Semester DOS, Blog #15

* Modern ideas of war & war crimes

My humanities teacher posed a great question. What do you do after a war?

After World War Two, the Allied Forces held tribunals in Nuremberg, Germany.
In this trial there were 22 most powerful captured Nazi leaders. Among them were, Karl Doenitz, Frank Hans, Frick Wilhelm.
During the trials they were asked about their actions with the Nazi Party. For example, Hermann Goering, a political, military and Nazi Party leader, perhaps the only one that could give a clear understanding of the ideas of the Nazi Party, MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: And upon coming to power you also considered it immediately necessary to establish concentration camps to take care of your incorrigible opponents?

GOERING: I have already stated that the reason for the concentration camps was not because it could be said, "Here are a number of people who are opposed to us and they must be taken into protective custody." Rather they were set up as a lightning measure against the functionaries of the Communist Party who were attacking us in the thousands, and who, since they were taken into protective custody, were not put in prison. But it was necessary, as I said, to erect a camp for themone, two, or three camps. (Cross Examination of Hermann Goering (1))

This was a question asked to Hermann Goering. what i found interesting is that in a 4 day tribunal there were only a few questions asked concerning the deaths of millions of Jews.

He, along with ten other Nazi leaders were condemned, yet Goering committed suicide two hours before his execution. 

   

Semester DOS, Honors History #2

The Great War was incredibly significant in terms of men and materials lost, in the downfall of empires, and most importantly in the setting up of World War II. With over 10 million dead after the war, England and France, in particular, lost an entire generation of men who would fill leadership positions. If it weren't for their mistakes we would have never progressed. It’s all about being the cruelest in the battlefield. That is why WWI is important in the terms of the Art of War.

We all they know that the most powerful countries will define the new policies or the new guidelines for a World Order. United States has a way of controlling people as does North Korea. It’s a very powerful weapon called fear. During the recession between WWI and WWII, the United States imposed a Dollar Diplomacy, which basically threatens other to make business. It is not that United States needs much of this power. It just wants a clear and strong control on other countries, to prevent them from gaining interest in power and a leading position of nations.

The Iraq war, which also includes the Afghanistan war, is an example of a two faced war. On one side, America is fighting for their safety, to prevent further attacks to their homeland. The other side, they also want to take some of their oil, while no one is watching it. I know there is an argument on this issue yet we can never deny that we are taking advantage of our overstayed welcome. Have we always taken advantage of other countries? Or, is it a product of war?
Alliances are the most important thing to have in war. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. Armory is vital yet if you don’t have compatible weapons but your best friend does, then you are set. You will perhaps start a remake of World War One. Having the right allies will eventually bring you a lot of help because other counties will not dare attack you. But your great ally will also take your resources or exploit you to receive a fair pay for protecting you.
What is technology? It helps you create new ideas, products and weapons for newer generations. Technology is the main component of progression, or progression brings technology. Nothing will exist if it weren’t for technology, but things can’t exist if we have it. Technology has a great role when it comes to disappearing things, places or people. The firebombing of Dresden is considered as an event for weapon testing. Firebombs had never been used before and this was a test to see how effective the weapon was. The firebombs were very efficient. Events like these will help further generations or levels of war.

Semester DOS, Blog #14

Welcome back from One World Week, Spring Break, and Ampersand craziness. Now it's time for some good old history.

Answer each of the following, and cite statistics or sources wherever appropriate:

1. What are the most interesting aspects of World Wars 1 and 2?

World War One

World War One is one of the deadliest war in history, yet it only lasted four years.

This war included many new war techniques such as the tanks, but they were mainly useless.

The tanks were not well maneuvered in the battlefield. 

Works Cited
1918, and it lay in ruins. "First World War Casualties." History Learning Sitehttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/FWWcasualties.htm>

World War Two

The United States of America started the Manhattan Project. On October 11, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to start a program that would develop an atomic bomb. This program became known as the Manhattan Project.

Works Cited

">"World War 2." ">World War 2">. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.

2. What do you hope to learn about these wars?

World War One

World War Two

I would like to learn about Kaiser Wilhelm II, and his contributions to the war. How did Hitler accomplish many of his goals? How did he win people over?

3. How/Why are these wars important today? How do they impact and/or inform our world today? hint: think about alliances, democracies around the world, cultures, international institutions, nuclear (and other) technologies, etc.

World War One started of by a simple reason, some may argue very immature and stupid event. The assassination of  Franz Ferdinand. Yet at that time people thought that was an important event, and indeed it is. Today we are fighting two wars. I believe it is useless and for reasons that are non important. many think it is important. 

Honors Novel Blog #2

1. How does Jim Casey's moral philosophy guide the novel as a whole?

In the novel the Grapes of Wrath, Jim Casy develops the novel with his philosophy of human unity and the human spirit. Casy was a preacher, who preached for the people. He never felt in touch with a god and never connected with the religion philosophy of the holy spirit. Yet he loved people, all he wanted was to make people happy. He found a way to make people happy by preaching about a God and a holy spirit. Then he realized that he couldn’t preach because he had nothing to preach for.

Casy’s philosophy on the human spirit is that humankind makes up a holy spirit. We are not born with it, and we do not go into the wilderness to find it. “I figgered about the Holy Sperit and the Jesus road. I figgered, ‘ Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,’ I figgered, ‘ mayby it’s all men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the Holy Sperit- the human sperit- the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.” Casy believes everyone has a human spirit that grows and forms through our actions. Our experiences and love form the Holy Spirit in all human beings.

