Perspectives from other countries about America

          When finding articles about perspectives on America from other countries, there were some pretty funny ones. One website had a bunch of picture of “American Parties”. In other countries they would have American theme parties, which consist of a bunch of red cups, hamburgers, popcorn, and people would come dressed in sports attire mainly basketball. People from other countries do not understand why Americans are so obsessed with red cups. One of the articles that I attached the link too, is also a funny one to read. The article is about what other people warn people about before coming to America. A lot of people warn about crime in America, the one I found the most funny was people in Germany were shocked to about nude bathing, and people changing at beaches. My mom works with many people that come from other countries and listening to their experience is so funny. One of her co-workers came from Russia and he moved here in October, he did not understand or know about Halloween. He thought that the kids dressed in costumes and ringing his doorbell, was a prank. Then he was told he had to give them something so he would give the kids whatever items he had. Till this day he refers to Halloween as the day the kids come shopping at your house. Another one of her co-workers from Indian had very bad culture shock. Knowing how they dressed in Indian how women would to be completely covered, she found it outrageous how girls dressed in America. She did not understand why girls dressed in these thin short tank tops, but mainly she did not understand the concept of a tank top.

            On a serious note another article with its linked attached. All the countries were divided in half some of them thought America has a positive influence while others think it has a negative influence. They describe America as being a police officer getting involved in everything. What was very interesting to me that I read from this article was that America before was good in emphasizing human right and now America has less emphasis on human rights. I can understand that view due to all the involvement America has throughout the country.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/odd-things-countries-warn-travel-usa/story?id=22912284

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/views_on_countriesregions_bt/326.php?nid=%26amp%3Bid=%26amp%3Bpnt=326%26amp%3Blb=btvoc

Chapter 30: A Conservative Revival and the End of the Cold War

       I was really surprised to read how many deaths from guns were more than twenty-eight thousand. I never really thought how the Columbine shooting had a big effect on our country. When I was in elementary school there was this program called “Rachel’s Challenge” they got us familiar with the shooting, as a younger kid I saw scenes and heard voice recording that probably was not good for a little kid. But a big lesson arose from the shooting. A girl name Rachel was very kind and open hearted to everyone, she would go out of her way to say hi or help anyone in need. She was the first one killed in the shooting, and no one understood why because she was always nice to the two shooters and she was their friend. After the whole shooting incident they found a message from her that she want to spread kindness, when kindness is spread it would be like a chain reaction. As I got older I joined this program, in this program we had to spread kindness, end bullying, and help new students or students in trouble be more comfortable with the school environment. I truly enjoyed the program and found it very inspiring. Although the Columbine shooting was a horrible moment in America, goodness came out of it that will impact the world, students, and people. I believe the Columbine was the start of a ripple effect that would lead to other shooting. I read somewhere a student tried to recreate the Columbine shooting. It was a ripple that would encourage or give people in an a bad mindset that if they feel hurt to it was okay to express it through doing harm at schools, such as the shooting of Sandy Hook school and the Texas A&M shooting, just recently the Santa Barbara and Settle Pacific shooting. After all these incidents I was glad to read that Bill Clinton tried to prevent this by putting in a law for stricter gun control.

 The website for Rachel’s Challenge http://www.rachelschallenge.org/big-picture/about-rachels-challenge/

Chapter 29: A time of Upheaval

It was really interesting reading about all the college’s protests against the Vietnam War. I tried to picture myself in that situation, what if students at NDNU began to protest; would I protest along with others? I feel like I would protest only if it was for a good cause, but when the time came down to it I don’t think I would. I am the type of person to stay away from the violence’s, and the college protests were full of violence not by the students, but by the law enforcement. It was really sad to read how these college students held peaceful boycotts and protests, then the law enforcement had just began shooting these college students and killing them. When reading this section it reminded me a lot of Ferguson, Missouri. How people were protesting about a teenager being killed and another who was killed in the same matter in the next town over. The law enforcement began to arrest people for walking on the street and bringing in tanks to suppress the protest. The law enforcement treated the people in the protest as if they were Isis in Iran. I do not think it was necessary to bring in tanks and machine guns to suppress a protest that was not violent. It’s sort of the exactly the same thing as the college protest, was it really necessary for the police to shoot into the women’s dormitory as a response to the protest. It is also like how the African-American protested for Civil Right, they created no violence, but the police would beat them. I really cannot wrap my head around why during all these peaceful protest why law enforcement are the first to create violence and make the situation more dangerous. Aren't law enforcement supposed to protect us from danger? But in these cases they create the danger and treat the civilians as if they are enemies from war.

