tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85746961937066008272024-03-12T21:55:59.092-04:00APUSH 1Blog is designed to extend my APUSH 1 course for my students beyond the classroom. Blogs posted will reflect information covered in class and extend the classroom discussion - all in hopes that it will be beneficial to the students.Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-3087201649205362632014-04-21T22:47:00.001-04:002014-04-21T22:47:35.631-04:00Competition for America's First Ambassador of Education!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dWwGrck27sM/U1XQu3lNC0I/AAAAAAAACMg/YByNv01YEoA/s1600/6a00e54ee846608833019b034a84f4970d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dWwGrck27sM/U1XQu3lNC0I/AAAAAAAACMg/YByNv01YEoA/s1600/6a00e54ee846608833019b034a84f4970d.jpg" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>CONGRATULATIONS!!! </b></span><br />
You have been selected as a candidate to become the very TOP person in education!! If selected you will be given the title of the United States of America's first Ambassador of Education!! With this new title, comes a TREMENDOUS task and not to mention a TON of responsibility.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Here's the scenario:</span><br />
Last week it was announced that despite the attempted changes in the American educational system, the US has dropped to 40th place in education throughout the developed world. Schools are in shambles and progress is at an all time stand-still. Nothing seems to be working! So, the United States Congress went on a head-hunting world tour to find someone to head up the nation's educational system and even changed laws so that the newly selected Ambassador of Education would be allowed to implement ANY changes in the American educational system that he/she felt was absolutely necessary to get us back on track (pending Congressional approval). Congress and even state governors have vowed that they are willing to do whatever it takes to get our schools back to the point of being at least in the top 10 of the world - if not the very top. This job is going to demand that you "think out of the box" and come up with ideas that you believe are doable. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">SO HOW DO YOU GET THE JOB???</span></b><br />
Your task is to come up with FIVE key starting points / changes that you feel are ABSOLUTELY a must to begin putting America's educational system back on track. You need to list the FIVE key things that you want Congress to push through and present them before the states. List the FIVE changes with a brief description of why you think they are ABSOLUTELY needed. Make sure your descriptions are clear and precise (to the point) and be prepared to answer questions that "members of Congress" (those responding to your proposals) may have for you. In other words, be able to defend your plan!!<br />
<br />
Those of you commenting on each other's post, are considered the "Members of Congress." Your job is to pick through the various plans being proposed and really look them over. Be critical!!! If something isn't done, America's future is in serious jeopardy!!! As it was once said, "The future of ANY country on this planet earth lies within it's educated mass! A failure there, spells the doom of the country."<br />
<br />
Once this blog is completed we'll be taking a vote in class which plans to adopt!!!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-30325500968318179722014-04-03T12:50:00.002-04:002014-04-03T12:50:17.951-04:00Are we becoming too sensitive???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4UF8eqzawA/Uxy5MSEdh_I/AAAAAAAACKA/qrSDKCPCq8U/s1600/exercise17f-1-web.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4UF8eqzawA/Uxy5MSEdh_I/AAAAAAAACKA/qrSDKCPCq8U/s1600/exercise17f-1-web.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This
week’s blog topic comes from Maya. She sent me this great article
about this major backlash that a mom of three ended up having simply due
to a FaceBook post and image that she posted. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/mom-3-called-bully-excuse-fitness-photo-article-1.1487278"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">CLICK HERE</span></a> to read the article. So, I began looking into this whole idea of just how hypersensitive our society has become.</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here’s
a simple example. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, nearly 35% of
Americans believe that it’s “offensive to refer to an illegal immigrant
as an ‘ILLEGAL immigrant.” Seriously??</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Has America became a society of hypersensitive babies?</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Literally <i>EVERYTHING</i> that <i>EVERYONE</i>
does in the media - be it in television, film, radio, print or on the
web - is scrutinized, held under a microscope and perpetually monitored
by a number of advocacy groups. “Watchdogs” who are sitting idly by,
ready to bark for the simple sake of hearing themselves “bark.” Truth be
told, I probably am going to have a number of them find this on the
internet and come after me for calling them “watchdogs” and using the
derogatory word “bark.” (I’ll let you know if that happens!)</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here’s another good example: Miley Cyrus recently pulled double duty on the <i>Saturday Night Live</i>
show, appearing as both the host and musical guest. Now, giving the
Miley her due, most people that saw the program said that she “killed
it.” Now, in my opinion, Miley is far more self-aware than she gets
credit for - meaning that she is purposely doing the shock and awe to
self-promote herself; which there is nothing wrong with - again in my
opinion. During the show, she poked fun at all she’s currently vilified
for - including how she incessantly, and annoyingly, sticks her tongue
out. Miley joked that she wasn’t actually sticking her tongue out at
all, but rather, “kept having mini-strokes.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;">Guess
what?? Her comments infuriated the Stroke Association, who immediately
demanded that Miley issue an apology. SERIOUSLY!!!! (and of course,
she apologized..."</span><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Times New Roman;">sincerely")</span><br />
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Now,
before I continue, let me clarify that I’m not a big Miley Cyrus fan
(as a matter of fact, I don’t have a single one of her songs on my
iPhone…just for the record); nor am I making light of strokes. To be
honest, that would be asinine (great SAT word, by-the-way). Anyone with
a modicum (yep, that would be another great SAT word!!) of intelligence
knows that strokes are no laughing matter. That being said, I also
firmly believe that anyone intelligent enough to write a strongly worded
complaint letter SHOULD be smart enough to realize a joke for what it
is - even if you considered it in poor taste or not. I’m sorry, but I
refuse to believe that even one stroke victim is currently dealing with
lasting mental trauma brought on by a <i>Saturday Night Live</i> monologue.</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Reality
check: Sometimes - nay, actually, ALL the time - people say or do
things that you don’t like. For better or worse, that’s reality.
