This I Belive (A World Without Borders)

My grandmother once told me that mankind is our true nationality. That no matter how we speak, where we live, or how we look, we are all human. I asked her, “then why do we build fences around countries to keep certain people away? If we are all humans and all the same, then why do we want to keep each other away?” My grandmother said that even though we are all the same, we are still afraid to embrace one another’s religions and cultures, afraid that if a high concentration of different people move in and practice their own traditions, our own true identities may be frogoten. Even up to this day, we are still afraid of people’s unique appearances and so we build fences to keep them away.

I thought to myself how life would be all over the world if we closed all borders. What if we let anyone from any place go anywhere, and move wherever they want? I think that would be a wonderful idea. Now that all types of humans have spread over the globe, it would be much easier for people to adapt to different lifestyles. I think this is possible because on a constant basis, I pass through neighborhoods and see children of all races playing soccer on the street, they all grew up together and got used to their differences and manage to get along, so if one neighborhood can do it, maybe the world can as well. We as the human species would be able to learn from people all over the globe about how to live a better lifestyle.

If the whole world would come together and become a single nation, the Human Nation, it would become the first step toward achieving peace. War begins with fear of the neighboring country. We have military and weapons so other countries will fear us, so united as a single nation, the need for military personnel would decrease and would make the world a much more peaceful place. For something so big like a reformation, it would take a very long time, there would be many international gatherings, debates, ect, but I know that that we as humans are capable of understanding that we may not hide ourselves behind our borders, eventually we will have to face each other and accept the fact that like my grandmother said, no matter how we speak, where we live and how we look, we are all human. Our true nationality is mankind.

R.E.M. Soundtrack

A Visit to Calliope

• I cant tell you why By Shin Kono

Pg. 67- 68 until the end of the 1^st section on pg 28. This song goes perfect in this part because this piece of music is a bit sad in the beginning but then it gets more soothing as it goes and it goes perfect with this section of the chapter because it almost seems sad that Ishmael only has a few weeks left and then the mood gets a bit happier because Ishmael will finally release the message he must send to Julie.

• August’s Rhapsody By Unknown Composer (Soundtrack)

Pg. 68 starting into the second section up until pg 75 (end of chapter)

In the second section of pg 68 Ishmael begins to talk about calliope which in the book is like another world and so in the beginning of the song, it sounds mysterious, almost as if you are exploring a place you have never been into, and as you go, the song is almost describing nature. The whole chapter describes nature and the way life works, how we see things. That’s why this soundtrack goes well with this chapter.

Calliope Part II

• Beethoven Piano Sonata in C sharp “ Moonlight” By Evelyne Dubourg

Pg 76 – 83 This song goes with this section of the chapter because Ishmael talks about what animals do for their offspring to survive like killing each other’s offspring ( white footed mouse ) and about evolution which consists of killing and fighting each other and that these strategies evolve because they “work” . In my point of view, I find this depressing because animals must kill and fight to survive, therefore a sad theme is perfect to my ear for this section of the chapter.

• Egmont Overture By Ludwig Van Beethoven

Pg. pg. 83 (where he begins to talk about calliope again) – 91 (end of chapter)

Ishmael begins to talk about survival and evolution in a more serious way. He explains how awk’s forest disappeared, so they evolved into Bawks, the Bawks had to work together to find food in their new environment, developed teamwork ect. This song goes well with this scene because it sound serious but a happy serious, almost as if things are going as planned. That’s why the song goes with this part of the chapter.

Alan’s Ishmael

• My Immortal By Evanescence

Pg 282 – 286. This song goes perfect with this chapter because this song sort of reflects “a pain that is just too real, there is just too much that cannot erase” also a part that of the song that says “you used to captivate me by your resonating light, now I’m bound by the life you left behind.” These lyrics relate to Julie because she is sort of bounded by the life Ishmael left behind for her. Julie now has a different view of the world, probably would have never seen the world she sees now if it wasn’t for Ishmael. Now she lives a life based on Ishmael’s teachings. Thtas how this song relates to this chapter.