Ponder.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-end-at-appomattox-20150420-story.html
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage
As many of you probably know, the Supreme Court is currently arguing over whether states should be able to pass laws outlawing gay marriage. Chief Justice John Roberts has made an interesting argument in favor of same-sex marriage. Roberts has suggested that arguments over sexual orientation may not even be necessary. He has argued that the issue may actually be sexual discrimination, stating that "if Sue loves Joe and Tom loves Joe, Sue can marry him and Tom can't. And the difference is based on their different sex. Why isn't that a straightforward question of sexual discrimination?"
Though this viewpoint will most likely not be central in the final argument, I found it interesting that Roberts has moved the issue away from any moral or traditional arguments over same-sex marriage. It reminded me of the case Roe v. Wade that we studied, where the court ruled that banning abortions restricted a doctor's right to privacy. Both this argument and Roberts' argument do not focus on whether the issue at hand is "right" or "wrong;" instead, they shift the focus to a different, more readily agreed upon issue.
An interesting "view" of a subject we studied...
As you may remember in the documentary "Freeze" there was the image of the last US personnel leaving the American Embassy in Saigon (South Vietnamese capital) in April 1975. Here's an interesting story...
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_28013321/40-years-later-one-infant-from-1975-operation
check it out!
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_28013321/40-years-later-one-infant-from-1975-operation
check it out!
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
APUSH Review Essays #3
Hey guys! I ran across these interesting articles about the Grimke sisters while researching the first prompt in Part A. I didn't remember learning about them and I was inspired by their actions despite the severe adversity that they faced.
Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Elizabeth Blackwell and the Grimke sister all had very different approaches about addressing the confinements of sexist structures. I think that what is so impressive about the Grimke sisters is that their views on abolitionism and social structure was rejected everywhere that they went; yet they still persevered and found like minded people that understood their cause and that could help further their efforts. The Grimke sisters publicly spoke out for what they believed in, despite the public majority's opposing views.
I believe that more people our age should take the time to take their opinions and what they are passionate about outside of school and start speaking up about the political issues that they are passionate about. Just because we are still learning about the government and its procedures, does not mean that we may not have a valid point about a serious political issue like the Grimke sisters did.
We have the ability to write to politicians, senators, and even local government officials. Yet, I rarely see the many different opinions that arise in class debates and essays ever filter out of the classroom. Why is this? Why is it that we hear about people like the Grimke sisters in other regions of the world but not in the U.S? Or is this because the U.S. simply does not have any issues politically that merit radical advocacy for reformation? I don't know the answer, but I think that this is an interesting issue to think about.
Links Below:
https://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/youngandbrave/asgrimke.html
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/slavery-and-anti-slavery/essays/angelina-and-sarah-grimke-abolitionist-sisters
Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Elizabeth Blackwell and the Grimke sister all had very different approaches about addressing the confinements of sexist structures. I think that what is so impressive about the Grimke sisters is that their views on abolitionism and social structure was rejected everywhere that they went; yet they still persevered and found like minded people that understood their cause and that could help further their efforts. The Grimke sisters publicly spoke out for what they believed in, despite the public majority's opposing views.
I believe that more people our age should take the time to take their opinions and what they are passionate about outside of school and start speaking up about the political issues that they are passionate about. Just because we are still learning about the government and its procedures, does not mean that we may not have a valid point about a serious political issue like the Grimke sisters did.
We have the ability to write to politicians, senators, and even local government officials. Yet, I rarely see the many different opinions that arise in class debates and essays ever filter out of the classroom. Why is this? Why is it that we hear about people like the Grimke sisters in other regions of the world but not in the U.S? Or is this because the U.S. simply does not have any issues politically that merit radical advocacy for reformation? I don't know the answer, but I think that this is an interesting issue to think about.
Links Below:
https://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/youngandbrave/asgrimke.html
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/slavery-and-anti-slavery/essays/angelina-and-sarah-grimke-abolitionist-sisters
Monday, April 27, 2015
Why Reconstruction Matters
When studying history, it can often be easy to think of events in the past as being separate from and not having any relevance to today. Here is an article I found about Reconstruction and its importance in today's society: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/opinion/sunday/why-reconstruction-matters.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=1
The article mentioned the idea of birthright citizenship as guaranteed in the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This guaranteed citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. (except Native Americans, at the time). This still affects us today, as this right has been extended to the children of undocumented immigrants. And later in the Reconstruction Era, birthright citizenship was incorporated into the 14th Amendment. Today, this amendment has been used to expand the legal rights of the gay and lesbian community. The Reconstruction Acts, along with the 15th Amendment, were also passed, giving black men the right to vote.
The article also painted a very negative picture of President Andrew Johnson and talked about how his views on Reconstruction have "haunted our discussions of race" today. Johnson, who vetoed the Civil Rights Act but was overridden by Congress, argued that the law favored blacks and hurt whites. Today, this is known as "reverse discrimination" and often comes up in debates over affirmative action.
