I chose the Space Race movement because, like I stated before researching about Apollo 11, space is such an engrossing topic to me. It is hard to imagine how it was for the people in the 50s and 60s to see something that was thought to be impossible. I hope that I will get to experience something as astounding as seeing the exploration of space for the first time someday.
Prezi Presentation: http://prezi.com/x910pv5cywnr/the-space-race/
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Movements - Space Race - Annotated Bibliography
Sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race
This Wikipedia article is very thorough and detailed. It starts explaining the beginning of the movement which would be during WWII when the Soviet Union, the U.S., and Great Britain would attain German rocket engineers, their rockets, and their designs. The Cold War also prompted the Space Race because this war was actually, according to Wikipedia, a continuing state of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition, primarily between the Soviet Union and the U.S. The Soviet Union was the first country to Outer Space with the launch of Sputnik. The USSR also launched the first man into space. The U.S. got the first man onto the moon, though, which was in the mission called Apollo 11. By the 1970s, the United States began inventing reusable spacecraft called the Space Shuttle while the USSR continued to develop space station technology. By 1991, the USSR ended its space program and distributed it amongst other Eastern European countries. The U.S. and Russia would work together in space with the Shuttle-Mir Program and the International Space Station. This article is a credible source because it is extensively cited and has a lot of references.
2. http://www.thespacerace.com/
This website is also very detailed in its information about the Space Race. It is mainly focused on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs along with the people involved in the space programs and government. The timeline from the very beginning, Sputnik, to the end of launching into space, the 1969 first precision landing, was extremely fascinating to read. There are biographies on every man and woman involved in the space program as well as in-depth articles on the technology. Again, this website is very informational, and I have enjoyed my time getting to read most of it! This website is a credible source because its references and sources are from NASA and other government websites. It has also been attaining this information for ten years, so it is probably not a high school student and is a knowledgeable author.
3. http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal114/
This Smithsonian website includes information and pictures on past, current, and future exhibitions for the Air and Space Museum. (I went there this summer.. I was most excited to see this museum.. And it was well worth it! I loved every moment of it!) There is also a gallery on the Fifty First Years of Human Space Flight. It is like a more-detailed timeline with primary sources. Some things I learned about, which are specific features in the world of space, are the Skylab Orbital Workshop, the largest component of America's first space station, and the Minutemen Guidance System, which has led indirectly to today's inexpensive computing power and the mass production of [computer] chips. This website is a definite credible sources because it is from the Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute administered and funded by the U.S. government.
4. http://www.vibrationdata.com/SpaceRace.htm
This website is a nice, clear, and concise article from categories of Early Rocket History to Sputnik to U.S. and Soviet Union Achievements to Astronauts/Cosmonauts deaths to Apollo 11. I learned a lot about early rocket history and its scientists that none of my other sources included. Two scientists that were two of the first to start researching and inventing for rocket science, really caught my eye while reading. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (And don't get that confused with the Russian composer, Tchaikovsky) was a Russian school teacher who developed the basic theory of rocket propulsion. He wrote an article in 1903 called "The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Reaction Propulsion Apparatuses" and developed manned spacecraft in later writings. His design included garden plants for oxygen and liquid oxygen and hydrogen propelled the spacecraft. The other scientist, Robert Goddard, launched the world's first successful liquid-propelled rocket, which was fueled by liquid oxygen and gasoline. The credibility of this cite was questioned at first because of the unknown background of the author, Tome Irvine. I searched him on the internet and found a Google Profile about him. His occupation is with Shock and Vibration Analysis (He works at Vibrationdata - Also the name of the website), performs mechanical shock and vibration analyses on rocket vehicles, and teaches shock and vibration analysis. His background and knowledge on the field of rockets seems to be backed up by his occupation. I find this website as a credible source.
About The Space Race and Reflection
1. What is a movement?
A movement is a large group or people, or organizations, that focus on specific political or social issues and resist against the issue in order to change it. In other words, it is a group of people that will fight to get what they want or believe what is right for the better of everyone or just themselves. For example, the Civil Rights Movement, in the United States, was a movement to stop racial discrimination against African Americans and other minorities.
2. Why is your movement important to U.S. history?
The Space Race is important to U.S. history because it lead to more knowledge of Earth's moon and the universe and helped our country find a productive topic of interest and goal to complete. The Space Race overshadowed the Cold War and helped make the war a technological and research competition rather than a possible World War III. This was also a battle of ideology. This movement was used to help the U.S.S.R. Communists and the U.S. Capitalists prove which political system works best. Both sides wanted to prove that their system worked better, so this race was extremely important for both sides to win.
3. How did this movement influence movements after it?
This movement, the Space Race, being a pretty specific subject compared to many other movements, has particularly influenced the Environmental Movement. The Environmental Movement focuses on conservation, green politics, and the caring for our Earth's resources. The Space Race unexpectedly facilitated the Environmental Movement because of the first color pictures of Earth, showing a fragile, blue planet amongst darkness. The picture from Apollo 8 titled Earthrise and the first picture to show the full circular earth, Apollo 17's The Blue Marble, became iconic pictures for the Environmental Movement. The Apollo 8 picture partly instigated the first Earth Day. Also, astronauts mentioning how Earth looks so fragile from space and how it is our only home for now triggered the want and need to keep our world clean and harmonious.
4. How did your movement affect your community and what signs of it do you see there?
The Space Race has affected my community mainly with the advancement of technology. The signs are all around us. Just from one machine, the Minutemen Guidance System, we have an easy, inexpensive computing power as well as computer chips being able to be mass produced. Other than technology, the Space Race has greatly affected the genre of science fiction. Science fiction and outer space coincide with one another with the goal of searching through the unknown and finding answers. The simplest of materials were also created for our use today. These materials range from plastics to polyesters to memory foam to LEDs to infrared ear thermometers and to artificial limbs. The technology and materials created from the Space Race and NASA are endless and without these commodities, our lives would be very different.
