Current Events Day: Our World Today
Global History and Geography I Name: ______
E. Napp Date: ______
Languages Today
There are nearly 7,000 languages spoken in the world today, but experts say almost half are in danger of extinction. One language vanishes about every two weeks, with the death of the sole surviving speaker. According to K. David Harrison, a linguist at SwarthmoreCollege in Pennsylvania, 83 languages with “global influence” are spoken by 80 percent of the world’s people. More than half the endangered languages have no written form, says Harrison, and are “vulnerable to loss and being forgotten.”
Questions:
1-How many languages are spoken in the world today? ______
2-How many languages vanish every two weeks? ______
3-What number of languages is spoken by 80 percent of the world’s people? ______
4-Why are so few languages spoken by so many people? ______
Acceptable Fashion in Iran
The Iranian police began cracking down on immodest dress this past spring, stopping women in public places to warn them about their attire. Offenses include wearing headscarves that allow hair to show; eyeliner, nail polish, and other makeup; and short, tight coats.
Since Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979, women have been required by law to cover their hair and wear long, loose clothing. The ideal is considered to be the chador, a black head-to-toe cloak. But some women have resisted, and Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has backed campaigns to clamp down. Men are also being targeted-for wearing un-Islamic T-shirts and hairstyles. According to Ahmadinejad, “Those who have indecent appearance are sent by the enemy.”
Questions:
1-What are women not allowed to wear in Iran? ______
2-When did Iran experience an Islamic revolution? ______
3-What is considered to be ideal clothing for women? ______
4-What are men in Iran not allowed to wear? ______
5-What does Iran’s President believe about individuals wearing unacceptable clothing? ______
6-Iran is a theocracy. A theocracy is a government based on religious beliefs. Why do Americans generally oppose theocratic governments? ______
A “Genocide” Vote?
Some members of the U.S. House of Representatives wanted to put on record the genocide or the deaths of more than 1 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey) more than nine decades ago. However, the White House was worried about the impact of such a statement on its relations with Turkey. Turkey has consistently refused to accept responsibility for the killing of more than 1 million Armenians and the Turkey is an important U.S. partner in the war in Iraq.
In this case, the overriding interest appears to be keeping on good terms with Turkey, a U.S. ally that opposed the war in Iraq but that allowed the United States to use bases there as part of crucial supply lines to US troops and personnel in Iraq. The Turkish government has already been battling heavy anti-American public opinion.
So, the question remains: What is more important a statement recognizing the genocide of the Armenians or maintaining good relations with Turkey?
If you were President, what would you do?
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Political Cartoons
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The Armenian Genocide was carried out by the “Young Turk” government of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916 (with subsidiaries to 1922-23). One and a half million Armenians were killed, out of a total of two and a half million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
Most Armenians in America are children or grandchildren of the survivors, although there are still many survivors amongst us.
Armenians all over the world commemorate this great tragedy on April 24, because it was on that day in 1915 when 300 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers and professionals in Constantinople (present day Istanbul) were rounded up, deported and killed. Also on that day in Constantinople, 5,000 of the poorest Armenians were butchered in the streets and in their homes.
Analysis of Cartoon:
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What do you think is the most significant problem in the world today? Explain your answer.
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“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
~Edward Everett Hale