Liz (U.S.)

Question: What impact did Vietnam, Watergate, and Ronald Reagan have on Americans?

What impact did Vietnam, Watergate, and Ronald Reagan have on Americans?

For my baby boomer interview, I interviewed my father Jerome Lyle Rappaport, Jr. Born in 1957, being able to vote for his first president Jimmy Carter -- in 1975, when he was a senior at Noble & Greenough. He was a strong democrat, like his family at the time, due to the betrayal they felt by the Republican Party due to Watergate, Nixon and the Vietnam War. Since he was in the early stages and years of the "baby boomers" he was not truly affected by the Vietnam War, because he and his friends were not drafted. Being one of 11 kids (two different mothers after divorce), his older siblings were greatly impacted by the Vietnam War, when their friends and teachers were drafted. One sister disregarded the war and the betrayal of the Republican Party and studied law, then to become a Republican Senator in Minnesota, along with my Uncle Jim running for Lieutenant Governor and losing against Republican Carrey Healy in Massachusetts. When Jerry's dad (my Grandpa) became affluent enough to not agree with the Democrats tax reduction for the poor, and increase for the wealth, he became a very conservative man. However, my dad and his family always believed in Civil Rights and the importance to undergo Affirmative Action, and had ties to the Democratic Party.
The impact of Watergate on my father was the then betrayal he felt for the government officials for breaking into the Democratic Headquarters. He saw the beginning stages of disappointment in the government followed by Reagan. He did not vote for Reagan in the 80's election, due to the fact he thought he was just a "face" and says, "no one really knew what his policies were about, all he wanted to do was be 'simplistic'”. My father did not agree with that, which caused divisions among his family. One of his sisters was as “liberal as they come,” she was apart of the anti-war marches in California and the division in the family caused tension throughout his late college years to the present. His family being divided politically forced him to choose which direction to chose. Even though he has been very successful in the Real Estate industry, he doesn't always want to concentrate on what would soley benefit him, but more the public in general. He votes Democrat and his heroes will forever be Democratic leaders like John F. Kennedy and even Martin Luther King.

Source Info

What primary sources have you found? How did you find them? (Describe tools and search strings) Do you feel that you have adequate primary and secondary source material on your topic? If not, why not?

"Primary Sources"
1) The USS Arizona: The Ship, the Men, the Pearl Harbor Attack, and the Symbol that Aroused America.
Found through google book search, Very adequate- unfortunately I also ordered it through CLASS research site, after I ordered it, thinking they were different. It has great first hand accounts of how people mourn after the event
2) "A day to remember"
This is a primary source by a Japanese pilot, that is incredibly informative. I found this through EBSCOHOST. very useful and helpful!
3) "A deadly sunday morning"
This is a story of a Pearl Harbor survivor who saw the USS Arizona blow up. This is such a moving quote, "One pilot was so close I could see the big smile on his face. Boy, was I angry! " Very helpful, found through EBSCOHOST.
4) George Phraner's Brush with Death Aboard the U.S.S. Arizona
Found through Researchers Tool Kit, it is a first hand account of George's touch with death. very useful speech.
5) Interview with Donald Stratton: USS Arizona Survivor's Tale
Found through History Net. very powerful tale, great source.

"Secondary Sources"
1) Battleship Arizona
Found this through Amazon.com, it has a very detailed history and the fact of December 7, 1941, where exactly the bombs hit. And a lot of knowledge.
2) The Fold: "65th Anniversary, remembering Pearl Harbor"
Found facts, "Total sailors and Marines on the Arizona killed in attack, making it the greatest loss of life on any U.S. warship in American history."
3) Death of the Arizona
Found through EBSCOHOST, this is an analysis of the destruction of the USS Arizona.
4) Pearl Harbor Attack
Found through ABC-clio. Lots of facts.
5) One Last Mission for Ship Sunk in Pearl Harbor Attack; Scientists in Md. Hope Arizona Stability Study Might Aid Others
Found through ABC-clio, was in the Washington post, and focuses on the destruction and deterioration of the USS Arizona. Also, about the oil that still effects the ocean and the world today.

"Interesting Articles"
1) A New Day of Infamy
This relates the attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon to the attacks on pearl Harbor- and interesting point.
2) USS Arizona
Found on a survivors website. Very important and interesting article.

*Luckily all my sources seem accurate-- however it will take more research to see how important each article is.

new cites and sources

Works Cited

EyeWitness to History. "Attack At Pearl Harbor, 1941." USS Arizona. 1997. Communications INC. 5 Feb.
2007 .

NavPublishing. "Loss of the USS Arizona." NavPublishing. 2006. Larry Kimmett and Margaret Regis. 5
Feb. 2007 .

