Monday, November 22, 2010
Rections to Social and Political Changes
The Red Scare descends on the nation. You may write about the Palmer Raids, Sacco and Vanzetti, the rise of the KKK and how it attmepts to enforce "American" values. Don't forget labor strife including the Boston Police Strike. How do you feel about some or all of these forces acting on the nation? Why do they happen? Are they good or bad for the country? (20.1)
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Shanice Hird
ReplyDeleteMr. Lagan
U. S History
December 3, 2010
Dear blog,
The people of the K.K.K are ignorant and childish. They go around planting fear into people’s lives to feed their own insecurities of others that are not like them rising to the occasion and gaining success. They are narrow minded and obviously don’t have the capability of accepting change. As the years go on the number of lynchings has decreased, which proves that they don’t actually carry out most of their threats, they just do it to make others fear them. The fact that they oppose African Americans, Catholics, Jews, union members and anyone un-American is absurd because America is made up of all different types of people and that would be like saying they hate America which would be a lie. The only reason why they are so large is number anyways is because the members make money off the people they sign up, something needs to be done about this. This is bad for this country because it is not sending a positive message to the people within society both adults and children and also lowering this country’s standards for the future.
The Boston police have a right to strike because if they are doing their duty to the country they should be able to get a raise as long as they are loyal and do the right thing. They are government workers and should not have to provide their own guns and uniforms. How do they expect the police to work if they don’t show them respect? What government is doing is bad because if the police are striking? Who’s protecting the people? They should have been awarded a raise instead of being replaced by new men because they deserved it. This is happening because the government thinks it can just do anything it wants to the people of this country because they have the mentality that they are superior to others. Most people are being untreated fairly and there is a lot of injustice going on in our country, for example Niccola Sacco and Bartolemeo Vanzetti. A man was robbed of 15,000 and the only evidence that was presented was that they were of “swarthy complexions” yet still they convicted two men and executed them although they had no solid evidence that they were the two men who committed the crime. They only reason why this was done was because they were anarchist and that was not a good enough reason to execute innocent people. America needs to change because it is things like this that tear a country apart. Injustice, favoritism, and a bundled more are the things that are being put forth instead of love and unity.
Hey y’all, today I went shopping at the grocery store in downtown Salem, MA. Now, I live about a ten minutes from downtown Salem, so I’m not always going in due to the traffic and what not, but anyways today I went into downtown Salem to get a few things for my house, and on my way into the store I was handed a pamphlet saying: “Hate Blacks? Hate Jews? Then the KKK is for you”. I was astonished to see this, I’ve heard of Klan rallies and gatherings in the South before, but never have I seen such a thing up North.
ReplyDeleteI can’t believe the Klan’s up here trying to recruit people for their gang. I had asked the young man who gave me the pamphlet about what exactly the KKK wanted, or what they were trying to do, and he basically told me that the KKK was trying to enforce the values that America was based on, and that we’ve gone too far with our passivism towards all these different people in America. I don’t agree with any of that, but it’s certainly something to think about.
- David G.
Jake Chapin
ReplyDeleteAs a Klan member myself, I believe that I do quite a good job enforcing American values. Many people look down on us like we are some type of criminals, when really all we want to do is make America stronger by having pride in our nation. We do not hate America by any means, we hate the people in America who do not belong here. I am sure that my fellow whites will soon come to their senses and join the Klan so that we will become one unified and unstoppable nation.
Jake Chapin
ReplyDeleteMy family and I have just invested in one or Mr. Fords new automobiles. Many of our close friends and relatives had purchased them and all they could talk about was how much easier it made traveling from one place to another for them. I am hoping that America is finally getting on track to lead the world both technologically and economically. I have been making more money now than I ever have in my live. The stock market is looking promising, but we have yet to invest completely in it. I might have to hold back on the spending for a while with all these new gadgets coming out, I will have so much to buy!
