response to Schindler's List

This story begins with a sort of aristocrat-like man who seems to enjoy flaunting his wealth and using his money as leverage to befriend all of the right people in order to continue his high social status. This includes fraternizing with the Nazi party. As the conflict of the war progresses, the lack of mercy of the Nazi's is presented. It is around this time when the Jews of Krakow are ordered into ghettos that Oskar Schindler, as greedy a businessman as he is, decides to use this opportunity to begin a profiting business venture. From this moment forward, Schindler exploits cheap Jewish labor, and meanwhile, saves many from a much more brutal experience. As time moves on, Schindler begins to understand the stories behind his fellow, Jewish human beings, and feels for them more, while changing his intentions altogether. Apart from Schindler, is the oh so different Nazi Geoth, who displays an obvious, ruthless, relentless hate towards Jews. These two main characters are contrasted, Schindler showing the obvious ability to feel compassion while Geoth stubbornly lowers Jews beneath himself. By the end of the film, Schindler uses his power and manipulating skills to successfully save 1100 Jews from a certain death at Auschwitz Death Camp.

To me, power is a dangerous thing-it can be misused, overly used, and in the worst of times, not used at all. In the case of the character Geoth, power is misused to support hate and lies that produce a perfect representation of what the world continues everyday to make sure that ideals are never again misused in a similar way. On the opposite side however, Oskar Schindler comes to the realization that his power can be used in the smallest way to change the world after first using it to benefit himself and his profits. Schindler ends the movie realizing how much that not only he himself, but so many could have done to change the outcome the holocaust.

As I said before, I believe that interacting alongside a large number of distraught, tortured souls, Schindler learns to feel for his companions and be directly effected himself by their fate. Throughout his journey, he matches the horrific stories to their individual faces and truely learns the value of a life.

I most definitely believe that this film effectively told the story of this heroic man and presents a lesson of common compassion and understanding for mutual human beings by showing his journey of self discovery. I believe, that although being much less drastic, in our modern, trying times, it shows how important it is for fellow civilians to stick together and to not succumb to the temptation of conflict.

Negative Effects of Globalization and Outsourcing

Although the integration of cultures, societies, and economies can sometimes be a good thing, and although the convenience of modern day technology has made it easier to communicate and work across the entire globe, there is a negative aspect to this issue as well.
For example, in developing countries like China or India, where manufacturing and wage costs are lower, developed countries like the United States are outsourcing. Because of this, our own people are losing their jobs due to outsourcing. Also, the workforces in the outsourced areas are being mistreated in inhumane ways with little regard for the laws against prisoners and child workers. Now that a number of companies have become integrated in other countries, the pollution rate has increased. Negative aspects of certain cultures are being shared with people from other cultures such as bad eating habits from McDonald's. Lastly, there is a large increase in human trafficking.

Questions that I still have after reading this:
-What other countries are being outsourced and taken over by globalization?
-What are some more positive effects of Outsourcing?
-How are restrictions against things like child workers and prisoners being over-looked?

Globalization

Globalization is when economies and societies integrate and become widespread. This is a very controversial subject as well because in places like China and India, where about two decades ago the countries were poor, globalization has reduced the poverty rate and created a positive affect. At the same time, some believe that globalization has decreased equality between societies and posed a threat to the environment.

Questions I still have after reading this:
-What are some specific examples of globalization?
-What are the more negative details and affects of globalization?
-What specifically does globalization due that is positive outside of economies or corporations?

Outsourcing

This topic is all about how countries with developed economies are taking advantage of nations who don't. For example, the United States outsources in countries like China, India, and Mexico. This issue is a very heated one because some people believe that outsourcing decreases the number of jobs here in America while others believe that outsourcing gets rid of unwanted jobs and creates new ones. Outsourcing is a strategy used by businesses to save money on cheap labor. This usually takes place in low-cost regions where workers are given little money and treated with little respect. This may be the cause of possible backlash from these outsourced workforces. Now, in modern day society, with vast communication all over the world, jobs and work can be transferred to all corners of the globe.

These are a few questions that I still have after reading this:
-What specific companies are offshore outsourcing?
-How are outsourced workers being mistreated?
-What is "nearshore" outsorcing?