Dear Vietnam War Veterans,
Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice, giving your lives up, for our country. Although you and most of the public disagreed with the US's involvement in the war, you still dutifully fought for our country. Today you have a hard time justifying this involvement, as well as seeing your brothers fall beside you on the battlefield. These injustices can never be corrected, or justified in your mind, and I thank you for bearing these burdens for our country.
Sincerely,
Dror
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Times of Change - Farmer Nguyen, Massacre at My Lai, A Nun at Ninh Hoa
What do these two poems and the article say about the impact of the war on the native Vietnamese? Can you think of any other ways in which the war will impact the native Vietnamese?
Many innocent villagers were accused of supplying or informing the Vietcong. They were captured and beaten. Other civilians were simply murdered for no reason, such as the Massacre at My Lai. The war also drove some nuns to burn themselves alive in prayer.
Many innocent villagers were accused of supplying or informing the Vietcong. They were captured and beaten. Other civilians were simply murdered for no reason, such as the Massacre at My Lai. The war also drove some nuns to burn themselves alive in prayer.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Times of Change - I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag
What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
To "put down your books and pick up a gun." In other words, to join the army.
… the “generals” to do?
To go out there and kill the communists.
… “Wall Street” to do?
To make money by supplying the army.
… “mothers” to do?
To send their boys to Vietnam.
Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
2. "Whoopee! We're all gonna die."
3. "We're gonna have a whole lotta fun."
4. "Be the first one on the block to have your boy come home in a box."
Times of Change - Jack Smith
What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)
Originally he thought that war wasn't that serious. He had a romantic notion about serving in the army. After the war, he knew that war was about fighting to protect your friends. He knew that deaths of his friends cannot be justified in any way, which is why it is hard Vietnam Veterans today.
- Making base camp and clearing space in jungle.
- Everyone was inexperienced in battle.
- Noise of bombs and artillery all around you.
- Seeing your friends get killed.
- Getting ambushed.
- Knowing that it is the luck of the draw whether you live or die.
Originally he thought that war wasn't that serious. He had a romantic notion about serving in the army. After the war, he knew that war was about fighting to protect your friends. He knew that deaths of his friends cannot be justified in any way, which is why it is hard Vietnam Veterans today.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Times of Change - The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
What is the main thesis of the essay?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was based on a lie.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was the congressional approval for President Johnson to defend the United States' interests in the Gulf of Tonkin area.
What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
There was no evidence that the Maddox had been shot on. It was not damaged after the incident. Also, many say that Johnson invented the whole thing in order to get Congress to support fighting in Vietnam.
How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?
It is another way in which the decision to enter the war was "dubious" or doubtful for the United States.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was based on a lie.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was the congressional approval for President Johnson to defend the United States' interests in the Gulf of Tonkin area.
What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
There was no evidence that the Maddox had been shot on. It was not damaged after the incident. Also, many say that Johnson invented the whole thing in order to get Congress to support fighting in Vietnam.
How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?
It is another way in which the decision to enter the war was "dubious" or doubtful for the United States.
Times of Change - History
What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem?
The theme of this essay is death in Vietnam and that Vietnam has always been occupied by other countries such as China, the US, France, and the USSR who claim to be helping them create democracies.
The theme of this essay is death in Vietnam and that Vietnam has always been occupied by other countries such as China, the US, France, and the USSR who claim to be helping them create democracies.
Times of Change - A Dubious Crusade
1. Look up both words in the title of the short essay. What do they mean?
Dubious: (Adjective) - doubtful
Crusade: (Noun) - Any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.
2. Relate the title to the reading. What is Warren saying? How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam?
Warren is saying that the US entering the war (crusading) is doubtful (dubious) because the American Public did not support these actions. Due to this, the American Public no longer trusted its government. I think that our study of Vietnam will deal a lot with whether the US should or shouldn't have taken certain steps in the war.
Dubious: (Adjective) - doubtful
Crusade: (Noun) - Any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.
2. Relate the title to the reading. What is Warren saying? How do you think this will relate to the rest of our study if Vietnam?
Warren is saying that the US entering the war (crusading) is doubtful (dubious) because the American Public did not support these actions. Due to this, the American Public no longer trusted its government. I think that our study of Vietnam will deal a lot with whether the US should or shouldn't have taken certain steps in the war.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
10 Things About the Korean War
1. In 1945, communist Soviet troops occupied Korea north of the 38th parallel, while democratic American forces had control south of this line.
2. In June of 1950, North Korean forces crossed the parallel and invaded South Korea. The ensuing conflict was known as the Korean War.
3. President Truman viewed this invasion as a test of the US's foreign policy. US troops as well as troops from other UN nations were sent into Korea under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.
4. Early on, North Korean troops gained ground and pushed South Koreans almost to the Southern most tip of the Peninsula. However, General MacArthur decided to land troops at Inchon, which was a port city behind North Korean lines. Trapped between the two forces, North Korea was forced to retreat across the parallel. General macArthur pursued the North Koreans all the way to the Yalu River, when China warned them to stop.
5. Seeing the UN advancement as a threat, China entered the war on November 25, 1950. They drove the UN back until in 1951, the two sides were in a stalemate at the 38th parallel.
6. General MacArthur wanted to blockade China's coastline and bomb China, but President Truman vetoed the idea. He feared that this action would lead to the Soviets entering the war.
7. The war became unpopular as it dragged on, until in July of 1951, President Truman started talking about a truce. However these talks lasted for two years and into the next presidency.
8. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected in a landslide victory. He speedily compromised a truce with North Korea and China.
