Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
2/16/13: Top Ten Most Important Battles of History
1. Tours- I chose the battle of Tours as my most important battle because of its effect on religion. Although the battle of Vienna and Astrianople had the same affect, Tours was closer to the nations that would eventually send explorers and colonists to the new world and would have taken less time for Islam to spread to those countries.
2. Mohammad's Conquest of Mecca- If Mohammad would not have successfully taken the city of Mecca then Islam would most probably not exist. The entire middle eastern region would be completely changed, the second largest religion in the world not exist, and many other important historical events would never have happened or have been dramatically changed.
3. Marathon- If the Greeks would have failed in holding back the Persians at Marathon the idea of Democracy would not exist. Democracy would not have spread to Rome and Western Civilization as we know it would be radically changed.
4. Astrianople- For the same reasons of the battle of Tours I chose to put the battle of Astrianople on my list. Although it happened before the battle of Tours it was also farther away from the countries that would send colonists to the new world, therefore Islam would have reached far Western-Europe first if Tours had been lost rather than if Astrianople had. Besides, Constantinople eventually fell anyways.
5. Yorktown- The battle that decided the fate of the American Revolution is crucial to the history of the world, in both outcomes. Had the British won the USA could still be a collection of British colonies, unless if a second revolution would have risen that was successful. In this second scenario Britain would have then outlawed slavery, thus America would not have slaves. Since America would not have had slaves most of the disputes over which the civil war started would not have arisen and the civil war would never have occurred, saving over 600,000 lives.
6. The Crusades- If the Europeans were to have been successful in their conquest of the holy land then the affects of Islam would be much less prominent in the world has Jerusalem and modern Israel, along with Turkey, would be a christian majority. This christian influence in the Middle East could possibly spread and lessen the strong presence of Islam in the middle east.
7. Second Punic War- I know this is not a battle, but there is no battle that was the clear indicator that Hannibal would not conquer Rome. Had Hannibal, however, succeeded in conquering Rome the ideas of Republic and Democracy would again be lost and western culture would be forever changed.
8. Gettysburg- Under the circumstance that the south had won the battle of Gettysburg the Confederates would have easily been able to march into Washington and declare their official independence. The world would now recognize the Confederate States of America as a country and the USA's affect on future wars would be significantly less if they were divided.
9. Stalingrad- The battle that halted the German advance is one to take note of. Had the Germans successfully pushed through Stalingrad they would have access to much more resources to replenish their army and would have prevented the eventual Russian march on Berlin. This spare time could have given the Nazis the time necessary to develop their nuclear bomb, and potentially use it.
10. D-Day- The battle that ranks the lowest on my list is the battle that turned the tide of the Second World War. Germany was no longer on the offensive and the Western front was officially being pushed into Germany. Had this battle not occurred, or had been lost, the Germans would have been able to continue their offensive tactics or perhaps prolong the war, which could have led to the development of the German atom bomb and the ultimate loss of the war for the Allies.
2. Mohammad's Conquest of Mecca- If Mohammad would not have successfully taken the city of Mecca then Islam would most probably not exist. The entire middle eastern region would be completely changed, the second largest religion in the world not exist, and many other important historical events would never have happened or have been dramatically changed.
3. Marathon- If the Greeks would have failed in holding back the Persians at Marathon the idea of Democracy would not exist. Democracy would not have spread to Rome and Western Civilization as we know it would be radically changed.
4. Astrianople- For the same reasons of the battle of Tours I chose to put the battle of Astrianople on my list. Although it happened before the battle of Tours it was also farther away from the countries that would send colonists to the new world, therefore Islam would have reached far Western-Europe first if Tours had been lost rather than if Astrianople had. Besides, Constantinople eventually fell anyways.
5. Yorktown- The battle that decided the fate of the American Revolution is crucial to the history of the world, in both outcomes. Had the British won the USA could still be a collection of British colonies, unless if a second revolution would have risen that was successful. In this second scenario Britain would have then outlawed slavery, thus America would not have slaves. Since America would not have had slaves most of the disputes over which the civil war started would not have arisen and the civil war would never have occurred, saving over 600,000 lives.
6. The Crusades- If the Europeans were to have been successful in their conquest of the holy land then the affects of Islam would be much less prominent in the world has Jerusalem and modern Israel, along with Turkey, would be a christian majority. This christian influence in the Middle East could possibly spread and lessen the strong presence of Islam in the middle east.
7. Second Punic War- I know this is not a battle, but there is no battle that was the clear indicator that Hannibal would not conquer Rome. Had Hannibal, however, succeeded in conquering Rome the ideas of Republic and Democracy would again be lost and western culture would be forever changed.
8. Gettysburg- Under the circumstance that the south had won the battle of Gettysburg the Confederates would have easily been able to march into Washington and declare their official independence. The world would now recognize the Confederate States of America as a country and the USA's affect on future wars would be significantly less if they were divided.
9. Stalingrad- The battle that halted the German advance is one to take note of. Had the Germans successfully pushed through Stalingrad they would have access to much more resources to replenish their army and would have prevented the eventual Russian march on Berlin. This spare time could have given the Nazis the time necessary to develop their nuclear bomb, and potentially use it.
10. D-Day- The battle that ranks the lowest on my list is the battle that turned the tide of the Second World War. Germany was no longer on the offensive and the Western front was officially being pushed into Germany. Had this battle not occurred, or had been lost, the Germans would have been able to continue their offensive tactics or perhaps prolong the war, which could have led to the development of the German atom bomb and the ultimate loss of the war for the Allies.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
1/7/13: Obama dictator?
Some claim that Obama is a dictator in the rising and will become the likes of Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin. I disagree with this prediction. Below I have posted the list of things that are most important in making a dictator, and compare them to Obama to support my disagreement.
Poor economic crisis/conditions of terrible times
Control of the media
Develop a cult of personality
Use the schools
Laws to give you more power
Eliminate other political parties
Isolated/Eliminated potential rivals
Censored free speech
Promised change/better times
Powerful/Motivating speaker
Developed a scapegoat
Perused territorial expansion
Used nationalism
Gained power legally
Used religion
Military background
Hard childhood
Educated but not successful
America is not in economic crisis. Unemployment is rising and the slight difficulties we are encountering are not nearly as bad as those from which dictators rose from.
Obama does not control the media. Go to fox news channel for proof.
Obama does not have a cult of personality. He does claim to be superior or greater then anyone else.
Obama does not use the schools. Our textbooks are not rewritten to teach us how great Obama and democrats are.
Obama has not passed any laws to give him more power in the government.
Obama has not eliminated other political parties or isolated/eliminated potential rivals. The Republican party is alive and well and Obama is not sacking anyone too close to his power (i.e. Joe Biden)
Obama has not censored free speech. I can say anything negative about Obama that I want.
Obama HAS promised change, even integrated it into his slogan. Wait- what president hasn't promised better times?
Obama is a powerful speaker, but he is no Adolf Hitler. He does not get as into his speeches as Hitler or Mussolini did.
Obama has not developed a scapegoat. Except perhaps the GOP. However his scapegoat is not a religious, ethnic, or racial group as it was for the dictators.
Obama is not pursuing nor has he ever pursued territorial gains.
Obama does use nationalism a little bit. So did John F Kennedy, considered to be one of the greatest American presidents. ("Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.")
Obama is not gaining power legally or attempting to.
Obama clearly states that he respects all religions and does not use a certain one to gain power.
Obama does not have a military background.
Obama DID struggle as a child, this is the one main aspect he shares with the dictators.
Whether Obama struggled in middle school/high school is unknown. We know he became successful as he became senator and now president.
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