My Legacy and Reflection

   Looking back through my life so far I would like to think that I would leave something positive for other people. This so called "legacy."  A legacy is defined as "anything handed down from the past." I remember growing up playing Pop-Warner Football. We would always go to the Friday night high school games. I remember picking out a favorite player and having him as my hero. "I want to be just like him," I would tell myself. Not once did it cross my mind that I would ever play on that field.

   Through the years, I continued to play football and continued to watch these games. I was in my 8th grade year of football when I realized I would eventually play for the high school. Summer came, I went through everything. I started on everything for the JV team. A game into it, I was pulled up onto Varsity as a Freshman. I played on special teams and saw reps on offense and defense. My sophomore year, I started at center, and played some defense and we won the championship. We went 11-0. My junior year I started on offense and defense as well as special teams. This was a big season for me as I made all-state and had a blocked punt, run back for a touchdown all at once. We made it to the championship where we lost 14-7. This brings me to my senior year. 

   My senior year is where my idea of a "legacy" is brought in. This year, I was captain with one of my best friends who has played on my football team since I was 7. We were not projected to do very well. We were "average" at best. Brian and myself worked very hard to bring everyone close together. We definitely shocked many people with our first game against a team who has been in the playoffs with us the past 3 years. This season, I had 2 more blocked punts, made all-state, won several awards, and was selected as 1 of 36 to the New Hampshire Shrine Team who played Vermont's Shrine team. I could have continued my football career at a college. I stuck with my aviation goal and once in awhile I look back and know that I am part of such a great history.


   The legacy I have passed on is my leadership ability, my optimism, and my love for the game of football. The way I go about life, my determination. Laconia High School is my history. I am known throughout LHS because of the way I live. I made a name for myself. My name lives on the plaques, and trophy's inside my school's trophy case. The picture of our Championship team, all the pictures throughout the school. I continue to visit my high school and people always see me and say "Josh is back!" My Principal calls me Josh "The Rock" Cherok. The relationships I have developed continue my legacy, while starting someone else's as well. I am a role model for many students. For this, I am very grateful. I am happy to know my legacy at Laconia High School will forever live on.




Mr. Jones, I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me. I enjoyed your class. It definitely was awesome writing blogs. Quizzes are always just strict material, here you let us share what we know. This was one of the most fun things I have done in any of my classes. I hope to keep in touch. Have a great Christmas/Holiday!

What about Reagan..

   Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. He is one of the most popular Presidents in the United States. I would like to take a look into his life then find out why he was so popular, and why he was viewed as a great President.

   Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911. In his childhood, he had moved several times throughout the state. Monmouth, Galesburg, and Chicago were just a few. In 1919, his family moved back to Tampico where they settled.

   Reagan graduated from college in 1932. He wanted to become a part of the entertainment industry. He decided to audition for several different radio stations in Iowa. He later became hired by the University of Iowa as a broadcaster during football games earning about 10 dollars a game. He became a staff announcer at a larger radio station called WOC. He began traveling with the team as an announcer. During his travels, he took a screen test in 1937. He did so well, he was offered a contract by Warner Brothers studio. He starred in several different movies.

   So how did Reagan get into politics? Reagan started as a Democrat in the 40s. He supported Franklin D. Roosevelt. Through time, he started to become more Conservative in the 50s. In 1962, after supporting Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon he became Republican. in 1966, he was nominated for Governor of California. This was in a way an accident. Reagan gave a speech called "Time for Choosing" as an endorsement for the conservative presidential candidate at the time Barry Goldwater.
In 1967, he was elected Governor. He later ran for president in 1976 where he was beat by Jimmy Carter. In 1980, Reagan was elected President.

Why was he such a great President? This question is more of an opinion. The final answer really varies depending on who you talk to. Many feel that Reagan's economic strategies as a reason. He pulled the country out of its hardships by using the "trickle-down" method.
   Another reason why people see him as such a great President was because of his stand on communism. He put in a lot of policies that weakened the Soviet Union. This lead to it's collapse in 1991. By doing this, he had stopped communism from spreading.

Reagan was a popular President because of what he did for the country. Once again, it really depends on your stance and thoughts about Reagan. They of course vary for everyone.

"Ronald Reagan." The White House. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/ronaldreagan>.

