Sochi has been a big part of the news lately. The 2014 Winter Olympics are going on, and many Americans are over there cheering on their favorite athletes. However, while the fans are feeling the excitement, that may be the only good thing they're feeling. The bad things? Wires under their feet, no water, or even worse: dangerous, unfiltered water. This lack of accomodation can be overlooked, especially since we come from a country where this is unusual. If they can live with it, why can't we?
Electrical shocks and unsafe water aren't the only things to be worried about. There have been concerns about terrorists in Sochi despite the high security during the Olympics. The biggest threat right now is the Caucasus Emirate, which has suspected ties with Al Qaeda. "The human rights abuses committed by the Russians in the invasion of Chechnya were really extraordinary, and the violence has come from these grievances," says Victor Asal, a terrorist expert, about how the group came to be. The president of Chechnya claims that the leader of the Caucasus Emirate is dead, but he has said this multiple times (and has been proven wrong) so experts are not entirely convinced.
Terrorists are restrained from doing any damage at the Olympics because of the area around it known as the "ring of steel". However, "the checkpoint has to stop somewhere, and if bombers get anywhere close to a checkpoint, it could have the same political effect in the media as getting into the Olympics themselves," says Aki Peritz. Many have been advised to avoid travel in and around the area, as suicide bombers are highly likely.
This relates to my history class because we've been learning about Guy Fawkes. He was a soldier that joined a group plotting to assassinate James I of England by blowing up Parliament with barrels of gunpowder on November 5th, 1605 ("Remember, remember, the fifth of November"). When he was captured, they tortured him until he gave them his real name, since he had already admitted to plotting the assassination, but under a pseudonym. Guy Fawkes Day, or at least the Guy Fawkes mask, are well-known nowadays. Terrorism has been around for centuries, and we have not gotten a chance to forget the fifth of November.
Bibliography
Explained: How Big Is Sochi's Terrorism Problem?
By Dana Liebelson
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/02/explained-are-terrorist-about-attack-sochi-olympics
I have also heard about these awful circumstances the Olympians at Sochi have to face this year in Russia. The entire situation seems quite dire, especially the constant threat of a terrorist attack. The comparison you made between this present terrorist attack threat by Al Qaeda and Guy Fawkes Day is very strong and also very interesting to read about. I liked how you integrated a quote into your blog, which made it more professional. Your title was very creative and immediately grabbed me in since it was catchy and made me curious about what the post was about. I wish you made your introduction a little shorter and added more facts to your paragraph about Guy Fawkes Day. Other than that, I found your post well-crafted and intriguing; great job!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I noticed your title. It intrigued me and it made me want to start reading your blog post. I think your post was very interesting and it also is very important because this is going on right now! I just wish that the information on Guy Fawkes was earlier in the blog post, but aside from that I really enjoyed your post!
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