Final Blog Assessment

The blog post from third quarter that I would like you to read is entry number 3. I feel that my post on the Depression stories of Jane Yoder and Peggy Terry really represents my best work. I found their stories to be very interesting when I read them, and I also enjoyed responding to their stories. I believe that I fulfilled the tasks in these blog posts. I felt something when I read these stories and I hope that is demonstrated in my writing. I still remember being in awe from Peggy’s optimism and feeling appreciative of my life because of Jane’s story. I would like you to read these blog posts because I felt emotionally moved from these stories and I believe that I successfully posted these feelings.

The blog from fourth quarter that I would like you to read is entry number 6. The World War II stories of Peter Ota and Betty Hutchison really made me think and I hope that I showed that in my post. They fact that they had such different experiences but regarded the war in the same manner to their kids still really intrigues me. I tried to express this idea that I find to be so historically significant. I feel that this post represents my best work because their stories forced me into deep thought. I would like you to read this post because I wrote about an idea from these stories that genuinely made me think.

Entry 9: Rex Winship and Jacob Lawrence

Rex Winship, Trader

I chose to read Rex Winship’s story because his occupation is one that I have always considered pursuing. Trading is a job that I could see myself doing. The brief introduction before the story revealed that Rex Winship is highly successful in this profession, so I was even further drawn to his story. Reading the opinions of someone who is successful in something you may consider doing is always fascinating and also valuable. I read his story eager to learn about his mindset and what made him so successful. What I ended up getting from the story did not really connect to the initial reason I read it.

The trading strategy and tips are not what stick with me after reading Rex’s story. I cannot get past all of the predictions he made that turned out to be spot on. He predicted a globalization of communication and this has precisely happened with the advancement in technology of phones and the internet. He also predicted that trading would become a young man’s game, which has occurred as well. From this prediction he made even more correct predictions: a need for greater education and marriages later in life. He said that there would be fewer farmers as the country would begin to import everything and this has certainly happened. The prediction that really resonates and truly amazed me was when he declared that there would be tremendous debt in the nation’s future because everybody would become consumers rather than savers. That exact situation is presenting a great problem for the nation’s economy. I am in awe of these predictions and truly do not understand how he could have had such great foresight. The man who said “All you have to do in life is figure which way the money flow is gonna go” makes these bold pinpoint predictions. Rex Winship used the pattern of money and markets to predict future society and economy. I planned on reading about trading, but all I can think about is his foresight.   

Jacob Lawrence, Artist

I am not an artist. I wish I was more artistic and I have a great respect for art, but still I am not an artist. I have a great admiration towards artists because they excel in something I am incapable of doing. I really like art and likewise I like hearing from artists. I chose this story because I feel that artists always have such unique insight on life. I do not think like an artist, so it intrigues me to read the thoughts of one. Once again, I came away from the story thinking of something much different than I had anticipated.

 Jacob Lawrence said, “Too bad a depression had to come along to do this, but it was wonderful for people my age, some of them now renowned”. He is referring to the programs established by the Roosevelt Administration during the Great Depression and how they spurred his career path as an artist. Jacob had the ability to receive lessons in the arts as a child and he is grateful for this opportunity. Most inner-city children no longer have this option, and Jacob sees this as a danger for the future of society. Children are becoming afraid to express themselves because of the lack of arts. Throughout elementary school and middle school I thought that art and music were useless classes and by high school we are not even required to take them. An artist truly knows the importance of art and after reading Jacob’s ideas I can understand why. I find it ironic yet inspiring that Jacob’s career was inspired by programs from the depression. We learned about these programs in class and it is neat to see how they affected someone.    

Entry #8

Dolores Dante, waitress:

            I never have really put serious thought into the job of a waiter or waitress. I guess I always assumed it was a job for people that need quick money and see the job as a means to an end. To me serving people all day does not sound appealing. I do not think I could have a job in which I work to please others and do not really think about myself. Dolores Dante’s experiences and reflections on her job as a waitress are so fascinating to me because it is a job I could not see myself enjoying. She loves the job because it allows her to learn about people and the world comes to her. As a waitress, Dolores constantly interacts with different types of people, but the nature of her interaction is unattractive to me. She loves her job despite the challenges that come from the costumers, her boss, the cooks, fellow waitresses, and even bartenders. It is great to read a story about someone who is passionate about what they do. Dolores’s passion leads to popularity, which actually creates more problems for her. She does not seem to fret because she explains, “I tell everyone I’m a waitress and I’m proud”. Dolores loves a job that I could never imagination myself loving. But that is not what I take from her story. She is a person who loves what she does and does not worry or even care about the title or appearance associated with the job. Too many people find occupations just for the money, and I think everyone whishes they would have the guts to be like Dolores and just do what they are passionate about.