The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments passed during Reconstruction have stayed in the Constitution even after the end of Reconstruction. They show that this era, though not entirely successful, has been instrumental in shaping the kind of society America is today. Additionally, attitudes like Johnson's towards civil rights continue to divide our country. Though Reconstruction started just a little over 150 years ago (Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865), it continues to influence our society today.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
News Update: Nepal Earthquake
Hey, everyone. I know this is primarily a history blog but I thought it would be a good idea if we were all also up to date on some big current events that are going on right now.
On Saturday, 4/25, Nepal suffered a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. There have been tons of aftershocks and the earthquake has caused a lot of avalanches in the Himalayas, too. The entire country has been devastated, as the death toll has continued to rise above 2,500. Over 5,000 people have been injured as well.
Even worse, these aftershocks have made it very difficult for relief efforts to be implemented. Many people are worried about unsafe buildings, so the Nepali government has called for people to sleep outside, crowding the streets. Safe shelters have also been destroyed as there continues to be heavy rain.
To gain a sense of the extent of the devastation, here are before and after pictures of the Dharahara Tower, an incredibly historic building that was in the capital, Kathmandu:
If you are interested in helping some of the relief efforts going on now, please consider donating to some of the following organizations, which are currently organizing relief operations:
UNICEF is preparing cargo flights to help bring supplies to affected children.
The UN World Food Program is sending emergency response teams to Nepal.
The International Medical Corps also has a team on the ground to provide emergency supplies and care.
The New York Times has a more complete list of organizations providing relief.
Sources:
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/nepal-earthquake/dharahara-tower-n348586
http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/apr/26/nepal-earthquake-death-toll-exceeds-1500-rolling-report
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/world/asia/nepal-earthquake-katmandu.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/live/earthquake-katmandu-nepal-updates/how-to-help-the-relief-effort-in-nepal/
On Saturday, 4/25, Nepal suffered a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. There have been tons of aftershocks and the earthquake has caused a lot of avalanches in the Himalayas, too. The entire country has been devastated, as the death toll has continued to rise above 2,500. Over 5,000 people have been injured as well.
Even worse, these aftershocks have made it very difficult for relief efforts to be implemented. Many people are worried about unsafe buildings, so the Nepali government has called for people to sleep outside, crowding the streets. Safe shelters have also been destroyed as there continues to be heavy rain.
To gain a sense of the extent of the devastation, here are before and after pictures of the Dharahara Tower, an incredibly historic building that was in the capital, Kathmandu:
If you are interested in helping some of the relief efforts going on now, please consider donating to some of the following organizations, which are currently organizing relief operations:
UNICEF is preparing cargo flights to help bring supplies to affected children.
The UN World Food Program is sending emergency response teams to Nepal.
The International Medical Corps also has a team on the ground to provide emergency supplies and care.
The New York Times has a more complete list of organizations providing relief.
Sources:
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/nepal-earthquake/dharahara-tower-n348586
http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/apr/26/nepal-earthquake-death-toll-exceeds-1500-rolling-report
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/world/asia/nepal-earthquake-katmandu.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/live/earthquake-katmandu-nepal-updates/how-to-help-the-relief-effort-in-nepal/
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Terrorist Attacks in France
On January 2, 2015, two brothers by the names of Kouachi attacked a magazine company in France. These brothers were said to be apart of Al Qaeda, and attacked this company because the satirical remarks made about the Prophet Muhammad and their religion. Their attack killed 12 people, including people who worked in that company and police officers. This terrorist attack was the worst attack in France since World War II.
Two days later, these two brothers took a printing facility hostage. Police stormed in, saved the hostages and killed the suspects. But, a partner working with the Kouachi brothers took other hostages to a supermarket armed with explosives. Seventeen people were killed throughout all of these attacks.
When I came upon the article that explained the series of events that took place during this terrorist attack, I was so frightened that there was another attack that happened so recently. Although I know that these terrorists still exist, I had not heard of an attack since the attack at the Boston Marathon a couple of years ago.
This event relates to the religion we were learning about right after we completed the Cold War unit. Ever since the 1800s, religion has been a dominant part of political issues all over the world. This terrorist attack specifically was based solely off of religion, because the cause was rude remarks about the Muslim religion in this newspaper. Some people, like these, are willing to go to many extremes in order to protect the name of the religion they worship.
http://www.infoplease.com/country/france.html?pageno=14
Two days later, these two brothers took a printing facility hostage. Police stormed in, saved the hostages and killed the suspects. But, a partner working with the Kouachi brothers took other hostages to a supermarket armed with explosives. Seventeen people were killed throughout all of these attacks.
When I came upon the article that explained the series of events that took place during this terrorist attack, I was so frightened that there was another attack that happened so recently. Although I know that these terrorists still exist, I had not heard of an attack since the attack at the Boston Marathon a couple of years ago.
