Dear Vietnam Veterans,
I am incredibly proud of the service you have done for our country. You went to Veitnam, some by choice, and some by draft, and fought in the most unpopulor war our country has ever been involved with. You went through long hours crouched in the jungle, intense firefights when you didn't know where the enemy was. On top of all of that, you came home to a nation that scorned you. People passing on the street blamed you for the war. They could never know that it was you who hated the war more than anyone else, because it was you who was fighting hopeless battles, and seeing your friends die next to you. And today, America has finally recognized all of the brave men who fought and died in Vietnam with a memorial in Washington D.C. Finally, America has thanked the men and women who had to fight in an unpopular war.
Wil
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Times of Change- Impact on Vietnamese
1. One impact the war had on the Native Vietnamese was that when they tried to help one side of the war, like the Vietcong, the U.S. found out and punished them. When the Vietcong found out, they thought that that person was helping the U.S. and beat them. Also, at some of the villages where Vietcong soldiers had destroyed, American commanders killed all the remaining citizens in the village. Although some soldiers tried to stop it, the devastation was inevitable.
2. Some other dangers Vietnamese citizens could have faced were U.S. bombing raids that hit inncoent villages. Also, many citizends were probably killed in friendly fire and napalm attacks that got out of control.
2. Some other dangers Vietnamese citizens could have faced were U.S. bombing raids that hit inncoent villages. Also, many citizends were probably killed in friendly fire and napalm attacks that got out of control.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
TIMES OF CHANGE- Vietnam
Jack Smith
1.
- Almost every soldier was inexperienced and had never seen combat
- Had to navigate through the thick jungle brush
- Hard to find the Vietcong with all of their tunnels and booby traps
- Every one was extremely dirty
- Always the constant fear of machine gunners
- Hard to dig foxholes because of the hard ground
- Could always be ambused by enemy troops in the dense shrubbery
- Napalm attacks common
2. Jack Smith's attutude about the war changes from a positive and laid back pont of view to a very cynical and angry point of view. At the begining of the war Jack thought that he wouldn't see any combat in Vietnam and he was just joining the army because that was what evreyone else was doing. Even the first time they went into battle he really didn't realize the seriousness of what he was doing. Then his friends started falling around him, and Jack realized just how horrible war is. He became angry at the people he was fighting and at his own leaders for making stupid decisions.
I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag
1. The song asks all of the big, strong men to help Uncle Sam in Vietnam because he is 'in a jam'. The songs asks the generals to come to Vietnam to blow up all of the communists, that this is their 'big chance'. The song tells Wall Street that now they can make a ton of money selling war supplies to the soldiers in Vietnam. Lastly, the song asks the mothers to send their boys of to Veitnam to fight.
Four Lines That Display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment:
1. "Well there ain't no time to wonder why, Whoopee! We're all gonna die."
2. "Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box."
3. "Uncle Sam needs your help again, He's gotten himself in a terrible jam."
4. "And you know that peace can only be one when we've blown 'em all to kingdom come."
Jack Smith
1.
- Almost every soldier was inexperienced and had never seen combat
- Had to navigate through the thick jungle brush
- Hard to find the Vietcong with all of their tunnels and booby traps
- Every one was extremely dirty
- Always the constant fear of machine gunners
- Hard to dig foxholes because of the hard ground
- Could always be ambused by enemy troops in the dense shrubbery
- Napalm attacks common
2. Jack Smith's attutude about the war changes from a positive and laid back pont of view to a very cynical and angry point of view. At the begining of the war Jack thought that he wouldn't see any combat in Vietnam and he was just joining the army because that was what evreyone else was doing. Even the first time they went into battle he really didn't realize the seriousness of what he was doing. Then his friends started falling around him, and Jack realized just how horrible war is. He became angry at the people he was fighting and at his own leaders for making stupid decisions.
I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag
1. The song asks all of the big, strong men to help Uncle Sam in Vietnam because he is 'in a jam'. The songs asks the generals to come to Vietnam to blow up all of the communists, that this is their 'big chance'. The song tells Wall Street that now they can make a ton of money selling war supplies to the soldiers in Vietnam. Lastly, the song asks the mothers to send their boys of to Veitnam to fight.
Four Lines That Display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment:
1. "Well there ain't no time to wonder why, Whoopee! We're all gonna die."
2. "Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box."
3. "Uncle Sam needs your help again, He's gotten himself in a terrible jam."
4. "And you know that peace can only be one when we've blown 'em all to kingdom come."
Monday, May 21, 2007
TIMES OF CHANGE- Vietnam
A Dubious Crusade
1. Dubious is an adjective used to describe an event, decision, or thing marked by doubt in quality or morale. A crusade is a military advancement to defend or advance something.
