Working: Dolores Dante and Phil Stallings

Every effort makes a difference in the world. Every job is important, no matter the authority or rank. Everyone in the work force is responsible and hold an important role. Their job impacts society, some people more than others. This important aspect leads each individual to be responsible and take their job seriously, no matter the field, and take pride in their role in society.

Dolores Dante worked as a waitress to get fast cash, and she was not ashamed of it. She loved her job and shared her pride with the community. This job helped her get by at home, the tips helped her pay off bills and make a living, to mend her broken home. But she was not ashamed to face the truth that she was a waitress, but was proud. Terkel shares Dante's story, "When somebody says to me, 'You're great, how come you're just a waitress?' Just a waitress. I'd say, 'Why, don't you think you deserve to be served by me?' It's implying that he's not worthy, not that i'm not worthy. It makes me irate. I don't feel lowly at all. I myself feel sure. I don't want to change the job. I love it" (331). Dante not only was proud to work as a waitress but loved her job and was good at it.  She made every little extra effort to make the difference. She was personable and spoke to the community, sharing her opinions on certain news or topics. She was political and free, speaking her mind. She was not plain, but energetic, careful, and concise. She made sure she did not spill, she tried pleasing the society with the extra efforts; she complimented people, she rearranged food a specific way to help with its appeal, she presented herself. However, she became so well-liked that she brought business in, all the business. She was the center of attention and everyone asked for her. Dante then began to feel guilty and stated, "People would ask for me and i didn't have enough tables. Some of the girls are standing and don't have customers. There is resentment. I feel self-conscious. I feel a sense of guilt" (333). Jealousy was brought upon other employees and guilt upon Dante. Dante should not have felt guilt. It does not make complete sense to feel resentment because she was just trying to please the community and do her job well to get payed and earn a living. She should not be punished or feel this way because she is good at her job, she should only feel pride and satisfaction. She not only served her community, but she worked hard and enjoyed it.

Phil Stallings job was quite different from Dolores Dante's and had a total different mood with values. Stallings worked as a welder at the Ford assembly plant for many hours at different units. This job was brutal and had no social aspect. Everyone kept to themselves, making their job easier. They were all intimidated by the foremen and scared if they disobeyed because the foremen had no sympathy or emotions, they were cold. To overcome the intimidation, repetition, and brutality everyone kept to themselves because no one cared. Stallings stated, "They'll have more respect, give more attention to that machine. And you know this. Somehow you get the feeling that the machine is better than you are" (356). This job lowered peoples' self worth and morale. They sunk lower for they were being treated as animals. They were not allowed to use the bathroom, no one ate on the job, and the sick continued working in order to keep their job. The workers felt like a nobody; no one spoke, there was no unity, there was no determination. The only motive to keep working was the $4.32 that was received per hour. Everyone hated their job and had a right to. Those working were degraded and inhumane. They did not have goals, or if they had any they were not allowed to pursue them. No one at the work force was able to reach their full potential. Stallings said, "But I'm against this thing where I'm being held back. I'll work like a dog until I get what I want. The job I really want is utility" (358). Stallings should not have endured the harsh rules at the workforce and should have quit to reach his full potential and be more humane. He worked robotically, withstanding any sickness or injustice. He stated, "A job should be a job, not a death sentence" (359).

Dolores Dante and Phil Stallings both had different experiences when working. Dante loved her job, while Stallings did not. He disliked it for it degraded him and held him back in life. These two stories contrast and show how difficult life was and how different people chose to earn a living. Some had a choice, while others did not. And some enjoyed their job, while others did not. I want to be able to get a job like Dante and be joyful everyday for I would love what I was doing. I want to be able to wake up every morning and be excited to go to work. I never want to feel guilt for being too good at my job, but I also don't want to have too much pride where it would transform into hubris. However, I applaud Stallings for continuing to work everyday, for many hours because he was not fortunate to have a job that both payed well and he enjoyed.

