In honor of our theatrical production this week I'd like to turn your attention to the topic of culture and arts. While eating lunch at a restaurant today, I was struck by the complete silliness of it all: a crowd of people paying for food and service…and something else – the pleasure of eating tasty food. If we were strictly governed by logic we would choose our meals based on nutritional value and cost effectiveness. Mealtime would be similar to recharging a cell phone – plug in, fill up, and go on. But that’s not what we do because, while our needs would be met, another need – the need for enjoyment – would go unfulfilled. So we are motivated much more than we are usually ready to admit by the joy of creative art. One could apply the same standard to the clothes we wear, houses we live in, and many other things we do.
Society is usually defined by culture. When you think of the ancient Egyptians you probably think of their art and architecture (flat people and pyramids). When we talk about the past decades (think 1980s day) we picture the clothes people wore and the music they made. It seems that we are defined by a completely superfluous segment of our lives. (When I first arrived in Britain the TV shows Melrose Place and 90210 were big hits; I was asked several times if those shows were realistic portrayals of life in the US. Because Forrest Gump was in theaters, everyone wanted me to tell them the words to “Sweet Home Alabama”). Look around you…isn’t that just a little unsettling?
For millennia the stage has been a prominent part of human culture. It’s another illogical way that we find enjoyment - and accomplish complex tasks through storytelling. In America the heart of the stage can be found on a New York City street that dates back to the days of New Amsterdam; that street is, of course, Broadway. Every year millions of tickets are sold to the numerous theaters as crowds from around the world travel to see the very best in show business. This week our homework assignment will focus on the history of Broadway since 1900.
Follow the link http://www.talkinbroadway.com/bway101/ and choose an e
ssay about a decade of your choice (1900-1950) and report on your findings. Also comment on your favorite stage production (if you have one). The parameters of this assignment are exactly as every other assignment that has preceded it. Hope you enjoy it!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 26-30, 2010
No new homework this week because of our annual testing! Please get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast. You may bring snacks to the room to eat between tests. If you have missed a homework assignment up to this point in the fourth quarter you may post it here this week for 80% credit. That's much better than the zero you're going to receive otherwise, so take this opportunity to bring the grades up! God bless!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Homework 4, Due April 23, 2010
What is your definition of a "hero"? This week we will study one of the greatest American presidents, one that many hold to be a true hero, Gerald R. Ford. He became president during one of the darkest periods in American history, in a political environment that was so bitterly divided that many citizens had abandoned hope of ever seeing a return to normalcy. On top of that, he inherited the worst modern economy other than the Great Depression and the awful aftermath of the War in Vietnam.
With all of this going on, it is easy to see why noone could govern without being despised by certain segments of society. President Ford was the first president to be "honored" with a full-time comedic double on Saturday Night Live, and Americans were easily influenced by the non-stop ridicule that was heaped on him and his family. Throughout his time in office, however, he did his best and never showed anger toward those that hated him. Twice he was targetted by assassins (he was not injured in the attacks), and while the Secret Service hustled him away on one of those occasions, he shouted back at the law enforcement officers not to hurt the college student that had attempted to kill him.
To say the least, President Ford's decision to pardon President Nixon following Nixon's resignation was a controversial decision, but one that Ford felt was in the best interest of the country. After two years of non-stop Watergate news and numerous officials bound for jail, prosecutors were gearing up for a criminal trial to put the former president in prison. Ford pre-emptively pardoned Nixon, telling the country that it was time to begin the healing process and to focus on the other problems that were challenging America. Ultimately this decision cost Ford his bid for re-election in 1976, but years later his most vocal critics would publicly admit that Ford's brave decision truly was for the best.
Now I would like to hear from you. Choose an individual we have studied up to this point in US History and explain why that person deserves to be recognized as a true American hero. Back up your opinion with facts and observations. The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks and God bless!
With all of this going on, it is easy to see why noone could govern without being despised by certain segments of society. President Ford was the first president to be "honored" with a full-time comedic double on Saturday Night Live, and Americans were easily influenced by the non-stop ridicule that was heaped on him and his family. Throughout his time in office, however, he did his best and never showed anger toward those that hated him. Twice he was targetted by assassins (he was not injured in the attacks), and while the Secret Service hustled him away on one of those occasions, he shouted back at the law enforcement officers not to hurt the college student that had attempted to kill him.
