The text we are studying ends just after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. If you had an opportunity to write the final chapter of the text, how would you write the history? What events would you include and why? First of all, I would like to include 2008 as President Obama became the African American president and I believe that is something that greatly changed the nation. For the six other events, I will like to include in 2010 had the most natural disasters. 2011 the year Osama bin Laden was killed. 2012, YouTube hit Gangnam style is the first to reach one billion views, forever changing the outlook of media and proving its wide use. In 2013, Edward Snowden leaked government secrets exposing the government spying on its own citizens. The biggest scare of 2014 is the new terrorist ISIS, bringing terror to the eyes of all viewers. In 2015, 195 countries join the Paris Climate Agreement to avoid dangerous climate change. These are the events I will introduce in this paper. In 2010, that year was named “World Gone Wild”. This year, the citizens of the world faced the most, as in quantity, and one of most strongest natural disasters ever recorded in history. Many would say the events that occurred is the biggest proof that climate change exists and that humans are the cause and to blame. From earthquakes, wildfires, volcano eruptions, droughts, hurricanes, they were just all back to back. Because of this year 2010, it forced major world leaders to make big considerations. NBC news says “Earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, super typhoons, blizzards, landslides and droughts killed at least a quarter million people in 2010 — the deadliest year in more than a generation. More people were killed worldwide by natural disasters this year than have been killed in terrorism attacks in the past 40 years combined,” (Bell, 2010). In 2011, the world sought the greatest victory it ever achieved. Eliminating the leader of the most destructive and oppressive terrorist groups ever in the history of the world. Osama bin Laden was the leader of the terrorist group Al Qaeda, and his group is infamous and notorious for the 9/11 attacks and events that occurred that day. Ever since the terrorist attacks, all major countries, especially the United States of America, have been on a man hunt to find the leader of the group, Osama bin Laden. Many jokingly say Osama was the greatest champion of hide and seek, but not for long when Obama sent a secret mission to eliminate Osama when they discovered his whereabouts. Seal Team Six was responsible for the assassination. The world cheered on once Obama declared Osama dead. You could say 2012 was the year social media began to boom and become a major influence on the population. Facebook was already blowing up, Minecraft became the most successful online game, and many people found themselves on YouTube watching the world. For a record, not just including YouTube, a video hit one billion views, Gangnam Style (PSY, 2012), and this comes to show that anyone from anywhere in the world can have a big impact and influence to the online community. Many opportunists saw this and the age of social media started to reach its peak. Many become famous doing what they love generating huge followings. People born from earlier generations did not approve because they saw that people become millionaires doing little to no work. It comes to show times are changing and the way the world works has forever changed. 2013 is the year a whistleblower exposes the government, and once again the very own government losing its trust from the citizens. Edward Snowden, the famous ex-CIA agent, is the person behind exposing the secrets of the NSA. The reason why Snowden revealed these secret documents was because he believed he had a duty to the people, to protect their privacy rights that the government was infringing. Edward Snowden had to go into hiding, and the Russian government has agreed to aid Snowden sanctuary in their country. His acts have sparked controversies, some calling Snowden a traitor, and others calling him a national hero. In the documents, he exposed “Among the revelations from documents in the Snowden trove are the NSA’s bulk collection of phone and Internet metadata from U.S. users; NSA spying on the personal communications of foreign leaders, including U.S. allies; and the NSA’s ability to tap undersea fiber optic cables and siphon off data,” (NBC, 2013). Scarier as it gets, 2014 saw the rise of a new militant terrorist group named ISIS. The terrorist group claims they origin from Al Qaeda, rebranding themselves to ISIS after the fall of Osama bin Laden. Their end goal is to establish an independent Islamic state in the region of Syria to central Iraq (Thompson, Greene, Torre, 2014). ISIS is notorious for the high definition execution videos, as if you are watching a movie at the cinema. They are known to be ruthless, merciless, and ready to eliminate anyone that stands in their way. 2015 was seen as a progressive year for the world. At this precise year, one hundred and ninety-five countries entered to what is known the Paris Climate Agreement. The United Nations gives a brief summary of what the agreement contains: “The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort,” (United Nations, 2015). If you look back at the years, especially 2010, the major natural disasters at a big scale are the cause of the agreement to get in effect. It is a big victory for scientists and researchers who have been investigating the rising temperature and activity of Earth. History is important and reminds us of who we are, and what we shouldn’t be. The records of years as they pass by can be compared like a journal, but for the whole human population. As can be seen, hopefully we can learn from these events and become better and brighter.
REFERENCES United Nations. (2015). The Paris Agreement. Retrieved December 12, 2017, from http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php
Thompson, N., Greene, R.A., Torre I. (2014, September 25). ISIS: Everything you need to know about the rise of the militant group. CNN NEWS. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/09/world/isis-explained/
(2014, May 26). Who Is Edward Snowden, the Man Who Spilled the NSA’s Secrets?. NBC News. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden- interview/who-edward-snowden-man-who-spilled-nsas-secrets-n114861
Bell, J.R. (2010, December 19). 2010’s World Gone Wild: Quakes, Floods, Blizzards. NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40739667/ns/us_news- 2010_year_in_review/t/s-world-gone-wild-quakes-floods-blizzards/#.Wi-Fg9- nGUk
Reflection
How have these events shaped your perception about your surroundings and the world in which you live? What other courses have contributed to your experience in this course and the assignment? In my younger years I always thought the world was ever progressive and kept getting better and safer. But as I grew up, I started to realize people aren’t as friendly and humane as I always thought. Like I said, I was growing up, so my time for the use of social media has begun, and more than ever was I exposed to the horrors of the world. I’ve read people’s opinions and I’ve always noticed they are biased and uneducated, but that is probably my perception, as everyone’s perception of the world is different. But I am safe to say my perception is much better that most peoples because I feel like I can reason and understand both sides of conflicts. I like to believe that the majority of the people in the world are good people, but most can not do much about it. We all work, go to school, and have our own family and problems to deal with, that even thinking about helping others in more problematic situations is a bit far fetched. The only thing most of us can do is use social media as a medium for awareness. I see the world as a dump, full of ignorance and “laziness” if that makes sense. A lot as well don’t want to do anything about world problems because it’s not their problem. Many believe that changes come gradually and aren’t used to instantaneous change. But at the same time, I know there are dreamers like me. I especially look up to Elon Musk, a dreamer and doer who wants to take humanity to Mars and that excites that we are finally going to continue the Space Age and see some deep space travel. Also there are plans to clean the Pacific Ocean, founded by a teen who as well dreams and does. Production of clean energy cars, renewable energy, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Cities, and so much more is going on that it keeps my hope up for humanities future.