Dennis Hart was a cab driver who became a Republican precinct captain. He said that he "was trying to be somebody" (237) "I want my death to be worth something" (237) Dennis Hart had a desire for a meaningful life, beyond that of a cab driver. He is poetic when he describes his desires and fears of his life. He is very opinonated, and this was shown when he says "I have seen Negros cry...It's a rare incident to see a white man cry. I.. If a Negro cries, he cries ecause he's truly hurt."(241) He makes assumptions that, I don't think he has much of a background in. He also talks about how, Goldwater lost the presidential race to Kennedy, he says that "the strong feeling towards Kennedy" (241) is why he lost the race.
Tom Kearney is a policeman, who worked as a patrolman and a detective. He talks about the corruption in his line of work. He says "when people attempt to offer a bribe. I know i've been negligent in my duty because I should have arrested that person... I just turn it down" (263) He then talks about his community, Bridgeport, and the diversity of different ethnicities of whites, as "there's no colored there". He then talks about his feelings of religion when he says "I find myself at odds with the Church at various times. I knew the nuns taught me some things that weren't true. At the same time, I realized they themselves didn't know whether they were true or not." (256) He also talks about how African Americans have "the same [objectives] as mine" (266) and that they are the same people as everyone else. He believes however, that African American's have a group mentality as he classifies all of them as one of the same. He talks about how African Americans say certain things, and doesn't consider that every person is different.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Jeremy's Comedy Blog
Many of you may have noticed my risque, comedic blog posts that I have made in the last few days. Since this is my school blog, and is thus tied to the school I have decided to take down the posts, and move them to my new blog
www.wwwblogspotcomjeremy.blogspot.com
As many of you know I always abide by and follow every rule every printed, and those not printed in the student handbook of Deerfield Highschool. Since these posts contained material that I and others have deemed "not school appropriate" I have decided to move them to my personal blog, and not tarnish the well regarded name of Deerfield Highschool.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
-Jeremy Sachs
P.S. Check out my new blog!
www.wwwblogspotcomjeremy.blogspot.com
www.wwwblogspotcomjeremy.blogspot.com
As many of you know I always abide by and follow every rule every printed, and those not printed in the student handbook of Deerfield Highschool. Since these posts contained material that I and others have deemed "not school appropriate" I have decided to move them to my personal blog, and not tarnish the well regarded name of Deerfield Highschool.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
-Jeremy Sachs
P.S. Check out my new blog!
www.wwwblogspotcomjeremy.blogspot.com
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Peter Ota and Betty Hutchinson
Peter Ota was a Japanese American, and his story encompassed the American government's treatment of Japanese during the war. His fatehr was arrested immediately following Pearl Harbor, and his mother contracted tuberculosis, leaving the children ages only 15 and 12 to fend for themselves in the world.When Peter Ota's father was arrested, he was not ashamed of his actions, because the Japanese have a culture of "Gaman" which means to preserve, and not to react. This was shown as Peter Ota's father didn't react to the fact that his own government took all that he had been working for in his life, and kept on trying to live. Peter's mother, however, was not as strong as Peter described her as being ashamed of your culture. Peter likened that to being "worse than death." This was especially awful for Peter Ota, because when he turned 18 he enlisted for the draft and was eventually drafted into the reserve. He was going to end up fighting for the nation that had imprisioned his whole family. Fortunately, the war ended before Peter was sent into service in Europe. Peter felt thathe had to prove himself, and later in his life, he felt so ashamed of his Japanese culture, that he eventually moved to a white suburb and nearly abandoned his Japanese heritage.
Betty Hutchinson was a nurse during World War 2, she volunteered with the Red Cross and witnessed the horrors of World War 2. Her perspective was drastically different from other women who were working in the factoreis. She saw first hand, the awful things that happened to the men in the war, and has to live with the awful things that she saw. It was all very depressing for her, all the sadness and the tragedies that these men faced. And despite one and a half years of service she said " I can't say I ever really became used to it" And the soldiers "never talked of the horrors". Then she says she disagrees with the romancing of war. She says that war is awful, and that it is impossible to capture the horrors of war.
