The Message Behind The Music

"Compelled
Can we clean up this mess
The loss of loved ones
A perverse request
They continue the same rhetoric
These derelicts that profit
Win or lose"

Similar to the many songs that we heard in class about the Vietnam Conflict, these lyrics from the song "Prophets of War" by Dream Theater contain a much deeper message than what it heard. These words speak of the hate brought about by the current conflict in the Middle East. It claims that we are simply trying to clean up a mess, and that the death of our loved ones is an awful thing to ask. These lyrics also make point to take a small shot at the politicians in our country who continually try to keep our troops overseas. The song points out that they are crooks, and should not be the ones deciding the fate of our loved ones. Just like the music of the Vietnam era, these words are at the heart of a revolution. Perhaps not on the same scale as what happened in the '60s, but the meaning is the same.

Topic 12!

Truman Doctrine:
-1947. 
- Provide military and economic aid to fight communism around the globe.
-Stop the spread of communism at all costs.

Containment Policy:

- Contain communism around the globe.

-Using economic, military, and other means.

-Led us into multiple armed conflicts in foreign countries.

-We are still in Korea at this time due to this.

U.S. Foreign Policy (Korea & Vietnam)

- Went into Korea to help support the free Koreans and push the communists out.

-Ended up doing so, and providing long term support.

-Still train South Korean troops, and are present on the border of North and South Korea.

-Went into Vietnam with similar intentions, however had a different outcome.

-Guerrilla warfare led to the U.S. troops being at a loss in Vietnam.

-Lacked support at home.

-Ended up leaving Vietnam with little accomplished.

 
Intervention

-We intervened around the globe in order to slow the spread of communism.

-Examples are found in: Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba.

Cold War Development

- Fear of communism

-Fear that the Soviet Union would be come as "advanced" as the United States.

-Involved the Space Race, which led to the US landing on the moon.

-Also lead to a nuclear arms race, which saw both countries develop large nuclear arsenals. 

-Led to Cuban Missile Crisis.

WWII Foreign Policy vs Post WWII Foreign Policy

- Before WWII= At all costs.

-After WWII= Limited warfare

-A limited war does not utilize all the resources of the country.

-Limited wars are very long, and hard to win.

Examples of Containment in Europe

-The Berlin airlift.

-The division of Berlin

-Marshall Plan

Main Points of Division of Germany

- East Germany was communist under the rule of the USSR. 

-West Germany was free and governed by France, Great Britain, and the US

-Berlin was also divided in the same manor.

Douglas MacArthur Dismissal

- MacArthur did not listen to orders from President Truman.

-Truman feared that MacArthur was becoming too powerful.

-Rather than deal with insubordination and a power struggle, Truman replaced him.

Korean War Similarities with Persian Gulf War

- Both supported but not fully fought by the United States.

-Both in an attempt to stop invading communist countries from gaining control of a country.

Nuclear Test Ban

- In August 1963, nuclear able countries agreed to stop the testing of Nuclear weapons.

-Testing did not truly stop until 1998.

Long Term Effects of Vietnam

-Countries around the world knowing how committed the United States is to stopping communism.

-The realization that a limited war is not easy to win or fight.

-Make the United States cautious to become involved in foreign conflicts.

Peace Corps

-An American organization developed to help developing nations.

-Brings education

-Also brings better image of the United States to developing nations.

-Very present in many third world countries.

End of Cold War

-The Cold War was brought to an end with the Fall of the Berlin wall in Germany. 

Domino Theory

-Communism can spread like domino's.

-When one country becomes communist, many of the surrounding nations become more likely to fall to communism.

Nixon's Détente

- Easing tensions between the Soviets and U.S.

-One of the most important policies of the Nixon presidency. 

The Media then, the Media Now..

In the days of the Vietnam and the Korean War, the media had a certain way which they discussed the conflicts. There was a certain sense of patronization, and cynicism in the writing of the media at that time. It was never the case that one would read a story in full fledge support of the war. The media always showed the public the worst that was happening overseas. On the news at night there would never be pictures of triumphant soldiers or the daily lives of these men. All that was to be seen was the dead bodies; the children, the civilians, mutilated in the streets. The pure evil did exist there, but there was much that was not evil, and yet was never seen by the public.

Another point that differs from the medias past and present is their approach to the issues. In todays day and age the media constantly looks at the issues from a political perspective. There is always something that can be related to the current political situation in our country and thus used to rip apart said politicians. 50 years ago, the media had more important things to discuss.This is not to say that they left politics out of their stories, it is only meant to say that politics was not the main point.

Tweet, Tweet.

From the Twitter Account of President John F. Kennedy.