That’s life. To be even clearer, that’s the FIRST AMENDMENT.</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One
more example: Fez Whatley, co-host of Sirius XM’s popular Ron & Fez
Show, recently went on a long, passionate on-air rant about a Chevy
commercial that uses the word “crazy” multiple times, claiming that it
was “insensitive to the mentally insane.” Really? As if “crazy” is a
race, gender or nationality. As if somewhere in the East Village,
someone’s currently planning the next Nutjob Pride Parade (ok, that may
be a bad analogy - but I think you get the idea).</span></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;">Now,
let me clarify that I DO believe that each one of us have a
responsibility within society to be sensitive to others. In a society
it is important that we respect each other and not INTENTIONALLY degrade
nor demean others for the pure sake of doing so. Yet, with that said,
it appears that our political correctness and hypersensitivity has gone
overboard. We’ve become too sensitive about things of which are by no
ways or means meant to inflict harm on others. As Maria Kang (the mom
in the article that Maya sent) stated: “What you interpret is not MY
fault. It’s Yours. The first step in owning your life, your body and
your destiny is to OWN the thoughts that come out of your head. I
didn’t create them. You created them…” (yet, she did make an
apology..."</span><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Times New Roman;">sincerely")</span><br />
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Blog Question:</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Do
you feel that Maria Kang’s post was inappropriate? Has America become
too hypersensitive? Do “empty” and “forced” apologies only perpetuate a
society of hypersensitivity?</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-34291882307274405012014-03-09T15:27:00.001-04:002014-03-09T15:27:18.637-04:00Speak Your Mind!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CznvcjyiJWM/Uxy-LJsOVNI/AAAAAAAACKQ/xsiyXnGQskQ/s1600/speak_your_mind_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CznvcjyiJWM/Uxy-LJsOVNI/AAAAAAAACKQ/xsiyXnGQskQ/s1600/speak_your_mind_.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
What's up with this blog topic?? Ah, inquiring minds want to know!!<br />
<br />
Actually, nothing. There is no trick or fancy goal alternative motive here - it is what it is. <br />
<br />
For this week's blog - YOU - the awesome student of APUSH 1 is going to get a chance to "Speak Your Mind." Plain and Simple.<br />
<br />
So, what's on your mind? Is it politics, economics, sports, school, the weather, or maybe social issue. The trick here is to simply "free write" whatever is on your mind. What issue do you want to talk about? What's important to you at this point in time.<br />
<br />
All too often you, as students, are told what to think, what to say, and to be quite frank, how to say it. Well, here's your chance to go completely "off the reservation" and talk about whatever you want to talk about!!! So, don't waste this opportunity. SHOUT IT OUT!!<br />
<br />
Ok, since this is "technically" an educational blog, moderated by your's truly, I do have to state that there is a simple rule (yes, we always need "rules," right?) - you must be respectful of each others post. That doesn't equate to a "holding-hands" and "singing around the campfire" moment - but respect. You can agree to disagree and no one's post is considered "stupid" or "dumb." Yet, that doesn't not mean you have to agree. So, when posting comments on each others thoughtful topics, if you disagree, say it, but with respect. <br />
<br />
Let the Dialog Begin!!<br />
<br />
<b>Blog Question:</b><br />
Need I say it??? "WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?" SPEAK UP - BE HEARD!Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-49455376033191595532014-03-05T14:12:00.000-05:002014-03-05T14:24:31.456-05:00Same-Sex Schools: An Answer to Problems in Education?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gN09bRVAipk/Uxdxd1BcNWI/AAAAAAAACJk/C4P6ZwyG_ss/s1600/BoysGirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gN09bRVAipk/Uxdxd1BcNWI/AAAAAAAACJk/C4P6ZwyG_ss/s1600/BoysGirls.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">THIS THIS THIS THIS </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Single-sex
schools are schools that only admit those of one specific gender, believing
that the educational environment fostered by a single gender is more conducive
to learning than a co-educational school. Studies conducted have shown that
boys gain more academically from studying in co-education schools, but that
girls find segregated schools more conducive to achievement. However academic
results are not the only criterion on which the success of the education system
should be judged. In the United States, a long-standing controversy over the
Virginia Military Institute resulted in a landmark Supreme Court ruling, in
June 1996, that the institute must admit women. Nevertheless the Court left
room for private (i.e. not state-run) single-sex institutions and other such
schools, where needed, to redress discrimination. Proponents of single-sex
schools maintain that, by removing the distractions of the other sex, students
learn more effectively and feel better about their education. Opponents
maintain that co-educational schools in contrast are important in that they
prepare students better for the real world, and do not attempt to segregate
students from the realities of adult life. This debate can apply both to
secondary school and college level, but single-sex institutions are found more
frequently at the former.</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Women in
particular benefit from a single-sex education; research shows that they
participate more in class, develop much higher self-esteem, score higher in
aptitude tests, are more likely to choose ‘male’ disciplines such as science in
college, and are more successful in their careers. In the USA Who’s Who,
graduates of women’s colleges outnumber all other women; there are only
approximately 50 women’s colleges left in the States today. Elizabeth Tidball,
who conducted the Who’s Who research, also later concluded that women’s
colleges produced ‘more than their fair share who went on to medical school or
received doctorates in the natural or life sciences’, typically male fields.</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
Other studies have found that women in fact are not any better off in
single-sex institutions. A 1998 survey from the American Association of
University Women, a long-time advocate of single-sex education, admitted that
girls from such schools did not show any academic improvement. That they are
more inclined towards maths and sciences is of questionable importance to
society as a whole. As the report noted, "boys and girls both thrive when
the elements of good education are there, elements like smaller classes,
focused academic curriculum and gender-fair instruction". These can all be
present in co-educational schools. It has been argued that Tidball in her
research made the mistake of not controlling for other characteristics, namely
socio-economic privileges of those at elite women’s colleges.</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
Without a doubt, American schools are failing. According to the Global
School ranking released in December 2013, <a href="http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=978874#.Uxd0lj_wmDE" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">the United States dropped to 36th place</span></a> - America might be
considered a Super Power - but it lags dramatically in education. Clearly
there is a problem and some feel that drastic measures need to be made in order
to correct the downward trend. Those that advocate for same-sex schools
make the argument, that not only is it beneficial to promoting the educational
status of women, but that it also removes the social interaction between the
sexes that many educators feel has become a major distraction.