This event relates to the religion we were learning about right after we completed the Cold War unit. Ever since the 1800s, religion has been a dominant part of political issues all over the world. This terrorist attack specifically was based solely off of religion, because the cause was rude remarks about the Muslim religion in this newspaper. Some people, like these, are willing to go to many extremes in order to protect the name of the religion they worship.
http://www.infoplease.com/country/france.html?pageno=14
Thursday, April 23, 2015
AP Review #2 Essay A Quizlet
I found this really helpful Quizlet online that refreshed my memory for the first essay regarding the U.S. and international affairs. It goes into depth on how events lead to one another and not just the straight definition like most other online Quizlets. Hope this helps!
https://quizlet.com/6845238/apush-1763-1824-flash-cards/
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Armenian Genocide
genocide
noun. the deliberate killing of people who belong to a particular racial, political, or cultural group
see also: mass murder, annihiliation, extermination
As of now, only 20 countries formally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide--the United States is not one of them. Many activists had hoped that Friday's commemoration would finally include a formal recognition, especially since Obama pledged to do so during his 2008 campaign. However, White House officials have decided not to use the word "genocide" in hopes that it will increase the chance of cooperation with Turkey on Middle Eastern issues. The Turkish government still denies that a genocide occurred, claiming that the massacre does not meet the legal definition of the term.
Many Armenian-Americans, who have been waiting for a formal recognition from the American government for decades, are angered and disappointed. The executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America called the decision "a betrayal of the truth, and a betrayal of trust." Another member called it a "national disgrace."
Mr. Stewart always talks about how history is subjective, how there's never merely one side to the story as our textbooks would have us believe. The controversy over the Armenian Genocide is just one example of this. It's also a testament to the power of language; a debate over one word could change our version of history. How something is remembered is just as important as what actually happened.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-obama-armenian-genocide-20150421-story.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/politics/obama-armenian-genocide-100th-anniversary/index.html
APUSH Monopolies and the Gilded Age
Hey guys! In class today, I found myself struggling to recall Monopolies and the Gilded Age while taking the multiple choice review, and so I did some research and found this website with some great review sections that I thought I would share. Hope this helps!
http://www.shmoop.com/gilded-age/john-d-rockefeller.html
http://www.shmoop.com/gilded-age/john-d-rockefeller.html
AP Test Study Materials
Hey everyone! I know a few people in my class were wondering where to find a timeline that listed political eras instead of just important events, so I looked around and found political timeline that seemed very helpful:
- 1800-1809- The Jeffersonian Revolution
- 1810-1819- The Formative Years
- 1820-1829- The Era of Good Feelings
- 1940-1849- Seeds of Secession
- 1850-1859- Sectionalism and Secession
- 1860-1869- Radical Reconstruction
- 1870-1879- The Gilded Age
- 1880-1889- The Status Quo Politics
- 1890-1899- The Agrarian Revolt
- 1900-1909 - The Modern State
- 1910-1919 - The Progressive Era
- 1920-1929 - A Return to Normalcy
- 1930-1939 - The New Deal Landslide
- 1940-1949 - Rise of Money Politics
- 1950-1959 - Cold War Politics
- 1960-1969 - The Era of Civil Revolt
- 1970-1979 - Seeds of Corruption
- 1980-1989 - The Reagan Revolution
Monday, April 20, 2015
A reminder about stress and feeling down...
Students,
I know we are heading into a very stressful period of the year. I came across this article I thought it might provide perspective for those of you who are feeling overwhelmed. The main point: there is help available and certainly support for anyone who feels like things don't or won't get better.
In addition if you know of someone who is depressed or is discussing anything that sounds like suicidal ideation please inform an adult you trust. It is important.
Okay enough of me not being a cyborg. Continue to review.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-living/ci_27912256/teen-suicides-survivors-reach-out-offer-hope
I know we are heading into a very stressful period of the year. I came across this article I thought it might provide perspective for those of you who are feeling overwhelmed. The main point: there is help available and certainly support for anyone who feels like things don't or won't get better.
In addition if you know of someone who is depressed or is discussing anything that sounds like suicidal ideation please inform an adult you trust. It is important.
Okay enough of me not being a cyborg. Continue to review.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-living/ci_27912256/teen-suicides-survivors-reach-out-offer-hope
USHAP Study Materials
Hey everyone! For those of you who want the extra review, here are two links to study guides my friend from another school made for her USHAP class. It's fairly typo ridden, but if you're struggling with remembering events, people, and facts, this might be a good thing to use to brush up and refresh your memory.
Please don't make any edits unless you're correcting typos. Thanks! :)
Good luck!
Study Guide 1
Study Guide 2
Please don't make any edits unless you're correcting typos. Thanks! :)
Good luck!