To say the least, President Ford's decision to pardon President Nixon following Nixon's resignation was a controversial decision, but one that Ford felt was in the best interest of the country. After two years of non-stop Watergate news and numerous officials bound for jail, prosecutors were gearing up for a criminal trial to put the former president in prison. Ford pre-emptively pardoned Nixon, telling the country that it was time to begin the healing process and to focus on the other problems that were challenging America. Ultimately this decision cost Ford his bid for re-election in 1976, but years later his most vocal critics would publicly admit that Ford's brave decision truly was for the best.
Now I would like to hear from you. Choose an individual we have studied up to this point in US History and explain why that person deserves to be recognized as a true American hero. Back up your opinion with facts and observations. The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks and God bless!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Homework 3, Due April 16, 2010
This week we will discuss the most famous political scandal in our nation's history - the only scandal to bring down a presidency. Usually Americans are forgiving of politicians - ones they voted for, at least - and, while two presidents have been impeached, no president has ever been removed from office for "high crimes and misdemeanors", as stipulated by the Constitution. Of course, we'll never know, but it certainly seems obvious that had Richard Nixon not resigned the presidency in 1974, Congress would have made him the first to be impeached and convicted. In fact, were it not for a pardon by the next president (Gerald Ford), it is likely that Nixon would have been arrested and placed in jail for his part in the scheme, as was the case for several of Nixon's team members.
So what could possibly cause one of the most successful presidents to come to such a fate? His team cheated in the 1972 election and he and others helped cover up the crimes. Why would Nixon have done such a thing - especially given the fact that he could have won in 1972 without making any real effort? As we discussed in a previous lecture, a radical youth movement had captured control of the Democratic Party and most Americans weren't ready to go along with their extreme positions. Nixon's choices (and those of the people he chose to be on his team) were bizarre - and based on a notion that somehow the laws didn't apply to them. Remember, in a republic such as ours, everyone is equal under law, and no one, not even the president, has a right to act illegally.
For this week's assignment I would like you to first visit the following link: http://www.watergate.info/chronology/brief.shtml and read the brief timeline of events. Then choose two links (you'll find them on the side of the timeline under the heading that reads "home") from "Burglary" to "Aftermath" and report on your findings. Answer the questions: 1) Was the American system of government in danger of collapse? and 2) What should be done to ensure, within the boundaries of the constitution, that this doesn't happen again.
For those of you who like controversy, you may choose to report on the rather incendiary essay by former Nixon speech writer (and 1988/1992 presidential candidate) Patrick Buchanan, found under the "Analysis" link. Respond critically to his assertions and take a position - pro or con.
The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks, God bless, and welcom back!
So what could possibly cause one of the most successful presidents to come to such a fate? His team cheated in the 1972 election and he and others helped cover up the crimes. Why would Nixon have done such a thing - especially given the fact that he could have won in 1972 without making any real effort? As we discussed in a previous lecture, a radical youth movement had captured control of the Democratic Party and most Americans weren't ready to go along with their extreme positions. Nixon's choices (and those of the people he chose to be on his team) were bizarre - and based on a notion that somehow the laws didn't apply to them. Remember, in a republic such as ours, everyone is equal under law, and no one, not even the president, has a right to act illegally.
For this week's assignment I would like you to first visit the following link: http://www.watergate.info/chronology/brief.shtml and read the brief timeline of events. Then choose two links (you'll find them on the side of the timeline under the heading that reads "home") from "Burglary" to "Aftermath" and report on your findings. Answer the questions: 1) Was the American system of government in danger of collapse? and 2) What should be done to ensure, within the boundaries of the constitution, that this doesn't happen again.
For those of you who like controversy, you may choose to report on the rather incendiary essay by former Nixon speech writer (and 1988/1992 presidential candidate) Patrick Buchanan, found under the "Analysis" link. Respond critically to his assertions and take a position - pro or con.
The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks, God bless, and welcom back!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Homework 3, Due April 2, 2010
Because I will be busy this weekend and because next week is a short one, I’m posting this assignment early. It won’t be due until Friday night, April 2. There will be no assignment over spring break.
As we’ve discussed in lecture and earlier homework assignments, the Vietnam era was a difficult time for the US in many ways. In addition to the war the economy was bad for a very long time – but we’ll talk more about that later. It truly was a time of “culture war” within our country and there seemed to be no end to the anger and mounting violence. By 1960, due to the “Baby Boom” nearly 50% of the US population was under the age of 18, allowing for widespread revolt against the status quo (perhaps you’ve heard that modern Arab countries, hotbeds of terrorism, share the same statistic today). As we’ll discuss later in our study of the Civil Rights Movement, racial tensions boiled over into massive riots that engulfed entire communities in flames and turned inner cities into war zones.