"Students don't come to school for the academic stimulation or
challenge, they come for the social interaction with the opposite sex,"
has been a long believed conception by many educators in this country today.</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
<b>Blog Question:</b></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><br />
<i><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Would
same-sex schools be a good alternative to traditional co-ed public schools?
Even though it's not the only idea to help eradicate the growing
problem in public education in the United States, could it be considered a good
step forward? What ideas do you have that could help alter the current
trend downward in America's educational system? </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><br />
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<![endif]-->Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-72058288121544730082014-02-27T00:11:00.001-05:002014-02-27T00:11:28.071-05:00Abolitionist or Terrorist?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Talk about perfect timing!!! This week's blog fits directly into what we are currently studying!!<br />
****************************************<br />
<br />
Historian Kenneth Gray once stated that there existed a thin line between what one can call a patriot and terrorists. He basic argument was that those the advocate a change for what they honestly believe to be fundamentally "right" can indeed be considered a true patriot. Did not Thomas Jefferson state:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">"<i>And what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The </i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px;"><i>tree of liberty</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i> must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.</i>" </span><br />
<br />
Yet, one could, if one so desired, interpret the call to "<i>...let them take arms"</i> and "<i>The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots"</i> to be a form of terrorism. The Oxford dictionary definition of the word terrorism is, "<i>the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims</i>." Therefore, one can clearly see Gray's point by stating that their exist that "thin line" between the two.<br />
<br />
On February 14th of this year, a group of activists in Charleston, SC unveiled what has become a very controversial statue of the black abolitionists, Denmark Vesey. The "New York Times" recently wrote an opinion piece on the controversy. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/26/opinion/abolitionist-or-terrorist.html?_r=2" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read the article and then fire away on the blog question for this week... should be an interesting one!!!<br />
<br />
<b>BLOG QUESTION:</b><br />
<i>First, do you agree with historian Kenneth Gray that there really does exist a thin line between what one may call a terrorists or a patriot? After reading the article, what is your opinion on the statue of Denmark Vesey - should it be celebrated or does it glorify the wrong message?</i>Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-5506422405275154352014-02-04T17:49:00.001-05:002014-02-04T17:54:21.963-05:00Is Evil, evil?<br />
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Ok,
let me start by saying that I need to do a little "lead into" for this
blog topic - just to make sure that we're all clear on the actual topic -
"Is Evil, evil?" So I ask that each of you do me the courtesy of
reading what I have written here prior to posting your comments.<br />
<br />
Several
years ago I heard a speaker while in college speak about the importance
of properly analyzing history. The reason that I remember the core of
his speech was that I found the topic to be interesting and the
questions he raised to be thought provoking; and as most of you know, I
love thought-provoking conversations.... the deeper, the better! To my
"sick" academic mind, a good evening would be to have a bunch of people
sitting around and engaging in a great discussion on "deep" topics.
Anyway, moving on...<br />
<br />
The professor was Dr. Demos of
Yale University (btw, one of the most interesting history professors I
ever had) and he was stressing how it is important for students of history, professors of history, research writers,
etc., to learn to analyze history as history. In other words, not give
what they may conceive as clear-cut labels. According to Dr. Demos,
when we do that, we enter into a "wrong way to attempt to understand
history." History, of itself, has no
unambiguously good actors or bad. There are just actors. In fact,
good and evil should not factor in a historical analysis at all.
