More Power to Him!

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

As many are well aware, Wikileaks has caused great controversy concerning top secret information about governments around the world. Some would say that the release of such information could cause great damage to people around the globe, and could very well cause a war. Some would say that this activity encourages the theft of government records. Some would say, “He can’t do that!” , but Julian Assange has done just that. He has shocked reporters, citizens, and governments by releasing the truth to the people of the world. And honestly, more power to him!

He has risked lots and has had the courage to do what few others would be willing to do. Just the fact that Assange and his team were able to get this confidential information is commendable. Many countries would love to see Julian behind bars so he won’t deteriorate their public image. These countries that are now embarrassed by their tarnished reputations, courtesy of Wikileaks, are trying to use every trick in the book to stop Assange and Wikileaks. Though, the question is what can governments do to stop Wikileaks? The Answer: Nothing (at least not in the United States). As Americans, we are guaranteed our First Amendment Rights, which include Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press. As long as these rights are granted to us, Wikileaks will continue. Wikileaks is prepared to fully defend themselves if needed. If Assange or Wikileaks were ever to be harmed, Wikileaks would release the “Insurance File”, a large file about the Afghan War Logs, which would be dispersed to everyone. Strangely, Wikileaks was founded in 2006, and yet, has not gained the kind of attention that it has up until the last few weeks. Citizens need to know what goes on in their government, no matter how ugly the truth may be. One incident that is particularly bruising to the United States’ world appearance is the video footage of members of the US military killing Afghani civilians and journalists. This video is quite different from the United States’ view of helping the Afghanis to get back on their feet and protecting the US from further terrorist attacks. Well, from the Afghani viewpoint, it might look like the other way around. Wikileaks has also gained many awards applauding its efforts. Russia even wants Julian Assange to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. These “leaks” have changed the way residents view their countries and show how much citizens should trust their governments.

Though, the original Wikileaks website has been shut down, many mirror websites exist in order to continue Wikileaks’ mission. The Wikileaks Facebook page has over 1,300,000 fans and gaining. People are definitely showing their support with donations and rallies. Some U.S. Congressmen are publicly supporting Wikileaks. Assange was notified of the great support for his release from his London jail from his visiting mother. I personally wish for Julian to be acquitted of his sexual offense charges and for the continuation of the fight for the truth from governments.

Image Source: http://www.australia.to/2010/images/stories/1c/Wikileaks_Founder.jpg

What Do You Know About...?

    You won't get any information out if your treat a captured enemy nicely. It always helps if the detainees are more cooperative, though unfortunately, this is rarely the case. In order to get the vital information needed to protect your country, some extreme measures may need to be taken. Waterboarding, messing up a prisoner's meal times, and making the detainee think he is lying all work to affect the mind in order to make that person more vulnerable and more likely to open up to questioning. Some physical treatment, like having the male prisoner strapped to a chair naked with a hole in the seat of a chair being whipped when not answering a question (see Casino Royale for more details), that would cause excruciating pain would be quite effective. The short-term effects of these treatments would be, pain, redness, swelling, being unsure of basic facts, thinking that one is drowning, and not knowing what time it is. The long-term repercussions of such punishment would be anxiety disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), possible complications with the male reproductive system, depression, certain phobias, and other psychological damage.

US and Germany Wordles

         The US really didn't want to get involved in World War I, but after the sinking of the Lusitania by Germany, the US got dragged into the war. Words like "peace", "rights", "people", and "lives" show that the US was interested in neutrality and wanted the Europeans to fight their own war. The size of the words "government" and "German" show who the US blames for their involvement in the war and how this action will affect the way  America's government is run. The US felt like they had to do something after American lives were lost during the sinking. Germany looked like they were itching to go to war by words such as, "United States", "England", "allies", "policy", and "President Wilson". These words are completely directed toward the United States and Great Britain, no other countries in Europe. "Unrestricted" and "submarine" show by what means Germany took in fighting American and British ships. The Germans seemed quite eager and prepared to fight a world war by the choice of words used in the Germany wordle.

Video Game War vs. Real-life War

      Only the people who fought in war themselves will be able to speak of the danger, horror, and tragedy that occurred on the battlefield. The belief that some see war as a video game in real-life is saddening. There is no restart button on an actual war and no amount of playing “Call of Duty” can prepare a person for what is to be experienced on the battlefield, both physically and mentally. Violent video games, such as “Call of Duty”, shouldn’t be allowed to exist because they greatly diminish the effects and horrors of war.