As time went on and patience grew thin, there were occasions when law enforcement officials took the law into their own hands or acted in ways that failed to meet the high standards and expectations of a police force in a democracy. One such instance, as we discussed in lecture, was the “police riot” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968; another, also in Chicago involving the city police force, was the shooting deaths of two members of the Black Panthers (a radical civil rights group) in December of 1969. These relatively rare events were used by domestic (American) terrorists as justification for criminal violence.
It seems difficult to comprehend how things got so far out of hand, but perhaps current events demand that we do our best to understand the past. As I write this assignment there are news stories online concerning responses to the recent health care legislation. Members of both parties have been targeted; the office of one member of the House of Representatives was shot at and a coffin was left in front of another’s family home, to name a couple of extreme instances. In the 1970s every cause seemed to be radicalized and many believed that the worst was yet to come.
Although the followers of Charles Manson are epitomize the evil forces at work in that era and the Symbionese Liberation Army gained much more public attention, for our assignment this week we’ll focus on politically motivated homegrown terrorists. I’d like you to read about the Weather Underground Organization (WUO), a group that continues to be important today because some of the members are still politically active, having mostly avoided long prison sentences due to legal technicalities. As you read, consider the following questions and respond to them in your post: 1) what part (if any) of the story surprised you? 2) What fueled the anger of this group, and how should people act to bring about change they believe in? 3) How were these violent enemies of the status quo different from George Washington and our founding fathers?
Because memories of these events are still fresh for many people I found it difficult to locate a document that accurately shared the story without being politically skewed. Ironically, the best appeared at Wikipedia.org, which I have checked for accuracy and fairness. You may locate it at the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_(organization) .
The parameters of this assignment are exactly the same as all those that preceded it.
As we’ve discussed in lecture and earlier homework assignments, the Vietnam era was a difficult time for the US in many ways. In addition to the war the economy was bad for a very long time – but we’ll talk more about that later. It truly was a time of “culture war” within our country and there seemed to be no end to the anger and mounting violence. By 1960, due to the “Baby Boom” nearly 50% of the US population was under the age of 18, allowing for widespread revolt against the status quo (perhaps you’ve heard that modern Arab countries, hotbeds of terrorism, share the same statistic today). As we’ll discuss later in our study of the Civil Rights Movement, racial tensions boiled over into massive riots that engulfed entire communities in flames and turned inner cities into war zones.
As time went on and patience grew thin, there were occasions when law enforcement officials took the law into their own hands or acted in ways that failed to meet the high standards and expectations of a police force in a democracy. One such instance, as we discussed in lecture, was the “police riot” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968; another, also in Chicago involving the city police force, was the shooting deaths of two members of the Black Panthers (a radical civil rights group) in December of 1969. These relatively rare events were used by domestic (American) terrorists as justification for criminal violence.
It seems difficult to comprehend how things got so far out of hand, but perhaps current events demand that we do our best to understand the past. As I write this assignment there are news stories online concerning responses to the recent health care legislation. Members of both parties have been targeted; the office of one member of the House of Representatives was shot at and a coffin was left in front of another’s family home, to name a couple of extreme instances. In the 1970s every cause seemed to be radicalized and many believed that the worst was yet to come.
Although the followers of Charles Manson are epitomize the evil forces at work in that era and the Symbionese Liberation Army gained much more public attention, for our assignment this week we’ll focus on politically motivated homegrown terrorists. I’d like you to read about the Weather Underground Organization (WUO), a group that continues to be important today because some of the members are still politically active, having mostly avoided long prison sentences due to legal technicalities. As you read, consider the following questions and respond to them in your post: 1) what part (if any) of the story surprised you? 2) What fueled the anger of this group, and how should people act to bring about change they believe in? 3) How were these violent enemies of the status quo different from George Washington and our founding fathers?
Because memories of these events are still fresh for many people I found it difficult to locate a document that accurately shared the story without being politically skewed. Ironically, the best appeared at Wikipedia.org, which I have checked for accuracy and fairness. You may locate it at the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_(organization) .
The parameters of this assignment are exactly the same as all those that preceded it.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Homework 2, Due March 26, 2010
This week we will discuss the radicalization of the two political parties during the 1960s. The Democratic Party lurched "leftward" (more liberal) on the strength of anti-war sentiments and the most out-spoken elements of the counter-cultural revolution. By 1972 the party would nominate Sen. George McGovern, a candidate so liberal that most of America (including his home state of South Dakota) would be unable to support his run for the presidency.
