Homework 5, Due February 4, 2011

Here's hoping for a complete week of school! The winter weather has certainly disrupted the semester so far, but here we are at the midpoint with only a few weeks left to shore up your grades. Although this is Spirit Week (go Cougars!) please be prepared for an energetic and rigorous work week!

In light of the amazing uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt over the last week I feel that it is appropriate to step away from our focus period and take a look at world events. You might be surprised that the US is so involved in the Egyptian crisis, but the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been a close supporter of America over the last 30 years and has kept peace with Israel (Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel during the 1980s). Unfortunately there is ample evidence to suggest that President Mubarak has limited the rights of Egyptians (hundreds are arrested and tortured on a weekly basis, accused of minor crimes) and has allowed an economy to develop that has made a very small minority extremely wealthy (think billionaires) while many live in terrible poverty (less than $2 a day).

The US provides Egypt with about $2.5 billion a year, much of it in military aid (if you've been watching the events on the news, you've seen the tear gas and fighter jets - all of which were produced in the US and paid for by US tax money...yours!). Why would the US government provide such support? Because Egypt is a loyal ally that a) has loads of oil; b) controls the Suez Canal (through which comes much of the oil that Americans use); and c) is NOT a radical Muslim regime that threatens to attack Israel.

Of course we hope that what comes out of the protests is a "peaceful transition" to democratic government with greater freedom and economic opportunity for its citizens. However, in 1979 we witnessed a very similar chain of events in Iran. It might surprise you to know that Iran was a very close ally of the US during the time it was ruled by the "Shah", but many people, especially young radical Muslims, were unhappy with his rule and forced the Shah to flee the country. It happened so quickly that many American embassy workers were unable to get out of the country. Most of those US citizens spent the next 15 months as hostages while President Jimmy Carter unsuccessfully to free them. The hostages were finally released on the very day the President Ronald Reagan took office, but I'll comment on that in a moment.

Your homework this week is to research the Iran Hostage Crisis on the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/middle_east_iran_hostage_crisis/html/1.stm . As you examine the photos and read the summary I want you to consider the possibility that a similar situation could occur in Egypt and answer the following questions: How should the US react to these events? If you were speaking for the President, what would you tell the Egyptian citizens? Considering Iran, what should the US have done to free the hostages? Should the US military have invaded, given the dangers of starting an all-out war and maybe causing the execution of the hostages?

I will make a couple of observations: first, there are those that suspect that Reagan and his team had a secret deal with the Iranians to keep the hostages in captivity until he became president. There is absolutely no evidence to prove this but after Carter worked for their release for more than a year it's embarrassing to some that Reagan gets the credit. Of course, during the election Reagan had hinted that he would do whatever it took to get the hostages out, and it's likely the Iranians feared an immediate attack.

Second, of special significance to us is that one of the hostages, Terry Waite, is now a professor at UK in the department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs. He is a recognized expert in world politics and is on major news networks nearly every week informing Americans about current events.

The requirements of this assignment are exactly the same as those that preceded it. Have a good week!

Homework 4, Due January 28, 2011

As we continue to study the Reformation, this week's homework will give you an opportunity to do some meaningful research. We'll return to www.worldbookonline.com and use the school's subcription: the user id is "scs"; the password is "cougars". Chose the student version (not children) and search for "Reformation". This should provide you with more than 130 articles, several pictures, and a recommended web site.

Your assignment is to research an aspect of the Reformation with which you are unfamiliar and report your findings. Were you living in that era, would you act as the reformers did? Would you be willing to face the powerful resistance for the promotion of what you see as truth? Include the answers to those questions in your response.

As before, your essay must be at least 200 words in length. You must respond to at least two other essays (a total of 150 words in response). Please be respectful and thoughtful with your comments. Have a great week!

Homework 3, Due January 21, 2011

Although we will be talking this week about the great reformers who ushered in the age of Protestantism I will delay an assignment about the topic until next week. (Remember that you have a test on Tuesday of this week!). Instead, in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I want to pause to reflect on the Civil Rights movement as it transpired in the state of Kentucky. While we spend a great deal more time discussing the topic in US History it is important to note that the issues of civil rights are very central to the human story of world history. It is in fact one of the great forces behind the development of western civilizations - that notion that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights".

The Kentucky Historical Society has constructed a wonderful website dealing with the Civil Rights movement in Kentucky. It can be accessed at the link http://205.204.134.47/civil_rights_mvt/ . The stories that are told are available in print and oral (and sometimes video) format. Browse the topics available and report back on two interviews (include identifying information such as name, location if given, etc.) You can download the free software that will allow you to hear the actual interviews or simply read the transcripts. What do these interviews teach you about life in Kentucky during the era? How different are things today? Is racial inequality still an issue that must be addressed? If so, how? If not, why? Please be respectful in your comments.

Thank you very much and enjoy your three-day weekend!

Homework 2, Due January 14, 2011

This week we are discussing the beginning of European exploration into the new world. While we will focus on those explorers who came to the western hemisphere it is important to remember that Euopean explorers visited every continent and opended trade with many countries. While it is easy to explain their motivation to explore in terms of economics (some explorers became extremely wealthy) there was also a strong lure for the curious mind to experience the wonders of the world.

This week's homework assignment requires you to visit the website "Voyage of Exploration" at the link http://library.thinkquest.org/C001692/english/index.php3?subject=home . There is a short introductory slide show that you should skip if you are having difficulty in getting it to play. Then you must select a "great explorer" from the database and tell the story of his adventures. Where does your explorer fall in comparison to other well-known explorers (you'll find the information on the timeline). What was the purpose of the expedition? What were the tools of navigation used? What motivated your chosen explorer? (Hint: you'll find information about each of these questions at the various tabs in the web site).

Finally, read the article "What is Next to be Discovered" under the New Horizons tab (it is a few pages long, make sure you hit the "next" link at the end of the page). Then I'd like you to summarize your thoughts about where your generation will add its own chapter to the history of exploration. What are the areas in which our society faces its greatest needs? Do you think that your generation will make important contributions to human knowledge? Why?

The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those that preceded it. Thank you and have a great week!

Homework 1, Due January 7, 2011

Welcome back! I hope your Christmas break was refreshing. This week we will be discussing the English Civil War known as the War of the Roses. Your assignment is to research a battle or important individual and report your findings. You will find important information to get you started at the site http://warsoftheroses.com/ . Remember that you will receive no points for plagiarized material! The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those that preceded it.