Hiroshima: Mon Amour

I think this video was a bunch of propaganda telling everybody how cruel America is. I believe that a lot of people were hurt by this tragedy that occured in August 1945, but it fails to show the other side. Is it America to blame? Or is it the Japanese government? The Japanese could have easily surrendered and saved the lives of their citizens, but they chose to have the win or die mentality, which ultimately backfired. I would like to see a video tape showing the hardships that Pearl Harbor caused. If the bombs were not dropped, how much longer would the war have lasted? I think the ultimate question when regarding the atom bombs being dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima is: Would you want to die, so that others may live?

 

Bombs Away

These four readings all had to do with the two bombings by America on Japan during WWII. I agree with the first essay I read, which was The US Was Right. I know a lot of people don’t think that bombing is the best thing to do in wars, especially atom bombs but I feel it was necessary in this situation just as Connor did. I am a strong believer in protecting the security of our country. Pearl Harbor was a devastating event that lowered the overall morale of our country during WWII. If we would have done nothing in return, we might have come off as the weaker country. In order to preserve our power and security, bombing back was only the logical thing to do. Relating this to science/technology, I think it is a waste to come up with this amazing technology and when given the chance to use it, just push it aside. Now, I am not saying that every time we are threatened we should go drop a nuclear bomb on that country. But when we are attacked ourselves, as in Pearl Harbor, we should use the technology. “If you got it, flaunt it.” 🙂

In The US Was Wrong, I can see where Alperovitz was coming from, that the war could have possibly been ended without the bomb, but the war was ended with the bomb. We don’t know what would have happened for sure had the bomb not been used in Japan. There are so many supporters of non-violent tactics that it would be hard to convince the majority of the public otherwise, but I believe that the war may not have been ended with the same outcome if the bomb had not been used.

The other two readings I did not really enjoy as much. Progress of Japan was only interesting in the fact that “the people felt rather relieved of an oppressed feeling despite their sorrow” (WAW 556). It shows that the bombing was the best thing to do. I felt as if First Atomic Bomb Dropped on Japan was just a summary of the events leading up to it, and more facts than opinion.

Sankowsky + Einstein + Oppenheimer

These readings really opened my eyes to the harms that science can create. I never have been a huge fan of science and this lack of interest led to a lack of knowledge as well. I know that scientific progressments are something that are very beneficial, but it is never mentioned to the mainstream how harmful they can be. Atomic bombs are obviously a result of great scientific advancements, but when scientists invent or think of these ideas, are they really thinking about the harm that could be caused with these things? They find something groundbreaking, and it is used to destroy humanity. I don’t disagree with the use of scientifical warfare, but I think that scientists need to be more careful and maybe America should be focusing on other scientifical areas than warfare. I think that it is important to get new weapons because we want to be able to protect ourselves, but in focusing on only the protection in the sense of war we are not focusing in health protection.
I really liked how Albert Einstein compared religion and science instead of using one to degrade the other. This brought up an interesting point in my mind, and a very controversial one. Too many people think that there cannot be both creation AND evolution. While it may be harder for evolutionists to accept the fact that there may be a higher power that created everything, I think that it is easy as a believer in creationism to accept that things have not been the same since the beginning of time. I think it is a very important thing to be able to accept both religion and science instead of seeing them as enemies.

This doesn’t have to do with the readings but..

I got it in an e-mail and thought it was interesting, and relates to justice of immigrants. Should people wanting to live here get the same rights as in their own country? It’s a huge topic of controversy and this seems a little bit…unfair to me. Again, this is not related to readings but is current and relates to justice.