            The scars a soldier receives from war not only marks him physically, but mentally as well. Studies show that more and more soldiers are returning home with mental traumas from what they have seen while at war. Watching a dear friend get blown up by a bomb during duty would cause anyone to be deeply hurt by what they saw. A gamer will never be able to experience that kind by sitting in front of a T.V. screen. If the soldier you are playing dies in battle, “restart” is a simple option, not the case in real-life. A game doesn’t prepare anyone or real combat or for witnessing horrific deaths on a daily basis. War video games sold on the market today are fairly tame compared to what actually happens in the field. Movies like “Saving Private Ryan” show a more realistic version of how gruesome war can be. A medic trying to clamp down a soldier’s artery while the enemy is shooting at them is something not many gamers have ever dealt with before.

            There are probably some people who have enlisted in the military thinking that they’ll be Rambo on the battlefield shooting everyone in their way or that they know how shoot and fight a war since they’re seasoned “Call of Duty” players. Once someone is finished playing the video game, there are no feelings of pain, lose, or guilt. The person can take a break from the world of “play-war” and know that he or she can sleep soundly at night since there is no war on their own street. Imagine being told to shoot the enemy, even when “the enemy is someone’s husband or dad. The guilt can be difficult for someone to live with if not fully prepared for this, and even being mentally prepared is sometimes not enough. Even so-called “tough guys” may not completely understand what they got into until it really hits them while in war.

            Video games, like “Call of Duty”, greatly diminish the effects and horrors of war. A gory video game cannot begin to compare with the physical and mental traumas that occur on the battlefield. Many soldiers return home from war unable to walk ever again or with so much mental shock that they can’t function properly in civilian life. It’s unfortunate that violent video games are used for entertainment and, in a way, mock what real soldiers have to put their lives up for.


Image Source: http://www.blockaderunnerantiques.com/images/60728-004-bcf9187d.jpg

Heartbreaking Letters

         Going to war is difficult for anyone, but leaving loved ones behind can bring a whole other dimension of pain to departing soldiers. During World War I, the only form of communication between soldiers and their families was the letter. Unfortunately, there were many obstacles in transporting letters from the battlefields to the United States and back. Letters could have been lost in the mail or burned by fire in a battle before they could arrive in the States. It would also be difficult to get letters from family to the soldiers since soldiers needed to move to where the fighting was. Soldiers might have written letters and mailed them to their wives and girlfriends in the U.S. and by the time the family members received them, the soldiers were already killed in battle. Family would think that their husband or brother was alive when he wasn't. The passing of a loved one affects a family emotionally, mentally, and financially. The children that grow up without a father, the traumatizing effect of watching a friend die to a bullet or a bomb, and the family that can no longer afford their home since the father won't be coming home all feel the effects of war.

The First World War's Impact

        Up to that point in time,  the world had never experienced a war with such intensity as it had with World War I. A main reason that there was such a high causality rate was because no country was prepared to fight a war of this magnitude. The weapons and strategies used in WWI were not of the highest technological caliber compared to those of WWII. Most of the combat fighting took place in trenches, which didn't give the soldiers much protection. The strength of bombs weren't as great or as effective as in WWII. The artillery that the soldiers used had bayonets attached to the front of them, which would mean that the soldiers would have to get really close to the enemy in order to use the bayonet. Since no one was prepared for the devastating effects of the war, the deaths and injuries of loved ones may have come as a surprise to family members who expected to see their soldiers return home from war. Fewer men returned home from war, which effected family life and the workforce. During the 1910s, it was the man's job to work outside of the home and support the family. With fewer men returning from war to go back to work, more jobs needed to be filled. Though no one knew what the effect of a world war would be, WWI served as the only primer the world could have had prior to WWII.

Death is near, very near.

6/23/1910

Dear Journal,

      Today has been a very tough day at work. Three men died from a dynamite explosion and twenty others have malaria. My boss said, "only three, that's good for one day." Everyone is getting sicker with each passing day that we're here. I feel really lucky to still have my health while my friends are in bed with yellow fever. I'm only here because the Americans pay better than the people in Antigua. It's very dangerous to build this canal and death is all around us. The workers are tired of physical labor and we all need a break. I can't wait until we're finished here. I really want to sit in my hammock on the beach and just relax. Sharks aren't nearly as scary as what I have to deal with here. At least I can tell my kids that I helped with and survived the building of the canal. 

