Sunday, August 29, 2010

Brooklyn

Home to Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Notorious B.I.G and more, how has this iconic New York Borough influenced rap culture?

Brooklyn has the motto "Een Draght Mackt Maght" which translates in Dutch as "In unity there is strength".  How do you view this statement?

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

War/Military Tactics

How has changes in philosophy and technology changed military tactics over time?
-Technology has changed philosophy with it's advances.  In Civil War times weapons were less accurate, therefor battles were in closer range and troops would mass together for the attacks.
www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarweapons.htm
-In the first World War tanks were introduced. In World War Two tanks became more fined tuned.
www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0847801.html
-In the Gulf War tanks were able to fire reliably when moving at speed over rough terrain.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/weapons/m1.html
-The war in Iraq utilizes drones which are predicted to become the way of the future. Military robotics are being developed in several countries.
www.ted.com/talks/pw_singer_on_robots_of_war.html
Men in my family have experienced these advances over the years.  My great, great, great grandfather was in the Civil War, my great grandfather was in World War One, my grandfather was in World War two, and my father was in the Vietnam War.


Do you believe something as hectic as war can really be organized?
-In my opinion, yes. Military tactics and strategy give direction and coordination in war. Some examples of strategic and tactical maneuvers are: penetration, envelopment, defensive-offensive maneuvers, and turning movements.
www.molossia.org/milacademy/strategy.html



What advances in the military do you predict to see over time?
-Increase in the use of robotics such as drones. With unmanned devices a pilot can go to war without ever leaving the country. Unmanned systems have been described as "the future of the force".
www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/robots/how-to-robot-military-revolution


Can war actually bring peace?
-In my opinion, yes. I view some of the outcomes of World War Two to be an example of this.



Is there a pattern in history of what causes war?
-From my observations it seems as if wars are fought over control.  Control over economy, territory,trade, and independence are examples of causes or central factors of various wars.
www.joshuagoldstein.com/jgeconhi.htm


Could have any wars been avoided?
-Vietnam is a "no winner" war.  The U.S.A lost about 58,000 lives and billion of dollars.  Vietnam lost millions of lives and the Liberation Front disbanded a year later.  The majority of people in Vietnam still live in poverty in their communist country.
http://www.vietnamvets.com/
-The war in Iraq could have been avoided if given more time to further inspect for weapons of mass destruction.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/6438127.html


In general, how do people view war?
-There is no one answer to this question because everyone has different beliefs and experiences on the topic.


How do other countries/cultures view war?
-Again, everyone has their own personal beliefs so it would be hard to generalize.


What positive outcomes have came from war?
-Advances in weaponry
http://www.worldwarii.org/
-More women joining the workforce in result of World War Two.
www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosie.htm
-Prosperity in economy
http://schools.nycenet.edu/region5/ms210/www_two/ww2effects.html


How does war influence culture?
-World War Two has played a major role in society through media.  Literature, movies, and even video games all make reference to this war.
www.associatedcontent.com/article/104807.the_influence_of_world_war2_on_modern.html


Do you believe a woman is just as significant in the military as a man?
-Yes! It's not about gender but about the right people with the right skills to achieve the mission.  Women bring diversity to the U.S military currently making up about twenty percent of it.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/womeninthemilitary/women_in_the_unitedstates_military.htm


Are there more peaceful approaches other than war?
-Some examples of other approaches to war include: sanctions, negotiating, and diplomacy.