>> Dear Mr. President:
>>
>> I’m planning to move my family and extended family into
>> Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist
>> me.
>>
>> We’re planning to simply walk across the border from
>> the U.S. into Mexico , and we’ll need your help to make
>> a few arrangements.
>>
>> We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports,
>> immigration quotas and laws.
>> I’m sure they handle those things the same way you do
>> here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President
>> Calderon, that I’m on my way over?
>>
>> Please let him know I will be expecting the
>> following:
>>
>>   1. Free medical care for my entire
>> family.
>>
>>   2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for
>> all services I might need, whether I use
>>        them or
>> not.
>>
>>   3. Please print all Mexican government forms in
>> English.
>>
>>   4. I want my grandkids to be taught Spanish by
>> English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers.
>>
>>   5. Tell their schools they need to include
>> classes on American culture and history.
>>
>>   6. I want my grandkids to see the American flag
>> on one of the flag poles at their school.
>>
>>   7. Please plan to feed my grandkids at school
>> for both breakfast and lunch.
>>
>>   8. I will need a local Mexican driver’s
>> license so I can get easy access to government
>>       services.
>>
>>   9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico ,
>> but, I don’t plan to purchase car insurance,
>>       and I probably
>> won’t make any special effort to learn local traffic
>> laws.
>>
>> 10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get
>> the memo from their president
>>       to leave me alone,
>> please be sure that every patrol car has at least one
>> English-
>>       speaking
>> officer.
>>
>> 11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put U S.
>> flag decals on my car, and have
>>       a gigantic celebration
>> on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative
>> comments
>>       from the locals.
>>
>> 12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any
>> taxes, or have any labor or tax
>>       laws enforced on
>> any business I may start.
>>
>> 13. Please have the president tell all the Mexican
>> people to be extremely nice and never
>>       say a critical things
>> about me or my family, or about the strain we might place on
>> their
>>       economy.
>>
>> 14. I want to receive free food stamps.
>>
>> 15. Naturally, I’ll expect free rent subsidies.
>>
>> 16. I’ll need income tax credits so although I
>> don’t pay Mexican taxes, I’ll receive money
>>       from the
>> government.
>>
>> 17. Please arrange it so that the Mexican Gov’t pays
>> $4,500 to help me buy a new car.
>>
>> 18. Oh yes, I almost forgot, please enroll me free into the
>> Mexican Social Security
>>       program so that
>> I’ll get a monthly income in retirement.
>>
>> I know this is an easy request because you already do all
>> these things for all his people who come to the U.S. from
>> Mexico.  I am sure that President Calderon won’t
>> mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.
>>
>>
>>                Thank
>> you so much for your kind help. You’re the man!

Cheif Seattle + John W. Mellor

I think that Chief Seattle’s essay is very well written and really explains how the Native Americans have faced oppression with the the European’s overtaking of the land. The following video does a really good job explaining in easier terms to understand what Chief Seattle is trying to say. Whether you believe in everything having a spirit or not, it is easy to understand why the Native Americans get so upset and are sensitive about the loss of their once sacred land.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkV-of_eN2w

In response to Mellor’s essay, I think that America should step in and help these poorer countries. As a wealthier, more fortunate country it is our duty to step in and help countries who are suffering. This goes for environmentally, healthwise or politically. Mellor agrees, but I think that a lot of Americans would not. Or they would say they don’t want America to intervene in countries, but then would agree after hearing the travesties in other countries. One thing I do not agree with is population control though. I think his statement that a higher education would help perhaps lower the average family size is correct, but I think that countries should be working towards a goal of higher education rather than a goal of controlling the population.

A Good Man + Queer Marriage

I thought that these were both very entertaining reads this week, but I did not see how they related, so I will talk about them seperately.

The first of the two readings was a blog about gay marriage and I found it both interesting and refreshing to hear a gay perspective on not legalizing gay marriage, at the moment. The author said that gay marriage should not be put above everything else, and I agree. Although it may seem ‘unfair’ for gays to not be allowed to marry, is it more unfair than the millions of people without food on the table, or even a roof over their head? Is it moreunfair than the AIDS epidemic? I don’t think so and it is nice to hear somebody that is gay be more concerned with other issues before the issue of marriage. One thing that I did not agree with though was the fact that they “challenge queer communities to remember our awsesomely radical history of building families and raising children in highly political, inventive, and non-traditional ways.” I think that if somebody wants to do this, it is their business, but it is also their business if they wish to adopt and try to create a traditional environment in the home. Just because somebody is gay does not mean that they have to be extremely different in all aspects of life.

I have a gay friend, and he is so flambuoyant about it that it almost comes off as an act. Actual Facebook status by this friend: “My boyfriend, gay roommate and I are having a ZAC EFRON movie marathon! HOW HOMO ARE WE?!”
I do not go around flaunting how straight I am, and would probably get some backlash if I did. This is an example of how some (I am not going to say all, but most of the ones I have encountered) gays are using their sexuality as a spotlight on themselves. Creating a family in a non-traditional way is okay if it is what you want, gay or straight. It is when people are doing this just because they are gay and it is advocated in the gay community that it becomes unhealthy and done for the wrong reasons.

