After reading about the life of Tillie Olson all is could say is what a brave women. To be a young Communist in America during the first Red Scare as well as a labor organizer could have been fatal. Strike busters often beat and even killed labor union organizers they beleived were linked to Communist groups. Being a female activist in those times was most even more difficult.
I Stand Here Ironing was more of a story about the struggle with poverty and oppression of women that was common at those times. Once again one must look at the author and see through history what she was exposed to in that time period, much like Langston Hughes an African-American poet in the early 20th century, these events helped to shape their stories.
I thought this was a very emotional story about the suppression and daily struggle that women endured in the early to mid 20th century when women and children had little rights inside or outside of the home.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
President Obama Inauguration Thoughts
After watching the inaguration of our 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, I observed some very well spoken words to not only our nation's diverse population but the worlds as well. I feel that the ideology behind the President's speech was one of global unity.
Having had the chance to live in three different countries, when I was in the service gave me a chance at a young age to realize that we are a global community and the world is a very small place. President Obama was able to discuss many of our current problems as a society in a very short speech. For example, Obama addressed that all Americans must participate in an economic recovery plan. Obama encouraged Americans to stop blaming one another and bypass partisanship and deal with our national problems such as energy consumption and climate change. On a global scale, Obama clearly parted ways with the Bush Administration by stating that we as a nation will work with friends and former foes to deal with world economic and social issues. For example President Obama stated that " We will extend our hand if you unclench your fist". Obama made a statement to the nations we consider enemies that we will work with you if you work with us. The Bush Administration was pushing hard for the spread of democracy by regime change and that has failed on a global scale.
It would be hard not to mention that this is our first African-American President. I was born in the 1960's and I can remember the civil rights struggle was in that same time period, not so long ago. I can imagine the great sense of pride that many of our nation's minority population are feeling that we have a multi race president and I am proud of that.
A recently declassified document from the Soviet Union covered the writing of Soviet Dictator Josef Stalin. In the first week of the Nazi invasion of Russia, the Red Army lost millions of men, the country was in chaos. Stalin remained out of sight at first. In a meeting with his commanders, Stalin stated "We have a great legacy from Lenin, and now look how we fucked it up". Stalin was admitting that he had made mistakes as a leader. Funny that I can't remember when a leader of a Democratic country such as our nation has said we have made mistakes and must get past them and move forward. President Obama had said such things; we have made mistakes and we must move forward. I wish the best for this administration.
Having had the chance to live in three different countries, when I was in the service gave me a chance at a young age to realize that we are a global community and the world is a very small place. President Obama was able to discuss many of our current problems as a society in a very short speech. For example, Obama addressed that all Americans must participate in an economic recovery plan. Obama encouraged Americans to stop blaming one another and bypass partisanship and deal with our national problems such as energy consumption and climate change. On a global scale, Obama clearly parted ways with the Bush Administration by stating that we as a nation will work with friends and former foes to deal with world economic and social issues. For example President Obama stated that " We will extend our hand if you unclench your fist". Obama made a statement to the nations we consider enemies that we will work with you if you work with us. The Bush Administration was pushing hard for the spread of democracy by regime change and that has failed on a global scale.
It would be hard not to mention that this is our first African-American President. I was born in the 1960's and I can remember the civil rights struggle was in that same time period, not so long ago. I can imagine the great sense of pride that many of our nation's minority population are feeling that we have a multi race president and I am proud of that.
A recently declassified document from the Soviet Union covered the writing of Soviet Dictator Josef Stalin. In the first week of the Nazi invasion of Russia, the Red Army lost millions of men, the country was in chaos. Stalin remained out of sight at first. In a meeting with his commanders, Stalin stated "We have a great legacy from Lenin, and now look how we fucked it up". Stalin was admitting that he had made mistakes as a leader. Funny that I can't remember when a leader of a Democratic country such as our nation has said we have made mistakes and must get past them and move forward. President Obama had said such things; we have made mistakes and we must move forward. I wish the best for this administration.
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