Study Guide 1
Study Guide 2
Class Summary 4/20
Hey everyone! For anyone who wasn't here today, here's what we did today:
We did two short answer questions; Mr. Stewart said that the AP people didn't want any of the materials posted online, which is why he gave us a printed copy. So while I don't think it would be a good idea to post the actual prompts, here is the gist:
1. Use your knowledge from the colonial / exploration era (1492 - 1700) to describe different ways in which European influence changed Native Americans' society and ways in which the Native Americans resisted the Europeans.
2. Use your knowledge of the Pre-Civil war era to evaluate how either the Northwest Ordinance, the Missouri Compromise, or the acquisition of Mexican Territory was one of the main events that led to the Civil War. Then, use an event to support your argument. Then, explain why one of the others was not as good of an example.
We took 10 minutes to quickly answer / outline our answers for the short answer questions, then went over several of the possible answers. For example, some of the ways in which Native American society was affected by Europeans were:
- shift from hunting for food to hunting for trade
- implementation of guns into warfare
- spread of diseases
And many more.
Each question had 3 parts, and the formatting of the short answer questions is such that each part should be about a paragraph (2-4 sentences). Hopefully these can provide some form of extra practice/review.
We also went over several of the multiple choice questions in the 200 question review on Edmodo.
We did two short answer questions; Mr. Stewart said that the AP people didn't want any of the materials posted online, which is why he gave us a printed copy. So while I don't think it would be a good idea to post the actual prompts, here is the gist:
1. Use your knowledge from the colonial / exploration era (1492 - 1700) to describe different ways in which European influence changed Native Americans' society and ways in which the Native Americans resisted the Europeans.
2. Use your knowledge of the Pre-Civil war era to evaluate how either the Northwest Ordinance, the Missouri Compromise, or the acquisition of Mexican Territory was one of the main events that led to the Civil War. Then, use an event to support your argument. Then, explain why one of the others was not as good of an example.
We took 10 minutes to quickly answer / outline our answers for the short answer questions, then went over several of the possible answers. For example, some of the ways in which Native American society was affected by Europeans were:
- shift from hunting for food to hunting for trade
- implementation of guns into warfare
- spread of diseases
And many more.
Each question had 3 parts, and the formatting of the short answer questions is such that each part should be about a paragraph (2-4 sentences). Hopefully these can provide some form of extra practice/review.
We also went over several of the multiple choice questions in the 200 question review on Edmodo.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
AP Test Study Tools
Hey everyone!
So I looked online for a good study tool to use for the AP Test and this website came up!
https://www.apstudynotes.org/us-history/timelines/
I played around on it for a little bit, and there are so many different ways it can help us study! Theres a timeline where you can click on different time frames, and study specifically the ages that you need the most help on. Also, it provides "Topic Outlines" for about fifty different topics. So, if you don't know what year a certain event is in, or if you are just browsing on the website and see something you don't know, you can always find out information on it in this section!
This website also provides a practice test that you can take, but from what I can tell there is only one with 40 questions. So there is one available, but Mr. Stewart has provided us with better ones.
In addition, there is also vocabulary, court cases, sample essays, and chapter outlines!
I hope this helps with your studies!!!
So I looked online for a good study tool to use for the AP Test and this website came up!
https://www.apstudynotes.org/us-history/timelines/
I played around on it for a little bit, and there are so many different ways it can help us study! Theres a timeline where you can click on different time frames, and study specifically the ages that you need the most help on. Also, it provides "Topic Outlines" for about fifty different topics. So, if you don't know what year a certain event is in, or if you are just browsing on the website and see something you don't know, you can always find out information on it in this section!
This website also provides a practice test that you can take, but from what I can tell there is only one with 40 questions. So there is one available, but Mr. Stewart has provided us with better ones.
In addition, there is also vocabulary, court cases, sample essays, and chapter outlines!
I hope this helps with your studies!!!
Friday, April 17, 2015
Class Summary 4/16
Hey guys! I know at least in 5th period, some people had to leave early or were absent yesterday on the block day so here's a quick debrief...
1) Position Papers
Regarding our latest position papers about strict or loose constructionism, we were reminded to "set up the reader." Since we can control what the reader is supposed to know and to convince the reader of our opinion, we need to make sure that we are clear about our stance. Because of this, Mr. Stewart advised us not to straddle the two sides like in this prompt about loose vs. strict constructionism. Even if you don't agree wholly with the one side, it is more convincing and easier to argue when the stance is solid the entire way through.
Also, as a side note, Mr. Stewart clarified that the "opposing paragraph" does not necessarily have to be structured as such, as long as there is some concession to strengthen your own argument. He merely had this instruction to try to line up more with English classes, but, with the changes to the English position papers, this isn't as applicable.
2) AP Test Structure
We then went over the structure of the new AP test. There is a folder on Edmodo with the powerpoint that Mr. Stewart used to explain it. However, there is a 55 multiple choice section, a short answer section, a long essay (FRQ), and a DBQ. We went over the changes from previous years to this year, the breakdown of the percentages of the topics covered, and what topics would be tested.