Properly
done, history must be examined and analyzed from a dispassionate, almost
other-worldly, perspective. Let me give you an example using the Civil War.<br />
<br />
Lincoln fought a war to preserve the Union—a union that had been
voluntarily, democratically entered by the various states and subsequent
territories. Take away the repugnant institution of slavery, and the
Confederacy had the better <i>democratic </i>claim for what they wished to
do, if the critical ideal for a democratic republic is
self-determination. Had Lincoln not been able to wrap his cause of
preserving the Union in the flag of ending slavery, the 600,000 dead would have
been an atrocious cost to pay in order to keep a voluntarily-entered union from
being voluntarily and democratically dissolved.<br />
<br />
Stripped of moral judgments, history abounds with irony. Lincoln
had to subvert the democratic will of the Southern state legislatures in order
to preserve democracy. He eventually used the greater evil of
slavery as justification for his fight against Southern democracy, but it
should never be forgotten that he didn’t issue the Emancipation Proclamation
until 1863, well after hostilities had commenced. He pinned his
cause on eliminating slavery only when it appeared his cause of preserving the
Union was in jeopardy. One wonders, what rationale to hold together the
Union would be available, if in the future some state democratically determined
it wished to leave? Considering that even client states like Iraq and
Afghanistan have no choice about their limited participation in the Union, it
would be outlandish to imagine that something would not be contrived if, e.g.,
Texas figured it would be better off going it alone, again. Lincoln was
lucky. He had the abolition of slavery to steel the people’s hearts and
minds to battle against their own people, and in some measure, against their
own ideals. Artfully leveraging slavery to his purposes was part of
Lincoln’s genius. It would take an even more astute politician to conjure
such a compelling purpose today, if one of the several states sought leave to
end its association.<br />
<br />
Ok, continuing my example using the Civil War (yes, one of my
favorite period so history to study), let's take a look at the
Confederate General, Robert E. Lee. Lee is perhaps the most
mythologized and romanticized military
leader in American history. His tactical brilliance is routinely
praised,
though there is precious little evidence supporting the view. In fact,
Lee led tactical disaster after disaster, not least Pickett’s charge at
Gettysburg, which as any reasonably astute tactician understands, and
all Lee’s
generals at the time fully well knew, was nothing more or less than
Confederate
suicide. In many ways, Lee was the Union’s best general. History is
always written by the victors, perhaps explaining the enduring myth of
Lee’s tactical brilliance. The victors would not wish to imagine that
Lee’s defeat was anything other than the product of their own valor and
determination
against a formidable foe.<br />
<br />
So, are we correct to label something as "evil" simply to justify our
own desire to elevate our own "goodness" or to justify something we
consider (or in history's case - the victor) to be morally good. Could
not one claim that Lincoln was an "evil" man for leading the country
into a war that, as stated earlier, actually went against the very
principals of the Declaration of Independence? If you don't think so,
maybe you should take the time to re-read the Declaration of
Independence, for it clearly stated:<br />
<br />
"<i>...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That <span style="color: red;"><u>
whenever any Form of Government </u></span>becomes destructive of these ends, <span style="color: red;"><u>it is
the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new
Government</u></span>, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its
powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their
Safety and Happiness.</i>"<br />
<br />
Would it not be equally
justified to declare that Robert E. Lee was "evil" for leading the
Confederate states into one disaster after another; only on the belief
that for some reason the South was justified in it's succession?<br />
<br />
What
about other characters that we find throughout history? Who is
"evil"? Why are they considered "evil?" How will history look back at
us 100, 500, or a 1000 years from now when they read that we aborted
millions of unborn children (NO!!! THIS IS NOT AN ANTI-ABORTION
MESSAGE!!!...but what if for some reason later on that it's discovered
that a fetus at 1 week old can indeed feel pain...it would probably
change the interpretations that some have about the "justification" of
aborting a fetus...therefore the future may judge us completely
different)? Will we be considered an "evil" people?<br />
<br />
Last
but not least - the question must also be asked - is an individuals
actions "evil" or is it the results of a given action that are evil?<br />
<br />
Trust
me, the topic is difficult to nail down and granted, the
interpretations are just as varied as the events in history itself. So
here's the blog topic for this week.....<br />
<br />
<b>BLOG QUESTION:</b><br />
Is
Evil, "evil"? Can we effectively and justifiably declare someone or
something in history as being "evil" - if so how or why? <br />
<br />Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-74945177732486420252014-01-20T23:53:00.003-05:002014-01-21T00:04:35.436-05:00The Term Game.... #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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IT'S HERE!!!! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!<br />
<br />
WHAT YOU ASK???? OMG!!!!! IT'S ONLY THE MOST AWESOME GAME IN THE WORLD!!!!<br />
THAT'S RIGHT.... THIS GAME IS KNOWN WORLD WIDE AND HAS A LOYAL APUSH FOLLOWING!!! PAST STUDENTS BEG ME TO ALLOW THEM TO PLAY - BUT THAT JUST WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO YOU...... ROOKIES!!! <br />
<br />
Ok, so let me explain to you once again (since I did this in class already). I will start the game off by giving you a historical term of which you have had since the beginning of this year. The person responding to me, must give the HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE of that term and then that person names the next term, beginning with the next letter. Here is an example (not related to the subject, just so none of you really smart children decide to try and rip mine off....):<br />
<br />
EXAMPLE:<br />
I post the word "APPLE"<br />
John Doe responses with: "A fruit of which fell from a tree and hit Isaac Newton in the head; thus launching the Scientific Revolution" NEXT WORD: BATS.....<br />
<br />
And thus the game would have begun. Again, remember that my example is NOT one of your historical terms. You can use ANY of the terms you have from Chapter 1 through 13. If you get lost, you can always refer to the APUSH 1 Term list on my website - but you should be able to pull them directly from your notebooks. <br />
<br />
Dealing with X, Y, and Z words. True, there aren't many of these in your APUSH historical terms, but to make the game interesting - when you get to any of these three letters, you must use any that does exist. If there are no more words that begin with X, Y, or Z (x & z will be the hardest), then you can declare a "SKIP" and move to the next letter. WARNING: if the person responding to your next letter finds a word that has not be used - then they can declare a FOUL and YOU (the one that declared the "SKIP" will lose point.<br />
