Monday, May 28, 2007

To Men and Women on Vietnam Memorial

I would like to express my undying grattitude for the men and women who help protect America and its future generations. These men and women have endured physical and mental torment to keep our country and its people safe. My studies throughout 8th grade, and our Washington D.C. trip have constantly reminded me of how courageous the members of the war effort, especially the U.S. armed forces are. If not for these brave young men and women, I would probably not be here today.

To Men and Women on Vietnam Memorial

Times of Change Responses

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)
-Mines
-Bombs
-Booby traps
-Punji stakes
-Heat + humidity
-Dehydration
-Animal wildlife


How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?
At the beginning Smith thinks joining the army would be a place to grow up to get away. In a way he got just that. He saw friends die right in front of him, and realized how terrible war was.


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”?

… the “generals” to do?
Join up the army and go fight in Vietnam
… “Wall Street” to do?
Supply the army with the tools of its trade
… “mothers” to do?
Pack your boys off to Vietnam

Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
-put down your books and pick up a gun we're
gonna have a whole lotta fun
-ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die
-and you can be the first ones on your block
to have your boy come home in a box
-let's hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
they drop it on the Viet Cong

Posted by Action_Jackson at 7:49 PM 0 comments


Monday, May 21, 2007

Times of Change Responses
Look up both words in the title of the short essay. What do they mean?
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?
Dubious-Doubtful, of uncertain outcome
Crusade-any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause,
This will relate to our study of Vietnam because the war in Vietnam can be described by both words - dubious and crusade.

What is the overall theme of Vuong-Riddick's poem?
The overall them of the poem is death and lust for power.

What is the main thesis of the essay?
That President Johnson lied, and the whole war was possibly a lie
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was an approval from congress to defend the US interests in the area
What evidence does the author give to support his thesis?
President Johnson said he would not send troops into battle. He later did, and by doing that the Vietnam War started. The Vietnam War was never officially a war, congress must approve to declare war. But the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was the closest it came, and that may have been based upon a lie.
How does this link to the theme of the first reading, “A Dubious Crusade”? This links to the theme because it was a war that was an aggressive movement for the advancement of an idea or cause, and it was an uncertain war – a dubious crusade.


Farmer Nguyen by W.D. Ehrhart
1 page - complete by Wednesday May 26
Massacre at My Lai by Hugh Thompson
2 pages - complete by Wednesday May 26
A Nun at Ninh Hoa by Jan Barry
1 page - complete by Wednesday May 26

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?
Even though the Vietnam War was fought between the U.S., and the North Vietnamese and Vietcong, many do not realize what the civillians had to go through. The civillians were constantly persuaded to take sides, and their homeland was war ravaged. Their were many civillian deaths, and ones who lived through the war no doubt had many bad memories of the war.

10 Things Every1 Should Know About the Korean War

-In June 1950, North Korean troops crossed 38th parallel into South Korea and the Korean War began.
-The U.S. appealed to the U.N. to stop the Communist move into South Korea; sixteen nations provided troops, U.S. soldiers made up for most of the fighting force.
-General Douglas MacArthur, a WWII hero, served as commander of all U.N. forces.
-North Korean forces pushed into South Korea, until MacArthur landed his troops and the North Koreans retreated.
-MacArthur wanted to pursue the enemy into North Korea; the U.N. and President Truman agreed, and MacArthur led his troops north past the 38th parallel.
-Communist China saw the movement of UN forces into North Korea as a threat to China's security, warned U.N. troops, but U.N. troops pushed forward anyway.
-China brought their troops as promised and drove U.N. troops back to South Korea, and both sides were deadlocked along the 38th parallel.
-General MacArthur requested permission to blockade China's coastline and bomb China. Truman Refused fearing the Soviet Union would get involved, thus starting another World War.
-MacArthur publicly criticized Truman, so Truman fired him. He won the sympathy of the people in his farewell speech, however most Americans agreed with the President's decision to fire Truman.
-As the war dragged on, it became more unpopular. In 1951 Truman accepted a Soviet suggestiont hat peace talks begin. They continued through the 1952 presidential campaign.
-In 1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected. He gained the support of the people by promising to end the war. He followed through on his promise by compromising with North Korea and China to end the war. He also warned privately that he was not afraid to use nuclear weapons and carry the war into China.