The University of Arizona Library. "That Terrible Day." USS Arizona . 2006. Arizona Board of
Regents. 5 Feb. 2007 .

USNI. "Pearl Harbor- Attac from Below." U.S. Naval Institute. Dec. 1999. U.S. Naval Institute. 5
Feb. 2007 .

Wikepedia. "USS Arizona (BB-39)." Wikepedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 1 Feb. 2007. Wikimedia
Foundations INC. 5 Feb. 2007 .

Wikepedia, and Wikepedia. "USS Arizona Memorial." Wikepedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 18 Jan. 2007.
Wikimedia Foundations INC. 5 Feb. 2007 USS_Arizona_Memorial>.

Books I ordered:
USS ARIZONA

• 1 of: The USS Arizona: The Ship, the Men, the Pearl Harbor Attack, and the Symbol That Aroused America
Sold by: Amazon.com
• 2 of: Battleship Arizona: An Illustrated History
Sold by: Amazon.com
3 "The attack on Pearl Harbor"

--all coming Wednesday February 8, 2007
I found a book on CLASS called the "USS Arizona: the ship, the men, the Pearl Harbor attack and the symbol that aroused America" by Jasper, Joy Waldron located at BB&N (940.542 Jas) and Gov. Dummer Acad (940.5426 Kas) TALK TO K. BAXTER about this.

Narrow my topic by focusing on the arizona, not the entire pearl harbor attack.
my only problems are how to fucus it into a research question-- that is my only issue.

Research Project: Arizona

Type pad

*The Sinking of the Arizona ship, in the Pearl Harbor attacks by Japan

Describe the topic of your paper:
I want to analyze the sinking of the Arizona in the Japanese attacks of Pearl Harbor. I am interesting in this topic because it is one my favorite movie. Two it was the first main war that really struck to the heart of the United States. I feel like I was very interested in this topic when we were learning about it

Explain how you plan to base your essay on primary sources:
I want to find the first hand accounts of perhaps ones who just made it out. Or those who spent hours trying to get those who were still in there, drilling the wholes and risking their lives to get to them and potentially save their lives. I want to research what those think of the attack today and if the sites still haunt their dreams. I want to hear about that person who made it out with just seconds left. I want to hear accounts of ones who saw that large ship sink to the bottom of Hawaii’s ocean. I want to read memorials of those who still remain inside the Arizona, at the bottom of the sea.

Formulate the fundamental question your essay will answer:
The sinking of the Arizona was a small part in the tragedy of the Pearl Harbor Attacks, but it is one that has so many unanswered questions. I want to know what the Arizona did before it came to the port in Hawaii. Why were there so many people still alive? Why were they not helped? Did anyone get out? Are there first hand accounts of someone who helped rescue lives? Is there a first hand account of someone who made it out with only moments left? What does the Arizona monument mean? I want to know how long it took for the Arizona to go down, and what were its stages.

Important terms (names, dates, events, etc.) associated with your topic:
Pearl Harbor, Arizona, Franklin D. Roosevelt, USS Arizona, 1941,
- On December 7- Japan attacked Peal Harbor, a naval base in Hawaii. They swept down on the unsuspecting American naval base and nearby airfields, dropping torpedoes and bombs and strafing buildings.
The bombs ignited the explosives on the battle ships, killing more than 1,000 sailors. The invaders sank or damaged 8 battle ships and many small vessels, also smashing more than 160 aircraft on the ground. A total of 2,403 died, 1, 178 were wounded.

-1,177 out of the 1,400 on board at the time sunk in the Arizona
-65 years later, oil leaks still surface. Survivors from the crew say that "oil will continue to leak until the last survior dies."

Your search strategy
Broader terms: Japanese Attacks, Pearl Harbor, The Day of Infamy, Entry into World War II, Sunken Vessels, Quarantine Speech, Petty Officer Doris Miller, Arizona Battelship, United States Navy, World War II, Pearl Harbor navy Yard, Kaga (Kate, Japanese bomb) Hiryu, Tadashi Kusumi (Japanese bomber), "Date which will live in infamy", Dwight D. Eisenhower, (March 7, 1950 -- monument), National Historic landmark

Narrower terms: (Arizona, Pearl Harbor) USS Arizona (BB-39) Lieutenant Commander Samuel G. Fuqua, Rear Admiral Kidd, Captain Van Valkenburg, Battle Star,

*http://www.navpublishing.com/phtour4.htm
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arizona_%28BB-39%29
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arizona_Memorial

