Semester Deux, Blog Eleven

If you were President, how would you confront the multiple issues surrounding the Geneva Conventions that we have discussed in class over the past week?

If I were the president I would stop any activity that was in violation of the Geneva Conventions I would try anyone who had ever violated them and try the people who had been hurt by the lack of the use of the Geneva Conventions. They would be tried in a fair trial. I would try the people who violated them and also the government officials who allowed things like that to happen. Someone had to give the order and someone must be held responsible. I would then proceed to close down Guantanamo Bay.

Semester dos, honors blog

Dear Nancy,

I miss you so much. Since the military moved John and me to Minnesota it has been so lonely. He’s gone away to fight again. They told me he was going to Asia but not when he’s be back.

The jobs out here are easier to come by. Have you heard of the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant? Well, that’s where I am working now. You know what? More that half the workers there are women. It’s pretty amazing the extremes we’ve gone to in this horrible war. There are so many different tasks at Twin Cities there are people processing gun powders and a second set of people to check them over. There are people making bullet casing and creating bullets. There are even people working on bomb shells. I avoid that part of the factory at al costs. My job is to file bullets. I sort through them, keep them separated by size and check that they are all in top condition. Of course it’s not just me doing the job. That would be hell.

But the job is really scary too. Everyday they warn us about explosions and the danger of working with munitions. I was told that last year at the Dunlop factory the floor of the second story was blasted right though because of an explosion on the floor below. And you know what? Those ridiculous chemicals they make us work with stained three of my blouses. Three! My fingernails and hair are stained too. There seems to be no way to get it out since we have to work with the chemicals that make the stains almost every day. I heard that some of the girls were using lemons to bleach their skin. I saw Barb through her window with her elbows set in lemons. How odd.

I found out from some of the other girls that had been working their longer than me that the men get paid more than us. I mean I guess that’s to be expected but it still doesn’t seem fair. I’m told the unions are trying to do something for us but I doubt anything will come of it.

With John away and me being the only one at home I’m the only real source of income. You know our financial standing isn’t great but not many people are. Anyways being the source of income is rather empowering. I feel kind like the world should be looking to me to see how it should be. Women can play a huge part in society and we will, I just know it.

I heard that yesterday, just yesterday, that Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania declared war on US. Great more people that hate us. That’s what we need right. I guess the silver lining would be more work for me. I think that should be sarcastic but what ever keeps me fed. Right? I wonder if we’re going to fight back or what going to happen with that because at the moment our military seems pretty occupied.

I am so afraid that John will come back to me in a coffin. Do you have the same fear for William? I just don’t like the idea of his life being risked. I hate to think about Martha’s son, my husband, out there on the battle field. How does our government feel like they have the right to send someone’s child away to fight their wars. It just makes me so scared.

Did you hear that 6 days ago we declared war on Japan. What am I supposed to do about the Japanese people who live near me. They know my John is away fighting. Fighting them? Are they going to go to Japan to fight? I feel like they’re going to blame me and hurt me. I wonder if we’ll find a way to keep them away. I bet some of them are spies. Or at least that’s what I’ve been hearing muttered around town.

No matter how unlikely it is I hope you can come to visit me. Maybe you can find a older man from around town to drive you up here. I miss you dearly darling.

Much Love,

Millie

Resources

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/nof/blitz/0700_info.html

http://www.euronet.nl/users/wilfried/ww2/1941.htm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101230170348AAnpBfA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_front_during_World_War_II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_roles_in_the_World_Wars#United_States_of_America

http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00684.xml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Cities_Army_Ammunition_Plant

http://www.mnhs.org/library/tips/history_topics/131women_homefront.htm

Semester dos, blog ten

Frankie and Sam Smullin & WWII

Frankie and Sam met at kind of a juice bar where she worked where there were bible verses on the tables. Their courtship was short because he was in the Navy and the war was on. He was going to be deployed and wanted to marry her. So, instead of a wedding gown, I mean the was shortly after the depression, Frankie wore her good blue suit and of course, Sam wore his uniform and for the rest of her life, Frankie delighted in telling the story of her “Good Blue Suit.”

Through the Hatch

After Korea, Sam was still electrical chief on a submarine and he was leaving a port in Asia somewhere and there was a man in a barge who was trying to sell his good to the sailors before they left for the united States. He has these beautiful hand carved chests and Sam wanted two of them but figured they wouldn’t fit through the hatch on the submarine. So he made a deal he said he’s buy them if they fit and the fit, but just barely. My grandmother has on of those chest in her living room.

WWII Propaganda

Der Fuehrer's Face was created by Disney in 1943 is stars Donald Duck. It won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film in 1943. This short film depicts Nazi Germany in the worst light possible and as any American's nightmare. The food is horrid, they are constantly "Heil"ing and Donald works 48 hous shifts.

This film is shocking. I never thought anything so innocent could be turned into such blatant propaganda. They obviously are over exaggerating everything. and making Nazi Germany look the worst possible in the American eye.

WWII Nurses

In this picture is Eileen Driscoll with her WRAF colleagues this picture was taken between 1943 and 1946 Eileen was part of a team of Women's Royal Air Force who treated injured servicemen while they were being flown home from the front line.

I really like this picture it shows happy women who did something productive to support the war efforts for their country. I love seeing evidence of feminine supports in that time period.

The Vilification of Enemy Leadership in WWII

Herbert A. Friedman is the artist of this piece. It pictures

Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Emperor Hirohito of the axis powers. This picture makes the axis powers look very evil and not like someone anyone would ally with. The date is unknown but it was surly during WWII.

In seeing this it almost makes me pity the men depicted. I mean yes, they're horrible people but this is scary. I would hate to be them.

Honors Blog Sense and Sensibility Symbolism

Choice #3) In a well developed, thoughtful piece of writing that uses direct quotes, explain the use of symbols to develop a theme in your novel.

Sense and Sensibility is a book about love and life and the sisterhood between Elinor and Marianne. Elinor and Marianne are the two main characters in the book. The symbolize the title of the book. Elinor is “sense.” She always telling the others in her life what is best and what would make sense in the situation. She is logical. Marianne is “sensibility” she falls for men easily but has high standards. Marianne is also artistic and represents love and romanticism.

Money is the other big symbol in Sense and Sensibility. Elinor, Marianne and their mother move into a small cottage away from the mansion they had been living in, moving away from the money in their life. They find though that money and companionship seems to follow them. Marianne literally falls into the arms of Willoughby. Their loves grows quickly and he offers them a horse named Queen Mab. Willoughby is rich and a horse is a large sign of money and well being. He so easily offers it to Marianne as a token of his affections that it makes her feel well off too. Only when she brings the news home to her mother does she realize her family does not have the income to take care of a horse and it becomes nothing more than a dream like what money is to her family.