Afghan Girl

Steve McCurry has traveled to many places in the world, but mostly focusing on Asia and 3^rd world countries. He photographs all sorts of tings like animals, fires, and even death. All of his photos tell their own story. One of his photos that is most known is the Afghan girl. McCurry found her at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp in Pakistan. When he saw her he just had to take the photo. Now it is one of the most known photos in the world. 17 years after the photo was taken Sharbat Gula was finally found. Many people were looking for her, but she was never found. National Geographic went back to her camp, Nasir Bagh where she was not there. They asked many contacts if they knew this girl. The team went through villages and villages until someone recognized her. The team was taken to the girls’ brother who had the same eyes as the Afghan girl. "The second I saw the color of her brother's eyes, I knew we had the right family," (Matson) The brother showed the team where she lived but because Sharbat Gula lives a traditional Muslim life behind the veil, she was not allowed to meet men outside her family, but the Geographic team was given permission to send a female associate producer to meet Sharbat and photograph her face. To make sure this was the same girl who was photographed 17 years earlier the team obtained verification through iris-scanning technology and face-recognition techniques used by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The family gave permission for Steve McCurry to meet Sharbat Gula once again. When Sharbat agreed to have her picture taken for the second time in her life, she came out from the secrecy of her veil to tell her story. She wanted the people around the world who knew her face to know that she survived the refugee camp in Pakistan. She married and had four daughters, one of whom died in infancy. She lives in obscurity, according to the customs and traditions of her culture and religion. A member of the Pashtun ethnic group in Afghanistan, Sharbat said she fared relatively well under Taliban rule, which, she feels, provided a measure of stability after the chaos and terror of the Soviet war. She will not give another media interview and she wishes not to be contacted. Her family has relocated to a different village in a remote part of Afghanistan, where she will continue to live her life in purdah.

When I look at the photo of the Afghan girl I am astonished. This is a very beautiful girl living in a not so beautiful country. To be born with those green eyes is just luck. Her eyes are 1 in a million. This makes you think if more people around the world just like Sharbat are as beautiful as her. When you really stare into her eyes you feel scared yet happy. The eyes show terror within them but also show happiness. I think it has become one of the 100 most influential photos because it influences people to travel. It influences people to get out of their daily lives and go find someone like this, to travel and witness things that will blow your mind. It might influence people to help people in Afghanistan or just visit and help kids at refugee camps. This picture is one of the greatest photos ever taken and it will last for centuries.

Iskl's mission (void)

Part 1

The International School of Kuala Lumpur provides an exceptional (SILENCE) education that challenges each student to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful, spirited, socially responsible global citizen.

I feel that adding a silence after the word “exceptional” creates the best tension. When you add a VOID after the word, the audience might think that the school has many great programs or just one. They don't know what could be after it. People could think the school has a great sports program or academics or even activities. By adding the silence there creates a confusion in the audiences mind.

Part 2

I feel that one way composers can create great tension and then release is to have all the instruments cresendo from "pp" too "ff". Then complete silence. Rest for 2 measures and then finish with a big bang. 2 whole notes "fff" The tension is the silence

Role Model

We can make the world a better place by just doing something small. You don't have to start with the whole world, but maybe your school or your house. Matt Harding was on a backpacking trip and recorded a video of himself dancing funny. Soon the video spread and millions of people had watched it. He was offered a sponsership and people wanted to join in his dancing videos. People had smiles on their faces and were happy. They are getting connected. Just doing a silly dance is bringing people together. People who are different or who are shy. This is bringing them together like a family. They dance with him in rain, shine, or anything. They want to show there differences to the world. They want to be seen and heard and so does Matt. He loves seeing the happy and joyful faces on all the kids and adults. Matt has seen the differences and similarities every person has. He has witnessed different personalities and different cultures. He is spreading his ideas around while they then spread theres. He is now on a television commercial that has him dancing with people from different cultures. He has been a Role Model for everyone and he has taken that one step to make the world Peaceful.

I chose this photo because we all need a Role Model. Matt has been one to everyone. He has brought people together and made them happy. We can all be role models. Maybe not the President or Matt Harding, but how about the role model of your school or town.

Image by Alex Pardee

A Freind to be there :)

Today I watched the Compliment Guys and I thought of how good of an idea that was. A compliment is a simple thing to do to make someone feel better, smile, and have a good time. Many people now are gloomy and sad, but with a compliment you can change their world. I tested their theory on my Mom and it worked. I gave her compliments about her outfit and her food. She smiled back at me and said, "Thank you." Ever since then my mom has been in a much better mood. She is happier, talks more, and is excited. If everyone in the world helped one person or gave a compliment the world would become a more peaceful planet. All everyone needs is one good friend. Someone who helps them when their down or gives them a pat on the back after a bad test. If we all had 1 great friend the world might start to replace War with Peace. If instead we loved all countries and came together as one the world would live together in Peace. I think weall should compliment people, what they wear, how theyact, what they look like. We all need to make this planet better and this is how we can start.

I chose these two paintings because they show friendship and compliments. In the first one the purple monster is giving his friend a piggyback ride. We all need friends like this to make our only life as good as possible. In the second painting he is helping his buddy after an attack or something horrible. This shows how much they care for each other. This is what I need and everyone needs. Someone to be there for you.

Both images by Alex Pardee

YIN YANG

Rory, An uncommon name. It comes from Irish and means Red King. Some days I wish I were a King so I could banish anyone who called me Loly. Loly, such a girly name. I hate it! People who can’t say R’s say Loly. :) I do get called Loly and I have to put up with it. Rory is my name, and I love it because, no one has it and I hope not many more people will. It suits me. It’s different, it’s unique, and it’s me! Like magic people remember my name. Somehow it just gets stuck to people. People I don’t even know, say “Hey Rory” in the hall. My mom was going to name me Ryan. 9 months, I was “Hello Ryan, awe baby Ryan kicked.” But like magic my dad saved me. He is the superhero of my life. He thought of Rory and my mom liked it, I liked it, and my dad liked it. It was and is a perfect name. The only bad part was that I only knew Rory's that are girls. Everyone said it was a boy girl name and to not worry. Eventually I forgot this nonsense and looked at the good in my name. I found out that my name was like a Yin Yang thing like Good and Evil. Green is my last name and sounds smooth and natural and red is the meaning of Rory, which is fire and anger. The Good vs. Evil in my name makes a good balance in me. It says that I can be Good and Nice but can be Angry and Mean. Which hasn't kicked in yet! :) Rite now I'm not a king, not evil, I'm just nice Rory Green.

Choice

“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” by Don Williams, Jr. This quote inspired me from the minute I saw it. I have changed the words to create my title. This quote made me realize that any way you go there is always a different ending. Life is a journey and it always ends differently. No one can be the same as someone and no one can be the same as you. We are all different in our own special ways. We all have a purpose and we all have choices. Choices, they all end differently causing a different end. The Earth is our home and we have to make choices. These choices are very important and they hold the future ahead for us. No two directions are ever the same.