Twitter for the Queen

BigQueeny- I went to the Legislature's closing ceremony today and now I'm going to the 'Iolani Palace to speak about the new constitution I wrote. Hopefully everything goes as planned!
2:23 P.M. 1/14/92

BigQueeny- There are a lot of people at the palace today showing their support for me. It's getting close to the time when I need to discuss my plans for the new constitution with the Cabinet.
3:54 P.M. 1/14/92

BigQueeny- I had a big argument with my Cabinet. They wouldn't sign the treaty and they said I should wait until later to implement it. The Cabinet said that it could be used against me. I'm really upset about this, but I'll live.
5:22 P.M. 1/14/92

BigQueeny- I was informed of the Committee of Safety's plans to overthrow me. I want to avoid any and all deaths from occurring during this crisis.
10:36 A.M. 1/15/92

BigQueeny- My "loyal" Hawaiians showed up to give my support, but when Lorrin Thurston asked to the crowd to give power to the Committee of Safety, they all cheered! I couldn't believe my own people would do this to me!
7:43 P.M. 1/16/92

BigQueeny- I gave up the throne today. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I wrote to the U.S. president, asking for help so I can reclaim the throne.
8:30 P.M. 1/17/92

BigQueeny- I spent my niece, Princess Ka`iulani, to Washington to ask for help from the United States government to help me regain the throne. I know she will do her best to get the President's help.
9:15 P.M. 1/17/92

http://www.hawaii-nation.org/soa.html

Queen Marie Antoinette's Imperialistic France

The common tale of the “the little people” being controlled by the powerful people is timeless. So timeless, that in fact many modern movies have used this same underlying theme. While most would think that these types of movies would generally be war movies, some historical fiction chick-flicks have even adapted the historical topic of imperialism into the stories of today. Just as the United States presented itself to the world as a super power, gaining new territories right and left, the characters in imperialistic-type movies take control of other weaker characters. In the film Marie Antoinette, Marie Antoinette, of the royal Austrian family, marries Louis XVI of France and becomes part of the reason for the French Revolution.

            Marie Antoinette is forced to marry Louis XVI when she is fourteen years old due to her mother’s desire to strengthen ties with France. She doesn’t really want to be with Louis in the first place. It was expected that a royal couple would bare an heir to the throne, though Louis and Marie haven’t done so. Tensions between the people of the French court and Marie rise because of this. Marie’s mother warns her of the importance of having an heir. Marie’s ability to stay in France depends upon it. Over time, Marie and Louis have three children. Marie and Louis become king and queen of France after the death of Louis’ grandfather, the French king. Marie enjoys the lavish life of royalty and the parties that accompany it. She takes interest in men other than her husband at these parties and begins an affair with a Swedish count. France’s financial situation is beginning to look bleak because of Louis and Marie’s out-of-control spending. Marie spends lots of tax dollars on gambling, shoes, clothes, and wigs. The French working class is frustrated with the way the government is being run. These people are starving. The French people march to Versailles to revolt and the royal family must leave to go to a safer location.

The last scene of the movie is of Marie Antoinette’s destroyed bedroom.

            In imperialism, a greater force overtakes or controls a weaker group. In Marie Antoinette, the French royals, Louis and Marie, oppress the working class in France by taxing these people heavily to fund their own extravagant wants. In Karl Marx’s terms, the royals acted as the Bourgeoise and the commoners were the Proletariate. The Bourgeoise gave the Proletariate jobs and depended on them to do their dirty work. The upper class abuses the taxes its citizens pay by spending them on frivolous items. If the queen and king wanted something, but they didn’t have enough money to pay for it, more taxes would be placed upon the commoners. The royals neglected to take care of their people. The commoners were mistreated and didn’t have a say in their government. People can only last so long under pressure before they break. Eventually, the commoners would have had enough of the oppression and would fight against their controllers, just like what happened during the French Revolution.