2. I think that Warren is saying that the conflict in Vietnam was a war that is still questioned today. People then and know doubt the morality of the U.S. entering the war, and if it was a smart move. It was a crusade against communism, and the U.S. was trying to stop it everywhere, even if it meant starting a war that lasted over 10 years. I think this will be a guiding question or pronciple that will lead us through our study of Vietnam because the message it sends is so important.
History
1. The overall theme of this poem is death, and the dozens of alliances and millions of killings that took place in China and Vietnam. Although the same people were being persecuted, they are still in power and won a 10+ year war aginast America and its Allies from Europe
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
1. The main thesis of this essay is that the incident, or lack thereof, that started the Vietnam war, is a very controversial event. The author also states that the conflict could have been started with a lie from Lyndon Johnson, who was the current president.
2. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a resolution proposed by Johnson to Congress to allow the U.S. to defend its interests in the Gulf of Tonkin. This act was brought up because Vietcong ships supposedly fired upon U.S. ships.
3. Some of the evidence that the author brings up is that Lyndon Johnson either magnified the firing on U.S. ships to make it seem like a terrible event that is considerd enough to declare war. The essay also states that President Johnson could have also been flat-out lying and that there was no firing upon U.S. ships. Some evidence to support that is that the U.S. ships that were supposedly attacked came out of the ordeal with no scratches.
4. This links to the first theme of a 'Dubious Crusade' because President Johnson blew up this minor event in order to get Congressional approval to defend themselves in Vietnam. This event it covered in doubt and could just be another example of the crusade against communism.
A Dubious Crusade
1. Dubious is an adjective used to describe an event, decision, or thing marked by doubt in quality or morale. A crusade is a military advancement to defend or advance something.
2. I think that Warren is saying that the conflict in Vietnam was a war that is still questioned today. People then and know doubt the morality of the U.S. entering the war, and if it was a smart move. It was a crusade against communism, and the U.S. was trying to stop it everywhere, even if it meant starting a war that lasted over 10 years. I think this will be a guiding question or pronciple that will lead us through our study of Vietnam because the message it sends is so important.
History
1. The overall theme of this poem is death, and the dozens of alliances and millions of killings that took place in China and Vietnam. Although the same people were being persecuted, they are still in power and won a 10+ year war aginast America and its Allies from Europe
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
1. The main thesis of this essay is that the incident, or lack thereof, that started the Vietnam war, is a very controversial event. The author also states that the conflict could have been started with a lie from Lyndon Johnson, who was the current president.
2. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a resolution proposed by Johnson to Congress to allow the U.S. to defend its interests in the Gulf of Tonkin. This act was brought up because Vietcong ships supposedly fired upon U.S. ships.
3. Some of the evidence that the author brings up is that Lyndon Johnson either magnified the firing on U.S. ships to make it seem like a terrible event that is considerd enough to declare war. The essay also states that President Johnson could have also been flat-out lying and that there was no firing upon U.S. ships. Some evidence to support that is that the U.S. ships that were supposedly attacked came out of the ordeal with no scratches.
4. This links to the first theme of a 'Dubious Crusade' because President Johnson blew up this minor event in order to get Congressional approval to defend themselves in Vietnam. This event it covered in doubt and could just be another example of the crusade against communism.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
10 Facts About the Korean War
The Korean War is one of the most overlooked conflicts in American history. Here are 10 facts I think eveybody should know about this war.
1. In June of 1950, North Korea, which was communist controlled and influenced by Russia, invaded South Korea, which was democratic and influenced by the U.S.
2. To help keep America's containment policy, Truman asked the UN for troop support, and 16 nations pitched in. Pacific WWII hero General Douglas MacAuthur, was appointed the commander of all the UN troops.
3. When North Korea controlled almost all of South Korea, MacAurthur pushed his troops across the 38th parallel, the former border between the Koreas.
4. As a result of UN troop movement coming closer to the Chinese border, China entered the was and attcked in waves of hundreds of thousands of people on November 25, 1950.
5. China felt threatened by the U.S. presence in North Korea, and they thought the U.S. was using the war as a chance to expand their power.
6. General asked permission from Truman to blockade Chinese ports and bomb their coastines, using as much as 50 atomic bombs! Truman refused, and fired MacAurthur.
7. The war between North and South Korea was like a war between the Soviets and America; each country was funneling money and supplies to either side of the war.
8. In July of 1951, Truman agreed to peace truce talks with Russia, and they dragged on for two years through the presidential election on 1952, when Dwight Eisenhower was elected.
9. Secretly, Eisenhower was open to using nuclear weapons against Korea, hoping for a quick end to the unpopular war.
10. On June 27, 1953, North and South Korea agreed to a cease-fire, but the boundry line was roughly drawn at the 38th parallel, so neither side gained or lost much land.
1. In June of 1950, North Korea, which was communist controlled and influenced by Russia, invaded South Korea, which was democratic and influenced by the U.S.