Mr. Prez

Castro in power in Cuba, what great news for the American Public

1/1/58 14:02

Mr. Prez

Soviets are at it again... What is it about these godforsaken COMMUNISTS! 

12/19/60 14:45

Mr. Prez
So much for diplomacy with Cuba.
1/3/61 8:04AM

 Mr. Prez
We are not going to get involved in Cuba, lets just let the Cubans handle this one.
4/16/61 5:04PM

 Mr. Prez
Just got a very disturbing memo from the men at the CIA... What now?
8/10/62 6:45AM
 Mr. Prez
I guess this is it, i did what i had to for the good of my people. Pono will be restored my people.
8/10/62 6:45AM


Mr. Prez
Pressure on all fronts to take action in Cuba, i know that something must be done, but how will the public feel about war..
8/31/62 6:45AM


Mr. Prez
Tomorrow is the day.. we will finally know for sure what is going on in Cuba.
10/8/62 6:45AM


Mr. Prez
Keating was right... Time to take action.
8/14/62 6:45AM


Mr. Prez
We're all ready for action.. the ball is in Khrushchev's court now.
8/25/62 10:45AM


Mr. Prez
Last minute deal has been made.. Crisis averted. 
8/28/62 7:45AM

Ever Present Civil Rights Threats.

Little Rock, Arkansas. Jena, Louisiana. Very different, and yet exactly the same. One happened in the 1960s, while the other occurred a mere 4 years ago. And yet, we have the nerve to say that the era of Civil Rights issues is behind us. It hurts me to think that we still live in a country in which students my own age are persecuted because of the color of their skin. We have seen the fight for equality. We have heard the screams of terror from our peers. Yet, when will this all finally end. Under our own noses this is happening. In a town of upper class behavior, and peace, we can still today see a bus driver not let a student on a bus because he feels the student cannot possible live in such a town. Why? Because he is black.

To stand up in front of a class full of students, and preach that we have equality. To say that the Civil Rights era say an end to the hatred, and the discrimination that was once seen in our country. To do all this: is a crime. And until we can honestly preach equality, perhaps we should start trying to make it so.

What Means are Necessary?

When looking at the Civil Rights movement in our country, two names immanently jump out: Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. These two men drove the Civil Rights push in the 1960s, however they did so using two drastically different means. King was all about nonviolent protesting, civil disobedience, and sit ins; perhaps he could be likened to a American Gandhi in his methods. X however, was very contrary to Kings methods. He believed that their goal should be accomplished by "any means necessary." So i suppose the question is, what means truly were "necessary"?

We must begin by looking at what the goals of the movement was before we can analyze which method was the most effective. Though there were innumerable goals during the Civil Rights Movement, here is the short list:

• meaningful civil rights laws,
• a massive federal works program,
• full and fair employment,
• decent housing,
• the right to vote, and
• adequate integrated education.

With these few goals in mind, we can begin to discuss the methods that should be used in order to accomplish such. Though it seems that at times violence, and hatred is the only way that things can change, and things can be accomplished; in this case, i think that is not the answer. When we get to the root of the Civil Rights Movement, it was racism. So the question is, why? African-Americans where at one point only Africans. They were brought into the United States as slaves. At that time, they were seen as less than human, barbaric, and generally no good. For this reason, violence and hatred is not the answer. Violence is exactly what the tormentors wanted. They wanted nothing more than a picture of video of a Black man beating a White man. For if they had this, was not their point proven? 

Meritocracy or Meritocrazy?

Meritocracy, defined as an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class privilege or wealth, is a concept as old as democracy. This is a very similar idea that philosophers such as Plato preached in Ancient Greece, ideas that even Plato but off as idealistic, and unpractical.


America has always been a country in which people come, and are told that they can achieve the dream, and they can have a better life. However, as a country, we fail to live up to our open promises. Perhaps we should place an asterisk next to the welcome sign. For all the good that is found in our country, and was found in our country since it's birth, there is an equal amount of bad. We do not live in a country where anyone can achieve the "American dream". Hell, it should not even be referred to as the "American dream," perhaps "White European American dream" would be a more fitting title.  


The fact that third grade teachers, who are divided by the color of their eyes and made out to be either inferior or superior, felt the sting of racism in a day makes it hard to believe that someone who is exposed to this on a daily basis could possibly achieve such greatness. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, and in todays world it is even more common. However, is not the fact that when we see a black, Hispanic, or any other race of people in a position of prominence and are amazed at what they must have had to overcome to get there evidence enough that meritocracy is not here.


Perhaps it can be found somewhere. Perhaps someday. Perhaps.