Phil Stallings, autoworker:

            One broad quote from Phil Stallings’s detailed story is what really resonates with me. He goes into great specifics about his job as a spot welder but also about the Ford assembly plant. Phil describes what he actually does for the job and what goes on inside his head during the job. The details of his story include the functionality of the plant, the perception of a foreman, the lack of pride felt in his work, and a stand the workers took one time. But the part of his story that really forced me to think was when he said, “They give better care to that machine than they will to you. They’ll have more respect, give more attention to that machine. And you know this. Somehow you get the feeling that the machine is better than you are.” He laughs after saying this, yet it was a serious feeling that all factory workers had to feel. This idea of machine becoming greater than man is even more present today. Anyone who works with machines realizes the power a machine possesses. It is frightening to think that machines could replace the jobs of so many people. The efficiency and cost of a machine makes them even more attractive. The threat of machines was prevalent in 1972 as Phil explained. The threat has consistently grown and now we are faced with a time where machines could soon replace men.    

Blog 7: Tom Kearney (cop) and Dennis Hart (cab driver)

Tom Kearney:

The assumptions I had made about the ideals of a police officer of 23 years, whose father was a fireman for 40 years, were completely incorrect. After reading Tom Kearney’s background, I thought his story would demonstrate this very serious narrow-minded man. His role as a police officer is just what he does not who he is. I was surprised by his viewpoints on the social issues of the 60’s and especially the civil rights movement. I just did not expect a police officer to be so accepting of African Americans and even continually compare his objectives to those of an African American. He declares, “The average colored person is just like you and I. If there was a threat to all people wearing blue shirts, you certainly wouldn’t go down there in a blue shirt.”  Tom Kearney is understanding of the racial predicament that Blacks find themselves in and he even reveals that he would probably do the same thing. I find his blue shirt comparison to be unexpected but genius. This is just one example of his sophisticated thinking that really rejected my assumptions. Tom also talks about the old and new generation discrepancy. He and his son serve as a perfect example, and it is helpful for someone looking back at history to see. We learn about this new wave of generations and Tom is a man that experienced it firsthand.  I really enjoyed his story because it shattered my expectations, while also providing history.

Dennis Hart:

Dennis Hart discusses a variety of life topics from the atomic bomb to overcoming fear to the equality of African Americans. The topic that really resonates with me after reading this story is not the ideas from the Goldwater campaign or the details of the John Birch Society, but Dennis Hart’s response to the question “Do you ever cry?” He admits to crying and really embraces the shedding of tears. Instead of trying to mask himself with a manly bravado, Dennis is open and shares the truth about crying. He states, “I feel better any time I cry” and then later, “Every time I cry, I feel more like a man later on.” Crying refreshes you and is a completely unique outlet for emotion. Everyone needs to cry and feels better afterwards, but some people refuse to cry because of their thoughts of manliness. I immediately have the upmost respect for Dennis Hart and I would really enjoy talking to him after reading his ideas on crying. I do not see Dennis Hart as a cab driver, but as a man with bold and assertive views. A real man is not afraid to cry and an even bigger man will be completely open about it. This personal story does teach a history lesson like so many of the others stories I have blogged about, but it is just as valuable. Crying does not relate to US History aside from the fact that every single person in American history has cried during their life. To me the story of Dennis Hart is incredibly important because he sheds the complex truth on a simple universal emotion.

Entry #6: Peter Ota and Betty Hutchinson

I am fascinated by the combination of the World War II stories of Peter Ota and Betty Basye Hutchison because they had utterly different experiences, yet they regarded the war in the same manner to their kids. Peter Ota and Betty Hutchison both had the war change their lives forever. Peter’s ethnicity forced involvement, while Betty’s social circle encouraged involvement. Their experiences are completely different because Peter’s change was forced by the government while Betty could not wait to get involved.

Peter’s father was an honest, hard-working man living the American dream who was sent to jail after the attack at Pearl Harbor because he was Japanese. His mom then became too ill to move because of the shame she felt in seeing her husband in prison clothes. At age 15 it was just Peter and his 12 year old sister. This was an American family who did not choose to have their lives altered because of the war. In April 1942, Peter and his sister were sent to the internment camp at Santa Anita because they were Nisei. They could only take what they could carry and lost all privacy. Their father was later brought to this camp like cattle and they soon after were sent to a new camp in Colorado that was like a prison. Peter’s father never showed any anger, but he was a different person. Peter was sent out in jobs so he was only in the camp for a year. He joined the war effort to escape the horrors of the camps not because he wanted to get involved. He summarizes his war experience, “Here I am being drafted into the army, and my father and sister are in a concentration camp waiting for the war to end”. His experience was very ironic and showed that he was involved in the war involuntarily.

Betty Basye Hutchinson immediately knew she was going to involve herself and the war and do what she could to help the war effort. She became a nurse because it was the fastest thing she could do to help the boys. Betty really wanted to have something to do with war which meant should was willing to end the life she had known just a few months before. The glamour of the war was appealing to her. Everyone she knew was involved in the war, so she wanted to do something. Betty’s brother served on a tanker, her schoolmates were out there losing their lives, and her fiancé joined the marines. Her social circle or environment encouraged one to do whatever they could for the war effort. She was an American who was glad to join in, while others like Peter were forced to join in.