<br />
When you reach the end of the alphabet - you just start back with the letter "A"<br />
<br />
How to win at this game. Post the most historical significant definitions and new words. The winner gets a free homework pass on any homework assignment they choose!!!<br />
<br />
The game stops at mid-night on Friday!!! <br />
<br />
GOOD LUCK!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">FIRST WORD: Articles of Confederation (AOC)</span></b>Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com243tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-87230601616886711102014-01-08T23:48:00.002-05:002014-01-08T23:48:22.982-05:00Strict vs. Loose?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hopefully by now many of you understand the importance and relevance of understanding history (especially for this class - American History) and that you remember one of those key rules of history (that wonderful 3rd rule!).<br />
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Therefore, the question of how we should interpret the United States Constitution is still a valid discussion (or debate, depending on how you want to look at it). Just as it was in the infancy of the nation, the question as to the divisional of governmental power continues to have a direct effect on how we often view the role of government. Should the Federal government have the greatest power or should the States maintain the majority of the power? We know from our study of the Constitutional Convention, that question was one of the major questions that, to some degree, never really gets answered (at least for some) and is still being debated today. Example, some would argue that the debate over gay marriage should not be a federal issue since the Constitution does not address marriage (that would place it under the 10th Amendment - a power that lays with the States). That's only one such example and of course, this blog topic is NOT about gay marriage.<br />
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For this week's blog, I'd like to hear your opinion. <br />
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<b>BLOG QUESTION:</b><br />
Should the Constitution be interpreted in the spirit of a Jeffersonian or a Hamiltonian? Strict vs. Loose. Is Big Government the answer to America's current problems or should the role of the federal government be reduced?Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-62778752024379268972013-12-15T23:29:00.003-05:002013-12-15T23:29:44.967-05:00School "Holidays"?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm sure that most of you have heard the phrase "Separation of Church and State." Unfortunately, it is one of the most mistakenly used phrases when attempting to connect it to the United States Constitution. Trust me, if you were to ask a 100 people what part of the US Constitution would you find "separation of church and state," nearly 90% would claim that it is in the 1st Amendment. The truth is, it is NO WHERE in the Constitution, for the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear anywhere in the United States Constitution. The reason that 90% of Americans believe that is is located in the 1st Amendment (or somewhere else within the body of the Constitution) is do to, in large, a major campaign by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to have "God" removed from all public institutions (both federal and state). As a matter of fact, it is one of their most repeated phrases since their foundation. This isn't to say that the ACLU is a bad organization. As a matter of fact, they have done a lot of good helping citizens protect their rights and have been involved in a number of important landmark Supreme Court cases, yet they are known to be more to the "left" than "center" when it comes to a number of issues and often are in the center of some extremely controversial topics.<br />
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Recently, the ACLU has launched a campaign to have any and ALL recognition of ANY type of religion displayed in public schools. In part, their argument is that if you element all references to all religions in public school, it would prevent anyone from being offended. In other words, public schools could not display ANY form of religious icons within their schools. Furthermore, they would not be permitted to close their schools down for religious references if those closings "...occur in collation to a known religious holiday." Translation: Public schools could not close around Christmas or Easter (as we currently do) because those days off correspond to a known religious holiday. In addition, public schools would not be permitted to display any symbols that relate to a given religious holiday...regardless of how they attempt to reword it to make it appear as if they were being unbiased (i.e., no "Holiday Trees" - another name for a "Christmas" tree, no Santa Clauses - St. Nick..., nor any Menorah, Kwanzaa, etc.) Not to mention that public schools would also be prevented from singing any type of religious songs during "Holiday Concerts" or at any other time during the year. In all likelihood they probably would object strongly to Dr. Bob's playing of holiday music. The supporters of the ACLU's proposal do agree that students should be permitted to be absent due to their religious beliefs to celebrate their given holiday and that the absence should not be counted against them, but the school, as a whole, should not be closed or recognize any religion.<br />
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Those that are fighting the ACLU argue that the Supreme Court has upheld on a number of occasions that school districts are allowed to recognize whichever religion which is dominate in the majority of their given demographics. So, if the majority of your community is Jewish, the school's are allowed to close for Jewish holidays (i.e., Paramus school district) or if the majority of your population is Christian, then they can close for Christian holidays. Furthermore, those that oppose this current move by the ACLU state that they are incorrectly inserting something into the Constitution that isn't there ("separation of church and state) and that if the majority of the parents of a given school district do not have a problem with the school's recognition of any given religious holiday, then there isn't a problem.<br />
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<b>THIS WEEK'S BLOG TOPIC:</b> Should public schools stop recognizing any and all religions? Would doing so finally create a "religious free" environment and improve the overall learning atmosphere of public schools? Or is this just simply "political correctness" going too far? Furthermore, is this even a "real issue" that needs to be addressed?Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-40795300336640647932013-12-09T00:20:00.003-05:002013-12-09T00:44:56.136-05:00Stop and Frisk: A Debate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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New York City has a new mayor - something you may have heard about. His name is Bill de Blasio and one of his key campaign promises was that he was going to put a stop to the practice known as "Stop and Frisk" - a program that the NYPD claims has been responsible for NYC seeing a dramatic drop in violent crime. Opponents to the program, like the city's new mayor, argue that the program is nothing more than "racial profiling."</div>
