Trip To New York Historical Society 5/24/2013

Trip To New York Historical Society:- 

                    Just like this Course is linked to Violence in America, with  agreeing of our class mates and professor. On Wednesday,  22,May ,2013, We decided once again to explore more about violence in America related to history of America, So i went with our class to the New York Historical Society. The trip to the New York Historical Society was a bit exciting then the previous one because it wasn`t focused on World War 2 itself but the artifacts  also explores the Pearl Harbor incident , 9/11 and the New Yonkers respond to Pearl Harbor etc which caught my attention . It was really good to see the other students from different colleges and schools to explore about the history and i was really surprised to see their enthusiasm towards the exhibition of  artifacts in the Museum. This museum wasn`t as large as the MET but the space of museum was enough for the visitors to explore their knowledge .

                    After entering to the museum, while start walking in museum with the intention to explore something new in our knowledge the first artifact that caught my attention on the spot and which become my favorite artifact after reading about it ,was the artifact of an army soldier Sidney Diamond (1922-1944), who joined the army after finishing the high school. He fell in love with his high school honey, Estelle Spen. During the time while he was fighting for the sake of nation`s prosperity, he wrote 525 letters to her and she saved all of his letters. After reading one of his letter to her fiance i really like the way he express his emotions and feelings for her fiance but for the sake of country`s morale ,he sacrifice his life and got killed in battlefield in the Philippine`s on January,24,1944 at the age of 22. Later on his fiance post all his letters in newspaper. He received silver star for his bravery. The second artifact which  i found interesting and which certainly got my quick attention because that artifact was really small in size but its function was really out standing and that's true that good things comes in small packages. The artifact was  Wooden Pigeon Model 1943, Kenneth E.Behring Center. Brassiere Manufacturer Maiden Form developed and produced a "Pigeon Vest" whose job was to inform the other paratrooper party in battlefield that the first party is reached safe to their destination and it was nice way of communication in battlefield between battalions and the pigeon vest was made for the pigeons safety because it was trained and special pigeons then the normal pigeons. The third artifact which was very interesting to read and to know about the New yorkers after the Pearl Harbor attack, January 19,1942, New Yorkers really respond with such a passionate way to Pearl Harbor of Japan`s attack, thousands of  New Yorkers enlisted themselves in the Army, Navy and Marines to do volunteers worked at the Brooklyn Navy yard  to go to Pearl Harbor to repair the damaged ships. The forth artifacts which reminds of reading of current book "It Can`t Happen Here" by S. Lewis , because in this artifact "The Signal Corps in Queens" 1942, Phillip Schultz. In which the Army opened  its signal corps photographic center in Astoria, Queens,New York. In which New York and Hollywood talented people were working in order to raise the morale and passion of people of America to win the war. which reminds me the reading from "It Can`t Happen Here" from a character"Bishop Prang" who was a famous celebrity in radio and who collects millions and  thousands of people by showing them fake hope of life out of dark.

          As i m international student but with this class i really learned a lot about America's history. We should have this kind of trip in every class related to the course and also out of the course because it is really helpful for those who are interested to know about history and explore about it. Both of these trips in this class is the best trip i have learned a lot and it really helped in my general knowledge .

Blog Assignment 5/17/2013

Blog About Fascism :-
                    During Class conversation on Tuesday 5/14/2013 , our professor grouped me with one of my class mate, Delia  and we were given the task of analyzing pages 31, 41 from "It Can`t Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis.  In the text, that the founder of "The League of Forgotten Men", Prang , a radio celebrity who was collecting people through the waves of air. He was very gentle and very humble with his voice to attract someone`s attention. With his modesty and noble personality he grab 27 million members and after  a while, this figure reaches to one hundred and thirty million people live audience and he wanted to obey his message and his religious implementation. Because he created himself as a hope for those who lost their main goal from their lives, who were powerless and angry due to situation going on those days in their lives and who feel alienated from this world. That`s the main reason of forming organization of The League of Forgotten Men but on the other side Prang, Windrip`s main ally, with his popularity in radio he endorses Buzz Windrip`s campaign. He played important role in making success of Buzz Windrip`s election because he collect those hopeless people who prefer to death instead of living. Due to his fascist nature, Prang showed give them hope  and that is why in a very small amount of time he grab millions of people.
           The same day, Our professor took us to LaGuardia Archives of Mayor Wagner`s televised speech to the city after a riots in Harlem on CBS-TV, Channel 2. These riots occur after Mayor leave the United States to Geneva, Switzerland, attending a world conference on unemployment  As Harlem is colored people community and the riots main reason occur because of some racial discrimination  In his Speech, Mayor Wagner was trying to appeal to all races to lower their tensions which was building by racial group even though Mayor was not given any clear explanation in order to prevent from this kind of situation in future. In his speech, He was being fair telling white that they are wrong in certain way and also blacks that they are in certain way. He did not point on one party. Which in my opinion is very nice way to create and maintain peace.
          

Metropolitan Blog Assignment

Met Class Museum Blog Assignment

   This Tuesday our class went for a Metropolitan Museum of Art. I been to this museum on Columbus Day when I just came to the United States in 2009 but it was just occasional trip. The museum trip was quite interesting trip and for the first time I talk with other class mates who I haven’t spoke with in the entire semester so it was a nice gathering. Beside that fact, the experience was very interesting when I saw lot of students like us exploring about the museum plus it was packed with tourists as well. After entering through the main gate of the museum our professor took us to the exhibition hall in which the exhibition was filled with Civil War photography especially with Goerge N. Barnard , Mathew B.Brady`s and Alexander Gardner etc  hard works photography and paintings.

            After entering to the gallery I feel like I m a part of  Civil War because the photos were taking in a sense that would grab your attention. And I felt really weak for those who sacrifice their homes ,their families and their lives for sake of freedom. The gallery was preaching the truth of  both white and black people from what situation they been through. The first thing which inspired me was the Abraham Lincoln Campaign pin (1860). In which the presidential election was nation`s first political campaign in which the supporters of Abraham Lincoln party members distributes a tin-type ( silver image on copper) button with picture of A.Lincoln on it helped in making the success of campaign.

The second thing “confederate Sergeant standing with Cagge Bowie Knife and Rifle (1861-65)”by David Waynn Vaughan collection. Which made me emotional that a soldier kept a precious good-luck ribbon tied ringlet of hair. This probably belongs to his family relative whom he might really attach to that person. I think this is unique but due to the freedom of their future generation they give sacrifices of their lives.

The Third artifact “Trestile bridge at Whiteside, 1864” by George N .Barnard (1819-1902). This is based on wartime engineering and their hard work. Their main achievement during Civil War is to construct a wooden rail road bridge in the Raccoon range near Chattanooga which cuts two large mountains which link between Nashville and Chattanooga. But unfortunately it was destroyed in summer 1863 by Confederate troops but the Union army rebuilt in forty days at expense $95,000. Which makes me think that by rebuilding this bridge those workers may be faced hard time from their owners.

            To sum up, my visit to the museum was a wonderful experience of understanding Civil war history. I wished we were allowed to snap pictures so we could save it in our camera and this kind of trip is really useful and helpful to understand about our history