One particularly recommended prep book was the REA AP US history book:
http://www.amazon.com/U-S-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738608130
3) Multiple Choice Practice
Also on Edmodo we started going over the 200 multiple choice review questions. These are planned to be done all in class and we discussed the answers as we went along. Note the new structure! For each given piece of information there would be 2-5 questions following about the question.
Hope this helps if you missed any of class!
1) Position Papers
Regarding our latest position papers about strict or loose constructionism, we were reminded to "set up the reader." Since we can control what the reader is supposed to know and to convince the reader of our opinion, we need to make sure that we are clear about our stance. Because of this, Mr. Stewart advised us not to straddle the two sides like in this prompt about loose vs. strict constructionism. Even if you don't agree wholly with the one side, it is more convincing and easier to argue when the stance is solid the entire way through.
Also, as a side note, Mr. Stewart clarified that the "opposing paragraph" does not necessarily have to be structured as such, as long as there is some concession to strengthen your own argument. He merely had this instruction to try to line up more with English classes, but, with the changes to the English position papers, this isn't as applicable.
2) AP Test Structure
We then went over the structure of the new AP test. There is a folder on Edmodo with the powerpoint that Mr. Stewart used to explain it. However, there is a 55 multiple choice section, a short answer section, a long essay (FRQ), and a DBQ. We went over the changes from previous years to this year, the breakdown of the percentages of the topics covered, and what topics would be tested.
One particularly recommended prep book was the REA AP US history book:
http://www.amazon.com/U-S-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738608130
3) Multiple Choice Practice
Also on Edmodo we started going over the 200 multiple choice review questions. These are planned to be done all in class and we discussed the answers as we went along. Note the new structure! For each given piece of information there would be 2-5 questions following about the question.
Hope this helps if you missed any of class!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District
Today in class, Mr. Stewart mentioned a 2005 court case that dealt with the teaching of intelligent design in public school. I looked it up and found that the case is called Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District.
Controversy started when the Dover Area School District started requiring that biology teachers present both evolution and intelligent design to their classes. The district also required the book Of Pandas and People, a book that teaches that all living things were designed by an intelligent creator, to be used as a textbook. Parents sued the school district over a school board requirement that teachers read an explanation for the origin of life that contradicted Darwin's theory of evolution, arguing that intelligent design is just another name for creationism pseudoscience.
The case went to a Pennsylvania court, where a Republican judge ruled that the district's mandate that required the statement to be read was unconstitutional and mixed church and state.
Just like the Scopes trial, this case asks the question of whether religion and science can be mixed. According to this case, it seems, separation of church and state must be enforced in public schools.
Sources:
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Pandas_and_People#Overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District
Controversy started when the Dover Area School District started requiring that biology teachers present both evolution and intelligent design to their classes. The district also required the book Of Pandas and People, a book that teaches that all living things were designed by an intelligent creator, to be used as a textbook. Parents sued the school district over a school board requirement that teachers read an explanation for the origin of life that contradicted Darwin's theory of evolution, arguing that intelligent design is just another name for creationism pseudoscience.
The case went to a Pennsylvania court, where a Republican judge ruled that the district's mandate that required the statement to be read was unconstitutional and mixed church and state.
Just like the Scopes trial, this case asks the question of whether religion and science can be mixed. According to this case, it seems, separation of church and state must be enforced in public schools.
Sources:
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Pandas_and_People#Overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District
Hillary Clinton and Religion
As somebody who is not normally particularly involved in following politics, I found it fascinating being able to now notice the religion that is tied with politics when looking at the candidates for the 2016 election. After searching "Hillary Clinton's position on religion" on google, a ridiculous variety of sources came up, from opinions of Christian religious groups, news articles about Clinton's personal experiences with religion, and atheist organization's take on Clinton's religious stance. Every religious group or political news group has an opinion on Clinton's own beliefs and her advocacy of them.
For those that are curious or who did not know before, Hillary Clinton is a Methodist, which she openly points to as inspiring her to lead a life of "public service and private devotion." She had said that her religions was "the background music of her life... It's there all the time. It's not something you have to think about, you believe it." The Methodists are the second-largest Protestant group at 6% of the total US adult population. Hillary Clinton has also openly and regularly attended the Foundry United Methodist Church, a church that is particularly active in social matters. The Foundry United Methodist Church is well known for its advocacy for gay and lesbian rights. By just looking at Hillary Clinton and small bits of her personal beliefs like these, it is easy to see how religion and politics get involved. Clinton is clearly garnering the support of many Protestants, as shown by things like the twitter group @Faith4Hillary that was started by religious supporters of Clinton's campaign or the articles on Clinton by a Christian voter guide. (http://www.godvoter.org/Hillary-Clinton-religion.html)
Tying back to what we have learned in our own history class, Clinton also developed close relations with Billy Graham as shown through Graham's book , The Preacher and the Presidents which showed her own ties to the web of religion and politics. She deliberately showed the Christians then that she was one rooted in spirituality, and she maintains that same image today. She also, as we discussed in class yesterday, targets a very large group of voters that want to support her that also want to push a certain agenda. She continues to promise that she will make certain social changes for the public service of the people.