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As with all great debates, there are excellent points on both sides of the argument. Click the Huffington Post article below and read a great debate on this topic. Carefully examine both sides of this debate and then, let's debate this topic here, in our blog. While you form your opinion or "refine" your point-of-view, if you already had one on this topic, keep in mind the basic principals of the United States Constitution. Before you think that makes it a much easier debate - THINK AGAIN. The fact is, the Constitution is an interpretative document; therefore, laws can be passed which help protect the citizenry of a state. It truly is a difficult topic and I'm sure that many of you will have different viewpoints, so make sure that you are respectful of each other's point-of-views.</div>
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Again, let me remind you - it is NOT YOUR JOB in these blogs to critic each others writing - in any form. So, don't waste time informing someone that they didn't support their "thesis" or their argument with enough facts....blah, blah, blah... Debate each others point-of-views, only.</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">ARTICLE</span>: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mari-fagel/beyond-the-numbers-_b_1536589.html" target="_blank">STOP AND FRISK: A DEBATE</a></div>
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Blog Topic Question: After reading the above article and of course, using your own opinions, argue for or against the Stop and Frisk policy. Is the mayor elect, de Blasio making the right move in doing away with the existing policy?</div>
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Happy Blogging!!!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">SPECIAL NOTE: </span>This week's blog topic was suggested by one of my APUSH 2 students. If you have a topic you'd like for us to discuss, drop me an email. If I like it, I'll post it!!!</div>
Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-79990700160242745972013-11-24T21:18:00.000-05:002013-11-24T21:18:56.207-05:00I Spy Something....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;">Pick up your phone and make a phone call…who’s listening?</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;">Text a friend…who’s reading your text? Post a
picture on Instagram…who can view your pictures (beyond those of which you
allow to “follow” you)?</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;">Post something
on FaceBook…who can read your post? </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;">Is
“Big Brother” watching?</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;">Should he be
watching?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It is an old well-worn phrase when it comes to the state and
surveillance that if you have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide then
there is nothing to worry about. Shortly after the PRISM scandal broke government
officials stated, “if you are a law abiding citizen of this country going about
your business and your personal life you have nothing to fear, nothing to fear
about the government or intelligence agencies listening to the contents of your
phone calls or anything like that.” In other words the intelligence agencies
were doing good work “to stop your identity being stolen, and to stop a
terrorist blowing you up tomorrow. But if you are a would-be terrorist, or the
center of a criminal network, or a foreign intelligence agency trying to spy,
you should be worried because that is what we work on”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.0pt;">William Hague was responding to suggestions that GCHQ
(Government Communications Headquarters – the UKs equivalent of the NSA) might
be obtaining information on British citizens through a US program called PRISM.
PRISM is a NSA Program which works with the giants of Silicon Valley to extract
everything from email to VoIP, photos to video conferencing. This is done from
“Collection directly from the servers of these U.S. Service Providers:
Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple.” i.e.
pretty much anyone who is anyone in the US internet business. Chillingly the
Edward Snowdon who leaked the information about PRISM says “They quite
literally can watch your ideas form as you type”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Only a day before there was another leak about US surveillance
activities, this one about cell phones. The leak was a copy of a court order by
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ordering the handing over of “all
call detail records or "telephony metadata" created by Verizon…
including but not limited to session identifying information (e.g., originating
and terminating telephone number, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
number, International Mobile station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, etc.),
trunk identifier, telephone calling card numbers, and time and duration of
call”. Such information might seem harmless but can reveal surprising amounts,
and from a privacy perspective it is completely indiscriminate as it covers
everyone on the network. This is a far cry from obtaining a court order to get
information about a few phones that are known to be used by terrorists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Major opponents to this “collection of innocent data” ask the
question, “Who is moderating the people moderating all of us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is to prevent these people in these
government agencies from using the information they obtain against the citizens
of their country?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Those that support the programs argue that some surveillance is
necessary. It is a key part in preventing terrorist attacks from occurring so
the question has always been about a balance between security and privacy.
Before the leaking of the details of surveillance by the NSA and GCHQ most
people in democracies either thought the balance was about right or more should
be done to ensure security. In the United States today 47% say that the
government has gone too far in restricting civil liberties, up 15% since
October 2010, against only 35% believing that the security policies have not
gone far enough to protect the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Blog Topic
Question: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Is this
whole “spying” issue really an “issue” or are people just making something out
of nothing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it absolutely necessary,
in today’s world, for us to be expected to give up personal liberties in order
to be safe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirdly, can we really trust
governments to not abuse the information of which they are collecting?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-74804310344078398092013-11-20T08:34:00.001-05:002013-11-20T08:34:44.543-05:00Obesity as a Disease?
