Vietnam War Blog.

The United States ultimately entered the Vietnam War because they wanted to stop communism in Southeast Asia. United states believed communism was a threat to their democracy. It eliminated private property. They believed it was very evil. Our leaders was afraid that the Communist forces would gain control of Vietnam. Then all the nations would fall into communism, which can be called the Domino Theory. We, America, put ourselves in situation that was unneccessary because that was not our business. When we were in an Anti War Moment that only caused opposition to the Vietnam War.

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/antiwar.html

http://www.enotes.com/history/q-and-a/why-was-vietnam-war-fought-289000

Langston Hughes Blog.

When I read "Let America be American Again" by Langston Hughes, I understood that he believed that America has changed in such a negative way. He discusses the oppressed and how he's looking for somewhere to be free. When he says "America was never America to me", it suggests to me that he has never had a good life, or example of this "American Dream". Ya know the American Dream? Could be defined as pursuit of happiness, economic security, and opportunity for success. He's basically saying he never had this because of the negative things happening to him. "I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--" All of these examples show problems and contrast with the definition of the American Dream. He wants America to be like how he thought it should be.

Daisy's Point of View.

I'm going to re-write the scene from page 85 to 86.


I came under the the dripping bare lilac trees in my large open car coming up to the drive. I stopped and looked at Nick in tipped sideways beneath a three corner lavender hat and smiled.
"Is this absolutely where you live, my dearest one?"
My voice was so wild sounding in the rain. Nick followed the sound of it for a moment, up and down, with his before any words came through. A damp streak of my hair laid like a dash across my cheek, and my hand was wet with glistening drops as Nick took it helping me from the car.
I asked Nick, "Are you in love with me" really low in his ear, "or why did I have to come alone?"
"That's the secret of Castle of Rackrent. Tell your chaffeur to go far away and spend an hour."
"Come back in an hour, Ferdie." I told Nick in a grave murmur: "His name is Ferdie."
"Does the gasoline affect his nose?"
"I don't think so" I said innocently. "Why?"
We went in. The living room was deserted to our overwhelming surprise.
"Well, that's funny," Nick exclaimed.
I asked "What's funny?"
I turned my head as there was a light dignified knocking at the front door. Nick went out and opened it. Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically in Nick's eyes.
With his hands still in his coat pockets he stalked by Nick into the hall, turned sharply as if he were on a wire, and disappeared into the living room. It was weird to me, or funny. Since we could hear Nick's loud heart beating, he pulled the door to against the increasing rain.
For half a minute there wasn't a sound. It was so awkward! Then from the living room we heard a choking murmur and part of a laugh, so I cleared my throat and said: "I certainly am awfully glad to see you again."
A pause; it endured horribly. I didn't know why though. Nick went in the room then.
Gatsby still had his hands in his pocket, and was reclining against the mantelpiece in a perfect ease, even of boredom. His head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock. He stared down at me sitting, and I was frightened, but of course I was graceful, on the edge of the chair.

The American Dream.

The American Dream is simply when we have economic security, opportunity to succeed, and the pursuit of happiness. But has this disappeared since the recession we are in? An article I read was called "Great Recession Means a Diminished American Dream for Young Adults". Because the US economy is very bad right now, it appears that it will be a long and slow process to recover from it. For young adults just starting their career, the effects on this recession may last forever. Young Americans now have a very high unemployment rate and fewer buying homes. They're less able to live on their own because of this. Which interferes with one of the key elements of The American Dream: pursuit of happiness. In the article, they describe the American Dream as "a house, 2.5 kids, a steady career, and financial security" which is out of the reach for them. Another big factor of the young adults not getting to live the American Dream is unemployment. This messes up the opportunity to succeed.

I just really hopes it won't be like this for when we grow up, cause I want to live out the American Dream :)