Rosenberg, By Jennifer. "Ronald Reagan - Biography of U.S. President Ronald Reagan." 20th Century History. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. <http://history1900s.about.com/od/ronaldreagan/p/reagan.htm>.

  

The Day The War Came Home Reflection

   I would like to start this blog entry by giving a quick story. A Chemistry teacher at my High School here in Laconia attended Kent State University and graduated with his Masters in 1975. He was there during the shootings. I remember his story and how he remembers bullets going over his head. I sent him a message and he replied to me telling me that he will try to send me a document explaining his full story so I can share with all of you.

    My reaction to the video is very mixed. Because I can relate to someone who was already there I have a greater appreciation for it. I found the whole video very insightful and interesting.

   The part that struck me the most was how the guards moved and trapped themselves. It was called a "strategic mistake". Another powerful moment in the documentary was when they began to talk about "The Huddle". This was a where a group of groundsmen got into a circle and discussed the situation. Many feel like there is a conspiracy with this. People feel like the groundsman picked who they wanted singled out. In defense, a guardsman who was there claimed it to be false. He confirmed that they just were discussing how they got into this situation.

   The last thing I would like to talk about is the situation on Blanket Hill. The guards were returning to the ROTC building. People began to cheer thinking it was done. As the guards got to the crest of the hill, a guardsman was hit by concrete. Guys in the lead began to lower their weapon. The students then began to gesture back. The word "fire" was given. Some of the guardsman that talk about it now and say that they feel it was meant to be "hold fire". A guardsman shot within milliseconds, more followed. Many fired as warning shots. Hundreds fell on the ground. One man was remembered saying "Shoot me Mother******". This continued for some seconds.

   The most interesting information is that in 13 seconds, 67 bullets were fired. Many were injured but four were killed. We will never forget Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Lee Scheuer, Bill Scrhroeder and Allison Krause.

   I will let you know when I get the story from my former teacher.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Growing more knowledge

   I know this isn't exactly directly about a specific topic but I would like the chance to reflect upon yesterday's class discussion as a whole. The assignment was to find a primary source dating back to the Vietnam War.


    I thought it was very interesting listening to every one's sources. They ranged from personal interviews, to speeches, to newspaper articles from the time. It was awesome to hear what everyone learned from the article.


   An overwhelming amount of the class had interviews and articles of people and things that were unsure about the war. Many people really had no idea why or who they were even fighting. "They didn't really attack us or do anything to us." This was a very popular thought by many of those involved in the Vietnam War.


   I chose an article from the Wellsboro Gazette. It was dated November 16, 1967. In the article, I found it interesting that a senator to the state would send in his opinions and make certain columns about his views. At the time, he was giving his full pledged support behind the President to invade Vietnam. I feel like a lot of people really did not support the idea. In the columns, the Senator tried to give reasons why it would be best to support the war efforts. A lot of the reasons consisted of our soldier's current safety.


    As I thought about the Vietnam War yesterday I remembered Charles Stoots. "Chuck" was they  only grandfather I really had. Both of my grandfathers died when I was young. My grandma from Florida and Chuck met in 2000. Every year going to Florida I would see Chuck and we would always do things together. I always remember fishing, driving around with him in his nice cars, and of course even doing some work with him.


   On February 22, 2008 Chuck was honored by U.S. Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite and the State of Florida. Chuck was an active member of the United States Army from 1955 through 1980, with the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal & Clasp Silver 1 Loop, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal & Bronze Star Attachment and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/Device.


   I remember this past April going down and him showing me his medals and talking about them. He was so proud and honored. I was very proud of him as well. I remember I had an early flight so I stayed up all night. I did not say bye to Chuck when I left because it was so early. About a month later, on May 29, Chuck had passed away to random sickness. I will never forget Chuck. I love and miss him dearly. He is a war hero for me and the first Veteran I think of.

Veteran's Day : The Reason Why We Should Thank Someone

   The truth is many people take for granted the rights we have as American Citizens. On Veteran's Day, most of the students are just excited that we do not have school. I am guilty of this as well.

   There are many reasons why we should remember and thank a Veteran on Veteran's Day.The reason we get to vote is because we have had people who fight and die for these rights. For over 200 years, we have had citizens sacrifice life and allow the rest of us to enjoy the freedoms we have. Thanking a Veteran is just something you can't do enough. You don't think of thanking your parents for creating you. If you say "thank you" to them, it seems so insufficient.