5. Now that you have learned about this movement, what questions do you have about the movement?
What questions do I have about the movement? Hmm... Most of my questions and statements that I wonder to myself are mostly about... How did the Space Race movement end? Did the Cold War ever actually end? This puzzles me. I understand that the Soviet Union eventually collapsed, and they also distributed their space program amongst other European countries, but this subject still has me wondering at some points. But other than those questions, my other questions have been answered to a degree of satisfaction.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race
This Wikipedia article is very thorough and detailed. It starts explaining the beginning of the movement which would be during WWII when the Soviet Union, the U.S., and Great Britain would attain German rocket engineers, their rockets, and their designs. The Cold War also prompted the Space Race because this war was actually, according to Wikipedia, a continuing state of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition, primarily between the Soviet Union and the U.S. The Soviet Union was the first country to Outer Space with the launch of Sputnik. The USSR also launched the first man into space. The U.S. got the first man onto the moon, though, which was in the mission called Apollo 11. By the 1970s, the United States began inventing reusable spacecraft called the Space Shuttle while the USSR continued to develop space station technology. By 1991, the USSR ended its space program and distributed it amongst other Eastern European countries. The U.S. and Russia would work together in space with the Shuttle-Mir Program and the International Space Station. This article is a credible source because it is extensively cited and has a lot of references.
2. http://www.thespacerace.com/
This website is also very detailed in its information about the Space Race. It is mainly focused on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs along with the people involved in the space programs and government. The timeline from the very beginning, Sputnik, to the end of launching into space, the 1969 first precision landing, was extremely fascinating to read. There are biographies on every man and woman involved in the space program as well as in-depth articles on the technology. Again, this website is very informational, and I have enjoyed my time getting to read most of it! This website is a credible source because its references and sources are from NASA and other government websites. It has also been attaining this information for ten years, so it is probably not a high school student and is a knowledgeable author.
3. http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal114/
This Smithsonian website includes information and pictures on past, current, and future exhibitions for the Air and Space Museum. (I went there this summer.. I was most excited to see this museum.. And it was well worth it! I loved every moment of it!) There is also a gallery on the Fifty First Years of Human Space Flight. It is like a more-detailed timeline with primary sources. Some things I learned about, which are specific features in the world of space, are the Skylab Orbital Workshop, the largest component of America's first space station, and the Minutemen Guidance System, which has led indirectly to today's inexpensive computing power and the mass production of [computer] chips. This website is a definite credible sources because it is from the Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute administered and funded by the U.S. government.
4. http://www.vibrationdata.com/SpaceRace.htm
This website is a nice, clear, and concise article from categories of Early Rocket History to Sputnik to U.S. and Soviet Union Achievements to Astronauts/Cosmonauts deaths to Apollo 11. I learned a lot about early rocket history and its scientists that none of my other sources included. Two scientists that were two of the first to start researching and inventing for rocket science, really caught my eye while reading. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (And don't get that confused with the Russian composer, Tchaikovsky) was a Russian school teacher who developed the basic theory of rocket propulsion. He wrote an article in 1903 called "The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Reaction Propulsion Apparatuses" and developed manned spacecraft in later writings. His design included garden plants for oxygen and liquid oxygen and hydrogen propelled the spacecraft. The other scientist, Robert Goddard, launched the world's first successful liquid-propelled rocket, which was fueled by liquid oxygen and gasoline. The credibility of this cite was questioned at first because of the unknown background of the author, Tome Irvine. I searched him on the internet and found a Google Profile about him. His occupation is with Shock and Vibration Analysis (He works at Vibrationdata - Also the name of the website), performs mechanical shock and vibration analyses on rocket vehicles, and teaches shock and vibration analysis. His background and knowledge on the field of rockets seems to be backed up by his occupation. I find this website as a credible source.
About The Space Race and Reflection
1. What is a movement?
A movement is a large group or people, or organizations, that focus on specific political or social issues and resist against the issue in order to change it. In other words, it is a group of people that will fight to get what they want or believe what is right for the better of everyone or just themselves. For example, the Civil Rights Movement, in the United States, was a movement to stop racial discrimination against African Americans and other minorities.
2. Why is your movement important to U.S. history?
The Space Race is important to U.S. history because it lead to more knowledge of Earth's moon and the universe and helped our country find a productive topic of interest and goal to complete. The Space Race overshadowed the Cold War and helped make the war a technological and research competition rather than a possible World War III. This was also a battle of ideology. This movement was used to help the U.S.S.R. Communists and the U.S. Capitalists prove which political system works best. Both sides wanted to prove that their system worked better, so this race was extremely important for both sides to win.
3. How did this movement influence movements after it?
This movement, the Space Race, being a pretty specific subject compared to many other movements, has particularly influenced the Environmental Movement. The Environmental Movement focuses on conservation, green politics, and the caring for our Earth's resources. The Space Race unexpectedly facilitated the Environmental Movement because of the first color pictures of Earth, showing a fragile, blue planet amongst darkness. The picture from Apollo 8 titled Earthrise and the first picture to show the full circular earth, Apollo 17's The Blue Marble, became iconic pictures for the Environmental Movement. The Apollo 8 picture partly instigated the first Earth Day. Also, astronauts mentioning how Earth looks so fragile from space and how it is our only home for now triggered the want and need to keep our world clean and harmonious.
4. How did your movement affect your community and what signs of it do you see there?
The Space Race has affected my community mainly with the advancement of technology. The signs are all around us. Just from one machine, the Minutemen Guidance System, we have an easy, inexpensive computing power as well as computer chips being able to be mass produced. Other than technology, the Space Race has greatly affected the genre of science fiction. Science fiction and outer space coincide with one another with the goal of searching through the unknown and finding answers. The simplest of materials were also created for our use today. These materials range from plastics to polyesters to memory foam to LEDs to infrared ear thermometers and to artificial limbs. The technology and materials created from the Space Race and NASA are endless and without these commodities, our lives would be very different.
5. Now that you have learned about this movement, what questions do you have about the movement?
What questions do I have about the movement? Hmm... Most of my questions and statements that I wonder to myself are mostly about... How did the Space Race movement end? Did the Cold War ever actually end? This puzzles me. I understand that the Soviet Union eventually collapsed, and they also distributed their space program amongst other European countries, but this subject still has me wondering at some points. But other than those questions, my other questions have been answered to a degree of satisfaction.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Conflict - Project - War Letters
Enlisting: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter1_5a.html
This letter is from a sister, Flora, to her brother, Claude, who is boarding a bus to leave for active duty in WWII. I would describe this letter as poetry, a poem, from Flora to Claude. She is describing how he will do great things for his country. She is also saying to remember the wonderful things where he lives, the orchard, the birds, the beautiful scenery in each season, especially in the dark days of war. She mentions him being the only son of their mother and telling him to imagine a goodnight kiss from his mother as well as their forever love from them.