Dear blog,
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe communists, if there are any, would go to such extremes as threatening people of bombing and actually bombing the house of the poor Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. I think he had every right to hunt down who did it although they might not have been communist. If they are anarchist bombing innocent people we cannot let them get away with this. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hopefully is doing their job and actually looking for people who might have done it, although I think they might be exaggerating a little bit. Trying people without court is madness. Deporting them it’s a better option. I also cannot believe that poor Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were sentenced to death! That is an outrage. The court could not even prove that they were the ones who grabbed the $15,000. They were just accused, tried, found guilty, and died. This could happen to any of us! I do not think accusing people without evidence is helping our country. It is just making it worse, nobody can be safe. Someone might accuse you of being a communist just for the simple fact they do not like you or you have had some type of problem. The rise of the KKK is unbelievable, I thought they would never come back. What they believe American values are might not the same as for others. There is nothing wrong with immigrants, unless they show they are trying to harm us. I just think the KKK is trying to blame one group of people for what is going on that they might not accept and it just is not fair for them. We are all immigrants to certain point right? If so what are true “American values“?
Dear blog,
ReplyDeletePresident Harding is talking about going back to “normalcy”. I am not sure if that means peace. There were so many rumors going around that President Harding’s administration, which are “friends” of him, are just corrupt people who are taking advantage of the opportunity he gave to them to become part of his administration. The teapot dome scandal confirmed it. President Harding has been working hard and although I do not agree with his decision about the quota system that limits the number of immigrants, specially Europeans and completely excluded Japan. If its not one group of people it will be another, it’s a never ending cycle. One day the Mexicans and Canadians will face the same treatment Europeans do now. It just does not seem fair.
With this new technology we are getting its impossible to say no! I have just bought my first car. I had to get an installment plan since I do not have the money to buy it. The dealer made it sounds like it was a great plan! They have low interest rates, making it easy to afford. Many people are being careless about it and just enjoying it. I’m starting to think I should to. They seem so much happier. There are so many new electronics that I want to buy but the thought of debt has crossed my mind. I have a feeling debts will be a problem. Yes sure people are buying like crazy now, but what about later on if they cannot pay for all the items they have purchased. What will they do? I think this might not be the best idea.
[Nayara Da Silva} (my character is writing an online blog)
ReplyDeleteHello blog:
For all of you who don’t know, my name is Sheighla Forrest. I currently reside in Boston Massachusetts and have been living here all my life. I’m twenty-two years old, living with my husband Jason Ford in central Boston and I work as a journalist for the Boston Times (I write about current times, but have to restrict how truthful my writing is). Being alive these twenty-two years, I’ve witnessed a lot of change here in our country. As most people wouldn’t admit, I am a secret socialist and although I don’t openly express my views (for fear of death or injury), I don’t go against my views either.
Currently in the US, we are undergoing what would be called a “Red Scare.” Some people would define it as a fear of communism, but in reality, it’s fear of different races and immigrants. The US just isn’t the same as it was before. Before the war, we were progressing towards equality for immigrants, and even African American’s were more accepted. Now, hate is being spread everywhere and people are looking for someone to blame.
The “Red Scare” began with General Mitchell Palmer, whose house was bombarded a couple years ago in 1919. He began conducting raids on civilian homes, even without consent or proof of wrongdoing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, was created by Edgar Hoover, and they deported what they called suspected radicals, which in reality where mostly immigrants. It’s ridiculous how the government is doing this. Any of the problems the US have, are not to blame on just one group of people. I was watching on the news the other day and saw that two Italian immigrants, I believe their names are Niccola Sacco and Barto Vanzetti, were arrested, tried and executed. Why? Because a factory worker or owner, one of the two, was heading to the bank with a wad of cash in his hand and got robbed. He claimed the thief’s had “swarthy complexions” and that apparently meant they were immigrants. Now what seems fishy to me is that not only where they immigrants, but they were anarchists too… Seems kind of coincidental that they would be convicted, because they fall into the criteria of what kind of people our government fears and are attacking.
