly, of the more valuable of her ancient domain of productive and social labour.” (Schreiner)

Progress in history has created our present. Some believed the step towards this progress was optimism and others thought that only a small percentage of the population was well benefited by this optimism. We can’t deny that Modernity was a big step towards progress but as everything in life, many had to suffer the consequences.  

The world’s progress before and during the 20^th century, caused that various prominent figures perceived a better future. Jean Antonie Nicholas believed that progress is completely optimistic and it leads people towards perfection or The Economist stated that we can’t always be thinking about the past golden ages we have to find our golden age in our future: “We look upon the Past with respect and affection as a series of steppingstones, to that high and advanced position which we actually hold and from the Future we hope for the realisation of those dreams, almost of perfectibility, which a comparison of the Past with the Present entitles us to indulge in.” (The Economist) the start of public education and the fact that citizens had more personal freedom are only a couple of examples that demonstrate that people can expect a better future, if the world keeps progressing. Some writers expressed their optimistic perspective on their work like Walt Whitman: “I see freedom, completely arm’d and victorious and very haughty, with Law on one side and Peace on the other…I see the frontiers and boundaries of the old aristocracies broken/ I see the landmarks of European kings removed, I see this day the People beginning their landmarks.”  (Whitman) A consequence of these progressive steps is the drastic social alterations; a middle class was created, called bourgeoisie. But also, as the industry expanded in Europe, a big part of the population joined the industrial working class.

As the ideas of classical liberalism spread around Europe, giving more freedom to citizens, the working class had the poorest conditions ever seen. Sometimes the intellectual individuals don’t realize the injustices that lower class citizens have to go through, but at the time, between the 19^th and 20^th century, various writers expressed their ideals with their work. Friedrich Engels believed Modernity caused inequalities. He thought maybe some were favored by this evolution but unfortunately many weren’t. ““…the class struggle between proletariat and bourgeoisie came to the front in the history of the most advanced countries in Europe, in proportion to the development, upon the one hand, of modern history, upon the other, of the newly-acquired political supremacy of the bourgeoisie.”(Engels) Also, the fact that the machinery used for daily work became more advanced caused that a large number of workers, especially agricultures, had to find a new job in the city. This progression, called urbanization affected millions of European citizens when the Industrial Revolution began. “Scientifically constructed machinery are taking the place of the simple manipulation of the human hand- there has arisen, all the world over, a large body of males who find that their ancient fields of labour have slipped or are slipping from them, and who discover that the modern world has no place or need for them.” (Schreiner)

When women started to work the population was divided in two. Some believed it was a big step for women’s rights, which it was, but many others thought that it was an injustice that the society expected women to both work twelve hours a day and also take care of the family. A Declaration of Beliefs by the New Youth states “We regard the respect for women’s rights and personal dignity as a necessary ingredient in social progress. We also hope that women should be thoroughly aware that they, too, have responsibilities towards the society in which they live.” Schneider thought that women never had the opportunity to decide whether or not they could manage to combine their work with their family, it was an obligation for them to both work and be a good mother. “In our woman’s field of labour, matters have tended to shape themselves wholly otherwise! The changes which have taken place during the last centuries, and which we sum up under the compendious term “modern civilization,” have tended to rob woman, not merely in part but almost wholly, of the more valuable of her ancient domain of productive and social labour.” (Schreiner)

In every story there are always two sides of it and this one couldn’t be less. Progress in history has crated our present. Some believed the step towards this progress was optimism and others thought that only a small percentage of the population was well benefited by this optimism. We can’t deny that Modernity was a big step towards progress but as everything in life, many had to suffer the consequences.   