Civil Disobedience

Would you have been able to use civil disobedience and non-violence?
I don't think I would be able to use civil disobedience and non-violence. If I was clubbed, beaten up, hosed, and had attack dogs sent after me, I believe it would be tough to perservere. If I was brutally attacked I would find it tough to not lash out and fight back. This is why I admire the marchers and everyone who was part of the marchers-they were physically and mentally tormented yet they still persisted without resorting to violence. They were part of something great; they helped America's future generations by contributing to a cause.

MLK Blog

Why does the author feel that whites owe King the greatest debt?
-King undid much of what racist whites did. Although all whites were not racist, the white image could've been tarnished if not for King.

Was King "the right man at the right time"?
-King was the right man at the right time. He was a born leader, an part of the African-American society that was struggling in America. The black community needed someone to lead them through their tough times, and King was the perfect person to lead them.

Would King be upset with the current use of his most often quoted line? Why or why not?
-King would be upset with the use of his most often quoted line. Ward Connerly insists that King would march alongside him for affirmative action. I believe he would not be happy for people to claim such things. People have also interpreted King's message too selectively.




I believe minorites have taken a step forward in terms of education. Blacks have made great progress since the 1960s. In 1960, only 18.2% of black males, and 21.8% of black females graduated from high school. In 2004 80.4% of black males and 80% of black females graduated high school. Asian high school graduation rates have been stellar. Data from 2004 shows that 88.7% of Asian males (compared to 85.3% of white males) and 85.0% of Asian females (compared to 86.3% of white females) graduated high school. High school drop out rates for both Blacks and Hispanics have steadily decreased.

Blacks have made excellent progress, as have Asians, but unfortunately Latinos cannot say the same. In 2004, only 58.4% of Latinos graduated from high school. This rate of high school graduation is far below blacks and Asians. The percentage of Latinos that grauduate from college is at an alarmingly low rate. Only 12.1% of Latinos graduated from college. By comparison, 28.2% of whites and 49.4% of Asians graduate from college. Blacks are lagging behind in this area as well- only 17.1% of blacks graduated from college.

In order for MLK's dream of equality to be realized there must be steps taken. Latinos should keep informed in the community about programs and clinics. They must eliminate factors that may take them out of high school. One example of a factor is teen pregnancy, and addictions to alcohol or drugs. Latinos should also think about joining the Boys & Girls Club, or a program like it-somehwere that will keep them from joining gangs, and will keep them safe and healthy.

MLK Blog

Why does the author feel that whites owe King the greatest debt?
-King undid much of what racist whites did. Although all whites were not racist, the white image could've been tarnished if not for King.

Was King "the right man at the right time"?
-King was the right man at the right time. He was a born leader, an part of the African-American society that was struggling in America. The black community needed someone to lead them through their tough times, and King was the perfect person to lead them.

Would King be upset with the current use of his most often quoted line? Why or why not?
-King would be upset with the use of his most often quoted line. Ward Connerly insists that King would march alongside him for affirmative action. I believe he would not be happy for people to claim such things. People have also interpreted King's message too selectively.




I believe minorites have taken a step forward in terms of education. Blacks have made great progress since the 1960s. In 1960, only 18.2% of black males, and 21.8% of black females graduated from high school. In 2004 80.4% of black males and 80% of black females graduated high school. Asian high school graduation rates have been stellar. Data from 2004 shows that 88.7% of Asian males (compared to 85.3% of white males) and 85.0% of Asian females (compared to 86.3% of white females) graduated high school. High school drop out rates for both Blacks and Hispanics have steadily decreased.

Blacks have made excellent progress, as have Asians, but unfortunately Latinos cannot say the same. In 2004, only 58.4% of Latinos graduated from high school. This rate of high school graduation is far below blacks and Asians. The percentage of Latinos that grauduate from college is at an alarmingly low rate. Only 12.1% of Latinos graduated from college. By comparison, 28.2% of whites and 49.4% of Asians graduate from college. Blacks are lagging behind in this area as well- only 17.1% of blacks graduated from college.

In order for MLK's dream of equality to be realized there must be steps taken. Latinos should keep informed in the community about programs and clinics. They must eliminate factors that may take them out of high school. One example of a factor is teen pregnancy, and addictions to alcohol or drugs. Latinos should also think about joining the Boys & Girls Club, or a program like it-somehwere that will keep them from joining gangs, and will keep them safe and healthy.