5/22: F Block: We looked at Vietnam photographs today and talked about and watched excerpts from American Experience: My Lai. You can watch the film here. In class, we watched from the 19:00 mark - 33:00. We talked about "Nature of the Beast" in connection with My Lai and about these questions: What is this war doing to us? Who IS responsible? If no one is responsible, then what does that say about us?
We also started our discussion about Kent State by looking at John Filo's photograph.
HOMEWORK: If you were out on Friday, please watch the first 35 minutes of a documentary about the escalation of protests against the war, with a particular focus on the protest at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. As you watch, please pay attention to Nixon’s words and actions (especially the announcement to the country he makes on television and the lie in that announcement, his view of the protesters and his view of the war and its effect on his presidency), listen to the protesters and their goals, pay attention to the tensions, to the violence and to the divisions in the country. When the video ends, please write down notes.
D Block: We looked at Vietnam photographs today and talked about and watched excerpts from American Experience: My Lai. You can watch the film here. In class, we watched from the 19:00 mark - 33:00. HOMEWORK: If you were out on Friday, please with the first 35 minutes of a documentary about the escalation of protests against the war, with a particular focus on the protest at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. As you watch, please pay attention to Nixon’s words and actions (especially the announcement to the country he makes on television and the lie in that announcement, his view of the protesters and his view of the war and its effect on his presidency), listen to the protesters and their goals, pay attention to the tensions, to the violence and to the divisions in the country. When the video ends, please write down notes.
5/19: D and F Blocks: We’ll finish exploring My Lai and O’Brien’s short story on Monday. Today, you’ll be watching part of a documentary about the escalation of protests against the war, with a particular focus on the protest at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. As you watch, please pay attention to Nixon’s words and actions (especially the announcement to the country he makes on television and the lie in that announcement, his view of the protesters and his view of the war and its effect on his presidency), listen to the protesters and their goals, pay attention to the tensions, to the violence and to the divisions in the country. When the video ends, please write down notes. HOMEWORK: This weekend, please reread “The Nature of the Beast” and O’Brien’s excerpted account of My Lai. We’ll talk about both (and Kent State) next week.
5/17: F Block: Wrapping up MLK with his assassination and Robert Kennedy's speech (text attached below) and you can find video here. We also looked at and discussed photography from the Vietnam War (see attached below). HOMEWORK (for Thursday): See "Charlie Company and Small-Unit War" attached below (you will need to read ands respond to that article and to "Nature of the Beast").
5/16: Vietnam background + King's speech. HOMEWORK (for Thursday): See "Charlie Company and Small-Unit War" attached below (you will need to read and respond to that article and to "Nature of the Beast").
5/15: We finished the presentations today.
5/12: HOMEWORK: Read, listen and respond to Dr. King's speech (see "Dr. King's Vietnam speech" background attached below. If you lost your copy of the speech, it's attached below as well).