Both these stories describe the dark sides of war, and how it is hard to cope with the tragedies of war. Although these two people weren't soldiers, they were still affectd by the war, and shows how war affects more people than are actually fighting in the war.
Betty Hutchinson was a nurse during World War 2, she volunteered with the Red Cross and witnessed the horrors of World War 2. Her perspective was drastically different from other women who were working in the factoreis. She saw first hand, the awful things that happened to the men in the war, and has to live with the awful things that she saw. It was all very depressing for her, all the sadness and the tragedies that these men faced. And despite one and a half years of service she said " I can't say I ever really became used to it" And the soldiers "never talked of the horrors". Then she says she disagrees with the romancing of war. She says that war is awful, and that it is impossible to capture the horrors of war.
Both these stories describe the dark sides of war, and how it is hard to cope with the tragedies of war. Although these two people weren't soldiers, they were still affectd by the war, and shows how war affects more people than are actually fighting in the war.
Monday, April 25, 2011
EB Sledge and Peggy Terry
E.B. Sledge was a soldier in the Marines, and had fought at Guadalcanal. He described the courage and bravery that the young men possessed, despite the fact that "eighty percent of the division in the Guadalcanal campaign was less than twenty-one years of age."(197) He cited how he felt that there were two different wars. On the front lines "you don't come off until you are wounded or killed." (197) But despite this harsh reality of war, men had the courage to continue fighting and risking their lives. An example of this was how Sledge described how he had " never heard of self-inflicted wounds out there." (197) To combat these hardships the soldier on the front line "develops this insensitivity because it is the only way he can cope." (199) He then goes on to tell horrific stories of war that had transformed mild-mannered men into quasi-savages.
Peggy Terry was a woman from rural Kentucky, who had worked in a shell factory creating rounds of ammunition. She describes how bad the conditions were for her and others as her mom was fired when her "mother took sick and died and Mamma asked for time off and they told her no." (191) She describes how little the plant workers knew of "human rights, union rights" (191) She describes how her world was " very small" (192) and that the factory job was the "first time [her] mother ever worked at anything except in the fields" (192). The Homefront after the war was jubilent, people were giving away free loaves of bread, and women got pregnant celebrating their husband's return. However she had also been turned against her faith. She tells of how 'the Bible says, Thou shalt not kill, it doesn't say, Except in a time of war." (195).
The homefront was happy that the war had ended, but it was also upset for the tragedies that happened during the war. The war had a large impact on the lives of the the soldiers, and EB Sledge's stories of war were jarring to think about. War is a troubling experience, and the horror stories really make you question whether war, despite how noble, is worth people dying and going through these traumatic experiences over.
Peggy Terry was a woman from rural Kentucky, who had worked in a shell factory creating rounds of ammunition. She describes how bad the conditions were for her and others as her mom was fired when her "mother took sick and died and Mamma asked for time off and they told her no." (191) She describes how little the plant workers knew of "human rights, union rights" (191) She describes how her world was " very small" (192) and that the factory job was the "first time [her] mother ever worked at anything except in the fields" (192). The Homefront after the war was jubilent, people were giving away free loaves of bread, and women got pregnant celebrating their husband's return. However she had also been turned against her faith. She tells of how 'the Bible says, Thou shalt not kill, it doesn't say, Except in a time of war." (195).