Comforts of Home: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter2/chapter2_6a.html
This Christmas letter is from Corporal Brett G. Coughlin to his girlfriend, Kit, who he will later marry. He was stationed at the port of Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia in 1990, during the Persian Gulf War. Brett is thanking Kit for the presents that he received and got to open on Christmas morning. He is also describing the rather eventful Christmas day when there were camels that were trying to take their 1 ft. tall Christmas tree that another soldier received from his parents. He also stated that after the camels took the tree and they retrieved it, that they then lead the camels with popcorn to another tank of men that they were conflicting with. What a funny war letter to read!
Love: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter3/chapter3_6a.html
This letter is from a recipient of the Bronze Medal, Air Medal, and Purple Heart, Dean Allen to his wife, Joyce. He was ordered to Vietnam only two years after he was married. Four days after writing to Joyce, he stepped on a land mine. While he was being evacuated, there was a second explosion. Three days later, he passed away. In his letter, he is talking about his fears about any of his men getting killed or wounded. Him being the the Lieutenant has put more stress on him, and his letter shows that emotion. He also mentions that he is afraid to start any friendships or bonding with any of his men because if any of them got hurt or killed, he wouldn't want to face that sadness. He talks about several times how he loves his wife, thinks about her very often, and misses her truly and always.
Combat: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter4/chapter4_8a.html
This letter is actually an e-mail sent from Mike Rickert, who was serving as a journalist in the War on Terror, or Iraq War, in 2003, to his grandfather, Daddy Merle. He explains, with horror, the event that had happened when him and his crew started to pack up the convoys. He stated that when they started to pack the convoys, two Iraqis started to wave at them probably because they had seen their shovels. The Iraqis were pointing to a large mound of dirt. Once Mike and his men started digging the mound, Mike describes how it was so disturbing and surprising that when he started to take pictures, he almost dropped his camera. They ended up digging the remains of two bodies. One of the bodies had a bullet that had killed him right between the eyes. With a forensic science officer on hand, they started to investigate if it was a war crime. A moment of realization hits Mike when he says that these remains belonged to someone that had a family, a life, and people who loved him. I think that that realization made him want to write to his beloved grandfather, a person that he loves, even more.
The End of the War: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter5/chapter5_6a.html
This letter is from Douglas MacArthur, who led the United Nations Command during the Korean War, to Mary Cushman. He is offering his condolences because of the death of her son in the Korean War; this letter being dated Oct. 24, 1950. MacArthur is making positive statements to bring up Ms. Cushman's spirit, even in her depressing state. He is reminding her how some comfort may be found because her son died serving his country. He also mentions that he is confident that, because of her son's duty, there will be a day when everyone will live in peace and harmony. He also states that his prayers to God go out to her to help strengthen her.
Conclusion:
Conflict affects people's lives, mostly negatively, during times of war. Soldiers on the war front are worried about the safety of their men and themselves. They are thinking constantly about their loved ones far away. They also must suffer through devastating scenes and circumstances that scar their minds for the rest of their lives. On the home front, those loved ones are worrying about the safety of their soldier. For example, Dean Allen, a soldier in the Vietnam War, tells his wife that he is always thinking about her and misses her. Mike, a soldier in the Persian Gulf War, sends a letter to his grandfather, and though it is mostly talking about a gruesome event that happened recently, he mentions that he loves him and misses him. In all of the letters, you can sense the feeling of love and of loneliness no matter the circumstances or time in history. People are people. Everyone encounters the same emotions no matter the time period in history.
This letter is from a sister, Flora, to her brother, Claude, who is boarding a bus to leave for active duty in WWII. I would describe this letter as poetry, a poem, from Flora to Claude. She is describing how he will do great things for his country. She is also saying to remember the wonderful things where he lives, the orchard, the birds, the beautiful scenery in each season, especially in the dark days of war. She mentions him being the only son of their mother and telling him to imagine a goodnight kiss from his mother as well as their forever love from them.
Comforts of Home: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter2/chapter2_6a.html
This Christmas letter is from Corporal Brett G. Coughlin to his girlfriend, Kit, who he will later marry. He was stationed at the port of Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia in 1990, during the Persian Gulf War. Brett is thanking Kit for the presents that he received and got to open on Christmas morning. He is also describing the rather eventful Christmas day when there were camels that were trying to take their 1 ft. tall Christmas tree that another soldier received from his parents. He also stated that after the camels took the tree and they retrieved it, that they then lead the camels with popcorn to another tank of men that they were conflicting with. What a funny war letter to read!
Love: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter3/chapter3_6a.html
This letter is from a recipient of the Bronze Medal, Air Medal, and Purple Heart, Dean Allen to his wife, Joyce. He was ordered to Vietnam only two years after he was married. Four days after writing to Joyce, he stepped on a land mine. While he was being evacuated, there was a second explosion. Three days later, he passed away. In his letter, he is talking about his fears about any of his men getting killed or wounded. Him being the the Lieutenant has put more stress on him, and his letter shows that emotion. He also mentions that he is afraid to start any friendships or bonding with any of his men because if any of them got hurt or killed, he wouldn't want to face that sadness. He talks about several times how he loves his wife, thinks about her very often, and misses her truly and always.
Combat: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter4/chapter4_8a.html
This letter is actually an e-mail sent from Mike Rickert, who was serving as a journalist in the War on Terror, or Iraq War, in 2003, to his grandfather, Daddy Merle. He explains, with horror, the event that had happened when him and his crew started to pack up the convoys. He stated that when they started to pack the convoys, two Iraqis started to wave at them probably because they had seen their shovels. The Iraqis were pointing to a large mound of dirt. Once Mike and his men started digging the mound, Mike describes how it was so disturbing and surprising that when he started to take pictures, he almost dropped his camera. They ended up digging the remains of two bodies. One of the bodies had a bullet that had killed him right between the eyes. With a forensic science officer on hand, they started to investigate if it was a war crime. A moment of realization hits Mike when he says that these remains belonged to someone that had a family, a life, and people who loved him. I think that that realization made him want to write to his beloved grandfather, a person that he loves, even more.
The End of the War: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter5/chapter5_6a.html
This letter is from Douglas MacArthur, who led the United Nations Command during the Korean War, to Mary Cushman. He is offering his condolences because of the death of her son in the Korean War; this letter being dated Oct. 24, 1950. MacArthur is making positive statements to bring up Ms. Cushman's spirit, even in her depressing state. He is reminding her how some comfort may be found because her son died serving his country. He also mentions that he is confident that, because of her son's duty, there will be a day when everyone will live in peace and harmony. He also states that his prayers to God go out to her to help strengthen her.
