George W. Bush described America being at war and the strategy of the National Security. America is at war due to the rise of terrorism. “We have joined with the Afghan people to bring down the Taliban regime-the protectors of the al-Qaida network-and aided a new, democratic government to rise in its place” (565). However, this article does not merely discuss war, but many problems that the United States faced including the danger of pandemic diseases, the production of weapons of mass destruction, to terrorism, to human trafficking, and natural disasters, which all transcends borders. One of the goals of the United States in 2002 was to advance human dignity, promoting freedom and being in opposition to violations of human rights. An example of progress would be that Afghans have already both written and ratified a constitution with more rights, and they have an elected legislature in their government now. “The United States has long championed freedom because doing so reflects our values and advances our interests” (569). America is trying to protect religious freedom, women’s rights, and freedom for people in human trafficking throughout the world. The War on Terror is described as “a fight against the terrorists and against their murderous ideology”, using military force to kill or capture the terrorists, deny them control of any nation, cut off their sources of support and access to weapons of mass destruction (575). Terrorism is caused by political alienation, injustices that terrorists feel can be blamed on others (their motivation for vengeance), subcultures of conspiracy, and an ideology that justifies murder. In order to protect lives and nations the main goal of America is to avert attacks by terrorist networks before they have the chance occur and this article explains the goals of fighting and different resources America will use to protect itself, and try to promote human rights globally.

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The article written by bin Laden, discusses Muslim animosity toward the U.S. as a result of “nations attacking Muslims” (1). He declares that the United States has been occupying Islam territory, plundering, and dictating and terrorizing Muslims and their leaders. The United states has also used its bases in order to fight the Muslim neighbors. It is also explained that the war pertains to Americans supporting the Jews, and ignoring the Jewish “occupation and murder of Muslims there” (1). It explained as being proven by the eagerness of the U.S. to “destroy Iraq” and to weaken the Muslim countries in order to continue occupying a base on the Peninsula (2). Bin Laden declares that the atrocities from the United States are actually a declaration of war against God and therefore, they are told by God to fight this war against the United States. “We also call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, and soldiers to launch the raid on Satan’s U.S. troops and the devil’s supporters allying with them..” ( 3). This article explains bin Laden and Muslims opinions pertaining the animosities between the United States and Muslim territories.

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Bin Laden begins his address by claiming that the Arabic world has never been conquered by any force since it was created by god despite the best efforts of the crusaders (Bin Laden 2). It also seems that Bin Laden is calling for a civil discussion between the Arab nations and foreign powers to discuss the current situation. He speaks of the sword of god that will strike down enemies as warning to foreign powers that would dare infringe upon the holy land. Bin Laden claims that it America’s goal to destroy Iraq the strongest of the Arab lands and in the process cause the lesser lands to fragment apart (Bin Laden 3). This an interesting accusation against the American people which to my knowledge did not intend to destroy Iraq only prevent genocide in the region. Based upon this alleged American desire to destroy Iraq Bin Laden claims it is the duty of every Muslim to rise up and kill both American soldiers and civilians (Bin Laden 3). For accomplishing this task Bin Laden claims that the reward shall be great.

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This week I chose to examine Mikhail Gorbachev’s speech to United Nations general assembly. Gorbachev begins by claiming that the commissions have begun drafting their two resolutions regarding the general political character of the conference and reform of the political system (Gorbachev 539). He explains that he has begun to reform the political system into a more democratic organization in an attempt to undue past injustices placed upon the Russian people (Gorbachev 539). It seems that this is an attempt to improve the Communist party’s treatment of Russian citizens after the past Russian dictators. Gorbachev refers to this reform as the perestroika and then goes on to explain the difficulties currently associated with its adoption by the nation. One of these problems is the agrarian policies this movement is attempting to reform which are currently not being appreciated by the people (Gorbachev 543). Gorbechev argues that party influence is the answer to this problem and that restraining party power will not allow the reforms to succeed. He assures the UN that Russian people are behind this reform and that hopefully the end result will be an improved political system (Gorbachev 546).

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This article is about how Ho Chi Min declares independence for the state of Vietnam. He uses the model of the United States declaration of independence in the same way that it declared independence from imperialism. The difference is that Vietnam was in control of the Japanese and French. He proposes to the people that Vietnam is ready to be finally free. Citing that the oppression must end before more Vietnamese are hurt during this struggle.