http://time.com/2927925/hillary-clintons-religion/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/26/has-hillary-clinton-again-started-to-talk-about-her-faith/
https://www.google.com/search?q=hillary+clinton%27s+stance+on+religion&oq=hillary+cli&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j0l4.2131j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8
For those that are curious or who did not know before, Hillary Clinton is a Methodist, which she openly points to as inspiring her to lead a life of "public service and private devotion." She had said that her religions was "the background music of her life... It's there all the time. It's not something you have to think about, you believe it." The Methodists are the second-largest Protestant group at 6% of the total US adult population. Hillary Clinton has also openly and regularly attended the Foundry United Methodist Church, a church that is particularly active in social matters. The Foundry United Methodist Church is well known for its advocacy for gay and lesbian rights. By just looking at Hillary Clinton and small bits of her personal beliefs like these, it is easy to see how religion and politics get involved. Clinton is clearly garnering the support of many Protestants, as shown by things like the twitter group @Faith4Hillary that was started by religious supporters of Clinton's campaign or the articles on Clinton by a Christian voter guide. (http://www.godvoter.org/Hillary-Clinton-religion.html)
Tying back to what we have learned in our own history class, Clinton also developed close relations with Billy Graham as shown through Graham's book , The Preacher and the Presidents which showed her own ties to the web of religion and politics. She deliberately showed the Christians then that she was one rooted in spirituality, and she maintains that same image today. She also, as we discussed in class yesterday, targets a very large group of voters that want to support her that also want to push a certain agenda. She continues to promise that she will make certain social changes for the public service of the people.
http://time.com/2927925/hillary-clintons-religion/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/26/has-hillary-clinton-again-started-to-talk-about-her-faith/
https://www.google.com/search?q=hillary+clinton%27s+stance+on+religion&oq=hillary+cli&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j0l4.2131j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
The (Possible) Future of American Politics
Hillary Rodham Clinton entered the 2016 Democratic presidential campaign on Sunday. For us future voters, it's important to be well informed about the candidates and their visions, in order to cast an educated vote. So let's take a closer look at what moment, some argue, made Hillary.
Hillary, as we all know, is a huge advocate for women's rights. At a UN conference, she declared "human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights." She focuses a lot on the abuses of women and what needs to be changed. She puts women's rights at the center of her agenda and makes sure everyone knows it.
At this point in her campaign she is focused on introducing a new Hillary. Her early town hall meetings have been in small towns in small community gatherings. This is a new approach to appeal to the people who may not have supported the old Hillary. It's hard to predict whether or not she will continue with this strategy or if she will revert to a more traditional approach to campaigning.
If you are a feminist and believe what Hillary is doing and fighting for, it looks like you know where your vote will end up in the 2016 election.
Source: http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/02/19/hillary-clinton-women-united-nations/
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Yoga... a Religion?
As yoga came up in our video today, I wondered if yoga is considered a form of religion or religious practice? So I did some research and found that the roots of yoga are argued to be from Hinduism and date back to over 5,000 years in regions discovered by archaeologists in the Indus Valley. There are also many different forms of yoga including Hatha, Raja & Jhana yoga that have no affiliation with any concept of God. However, forms such as Bhakti, Karma, Tantra, and Kashmir all encourage concentration on the individuals' concept of God. Many people claim that though there are ties of yoga to religion, religion is not tied to yoga. Can this same principle be attributed to other things such as prayer, meditation, and other religiously affiliated practices, or are the religious ties to these activities not be severed as they have been with yoga?
More Info:
http://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/yoga-hindu-origins
http://www.americanyogaassociation.org/general.html
More Info:
http://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/yoga-hindu-origins
http://www.americanyogaassociation.org/general.html
Infographics on Religion
Hey guys! As we discussing religion in class yesterday, I was curious to see what the spread of religion is like today. As somebody who is a visual learner, I looked up some infographics as to see how widespread religion is as well as how many branches of religions are practiced around the world.