Conclusion:
Conflict affects people's lives, mostly negatively, during times of war. Soldiers on the war front are worried about the safety of their men and themselves. They are thinking constantly about their loved ones far away. They also must suffer through devastating scenes and circumstances that scar their minds for the rest of their lives. On the home front, those loved ones are worrying about the safety of their soldier. For example, Dean Allen, a soldier in the Vietnam War, tells his wife that he is always thinking about her and misses her. Mike, a soldier in the Persian Gulf War, sends a letter to his grandfather, and though it is mostly talking about a gruesome event that happened recently, he mentions that he loves him and misses him. In all of the letters, you can sense the feeling of love and of loneliness no matter the circumstances or time in history. People are people. Everyone encounters the same emotions no matter the time period in history.
Conflict - Reflection
1. In your opinion, what is conflict?
Conflict, in my own terms and understanding, is when there are differences of beliefs, thoughts, opinions, etc. between others that may lead to disagreements and arguments. There can also be conflicts within yourself. For example, you don't know if you should go to a friend's house on a Tuesday night or stay home to study for an AP European History test that you have the next day. (I took AP Euro. last year... This person should definitely study!) This is a person's conscience; telling him/her that something may be the right or wrong way. Eventually, this conflict will be resolved when this person decides whether to stay home or go. Conflicts are happening everywhere and at every instant. You will face at least one conflict in a day whether it be within yourself, with a co-worker, a friend, or a politician.
2. What causes conflict?
Conflict is caused by many different things. It can be caused anywhere between a misunderstanding, a difference of belief, thought, or opinion, or even just wanting to get into a disagreement. People are entitled to their opinions, but sometimes people "butt heads" when their opinions are different and they think that they're the correct one.
3. Is conflict always negative?
Conflict is usually negative during the time of conflict when there may be an argument or fight, but is can also benefit a person and become a positive element. For example, wars. Wars are negative events during those times of fighting, but their outcomes can help the world for the better. Treaties of alliances can be put into place, economies can be built up again, and governments can be greater and better for the people.
4. Are there times when conflict is necessary?
There are definitely times when conflict is necessary. This can be a way that a person can understand or get to know a co-worker. They learn to work out their differences in order to be able to work with one another and help their company. Another example would be a teenage couple that are immature and wanting to get married. Hopefully, they can see conflicts and get through some arguments and realize that a marriage is not something that they should be getting into at their young age. I'm not saying that teenage marriage always ends in "flames," but most probably do. They could focus on college and a career and then look into a marriage if they could get through all of those struggles of school and work.
5. What are strategies that can override conflict or work past it?
Overriding conflicts can be a difficult thing, but certain strategies can lead to help work past those conflicts. I am going to use an example of two co-workers conflicting with each other to describe the strategies. Two co-workers... Let's name them Mark and Jill... are having a disagreement on where to put the coffee pot. It may sound silly, but it has lead to fighting amongst the two. Mark thinks that it should be right by the restrooms, so people can have a cup of coffee along with their bathroom break. Jill thinks that it should be in the conference room, so people in a meeting or on their break can have coffee then. This conflict has risen into anger between the two. It is time to take action. The first thing that they should do is calm down. When they are cooled off, they should talk about their opinions to one another and address the problem. Instead of being angry and making mean statements, they should make those statements into requests. They can also look at the neutral side of where to place the coffee pot. This example is a little hard to describe on a neutral side, but I can try to make it work... They can decide to place the coffee pot in the neutral zone. It is in the main working room. The center of the small building where everyone can reach it within a minute. They realize that their conflict was easily fixed and decide to, next time, consider each other's point of view before an argument would start. These are strategies that I would start with to get past a conflict... I don't know if they are perfectly correct, but I believe that they could help work past one.
6. What can we learn from historical conflicts to help us work through current U.S. conflicts?
Have you ever heard the phrase that "history will repeat itself"? We should look at this statement and know that past, or historical, conflicts will eventually repeat and know that we can work through current conflicts by looking at the past. If we can find a similarity with a current conflict versus a past conflict, we can use that information from the past conflict to help get through the current one. We can look at how the conflict ended and use that knowledge to end the current conflict. If it ended with a bloody war, one that a country would rather not get into, then we can try to work around that with the other information of that conflict. The way I explained it seems really confusing and competitive, but basically, I mean that we should learn from our mistakes.
7. How has conflict impacted your life?
I am not the kind of person that gets into many conflicts or arguments with others, but I have had many conflicts within myself while I am a gymnast. In gymnastics, a gymnast does many life-endangering skills. I am at a higher level, which means that those skills are more dangerous than they were a couple of years ago. The summer before eighth grade, I fractured and chipped my elbow on the bars while doing a release skill from high bar to low bar. After the two surgeries, I was slightly petrified to continue with the sport. I worked past the strong fears and continued. Gymnastics has made me a stronger person and with those conflicts, I have become an even stronger person, mentally. Even though may days as a gymnast may be coming to an end, since after breaking my arm my dreams of going to the Olympics were over, I have closure and no regrets about making the decision to continue. I have always loved gymnastics. It was something that my mother got me into, and it is something that she loved watching me do. Even though she isn't here anymore, I always think if she was here, I wouldn't want to disappoint her. Getting through these conflicts and going down the right path is one of the most important things that a person can do in their lifetime. I'm glad that I am putting my right foot forward and continuing with my life the right way, confidently.
Conflict, in my own terms and understanding, is when there are differences of beliefs, thoughts, opinions, etc. between others that may lead to disagreements and arguments. There can also be conflicts within yourself. For example, you don't know if you should go to a friend's house on a Tuesday night or stay home to study for an AP European History test that you have the next day. (I took AP Euro. last year... This person should definitely study!) This is a person's conscience; telling him/her that something may be the right or wrong way. Eventually, this conflict will be resolved when this person decides whether to stay home or go. Conflicts are happening everywhere and at every instant. You will face at least one conflict in a day whether it be within yourself, with a co-worker, a friend, or a politician.
2. What causes conflict?
Conflict is caused by many different things. It can be caused anywhere between a misunderstanding, a difference of belief, thought, or opinion, or even just wanting to get into a disagreement. People are entitled to their opinions, but sometimes people "butt heads" when their opinions are different and they think that they're the correct one.
