Nixon's positive influence on america

Nixon wasn't liked by many but I feel that he had a positive influence on America overall. Although the Watergate scandal forced him to resign, before this Nixon managed to fix the problems we had between us and china which opened up a huge trade industry that we still have today. He also played China and the soviet union against each other to make them both less of a threat to the united states. Vietnamization is also something positive he achieved during presidency. This would help us remove troops from Vietnam and stop thousands of soldiers from being unnecessarily killed. This is why I believe he had a positive influence on the united states during his presidency.

ERA

I think that the ERA would be a great victory for women if it were to finally be passed. I am actually shocked that it has not been passed already. It seems like common sense that men and women should be treated equally under the law and although women's equality has grown over the years, we are still not completely equal. Without this law, the United States is basically saying that they are okay with that. I think if it were to be revived many outbursts would occur that are similar to what has happened in the past and nothing would get changed. Although women are more equal now, they would still be using the same arguments as women years ago to prove their point. If these arguments failed to convince people in the past, I doubt little will have changed by now.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was a great civil rights leader in American history. Throughout the world there have been many other great leaders who I believe take prestige over Jackie. However, Jackie was the first black man ever to play in professional baseball. He was strong and willing to stand up for his race against even the worst ridicule. He knew that baseball had a huge influence on Americans and he used this to his advantage when he agreed to be a part of the first integrated baseball team. I think that all civil rights leaders or leaders of any sort for that matter are different and do things differently. This doesn't make any one better than another. I think that Jackie was an inspiration and a hero and a wonderful civil rights leader who is very deserving of recognition. I also believe that many people are also deserving in other ways. I don't believe that any one influential person is better than another. If you are changing the world, that's all that should matter.

Butter Battle

The one brave Yook stood up on the wall 

Holding in his hand that destructive little ball 

He stared at the Zook with the bomb in his hand 

Then he looked out and across the desolate land 

Not even the tiniest Yook could be found 

For fear that these weapons might hit the ground 

And thats when the Yook, grandson by his side 

Listened to his conscience and swallowed his pride 

He carefully, carefully put down the ball 

Puffed up his chest and stood up real tall 

He said "You're a Zook, you eat you're bread butter side down
But our differences don't mean I should destroy your town

Us Yooks and Zooks never quite got along

We always thought that the other was eating bread wrong 

But as I look around I'm starting to see 

This battle of ours is affecting more than just you and me 

This is my grandson and when he is grown 

I want him to choose how he eats his bread all on his own" 

The Zook put down his Big-Boy Boomeroo
And said, "Yes, why in fact I have a grandson, too

He's never known anything but butter-side down 

And I think it's about time we turn this thing around" 

Then the Zook and the Yook shook each others hand 

And that is the day when bread decisions were banned 

The Zooks and the Yooks, now they get along swell 

And everyone present that day has a great story to tell 

About how no two groups of people need any division 

All they need is a chance to make their own decision 

Neither butter-side down nor butter-side up is correct 

Because in the end, it's all about respect 

Bombing During Wartime

Do you think bombing cities/civilians during wartime is a fair/justifiable act? Why or why not?

I believe that bombing during wartime is an unjustifiable act. Although it may seem like a good strategy because it is detrimental to the enemy, it is merely a way to take hundreds, thousands, or even millions of innocent lives. It causes lots of damage to entire cities and thousands of people's homes are destroyed. If one country is fighting with another, it isn't fair for the innocent people living in that country to be injured and killed unnecessarily when there are thousands of soldiers directly involved in the war who are willing to give their lives for their country. Some bombs are radioactive and can have effects on people living in the area that was bombed even years after the bomb has been dropped. That is extremely unfair to people who may not even have been alive during the time of war who are still affected negatively by the bomb. Bombing during war time is not a justifiable act in my eyes and it does not benefit anyone involved.  

Great Depression Questions

In an effort to learn firsthand what it was like to live during the Great Depression, write ten questions that you might ask someone who lived through it. 

1. How much money did you have? 
2. Did you go to school? 
3. How did you feel when it was going on? 
4. Did you cry alot? Did you know how bad your situation was? 
5. Did you live in a Hooverville? What were they like? 
6. Did anyone you ever knew die as a direct result of the Depression? How did this make you feel? 
7. Did you ever think it would be easier to commit suicide than live like that? 
8. How much did you eat a day? 
9. Did you still hang out with friends? 
10. Was anyone living the same way as they had before the depression? Did they give the poor any of their money? 

Enforced loyalty or not

Reflection question - should U.S. citizens be forced to give up civil liberties during a time of war? Should the govt. have to enforce loyalty? Why or why not?

I think that in a time of war people should be able to support any side that they want, no matter where they are living. Some people are immigrants and the U.S. is not their first home. This might make them more loyal to another country in a time of war. It should not be legally enforced that these people support the U.S. in the war. I think that it is alright for the U.S. to use propaganda and try to encourage people to support America in the war, but if they do not I do not think it is right to punish or even arrest them because of their certain beliefs.