2. To help keep America's containment policy, Truman asked the UN for troop support, and 16 nations pitched in. Pacific WWII hero General Douglas MacAuthur, was appointed the commander of all the UN troops.
3. When North Korea controlled almost all of South Korea, MacAurthur pushed his troops across the 38th parallel, the former border between the Koreas.
4. As a result of UN troop movement coming closer to the Chinese border, China entered the was and attcked in waves of hundreds of thousands of people on November 25, 1950.
5. China felt threatened by the U.S. presence in North Korea, and they thought the U.S. was using the war as a chance to expand their power.
6. General asked permission from Truman to blockade Chinese ports and bomb their coastines, using as much as 50 atomic bombs! Truman refused, and fired MacAurthur.
7. The war between North and South Korea was like a war between the Soviets and America; each country was funneling money and supplies to either side of the war.
8. In July of 1951, Truman agreed to peace truce talks with Russia, and they dragged on for two years through the presidential election on 1952, when Dwight Eisenhower was elected.
9. Secretly, Eisenhower was open to using nuclear weapons against Korea, hoping for a quick end to the unpopular war.
10. On June 27, 1953, North and South Korea agreed to a cease-fire, but the boundry line was roughly drawn at the 38th parallel, so neither side gained or lost much land.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Civil Disobedience
I would have been able to participate in some of the civil disobedience that other kids participated in. I would have participted in sit-ins, non-violent marches, and the bus boycott, but if any protest was going to get violent, I don't know if I would want to. I don't think I would want to have attack dogs after me, and racist white protestors angry, to the point of violence. I would be willing to be arrested for the cause, but if it involved any violence, I don't think I could do it.
Monday, May 14, 2007
MLK Opion on Current Labor
I think Martin Luther King would be pretty happy with the progress that African Americans have made in the work force today. Since 13% of Americans are African American, their percentage in job participation is also low because they don't represent a large portion of the American population. I don't think King would be pleased that the hightest percentage of blacks in any job is being a barber. King wouldn't be happy that 35% of Africans Americans are working in a hair salon, while only 3.2% are CEO's, 4.7% are lawyers. and 6.1% are surgeons. It seems that as the 'prestige' of the job goes up, the percent of African Americans holding that job goes down.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
MLK Time Article
The writer feels that they owe King the greatest debt because they were freed from almost 200 years of being called hypocrites from the rest of the world, because they claim to be a free nation, but in fact they are not. America had Jim Crow laws, discrimination, segregation, and an all-around hate towards African Americans. Since Martin Luther came along, and helped integrate America, the burden is lifted off of the white population.
King was definently the right man at the right time. If you look at all of the other prominent black activists throughout U.S. history- Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, WEB Du Bois- they all made a difference in the fight for civil rights, but none of them got enough national attention to make a big enough change on the national level. You could almost compare to MLK's rise in popularity to the rise of dictators in Europe. The nation was scared because of the Cold War, angry at the government because of Vietnam, and sad because of JKF's assassination. Because all of these events were going on, the nation needed someting to look foward to, like a new hope. They used King as a distraction, and when the nation actually sat down and listened to what he had to say, they realized that he had a great cause and that they too should do something to change equality in America. So, Martin Luther King was definently the right man at the right time.
I think he would have been disturbed to hear the current use of his most quoted line: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character". If this quote was still used today just because it is a great quote, he would have been happy. But the fact is that this quote is still being used today to fight a battle againt affirmative action. I think he would be dissapointed by the use of this quote today because of the fact that it is necessary after all these years of fighting, and gaining civil rights.
King was definently the right man at the right time. If you look at all of the other prominent black activists throughout U.S. history- Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, WEB Du Bois- they all made a difference in the fight for civil rights, but none of them got enough national attention to make a big enough change on the national level. You could almost compare to MLK's rise in popularity to the rise of dictators in Europe. The nation was scared because of the Cold War, angry at the government because of Vietnam, and sad because of JKF's assassination. Because all of these events were going on, the nation needed someting to look foward to, like a new hope. They used King as a distraction, and when the nation actually sat down and listened to what he had to say, they realized that he had a great cause and that they too should do something to change equality in America. So, Martin Luther King was definently the right man at the right time.
I think he would have been disturbed to hear the current use of his most quoted line: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character". If this quote was still used today just because it is a great quote, he would have been happy. But the fact is that this quote is still being used today to fight a battle againt affirmative action. I think he would be dissapointed by the use of this quote today because of the fact that it is necessary after all these years of fighting, and gaining civil rights.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Preview- What I am Looking Foward To in Unit 8?
I am looking foward to using the computers this unit because it will be interesting and new. Now we can post our own information on wikispaces and on blogs, and have other people look at what we have to say. I am also looking foward to the information we are studying because it was such a monumental time period in the history of the U.S. The Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, and the Cold War all wrapped up in short period. These events truly changed America forever.
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