3. Is conflict always negative?
Conflict is usually negative during the time of conflict when there may be an argument or fight, but is can also benefit a person and become a positive element. For example, wars. Wars are negative events during those times of fighting, but their outcomes can help the world for the better. Treaties of alliances can be put into place, economies can be built up again, and governments can be greater and better for the people.
4. Are there times when conflict is necessary?
There are definitely times when conflict is necessary. This can be a way that a person can understand or get to know a co-worker. They learn to work out their differences in order to be able to work with one another and help their company. Another example would be a teenage couple that are immature and wanting to get married. Hopefully, they can see conflicts and get through some arguments and realize that a marriage is not something that they should be getting into at their young age. I'm not saying that teenage marriage always ends in "flames," but most probably do. They could focus on college and a career and then look into a marriage if they could get through all of those struggles of school and work.
5. What are strategies that can override conflict or work past it?
Overriding conflicts can be a difficult thing, but certain strategies can lead to help work past those conflicts. I am going to use an example of two co-workers conflicting with each other to describe the strategies. Two co-workers... Let's name them Mark and Jill... are having a disagreement on where to put the coffee pot. It may sound silly, but it has lead to fighting amongst the two. Mark thinks that it should be right by the restrooms, so people can have a cup of coffee along with their bathroom break. Jill thinks that it should be in the conference room, so people in a meeting or on their break can have coffee then. This conflict has risen into anger between the two. It is time to take action. The first thing that they should do is calm down. When they are cooled off, they should talk about their opinions to one another and address the problem. Instead of being angry and making mean statements, they should make those statements into requests. They can also look at the neutral side of where to place the coffee pot. This example is a little hard to describe on a neutral side, but I can try to make it work... They can decide to place the coffee pot in the neutral zone. It is in the main working room. The center of the small building where everyone can reach it within a minute. They realize that their conflict was easily fixed and decide to, next time, consider each other's point of view before an argument would start. These are strategies that I would start with to get past a conflict... I don't know if they are perfectly correct, but I believe that they could help work past one.
6. What can we learn from historical conflicts to help us work through current U.S. conflicts?
Have you ever heard the phrase that "history will repeat itself"? We should look at this statement and know that past, or historical, conflicts will eventually repeat and know that we can work through current conflicts by looking at the past. If we can find a similarity with a current conflict versus a past conflict, we can use that information from the past conflict to help get through the current one. We can look at how the conflict ended and use that knowledge to end the current conflict. If it ended with a bloody war, one that a country would rather not get into, then we can try to work around that with the other information of that conflict. The way I explained it seems really confusing and competitive, but basically, I mean that we should learn from our mistakes.
7. How has conflict impacted your life?
I am not the kind of person that gets into many conflicts or arguments with others, but I have had many conflicts within myself while I am a gymnast. In gymnastics, a gymnast does many life-endangering skills. I am at a higher level, which means that those skills are more dangerous than they were a couple of years ago. The summer before eighth grade, I fractured and chipped my elbow on the bars while doing a release skill from high bar to low bar. After the two surgeries, I was slightly petrified to continue with the sport. I worked past the strong fears and continued. Gymnastics has made me a stronger person and with those conflicts, I have become an even stronger person, mentally. Even though may days as a gymnast may be coming to an end, since after breaking my arm my dreams of going to the Olympics were over, I have closure and no regrets about making the decision to continue. I have always loved gymnastics. It was something that my mother got me into, and it is something that she loved watching me do. Even though she isn't here anymore, I always think if she was here, I wouldn't want to disappoint her. Getting through these conflicts and going down the right path is one of the most important things that a person can do in their lifetime. I'm glad that I am putting my right foot forward and continuing with my life the right way, confidently.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Conflict - Worksheet
U.S. Military Conflicts Worksheet
Using the Internet, you need to research these five
conflicts that occurred during your period of study. From your research, analyze what are the cause
and effects of each of these conflicts and list them below in the corresponding
column. Below each conflict summarize
what happened in two sentences and then support your cause and effect with
examples from the conflict.
|
Conflict
|
Cause
|
Effect
|
|
#1 WWII
|
After WWI, the Treaty of Versailles held Germany
responsible for the war and put military restrictions on them. Germany also
had to pay a large amount of money as a fine. Adolf Hitler and the party of
Nazism started to come to power. Overall, anger created from the large amount
of laws and restrictions put on Germany and the rise of a dictator lead to
the beginning of WWII when Hitler started to take over nations.
|
Many people were killed in WWII: soldiers, Jews and other
minorities in the Holocaust genocide, and many were left homeless. But as a
positive note, this ended the dictatorship in Europe and also the formation
of the United Nations, which helps promote peace and security in our world.
WWII also created numerous jobs, ending the large unemployment of the Great
Depression. However, not all things were alright after WWII because it set
the foundation for the Cold War.
|
|
Summary of conflict and rationale for relationship:
The second World
War, which happened between 1941 and 1945, included the German dictator,
Adolf Hitler, who was trying to take over all of Europe and the rest of the
world and the mass killings during the Holocaust. The main causes of WWII
began after WWI when Germany was forced to pay large sums of money because
they were held responsible for this war. Because of the many military
restrictions and the anger of the people, Hitler, and his Nazis, Hitler was
able to take over small nations to enlarge his empire. Many people were
killed in WWII and the major effects were both positive and negative. The
dictatorship in Europe was over and the United Nations was created. Many jobs
were created and lead to the end of the Great Depression. But on the negative
side, WWII set the stage for the Cold War, and we cannot forget the many
soldiers and innocent people killed in the Holocaust.
|
||
|
#2 Korean War
|
The United States approached the United Nations to resolve
the issue of a divided Korea, and the United Nations Commissioner decided to
hold elections in Korea. North Korea communists refused to allow this
election while communists in South Korea boycotted it. The Soviet Union
wanted to spread Communism everywhere while the United States was trying to
stop the spread of Communism.
|
There were numerous casualties, of course. More friction
was created between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and a feeling of enmity
would be between China and the U.S. for decades. This showed how far the U.S.
would go to prevent the spread of communism and is the reason why the U.S.
intervened in Vietnam. South Korea is now a major economic and technological
power, and North Korea is in poverty and heavily militarized along with the
U.S.’s military base.