            Oppression, unequal distribution of power, and heavy taxes all contributed to the theme of imperialism in the film, Marie Antoinette. Imperialistic countries neglect the people they gain from the newly conquered land and force these people to change to benefit the country. In France, the royals wanted the commoners to change their lifestyle so that they could afford to pay more taxes, even if that meant going hungry. Marie Antoinette’s supposed famous line “Let them eat cake” was said after someone questioned how the people of France would be able afford to buy bread. This definitely shows how little the people running the French government at the time cared about their citizens.                                                  

Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Jacques_Bertaux_-_Prise_du_palais_des_Tuileries_-_1793_.jpg

Swine Flu Mass Hysteria

         I'm sure everyone reading this blog post remembers the 2009 Swine Flu paranoia. The media just used this topic to strike fear into people so they would buy their newspapers to read more. The newspaper article "Hundreds of Schools Closed from H1N1" causes parents to think, "If I send my child to school, then he or she will get the Swine Flu and possibly die!" At that time, people were so afraid of "being next" to get the Swine Flu. Reporters used sensationalism to make the problem seem much worse than it really was. 1. People get the flu every year and thousands of people die from the flu every year, not just during the year of the Swine Flu. 2. The flu virus is always changing, so every year there is a new strand of the flu going around. Just like in the Spanish-American War, reporters used emotions to get people to pay attention to and buy their newspapers. In the case of the Swine Flu, children and families were used to sway public opinion.

Communist Manifesto and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

        The two distinct groups in Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto are the Bourgeoise, the upper class, rich people and the Proletariate, the working class. The Bourgeoise need the Proletariate to do their work for them and the Proleteriate are worked like slaves, trying to survive. Both social classes exist in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In the movie, Charlie's family struggles to make ends meet and lives a life in poverty. His family is an example of the Proletariate. Charlie gets the golden ticket in his candy bar and is invited to go to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. All of the other children that also go to the factory are from well-off families (the Bourgeoise). These children are spoiled, stubborn, and unappreciative. The spoiled children's behavior gets them into trouble while at the factory. At the end of the movie, Charlie is the only child left from the tour and is given Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. 

Blogging: A Curse Or A Blessing

Many students complain about boring homework assignments. “It takes too long, it’s stupid, and I’m never going to use this” are common sayings that accompany groans when homework is assigned. I believe blog posts are a unique way of completing homework assignments. Blog posts enable students to express their mind, complete homework with a more flexible schedule, and gain a better understanding of what is being taught in the classroom.

            Blogging allows students to present their views in a casual, yet educational manner. When students can apply what they already know to their homework assignments, they take a greater interest into completing their work. Through blogging, students don’t have to be judged by how their answers complement the teacher’s viewpoint. As long as the blog post is related to the topic and is complete in structure, the student can take the blog topic and run with it. It is important for students to have the experience of presenting arguments and debating topics. Students learn to respect the views and opinions of others when given blog topics that have opposing sides to them. Oftentimes, students aren’t given the opportunity to voice their opinions enough in school. Teachers have traditionally given out homework that consisted of reading some pages out of a textbook and answering questions about what the student read, writing essays, and needlessly memorizing vocabulary words. Blogging takes students out of the orthodox setting of schoolwork and puts them into an environment that is very well known to the average teenager: the Internet.

            Teens these days are much busier than the adolescents of years past. With sports practice, part-time jobs, other after-school activities, who has time for homework? The use of blogging for homework assignments has opened up a door to a more lenient homework schedule. By breaking up coursework into small pieces each day, students have the ability to fit homework in along with other paramount obligations. Most teens are already on the Internet every day, so why not do a bit of homework as well? Maybe students will feel like the blog post they are completing isn’t really homework since it’s on the Internet. Since the assignment is on the world wide web, homework is now portable. During a few spare moments, such as rides in the car, the time before dinner, and in the commercial breaks of a favorite T.V. show, homework can be finished on a cell phone, laptop, or iPad. Students can complete the post a little at a time and before they know it the homework is done.

            Some students may not understand what was discussed on a particular day in class. Blog posts can reiterate what was said during class in a more down-to-earth style. Students are able to use blogging as a way of helping one another comprehend a concept from class. By having pupils complete homework that has original, plain-English questions, students can formulate answers that show an increased understanding of the course material. Teachers may not have enough time to answer all the students’ questions or have the opportunity to go in depth on a certain notion. With blogs, ideas and thoughts that weren’t able to be brought up during class time can be communicated between students, thus expanding the insight of all of the students involved in blogging.

            Blogging for school assignments has many pluses to it. Students gain flexibility, expression, and comprehension by completing blog posts for school. Blogging, when the questions are interesting, is much more appealing than the typical homework teachers across the nation have given to their students for centuries. I think students are able to learn and relate more to history with blogging.

Image Source: http://www.davidmaybury.ie/journal/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/blogging.jpg

My favorite is...