As if government racism and discrimination isn’t bad enough, now the KKK, or Ku Klux Klan is beginning to rise again. It’s all thanks to “Birth of a Nation” which glorified the KKK (absolutely ridiculous). After the war, people looked for any excuse to harass anyone different. It makes me glad to be Caucasian and a US citizen, but also disappoints me that the US is doing such things to the people of their country.
I don’t know what to think of this country anymore. I’m no longer proud to be an American and I’m sure our national pride is declining because of all of this. I wish I could openly express my views, but if I die now, I will never be able to help the US overcome this time of ignorance. I plan on opening the eyes of the people (within the next couple of months or so) and publishing a non-revised (by the head of the paper) exposé on the “Red Scare.” I will expose the truth of who the US is attacking and hopefully then, people will realize that the US is in the wrong and they shouldn’t listen, or agree to follow what the US says. All of this, this hate, this ignorance, this irrational fear, is setting the US back. We are supposed to be the land of the free and home of the brave, but if that were true, we wouldn’t be struck by fear due to different skin colour and different beliefs, we would accept them, and praise them for being different and standing by themselves.
Emma Sales
ReplyDeleteDear Blog,
All of these forces acting on the nation are not a good thing, we as Americans are all getting too paranoid about everything since the war ended. The KKK is a hate group that should not be in action, they are just afraid that the white race will no longer be in charge, but why are they acting out, we have no idea what other cultures could be like as leaders, maybe they would be better. Maybe if we had a different president at the time of the war the US never would have entered. But I do agree with the strikes, for example the Boston Police did deserve a raise in pay because they work day and night to keep us safe so they deserve a raise it may be small but its still a raise. I think Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer did have a right to be afraid after his house was bombed but searching anyone who looks suspicious may be overkill. The scandal involving Sacco and Vanzetti was very extreme too. They were only accused because of their look and status of being an anarchist.
(Pierre Youssef
ReplyDeleteDear Blog,
My name is Darryl Black. I am an American American citizen of the United States of America. Due to the fact that I am not white and live in the United States, I go through discrimination on a day-to-day basis by white citizens. It is not as if I asked to look the way I am. To me, and to my people we are the same as anyone else. I do not understand why these white people cannot see that, and have to disgrace, and harass us based on what we look like. Why can they not look within the person, rather then just looking on the exterior. There have also been some events that are directed to people like me. These events are The Sacco, and the Vanzetti trials, and also the rise of the KKK. These following things have been bringing this nation down. I thought the United States was supposed to accept people from all over, and not discriminate towards people of different color, and race. We cannot just have one color rule a country, that is just plain absurd and racist. Ever since the end of WW1, there have been more hate shown towards us immigrants, especially African Americans. How can we expect to rise as a nation, when many groups of people are not accepted in this land we call America.If no one stands up for being like me, we will seize to exist in this new world, and will never have a say in anything that the government does. People need to stand up for what is right. They need to take a stand and stop this madness. We cannot have a nation that was born on being an equal nation, be turned into this cruel place. We need diversity to be accepted, and for those who are different be treated fairly and equally. A person should not be treated differently due to them looking different, or believing differently. Someone needs to make a stand. It only takes one person to make a difference. Stand up for what is right, and support the cause for equality in the U.S.
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteYesterday was a traumatizing day for my family and I. We were walking home from the grocery store when we saw a crowd of people outside our neighbors house. Apparently they were suspected for being communists and they were having their house searched. I was told that the investigators did not have a search warrant. The man that lived there was brought out in handcuffs and taken downtown. Later I learned that Federal Bureau of Investigation had gone to many homes, office buildings and meeting halls and jailed many people. I don't see how this is fair seeing as though searching a location without a search warrant is against the peoples' civil rights. Later that week family members of our neighbor who had been taken downtown tried to visit him at the jail. Suddenly they were all arrested, just for trying to visit him! America has become paranoid about communism taking over and that has lead to ignoring the civil rights for the people of the United States. I do agree that communism would be horrible if it ever took over here, but America needs to tone down the searches and restore civil rights to the people.