In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, I found the plot twist very shocking. I do not honestly understand how it relates to family justice, but I imagine I will after class is over. It was a good story though, and I will probably come back and post a comment on my opinions after class is over.

The Erosion of Civilization

This was definitely the most interesting of the two articles that we read, and I blieve that Jared Diamond’s statement that the “Infertile Crescent” is a more appropriate name for the Fertile Crescent is a good one. Ancient dominance has led to a false sense of power in the middle east. While there is still a presence of some power in Iran, Iraq, etc, the power has been shifted to more Westernly civilized countries. This is not the fault of those living in the middle east, it is simply just bad luck. The climate has changed, and this shows how easily power can shift.

A lot of people see America as the powerhouse of the World, which I agree is true. The percentage of people believing this is slowly falling though. Over the past 9 years, especially in 2001, there has been attacks on the United States, because there is no fear of the power we do have. I believe that us having such a great amount of power has been good for us for an amount of time, but the higher you fly, the harder you fall. Slowly, new countries will become more powerful, and they will become targets to attacks. One by one, each area or country in the world will become the powerhouse, and one by one, we will all fall. It is only when there is no need for power, or no need to be ‘the best’, that civilization will thrive. This past century has came leaps and bounds with technology and everything, but we are not at our fullest potential yet, and until the need for this temporary power is diminished, we can not reach this potential.

Annan + de Tocqueville

First off, I must be honest and say that I did not appreciate de Tocqueville’s essay. He was saying how horrible America was, and being American, I have learned to take pride in our country. Too many people now a days are focusing on the negatives of our country, when to be truly united as a republic and a powerful democracy, we have to focus on the positive things that our country is truly doing. De Tocqueville saying that we have produced no great writers because our lack of freedom of speech is an abomination. Harriet Beecher Stowe, Walt Whitman and Mark Twain are all some of the most famous writers still, and they are all three American. SO..I don’t know. I just don’t agree with that essay and it made me not like him. The end of that. In Annan’s Nobel Peace Lecture, he talked about how true borders are not between nations, but between the rich and the poor, etc. I think this is really true, and I believe that Kofi Annan was probably a great advocate for peace. Unlike some other people who have recieved this award.

How these essays relate to justice:
Governments should have less control of what is happening with the people in order to have a greater amount of justice. To keep justice, people need to realize that other people in other places are always going through worse stuff than they are. People fighting for what they believe is right is just. People saying what they want to say or believe, without being punished is just. People fighting for the rights of other people is just.

MLK + Thoreau

In Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, it is proven that justice is not equal to following laws. Justice is more than being a law-abiding citizen, it is doing what is truly right, whether the government agrees or not. MLK breaks a law and is sent to jail, but it is for trying to create peace and justice. He even says “…I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” (213 WAW). To MLK, I think justice is civil rights and human rights for all. This can be connected to the homosexual fight for civil rights today. I believe that MLK and Thoreau are similar in Thoreau’s thoughts that “The government is best which governs least”. The government can sometimes take too much role in trying to provide justice, and in return be taking justice away from some people. Thoreau believes that people should determine their own futures, and their own fates and that large government can get in the way of that heavily. When the government is determining the futures of it’s people, that is defeating the purpose of trying to create justice, by creating injustice.

Justice and Superheroes

Today at the art museum, I was not really inspired by any of the paintings to be quite honest. I felt this way until I ventured to the back of the exhibit where I saw two paintings depicting Superman with both heroes and victims of the 9/11 tragedy. When I saw these paintings, I realized that justice was more than just making sure people are following the law. All police officers have to do their job in making sure that the law is being followed, but there are a select few that are actually passionate about making sure that people everywhere are being treated justly. Justice is more than just following the rules, it is doing what you believe is considered right, sticking up for people who cant do it themselves, and being a positive leader and role model. Justice is not fighting crime, it is trying to prevent anybody from feeling unsafe. I think that even though the original paintings of superheroes alone did not inspire me, superheroes can be seen as fighters and providers of justice. They are doing what they believe is right, just like most police officers, firefighters and doctors depicted in the painting above.