A day in the life of this Hobo

The days started out like any others. It was only young James and I continuing to suffer through the tiresome, hungry, lonely miles that stood in our way from reaching our destination. I was unsure of what our destination was because I, being only sixteen with only four years of school under by belt, I had to take care of young James. At the start of this vile depression my momma and daddy sent my three older brothers John, Bernard and Sam to the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) to make it easier for them to feed Little James and me. We were helpless. My parents died two years later, because they had no food cuz’ they always gave everything to us. I was only one left to protect Little James, and I was afraid he might catch a cold and then I would be a real orphan. I never let Little James see me concerned because I wanted him to know his big sister would always protect him and always optimistic. Although we were physically overwhelmed by the harsh climate in East Chicago, and weak from the little food, we were inspired to keep going and find hope for ourselves.
Ever day was the same, we would wake up in some Hobo Jungle and I would hunt around for scraps of food. Although people needed food just as much as Little James and I, they would always be generous because we were the youngest in our region without parents. Then we would all stalk the railroads hoping that a boxcar might pass our way. The days that they didn’t we were searching the woods around us for animals and fighting over who got to eat what part. But the days that we did get on were much more dangerous. Since Little James and I wanted to get south, or more south then Chicago, we had a long journey ahead of us. Without money, we were constantly turned away from trains. However, on the days that no one was collecting we would be able to catch a ride, but we were constantly praying not to get caught. The ones who would catch us were the railroad Bulls. They would strip us down for money and if they didn’t find any we would be thrown off the train immediately and sometimes abused. It was hard to be progressive when your days started off with no food or hobo’s waste called Mulligan’s Stew or perhaps a beating from some railroad worker. All we could ever do was pray for the destitution of America to be over.
Little James and I were struggling for weeks until one day in Charlton County, Georgia, James and I found a wagon with a warm blanket, unlike the raggedy one I still had from home, and two barely worn sweaters. The wagon looked abandoned, so we took our new things and began to head to the town. We met the most pleasant people on our trip thus far and we received more hospitality than ever before. We met a lovely couple, the Mooney’s, who had just lost their crops many months ago to Dust Bowl, when bare ground is exposed and the sun hits it causing fire to erupt, and were finally able to replant crops. The only problems were their only son had died from appendicitis, and since they were elderly they had no one to do the tedious tasks of replanting. Since they allowed us to sleep in their abandoned farm they began to care for us and offered to give us food and shelter for re-cropping their harvest, and when they would sell their crops we would get a portion of the profit. We were beggars, not choosers and were thankful for the roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. The family was very friendly and very hospitable. They always allowed us to listen to President Roosevelt’s late night radio announcements known as fireside chats. Mrs. Mooney was a teacher and since no one went to school she taught Little James and me to read. We would work endless hours all day and learn at night, things seemed to finally be going back to normal.
The work took a toll on poor Little James and from the malnutrition over the years he died at age sixteen. I continued to work for the Mooney’s and they allowed more hobos to stay with them and work for them. The depression still lives on, but with a roof over my head and food in my stomach, there is less struggle and hopes that America will overcome.

My Research

What I’ve researched

My topic prohibition, deals with the law to eliminate the consumption of alcohol. I have uncovered the two different standpoints of for and against the prohibition of alcohol.
For: Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, religious preachers, Anti-Saloon League
Against: Saloon owners, the brewing industry and wealthy men, Prohibition Party
Reasons for and against Prohibition
For: it was uncalled for and the liquor businesses urged America to drink, Americans do not have self-control when it comes to alcohol. According to the WCTU (woman’s Christian temperance union) it caused issues in their families and society.
Against: helped the economy, more people were disobeying the laws by underground illegal consumption- even if prohibition was achieved it would not be enforced,

For me it is clear that alcohol is not required for life and when the people got of the mayflowers they relied on alcohol as an energizer and because the water was unsanitary, but now with fresh water springs it is not necessary for alcohol to be consumed throughout the united states and I am with the Woman’s Christian temperance Union. Less people are affected by not having alcohol, then those afflicted by the pain it brings when someone can not practice self control. The prohibition revealed the tensions in the 1920’s were becoming greater against women who were strong campaigners in the prohibition act.

Italy's Peace Place

A. Regarding Germany
a. They are not to blame for the start of the War, but by helping Austria Hungary they took it to a level of cruelty that was uncalled for
b. They should pay to rebuild the French territories that were invaded and destroyed. The cost of what they owe is unknown- but for the damages done to France they should pay minmum 15 billion dollars. It is necessary to rebuild villages, shops, homes, school houses, churches and all other natinal artifacts.
c. the standing army should be decreased by 50%, they are to dangerous and need to decrease by 500,000 people.
d. They should not have any battleships in the sea, because that has caused the American's to get involved and this became a larger world war.
e. The Germany empire should not be controled by Germans, but it should not be control over anyone that will turn the people against them. Perhaps by a neutral country that would not cahnge radically.
f. Italy is the closest to Africa, we should get colonial possessions
B. Regarding Austria-Hungary
a. They are to blame for the War, they started by assassinating Franz Ferdinand
b. They should help re-build Belgium by paying minimum 1 billion dollars, the war started by them and it is important for them to take the reprocussions (economically)
c. Their army should be the size of 200,000 eligible men
d. Give Italy their land that was promised by the British if the Germans didn’t win. This was promised to us, and the reason we did not stay with Central power and we joined the triple entente is because we were promised this land. This is our main goal to get and we helped defeat the Germans. The lands that we want are Lombardy and Venetia
C. Misc. Issues
a. The freedom of the sea should belong to the British. They represent it best and do not abuse the power. It is also how they uphold their economy
b. Economic Trade is produced in italy which establishes Jobs for our people- so it should not be eliminated
c. Russia should join the triple entente (they can defeat America, because we resent Wilson)

