Profies in Courage by Former President John F. Kennedy

The Fourth of July is a holiday that typically involves joyous events such as barbeques, family gatherings, and quality picnics. Additionally, it is a time that can draw those who have drifted apart closer once again. However, in the 19th century as the racial and social divide deepened, the effectiveness of this national holiday came into question. Although the Fourth of July was supposed to pull the nation closer, it actually inclined some to question their place in America. This was supposed to be a unification holiday that made the country stronger. Instead, the national holiday carved a deep divide between the various groups that made up the population at that time. Furthermore, in the 19th century the Fourth of July established division between groups, cultivated questions about America’s progress as a whole, and ingrained national confusion about the purpose of this holiday.

The American Dream has never been available to minority citizens as easily as it is to American-born citizens. Affirmative action was first implemented around the year 1972, however it was not widely accepted or practiced. During this time society was just getting used to including women in higher education institutions so the concept of including minorities in higher education was almost non-existent. My Beloved World, by Sonia Sotomayor shows the challenges that a first generation, Puerto Rican, lower socioeconomic female had during this time. Through her autobiography she shows the struggles she faced throughout her life, focusing on her application to college, college experience and insight into her cultural background. My Beloved

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph by Joe Rosenthal taken on February 23, 1945. The photograph depicts six men, five United States Marines and one United States Navy corpsman, raising the United States flag on Mount Suribachi, during the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Raising the flag on Iwo Jima was the second flag-raising of the day, the first being raised early in the morning after the area was secure. Joe Rosenthal's photo was printed thousands of times, won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography, and has been made into stamps and statutes. Rosenthal uses color, lines, and structure to convey the message that the United States won the war.

John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage discusses the presence of moral fiber, or courage, in the careers of 8 different Senators. Throughout the book, Kennedy tells accounts of how a select few Senators showed courage and displayed moral fiber by standing their ground on certain issues when their party and constituents were in great opposition to them. In Profiles of Courage, Kennedy dedicates one chapter to each Senator and his tale of courage. The following Senators were used: John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Thomas Hart Benton, Sam Houston, Edmund G. Ross, Lucius Lamar, George Norris, and Robert A. Taft.

From the vantage point of the present, it is easy to look back at the tenure of any great leader and draw conclusions about just what it was that made him/her great. We can examine the circumstances under which their leadership flourished; piece together what we know of their character and personality traits; delve into the factors that may have driven them; and dissect their leadership style all in an effort to pinpoint the source of their success. The ‘Great Man’ theory, popular in the 19th century and now thoroughly debunked, held that leaders are born, not made; suggesting that men like George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., and Winston Churchill were born with the innate capacity to change the world (Landis,

Since prior to the 1980’s, the American education system has rapidly declined in all areas. The article, “A Nation at Risk,” written by President Ronald Reagan, depicts the many issues in the U.S. school systems regarding the content, standard and expectations, time, teaching, and leadership and fiscal support. This piece, apparently, has led the country into an extreme educational reform to improve all aspects of our school system. Based on my experiences in high school, student test scores, and current school conditions, I believe that while all issues raised by the commission in the report are not necessarily a problem anymore, issues with student growth.

Abraham Lincoln once stated in his House Divided speech, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Lincoln believes that there is no such thing as a balance between free and slave states and that the two contradictory governments are bound to fall. That describes the conflict that occurs in the fictional novel, The Killer Angels, a civil war story between the Union and Confederate states fighting to achieve the government they yearn for.

“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” This quote from John Lewis, a former Freedom Rider I believe with those words perfectly describes why these Freedom Riders began their journey. After reading the textbook, Visions of America and watching the video clip from American Experience of Freedom Riders I was able to make myself knowledgeable about Freedom Riders. Both the textbook and the video I thought engaged me into the information I was either reading or listening. So, what exactly are Freedom Riders, what were the impacts of this event and why is this so important to our history?

Gabrielle Dee Giffords, born June 8th, 1970, was a US representative from Arizona(2007 - 2012), and before her life changing experience in 2011 she was the youngest woman to be elected to the Arizona State Senate. Before she was elected into the House of Representatives she had sold her family’s tire business, El Campo Tire Warehouse, to Goodyear Tire. After making her way up to Arizona Senate, she resigned to run for US House of Representatives, and she was the third woman from Arizona to serve in the US House of Representatives.

Martin Luther King Jr once said to a crowd of hundreds,”This note was the promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (King 48). A topic of debate that has lasted many, many years is the idea that freedom should be given to all, no matter their race or background. In the texts and speeches, I Have a Dream spoken by Martin Luther King Jr, Lolita in Tehran, a memoir by Azar Nafisi, and A Eulogy for Martin Luther King Jr, spoken by Robert F. Kennedy. They each speak about how people all across the world have been discriminated and treated unfairly just by reason of their race or religion. The belief that people should be given the freedom

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President and Pulitzer Prize winner, had since his college days, been interested in the subject of political courage. In Kennedy’s book, Profiles In Courage, he quoted Ernest Hemingway suggesting that one must have “grace under pressure” to truly be courageous. Senators who display political courage, risk at a minimum, their professional careers, to stand by their principles. These politicians withstand tremendous pressures placed on them by their family responsibilities, the States they represent, the parties to which they belong, the special interests which often subsidize their campaigns, their duties to their Nation and even their own personal ego needs and ethics. Recognizing so many competing obligations at play, JFK did not specify a narrow definition of political courage. Notwithstanding, to Kennedy a courageous politician does not succumb to these pressures; rather, he carefully navigates a very public minefield and successfully emerges with honor.

The author of this document, Huey Long, hoped to inform readers, mainly American voters, of the cause of the Great Depression and his solutions for fixing the economy, as well as the individual lives of Americans. This document comes from his book “Every Man A King” and it describes the need for his proposed “Share the Wealth” program in America. The quote that best explains Long’s intentions for joining the United States Senate and the writing of his book is this statement, “eventual day had arrived when accumulation at the top by the few had produced a stagnation by which the vast multitude of the people were impoverished at the bottom.” In this, he is referring to America’s mal-distribution of wealth during the 1920s by explaining the root of its problem. The reason for informing readers about these problems is so that solutions can begin to be put in place, starting with the persuasion of American voters to vote in Long’s favor. He writes that he hopes “I might do something to spread the wealth of the land among all of the people.”

Unbroken is the story of the life and hardships faced by Louie Zamperini. Starting as a troublesome child Louie is a constant problem to all around him. He turns his ways around and turns to running where he is rewarded greatly, qualifying for the olympics. After his reign of fame, Louie joins the air corps where he struggles with fear and boredom. During one mission his plane fails and he and two other crew mates are stuck stranded in the ocean.

Morgan alumna, Lorree Montgomery Slye and her group presented a Veterans’ Day Tribute on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at the Blues Alley Night Club to a sold-out crowd. Lorree, a 1985 Morgan graduate is the daughter of Lt. Col. Lawrence and Sarah Montgomery, Sr. Although, she is a multi-talented artist with jazz, R & B, and gospel in her repertoire, she is also a pianist and songwriter.

The United States of America is, “a nation of immigrants” as John F. Kennedy called it. Apart from the Native American ancestry, all others trace their culture back to somewhere else (Soerens, M. 2013). In my opinion, the U.S has increasing rate of immigrants, than any other country. It is also successful in providing facilities like education, employment and various career opportunities for global immigrants even today.