The homefront was happy that the war had ended, but it was also upset for the tragedies that happened during the war. The war had a large impact on the lives of the the soldiers, and EB Sledge's stories of war were jarring to think about. War is a troubling experience, and the horror stories really make you question whether war, despite how noble, is worth people dying and going through these traumatic experiences over.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Jane Yoder and Peggy Terry
These stories told the hardships of the Depression. Both the mental effects exemplified by Jane Yoder's father who "took a great deal of pyschological abuse" (127), and also they were "struggling, just desperate to be warm." (127). Jane Yoder also talks about how the government WPA program, which provided a much needed stable job for the family. This allowed for the family to be able to get the necessities needed to survive. Peggy Terry talked about the depression as a whole, and the thousands of people out of work, and in the soup lines, people who lived in holes in the ground and the dust storms. A combination of all these factors must of been unbearable for them. Terry also talks about her struggle, and how everybody was accepting, because they were all in the same position. She says "But among the people that I knew, we all had an understanding that it wasn't our fault" (141). She also talks about how despite all these problems, she still had the ability to have white supremacy feelings. She said " As long as you can say I'm better than they are, then there's somebody below you can kick." (143) and because of the hard times, she must have sought this power and superiority that she lacked in her life, although this is not the correct way to accomplish that.
Overall, the Depression was an awful time period where many people suffered, and struggled to survive, both mentally and physically. Jane Yoder and Peggy Terry, explained their horrible experiences during the Depression and remembered how hard it was to do the things we take for granted today. We should try and appreciate how fortunate we are today, that we don't have to go through these traumatic experiences, and we can learn from our past mistakes, to try and prevent this from hapening again.
Overall, the Depression was an awful time period where many people suffered, and struggled to survive, both mentally and physically. Jane Yoder and Peggy Terry, explained their horrible experiences during the Depression and remembered how hard it was to do the things we take for granted today. We should try and appreciate how fortunate we are today, that we don't have to go through these traumatic experiences, and we can learn from our past mistakes, to try and prevent this from hapening again.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Assignment 2
Arthur Robertson
Robertson was a business mogul during the Great Depression. He talked about how the lack of regulations lead to shady business in the stock market. He also explained how, people's habits of buying what they couldn't afford on credit lead to the great depression.
It is easy to see the parallels from the Great Depression to our recent recession. Many people use credit cards, and end up with large quantities of credit card debt, because they are spending money they don't have. It is important for people to understand their past, so they can learn for the future. This is a prime example of that, as many people today are making the same mistakes as these other people have made during the depression. Another interesting concept to think about, is government regulation, and the fine line between freedom and safety. In the stock market many people took advantage of loopholes, which allowed them to make large sums of money at other's expenses. The government had to step in in order to save the problem, but when do too many regulations limit a person's economic freedom in the free market economy? These questions still loom today, citing another connection from the past to the future.
Oscar Heline
Heline was a farmer who wrote new laws to help farmers during the Great Depression. He told how many farmers would be burning food, in order to raise the prices, despite many people going hungry.
Many farmers lived in difficult situations, only making enough money to barely get by. The legislation that the farmers themselves passed, helped them recover out of the situation. This shows how people should take a more active role in government, as they know their industry better than anyone else. The paradox between the farmers burning their food and killing their pigs in order to make more money seemed appalling. Hopefully in the future we will be able to make sure that the people who work hard to provide our country with food are treated fairly.
Robertson was a business mogul during the Great Depression. He talked about how the lack of regulations lead to shady business in the stock market. He also explained how, people's habits of buying what they couldn't afford on credit lead to the great depression.
It is easy to see the parallels from the Great Depression to our recent recession. Many people use credit cards, and end up with large quantities of credit card debt, because they are spending money they don't have. It is important for people to understand their past, so they can learn for the future. This is a prime example of that, as many people today are making the same mistakes as these other people have made during the depression. Another interesting concept to think about, is government regulation, and the fine line between freedom and safety. In the stock market many people took advantage of loopholes, which allowed them to make large sums of money at other's expenses. The government had to step in in order to save the problem, but when do too many regulations limit a person's economic freedom in the free market economy? These questions still loom today, citing another connection from the past to the future.
Oscar Heline
Heline was a farmer who wrote new laws to help farmers during the Great Depression. He told how many farmers would be burning food, in order to raise the prices, despite many people going hungry.