On the other hand, a new conservatism was born during the 1960s that had several influences. First there were those who were opposed to the counter-cultural revolution. They saw the attacks on America's institutions by "hippies" as an insult and a dangerous opportunity for communists during the Cold War. This branch of conservatism was moved by issues and philosophies and tended to be very religious. One of the issues that was important to these cultural (or social) conservatives was the legalization of abortion, which became law as a result of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973.
Another branch of conservatism was primarily concerned with the perceived dangers of government over-spending as a result of the "Great Society" programs. While the US was used to deficits (going into debt) during wars, it became the regular practice to spend more than was coming in to fund things like Medicare, welfare, and public schools. Today the US is more than $12,000,000,000,000 in debt, and the amount grows every minute! This branch of conservatives are known as "fiscal conservatives", and the primary goal of this group is to cut government spending to balance the budget. Of course, many people consider themselves to be both social and fiscal conservatives, but it's important to remember that that is not always the case.
For your assignment this week I'd like you to research one of the following leaders of the political parties and discuss that individual's impact on American politics:
Democrats: Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, Eugene McCarthy
Republicans: Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan
Provide a brief biographical sketch of your subject and explain his political views. How do you think that individual changed his party? You might begin your research at the following link: http://virtualology.com/famousamericans/
Cite your sources and follow the grading expectations of every other assignment for this year. Thanks and God bless!
On the other hand, a new conservatism was born during the 1960s that had several influences. First there were those who were opposed to the counter-cultural revolution. They saw the attacks on America's institutions by "hippies" as an insult and a dangerous opportunity for communists during the Cold War. This branch of conservatism was moved by issues and philosophies and tended to be very religious. One of the issues that was important to these cultural (or social) conservatives was the legalization of abortion, which became law as a result of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973.
Another branch of conservatism was primarily concerned with the perceived dangers of government over-spending as a result of the "Great Society" programs. While the US was used to deficits (going into debt) during wars, it became the regular practice to spend more than was coming in to fund things like Medicare, welfare, and public schools. Today the US is more than $12,000,000,000,000 in debt, and the amount grows every minute! This branch of conservatives are known as "fiscal conservatives", and the primary goal of this group is to cut government spending to balance the budget. Of course, many people consider themselves to be both social and fiscal conservatives, but it's important to remember that that is not always the case.
For your assignment this week I'd like you to research one of the following leaders of the political parties and discuss that individual's impact on American politics:
Democrats: Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, Eugene McCarthy
Republicans: Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan
Provide a brief biographical sketch of your subject and explain his political views. How do you think that individual changed his party? You might begin your research at the following link: http://virtualology.com/famousamericans/
Cite your sources and follow the grading expectations of every other assignment for this year. Thanks and God bless!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Homework 1, Fourth Quarter, Due March 19, 2010
For a start, I'll let you in on something that's likely to warm your hearts. One of my classes at UK requires a weekly posting somewhat like these assignments. This week I sat down to do my homework and decided to post directly to blackboard instead of typing the assignment first on Word. You can guess the rest, and, yes, I was about finished when tragedy struck. I was mad at myself but had to grin when I thought of the times I'd warned you about the exact same thing.
Now on to your assignment. Of all the modern presidents none has captured the imagination of the US and world quite like John Kennedy. He was the first of his generation to be elected as president - the World War II generation, sometimes called the "greatest generation". Later Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush Sr would be elected from that generation, an unprecedented accomplishment that is unlikely to be equalled in the future.
Kennedy was to face several challenges upon assuming the presidency. The Cold War was in full gear and its effects were causing concern about nuclear war and increased commitment to Vietnam, among other things. Twice the US came to the brink of all-out war with the Soviet Union, and both events centered on the island of Cuba. In 1959, a year before Kennedy's election, Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government and assumed dictatorial powers. Amazingly, today, more than 50 years later, Castro is still in power, though his younger brother Raul governs the country.
As Castro came to power the Cuban army and many business elites of the country fled to the US - 30,000 of them were given citizenship in a single day, in fact, and their political and cultural influence is still powerful today, especially in parts of Florida. These Cuban-Americans despise Castro and were intent on staging a counter-revolution based in the US to regain control of their home country. This and other events caused the new Cuban government to reach out to the Soviets for support, which of course the communists were more than happy to supply. Ironically, the US CIA had actually assisted Castro in his revolution in order to get rid of the corrupt regime of Cuban President Batista. Almost accidentally a new communist country came into existence only 90 miles from the shores of south Florida - not a pleasing prospect for the US during the Cold War!