Division Street: Tom Kearney and Chester Kolar

Every war America has become involved in brought forth the themes of justice, freedom, democracy, passion, faith, protection, and duty. Many soldiers, civilians, and leaders struggle with war and come to a tension point dealing with the themes above. Is America being just? Is it right for America to intervene? Why are we fighting? What are we fighting for? How can we fight for freedom or democracy when they are such broad ideas? Why is the United States always intervening to provide protection first? How do I help in the war? All these questions encompass the minds of Americans during periods of war, and many questions are left unanswered.

Tom Kearney, one of the many policemen of his family, believes that the society became corrupt with the many wars America partook in. Kearney's father and grandfather both served as policemen, as well as fought for others' rights. They both advocated that they should still get payed even with the economy. This was very brave of them to do because even though this situation did not directly effect them, they still spoke their opinion and fought for those who could not. Looking up to them as role models, Kearney tries to better the society and nation. He observes people and their role in society, realizing it has become corrupt. Despite all the diversity in America, he noticed that people of certain ethnicities tend to stick together, resisting integration. To support integration people participate in street demonstrations, like those that took place during the civil rights movement. With integration, the society will become more close-knit. He states, "The neighborhood is sterile. It's not a neighborhood at all" (267). No one knows each other anymore, even he does not know his own son well enough. The society grew apart due to this fear of involvement; many are afraid to speak their mind and stand up for what they believe in or are scared to integrate and help one another. With this mentality everyone of Kearney's generation distances themselves from others. Yet, the proceeding generation does not follow them. The generation today is more sophisticated and care for the world. They avert from the strict traditions and culture and know how to accept others. They are not scared to become involved and rather are more involved than their own parents. This generation will change the world someday. However, Chester Kolar disagrees and believes that this involvement leads to nervousness, uncertainty, and worrying. He believes people will fail if they become too involved because they are not focusing on their life and are not living in the moment. He states, "These people are worried about something they shouldn't be worried about. They should be worried about painting their rooms and fixing something up where they could become industrious" (273). He believes that this new involvement negatively effects the nation and society, due to the stress it creates.

Reflecting on American life and society today, I believe that the nation has improved with integration and involvement, but I disagree that the involvement has created worrying and nervousness. The generations that live today have learned to accept others and integrate. Although it is natural to stick to those who share the same beliefs, people today keep and open mind and are very accepting towards others and ideas. I believe Americans are standing up and speaking out when they find injustice. We do not fear involvement, but rather thrive on it. Society today is more close-knit and connected than what it was earlier. This involvement though does not create extra immense amounts of worrying. However, I do not state that the generations today are not worrying because we are, but for different reasons. We worry today for ourselves, for our family. We worry that the economy will not improve, that the house is not kept up, that our children are not trying, that the education provided is not sufficient, etc. We worry for the right things, for that that affects us. Our worry is necessary or else no one would care in the world and society would yet again be distant. The wars and hardships that the America faced brought us to where we stand today provide us with  lessons to learn from. And with these lessons, society and the nation clearly demonstrate "UNITED WE STAND."

The Good War: Peter Ota and Betty Basye Hutchinson

Peter Ota was a Japanese American in the war, with a family being held in an internment camp. He expressed how he was so ashamed to be Japanese and that all the customs he practiced disappeared. He and his family didn't fight back when they were forced into the camp. They took away their business and everything they had. When Peter went to war, his mother became sick and while waiting to get permission to visit, she passed away. Peter was upset he wasn't able to be there, but he picked up her remains. Peter and his family, when together, would celebrate holidays and never talk about what had happened. No one was able to talk about what had happened. They were ashamed and angry. He stated, "My children were denied a lot of the history of what happened. If you think of all those forty years of silence, I think this stems from another Japanese characteristic: when shame is put on you, you try to hide it. We were put into camp, we became victims, it was our fault. We hide it" (209). His daughter wanted to write about the war and tried to talk to people about it, but many refused. Peter though accepted it and even cried while telling his story, feeling better after. But she couldn't understand why they didn't fight back. He explained how times were different back then and if it were now, his family and other Japanese Americans would fight back. They would stand up for what they believed in. They would be brave enough to do so.