The American Medical Association – the largest organization of
physicians in the United States – this month formally recognized obesity
as a disease. "The purpose of the policy is to advance obesity
treatment and prevention," wrote AMA President Ardis Dee Hoven. "It
issues a call for a paradigm shift in the way the medical community
tackles this complicated issue so that we can reduce the number of
Americans suffering from the effects of heart disease, diabetes,
disability and other potentially life-changing health conditions."<br />
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than
one-third of American adults are obese. The CDC estimates that obesity
also affects 17 percent of children, "triple the rate from just one
generation ago." An estimate from the nonprofit RTI International says
that about 42 percent of Americans will be obese by 2030 if obesity trends continue.<br />
<br />
Dr. Lou Aronne, an obesity expert, told CBS News that the AMA's move
will "have a tremendous impact on legislation in Washington [and] with
insurance companies," as insurance policies now "generally exclude obesity treatment." While Medicare removed language saying obesity is not a disease from its coverage manual in 2004, Medicare Part D will still not pay for weight loss drugs.<br />
<br />
But not everyone is thrilled with the AMA's move. Linda Bacon, a
nutritionist at the University of California at Davis, said, "the AMA
just determined that some people are sick based on how they look. <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2013/06/23/amas-call-on-obesity-as-disease-sparks-furor.html">What's next?</a>
(Click to read this article) Will they pronounce being black as a disease because there are higher
rates of cardiovascular disease in black communities?" Dr. Richard
Besser, chief health and medical correspondent for ABC News, meanwhile,
downplayed the whole debate: "I think it matters little whether we call
obesity a disease, a condition or a disorder. We are already talking
about the obesity epidemic. It matters less what we call it than what we do to prevent it."<br />
<br />
<b>Blog Topic Question:</b><br />
<i>Was the American Medical Association right to call obesity a disease or have we simply became obsessed with imagery in the United States so that we believe "oversized" individuals are an embarrassment?</i>Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-38809295069046601492013-10-29T09:03:00.001-04:002013-10-29T09:05:56.683-04:00How Revolutionary was the American Revolution?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2673aJ8jXJ4/Um-ymDF7FyI/AAAAAAAACAw/c3CXBs6f4io/s1600/Washingtoncongress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2673aJ8jXJ4/Um-ymDF7FyI/AAAAAAAACAw/c3CXBs6f4io/s1600/Washingtoncongress.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Richard Price, a British Unitarian minister, called the American
Revolution "...the most important event in the history of the world since
the birth of Christ." Ok, that might be a bit of a stretch, to say the least, but the core of his argument is that the American Revolution was a major world changer. Yet when we look through the pages of history, it seems difficult to argue that the American Revolution was a great social revolution, such as the French Revolution in 1789, the Russian Revolution in 1917 and even the revolution that takes place in China in 1949. According to most historians, a true social revolution destroys the institutional foundations of the old order and transfers power from a ruling elite to new social groups. <br />
<br />
When we look at the American Revolution, we have to ask, was it a true social revolution or was it merely a rebellion? In the context of the American Revolution this is an important
question that historians have been arguing about for generations. The
question is whether or not the revolution was conservative in tone and
tenor—essentially replacing one ruling stucture in Great Britain with
another in America—or radical in the sense of changing the class system
in society as well as changing the political structure. Carl Becker said it best a century ago: “The war was not
about home rule, but about <i>who would rule at home</i>” (Carl Becker, <i>The History of Political Parties in the Province of New York, 1760-1776</i>,” [University of Wisconsin Press, 1909]).<br />
<br />
<b>This Week's Topic Question:</b><br />
<i>Do you believe that the American Revolution was truly "revolutionary" or do you agree with Carl Becker, that the American Revolution was purely a transfer of power from one elite group to another?</i>Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-26166750247830796502013-10-20T20:04:00.001-04:002013-10-20T20:04:13.514-04:00Affirmative Action....or not?
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Once again, the topic if affirmative action is being debated across the country. Some claim that it is absolutely necessary, while others claim that it has outlived its time.</div>
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Proponents of affirmative action point out that the groups it currently
favors are coming out of "negative" backgrounds, which made it nearly
impossible for them to succeed; thus, they deserve a positive advantage when
competing for jobs or positions against others who experienced no systemic
barriers to success. Without a special opportunity to enter into the system,
disadvantaged groups might never be able to overcome the handicap which was
forced on them by the exclusive priorities of their culture. Eventually, all
should be able to compete equally, but discrimination is too recent to expect
underprivileged groups to do so now. In the end, the goal is a free and equal
society in which nobody gets a head start to success. There are, however, many
people who are skeptical about these claims. These critics of affirmative
action point out that selecting someone purely based on their ethnicity or
origin actually devalues the person's real accomplishments; they also say that
this devaluation ends up hurting the wider ethnic or racial group from which a
candidate comes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another common criticism is that as a form of reverse discrimination,
affirmative action keeps societies aware of the barriers that divide it and
actually perpetuates alienation and resentment between ethnically diverse
groups, thus increasing rather than reducing racial tension. Another concern is
that affirmative action may encourage individuals to misrepresent themselves as
members of an underprivileged group so that they can get a job or appointment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finally, critics
claim that racially-based hiring or appointment policies encourage everyone not
to perform at their best - the underprivileged, because they may get the
position anyway, and the privileged, because they cannot be hired no matter how
well they perform. The affirmative action debate is heated; while most
Americans favor affirmative action when it is focused on gender and seeks to
make sure that enough women are hired, fewer of them claim to support
racially-based affirmative action programs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>This week's Blog Topic:</b></span><br />
Has affirmative action outlived its time or is it a policy that is still greatly needed? Make sure you can defend your point-of-view.Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-70191681607364968372013-10-07T00:02:00.000-04:002013-10-07T00:02:01.417-04:00To Change or Not to Change, That is the Question!For this week's blog, you have a small assignment. Below is a link that you need to go to and read the article from the Washington Post. The article is 5 pages long, but won't take you that long to read and is important for you to understand the purpose for this week's blog post. <br />