 

   Veterans like to have people listen to them. It shows them that we care about their service to our country for us. The stories are very interesting as well. They have experienced things that we have never been able to experience and probably won't.

 

   Another way to show your support for veterans is to fly an American flag.

Nothing makes a veteran happier than seeing the flag in the sky. A lot of businesses will fly the flag but not always. There are also ceremonies and memorials for these people. This makes them feel honored and good about themselves; as they should. I know back home we have a parade and everyone shows up downtown for the ceremony. You actually learn a lot.

 

   While we enjoy our day off tomorrow, make sure you thank a Veteran for their service.

 

 

MLK Jr. vs MX

   The discussion about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. is quite interesting. Two men, both with certain dreams and goals, but a completely different way of life.
  
   Growing up, Malcolm X lived in an underprivileged home. He taught himself. He never received a lot of schooling. He eventually became great through his own intelligence and determination. Malcolm X was born in a neighborhood where there was a lot of fear and anger. His house was burnt down by the Ku Klux Klan. This eventually resulted in the murder of his father. After this happened, his mother had a breakdown causing the family to break up. Through his life, he grew up and was forced by a hatred and desire for payback.

   Martin Luther King Jr. was raised in a better environment. Growing up in Atlanta, his family had established their family name. In his house, education, security, and safety was provided. There was no reason to feel a strong hatred for whites as in the case of Malcom X.

   Both men are very important in the Civil Rights movement. King held a positive attitude and believed that through peaceful demonstrations and arguments, blacks would be able to achieve equality. Malcom X held memories from his childhood. He grew up angry and believed that equality was impossible because whites have no moral principles.
  
   Through this, King continued to feel that black and white people should be united and live in peace. Malcolm X promoted nationalist and separatist doctrines. He felt that revolution and force could only attain peace in society.

   After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on December 3, 1955, the Black community of Montgomery planned a boycott of the buses. They selected Martin Luther King Jr, to be the chair. After just over a year, the plan worked and buses were integrated.

   After his family's break up, Malcolm got involved in bad street life. He was arrested and sent to jail. In jail he met Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam in America. Through this time, Malcolm became the most effective leader. He established chapters throughout the country. This nation advocated self-defense and wanted complete independence of Black America.

   The government started to protect Martin Luther King Jr. It was easier and safer to deal with him. The government eventually stopped protecting King after he opposed the Vietnam War. There were problems in society and a huge battle. 

   King and Malcolm, were eventually assassinated. Both at the age of 39. Malcolm died first in New York of 1965. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in Memphis of 1968. 

   Both wee not very different from each other. They had a goal of equality. Though their ways of achieving this goal differed greatly. They were on the same path trying to establish the true meaning of America.

Source: http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/nhhs/project/1998/xandking.htm

The FEAR of Communism

The FEAR of communism in the United States was a very popular feeling throughout the 1950's. But what made most people fear communism?
 
   Most Americans hate communism. Around this time Americans were focused on the "American Dream" which was the goal to live life through industry and consumerism. They wanted the ideal life for themselves.
 
In capitalism, people live in a country based on looking after the individual, rather than the community as a whole such as communism. Communism has the right ideas, people being equal. A huge problem is that communism is susceptible to the abuse of humans. You are only as strong as your weakest link. If you are wealthy, you tend to pay more to the government so they can spread the wealth. Everyone gets the same treatment no matter what.
 
As Americans, the  greatest fear is to be equal. It just does not resemble what America is about. America is known for having the biggest and the best of everything.
 
People today still fear communism. As stated before, the goal of communism is simplistic and tends to be for the greatest good. The only problem is that you will always have a ruling party.
 
Communism would take away the opportunity for people to earn their life. The American Dream is still in action today. People want to work for themselves not for anyone else.

Japanese Internment Camps

   The imprisionment of Japanese Americans was started in 1931. Japan tried to expand and conquor other parts of Asia. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. This was because they felt threatend by the United States. This led to the distrusting of Japenese people by the United States. Citizens became paranoid and saw Americans of Japanese descent threats to the security.