|
|
Summary of conflict and rationale for relationship:
The Korean War,
began with the United States trying to get the divided Korea into one nation,
which ended in elections that were boycotted in the Koreas. The Soviet Union
was trying to spread Communism into the Koreas, and the U.S. wanted to
prevent this proliferation. The Korean War, which ended in several casualties,
left Korea still divided and would create friction between the U.S. and the
Soviet Union and a feeling of hatred between China and the U.S. This is also
the reason why the U.S. will intervene in Vietnam, to prevent another Korean
War, but it will eventually fail. South Korea is now a major economic and
technological power, and it is also a threat to other nations because of its
nuclear capabilities. North Korea is in poverty and heavily militarized.
|
||
|
Conflict
|
Cause
|
Effect
|
|
#3 Vietnam War
|
In the mid-19th century, when France gained
control of the country, French rule became too harsh with little amount of
food, too much work, and high taxes. In 1945, Ho Chi Minh, who formed the Viet
Minh, declared Vietnam and a free and independent country. A year later, they
were fighting for independence against France. The U.S. supported the French
fearing that Communism would spread to Vietnam. After victory of France,
Vietnam was divided.
|
There are several effects due to the Vietnam War and most
are negative. Rivers were poisoned and crops were killed=food shortages. The
U.S. troops suffered from drug addiction, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, cancer
from Agent Orange, and were not welcomed back in America. The Vietnamese
people suffered from Agent Orange chemicals, unexploded bombs, and extreme
poverty. It took 20 years for Vietnam to start to recover.
|
|
Summary of conflict and rationale for relationship:
When France gained control of Vietnam in the mid-19th
century, Ho Chi Minh, in 1945, formed the Viet Minh declaring that Vietnam
was a free and independent country. Vietnam was tired of the harsh ruling by
France with limited food, too much work, and high taxes. By 1946, Vietnam was
fighting against France for their independence. Fearing that Communism from
China and other Asian nations would spread into Vietnam, the U.S. supported
the French. After a victory for the Vietnamese, they became a divided country
and the Southern Vietnamese leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, refused to hold elections.
Diem was killed with encouragement from the U.S., and the U.S. started to
bomb the north to prevent Communism from spreading to the south. After
numerous casualties, Vietnam was united in 1976. The effects were
devastating. U.S. troops suffered from harsh chemical exposure, drugs, stress
disorders, and were confused and bitter about the inhospitality back home.
The Vietnamese people also suffered from numerous poisons, bombs, and
poverty. It took twenty years for Vietnam to start recovering.
|
||
|
#4 Cold War
|
The Soviet Union wanted to spread Communism to the world,
which alarmed Americans. Both countries feared an attack from each other and
the USSR feared the U.S.’s atomic weapons scared the Soviets. The Warsaw Pact
was created, which was a mutual defense treaty between eight Communist states.
The U.S. president had a strong dislike for Stalin, the USSR leader, and the
U.S. was angry about the USSR’s involvement with Germany in World War II.
|
The U.S. and the USSR built large arsenals for atomic weapons
and ballistic missiles. This war lead to devastating destruction similar to
the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Soviet Union fell to economic
weakness, the Warsaw Pact was demolished, and Communism collapsed worldwide.
Germany was united after the Berlin Wall was demolished, and the U.S. became
the superpower of the world.
|
|
Summary of conflict and rationale for relationship:
After WWII, the Cold War started because of tension
between the U.S. and USSR. The Cold War, approximately 1945-1963, is called
the Cold War because both sides, the USSR and the U.S., were both afraid to
attack each other and mostly attacked indirectly; for example, the launch of
Sputnik. The “war” soon became a battle to have the greatest military
research and technological knowledge. The U.S. and the USSR started to build
numerous large arsenals full of nuclear weapons, but both sides were fearful
to attack one another with these weapons because they would devastate the
whole world. The closest to fighting was when the U.S. started the Cuban
Missile Crisis. When election in countries started to oust Communist regimes,
the Soviet Union dissolved into its component republics. Now the Berlin Wall
is demolished and the USSR became a republic nation. The United States became
the superpower of our world.
|
||
|
Conflict
|
Cause
|
Effect
|
|
#5 Persian Gulf War
|
Iraq had long considered Kuwait to be a part of Iraq and has
led to years of hostility. Saddam Hussein attempted to take Iran but was
defeated, and it is argued that he sought for easier conquests against weaker
neighbors. Iraq constantly claimed that Kuwait’s oil rigs were illegally
tapping into Iraqi oil fields. The ending of the First Persian Gulf War
between Iraq and Iran strained relations between Baghdad and Kuwait.
|
The Second Gulf War ended worse than the first one, and
even though Iraq was defeated and Kuwait was liberated, Saddam’s government
still had a strong grip on power in Iraq. Iraq had to accept the placement of
“no-fly zones” over the country and the United Nations weapons inspection
teams had to look through Iraq’s nuclear and other weapons programs. The war
cost the world billions of dollars, and now there is severe economic hardship
in Iraq. Syria ended Lebanon’s long civil war; thus it is believed that
Syria’s president was given control to deal with Lebanon in return for
joining the war in Kuwait. When Yemen announced empathy towards Iraq, Saudi
Arabia expelled a million Yemeni guest workers causing economic hardship in
Yemen.
|
|
Summary of conflict and rationale for relationship:
Because of long hostility between Kuwait and Iraq and the
argued tapping of oil fields, the Second Gulf War would begin. On August 2,
1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and took control of the nation. Within
days, the United Nations demanded that Iraq withdraw from Kuwait. When they
refused, the U.S. and UN member nations started deploying troops into Saudi
Arabia. In mid-January of 1991, Allied forces began to bomb Iraq and Iraq’s
forces in Kuwait. Saddam then ordered the launching of the SCUD missiles in
Saudi Arabia and Israel, hoping that Israel would retaliate and split the
Arab world. Israel did not retaliate because President Bush promised to
protect Israel from the missiles. By late February, the Iraqi forces in
Kuwait were defeated because they were cut off from supply bases and
headquarters. A few days later, President Bush ordered cease-fire and allowed
the surviving Iraqi troops to escape. On March 3, Iraq accepted the terms of
cease-fire and fighting ended. This war lead to restrictions on Iraq, leading
to hatred towards the U.S. and would lead to the Third Gulf War, also known
as the Iraq War in the U.S.
