Modern U.S. History

1st and proud of it

I felt that the film Iron Jawed Angles was a fairly good review of the topics that we have gone over in class. I don’t think that it brought anything new to the table in terms of knowledge of the suffrage movement it did reinforce the atrocities and unfairness put against the women suffragist. I found the force-feeding scenes the most disturbing impression of the movie and they reminds me of moments from movies like Saw. I also found all the things that happened to the women at the jail were horrible and you got a good view of this through the senator’s visit. The parade was a good representation of the thoughts of men towards women at the time with everyone yelling at them to get off the street.
I never really got into the mood of the movie though because of their poor choice of music, I’m sorry but hearing a happy American tune while Alice Paul was being force-fed did not fit the scene. There was also the rap during the marches felt awkward as did the epic music at not so epic moments of action. I also felt that the movie lacked a male supporter of women’s rights; the comic-writer was nice but I kept getting the feeling he was trying more to hook up with Alice then further Women’s rights and the senator didn’t support it till the very end of the movie and was a major jerk. I thought the masturbation scene and the romance scene with the writer were a little* out of place in the movie and were there merely for drawing in the Hollywood crowd.
I did find something interesting about what Alice had to say about having children. In the movie she says to her friend (correct me if I’m wrong) that having a children or marrying would slow them up from furthering the work of women’s rights. The reason I found this interesting is because this shows why people at the time thought if a women was smart she would be infertile. Give some feedback about this statement please I would like to know other peoples thoughts on this.
*A lot

DARN YOU CHRIS!!!
2nd is good too *sniffle* :'(

Okay so as chris said this didn't really bring anything new to the table. What it did do was show us a visual of what was going on and visuals always enforce the message much better. I have quite a few complaints but they are all complaints about the actual movie and not the actual topic which the movie discussed. 1 that masturbation scene? wtf? was that necessary in the least bit? The entire romantic interest with her and that one dude seemed really unnecessary unless it is trying to just enforce that she is a woman? 2 the music was absolutely horrid! not the actual music but the placement of it was just awful i mean come on you can set the mood a little bit better than that. 3 When that one person died in made such a big deal over it and just like some other characters in the movie tried to tell them there's a war going on. Just because one person dies you can't over glorify it especially if she didn't die in a martyr like way just from some disease or I don't know I didn't really hear what it was. Hahaha I just read chris's right now and i am happy that he agrees with a lot of my points. We got kind of distracted while watching the movie and started debating about geography and hegemony in world war I between france and germany.
Okay so good points about the movie... hmmm well some of the images were good in portraying how awful it was, but they also overdramatized it horribly so good images but also moderately annoying at teh same time. Oh also what was with that one black haired leader of the NAWSA(?) at the beginning seemed like a major... yes... but near the end she uses Paul's achievements to further her own goal (which is the same) even though at the beginning she was trying to impede it and being a major antagonist and what not.
Not much else to say overall i would rate it a 5/10 my movie grading system is very strict and even though we weren't watching this just for it as a movie I whatever so that's it.

The article that I read today that affected me the most was from The Promised Land, and it was about a father finding education for his children and himself in the new land of America. What put me in awe the most was his determination to learn English, to be educated and to truly be a part of this country. "Yet, if education, culture, the higher life were shining things to be worshipped from afar, he had still a means left whereby he could draw one step nearer to them. He could send his children to school, to learn all those things that he knew by fame to be desirable. The common school, at least, perhaps high school, for one or two, perhaps even college! His children should be students, should fill his house with books and intellectual company; and thus he would walk by proxy in the Elysian Fields of liberal learning. As for the children themselves, he knew no surer way to their advancement and happiness." He gave up everything so his kids could go to school, and so that the could free to think what they wanted to think! "The boasted freedom of the New World meant to him far more than the right to reside, travel, and work whenever he pleased; it meant the freedom to speak his thoughts, to throw of the schackles of superstition, to test his own fate, unhindered by political or religious tyranny." He and his family came all the way from Russia, and never, not once thought he couldn't do it. Determination and confidence and infectious things. If someone goes across the sea, braving death and disease and comes to an entirely new land and just wants freedom and the right to learn, he should be given that freedom and that right and he is. That is the most amazing thing about this girl's father to me. He was not going to give up until his children were educated, he was educated and they belonged there.

I was also affected most by the article "The Promised Land", and its story. The fact that the father was not most interested in the opportunities for work or for the opportunity to speak his mind or the opportunity to vote, but in the opportunity for his children to attend school. "This foreigner, who brought his children to school as if it were an act of consecration, who regarded the teacher of the primer class with reverence, who spoke of visions, like a man inspired, in a common schoolroom." The father was amazed that he could be so sure of this education, "surer, safer, than bread or shelter.", meant so much to him that, "he went blessing the necessity that drove him to America." To that father, free education was "the essence of the American opportunity". That same education is now taken for granted as a right through at least 12th grade, when in that time, even just "the common school... perhaps high school; for one or two, perhaps even college." was a miracle, and totally unheard of for most people around the world. A man who could not write a word of english, could not speak without a very thick accent, who probably never even thought of attending school as a child, who had left his home searching for money to buy food for his family, his children could go to school for years, for free, simply because he was an American citizen, and could learn skills that would allow themselves to advance themselves to places beyond his wildest dreams for himself.