   In 1942, the Department of War ordered internment of over 1,000 Hawaiian Japanese-Americans and over 100,000 Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. They lost all of their property and were told to bring only what they could carry. They were shipped to prision camps. They were not even proven guilty.

   The internment of Japanese Americans was more of a security measure. This was because it was a concern that some of them might be spies secretly working for Japan. This was more of a West Coast idea. The people were segregated from the public. Most of the camps were located in California.

   Many were mistreated in the camps. This is no way similar to the holocaust. The Germans were performing "ethnic cleansing." This included gathering up Jews, gypsies, homosexuals and other groups they considered inferior and put them into prision. Millions were killed either in the gas chamber, by disease, exposure to harsh weather, starvation, or even the result of cruel "medical experiments." Though the Holocaust had many more deaths some of the conditions in Internment camps were unbearable. Since most of the camps were located in the desert, people were faced with harsh mperatures. The average summer temperatures were over 100 degrees. The winter was no better, tempertures even fell to -30 degrees.

    After the Japanese were let out of the camps, many returned to the Pacific Coast.  New lives were started and the people tried to forget what happened. Because Many of them lost there land when they were forced to the camps, they tried to regain what they had lost.  In 1948, Congress finally agreed to pay for some of the lost property.

http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/camp.html

The Manhattan Project

   The Manhattan Project was a U.S. project lasting from August 1942 to August 1946. This project developed the atomic energy program. It is known for the Atomic bomb. Before any of this happened, Germany was ahead of anyone. Germany had a heavy-water plant, uranium chemicals, scientists and engineers. They also had the best chemical engineering industry in the world. Before WWII, the United States was concerned about the nuclear threat of the Axis.

   Before any ideas about the Manhattan Project were discussed, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received a letter from Albert Einstein on August 2, 1939. The topic was physics and the building of powerful bombs. Einstein later went on to help the United States begin research on fission and uranium.

    In June of 1942, the United States announced their nuclear program. It was under the Army Corps of Engineers. The goal was to build an atomic weapon before Japan or Germany.

   The Manhattan Project was officially started on May 12, 1942. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an order to start this secret project. The project was named after the Manhattan Engineer District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This was because most of the research was done here. Tests were done in three cities. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Los Alamos, New Mexico and Hanford, Washington.

   On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped onto Hiroshima. This resulted in the death of over 100,000 people. After this attack the Japanese government decided still not to surrender to the United States. On August 9, 1945 the United States attacked Nagasaki. After this, Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945.

   The Manhattan Project made it possible for the United States to have weapons that are the most destructive. This played a key role in future nuclear weapons.

Holocaust: The Effect in the United States

   The rescuing of Jews during WWII was not a priority for the United States. This was because of the prejudice against Jews, isolationism, the depression, and the fear of foreigners. In the United States, it was difficult for refugees to get visas.

   Another reason why it was not a priority for the United States was because the State Department delayed publicizing the reports of genocide. In 1942, the government received a cable that showed the Nazi plans for the extermination of Jews.

   The United States did not respond quickly to the rescue of victims in the Holocaust. In 1943, representatives from the United States and Britain met in Bermuda to find a way to solve this problem. There were no proposals that came about during the conference. Also during this time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was informed of the mass murder in the Warsaw ghetto. The United States did not take any action until 1944. This happened when Roosevelt established the War Refugee Board. By the time the War Refugee Board was finally established, most of the Jewish people in the Holocaust were dead.

   Around the spring of 1944, the Allies found out about the killings of Jews using poison gas at Auschwitz. Some Jewish leaders spoke unsuccessfully with the government in an attempt to get the United States to bomb the gas chambers and railroad tracks going to the camp. State officials argued that United States aircraft did not have the capacity to perfect these actions. Accuracy was a very big problem. This led to D-Day. On June 6, 1944 the Allies landed at Normandy. This started their invasion of Nazi Europe.

  The picture does not have to do much with my blog entry. When I went to Europe in 2007, I had a chance to go to the Anne Frank House. We got to walk throughout the house. The attic was definitely a chilling experience. Anne Frank is one of the most renowned and most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. She earned fame worldwide quickly after the publication of her diary which documents her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.


SITES: (CREDITS) : http://www.hello-newman.com/Israel/holocaust.html