Betty and Peter both ended up living in suburbia and raised their kids in similar manners. They had oppositional experiences during the war for both being American. I am intrigued that the both ended up living such similar lives. Peter explains his philosophy, “My children were denied a lot of the history of what happened. If you think of all those forty years of silence, I think this stems from another Japanese characteristic: when shame is put on you, you try to hide it.” And Betty explains her similar philosophy, “That’s the way we lived in suburbia, raising our children, not telling them about war…You wouldn’t fill your children full of these horror stories, would you?”. They ended up living similar lives but for completely different reasons. Peter wanted to shield his children from the shame that was thrust upon him, while Betty did not want them to know of the horrors she willingly was a part of.

Entry #5: Peggy Terry and E.B. Sledge

The stories of Peggy Terry and E.B. Sledge work nicely when read together because they give such differentiating perceptions of World War II. Peggy Terry shares a typical story for a woman on the homefront, who is actually seeing some benefits as a result of the war. E.B. Sledge tells a common story for a soldier serving overseas in Japan. The diversity between their experiences is helpful to the understanding of someone looking back at the war.

Peggy Terry’s encounter is a story of oblivion: she did not really understand the war and almost saw it as a positive because it served as a chance to make money. She had no idea what they war meant because she was living day to day, so she did not have time to think about big things like the war. She worked in a factory making shells, but it never crossed her mind that these shells would be used to kill people. Women saw the job openings as opportunity and a step towards equality. To many women, such as Peggy’s mother, it was their first real job, so they did not actually feel the need to consider the purpose of their work. She described a story of a woman on a bus saying she hoped the war did not end until she got her refrigerator paid for, and then an old man hit her on the head with an umbrella. The story almost summarizes the oblivion of women on the homefront. They had gone through all this struggle with the Depression and were now making money, so they are put in a very awkward position.  Peggy declared, “I look back at the war with sadness. I wasn’t smart enough to think too deeply back then. We had a lotta good times and we had money and we had food on the table and the rest was paid”. Peggy knew that war is a terrible thing, but she could not truly embrace the idea until she had to live with it. She was looking forward for the war to end for her husband to come home. He came home a drunkard who had awful nightmares and would slap her and her kids around. She was not aware of the horrors of the war until her husband came home. The war ended up turning her against religion and by its end she just associated it with awful.

E.B. Sledge remembers the war as a time of helpless savagery. The Japanese fought by a code of no surrender, so the American soldiers stopped feeling mercy towards them. He tells a story of trying to help a weak, docile, and abandoned Japanese soldier, but the soldier just ended up trying to kill him. The soldiers would truly form hatred toward the Japanese. E.B. had a brother who served in Germany and said that once you captured a German you realized that they were just like you, but it was not like that with the Japanese. E.B. explained, “You knew all you had was that particular moment you were living”. He watched friends and comrades constantly die inches away from him. He knew that he could easily die any second. E.B. not only had to live with death but also saw the worst in men. They would steal the gold teeth of the dead Japanese and do brutish acts towards their bodies. He explained “We were out there, human beings, the most highly developed form of life on earth, fighting each other like wild animals”. World War II was essentially an experience of evil for E.B. He consistently saw men commit the worst atrocities possible and even saw himself doing so with no reservations.

A woman on the homefront and a man serving overseas receive two completely definitions of war. I value both of their perceptions, yet as an outsider I cannot relate to either.  We studied the role of women as well as the experiences of soldiers, but looking at the two personal stories side by side gives me a uniquely complex view of World War II.

Entry 4: "The Good War": An Oral History of WWII

Robert Rasmus

As I was reading I kept thinking about how you see the typical 19 year old side but then also the soldier. Robert Rasmus summed it up perfectly, “I was pulled in two directions: Gee, I don’t wanna get killed. And, Boy, this is gorgeous country”. To me these two sides are the relatable one and the one I cannot even imagine relating to. Robert was so eager to serve because knowing that he had a chance to gain his manhood was worth more than knowing that he had a better chance of dying than living. It is age appropriate to want to prove that you are a man but I cannot relate to risking your life to do so. Robert was fascinated by Europe like any 19 year old traveling to Europe for the first time would be. He discusses his need for friendship and the sense of not wanting to fail his buddies.  These emotions are ones I would and have felt, but his emotions that come with being a soldier disconnect him from the typical boy around his age today.  His instant transformation is shown perfectly from two stories. He had never seen a dead body besides at a funeral home and then seeing all these dead bodies almost became normality. His initial perception of the German 88s versus grasp of reality show him grow from a boy to a soldier. After passing a German that they killed he declared, “Once the helmet is off, you’re looking at a teenager, another kid. Obviously you have to go on”.  He is a 19 year old realizing that the enemy is just like him, but then the soldier in him takes over. There is a half of Robert that I can relate to, but the other half is something I can never understand.