Yes. We need to go to war. First of all, if Wilson doesn't, he will go down in history as the president who didn't go to war, and therefore Germany controls half the world. Everyone was pushing for him to go to war, and those people would be simply astonished, astounded, horrified, if he declined. But war is necessary, because the Russians backed out of the war, and now, if we don't go to war, Germany could very well win it. In fact, they knew they would. And if Germany would win the war, like I said, they control France and England and their colonies, which is India, China and Africa, and our vital interests would be more or less ignored, unless we were willing to pay a high fee for perhaps a small amount of food. America needs imports from other countries, and there would never again be freedom of the seas, unless we fought for it.
It it also important to consider what the people think at home, and those that are opposed to it, however emotionally attached they are to the idea that war is pure hell, it is now a necessary thing. We could very well die or starve if we don't go to war. If we lose, that's another thing. But if we sit back and let those Germans kill and control and command Europe, we're the villains in this situation. I myself am not always in favor of war, but it's vital now. If we want to survive, we have to be willing to fight, and if we are willing to fight for the survival of our country and saving a shattered Europe, we could very well win.
So yes. However much Wilson does not want to go, even he sees the important deed we have to accomplish. If we don't, we will be responsible for the downfall of Europe, because we didn't intervene and stop Germany from their rampage across Europe. War is a yes, whether we like it or not.

Yes and No. While our immediate involvement in the war might seem unnecessary, it was only a matter of time before the US became involved with the outcome. Overall, the Great War to End All Wars was started for no legitimate reason. The serbian wanted a revolution. Instead, they got a world war (moral of the story, be careful what you wish for). Germany was looking to change the status quo, and upset the balance of power to create a massive empire for itself. the rest of Europe, looking to keep the balance of power, began stockpiling weapons as tensions between the countries grew to a breaking point. Serbia was the match that set off the 'triangle fire' that would become the world war. Germany, Austria-Hungary and for a time Italy battled the world powers: France, England and Russia, spreading chaos across Europe. The battles of trench warfare were brutal. Armies of thousands, millions eve, were sacrificed for the gain of a few feet of land. An entire generation, not just of soldiers, but the families they could have had, were lost in the gas, the trenches, and the disease of warfare. By the time America was put into play, both sides were looking for an end to the brutality. They needed a whistleblower, and America was that whistleblower.
In addition, tensions between american traders and European warships were also growing to a boiling point. When the british began flying the American flag, believing that it would save them. The Germans ended up sinking american boats anyway, violating international law,which the had no grounds to do. and of course, there was the ever looming prospect that if Germany won the war, they would take the countries that lost, as well as the colonies that they had with them, including British and French owned Asia and Africa. The would control the vast majority of the eastern world, thus taking away trading recourses that America needed. And maybe Germany would have extended it's arms across the ocean and into America.
Lastly, America also wanted to change the status quo. But they didn't wish to make an empire out of it, but liberate the the countries from their Autocratic control. As Wilson said "We must make the world safe for democracy."
Should we have gone to war? Well, on the sole moral basis, no. We really had no legitimate reason to participate in a fight that shouldn't have happened in the first place. Circumstantially, it was only a matter of time before we were either pulled in, or had to fight the consequences. But the war needed to end, and America, indeed, ended it.

I was absolutely horrified at what went on with these people and the conditions they had to go through to get the stinking right to vote. People shouldn't have to be chained up to be allowed the right to vote. They should be able to talk to people and not have them say that they were obstructing traffic? What F-ing traffic were they obstructing? Ironically, once the men started beating them and the police got involved, traffic was obstructed. These women weren't even given a place in our History books. Their night of terror that they went through and Alice Paul's force-feeding wasn't mentioned amongst the pickets that were done. Why? What were people afraid of?
The Feminist Movement is something that every woman today should thank their ancestors about. We're so lucky that we don't have to go through getting the right to vote because the women of the early 1900's did. It was a trial, and even some of the members of the National Women's Suffrage Committee left Alice Paul because they used their most influential people to help with their cause. But they didn't stop. They never would. They kept going on, shouting things at the President and refusing meals and being so brave, so courageous, that finally, President Wilson had to give in. It would've happened eventually, but because these women took a stand and wouldn't back down, because they were tired of waiting a little bit longer, because they wanted Americans, men or women, created equal, we, the women of the 21st century, have the right to vote. Can you imagine being force fed or refusing revolting food, even though you know you're starving and you'll eat practically anything at that point? Can you imagine being beaten by police officers because you dared to use your brain instead of your uterus? None of us could, and I certainly can't. It's not right today, and it never was right then. Why did men bypass that women were being beaten and punished for wanting to be created equally? 218 women were taken into prison for a belief and a want, and right that they should've had after the Civil War.
Women got the right to vote in 1920. Maybe, we should thank them for that.