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Granted, some of you may not be big sports fans, or even more importantly for some, football fans, but the issue that is raised here goes far beyond that concept. The real issue here is dealing with an question that is as old as the United States its self (actually, the issue probably can be traced back all the way to the first Europeans arriving in the New World). But I'll stop here, for I really don't want to influence anyone's opinions on this issue.<br />
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Make sure you READ the article before responding to the topic for this week and feel free (highly encouraged) to use information from the reading to support your point of view.<br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/president-obama-says-id-think-about-changing-name-of-washington-redskins/2013/10/05/e170b914-2b70-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html" target="_blank">Click here for the Washington Post article</a><br />
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<b>THIS WEEK'S TOPIC QUESTION:</b><br />
<i>Should Native American themed mascots (for all teams, both professional and even high school) be banned? Or are we simply becoming too politically correct? Defend your point-of-view.</i>Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-57272930689792831182013-09-29T23:36:00.002-04:002013-09-29T23:36:31.405-04:00The Question of Jamestown....First, let me say that I was pleased with last week's blog post. They were, for the most part, well thought out and well written (some of you wrote some AWESOME post!!!). Not to mention that you cut down on the "love fest" responses... thank you.<br />
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Ok, this week we're going to look at Jamestown (not physically, but historically). It has been said that "History is a series of judgments" (which is true and goes in line with my first rule of history). Jamestown has a deep historical connection to the forming of this great nation, as I'm sure you know. Yet, there is some controversy about how Jamestown, VA should be remembered. <br />
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We know that Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World and is the birthplace of our modern form of democracy (the House of Burgesses), yet it also is responsible for introducing a health menace by developing high-quality tobacco to the Old World (and eventually the entire world), introducing slavery in the New World (1619) and the beginning of the act of driving off Native Americans from their land.<br />
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<b>Therefore, this week's topic question is:</b><br />
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Should Jamestown be celebrated as the great birthplace of America, or should it be known for the negative impact that it had? Can both viewpoints co-exist? Defend your point-of-view.Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-72993031550012686102013-09-23T00:37:00.001-04:002013-09-23T00:37:49.350-04:00And The Winner Is?????First, let me say that your first week blogs weren't too bad. Some of you need to work on your responses to other's post (a little too much "love feasting" and some responses were a bit too short), but for the first blog of APUSH 1, not bad.<br />
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This week, we're going to dig (no pun intended) a bit deeper into the "civilization" question by discussing which of the following civilizations that were found in the New World would clearly have to be crowned the "Greatest American Civilization" of the New World. Was it the Inca, the Mayan's or Aztecs? There is a lot to consider when making your decision, so try and give it some thought. As always, you have to defend your selection and respect the opinions of others (you can disagree with their arguments based on their facts, but not their opinion). Keep in mind that this topic is NOT about how they got conquered, but about the actual civilization.<br />
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I look forward to your input!! Who will be crowned the winner????<br />
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<b>So, to restate, the topic is:</b><br />
<br />
Which American Civilization (pre-European influence) should be considered the Greatest of them all??? Defend your selection!<br />
<br />Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-88541470411802574262013-09-15T23:07:00.002-04:002013-09-15T23:07:49.734-04:00It's all in the interpretation....<span style="color: blue;">Welcome to your first official blog for APUSH 1!!!! </span><br />
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As you read over the summer about the beginnings of the New World and how the early Europeans viewed the inhabitants they "discovered" living there, there existed one constant theme; a theme that was actually repeated throughout the entire Exploration Period... The interpretation of what constituted as a "civilization" (or in many cases, what constituted as the absence of a civilized people). This week, we're going to dive right into that very theme. Below is your first blog topic....keep in mind that you each of you have the right to your own opinion, but also remember... opinions are like noses, unless you back them up!!! :-)<br />
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<b>TOPIC</b>: What constitutes a Civilization and when, if ever, does a "civilized" people have the responsibility to assist those that aren't civilized to become as such? Is there a benefit in doing so?Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574696193706600827.post-29707077759432306542011-12-07T19:25:00.000-05:002013-09-15T22:55:42.612-04:00Welcome to my Advance Placement U.S. History 1 (APUSH 1) Blog<div style="margin: 0px;">
This blog is to help students to be able to "discuss" topics beyond the classroom and hopefully be beneficial to them when discussing current affairs, historical topics, and yes, with your writing. Keep in mind that this is to be an additional tool that helps you in this class and should NOT be considered something that was designed to create more work on you.<br />
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With that said, each student is expected to contribute to the conversation. You will receive a quiz score for your contribution to each topic that is posted. Each one of you must post an original post (your own thoughts and opinion) and you must comment on at least three (3) other fellow student's post - provide feedback - both positive and negative (respectful criticism, at all times). Each one of you will be scored on the contribution you make and the responses you make to others' post. Please note: responses to someone else's post does not include comments such as "nice post," "I fully agree," or any form like those. Your responses must be insightful and thought out.<br />
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Keep in mind that at times, some of the topics can be controversial and it is extremely important that you always respect the opinions of others. Any student that purposely belittles another student's post will be dealt with in accordance to school policy. The rule of thumb is: "Agree to Disagree." All of us have the right to our opinions and just because you do not agree with someone else's point of view, does not make them "stupid" or "dumb." Present your arguments intelligently and your counter-arguments respectfully. <br />
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Proper grammar DOES COUNT and you need to write in complete sentences.<br />
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So, here we go on this new adventure in learning from each other - let's have fun with it, but at the same time, learn.</div>
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Good blogging!</div>
Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.com0