David Sanger on Modern Global Politics

The final event I attended was David Sanger’s presentation on modern global politics. Sanger lectured about opinions, which were seemingly presented as facts, on the world and its problems and solutions. Sanger began as a journalist for the New York Times before he was named a Washington correspondent for the same publication. He covered global issues and governmental concerns directly from Washington, D.C. and around the world.
First, Sanger discussed America as the “world’s policemen.” He explained that he was with president Bush when the second plane hit the twin towers, and that we have maintained this role ever since. Then the Iraq War blossomed from this, which presented many problems for the United States regarding power. This, Sanger pointed out, would be the dilemma in deciding what to do today, regarding ISIS.
Sanger said that over fourteen years, America has come nowhere close to ending extreme Jihadism. He pointed out that sometimes, Americans want to be isolationists, and sometimes they do not. This is a fundamental problem in solving ISIS: we do not want to fight them, but we cannot ignore the present and ongoing tragedies. These conflicts lead to yet another concern of whether we would end up creating more terrorists if we fight ISIS. The concerns are endless.
In addition to ISIS, Americans face other problems. One problem is the post-Cold War threats of Vladimir Putin that remain adamant, although Russia would supposedly be an ally if we fight ISIS. Next, there is the threat of ISIS. Last but not least, cyber attacks remain the most threatening to America’s safety. There are many benefits to the cyber world, but many problems. Foreign hackers are considered to be the biggest threat to America, according to the head of the CIA and the National Threat Assessment. The lecture presented a scary picture of what America faces currently.
Finally, Sanger presented solutions. He discussed drone strikes, using Special Forces, and using a cyber attack against Iran. He proposed that there are easy steps we can follow to eliminate several threats to America and our homeland security, and ended the presentation on a positive note. The talk was informative, entertaining, and extremely interesting, especially for those interested in politics.

Sherlock Holmes

An event I have attended at Stockton was the Sherlock Holmes live play. I purchased a ticket for this event, at a discounted student rate. It was not a Stockton group performing the play, but a professional acting company performing their work for us, and for the general public who purchased tickets.

The play began with a violin solo, which was interesting and beautiful. It was well played. Upon closer inspection, one could see that Sherlock was, in fact, played by a woman. This was extremely interesting, and she played the role incredibly. There was not an obvious difference in the ways the character behaved because she was female, which was great.

The first act featured a girl who was suspicious of a governess position that had been offered to her. Good thing, because the family was hiding something: their  daughter. The mystery was solved by Holmes, of course, and the governess left her position. In the second act, a man complained to Holmes that his wife was sneaking out late at night. At first, they presumed she was cheating. However, with more investigation, they discovered that she had a daughter she was hiding because she was half black, and did not think her new lover would accept her child. The story was well acted, and everyone in the cast did a great job.

Although I had to leave early and missed the third act, Sherlock Holmes was a great performance and experience. The actors, especially Sherlock, were talented and performed to the best of their ability, showing their passion for their work. The stories were well thought-out, and intrigued the audience appropriately. Sherlock Holmes was an awesome event to attend at Stockon, and I would definitely keep my eyes open for more opportunities to come.

S.O.A.R.

As a move-in event for new freshmen, Stockton University held a three-day, two-night camping event entitled “S.O.A.R.” It involved sorting students into tribes randomly, and several activities to build teamwork, leadership skills, and friendships. When we first arrived at Stockton, we moved in early and were sorted into our colored tribes. We then played icebreakers, met the people in our tribes, and said goodbye to our parents. After this, we loaded the buses.

Upon our arrival, we were given an overview of what we would be doing. We played more icebreakers, had some free time, and ate dinner. Then, we each went to our cabins. Some of us had air conditioning, beds, and indoor showers. Others, myself included, had cots and no electricity. No matter which environment one was in, friendships were still made.

Over the course of the next two days, I made a lot of friends, ate a lot of food, and developed a nearly permanent coating of dirt and dust that I’m pretty sure I am still scrubbing off in the shower. The T.A.L.O.N.S. made everyone laugh and bond, and kept us organized. They are a very talented, pleasant group of people. I faced some fears at S.O.A.R., including walking across a log suspended in the air with nothing but a rope holding me on. I was exposed to a rustic way of life, living simply with no luxuries, but it was still a learning experience. The camp leaders and T.A.L.O.N.S. made everything interesting, and continue to make a lasting impression even so long after the event. I am still friends with the people I met on S.O.A.R. and will continue to be throughout my college experience. When S.O.A.R. was over, each of us had friends to start the school year with and talk to as college began. S.O.A.R. empowers people to make friends, take risks, and be confident going into college. This trip is a great experience for incoming freshmen and will continue to make lasting impacts throughout Stockton’s years.