I liked comparing historical fiction and history in the blog post about The Beatles. The Beatles is my favorite band in entire world, so naturally, I would love to do a homework assignment about them. Blog posts like this one and the blog topic about "Gunsmoke" urge students not believe everything they see on T.V. History is oftentimes changed to gain higher ratings and more profit in Hollywood movies and shows. When students can relate to a show, song, or movie concerning history, they may have a greater interest in the subject. It also could make students more likely to do their homework if they had an assignment they could write about  from experience. I'm glad that the class is doing these kinds of homework assignments instead of the typical textbook work. Blog topics allow flexibility, creativity, and unique homework assignments. 

New Beginnings

Immigration to the United States in the 1800s and early 1900s was all about new beginnings. Luckily, proof of such beginnings was documented and is available. Those living today can trace their families back to many generations and see the emotion of family members that took those brave steps to a better future. One such family consists of a mother and her five children. http://www.ellisisland.org/photoalbums/ellis_island_album110.asp  The children in the photo look excited to start their new lives in America. A few of the children look a little nervous. Although not grinning with delight, the mother looks a bit happy and not a tad apprehensive of her choice to come to New York. The family might be Russian, since the mother and oldest daughter are wearing babushkas, the traditional Russian headdress for women.  The mother will probably end up working in a textile factory making clothes. The children will also most likely work to support the family, in jobs like selling newspapers on street corners. The story of this family is like many others who have left all they have ever known behind to come to America.

America = Opportunity

It seems scary to immigrate to another country. A new country, language, customs, friends, problems, jobs, and school can be quite daunting to someone that's never been to America before. The immigrants must have been excited to go to "The Land of Opportunity". It was thought that in America you can be anyone you want to be if you set your mind to it. Many people saw America as a holy land that was rich and abundant. Ellis Island created an illusion that money would grow on trees in America. Once new arrivals entered New York City and other American cities, they were in for quite the surprise. Low-paying, back-breaking work was all the immigrants could get. Small apartments, cold New York winters, no heat, and no sewage were the things immigrants dealt with for the golden opportunity to come to America. Even though life seemed grim for these new Americans, Carnegie came to the U.S. as an immigrant and became one of the richest men of his time. Opportunities would definitely get  better as more immigrants became more comfortable with their new lives.

Song of Suffering

"Song of the Shirt" is very realistic to what women had to deal with in the 1800s. The song talks about women working long hours in clothing factories. They lived in poverty and felt like slaves in the workplace. These women were left hungry and broke in the dirty factories. The word "work" is repeated multiple times to emphasize how much these women worked. Women must have gotten carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis often from constantly working with their hands pulling a needle and thread. Bosses would lock up the doors of the factories so employees couldn't leave early from work. Unfortunately, these events were commonplace. One can only imagine what women had to endure to make end's meet during the 1800s in the United States.

The Beatles Move Westward

The Beatles portrayed the West like Hollywood movies and T.V. did. This song isn't realistic to what life  in the West was actually like. "Rocky Raccoon" takes place in the hills of the Dakotas, which was an accurate location for cowboys to be at during the 1800s. The song is about a man named Rocky, whose girl left him for another guy. Rocky wanted to shoot Dan, the man who took his girlfriend. At the showdown, Dan shot Rocky first and Rocky lost the duel. Shoot outs weren't as common as some people may think. The West has long been thought of as a place full of saloons, villains, and people shooting each other daily.  In reality, cowboys herded cattle, trained unbroken horses, and worked hard on the ranch all day long.

"But Mom, gaming is for my education."

Many parents and teachers alike don't see how playing games can improve learning. As I played Oregon Trail for the first time, I definitely saw the benefits of  games. Gaming can show players what kind of situations they would be in if the game was real. As in the case of Oregon Trail, important decisions about what to buy, how much food to get, and what to do during the journey make you think about what is really necessary to make it to Oregon successfully. The game connects you to history and helps you to better understand the topic you are learning. You put yourself in the shoes of the travelers and think about what you need to do to survive in this game. Understanding what people in that situation had to go through to improve their lives and their country is something that can't be read out of a textbook. It must be experienced firsthand, even if the closest experience a student can get is an old computer game.