This new-fangled typewriter, my pop says, is the wave of the future! He thinks that I should learn how to use it by makin’ a journal with it and writing- sorry, typing things that happen daily, like the diary of some Jane. How swell. Any who, I’m sure you’ve all heard ‘bout this group that comin’ up to Boston tomorrow called the “Ku Klux Klan” (really, what’s the deal with the ‘K’s?)- It’s the talk of the town! They’re hoping to stir up some action around here with the people and get some support. More like tryin’ to bring trouble around here, especially with the recent charges against a certain Mr. Sacco and Mr. Vanzetti. I mean they killed a guy for his money right? I think Darwin or somethin’ said once, “It’s a dog eat dog world” or somethin’. I think it was Darwin or maybe some Big Cheese guy (maybe that Rockefeller figure)? But, yeah, these KKK or whatever ain’t got no reason to be protestin’ or making trouble up here. We can handle it ourselves if the Italians, or whoever else become a pain; the KKK can mind their own beeswax, thank you very much. However, there’s talk around town ‘bout communists and anarchists bringing trouble to this country with their bombin’ of the Attorney General or somethin’ like that, and that really riles me up. They were demolishing us from bottom up, and now they’re goin’ for the top! The communists are trouble; they cannot be trusted at all. That’s just my 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteJohn Smith (nom de plume)
(Using semi-contemporary language)
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteAll of the forces acting on the nation like the Palmer Raids, Sacco and Vanzetti, and the rise of the KKK are not benefiting the country. In attempts to enforce "American" values, the U.S is acting in a negative way because these actions taking place are not justified. During the Palmer Raids, government agents are hunting down suspected communists, socialists and anarchists. The agents go through private homes and offices with out any search warrant. This is not allowing people their privacy and it seems unreasonable that the government agents decide who is an alleged communist. Clearly the government agents are afraid of what the people are capable of because the agents feel as though it is necessary to take away suspected communists civil rights in order to gain control of the situation. By sending the suspected to jail for weeks at a time with out seeing a lawyer seems unjust because it is not allowing a fair trial to people who are most likely innocent, but the U.S feels threatened by them because they are “aliens”. It is a pity. It seems as though the U.S does not welcome immigrants very well because not only did the Palmer Raids act against immigrants, the Sacco and Vanzetti’s case did also. These two men were arrested because they are suspected of killing and robbing a man. Their trial happened a week ago and the buzz around the town is that the accused provided alibis, however the judge made prejudicial remarks. The men are being sentenced to death at the end of the week. Their trial does not seem fair at all, it appears that the men were accused because of their nationality and the fact that they were immigrants. This case was not justified because the people of the U.S could not possibly believe that the death penalty for is justified for something that they may or may not have done. It appears to be to vague however the U.S is set on keeping their American values, but are American values killing innocent people? The KKK believes that it is enforcing American values by harassing anyone that is not like themselves. Their ideas are insane. How can the people of the United States not live together as one UNITED place? It is absurd that there is so much hostility towards people who are considered different. For example, when the first lines are heard, “We the people of the United States of America”, unity screams out! Why can not we all just get along and live side by side in peace? These unjust actions are not how America should pride itself.