|
||
|
#6 War on Terror
|
There was still hostility and tension after the Gulf War
in 1991 when the Iraqi troops were forced out of Kuwait. Over the years,
Iraqi air-defense forces fired against Allied planes in the No-Fly Zones,
leading to the three-day bombing operation called Operation Desert Fox. The
terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 as well as Iraq not cooperating with
UN inspectors of weapons also caused the War on Terror to occur. On March 17,
2003, Pres. Bush told Saddam Hussein and his sons to enter exile within 48
hours or face military conflict. Hussein refused exile.
|
Besides the many casualties and wounded soldiers in this
war, this enduring struggle has lead to other effects. The Peace/Anti-War
Movement in North America and Europe grows and conducts many large-scale
demonstrations against Pres. Bush and his plans for war. In the U.S., a
Pro-War/Pro-Troops Movement forms to challenge anti-war activists in order to
support the President and military. Saddam Hussein is captured, put on trial
by the new Iraqi government, and executed. Even today, though major combat
has ended, as declared by Pres. Bush on May 1, 2003, there is still guerrilla
warfare occurring. This has damaged the American public support for the war
greatly. There is also a lot more security in the U.S. after 9/11 and the
start of this war, especially in airports.
|
|
Summary of conflict and rationale for relationship:
The War on Terror, also known as the Third Persian Gulf
War and the Iraq War, started in 2003 and is still an on-going war today. On
March 19, 2003, U.S. stealth bombers strike areas in and around the Iraqi
capital of Baghdad. By April 15, Tikrit, the hometown of Hussein, falls, and
it is declared that the war is effectively over though it goes into low-grade
guerrilla war. Saddam Hussein is captured Dec. 13. 2004 and is killed. After
Barack Obama is elected President, a drawdown of U.S. troops began though
violence has continued. Presently, even with the last troops leaving the
Middle East, there is still violence and confusion there. The United States
has suffered a lot from this war along with several other nations. The
effects are never-ending with higher security, bias and mistrust against
races and religion, and deceased and wounded soldiers. The war is not
entirely over. There is still a lot of conflict. According to sources on the
internet, this war ended on December 18, 2011… But is it really over?
| ||
Eras - Project
The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
Prezi Presentation: http://prezi.com/4ohmhtqtcwgb/the-great-depression-and-world-war-ii/
Prezi Presentation: http://prezi.com/4ohmhtqtcwgb/the-great-depression-and-world-war-ii/
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Eras - Reflection
1. Define perception in your own words.
Perception, in my own words, is the way that a person sees and interprets something. Perception is affected by the way a person is in a situation, the emotions that are passing through a person's mind, and the physical things that are happening to a person at that moment. For example, there are different ways that a person percepts a bullying situation. When someone is being bullied, there are three main types of people involved: the bully, the victim, and the bystander. Through a bully's mind, that person is probably thinking that the victim deserves the way that he/she is treating them. The victim is probably very confused. He/she probably doesn't understand why this is happening to them; are they more stupid, weaker, etc. than the bully? The bully sees their bullying as a deserving way to show power, while the victim sees it as a harsh punishment. The bystander is a complicated role, you could say. They are probably looking at the bullying situation in either the eyes of the bully or as the victim. Perception is a biased point of view, but it is neither right nor wrong because it is the way a person sees things. Every one's mind is different, so their perception of something would be slightly different to everyone else.
2. How does perception impact your understanding of history?
Perception impacts my understanding of history because it is the way that I interpret a situation or event that happens in history. In every country, there is a different history book than another country. This is because the people in a certain country, for example, would see the dictatorships of another country trying to take over their country differently than the people of that dictator. During WWII, and about ten years before that, Hitler started to "brainwash" the youth of Germany to try to build an army to create the "perfect," or Aryan race. While Hitler was coming into power, Hitler's Youth was starting to grow. They were learning that tall and strong people with pale skin, blond hair, and blue eyes were meant to rule and become the race of the world. Not everyone in Germany probably believed that the way Hitler was beginning to rule was the right way, but the majority of the growing army did. Though most, if not all, nations believe that Hitler was a cruel, evil dictator, Germany's history books may be slightly different than Poland's history books, since Hitler murdered most of their people, depending on the author of the book. Through other peoples' beliefs and perception of that era, the history books are going to tell a slightly different tale. A better analogy would probably be of China. China's past dictator, Mao Zedong. Many Chinese children are taught how he made their country great and never mention him being a cruel, communist dictator. Our, the United States', history books would tell something different. In conclusion, perception completely changes and impacts the understanding of history for every single person in our world.
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiyNeVSGI3rZaNC1rRAU2gK2BGeRhkvLrraYCiX6YXWIJOpcSvlpHTr2WjAAkSxK6mdkEcvdYm0DekSOc8fg1TOKUSztdvQ3lHyczp9sc8REqi_t3nxd81bKkwZ-TVDLvZSX1zxAvy6M/s1600/hitler-youth-parade-nazi-germany-19.jpg
3. How does the perspective used in the videos sway your understanding of history?
Perspective used in the videos sways my understanding of history by knowing more how people were affected during points in history by having the episodes told in the perspective of the people. For example, even though it was at the beginning of the first episode, I really enjoyed watching the trial and errors and finally success of the Hamilton Brothers. It seemed as though the audience is watching from the perspective of the men. Throughout their story, I was wondering to myself, is this information from a journal of one of theirs? It sounded as though one of the Hamilton Brothers was telling his story directly to the viewers. Once they finally hit the oil, I actually had goosebumps and was genuinely excited. They way the actors and voice actor performed their parts seemed so genuine that I felt like I was there in the moment of achievement.
Other perspectives from outside of the people's perspectives in history also made me think deeper about the thoughts of others. To go into detail, I am talking about how the narrators are mainly successful people like celebrities, show hosts, and professors at universities. These people could have pretty much anything they want, but by the way they are telling the events in history, it seems as though they are in awe of the way on how people have pushed through struggles and hardships. I find this satisfying on how everyone can find something wonderful and intriguing in the littlest or even biggest, most negative events. I also found it a let down and a little teasing on how having people that may have too much money telling the audience of viewers about the past struggles of our nation... Do they really understand "struggling?" I'm sure that is going a little too far, and I'm sure that they have pushed through many hard times in their lives, but it was just a thought.