"Wild West" Stereotypes

Stereotypes have become a part of our society, for better or for worse. They are in our jokes, opinions, and T.V. shows. The show "Gunsmoke" had plenty of its own stereotypes concerning cowboys in the 1800s West. This show demonstrated that only white males could be cowboys, shoot outs were commonplace, and the good guy always won. White men were not the only people that could fire a gun and ride a horse. Girls and men of other races could do just that. The famous Hollywood Western shoot out scenes were more for the added drama and excitement to the show than anything else. I don't think these showdowns happened as often as they appear on T.V. The whole town didn't stop what they were doing to witness someone get killed. The sheriff of the town would have done what he could to prevent this from happening. The good guy didn't always win in real life situations. Sometimes a bank robber would steal some money and get away with a really fast horse.The stereotypes in the show aren't realistic to what actually happened to cowboys. "Gunsmoke" lets people at home dream about what it would be like to be a cowboy protecting the "Wild West". Though just remember to separate T.V. from reality.

Reality vs. Fiction

John Wayne was a very popular American icon that was best known for his roles as a cowboy. Hollywood gave a distorted view of the cowboy, presenting him as a hero, someone that always gets the girl, and a person respected by all. Unfortunately, many people think that this is what life in the “Wild West” was really like. This impression doesn’t compare to the actual tough life of a cowboy. Days full of wrangling cattle, living off the land, and hard physical labor were the realities of cowboy life.

Cowboys left their families and friends behind in the East to make a new life for themselves in the Western frontier. Having to make a new “family” with fellow cowboys was part of the job. It would be difficult to not get lonely otherwise. They spent their days riding all over the ranch, roping horses and cattle, and butchering dinner. The “men of the West” cooked their meals out of a covered wagon. At times, there would be an unbroken horse that the cowboys had to train. Getting the horse to calm down and let a cowboy put a saddle on it was the difficult part. As shown in the picture above, horses really didn’t like strangers trying to ride them. Cowboys took the risk of being thrown from the horse along with the possible injuries that could occur. A horse was a very important companion while working on a ranch and having to travel immense distances on that land. Having to endure hot days in pants and long sleeve shirts while performing challenging work only added to the difficulties cowboys faced. Walking and riding on rocky terrain proved to be dangers that could lead to death if one should fall off a steep cliff. The day-to-day life of a cowboy was not clean, easy, or comfortable, but someone had to do it.

Hollywood has made numerous movies based on history and yet, are fiction. These movies are fun to watch, but aren’t the best source to learn history from. In movies, cowboys were tough men that drank and fought often. Showdowns were common in Western towns, as the two rivals would face each other and anticipate for the other man’s trigger to pull. Somehow, both men would still look groomed and clean even after they were supposed to be involved in a major fight. There was little blood, if any, during a showdown scene in a Western T.V. show or movie. The hero, usually the well paid, famous actor, always won and met the girl of his dreams. The couple seemed to be just meant for each other only after meeting a few days earlier.  Celebrity movie stars didn’t have to exert themselves to herd cattle or eat outside under a tent. Whenever it got hot on the set, there was someone waiting to fan Mr. Wayne or give a bottle of water to Mr. Arness. This was definitely not the case on the ranches in Texas, Kansas, and Colorado. Life as a cowboy seems glamorous in films, but it is paramount to differentiate fact of fiction when watching old Westerns.

           The historical fiction on T.V. shows about life in the West during the 1800s is not accurate to what real cowboys experienced. Cowboys were hardworking, resilient, and determined people that helped improve life in the last frontier. Although actual cowboys weren’t considered to be the heroes that movies portrayed them to be, they did help with the westward expansion of the United States.  Hollywood’s interpretation of Western life differs greatly from the historic photographs of Erwin E. Smith.                                                 

 Image Source: http://www.cartermuseum.org/collections/smith/collection.php?asn=LC-S59-018&mcat=9&scat=31

Six Word Story

Brutal battles, no justice for us.

Changes and Improvements

          There have been many instances in history where African Americans have been mistreated. One may assume that these people were only treated with disrespect when African Americans were slaves in the 1800s. Two of the most significant times of this impertinence were during the Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