Hutchinson was a nurse in the war and felt as if it were her duty to do so. Hutchinson was an official of the nurses and saw some of the worst cases. Some came in without limbs, with burns, with faces torn apart. She describes her first few days being a nurse as brutal, she threw up after seeing injured men. However, she soon became accustomed to the environment and was glad to help in the war. At the hospital, many men joked about their wounds, making it less serious, but did not talk about the war itself. They called one man "The Nose" because he lost his nose and ears. She acted as a plastic surgeon as well. One man constantly pointed to a picture of him in the war saying that he would not leave until he looked like that again, had his face back. However, this man acted weak and Hutchinson wondered, "Why isn't he quiet? Why can't he be brave when they're changing his dressing? What does he think we are, miracle workers?" (215). They had been brave in the war and acted as if the hospital was worse than that. She did not understand that the hospital made this man emotional because it brought everything together and all he was able to do was reflect upon the war. Why did he fight? What did he fight for?

The war was unpleasant, every aspect. At the homefront, people were being forced into camps and prejudice was apparent. On the battlefront, many lives were lost along with innocence and morals. Off the battlefront, in hospitals, many were recovering mentally and physically from the brutal war and tried to get their lives back. Hutchinson expressed angrily her disappointment for war, believing it did not really help. She stated, "We did it for what? Korea? Vietnam? We're still at war. Looking back, it didn't work" (217). So, was the war effective? I disagree to some extent with Hutchinson because the war resolved problems between nations making it beneficial. Despite all the losses and aftermath of the war, it also may be looked upon as a lesson to learn from. After the Japanese were released from the camps, Reagan declared that actions towards the Japanese were wrong and immoral. Generations today can learn from the war.

The Good War: Peggy Terry and E.B. Sledge

Peggy Terry expressed how the war affected her life greatly each day, with every new piece of information on the war. She stated, "I believe the war was the beginning of my seeing things. You just can't stay uninvolved and not knowing when such a momentous things is happening. It's just little things that start happening and you put on piece with another. Suddenly, a puzzle begins to take shape" (193). Peggy's husband was paratrooper in the war and every thought of him brought her sadness; the war brutalized him. However, the war impacted her life and brought many "good times."

The war gave Peggy money, which allowed her to pay the rent and have food on the table. She had never had this much money ever, especially now with a new job dealing with detonators. With the war, many were hiring women to fill the spots of those who had gone to war. However, this new job was dangerous and involved chemicals that turned her orange, but she never asked if it was harmful. The working conditions were horrible. The fumes caused breathing problems and water was not easily accessible, causing dehydration. Peggy and her grandfather then moved to Jackson, Michigan for a better paying job where they met more people and learned about things they didn't even know existed. She learned about the concentration camps and the brutality soldiers were experiencing. She learned about the atomic bomb and felt angry because no bomb was dropped on the U.S. This bomb though was dropped on women and children that had no opinion on the war. Peggy felt very strongly that God did not make man to kill; she says, "The bible says, Thou shalt not kill, it doesn't say, Except in time of war" (195).

As Peggy stated, the war brutalized men. E.B. Sledgehammer was nineteen when he went to war. He constantly stated, "The only thing that kept you going was your faith in your buddies" (197). Comradeship. A soldier ended up fighting for their lives, forgetting the cause of war, and for their fellow comrades. The war was brutal, especially the one with the Japanese. They were guerrilla fighters and made each soldier act like savages. The Japanese did not surrender and felt as if it was a disgrace to be captured. With this attitude of no mercy, the United States soldiers developed this attitude as well. Hatred towards the Japanese was evident, making the war even more savage-like. They punched each other, kicked each other in the balls, etc. The United States soldiers even extracted gold teeth from dead Japanese, not realizing how immoral and inhumane it was. The war brutalized soldiers and turned them into savages and barbarians.

