CIA GERMANY'S ECONOMY

Germany has one of the largest and most powerful national governments in Europe. It has a highly skilled labor force and can represented by a few of their well-known German based companies such a Volkswagen, Adidas, Audi, Porsche, Nivea, Mercedes Benz and BMW. Germany is recognized for having many companies leading in the global market. However, the average national unemployment rate is currently at 6.7%. Regardless, of the fact that German is a “leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemicals and household equipment”, Germany continues to face significant economic hardships because of demographic challenges, low fertility rates and declined immigration. In 2011, Germany's economy as measured by GDP produced $3.085 trillion. This makes it the sixth largest economy, after the European Union, the U.S., China, Japan, and India. Germany benefited from its membership in the EU, and its adoption of the euro. Many say Germany profited the most from its membership.

Siddhartha

THE PASSAGE I AM BLOGGING ABOUT: "A goal stood before Siddhartha, a single goal: to become empty, empty of thirst, empty of wishing, empty of dreams, empty of joy and sorrow. Dead to himself, not to be a self any more, to find tranquility with an emptied heard, to be open to miracles in unselfish thoughts, that was his goal. Once all of my self was overcome and had died, once every desire and every urge was silent in the heart, then the ultimate part of me had to awake, the innermost of my being, which is no longer my self, the great secret."

MEANING OF PASSAGE: From the beginning of the story Siddhartha was longing for something. Even with all the wisdom his father and the other Brahman priest poured into him, Siddhartha was not happy or satisfied. He somehow believed at that point in the story that in order to truly find himself he had to empty himself of needs, desires, joy and sorrow. He had to detach himself from the world to find his true nature. But I do not think that was a good way for Siddhartha to truly find himself. In order for him to live in the world he must not detach himself for all his emotions.How can he find himself if he chooses to detach from the feelings in his world.

WHY YOU CHOSE THIS PASSAGE: I chose this passage because Siddhartha clearly states his goal in the reading. He clearly lets the reader know he wants nothing else but to not want anymore. He wants to leave worldly desires behind. He believes in order to find the tranquility he is longing for  he has to disconnect himself from everything.

NIETZSCHE QUOTE

The vain.-- We are like shop windows in which we are continually arranging, concealing or illuminating the supposed qualities other ascribe to us - in order to deceiveourselves.

from Nietzsche's Daybreak, s. 385, R.J. Hollingdale

 

In the above quote, I believe Nietzsche is trying to say that human beings are continuous living their according to what others are saying about them. Because all aspects of society give us a label and believe we have no choice but to conform to it. The things that people say affect the way we function in our society. We are to concerned about the thoughts of others. Human beings put themselves on display and then allow ourselves to be open up to judgement and critique, but instead of ignoring judgement and accepting who we really are, we arrange, conceal so others will approve our persona.

 

How it applies today: On a personal level, I am 5'3 and I weigh 200lbs. I gained alot of weight after after my pregnancy. People comment all the time saying I am very beautiful, attractive young lady. I tend to get alot favors and my personality allows me to move freely around others. But my opinion about my self is I am self conscious about my weight and I'm not comfortable about my self image. I feel my beauty only comes from when I high light my outward appearance.