            The Reconstruction Era was a time of rebuilding and moving on after a devastating war. The 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th amendments were passed by Congress after the Civil War had ended. Though those amendments were ratified to give former slaves freedom and the same rights as whites, the promise of freedom didn’t live up to reality. The Ku Klux Klan struck fear into African Americans in the South, where slavery was promoted before the Civil war. This horrific group beat and killed former slaves, burned schools, and bombed the homes of these “free” people. The Ku Klux Klan was angry that slavery was abolished and that African Americans were considered by law equal to them. The police oppressed African Americans for no reason other than a difference in race. Former slaves were seen as inferior to a multitude of white Americans because they didn’t have money, jobs, or an education. Some African American stayed on the plantation that they worked on when they were slaves because they didn’t have any other job to go to. Southern states used Black Codes to control African Americans in various ways. African Americans had to pay a poll tax to vote, their rights were denied, and they were kept in a situation that was comparable to slavery as a result of the Black Codes in Southern states. Following the Civil War, African Americans rented land from white landowners. The African Americans had to give half of the crops they grew back to the landowners. This system was called sharecropping. If the croppers (the African American that rented the land) couldn’t grow enough crops, they would have to pay a fine to their landowners. The penalties that followed croppers left them broke and starving.

            The 1950s and 1960s were turning points in African American history. The 1950s was a time of making voices heard and the 1960s stood for desegregation in the United States. African Americans during this time period were beaten and hosed with water hoses by the police. In contrast to the Reconstruction Era, African Americans were more assimilated into American society. They were more educated, as they knew how to read and write. The U.S. military also helped African Americans to become more integrated into American culture. Many African Americans fought in World War II in the 1940s. This group of people saw the horrors of the concentration camps in Europe firsthand. They helped to free the innocent from these death camps. When they returned home from war, they began to yearn for their own freedom, too. Activists like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks led the way to demonstrations for civil rights in America. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. in 1963. This was a huge step in encouraging the respectful treatment of African Americans. Rosa Parks wouldn’t give up her seat on an Alabama bus for a white man. She was arrested for doing what was equal and fair. Their courage and stamina to fight for what they believed in helped America to become what it is today.

            African Americans have achieved much in the subsequent years after the Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement. From the advances made in American thinking, schools now welcome all students, regardless of race. All people are judged equally and have the same rights. African Americans are now astronauts, doctors, lawyers, and one is currently the president of the United States.

Image Source: Sharecropping photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sharecroppers_chopping_cotton_-_1941.jpg

Civil rights photo: http://martinlutherkingjrhistory.com/images/martin_10.jpg

Sources: "Rosa Parks Biography -- Academy of Achievement."Academy of Achievement Main Menu. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2010. <http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/par0bio-1>.

Heston, actor Charlton, NAACP president Roy Wilkins, and future U.S.. "The I Have a Dream Speech - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2010. <http://www.usconstitution.net/d

           

Brother vs. Brother

When I see this photo, I feel the anger and disagreement among the soldiers. These men look like they could have possibly been brothers. This shows how deep opinions of slavery were during the Civil War. There is a definite contrast in how the soldiers are dressed, what type of weapons they are using, and most importantly, the flag that stands behind each of them. This painting is an excellent example of how different views can turn brother against brother and father vs. son. Look at the colors in both of the flags. Don't they both have the colors red, white, and blue in them? Aren't both men in the painting American? I hope that my readers see that opposing viewpoints shouldn't tear a country apart like they did in the Civil War. Citizens should bring their own ideals to the table in hopes of creating a better America for the good of all people.

Image Source:      http://www.usronline.org/staff/cavallini/specialPrograms/eUllrich/ow/images/civil%20war%20soldiers.jpg

Overcoming Obstacles

Students in the United States take school for granted, myself included. In the days of slavery, there were some schools in the South that educated African Americans. These schools were illegal at that time. During the Reconstruction era, more schools were built and former slaves went to school to read, write, and learn. With an education, former slaves could make a better life for themselves and they could get better jobs. There were organizations that would scare  African Americans out of attending school. Former slaves were "punished" for going to school by getting fired by their white employers. Students and teachers alike were assaulted and schools were set on fire by the Ku Klux Klan. Segregation in schools was prevalent,causing more tension between the two races. Above all, African Americans were able to overcome these obstacles and succeed in their educational goals. This group has come from the bottom to making an important contribution to U.S. history and society.

Does free mean equal?

After the Civil War, slaves were free as the Constitution states. Is someone really "free" if they are seen as inferior? In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, Congress passed the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment abolished slavery in the United Sates. Groups such as the Ku Klux Klan harassed African Americans even when all races were supposed to be equal. When the 14th amendment was ratified, all people born in the U.S. were recognized as citizens. A white person wouldn't dare kill another white person. The white murderer would face grave consequences. As in To Kill A Mockingbird, a black man would be seen as more guilty than a white man even if they committed the same crime. Citizens should be seen as equal no matter what race they are. African Americans feared voting at the polls because of how they were treated by whites depending on how they voted. These former slaves couldn't exercise their 15th amendment rights. I would say,yes, African Americans had more freedom during the Reconstruction than before the Civil War. Though, freedom unfortunately didn't mean equal.