Even though the war seems to have brought good to the home front, its effect on the soldiers is immeasurable. It turned them into barbarians who did not fight for a cause, but rather for themselves. They sunk down to the same level as the Japanese, while still ridiculing them with hatred in their eyes. They were not men any more. The war transformed them into a whole new person, one who did not have morals or goals.

Band of Brothers

These clips of D-day saddened me because they were so realistic, making me feel as if I was there on the battlefield. When the soldiers were in the airplane and boats, waiting in anticipation, i felt a heaviness in my stomach and fear. I prayed and held my cross, just as they did. And when the soldiers were either released into the air with the parachutes or let out of the boats, my heart raced. Soldiers fell like dominoes. Many lost limbs and even had their insides pour out of their body.

After watching these movie clips, I feel very grateful to be alive. It felt as if every single soldier that stepped onto that battlefield died. I thank each and every soldier for risking their lives for the nation, even my life in a different aspect. But it makes me question: so many people died, so how did we win the war? Looking back, it seems almost impossible to be able to win a war and lose so many lives at the same time.

D-Day tested the United States soldiers, challenging how much the nation could endure. Other nations were seeing for how long America could endure all these losses. But most importantly, they were testing the soldiers' courage and loyalty towards the nation. Would these soldiers actually risk their life for their country or would they "chicken out" so to speak? On D-day, soldiers and America as a whole showed strength and bravery, leading them to a victory.

The Good War: Bob Rasmus

World War Two was a war that transformed boys into men. These boys went to war at age 18 with excitement to serve their country. Many were honored to be a part of the war; they were willing to fight for their value, for their family, for their rights, for their government, for their nation. But little did they know about the war. They knew the casualty rate was high, but they did not know what their specific role in the war was. Bob Rasmus was a rifleman, a position his mother did not want him to take because he surely would die. However, he gladly took the position and lifestyle of the war. As they traveled, Bob enjoyed pondering at the cities and towns of various countries. During the war, he created friendships with other soldiers his age and shared the same curiosity, fear, and excitement. Innocence was in every soldier's eyes until they experienced a true battle. Their first battle passed and each were fighting for their lives and comradeship; their cause vanished at the scene. When the battle ended, many were dead, having different expressions. Bob had never seen a dead man, nor had he ever felt so empty. His innocence was lost with his excitement and curiosity.

On the home front lifestyle changed vastly as well during the war. All the concentration switched from the New Deal onto the war. Money was taken from programs created, to benefit the war. Factories were booming and asking for women to work, while farming also improved. No one knew what was happening with the war and were clueless on its progress. The only thing families, now torn, were able to do was to pray. Pray for the war to end, pray for their husband or son, pray for their nation, pray for everlasting peace.



National World War Two Memorial in Washington DC

 If I were an 18 year-old male living during the war I would be so frightened. I would be frightened to enter a war that the nation for so long tried to not be involved in. I would be scared for my family and hope the best for them. I would be scared for my fellow friends that also would enter the war. I would be frightened to see death. I would fear death itself. All of these fears would swarm in my mind all day, everyday I lived in the war. I would pray for health, peace, my family and friends, the nation, for my own life, and to be remembered and honored.

Hard Times in the Great Depression

After reading the stories of the Yoder and Terry families, I feel very fortunate. During the great depression, whites lost so much money that they sunk to a black family's status. This was a big jump for white families because they always felt superior, but now that had something in common; they were poor. Living in the depression caused much suffering. In "Peggy Terry and her mother, Mary Owsley," I read that there were people who lived in holes in the ground. This really frightened and shocked me. How could someone truly dig a hole that deep and actually live in it? People could barely feed themselves and many moved around to not feel the depression. However, all the hardships people went through during the depression made them stronger. Whites learned to accept blacks for who they were, because they shared a common struggle. In the depression people were also very generous. I read how several people took in Peggy Terry and fed her when she was pregnant. What shocked me the most was that most were not ashamed of themselves and their social standing; they accepted themselves and found that helping each other only brought friends and family closer together, for they were trying to overcome the same struggle. I feel as if I can learn from these stories and to never be ashamed, but proud of how far my family has come. My grandpa immigrated to the U.S. from Greece with barely any money and raised four children who were very successful. My family has come a long way, and even though the nation is going through a recession, I believe that my family will be able to stay strong and find pride in how hard we have worked. Money can not buy my happiness.

