Thursday, May 31, 2007

Unit 8 Preview

After listening to the introduction to Unit 8, what are you looking forward to in history over the next few weeks?
I am looking forward to learning to use a computer for an entire unit. I am also looking forward to learning about more recent wars, and the impact they had.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic
5 pages - complete on Monday May 28


Stop the Sun by Gary Paulsen
7 pages - complete on Monday May 28


To Heal a Nation by Joel L. Swerdlow
12 pages - complete on Monday May 28


For your final readings of Times of Change, I would like you to set aside some time on Monday (Memorial Day) to read the choices above. Once you are done, I would like for you to post in your blog a note to the men and women on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. After what you have learned over the past few days, and what you saw when we went to D.C., what would you want to say to them?

To the people that served in the Vietnam War, i would want to say that i am proud that they served for our country. Even though they went through a lot of hard times in war, getting through that made everyone appreciate them more.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Times of Change for Wednesday

Jack Smith by Ron Steinman
9 pages - complete by Wednesday May 23

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)
-he couldn't dig a foxhole deep enough because the soil was too hard
-there were dead bodies everywhere
-was the only person still alive among the Vietnamese and Americans in that clearing
-he was so scared from combat that he always was shaking
-the grass and ground were covered with blood
-losing friends to the war

How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?
At the beginning of the war, since not much was happening he was glad to sign up for the war to "become a man". Later on in the war after fighting in combat for a few days he was angry at any human that had anything to do with this battle. Although later on he realized that there is nothing that you can do to stop war, and although it is tough you have to get through it in order to move on.


I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag by Joe McDonald
2 pages - complete by Wednesday May 23

This song by Country Joe and the Fish became one of the first protest songs of the Vietnam Era. Read the lyrics to the song, and then respond to the following:

What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
To sign up fo the war, not to go to school, but just to risk your lives and fight.
… the “generals” to do?
They want the generals to go out and kill the Vietnamese people, and that you are only honored when you are dead.
… “Wall Street” to do?
There is a lot of money that you can make, by supplying the army with weapons.
… “mothers” to do?
They want mothers to sign thier sons up for the war, and to kill your son.

Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
"Whoopee! we're all gonna die."
"So put down your books and pick up a gun, We're gonna have a whole lotta fun."
"Open up the pearly gates, Well there ain't no time to wonder why"
"Be the first oe on your block, to have your boy come home in a box."

Vietnam and the 60's

Times of Change – Vietnam and the 60s



A Dubious Crusade by James A. Warren
2 pages - complete by Tuesday May 22

Look up both words in the title of the short essay. What do they mean?

Dubious-being doubtfull of something

Crusade-a march for a purpose

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 America had a lot of confidence, but after a while was not so confidence or "doubtfull". This will relate to our study of Vietnam because it will show that the war wasn't always supposed to happen the way it did.



History by Thuong Vuong-Riddick
2 pages - complete by Tuesday May 22

What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem?
The theme of Vung- Riddick's poem are countries allying and killing eachother.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution … by Goldberg
2 pages - complete by Tuesday May 22


What is the main thesis of the essay?
The main thesis of this essay is that an American ship was attacked by a Vietnamiese ship, even though the boat was not damaged.


What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

When President Lyndon Johnson went before Contgress and seaid that he had been given congressional apporval to devend the United States.


What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
People stated that the Maddox was fired on, and damaged.


How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”?
They both talk about how the war had no reason to start, because nothing really happened that can be proved.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

10 important things about the Korean War:

1. After the civil war in China, the Nationalist governemnt fell; and America didnt wnat communism to spread.
2. The Soviet Union took over North Korea, and South Korea was taken over by American Government.
3. North Korea came into South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel (which divides north and south korea), this started the Korean War.
4. The UN and US teamed together to stop communism from spreading by giving North Korea soldiers.
5. North Korea pushed South Korea towards Pusan, but South Korea fought back by trying to push the troops from the North back.
6. China saw North Korea threating them, so they said that any further movement would lead to war.
7. General MacArthur wanted to blockade China but was denied the right by President Truman, because he feard it would make the conflict another World War.
8. Toward the end of the war Truman decided not to run for president anymore, and Eisenhower was elected.
9. Th war ended with a cease-fire in July 1953.
10. Communism stayed in Korea. And America ended up having bad relations with the Soviet Union.

Would you have been able to use civil disobedience?

I believe that I would be able to use non- violence in these cases. Two wrongs dont make a right, just because whites use violence, if we use it back we would be sinking to there level. If there is non- violence used and just protesting- then our freedom of speach is being used which cant be taken away from us.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Has MLK's dream been realized?

Over the years the income statistics of African Americans has increased. Although they are still not equal to whites. The total that Americans make (on average) each year is 45,000 dollars, although blacks (on average) make 30,000; whites (on average) make around 48,000. This inequality in income makes Martin Luther King's dream seem not to come true. He wanted everyone to be equal, as it says in the constitution, but if whites are making that much more, how are we all created equal? Whites on average make around 10,000 dollars more per year than African Americans. Martin Luther King would try to fight and make this the same, because it still shows that we live in a semi-racist society.