Citation: "The Constitution of the United States: Amendments 11-27."National Archives and Records Administration. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2010. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html>.

Morals are just as important in war as the type of weapons the Army is using.

I believe a moral idea can win a war. Morals and values are what encourage people to fight in wars. Not many individuals are willing to put their lives at at risk just so they can kill someone on the other side. Morale gives an army the strength to carry on in a war. Soldiers need to keep in mind what they are fighting for. The people that were a part of the Union also tried to express their views to others in an attempt to get those people to change their minds on the subject of slavery. Sometimes this method worked and other times it didn't.There is power in numbers and more of a reason for change if many people are involved in a cause. Let's just say that the Union soldiers were tired of fighting and they thought, "This is a lost cause. Let's just let the Confederacy do what they want." If this actually happened, the United States would be a very different country from what it is now. If the soldiers don't believe in what they're fighting for or if they lose hope during battle, their chances of succeeding in the war are diminished.

If You Tell a Lie Enough Times...

To finish the statement above, if you tell a lie enough times people believe it to be the truth. Everyone has heard of the many stereotypes around the country. Some stereotypes are about race, some about religion, and others pertain to socio-economic groups. For example, someone says all Hispanics are loud. That person tells a bunch of other people and all of those people tell everyone they know. This is exactly how stereotypes spread. One thing for sure is that stereotypes are taught. No one is born discriminating against poor people or blacks. Back in the 1800s, white children were taught by their parents that blacks are undeserving and that's why they're slaves. "We're better, richer, smarter, etc. than them" , as white slave owners would say. The children, whose parents taught them to discriminate, then taught their children the same "fact" that they were told when they were young. One major aspect of stopping discrimination is to inform each other, including children, that stereotypes don't apply to all of the people of that group.

Has Big Brother Got You Down?

When Thoreau said, "that government is best which governs least", he meant that the best government to have is one that doesn't control every aspect of citizens' lives. The government (Big Brother) is constantly spying on you to see what you're doing. There are security cameras on streets, in stores, and in schools. The less a government tries to manage your life, the better. The government wants to know where you've been, what you've been doing, and wants to imply all of these ridiculous new laws that only benefit themselves and restrict your freedoms. Big Brother listens in to your phone calls and checks your emails if you look "suspicious" just because you mention the words "bomb" and "terrorism" in the same sentence.  I personally, don't like anyone constantly watching what I do. I think that if someone doesn't have anything to hide then they shouldn't fear the police. The government should treat its citizens in the same manner. The government should trust that its citizens have enough common sense to not do stupid things.

Tell me the truth, teacher.

A number of people in the U.S. have been taught lies in our public school system. Yes, lies. No, Christopher Columbus was not the righteous man from the cartoons. Nor did John Smith fall in love with Pochantas. She was 11 and he was 40 in real life. Talk about gross. Ever wonder why there isn't much information in the books about Vietnam? It's because America lost. The government does its best to hide information from the public about American defeats. By doing this America looks unstoppable to the world. Of course, the people that actually fought in Vietnam can tell you the real story. It's important for students to understand that a country can't win every time and that textbooks are biased. The government wants to put the country in the best light possible, so negative information is omitted. Schools should teach the truth even if it is ugly. The defeats are history, too. Students would be more informed and could help make better decisions in the future if the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, was told to them. Children are the future, whether we like it or not, and what they learn now will influence the society of tomorrow.

"I don't care about history." Well, you should.

For many students around the country history is a dreaded subject. I, for one, think it is vital for all people to understand why the world is the way it is. I'm not trying to suck up to the teacher just to get an A, I truly believe this. History connects people, showing that a multitude of situations have impacted countries in similar ways.  Countries have fought in wars, experienced grief, reconstructed, grew, and prospered.  Looking back at history can show ways for a country to improve or how avoid future conflict. Understanding the history of your country can be eye-opening. Realizing the sacrifice, hard work, and dedication that were put in to create a great country should make anyone proud to be a citizen of their country. History is everywhere. It's in science, movies, art, and technology. History's importance can't be measured in the number of textbooks on the subject or all of the history reports assigned by the teachers of this country. It is through learning about the past that a better future can be formed.