What is the proper role of government in American Society?

Today government's role is different in many places-
What they should do is protect the people, by defending who they are and what they want. The government, these politicians were elected by the people and they have to draw the line between what they want (selfishness) and what the people who voted for them want. I think sometimes they try and get involved in issues that do not effect their direct people. But it all depends on whether it is Local or National government. If it is your represenative from your town it is their job to spread the word of for your direct

Should the govt try and spread freedom and democracy around the world?
I do not think that it is their job to spread freedom and democracy because it is up to the other countries and continents whether they want to be free or have a democractic government. I think that since America's government has to re-evaluate what they are doing because we are trying to defend our allies, but we are becoming the biggest target. I feel it is important that the government controls our security- but if they think they are protecting us they are wrong. The more muslims to die, or other people- the more animosity towards civilians. I do not think it should be up to the government to send troops over, I think it should be up to the people.

Five things that will get you to the top

Five things that will get you to the top

1. Trust and Wits: i think that if you have knowledge on who to trust and who is scamming you, then you will be able to make it. That also involves having experience. If you have the wits like Ragged did during the experience with the wallet, then you know who to trust and how to get back at them
2. Connection: if you make it big there is usually someone behind you that has helped you along the way. If your born rich it means that your parents have given you the head start. If you get a good job in a company, it means your boss or owner helped you along the way. In ragged's case it was his friend Frank that gave him the nudge.
3. The look: if you do not look the part, then it is hard to be the part. It is important that you look appropriate. When Ragged dressed nicer then he got more respect and people took him seriously then when he was in his raggedy clothes.
4. Education: you need to be smart enough to do well, and to do your job to the best of your ability.
5. Determination: if you want that dream of being rich, you need to do whatever it takes- like dick working during the day and going to school at night, not spenidng your money on pointless things and being tough enough.

9/11 Are we safer five years later?

ADD TO TYPEPAD

9/11 Are we safer five years later?
Question: What do you remember of 9/11? Do you feel safer now than five years ago? Why or Why not?
I remember that I was in the fifth grade on September 11, and my teacher who would always cry even when we read stories that turned out happy in the end- so on that Tuesday morning it wasn't anything out of the ordinary that she was crying and reading us a story about this dog who got lost from home. The day went by as normal, except for around recess time the Shop (wood-working) teacher was the one who brought us outside and we had a two-hour recess instead of a 45 minute. I remember vividly when we came inside that all the teachers eyes were blurry from crying and no one knew what was going on. We were kind of a protected school- we were diverse and accepting but since the oldest grade is 9th we were kind of immature and the school thought we could not handle this kind of information. So the day went on, everything seemed nromal except for on occasion when teachers would leave the room to regroup. At the end of the day, sports was cancled, we went home and I remember seeing parents frightened- my sister's best friends Mother was crying, telling what happened to her daughter, I only heard bits of words like terrorism, plane's crashing, dad's on a plane. Then when my dad picked me and my sister up from school, we knew something was wrong- he NEVER used to pick us up, so immidiately since my mom was fighting a ticket in court that day- we thought she had pulled a stunt and got arrested. When he told us what happened I didn't know what to think, I had never experienced such cruelty in my life and therefore it all seemed unreal. I still had homework that night, so at the kitchen table when I wrote about the middle ages the images on the news stunned my family into shock. The only chanel without images seemed to be Disney Chanel, but it was still about some sort of terrorism. I didn't understand what it all meant, what was happening- why anyone did it. I only remember the specific details of crying, planes crashing, screeching voices, the embrace my mother and father gave me and that night waking up in the middle of the night wondering what would happen if my father, who is usually away on buisness, had to go to New York that day.
Since the attacks I feel like it has brought America together as a whole, we have never really lost civilians like that before and therefore we could all come together and mourn as a whole. In some ways I feel safer because everyone is more cautious on airplanes, but sometimes I feel unsafe because if the airport security was truly aware at all times this wouldn't have happened in the first place.
Time to end.