The impact of the war on native Vietnamese civilians is that both sides tried to kill them. Whether they were alive or not, in good health or bad, both sides would blow up villages. The murders were also premeditated, which made the thought of such things happening even uglier. Maybe another way that the war could have affected the native Vietnamese is that they would have to choose between a Communist government or a corrupted government. The choice might've been been hard, because the Communists would probably track down the non supporters, and I don't think anyone wants to live under a corrupted government.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Times of Change - Jack Smith and I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag
Jack Smith:
1.
I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag: 1. The song is asking the strong men to get a gun and fight in Vietnam.
2. The generals need to move fast and go out and kill all the opposing soldiers.
3. Wall Street is making a lot of money off of the war because they keep on supplying the Army with weapons.
4. Mothers are sending their sons off to war.
5. "Whoopee! we're all gonna die."
"What are we fighting for? Don't ask me, I don't give a damn"
"And you know that peace can only be won when we've blown 'em all to kingdom come."
"Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box"
"Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb, they drop it on the Viet Cong"
1.
- Loss of friends
- Death
- Wounds
- Ambushes
- Avoiding bullets
I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag: 1. The song is asking the strong men to get a gun and fight in Vietnam.
2. The generals need to move fast and go out and kill all the opposing soldiers.
3. Wall Street is making a lot of money off of the war because they keep on supplying the Army with weapons.
4. Mothers are sending their sons off to war.
5. "Whoopee! we're all gonna die."
"What are we fighting for? Don't ask me, I don't give a damn"
"And you know that peace can only be won when we've blown 'em all to kingdom come."
"Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box"
"Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb, they drop it on the Viet Cong"
Monday, May 21, 2007
Times of Change: A Dubious Crusade, History, and The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
A Dubious Crusade - 1. Dubious is an adjective. It means fraught with uncertainty or doubt; undecided. Crusade is a noun. It means 1. A holy war undertaken with papal sanction. 2. A vigorous concerted movement for a cause or against abuse.
2. Warren is saying that the US was not sure of its path no longer, and they weren't sure whether they had "answers to all the important questions". I think this will relate to the rest of our studies of Vietnam because we might start talking about the domestic issues of America, and how it affected how they were doing in Vietnam.
History - The overall theme of Riddick's poem is death, because the poem shows how all these nations kept on trying to rule Vietnam, and there was almost always a battle or a war going on.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution - 1. The main thesis of the essay is that the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution could have been based on a lie by President Lyndon Johnson.
2. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was made to 'defend United States interests in the area [Gulf of Tonkin]'. A US Navy destroyer (Maddox) was attacked in the summer of 1964 by the North Vietnamese PT boats. That was pretty much the reason of the president asking approval from Congress, which he got.
3. The author's evidence for his thesis was that William Fulbright thought that Congress had 'been steamrollered into supporting the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution', which would lead to the Vietnam War.
4. It links to the first reading because America found out that the President had lied, and they weren't so sure about what was really going on at the moment, and what would happen. The war still went on, but in America, there was tension between the public and the government because of President Lyndon Johnson.
2. Warren is saying that the US was not sure of its path no longer, and they weren't sure whether they had "answers to all the important questions". I think this will relate to the rest of our studies of Vietnam because we might start talking about the domestic issues of America, and how it affected how they were doing in Vietnam.
History - The overall theme of Riddick's poem is death, because the poem shows how all these nations kept on trying to rule Vietnam, and there was almost always a battle or a war going on.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution - 1. The main thesis of the essay is that the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution could have been based on a lie by President Lyndon Johnson.
2. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was made to 'defend United States interests in the area [Gulf of Tonkin]'. A US Navy destroyer (Maddox) was attacked in the summer of 1964 by the North Vietnamese PT boats. That was pretty much the reason of the president asking approval from Congress, which he got.
3. The author's evidence for his thesis was that William Fulbright thought that Congress had 'been steamrollered into supporting the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution', which would lead to the Vietnam War.
4. It links to the first reading because America found out that the President had lied, and they weren't so sure about what was really going on at the moment, and what would happen. The war still went on, but in America, there was tension between the public and the government because of President Lyndon Johnson.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
10 Things Everyone Should Know about the Korean War
1. Everyone should know the prewar boundary was already at the 38th parallel, and that after the war was over, in 1953, the border was still in the same area, even after drastic changes throughout the war.
2. Everyone should know that General MacArthur wanted to wage war on China by dropping 50 atomic bombs over it. Thankfully, Truman said no, and relieved MacArthur of his position.
3. General Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for presidential office and won by a landside because he said he would 'seek a speedy end to the conflict [Korean War]'. Because of him, a cease-fire ended the fighting in July 1953.
4. The US did not pay much attention to China before 1950; they instead had their eyes on Europe. But when China was subjected to communism, the US got frustrated. They began defending South Korea for fear of them turning communist, too.
5. After WWII, the Soviet Union agreed with the US to divide Korea on the 38th parallel. But in 1950, Joseph Stalin wanted to expand communism. South Korean army didn't fight back much when North Korea invaded. But the US understood that the real threat was of the Soviet invasion of western europe.
6. There were still two more years of fighting in South Korea, even after the war ended. US troops also kept on occupying South Korea.