Many farmers lived in difficult situations, only making enough money to barely get by. The legislation that the farmers themselves passed, helped them recover out of the situation. This shows how people should take a more active role in government, as they know their industry better than anyone else. The paradox between the farmers burning their food and killing their pigs in order to make more money seemed appalling. Hopefully in the future we will be able to make sure that the people who work hard to provide our country with food are treated fairly.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Assignment One
C.P. Ellis
Ellis had grown up poor, and had been sucked into the cycle of poverty, much as his father had. Ellis was frustrated because no matter how hard he worked, he could never make enough money. Intrestingly, he found that it was easy to put the blame on African Americans, like the klan had. He ended up joining the klan, because in the klan, he was able to advance in society, unlike his life outside of the klan, as he became the president of his klan chapter. The most remarkable thing about Ellis however, was his open mindedness. It is easy to assume that since Ellis was a klan member, that he lacked empathy and wasn't open to new ideas. However, Ellis rose up to the challenge of reforming segregation in the schools, and with an African American as his partner, he began to see African Americans as equal. He used his newfound ideals to inspire change in the world, by becoming a civil rights activist, and a trade union organizer.
Ellis was an empathetic man, but because of his life's circumstances, had joined the klan not out of racism, but out of a need for acceptance. To me he is an example of change in South, as people grew more accepting of African Americans. People judged out of hate, and ignorance, but as Ellis had shown, that it takes courage. To learn and accept something that one had preconcieved notions about, is a symbol of courage and hope, and one that he wanted other Southerners to embelish.
Andy Johnson
Johnson was an immigrant who had came to America. He was fired for speaking his mind and calling for a fair working system. He was then barred from all mining companies, making it impossible for him to find work.
Johnson talked about the American Dream, and how he thought it was possible, but not at the rate that the country was heading 1906. He said "If we continue at the current trend we're gonna go straight to hell...It's up to the people" (42). He stated how the gap in wealth between people made life wonderful for some, while miserable for others. What Johnsonwanted was for people to all have the same opportunities for success, so that everybody could live a great life, not just those who profited off those who didn't have an opportunity. Johnson emodies the feelings of hope for change in America, as he knows that we have the ability to be great, we just needed to do something about it otherwise we're heading for disaster. As Johnson said " I see a wonderful future for humanity, or the end of it." (42)
Ellis had grown up poor, and had been sucked into the cycle of poverty, much as his father had. Ellis was frustrated because no matter how hard he worked, he could never make enough money. Intrestingly, he found that it was easy to put the blame on African Americans, like the klan had. He ended up joining the klan, because in the klan, he was able to advance in society, unlike his life outside of the klan, as he became the president of his klan chapter. The most remarkable thing about Ellis however, was his open mindedness. It is easy to assume that since Ellis was a klan member, that he lacked empathy and wasn't open to new ideas. However, Ellis rose up to the challenge of reforming segregation in the schools, and with an African American as his partner, he began to see African Americans as equal. He used his newfound ideals to inspire change in the world, by becoming a civil rights activist, and a trade union organizer.
Ellis was an empathetic man, but because of his life's circumstances, had joined the klan not out of racism, but out of a need for acceptance. To me he is an example of change in South, as people grew more accepting of African Americans. People judged out of hate, and ignorance, but as Ellis had shown, that it takes courage. To learn and accept something that one had preconcieved notions about, is a symbol of courage and hope, and one that he wanted other Southerners to embelish.
Andy Johnson
Johnson was an immigrant who had came to America. He was fired for speaking his mind and calling for a fair working system. He was then barred from all mining companies, making it impossible for him to find work.
Johnson talked about the American Dream, and how he thought it was possible, but not at the rate that the country was heading 1906. He said "If we continue at the current trend we're gonna go straight to hell...It's up to the people" (42). He stated how the gap in wealth between people made life wonderful for some, while miserable for others. What Johnsonwanted was for people to all have the same opportunities for success, so that everybody could live a great life, not just those who profited off those who didn't have an opportunity. Johnson emodies the feelings of hope for change in America, as he knows that we have the ability to be great, we just needed to do something about it otherwise we're heading for disaster. As Johnson said " I see a wonderful future for humanity, or the end of it." (42)
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