The ever uncertainty of the Corona Virus pandemic has certainly shifted the world in just about every aspect, as we know it. For my life, COVID-19 has forced me to become more in touch with technology for communication, travel less, and continue my education virtually. Not to mention, we all are urged to wear masks on our faces at all times, while out in public. After reading, “The importance of Effective Communication While Working from Home”, by Platform Magazine, “How Coronavirus Could Make People Move”, by Politico, as well as watching World Economic Forum, “Shutdown of the Border Leaves Migrants in Limbo, I have a much broader outlook on just how impactful COVID-19 has become in such a short timespan.

Communication is a major factor in one form or another, in everyone’s lives. Coronavirus has forced many of us to switch from communication in person, to communicating virtually, almost all the time. I too have been forced to communicate through zoom for college. This is extremely new to me. I am so used to being in a physical classroom and interacting face to face with my professors, as well as my classmates. This transition is extremely flexible, due to fact that you can travel and be inside a virtual class room. On the contrary, it is something I am still getting myself used to. According to Rix (platformmagazine.com), ” He and his wife had to be intentional and direct about their communication of sharing the duties of home-schooling their children while they are both working from home.” A plus side to COVID-19, is being able to unwind at home, and spend more time with family.

However, there are many downsides to the pandemic. While watching World Economic Forum, “Shutdown of the Border Leaves Migrants in Limbo, I learned that for many immigrants who hope to be granted citizenship in America, now have to wait even longer, because the border is shut down. Many families have to constantly deal with the pressures of life as a refugee, while keeping themselves and family members protected from Coronavirus. I could only imagine how impactful these types of pressures can be. I agree with a statement made during the video of the Trump administration using the pandemic as an excuse to refuse immigrants into the country. Immigrants are the foundation of America, with out them America simply would not survive.

Questions:

1. Has relationships between spouses and family members improved on a large scale, due to the impact of COVID-19?
2. Does immigration services offer outside donations to individuals living in refugee camps?

4/5

Migrating from one familiar country to another foreign country is a strenuous process, I could only imagine. Being in refugee camps has to be the next worse thing to a prison cell. There were a few moments during the podcast that stuck out to me. One moment in particular was the description of the bathroom conditions, and how most refugees catch infections from bathing in dirt infested river water. Another memorable moment was the scenes where the immigrants who sought asylum were unfortunately told they had to return back to their home countries; because they lacked enough evidence to prove how dangerous their conditions were back home. I loved how the podcast kept the voices of the immigrants in Spanish. It captured my emotions as the audience. It made me feel and understand the pain and anguish the immigrants feel on a daily basis. After listening to “Life on the Border”, it really made me appreciate the blessings I am fortunate enough to have. Two questions I have after listening to the podcast are, Have the conditions of the refugee camps improved in any way since the release of this podcast? Are there any ongoing  investigations being made by the U.S. government regarding conditions of refugees, due to this podcast?

My personal rating: 5/5

After carefully analyzing both readings from Howard Zinn and Scott Foresman, as well as the podcast by National Public Radio, I have reached a conclusion about my argument. Regardless of the years of turmoil and damage Columbus and his sailors bought to the America’s, there are sustantial benefits that came out of it. Both the Indigenous Americans and the Europeans encountered different people with cultures and beliefs opposite of their own. According to Columbus’ notes, in Howard Zinn’s book,  A People’s History of the United States,“They…brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells. They willingly traded everything they owned….They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features. . .(pg 1)”.

 

The radio segment “The Movement for Indigenous People’s Day”, sparked more of an interest for me in celebrating Columbus Day, than previously before. What sparked my interest was the interpretation of Columbus Day from a proud Italian’s point of view. For many Italians, Columbus Day reminds them of the pride and victory in “discovering” the “New World”. It’s a piece of history that is widely recognized and venerated by people all across America. Two questions I walked away with after the readings and radio segment are, does the good outweighed the bad in terms of conquering land and its people? Also, is conquering land and its people necessarily for further development?

Self grade 4/5