9. The war was considered a success for the UN because they had succeeded in containing communism.
10. However, many Americans were frustrated by the indecisive war.
2. In June of 1950, North Korean forces crossed the parallel and invaded South Korea. The ensuing conflict was known as the Korean War.
3. President Truman viewed this invasion as a test of the US's foreign policy. US troops as well as troops from other UN nations were sent into Korea under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.
4. Early on, North Korean troops gained ground and pushed South Koreans almost to the Southern most tip of the Peninsula. However, General MacArthur decided to land troops at Inchon, which was a port city behind North Korean lines. Trapped between the two forces, North Korea was forced to retreat across the parallel. General macArthur pursued the North Koreans all the way to the Yalu River, when China warned them to stop.
5. Seeing the UN advancement as a threat, China entered the war on November 25, 1950. They drove the UN back until in 1951, the two sides were in a stalemate at the 38th parallel.
6. General MacArthur wanted to blockade China's coastline and bomb China, but President Truman vetoed the idea. He feared that this action would lead to the Soviets entering the war.
7. The war became unpopular as it dragged on, until in July of 1951, President Truman started talking about a truce. However these talks lasted for two years and into the next presidency.
8. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected in a landslide victory. He speedily compromised a truce with North Korea and China.
9. The war was considered a success for the UN because they had succeeded in containing communism.
10. However, many Americans were frustrated by the indecisive war.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Has MLK's Dream Been Realized? - Education
Minority groups such as African Americans have taken great steps in some areas of education such as the overall enrollment rate from ages 3-34. Whites, blacks, and hispanics all have similar numbers in this area. All three races have about a 50% overall enrollment rate, and numbers in specific age groups are also relatively similar.
Some areas in which the race gap is large include college graduates. Statistics show that although the overall graduation rate has greatly improved since 1960, blacks and hispanics still only graduate at about half the rate of whites. Another area in which there is this gap is earnings. On average, men make about 40% more than women. Also, blacks and hispanics with the same degrees as whites make significantly less money. Statistics also show that hispanic children ages 3-5 develop significantly slower than their white and black counterparts.
I suggest that programs be instituted to encourage minority children to attend and work harder at school. Everything starts in the childhood, and if a child develops a work ethic in school early, it will carry with him as he grows. Also, minority people looking for jobs could and should compare their salaries with whites of the same qualifications and experience. They should ask their employers to look at these gaps, and determine why they are there.
Some areas in which the race gap is large include college graduates. Statistics show that although the overall graduation rate has greatly improved since 1960, blacks and hispanics still only graduate at about half the rate of whites. Another area in which there is this gap is earnings. On average, men make about 40% more than women. Also, blacks and hispanics with the same degrees as whites make significantly less money. Statistics also show that hispanic children ages 3-5 develop significantly slower than their white and black counterparts.
I suggest that programs be instituted to encourage minority children to attend and work harder at school. Everything starts in the childhood, and if a child develops a work ethic in school early, it will carry with him as he grows. Also, minority people looking for jobs could and should compare their salaries with whites of the same qualifications and experience. They should ask their employers to look at these gaps, and determine why they are there.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Time 100- Martin Luther King Jr.
Q: Why does the author feel that whites owe King the greatest debt?
A: Although King freed blacks from segregation, he changed white's century old hypocrisy about race. It is because of him that America can call itself today the leader of the free world. Had he failed, America's status among other nations would be vastly different.
Q: Was King "the right man at the right time"?
A: King was "the right man at the right time" because the Civil Rights Movement as we know it could not be imagined without him at the lead. His victory was so complete that even though many people of the time are still living today, segregation seems to be ancient history. He was a preacher, which gave him a base within the church. He was also a man of extraordinary courage, and his belief in non-violent protests never faltered despite the hundreds of death threats he faced.
Q: Would King be upset with the current use of his most often quoted line? Why or why not?
A: King would be upset because it has been put to uses that he would never endorse. It has become the slogan for opponents of Affirmative Action. Many people who use this phrase today use it with a highly selective interpretation of his speech as a whole.
A: Although King freed blacks from segregation, he changed white's century old hypocrisy about race. It is because of him that America can call itself today the leader of the free world. Had he failed, America's status among other nations would be vastly different.
Q: Was King "the right man at the right time"?
A: King was "the right man at the right time" because the Civil Rights Movement as we know it could not be imagined without him at the lead. His victory was so complete that even though many people of the time are still living today, segregation seems to be ancient history. He was a preacher, which gave him a base within the church. He was also a man of extraordinary courage, and his belief in non-violent protests never faltered despite the hundreds of death threats he faced.
Q: Would King be upset with the current use of his most often quoted line? Why or why not?
A: King would be upset because it has been put to uses that he would never endorse. It has become the slogan for opponents of Affirmative Action. Many people who use this phrase today use it with a highly selective interpretation of his speech as a whole.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Would you have been able to use civil disobedience and non-violence?
I'm not sure that I would be able to use civil disobedience because of the enormous amount of discipline needed to take punishment without retaliation. To see the people protesting beaten, mutilated, and sometimes killed would be very hard. To not retaliate violently to the unjust actions taken against protestors who are not acting violently themselves in the first place would be very difficult. For a child to leave school to march in protest takes an enormous amount of bravery. Protestors were even braver in that they knew that their life could be threatened while they were protesting.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Unit 8 Preview
Over the next couple of weeks, I am looking forward to working with the computers and creating an online TOC, Title Page, etc. I am also looking forward to learning about Vietnam, the Korean War, and the Cold War because these are topics that I do not know much about.
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