Week 29 Homework

Please read: "The End of History" by Francis Fukuyama

Please listen to: "The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" by Henryk Gorecki

The 20th century was one of the darkest periods in human history. Henryk Gorecki, a polish composer, experienced much of the worst that the century had to offer. In 1992 a recording of his third symphony was released which became one of the most important recordings of contemporary classical music to ever be released. This term we have discussed the many wars, coups, and other tragedies that marked the last half of the 20th century. Please take this time to reflect, read through the symphony's texts, and listen.

If at all possible, please listen to this piece in one sitting (ideally in the dark, with headphones on!)

First Movement: 

My son, my chosen and beloved
Share your wounds with your mother
And because, dear son, I have always carried you in my heart,
And always served you faithfully
Speak to your mother, to make her happy,
Although you are already leaving me, my cherished hope.

Lamentation of the Holy Cross Monastery from the "Lysagóra Songs" collection. Second half of the 15th century

Second Movement:

No, Mother, do not weep,
Most chaste Queen of Heaven
Support me always.
"Zdrowas Mario." *

Prayer inscribed on wall 3 of cell no. 3 in the basement of "the Palace," the Gestapo's headquarters in Zadopane; beneath is the signature of Helena Wanda Blazusiakówna, and the words "18 years old, imprisoned since 26 September 1944."


* "Zdrowas Mario" (Ave Maria)—the opening of the Polish prayer to the Holy Mother
Third Movement:

Where has he gone
My dearest son?
Perhaps during the uprising
The cruel enemy killed him

Ah, you bad people
In the name of God, the most Holy,
Tell me, why did you kill
My son?

Never again
Will I have his support
Even if I cry
My old eyes out

Were my bitter tears
to create another River Oder
They would not restore to life
My son

He lies in his grave
and I know not where
Though I keep asking people
Everywhere

Perhaps the poor child
Lies in a rough ditch
and instead he could have been
lying in his warm bed

Oh, sing for him
God's little song-birds
Since his mother
Cannot find him

And you, God's little flowers
May you blossom all around
So that my son
May sleep happily

Folk song in the dialect of the Opole region of Poland

Week 28 Homework

Watch: "The Wall Comes Down"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpyCz3UyOJE&feature=watch-vrec

Read: "Three Days in Foros" (Optional)

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/21/three_days_in_foros

Read: "The August Coup" 

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB357/index.htm

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Please select a document (1-9) from "The August Coup" and sign up in the comments section. Two students may share a document. If you decide to share a  document, please be sure to discuss the assignment with your co-presenter before you prepare your research, as you will be presenting together.

Presentation Guidelines: 

1. Summarize the document.
2. Find one interesting quotation from the selection, share the quote, and explain it.
3. Explain the importance of your document and its relationship to the fall of communism.
4. Sum up your findings and describe what you learned from reading the document.
5. If you share a dialogue document, your quote should include portions of the dialogue read together with your partner.

Note:  Your presentation should use note cards. These will not be handed in.

Week 27 Homework

Please read: "The CIA in Somalia" 

Please read: "The US Army in Somalia"

Please watch: "Black Hawk Down" (optional) 

For the remaining classes, please submit one extended blog post, no journals.

Week 26 Homework

Please watch: "Soldiers of God"

Please listen to: "Afghan Elvis"

Please post your reading journals online, rather than the normal brief online posts.

Week 25 Homework

No journals, no posts.