-Abigail McGinty
Mitch Guarino
ReplyDeleteMr. Lagan
U.S History II Honors
6 December 2010
Article 1 Sacco and Vanzetti
Ferdinando Nicola Sacco (April 22, 1891–August 23, 1927) and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (June 11, 1888–August 23, 1927), they both died on the same exact day because they were both executed together. Both of them were blamed for murdering two men during an armed robbery in Braintree. They were arrested in Brocton, picking up their car from a garage; the police thought they were suspicious because they both had pistols on them. So after six years in jail and trials they were executed. Personally I do not think that this was not good for the nation; because our nation is made up of many immigrants and we are all supposed to be equal with equal rights. The Italian immigrants where around the murdering so the police arrested them because most of the other people were just regular white American people and during the time there was still a lot of prejudice people. I don’t think it is right because that is discriminating and we are supposed to be role models for other countries so if we discriminate then the other countries will think it is okay too. This is bad for the country, because it is a very wrong thing to do, to discriminate on some ones ethnicity. All and All I think that they should have had a fair trial and, since they did not have enough information to put these guys to jail, never mind execute, then they should have been free men and lived on with their every day life.
Keri Fitzgerald
ReplyDeleteMr.Lagan
7 December 2010
Dear Blog,
Today I was on my way home... sadly enough i was uprooted by the KKK. They did not do anything to physically harm me thank god, but they did tear me down emotionally. They yelled at me and told me that I was should be killed because of my background. Who are they to tell me that? What have I ever done to them? The KKK is a group that is so insecure that they take it out on people who are not like them. This Klan is also very dangerous. They murder innocent people because of who they are and the religion they practice. Between 1868 and 1871 the Klan killed several thousand men, women, and children. The Klan and other secret groups tried to prevent African Americans from making economic, as well as political, progress. The Klan killed and discriminated against any group that was not like them, i hope they are taken out just like they took out other groups.
Dear Blog,
ReplyDeleteBeing an Italian immigrant in the U.S. has been a rough time over the years. I have been very concerned with myself following the bombing of Attorney General Palmer’s house. He has been going on raids ever since. The establishment of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover has changed my life because they will deport any suspected radicals. They mostly targeted immigrants. Also The Sacco and Vanzetti incident sums it all up that they will accuse any immigrant of any crime. Both men were killed even though they were not the ones who killed the factory worker and stole the $15,000. The rise of the KKK also had questioned my reason why I came to live here. The Ku Klux Klan (they write everything starting with the letter K if you have not noticed) targeted all immigrants. They lynch, hate, and harass any non-true white man. These raids and rises have been bad for the U.S. because the U.S. uses immigrants to work in the factory and produce a better economy. Palmer should not being going on these raids and the KKK should be banned from America. Wasn’t the U.S. founded and started by immigrants anyways?
Dear blog,
ReplyDeleteThe recent events are having a very bad impact on the nation. We have hate groups forming such as the KKK who are acting out of line towards non-whites because they are afraid whites might not be incharge one day and there group is getting larger every day since the end of the first World War. If the hatred for immigrants and African Americans does not stop who knows what the United states could end up like.
-phil
Jake D- I agree with your views. I'm scared to raise a family in today's society because who knows the crazy things they'd be subjected to? It's sad to see that the people of this nation are being so racist and hateful. Glad to see some people still have sense though.
ReplyDeleteAlex, I agree with you since I am also a non-white American citizen. The rise of the KKK is eventually going to come to me since I live in the South and might even spread all over the United States. It is not fair that people like us get punished for something that is out of our reach, like the color of our skin or where we came from. Actions do need to be taken again to prevent these murders from striking again. I want diversity and equally for all. It is like they can brain wash people and make them into murders.
ReplyDeleteKeri-
ReplyDeleteI agree completely ! My family has had to deal with similar tauntings from the KKK for a while now and is becoming unbearable. It gave me a broader point of view of what the hate group really is when you were saying how they are just caught up in their own insecurities about themselves. This makes sense because I was always brought up with my mama and daddy tellin' me that if a black man had been more cruel back in the day, the tables would have been turned and whites would have been seen as inferior. You should not also forget as well that the Klan not only killed tons of blacks by lynching and torture but often times did it to completely innocent citizens such as my uncle.