It really is interesting to think about, as Mr. Stewart said, how much religion has a play in society and politics; it is certainly more common than I think it to be even in our own area. These might also help to explain certain branches and denominations of religions if you are interested in learning about their differences. Hope these help!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/26/atheist-discrimination-humanist-association_n_5531296.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/infographic-map-world-religions-2012-4
http://visual.ly/religion-america
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/03/26/us-christians-views-on-the-return-of-christ/
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/12/03/infographic-survey-of-jewish-americans/
It really is interesting to think about, as Mr. Stewart said, how much religion has a play in society and politics; it is certainly more common than I think it to be even in our own area. These might also help to explain certain branches and denominations of religions if you are interested in learning about their differences. Hope these help!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/26/atheist-discrimination-humanist-association_n_5531296.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/infographic-map-world-religions-2012-4
http://visual.ly/religion-america
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/03/26/us-christians-views-on-the-return-of-christ/
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/12/03/infographic-survey-of-jewish-americans/
Monday, April 13, 2015
Letter from Birmingham Jail
After watching the "God in America" documentary, I was interested in MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" so I did a little more research. I found out that he wrote the letter on April 16, 1963. The letter basically explains why the strategy of nonviolent protests are crucial to social reforms. He puts the responsibility to make an impact on the protestors, arguing they exist to show why certain laws are unjust and must be changed. He says that nothing will change if people stand by passively and do nothing to spark a reform movement.
What's amazing about this specific letter is how relevant it still is today. The fact that Martin Luther King Jr., a well educated and prominent figure chose to go to jail to raise awareness for his cause is truly eye opening. It really makes society today questions the morality of the modern legal system and how similar cases are recurring today, such as police brutality and perhaps innocent people serving time (or worse, being killed). Examples: Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, etc.
Read the full text of the letter here: http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
Friday, April 10, 2015
Supreme Court to Rule on Same-Sex Marriage Case April 28; History of SC Gay Rights Cases
Two years ago, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled in United States v. Windsor that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and that the federal government could not limit the definition of marriage to a heterosexual union. The decision was heralded as a landmark step towards marriage equality. Now, two years later, the SC faces an even more monumental case, one that could require all 50 states to allow gay marriage (only 37 do so currently).
On April 28, the SC will hear 2 1/2 hours of oral arguments on marriage bans in Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky. Their ruling will answer, perhaps once and for all, whether or not states have the constitutional right to ban same-sex marriage. Observers hope and expect the SC to rule in favor of marriage equality.
In honor of this upcoming court decision, I thought it'd be fitting to cover major SC cases dealing with the gay-rights movement:
Bowers v. Hardwick (1986): The SC ruled that the Due Process Clause does not give individuals to right to engage in homosexual acts in private. The decision was considered a major setback to the gay rights movement, but was also overturned in the 2003 ruling on Lawrence v. Texas.
Romer v. Evans (1996): Colorado's Amendment 2, which refused gays and lesbians protection against discrimination, was struck down as unconstitutional in a 6-3 ruling. This set the stage for later court rulings in the 2003 case Lawrence v. Texas and the 2013 case United States v. Windsor.
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000): In another setback to the gay rights movement, the SC ruled 5-4 that the Boy Scouts of America have the right to ban gays.
Lawrence v. Texas (2003): The SC struck down a sodomy law in Texas, thereby making same-sex sexual activity legal in every US state, and overturned its 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick decision.
United States v. Windsor (2013): In its first case concerning same-sex marriage, the SC ruled the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional as it violated the rights of gays and lesbians and interfered with states' rights to define marriage.
Hollingsworth v. Perry (2013): The SC ruled that proponents of California's Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage, did not have legal standing to appeal to a federal court to overturn a lower court's ruling that the ban was unconstitutional. The ruling allowed for gay marriage in California, but had not affect on gay marriage in other states.
It's amazing how far we've come since the Hollingsworth ruling--at the time, only 9 states allowed gay marriage. Two years later, that number has risen to 37 states. Not only that, but recent polls show that over 60 percent of American favor marriage equality. Civil rights for gay Americans was an uphill battle from the start, but changing public opinion and landmark legal victories have brought increasing equality for gay Americans. Hopefully, the SC will continue this trend to provide the gay-rights movement with its largest victory yet.
On April 28, the SC will hear 2 1/2 hours of oral arguments on marriage bans in Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky. Their ruling will answer, perhaps once and for all, whether or not states have the constitutional right to ban same-sex marriage. Observers hope and expect the SC to rule in favor of marriage equality.
In honor of this upcoming court decision, I thought it'd be fitting to cover major SC cases dealing with the gay-rights movement:
Bowers v. Hardwick (1986): The SC ruled that the Due Process Clause does not give individuals to right to engage in homosexual acts in private. The decision was considered a major setback to the gay rights movement, but was also overturned in the 2003 ruling on Lawrence v. Texas.
Romer v. Evans (1996): Colorado's Amendment 2, which refused gays and lesbians protection against discrimination, was struck down as unconstitutional in a 6-3 ruling. This set the stage for later court rulings in the 2003 case Lawrence v. Texas and the 2013 case United States v. Windsor.
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000): In another setback to the gay rights movement, the SC ruled 5-4 that the Boy Scouts of America have the right to ban gays.
Lawrence v. Texas (2003): The SC struck down a sodomy law in Texas, thereby making same-sex sexual activity legal in every US state, and overturned its 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick decision.