The first major confrontation came with the Bay of Pigs invasion, in which US-assisted Cuban-Americans invaded Cuba with disastrous results. The second was the "Cuban Missile Crisis" in which the US discovered that the Soviets were placing powerful inter-continental ballistic missiles - nuclear bombs - in Cuba, and they were going to be capable of destroying any US city. The world watched and waited as the Soviet ships bearing the missiles were intercepted by US naval vessels and a stand-off occurred. For thirteen days, no one knew if nuclear war would occur.
On both of these occasions many of Kennedy's advisors urged him to attack Cuba and use the nuclear capabilities of our armed forces. Instead, Kennedy chose to listen to a group of young advisors, many of them in their 20s and 30s, most important being his younger brother Robert (whom he'd appointed to be his Attourny General), and their advice kept the US from precipitating Word War III. I'd like you to chose one of these events and analyze Kennedy's abilities as president. Was he a good leader? Did he make the correct choice given what he knew at the time? Should he have acted differently?
For information about the Bay of Pigs Invasion, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/JFK+in+History/JFK+and+the+Bay+of+Pigs.htm
For information about the Cuban Missile Crisis, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/jfkl/cmc/cmc_intro.html
If there are other events in Kennedy's administration that you'd prefer to research, you may begin at the Kennedy Presidential Library homepage: http://www.jfklibrary.org/
Please note that the 4th quarter bonus opportunity will be posted sometime this week. God bless!
Now on to your assignment. Of all the modern presidents none has captured the imagination of the US and world quite like John Kennedy. He was the first of his generation to be elected as president - the World War II generation, sometimes called the "greatest generation". Later Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush Sr would be elected from that generation, an unprecedented accomplishment that is unlikely to be equalled in the future.
Kennedy was to face several challenges upon assuming the presidency. The Cold War was in full gear and its effects were causing concern about nuclear war and increased commitment to Vietnam, among other things. Twice the US came to the brink of all-out war with the Soviet Union, and both events centered on the island of Cuba. In 1959, a year before Kennedy's election, Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government and assumed dictatorial powers. Amazingly, today, more than 50 years later, Castro is still in power, though his younger brother Raul governs the country.
As Castro came to power the Cuban army and many business elites of the country fled to the US - 30,000 of them were given citizenship in a single day, in fact, and their political and cultural influence is still powerful today, especially in parts of Florida. These Cuban-Americans despise Castro and were intent on staging a counter-revolution based in the US to regain control of their home country. This and other events caused the new Cuban government to reach out to the Soviets for support, which of course the communists were more than happy to supply. Ironically, the US CIA had actually assisted Castro in his revolution in order to get rid of the corrupt regime of Cuban President Batista. Almost accidentally a new communist country came into existence only 90 miles from the shores of south Florida - not a pleasing prospect for the US during the Cold War!
The first major confrontation came with the Bay of Pigs invasion, in which US-assisted Cuban-Americans invaded Cuba with disastrous results. The second was the "Cuban Missile Crisis" in which the US discovered that the Soviets were placing powerful inter-continental ballistic missiles - nuclear bombs - in Cuba, and they were going to be capable of destroying any US city. The world watched and waited as the Soviet ships bearing the missiles were intercepted by US naval vessels and a stand-off occurred. For thirteen days, no one knew if nuclear war would occur.
On both of these occasions many of Kennedy's advisors urged him to attack Cuba and use the nuclear capabilities of our armed forces. Instead, Kennedy chose to listen to a group of young advisors, many of them in their 20s and 30s, most important being his younger brother Robert (whom he'd appointed to be his Attourny General), and their advice kept the US from precipitating Word War III. I'd like you to chose one of these events and analyze Kennedy's abilities as president. Was he a good leader? Did he make the correct choice given what he knew at the time? Should he have acted differently?
For information about the Bay of Pigs Invasion, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/JFK+in+History/JFK+and+the+Bay+of+Pigs.htm
For information about the Cuban Missile Crisis, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/jfkl/cmc/cmc_intro.html
If there are other events in Kennedy's administration that you'd prefer to research, you may begin at the Kennedy Presidential Library homepage: http://www.jfklibrary.org/
Please note that the 4th quarter bonus opportunity will be posted sometime this week. God bless!
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