Hard Times in the Great Depression

Before the Great Depression, many were investing in stocks and businesses, but few knew that the stock market was soon to crash. Many that were wealthy were investing in businesses and receiving part of the profit because they invested. Many though failed to pull out of the investment and take their money out of banks. When the stock market crashed and millions of businesses became bankrupt, millions of people lost the money they had with a bank or had invested in a stock or business. Those who took out their money were safe and would last through the depression.

The Great Depression was a devastating time for almost everyone. Some families lived off barely any money, and some families sunk so low that they were ashamed to be of the same economic class as black Americans. In Clifford Burke, I read how different social classes were affected by the depression. Blacks didn't feel an impact because they were "born in depression" (105). They were always struggling to be accepted and for money, so the depression made them work just a little harder. With the depression, many families tore apart. The wealthy that became poor were shamefully kicked out of their homes because they were not making big bucks. However the common man who sunk to a black man's status came home to a family and wife that accepted his hard work. White men were the superior figure for so long, that it was hard to accept that some were as poor as a black man.

The recession we are currently in does not seem as bad as the Great Depression. I am so grateful that my family is able to still live a happy life in this recession. I'm not saying that we don't feel the recession, it is just that it is not as bad as some of the experiences I've read about. Both my parents are working, raising two children, and paying for college tuition at the same time. My dad's business is struggling and not doing as well as other years, but that is expected to happen to all businesses in recession. With this recession our families expenses have been cut down; my family has become smart spenders and savers. We only spend it when necessary. I hope this recession does not become nearly as bad as the Great Depression.

Legacy of the New Deal

Roosevelt's positive attitude of "can-do" linked with his new ideas, sparking his popularity greatly. He was confident that he was able to improve the nation with what he called the "New Deal." In his inaugural address he stated that "happiness lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort effort." Roosevelt envisioned the nation as a better place and would do so by focusing on the relief of the common man and worker, recovering the economy, and reforming the nation financially. He proposed to redistribute the people and land, reduce foreclosures, supervise all public utilities and transportation. Banking, credits, and investments would also be supervised to improve the economy. Relief activities would be established and unified. Roosevelt was dedicated, but needed the dedication of citizens; Americans needed to realize that interdependence and focus was needed to make change. It was Roosevelt's duty help the nation and would do anything necessary to improve it. During his first one hundred days with the new Deal, fifteen pieces of legislation were signed. He also created a fireside chat to inform the nation of the current problems he was fixing. Roosevelt was now regulating banks and finance, assisting in rural areas, working on projects, promoting fair practice of industries, and providing food, clothing, and shelter. He was focusing on helping the common man and women. He protected laborers from their employers and helped women voice their opinion by giving them government positions.

The slide show demonstrated all the projects Roosevelt created. He built major tunnels, bridges, and roads, as well as schools, museums, and hospitals. With these new projects, more jobs were offered, helping the common man. The Lincoln tunnel was built and is now one of the busiest vehicular tunnels in the world. The French market has been renovated, acting as a tourist site. The Virginia skyline drive also created tourism and acted as a tourist site. The San Antonio river walk initiated successful commercial development and prevented floods. The Triborough bridge was created that linked Manhattan and Queens. These are only a few of the many projects Roosevelt initiated to help the nation prosper. This was a very big important step to helping the nation. The nation had suffered economically and was ready for change. Roosevelt's New Deal offered relief towards people and helped the nation united and grow.
To see more projects go to: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/newdeal/index.html?type=flash