Reflective Questions- April 7

1. Prime Rate- The prime rate is a term applied in many countries to a reference interest rate used by banks. The term originally indicated the rate of interest at which banks lent to favored customers, though this is no longer always the case. Some variable interest rates may be expressed as a percentage above or below prime rate. This applies to me because if I ever want to take out a loan from a bank, I will need to know what the prime rate is.

2. Tibet- Tibet is a country in Asia that is currently ruled by the Chinese. They have long desired to become an independent nation, and there has been widespread riots and protests in recent months due to the alleged human rights violations by the Chinese. Many pro-Tibet protestors are calling for a boycott of the Summer Olympics that will be held this summer in China.

3. Colombia Trade Agreement- The Columbia Trade agreement was an agreement put forth by president Bush in order to help bolster American jobs and contribute to security in the region. Colombian imports already enter our nation tariff free, but U.S. exports to Colombia face major tariffs. The agreement would simply level the playing field for U.S. producers by opening the Colombian market to our goods and services. The Agreement was recently killed by the Democratic controlled Congress. I think this is an important agreement, because in recent years Americans have been losing jobs to outsourcing.

4. Iraqi military, militia, U.S. military -- who's who in the Green Zone?
The Iraqi military is, obviously, the military of Iraq and our allies that we are helping to secure the country and fight the insurgents. The militia I believe is referring to the insurgents, the anti-American forces that are keeping the country in turmoil. The Green Zone refers to a four square mile area in Central Baghdad where the International Forces are all located. This has relevance to me because with the upcoming elections, I am concerned with what will happen in Iraq in the coming year. I feel that we cannot simply leave and not finish what we started, if so we would leave the country in turmoil.

5. Benedict XVI- born Joseph Alois Ratzinger in 1927, he is the 265th and reigning Pope, Bishop of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church. He succeeded Pope John Paul II. This is not entirely relevant to me as I am not Catholic, but I do think it is interesting how he is the 265th person to hold the title, and how storied a tradition it is.