United States v. Windsor (2013): In its first case concerning same-sex marriage, the SC ruled the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional as it violated the rights of gays and lesbians and interfered with states' rights to define marriage.
Hollingsworth v. Perry (2013): The SC ruled that proponents of California's Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage, did not have legal standing to appeal to a federal court to overturn a lower court's ruling that the ban was unconstitutional. The ruling allowed for gay marriage in California, but had not affect on gay marriage in other states.
It's amazing how far we've come since the Hollingsworth ruling--at the time, only 9 states allowed gay marriage. Two years later, that number has risen to 37 states. Not only that, but recent polls show that over 60 percent of American favor marriage equality. Civil rights for gay Americans was an uphill battle from the start, but changing public opinion and landmark legal victories have brought increasing equality for gay Americans. Hopefully, the SC will continue this trend to provide the gay-rights movement with its largest victory yet.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Texas lawmakers and Abortion
It's hard to believe that it was just last week that we wrapped up our Cold War era unit. At this point, we have seen our share of Supreme Court cases and White House scandals, but a lot of the hot topics during that era are recurring. Specifically the popular issue of abortion. While browsing Yahoo news one afternoon, I found this article about Texas and abortion.
The conservative state of Texas has always advocated for strict regulations on abortion and just recently, suggestions for even tighter regulations have risen. New bills are being introduced specifically targeting teens and making it harder for teens to get approval by court for an abortion. Essentially, the individual seeking legal approval for an abortion would have to provide more evidence of her maturity and fear of abuse. Republican Rep. Ron Simmons proposed to require public disclosure of judges who allow judicial bypass applications.
Many of these new proposals are expected to be approved by the Republican controlled Legislature. It will be interesting to see how this issue pans out and where it is brought up yet again.
http://news.yahoo.com/texas-lawmakers-want-close-bypass-teen-abortions-160219182.html
Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Stories of Los Altos World War II Veterans
Hi guys! As you all know, Talon recently published its first edition of a news magazine, which looked amazing with its glossy pages and full color pictures. It contained a spread on the 70th anniversary of WWII, and due to lack of print space, The Talon later published full-length features on two Los Altos veterans online.
Here is the link to veteran Al Galedrige's story:
And here is the link to veteran Fred Wellmerling's story:
I highly recommend you check out these features! I was lucky enough to be able to interview and write Al Galedrige's story, and some of the things he said just blew me away. He talked about witnessing the bombing of Pearl Harbor, about watching torpedoes slice boats in half, about the moments when he thought for sure he was going to die, about countless more stories of fear and pain. But the amazing thing is that Al also told happy stories from the war--small moments like witnessing the raising of the flag at the battle of Iwo Jima (it later became part of a historic photograph), spearfishing with the natives of Guam, and ultimately, hearing the news that the war had finally ended. Al is 89 years old and has fairly conservative views on politics (I sometimes had to pull him back from rants about Obama and US involvement in Iraq/Afghanistan) but it was surreal and humbling to hear the first-hand experience of someone who had gone through the horror of war and come out alive. It reminded me to be thankful that we don't have to fight for our freedom, that we have soldiers who sacrifice their lives to do so for us.
These WWII veterans won't be around much longer, and I think it's important that we remember and record their stories for future generations. In history class, the history we learn covers death counts, dates, and political impacts. Al Galedrige's story is a different kind of history, the personal kind. His story may not tell us about the strategic importance of the battle of Guam or the political cost of Iwo Jima, but it will remind you of the individual experiences in war that link together to fabricate the very nature of the war itself. And that's something worth reading about.
Here is the link to veteran Al Galedrige's story:
And here is the link to veteran Fred Wellmerling's story:
I highly recommend you check out these features! I was lucky enough to be able to interview and write Al Galedrige's story, and some of the things he said just blew me away. He talked about witnessing the bombing of Pearl Harbor, about watching torpedoes slice boats in half, about the moments when he thought for sure he was going to die, about countless more stories of fear and pain. But the amazing thing is that Al also told happy stories from the war--small moments like witnessing the raising of the flag at the battle of Iwo Jima (it later became part of a historic photograph), spearfishing with the natives of Guam, and ultimately, hearing the news that the war had finally ended. Al is 89 years old and has fairly conservative views on politics (I sometimes had to pull him back from rants about Obama and US involvement in Iraq/Afghanistan) but it was surreal and humbling to hear the first-hand experience of someone who had gone through the horror of war and come out alive. It reminded me to be thankful that we don't have to fight for our freedom, that we have soldiers who sacrifice their lives to do so for us.
These WWII veterans won't be around much longer, and I think it's important that we remember and record their stories for future generations. In history class, the history we learn covers death counts, dates, and political impacts. Al Galedrige's story is a different kind of history, the personal kind. His story may not tell us about the strategic importance of the battle of Guam or the political cost of Iwo Jima, but it will remind you of the individual experiences in war that link together to fabricate the very nature of the war itself. And that's something worth reading about.
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