7. On July 1915, Truman began having truce talks with the Soviet Union, having them carry on for two years, continuing even through the 1952 presidential campaign.
8. The United States asked the UN to help stop the Communist move into South Korea. 16 nations provided soldiers, but the US ended up doing most of the fighting.
9. Politicians took advantage of how Americans were feeling frustrated from the indecisive war, such as Joseph McCarthy.
10. MacArthur followed through with a dangerous plan by landing his troops at the Inchon. Inchon was a port city behind the North Korean lines. It worked.
2. Everyone should know that General MacArthur wanted to wage war on China by dropping 50 atomic bombs over it. Thankfully, Truman said no, and relieved MacArthur of his position.
3. General Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for presidential office and won by a landside because he said he would 'seek a speedy end to the conflict [Korean War]'. Because of him, a cease-fire ended the fighting in July 1953.
4. The US did not pay much attention to China before 1950; they instead had their eyes on Europe. But when China was subjected to communism, the US got frustrated. They began defending South Korea for fear of them turning communist, too.
5. After WWII, the Soviet Union agreed with the US to divide Korea on the 38th parallel. But in 1950, Joseph Stalin wanted to expand communism. South Korean army didn't fight back much when North Korea invaded. But the US understood that the real threat was of the Soviet invasion of western europe.
6. There were still two more years of fighting in South Korea, even after the war ended. US troops also kept on occupying South Korea.
7. On July 1915, Truman began having truce talks with the Soviet Union, having them carry on for two years, continuing even through the 1952 presidential campaign.
8. The United States asked the UN to help stop the Communist move into South Korea. 16 nations provided soldiers, but the US ended up doing most of the fighting.
9. Politicians took advantage of how Americans were feeling frustrated from the indecisive war, such as Joseph McCarthy.
10. MacArthur followed through with a dangerous plan by landing his troops at the Inchon. Inchon was a port city behind the North Korean lines. It worked.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Has MLK's "dream" been realized? - Education
African Americans, along with other minority groups, have been making progress in school enrollments. In 1980, there were 8,251 blacks enrolled from ages 3-34. Compare that to 2003, which was when 10,971 blacks were enrolled. Hispanic numbers have also gone up, from a meager 4,263 in 1980, jumping up to a large sum of 11,679 in 2003. Apparently, the message is spreading that there are different ways to make it 'big' in society, not only in major league sports.
But even when you take those numbers and compare it to white enrollment, it's depressing. In 1980, there were 47,673 whites enrolled! And then the number gets larger, with a whopping 55,218 in 2003. Compare that to African Americans' 10,971, or Hispanics' 11,679. Even with those numbers combined, there's still a difference of 32,568. Obviously, we still have a lot of work to make education equal.
We could start by improving text books at schools, and hiring better teachers. There could also be commercials on TV saying how you should go to college, you'll live a better life, etc. Schools could also do drives to help inner-city public schools and try to help fund them. There's a lot that can be done, and all we need are people to help.
But even when you take those numbers and compare it to white enrollment, it's depressing. In 1980, there were 47,673 whites enrolled! And then the number gets larger, with a whopping 55,218 in 2003. Compare that to African Americans' 10,971, or Hispanics' 11,679. Even with those numbers combined, there's still a difference of 32,568. Obviously, we still have a lot of work to make education equal.
We could start by improving text books at schools, and hiring better teachers. There could also be commercials on TV saying how you should go to college, you'll live a better life, etc. Schools could also do drives to help inner-city public schools and try to help fund them. There's a lot that can be done, and all we need are people to help.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Martin Luther King Jr Q's
Why does the author feel that whites owe King the greatest debt? - The author feels that white owe King the greatest debt because King liberated them from the heavy load of America's centuries-old hypocrisy over race. It's only because of King and his movement that the U.S. can claim to be the leader of the "free world" without attracting smirks of disdain and disbelief.
Was King "the right man at the right time"? - Yes, King was the "right man at the right time" because before him, a black woman, such as Rosa Parks, could be thrown in jail just because she wouldn't give up her seat for a white man. Even though there were two centuries worth of conflict from many valorous men and women, King was its apex.
Would King be upset with the current use of his most often quoted line? Why or why not? - Yes, King would be upset because, in recent years, the quote has been used in ways he would never stand behind. It has become the slogan for challengers of positive action, such as California's Ward Connerly, who insists that if King lived he would have been marching with him. Such people have taken out his radicalism and sense of urgency.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Civil Disobediance
Civil Disobediance: Not following the rules because you think they are unfair, but also accepting the consequences.
Ghandi was civily disobediant to get independance for India.
I would have been able to use civil disobedience and non-violence because it is a peaceful way to protest against something unjust. Although the consequences could be great, you have to fight for what you think is right. It's not fair for one group of people to get all the priviledges and "good stuff" and have another group of people be the social minority, getting facilities in such bad conditions that they are unsanitary or are not useable.
Ghandi was civily disobediant to get independance for India.
I would have been able to use civil disobedience and non-violence because it is a peaceful way to protest against something unjust. Although the consequences could be great, you have to fight for what you think is right. It's not fair for one group of people to get all the priviledges and "good stuff" and have another group of people be the social minority, getting facilities in such bad conditions that they are unsanitary or are not useable.
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