On my last comment, about the Feminist Movement, I was commenting about the film Iron Jawed Angels, a movie that should be seen if you want to change lives of Americans about the events that went on to get suffrage.

I am commenting on the first chapter of the Babbitt, about what Lewis is trying to say about our country from the The country doesn't care about what goes outside it's territory. It's completely isolationist and is only concerned about what goes on with themselves. They're being very national and very happy with their accomplishment, but failing to recognize only the glory of their own country. "It's shining walls rose against April sky to a simple cornice like a streak of white fire. Integrity was in the tower, and decision. It bore its strength lightly as a tall soldier. As Babbitt stared, the nervousness was sooth from his face, his slack chin lifted in reverence. All he articulated was 'That's one lovely sight!' but he was inspired by the rhythm of the city; his love of it renewed. He beheld the tower as a temple spire of the religion of business, a faith passionate, exalted, surpassing common men; and as he clumped down to breakfast he whistled the ballad, 'Oh, by gee, by gosh, by jingo,' as though it were a hymn melancholy and noble." Lewis is also saying that this country cares only about the money that people make and pour into the banks, not the actual character of the person, exactly like George Babbitt. "Well, that's all right now! Lucile McKelvey can't pull anything on me! Her folks are common as mud, even if her husband and her dad are millionaires! I supposed you're trying to rub in your exalted social position!" The country, as Lewis sees it, is going on an Urban charge and leaving the country in the dust. "This residential settlement, Floral Heights, was on a rise; and though the center of the city was three miles away--Zenith had between three and four hundred thousand inhabitants now--he could see the top of the Second National Tower, an Indiana limestone building of thirty-five stories." Lewis thinks that this country is lost, if all they care about is their guest towels, how many razors they have and whether they should have a light lunch or not. He views this country as gone, can't come back. "But he did say it, immediately afterward, when with wet and soap-slippery fingers he tried to remove the horible little envelope and crip clinging oiled paper form the new blade...'By golly, here they go and use up all the towels, every doggone one of 'em, and they use 'em and get 'em all wet and sopping and never put out a dry one for me...""But Georgie, here at home I always have a light lunch...'Mean to imply I make a hog of myself, eating down-town? Yes, sure! You'd have a swell time if you had to eat the truck that new steward hands out to us at the Athletic club!..." These people don't care about politics and whether their jobs are stable, they care about looks, suits, sure they care about their children, that's important, but most nights people are up all night and George Babbitt is dreaming about the fairy of youth! "For years the fairy child had come to him." We certainly don't care about Europe or whether our economy is doing, but we care a whole lot about whether the towels are dry or if we've had a light lunch!

The Ku Klux Klan is a disgrace to the society. From the newspaper articles I read, I noticed that the Governor said 'he was powerless to prevent it' and that 'we have no troops' to stop the KKK, but for John Hartfield he was 'closely guarded by officers in the officer of Dr. Carter in that city.' What officers? Are these true cops? If so, why are they taking this poor man to be lynched by the public, and the Governor, who is supposed govern the city, can't do a thing about it. He is the governor of the city, not Mr. Sugar Fairy saying he can't stop the rain from coming from the sky. He is letting this happen. This should not happen. He has officers guarding Hartfield. Instead of that, maybe the officers should stop the mob from happening 'at four o'clock.' What's wrong with that?
The reason of the formation of the KKK is insane. They're saying that these 'alien people' are 'invading the US' and that 'the Klan has come to speak for the great mass of American of the old pioneer stock.' The alien people are 'invading' the US because they are being discriminated from where they come from, and now that they're coming here, the KKK wants to discriminate against them. They're going against the Constitution and violating the living of these people. Have they not come for freedom, and aren't the KKK denying them that when they want to 'stop this alien problem?'
They particularly don't like the Eastern and Southern Europe aliens, saying that 'their low standards make low living and fast breeding.' What's wrong with those certain immigrants? What makes the Northern Western European Immigrants better than them? And the way they talk about the fact that the 'Jews refused to melt' and they were 'the alien in the vast majority of cases is unalterably fixed in his instincts, character, thought and interest by centuries of racial selection and development, that he thinks first for his own people, works only with and for them, cares entirely for their interests, considers himself always one for them and never an American.' Of course their people come first! They are new to a country where no one really accepts them, so the only people they have to cling on to is each other! The KKK says the the world must be 'white supremacy' because the white race is the best. They discriminate against everyone and hope that one day the 'negro problem will have been solved on some much saner basis than miscegenation, and when every State will enforce laws making any sex relations between a white and a colored person a crime.' They go on like this for a while, and then some person defends the KKK saying that Harding is wrong when he is saying it's 'non-American.'It totally is! They discriminate against everyone accept for those who have been in America since it started and who aren't for 'Liberalism' and then the whole thing about Sam Hose is despicable. I can't even talk about it.