Civil Rights: 1960's

The Civil Rights moments were a big impact on America History. Most importantly it was a big event in history. It was a change America had to make so all ethnicity gained the same amount of respect and equality that America had offer.

PBS made a time line of the major event contributing to the civil rights movement for African American http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/timeline/civil_01.html

John F. Kennedy, the most adore president by all the women had an effect on the civil right movement. In the JFK Presidential library highlights parts of the moment and his part in it http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Civil-Rights-Movement.aspx

The History channel website describes the movement of African America and supply little clips and pictures of the Civil Rights, http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement

African American Civil Right Movement

Red Power Movement

Chicano Movement

African-American March

chapter 28 : Liberalism, Civil Rights, and War in Vietnam

Ever since the colonization of America the Native America has had difficulties with the whites. Over the years, actually many years it seems like their disputes have never ended. I thought the disputes between the Native Americans and the whites ended after the Trail of Tears but I guess not. It always seems like there must be a controversy against the Native Americans even in present day. It is just to that point to let the Native Americans live on their land become citizens and stop interrogating troubles with them. It was really surprising to read how the Native Americans were still being treated poorly especially after World War II. The Native America tribe the Navajo help aid in the war against Japan, they were a major contribution to America, but never really recognized for their service. Knowing how they helped America, one would think they would be reward or even America help the Native Americans. It’s really discouraging to read how after war they were not recognized for their service nor rewarded, America just let the Native America go into poverty. As being part Native America specifically Navajo it is very discouraging, frustrating how America treats the Native America. The Native Americas should be treated like other countries; if a country shows loyalty and respect then they become allies with America, on the other hand if not, they become enemies. The Native America showed there loyalty and respect to America, which America should in turn give back.  For the Native Americas to get the respect and aid from America they had to protest of create a movement. To me which is not right the President should of show consideration of the Native Americans after the war and helped them with the programs beforehand not after protesting. Then again it seems like American people only get their way after protesting. For example after the women protested for equal rights they final got the right to vote, along with the African America with the civil right movement an d protest they finally got equality. It seems like the only way to get equality or rights in America are to protest, but then again America became America due to protesting against the English.

Chapter 27 America at Midcentury

It was interesting to read about the how farm businesses started to use more chemicals on their crops.  Although they did not have the knowledge we have today on pesticides I still argued in my mind they are wrong to use it. I could really connect to the reading in this section. Reading this section reminded me of back home, I come from a small farm town, where there is a farm across the street from me. Pesticides really affected the town especially the air we breathe. I remember when the farmers would spray the fields; the town would either mail a letter or email telling us to stay indoors due to bad air quality from the pesticides. Due to the bad air quality when they sprayed the fields,  schools the kept us indoors and avoided any outdoors activities, and high schools would have to cancelled any outside sports’ practice or game.  Just from living in a farm town I lived and know how pesticides can affect us greatly.

            When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was highly motivated to learn more about breast cancer. During breast cancer week at NDNU I attended an open panel discussion; one panel lady discussed how pesticide is a leading cause in breast cancer especially in farm towns and farmers wives. Pesticides do real harm to our environment and farmer still use it despite all the health issues pertaining to it and how it is affecting our atmosphere. What I don’t understand now and back then why they would continue using pesticides when the farmers know all the harmful causes from it. Or may the question I should ask is why it is not banned, I think if it endangers a mass population and animals it should be banned. When reading about pesticide increase in the 1962 it hit a sensitive spot to me. 

Chapter 23: The 1920's Coping with Change

        I found reading about Henry Ford very interesting; he has had a big impact on the factory work especially introducing the assembly line. That made a big impact on mass production that corporations even use today to make their products. I got the impression that Henry Ford was a very intelligent man and even caring about his workers. It was not mention in the book, but Henry Ford did many things that will benefits his workers and his business, it was a two in one. For example when workers would be on the assembly line someone would come around giving them a toothbrush or mouth wash so workers would have good oral hygiene. The purpose for this was if his workers had good oral hygiene then they would not have to leave work for a period of time due to a toothache. Another thing he did he would help his workers buy a house specifically close to the factory, so they were never late to work. What really impressed me was Henry Ford would take out a certain amount of money out of the workers’ pay checks and saved it for them in their own saving account so in the end of the year they would have extra money instead of spending it all at once. He really took care of his worker, what was smart about this is he knew if he worker were healthy and taken care of then what he need to be produced would be made quickly and in large amounts. He was a very smart business man who looked at all different perspectives that would benefit his industry. I just think it’s amazing how after all these years in addition to many major changes to our society plus advancements, Henry Ford’s techniques in as well as to ways he established his industry, many industries use today. I still find it fascinating how his products of the Ford automobile are still striving after many years.