The Causes:
-Evolved out of the student protest movement in the 1960s
-The youth did not like the fact that former Nazis help positions in government
-The youth had radically different views on things (such as women's rights) then their parents and older generations did
-A German student was shot after a peaceful protest was turned violent by officers
The Three Generations of Activists:
-The first generation was the Baader-Meinhof group
-Then it was German Autumn
-Then it was people who did attacks "in the name of" the RAF
The End of the RAF:
The fall of Soviet Russia ended up slowing the momentum of many left-wing extremist groups. This essentially led to the RAF ending, although some attacks were still claimed to be for the RAF.
Comparing/Contrasting with Modern Terrorists:
Similarities...
Both are highly idealistic, and want many extreme changes in the world.
Both have a high group mentality, and stick mainly with people of either the same nationality or religion.
Both freely use violence to try and get governments to give in to their demands.
Both will attack their own country.
Both did not care about the loss of civilian life.
Differences...
The RAF never ran their country, wheras people like Osama Bin-Laden and Taliban ran Afganistan as a sort of government.
The RAF was focused on attacking and threatning one country, wheras the modern terrorists attack seemingly anywhere and everywhere.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Baader-Meinhof Complex: Personal Reaction (Homework for 12/6/10)
I enjoyed this movie a lot. There was a lot of action, intruige, and political back-and-forth. Sometimes the plot was difficult to understand, but I began to make more and more sense of it as the film went on. It made me very curious to read the backstory of what caused all these events, which I'll get into once I do the other blog entry for this movie.
Sometimes the movie could be very sad; the RAF was fighting an enemy they could never hope to defeat, or even bargain with. Governments are so powerful that there is little to no chance a band of rebels (at best, terrorists, at worst) ever forcing a legitament government to give in to their demands. The film became even sadder as the terrorists resolved to more and more violent means of bargaining, such as killing innocent civilians. It was an absolutely pointless loss of life.
In one portion of the movie, a rebellious daughter takes the terrorists into her fathers home because they want to kidnap him. Things get messy, and the father ends up being shot. This destroys the daughter's mental stability completely, and tries to jump out of a fast moving car (most likely an attempt at suicide) because she has instantly gone mad. The terrorists stop her from killing herself, but seem more annoyed than anything by her. It is a very disturbing scene.
But it could be said that the entire movie is disturing. It shows what humans are capable of when they have no hope, and yet, are no longer afraid of anything. Of course, living in fear is not good, but to completely lose hope in the people around you - including the government - can lead to violence and tragedy.
Sometimes the movie could be very sad; the RAF was fighting an enemy they could never hope to defeat, or even bargain with. Governments are so powerful that there is little to no chance a band of rebels (at best, terrorists, at worst) ever forcing a legitament government to give in to their demands. The film became even sadder as the terrorists resolved to more and more violent means of bargaining, such as killing innocent civilians. It was an absolutely pointless loss of life.
In one portion of the movie, a rebellious daughter takes the terrorists into her fathers home because they want to kidnap him. Things get messy, and the father ends up being shot. This destroys the daughter's mental stability completely, and tries to jump out of a fast moving car (most likely an attempt at suicide) because she has instantly gone mad. The terrorists stop her from killing herself, but seem more annoyed than anything by her. It is a very disturbing scene.
But it could be said that the entire movie is disturing. It shows what humans are capable of when they have no hope, and yet, are no longer afraid of anything. Of course, living in fear is not good, but to completely lose hope in the people around you - including the government - can lead to violence and tragedy.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Why the EU will continue to be a pivotal organization for Germany in the 21st century (11/10/10 Project)
1. EU Free Trade Inceases Profit
Whenever Germany trades with a country in the EU, they do not have to worry about being taxed, which increases the money made.
2. EU gets Germany trading with countries they may not have traded with otherwise
Some countries may still not like Germany very much, and may not want to trade with them, but free trade encourages them to continue trading with Germany.
3. The Euro stabilizes Germany's economy
By having a currency that many countries consider to be valuable, the Euro remains stable, and therefore, stabilizes Germany's economy.
4. Promotes peace
Because Germany has historically fought wars against their neighbors, the fact that they are allied with most of them now will prevent war against them.
5. Allows Germans to easily travel from one country to another
There is no special visa needed to travel from country to country within the EU, which makes travel easy.
6. This free travel increases business
When businessmen and women can travel freely from country to country within the EU, it means meeting with people from other countries is easier, and face-to-face contact can happen more frequently.
7. When people travel out of the country, they don't have to get different currency
Because of the Euro, Germans traveling abroad within the EU can just use the same currency they were using before.
8. Keeps national pride in check
Germany can be proud of its country, but because its so reliant on other countries, it can keep their national pride in a healthy balance, because they cannot be self-sufficient.
9. Introduces Germany to more and more new ideas
With lots of people coming into their country at any given time from other countries, lots of ideas can enter into the borders from other countries freely.
10. Money coming into the country
As those many people come into the country, they bring their money, and spend it in Germany, which helps the German economy.
11. Rebuilds Germany's image
Now that Germany is a peaceful, thriving member of the EU it continues to rebuilt their image into something more positive after the World Wars.
12. Germany helps set a good example to the world by being an EU member
By being a peaceful, productive member of the EU, Germany sets a good example for the rest of the world as we continue on into the 21st century. Cooperation and commerce are what will help this world grow and thrive.
Whenever Germany trades with a country in the EU, they do not have to worry about being taxed, which increases the money made.
2. EU gets Germany trading with countries they may not have traded with otherwise
Some countries may still not like Germany very much, and may not want to trade with them, but free trade encourages them to continue trading with Germany.
3. The Euro stabilizes Germany's economy
By having a currency that many countries consider to be valuable, the Euro remains stable, and therefore, stabilizes Germany's economy.
4. Promotes peace
Because Germany has historically fought wars against their neighbors, the fact that they are allied with most of them now will prevent war against them.
5. Allows Germans to easily travel from one country to another
There is no special visa needed to travel from country to country within the EU, which makes travel easy.
6. This free travel increases business
When businessmen and women can travel freely from country to country within the EU, it means meeting with people from other countries is easier, and face-to-face contact can happen more frequently.
7. When people travel out of the country, they don't have to get different currency
Because of the Euro, Germans traveling abroad within the EU can just use the same currency they were using before.
8. Keeps national pride in check
Germany can be proud of its country, but because its so reliant on other countries, it can keep their national pride in a healthy balance, because they cannot be self-sufficient.
9. Introduces Germany to more and more new ideas
With lots of people coming into their country at any given time from other countries, lots of ideas can enter into the borders from other countries freely.
10. Money coming into the country
As those many people come into the country, they bring their money, and spend it in Germany, which helps the German economy.
11. Rebuilds Germany's image
Now that Germany is a peaceful, thriving member of the EU it continues to rebuilt their image into something more positive after the World Wars.
12. Germany helps set a good example to the world by being an EU member
By being a peaceful, productive member of the EU, Germany sets a good example for the rest of the world as we continue on into the 21st century. Cooperation and commerce are what will help this world grow and thrive.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
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