The world’s progress before and during the 20^th century, caused that various prominent figures perceived a better future. Jean Antonie Nicholas believed that progress is completely optimistic and it leads people towards perfection or The Economist stated that we can’t always be thinking about the past golden ages we have to find our golden age in our future: “We look upon the Past with respect and affection as a series of steppingstones, to that high and advanced position which we actually hold and from the Future we hope for the realisation of those dreams, almost of perfectibility, which a comparison of the Past with the Present entitles us to indulge in.” (The Economist) the start of public education and the fact that citizens had more personal freedom are only a couple of examples that demonstrate that people can expect a better future, if the world keeps progressing. Some writers expressed their optimistic perspective on their work like Walt Whitman: “I see freedom, completely arm’d and victorious and very haughty, with Law on one side and Peace on the other…I see the frontiers and boundaries of the old aristocracies broken/ I see the landmarks of European kings removed, I see this day the People beginning their landmarks.”  (Whitman) A consequence of these progressive steps is the drastic social alterations; a middle class was created, called bourgeoisie. But also, as the industry expanded in Europe, a big part of the population joined the industrial working class.

As the ideas of classical liberalism spread around Europe, giving more freedom to citizens, the working class had the poorest conditions ever seen. Sometimes the intellectual individuals don’t realize the injustices that lower class citizens have to go through, but at the time, between the 19^th and 20^th century, various writers expressed their ideals with their work. Friedrich Engels believed Modernity caused inequalities. He thought maybe some were favored by this evolution but unfortunately many weren’t. ““…the class struggle between proletariat and bourgeoisie came to the front in the history of the most advanced countries in Europe, in proportion to the development, upon the one hand, of modern history, upon the other, of the newly-acquired political supremacy of the bourgeoisie.”(Engels) Also, the fact that the machinery used for daily work became more advanced caused that a large number of workers, especially agricultures, had to find a new job in the city. This progression, called urbanization affected millions of European citizens when the Industrial Revolution began. “Scientifically constructed machinery are taking the place of the simple manipulation of the human hand- there has arisen, all the world over, a large body of males who find that their ancient fields of labour have slipped or are slipping from them, and who discover that the modern world has no place or need for them.” (Schreiner)

When women started to work the population was divided in two. Some believed it was a big step for women’s rights, which it was, but many others thought that it was an injustice that the society expected women to both work twelve hours a day and also take care of the family. A Declaration of Beliefs by the New Youth states “We regard the respect for women’s rights and personal dignity as a necessary ingredient in social progress. We also hope that women should be thoroughly aware that they, too, have responsibilities towards the society in which they live.” Schneider thought that women never had the opportunity to decide whether or not they could manage to combine their work with their family, it was an obligation for them to both work and be a good mother. “In our woman’s field of labour, matters have tended to shape themselves wholly otherwise! The changes which have taken place during the last centuries, and which we sum up under the compendious term “modern civilization,” have tended to rob woman, not merely in part but almost wholly, of the more valuable of her ancient domain of productive and social labour.” (Schreiner)

In every story there are always two sides of it and this one couldn’t be less. Progress in history has crated our present. Some believed the step towards this progress was optimism and others thought that only a small percentage of the population was well benefited by this optimism. We can’t deny that Modernity was a big step towards progress but as everything in life, many had to suffer the consequences.   

While preparing for Model United Nations, you realize how every country has its own perspective of world news. When you are first told that you have to support your countries believes it makes no sense. What if what they beleve is wrong, what if I don’t support that idea; well that what Model United Nations is all about, becoming part of the country you represent. Preparing for this assembly means spending hours trying to realize what the country you represent really wants, because if they don’t know for sure how am I suppose to figure out what they want from the rest of the world. After spending two months reading Palestinian or Iranian newspapers, translated in English of course, you end up thinking everything they say is true or that they have the right to defend what they believe in. For example, maybe Iran doesn’t have any nuclear weapons and it is true that they are enriching uranium for civilian purposes. That is called excuses, not only from Iran, but for the rest of the world. They think that by accusing others of not respecting the law, makes them, at least for a while, better than the rest.

I hated politics and I still do. I believe that everything it is, is blaming others for what goes wrong in your country, specially now with the economic crisis around the world. Although I can’t stand listening to politics I can’t stop myself from reading the newspaper every morning to know what happens aroud the world. Thank you Mr. Rug.