4. Can we ever tell the story of history without any perspective?
Let me restate the question in my own mind: Can we ever tell the story of history without any perspective? It's hard to imagine learning about history without perspective. Is it actually possible? Everyone has their own perspective, and perception, of everything. What if everything we have been learning about our history has been twisted by bias and perspective of several people? That is probably the case. It may be possible to tell history without perspective, but it would be just pure facts. For example, you could state that the 18th Amendment, which establishes the prohibition of alcohol, was enacted on January 16, 1919. That would be the end of learning about that. There wouldn't be any perspective on why this amendment was put into place and explaining how women strongly proposed this to stop their husbands from coming home drunk and beating them. That wouldn't be included in the story of history because that would be behind the eyes of women in the early 1900s. So in all, I believe that the story of history cannot be told without perspective because that is how we understand the how's and why's of history.
5. Can perspectives ever be right or wrong?
Perspective, in my own words, is a person's point of view. It is their opinion. Opinions can never be right nor wrong because that is a person's biased thought based on situations and beliefs that they hold on to. Do you remember in elementary school when there would be questions on deciding what was fact or opinion? I do. It would go a little something like this...
1. Fact or opinion: Our school starts at 9:05 a.m. at Westridge Elementary School.
My Answer: Fact
Correct Answer: Fact
2. Fact or opinion: School is boring.
Answer from the classmate across from me: FACT
My Answer: Opinion, and I don't believe that school is boring :).
Correct Answer: Opinion
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Many people sitting in this room probably think that school is the most boring thing to do on the planet. I have to disagree with that. I actually enjoy school. I enjoy learning. Now nobody in this room will tell me that my answer is wrong because that is just what I think. My perspective of school may be different as well. I see it as a learning opportunity while another classmate may see it as a waste of time or just as a social hour. Perspectives are different, but none are right nor wrong because it is the way that a person sees things through their own eyes. Nobody can say that their eyes, mind, or opinions are wrong, right?
Perception, in my own words, is the way that a person sees and interprets something. Perception is affected by the way a person is in a situation, the emotions that are passing through a person's mind, and the physical things that are happening to a person at that moment. For example, there are different ways that a person percepts a bullying situation. When someone is being bullied, there are three main types of people involved: the bully, the victim, and the bystander. Through a bully's mind, that person is probably thinking that the victim deserves the way that he/she is treating them. The victim is probably very confused. He/she probably doesn't understand why this is happening to them; are they more stupid, weaker, etc. than the bully? The bully sees their bullying as a deserving way to show power, while the victim sees it as a harsh punishment. The bystander is a complicated role, you could say. They are probably looking at the bullying situation in either the eyes of the bully or as the victim. Perception is a biased point of view, but it is neither right nor wrong because it is the way a person sees things. Every one's mind is different, so their perception of something would be slightly different to everyone else.
2. How does perception impact your understanding of history?
 |
| Hitler's Youth |
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiyNeVSGI3rZaNC1rRAU2gK2BGeRhkvLrraYCiX6YXWIJOpcSvlpHTr2WjAAkSxK6mdkEcvdYm0DekSOc8fg1TOKUSztdvQ3lHyczp9sc8REqi_t3nxd81bKkwZ-TVDLvZSX1zxAvy6M/s1600/hitler-youth-parade-nazi-germany-19.jpg
3. How does the perspective used in the videos sway your understanding of history?
Perspective used in the videos sways my understanding of history by knowing more how people were affected during points in history by having the episodes told in the perspective of the people. For example, even though it was at the beginning of the first episode, I really enjoyed watching the trial and errors and finally success of the Hamilton Brothers. It seemed as though the audience is watching from the perspective of the men. Throughout their story, I was wondering to myself, is this information from a journal of one of theirs? It sounded as though one of the Hamilton Brothers was telling his story directly to the viewers. Once they finally hit the oil, I actually had goosebumps and was genuinely excited. They way the actors and voice actor performed their parts seemed so genuine that I felt like I was there in the moment of achievement.
Other perspectives from outside of the people's perspectives in history also made me think deeper about the thoughts of others. To go into detail, I am talking about how the narrators are mainly successful people like celebrities, show hosts, and professors at universities. These people could have pretty much anything they want, but by the way they are telling the events in history, it seems as though they are in awe of the way on how people have pushed through struggles and hardships. I find this satisfying on how everyone can find something wonderful and intriguing in the littlest or even biggest, most negative events. I also found it a let down and a little teasing on how having people that may have too much money telling the audience of viewers about the past struggles of our nation... Do they really understand "struggling?" I'm sure that is going a little too far, and I'm sure that they have pushed through many hard times in their lives, but it was just a thought.
4. Can we ever tell the story of history without any perspective?
Let me restate the question in my own mind: Can we ever tell the story of history without any perspective? It's hard to imagine learning about history without perspective. Is it actually possible? Everyone has their own perspective, and perception, of everything. What if everything we have been learning about our history has been twisted by bias and perspective of several people? That is probably the case. It may be possible to tell history without perspective, but it would be just pure facts. For example, you could state that the 18th Amendment, which establishes the prohibition of alcohol, was enacted on January 16, 1919. That would be the end of learning about that. There wouldn't be any perspective on why this amendment was put into place and explaining how women strongly proposed this to stop their husbands from coming home drunk and beating them. That wouldn't be included in the story of history because that would be behind the eyes of women in the early 1900s. So in all, I believe that the story of history cannot be told without perspective because that is how we understand the how's and why's of history.
5. Can perspectives ever be right or wrong?
Perspective, in my own words, is a person's point of view. It is their opinion. Opinions can never be right nor wrong because that is a person's biased thought based on situations and beliefs that they hold on to. Do you remember in elementary school when there would be questions on deciding what was fact or opinion? I do. It would go a little something like this...
1. Fact or opinion: Our school starts at 9:05 a.m. at Westridge Elementary School.
My Answer: Fact
Correct Answer: Fact
2. Fact or opinion: School is boring.
Answer from the classmate across from me: FACT
My Answer: Opinion, and I don't believe that school is boring :).
Correct Answer: Opinion
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Many people sitting in this room probably think that school is the most boring thing to do on the planet. I have to disagree with that. I actually enjoy school. I enjoy learning. Now nobody in this room will tell me that my answer is wrong because that is just what I think. My perspective of school may be different as well. I see it as a learning opportunity while another classmate may see it as a waste of time or just as a social hour. Perspectives are different, but none are right nor wrong because it is the way that a person sees things through their own eyes. Nobody can say that their eyes, mind, or opinions are wrong, right?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)