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Mmw Reading response week 7

In Ho Chi Minh’s “Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam” he declares that Vietnam has now earned it independence from imperialism and deserves to begin a new era of self-government. Ho Chi Minh argues that Vietnam has earned this right to self government based upon courageous opposition of French domination and siding with the allies to defeat fascist enemies (Ho Chi Minh 467). Ho Chi Minh feels that in the current world Vietnam should no longer be forced to face imperialist domination as all people are equal, citing both the Declaration of Independence and Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Minh argues that for too long his people have been oppressed and weaken with opium and alcohol (Minh 466). He seems to feel that after more than eighty years of Japanese and French oppression it is time for Vietnamese to control their own state.

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President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered this speech to the American public before his end in office. In this speech he describes how powerful America is during that period of time, despite all the genocides and wars that had occurred in the recent past. He describes the goals of America was “to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among peoples and among nations” (Eisenhower, 394). He also describes the need of balance of public and personal needs, and even new threats. He explains the vitality of a ready military establishment and the need for security and liberty to prosper together. He admit the horrors of war, but also reveals its importance. oHe finishes his speech as he gives hope and support to the future president and to his fellow American citizens.

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This article discusses the different interpretations of Nazi rule. The people affected by the Nazi regime and its consequential laws are still among many scholarly debates. Not only were Jews affected, many other “inadequate members of society” (Johnson 23). The Nazi laws eventually pushed these members of society outside the law, where they were able to commit their most horrendous atrocities. Nazi Germany’s ideals were based on survival of the fittest, a purely ideological and senseless approach to Germany’s problems.

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In the article “Ordinary Germans” and the Holocaust, Eric Johnson discusses Nazi Terror in Germany and different interpretations and evidence pertaining to discovering who truly holds responsibility for these atrocities. Many people such as Schafer, the earlier leader of the Cologne Gestapo, “maintained that he had only adhered to the existing laws” and that it was due to German laws that “the Jews were placed outside of the German community because of the laws” (Johnson 22). It is thought that it was indeed the leadership and philosophy that was to blame, but their actions are undeniably questionable. German society as a whole, as well as propaganda, Hitler personally, the extent of the power of the Gestapo, have also been called to research and questioned. This article also discusses that others besides Jews, were suffering at the hands of the Nazis, such as Communists, Women, religious sects, homosexuals, and the disabled. These German citizens were considered to be social outsiders and a threat to the Nazi party. Johnson continues to argue that despite the fact that the leadership of the Nazi regime began the terror throughout Germany, “its implementation and effectiveness depended on the voluntary choices and local actions of individual German citizens” (Johnson 239). As more time lapses, scholars gain a greater understanding of the Nazi Party throughout Germany, as can be seen by 3 stages that scholars have already been through studying the Nazi terror.

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1. Lessons For Women
2. Bah Zhao (45-116 CE): She served as an imperial historian and completed the "Han Annals." She was the daughter of Ban Biao, a widely respected writer and administrator. Her most famous work, "Lessons for Women," is an instructional manual and behavioral guide originally written for her daughters. Overall, she sought to fill the void left for women by Confucianism.
3. She wrote it during the Han dynasty in China, probably sometime around 100 CE. During the Han dynasty, Confucianism was the prominent school of thought, and it emphasized the subservience of women to men, while according them less status and less practical guidelines, the latter of which Ban Zhao responded to.
4. It contains the three customs a girl must observe, those of humility, industry, and ancestral worship. It emphasizes the fact that she must be lowly and weak, and places importance on the control of her husband over her. Ban Zhao uses the example of yin and yang as representing man and woman; the yang is rigidity and the yin is yielding. There are also four qualifications a woman must possess: womanly virtue, womanly words, womanly bearing and womanly work. Women must also observe implicit obedience and must be a shadow to her parents-in-law.
5. This text exemplifies the poor status of women in Han China. We can see how the teachings of Confucianism sought to reduce women to nothing more than a set of customs and qualifications, depriving them of any resemblance of equality to men, and subjecting them to the will of the all-powerful male figures.
6. The author's intention was to teach women the proper way of acting and treating the prominent male figures in their lives. Initially, Ban Zhao wrote "Lessons for Women" to teach her daughters how they should behave, and it soon became a popular how-to manual. Ban Zhao endorsed the inequality of women, and supported their role of subservience and humility toward men

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