 

Steinbeck uses Jim Casy to express his beliefs. One of those beliefs is unity. Unity is the strongest message in the Grapes of Wrath because it develops throughout the book. At the beginning of the novel, Steinbeck starts with a description of the dust bowl. Then he moves towards the banks taking people of the land. Migrant farmers from all over the places of the country move west in hope of finding jobs, a place to live and something to eat. They all have similar stories and throughout the novel we see the unity of these farmers. They camp together, cook together past time by telling stories. All they have is one another. The Joads help the Wilsons, so hopefully together they make it to California.

Semester TWO, Blog #13 (GOW Final Essay)

1. How does Jim Casey's moral philosophy guide the novel as a whole?

In the novel the Grapes of Wrath, Jim Casy develops the novel with his philosophy of human unity and the human spirit. Casy was a preacher, who preached for the people. He never felt in touch with a god and never connected with the religion philosophy of the holy spirit. Yet he loved people, all he wanted was to make people happy. He found a way to make people happy by preaching about a God and a holy spirit. Then he realized that he couldn’t preach because he had nothing to preach for.

 

Casy’s philosophy on the human spirit is that humankind makes up a holy spirit. We are not born with it, and we do not go into the wilderness to find it. “I figgered about the Holy Sperit and the Jesus road. I figgered, ‘ Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,’ I figgered, ‘ mayby it’s all men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the Holy Sperit- the human sperit- the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.” Casy believes everyone has a human spirit that grows and forms through our actions. Our experiences and love form the Holy Spirit in all human beings.

 

Steinbeck uses Jim Casy to express his beliefs. One of those beliefs is unity. Unity is the strongest message in the Grapes of Wrath because it develops throughout the book. At the beginning of the novel, Steinbeck starts with a description of the dust bowl. Then he moves towards the banks taking people of the land. Migrant farmers from all over the places of the country move west in hope of finding jobs, a place to live and something to eat. They all have similar stories and throughout the novel we see the unity of these farmers. They camp together, cook together past time by telling stories. All they have is one another. The Joads help the Wilsons, so hopefully together they make it to California.

Semester TWO, Blog #12

What were "public works projects"? What famous ones were part of the New Deal? What public works projects would you recommend for our society today?

Public Works Projects are government projects created to support families struggling with the Great Depression. These groups were part of FDR's New Deal. Between November 1933 and March 1933, the administration ran the Civil Works Administration, this put 4 million people to work. When it ended, many people were transferred back to the FERA work relief jobs. There were also Public Buildings Administration (PBA) and the Public Roads Administration (PRA) who gave money to states to build roads and federal buildings. It created more jobs for Americas with good wages until they shut down. I would recommend these groups to become active today. Many people might be able to find jobs by building a new system. 

Semester TWO, HONORS Novel Blog #1

John Steinbeck has a great, long background of liberalism. Most, if not all of his novels carry messages of political and social issues. In Cannery Row, a novel based on people living in a small neighborhood during the Great Depression, Steinbeck includes perhaps one of the most important social issues, generosity.

The characters in Cannery Row bring their own perspective; some characters are based on people Steinbeck knew. Doc, the main character, is a passionate marine biologist, based on Steinbeck’s friend, Ed Ricketts, a well recognized marine biologist.

Doc always seems lonely, yet he is loved by everyone. He owns the Western Biological Laboratory which allows him to isolate from people. Doc shows generosity by being like a second father to Dora’s girls. He also takes in Frankie, a mentally handicapped boy, even though Frankie has trouble doing almost any work, Doc takes care of him without wanting anything back in exchange.

Throughout the book, Doc realizes that he is a huge part of Cannery Row, and he has to serve for others. Yet he never fully opens up to other characters. Here, Steinbeck brings the idea that we all have a reason for being. A society is made by people who are willing to give, without expecting something back.

Lee Chong is a store owner, he allows his clients to have debts and he believes in a free market, he is a capitalist. Yet Chong knows that he needs to build a loyal relation with his customers to prevent them from going to out to Monterey to buy supplies. Times were hard, for workers and merchants, which meant a man had to do, anything to survive. Although that meant frauds could happen easily, the people in Cannery Row were still people and united. Lee Chong shows generosity when accepting almost any transaction with his costumers in exchange for supplies. He lends Mac and the boys a fish-meal shack to live in, knowing that inevitably they will never pay for the service. 

The characters in Cannery Row have an awakening moment at some point in the book. Dora Flood is a business woman with a great spirit, operates a whorehouse, but she has morals. She doesn’t allow hard liquor or vulgar words in her property and has a fair price for services. During the great Depression, she paid bills for many families. She also helped during the influenza outbreak. Despite the fact that she is very successful, she becomes a philanthropist. Her business is in danger of being shut down, so she makes more of an effort to help out in Cannery Row.

History does repeat it self, and issues haven’t been changed. They have been tailored to fit in today’s society. Characters from Cannery Row can be compared to people today; they will have most of the same dilemmas and different plans of action. Steinbeck tries to settle his ideas by using America’s toughest times and explaining through novels his ideas on issues. In Cannery Row, generosity was always among the actions many of these characters made. Just like the characters in Cannery Row, we have to find our strength in rough times, and change our superficial views to better our community.