A little civil disobedience

Happy Monday (of a four day week)! So technically, today is like a Tuesday.

Today you started your group Decolonization poster assignment.  Hopefully you used class time wisely and assigned tasks and started planning out your actual poster.  Your poster needs to be completed in its entirety by the start of class on Wednesday. However, if you're productive, you could very well finish by the end of class tomorrow.  Be sure to follow the instructions provided (an electronic copy is on the website for your reference) and make sure all information relates to decolonization.

Our hope is that you'll be able to understand the following things:

• Decolonization occurred gradually and in some cases took several decades to achieve
• Independence movements could've been non-violent (through the use of civil disobedience, think Gandhi and Mandela, or violent (think Ho Chi Minh).  However, several regions saw violence as an effect of independence, such as partition of India and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict (which we'll study in greater detail in a few weeks)
• Decolonization was led by professional and Western-educated leaders (ex. Saddam Hussein, Nelson Mandela, Ho Chi Minh, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Mohandas Gandhi)
• With a few exceptions (such as Vietnam), nations undergoing decolonization tended to abstain from Cold War struggles, and were thus referred to as non-aligned states.  

The ideas of many of these leaders since influence us greatly today.  Here are a few resonating quotes from them: 

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mohandas Gandhi (one of my favorite quotes)

"The person who talks most of his own virtue is often the least virtuous." - J. Nehru

Fun fact: Nehru is the namesake of a fashion trend that developed in the 1960's, worn famously by members of the Beatles, the Monkees, and even the Ken doll. 

The Nehru jacket...available at Sears...when they used to have clothes

This month's S.U.P.E.R. is not tucked far away south of 635, but closer to home! Coffee House Cafe is amazing.  They have traditional brunch items (pancakes, eggs, etc.), and I had the good fortune of going to town on some chipotle migas, a pancake, and turkey bacon (DON'T JUDGE).  Mmmm. 

Some Internet funnies if you're finished with your timelines:

- Warrior Princess Siddiqui