1950s to Modern Day (VAP Readings) Flashcards
“Containment”
1946
George F. Kennan (“father of containment”) sent a telegram to State Department explaining historic basis of Soviet foreign policy and warning of Soviet threat to U.S.
“NSC-68, A Blueprint for the Cold War”
1950
depicted the Cold War in stark terms, arguing that the U.S. and Soviets were polar opposites with little hope for compromise or peaceful resolution of differences
“Communists in the Government”
1950
McCarthy’s speech claiming he had names of 57 cases of individuals who would appear to be either card carrying members or certainly loyal to the Communist Party
“Life in the Suburbs”
1953
Harry Henderson’s observations of life in Levittowns
“Governor Herman Talmadge’s Statement on the Brown Decision”
1954
Georgia Governor Herman E. Talmadge Jr.’s Brown v Board of Education decision statement, which reflected the sentiments of many whites in the lower south
“Viewpoint on the Emmitt Till Murder Trial”
1955
James Boyack talks about what he witnessed during the Emmitt Till tiral
“The Impact of Television”
1955
An article that explains tv’s attraction and influence
* kept people from going places/doing things
* interfered with schooling
* arouses morbid emotions in children, glorifies violence, and causes juvenile crime
* giving the U.S. a primitive language
* making politics a “rich man’s game”
* distorted and debased salesmanship
“Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address”
1961
Eisenhower talked about his knowledge of the military and changes that had taken place in the country, warning against dangers to American values and individual rights
“Poverty in the Age of Affluence”
1962
Harrington’s depiction of poverty in America ; because of America’s mass production, a person living in poverty can even look prosperous
“The problem That Has No Name”
1963
Friedman’s book challenged happy suburban housewife myth
“Silent Spring”
1962
the uncontrolled use of chemical pesticides, especially DDT, had disastrous environmental consequences
“Letter from Birmingham Jail”
1963
King’s in-jail response to white clergymen criticizing his tactics
“Malcolm X on Race Relations”
1964
Explained that America is in a position to have a bloodless revolution, but is not morally equipped to do so
“Lyndon Johnson on the Great Society”
1964
we begin building the Great Society in our cities, countrysides, and classrooms
“SDS Call for a March on Washington”
1965
“…our real problems lie not in Vietnam but at home - that the fight we seek is not with Communism but with the social desperation that makes good men violent, both here and abroad.”
“Views of the War in Vietnam”
1967
cartoons that comment on some of the issues of the Vietnam War
* government spending for the war and not the country
* “All I can tell you is that we’re winning”
“I Made Promises to Dead People”
1967-1968
insights of Jack McCloskey, an Army medic who served in Vietnam
“A Report on Racial Violence in the Cities”
1968
- pervasive discrimination and segregation
- black migration and white exodus
- black ghettos
- frustrated hopes
- legitimation of violence
- powerlessness
- incitement and encouragement of violence
- the police
“Cesar Chavez and La Causa”
1975
“Fighting for social justice, it seems to me, is one of the profoundest ways in which man can say yes to man’s dignity…”
“Perspectives on Soaring Oil Prices”
1973, 1974, 1976
cartoons offering commentary on the rising costs of oil
* a gas truck driver can’t even afford gas
*Uncle Sam on a bed of “nails” (oil towers)
* OPEC - American Lifestyle
“Sam Ervin on the Watergate Crisis”
1974
Objectives:
1) destroy the integrity of he process by which the President is nominated and elected
2) hide the identities and wrongdoing of those officials and employees who had undertaken the task
“The Differences Between Men and Women”
1977
1)
2) women have babies and men don’t
3) no difference except sex organs ; physical, cognitive, and emotional differences are the result of centuries of restraints imposed by a male-dominated society and sex-stereotyped schooling
4) fundamentals of life (men, philosophers ; women, practical)
“The Question of Affirmative Action”
1978
white student gets denied admission into a college while blacks below his rating were accepted ; won his court case
“Iranian Hostage Crisis”
1979-1981
congressional hearing where Muskie and Christopher testified on behalf of the Carter administration
“The Christian Right’s Call to Action”
1980
“Through the ballot box Americans must provide for strong moral leadership at every level.”
“The Reagan Revolution”
1981
initial broad themes of Reagan’s administration
“Reagan’s Evil Empire Speech”
1983
Reagan hoped to affirm the support of the Christian Right and their devout anticommunist stance
“An Editorial on the Removal of the Berlin Wall”
1989
removal of Berlin Wall in historical perspective
“Catholic Bishops Call for ‘Economic Justice’”
1986
- human dignity comes from God
- economy should serve the people, not the other way around
- “love our neighbor”
- all people have the right to participate in the economic life of society
- special obligation to the poor and vulnerable
“A Perspective on AIDS”
1987
1) statewide AIDS education should be available
2) adequate counseling must be available
3) anonymous testing should be available
4) system of contact notification should be developed
5) dispel fear of losing one’s job or apartment
6) reduce financial burden of AIDS
“A View on Hispanic Assimilation”
1991
role of Hispanics and the government
* “people from the outside gradually become apart of the community itself
* public schools should make sure all students are fluent in English
* best way to learn about native cultures is living in own communities
* register to vote to gain freedom and opportunity
* encourage children’s educational aspirations
“Bill Gates and Microsoft”
1998
“The position of a product is never secure because it is impossible to know when the next new idea will come along that could render that entire product category less important or even obsolete.”
“innovate or Die!”
“If Microsoft fails to keep pace… let it be because we failed in innovate fast enough, not because we were hobbled by government intervention…”
“The Changing Demographics of America”
1999
“…national economy struggled when the Boomers were young and inexperienced, and took off as the Boomers hit their productive stride.”
“As they retire, the Boomers will convert themselves from producers to pure consumers.”
“…won’t Boomers’ dis-saving and disinvesting ultimately tank the market?”
“The Issue of Same-Sex Marriage”
2001
“…marriage was about children and so gays couldn’t marry.”
“…worried that if one state granted such a right, the entire country would have to accept same-sex marriage.”
Federal Marriage Amendment
“Within gay subculture, marriage would not be taken for granted.”
gay marriage helps heterosexual marriages
“George W. Bush Responds to the Terrorists Attacks”
2001
“We are not immune from attack. We will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans”
“A Response to the USA Patriot Act”
2001
1) overly broad definition of “terrorism”
2) indefinite detention of immigrants based on Attorney General’s certification of a danger to national security
3) expanded wiretap authority
4) use of “sneak and peek” searches to circumvent the 4th Amendment
5) eviscerating the wall between foreign surveillance and domestic criminal investigation
“The United States and the World”
2003
America’s place in the world
“America will act as it chooses, using the allies it can find in any given situation.”
“… it must make the world comfortable with its power by leading through consensus.”
“A Perspective on Limiting Immigration to the United States”
2006
“It is our responsibility to protect and defend our borders”
“An Economist on the Financial Crisis”
2007
“Cash is available, and we should use that in larger amounts, as is necessary, to solve the problems of the stress of this.”
“Barack Obama’s Victory Speech”
2008
explains how America is constantly changing
“Editorial on the Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court”
2009
“… not all compelling personal stories are equal.”
“Immigration in the 21st Century”
2010
story of two Mexican immigrants going through the desert to get to America
“Offshore Oil Drilling and the Environment”
2010
BP oil spill and how BP is planning to permanently stop the leak
