In respects to the containment policy during the Cold War, the United States were affective in containing the spread of communism in Western Europe. However, their attempts in Asia were not as successful.

After the war ended, President Truman made several strategic moves to prevent the spread of Communism in Western Europe. The first was the Truman Doctrine, which was a request by president Truman to Congress for $400 million in aid for both Greece and Turkey, to prevent communists from overthrowing the government. The second move was in response to Europe's economy.Learning from the mistakes of their past, the U.S. proposed the Marshall plan to assist Europe. This plan, recommended my Secretary of State George Marshall, attempted to rehab over twenty nations, and allotted $12 billion over the course of four years for this reconstruction. These two, along with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), proved to be affective against the spreading of communism. NATO was simply an alliance among Western allies and the U.S., with a theory that if you attack one nation, you've attacked them all.

The spread of communism in Asia was a different story. Their struggle started with the Chinese Civil War, which had started in 1937 and resumed in 1945. Here, Mao Zedong, a communist leader fought and defeated Jiang Jieshi and the anti communist national government. Even though the U.S. sent over $2 billion dollars in aid, it still was said that enough wasn't done and the U.S. was blamed for the Chinese loss. The next mishap came in the Korean war, when Truman wrongfully believed that an attack was plan for Moscow, and ordered troops from Japan to Korea. This led to the request by Truman to the U.N. to disengage in the Moscow protection and to send the troops back to aid Korea. By the time this was passed it was too late, and the U.S. and Korea were driven into a Korean peninsula.

The decisions made by the U.S. led to two completely different outcomes in the containing of communism. Good strategic moves in Western Europe allowed for their to be a strong defense in the fight against communism, while bad decisions and lack of support allowed Asia to be susceptible to the ways of communism.

Was President Wilsons choice correct?

In respects to President Wilsons options during World War I, it is evident that he had no other choice but to go to war. It was provoked by the interruption of trade relationships, the attacking of U.S. citizens out to sea, and secret plots geared towards America, as well as the protection of investments made by Americans.

During the war, the Allies and the Central Powers were forced to interrupt each others trade relationships in order to protect themselves. Unfortunately, this would also affect the U nited States when the British Blockaded Germany, in an attempt to cut off the Central Powers supplies.Goods were seized destined for the United States. The British labeled the goods as contraband, and it was seized by the Royal Navy. This was a direct violation of international maritime law. When the U.S. told the British that their actions were in violation of the law, the British stated it was seizing goods intended for Germany, not neutral ports.

Eventually, Germany's actions violated their neutrality agreement. They declared that all British waters were war zones, and that any shipping in British waters would be sunk by U-boats (undersea boats or submarines.) This meant that German captains would have to attack ships without checking them, this obviously led to the sinking of neutral vessels. This policy interfered with American imports and exports, and eventually led to the sinking of the British passenger liner, the Lusitania by a U-boat. The result of this was the killing of more than a thousand passengers, as well as 128 Americans. President Wilson threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany on two occasions the first being after the Lusitania, and the second being after the Sussex was torpedoed and two Americans were injured. The Germans agreed to stop attacking without warning in the Sussex pledge. In 1917 they resumed their U-boat attacks, forcing the Americans to arm their merchant ships in order to protect themselves from the U-boats. This upset the Americans, and was a key reason that Wilson decided to interfere in the war.

Another key event was the plotting against Americans in the Zimmerman note. The Zimmerman note was diplomatic telegram written by the Germans Alfred Zimmerman. In it, he offered Mexico, in return for their help if the U.S. did enter the war, the land which they had lost in the Mexican -American war, if the central powers were victorious.

Along with the Zimmerman note and the U-boat affair, President Wilson had the United states economy in mind when deciding to enter the war. Many Americans had investments, primarily on the French side. If the French had lost, numerous Americans would have lost their assets, when it fell under new control, thus creating a huge dent in the economy on the Americans side, and the developing America could not take a hit like this would provide.

Basically, the Americans had no other alternative other than to enter WWI. With the numerous slaps in the face by Germany on the issues of both the U-boat affair and the Zimmerman note, and the potential loss of American investments and an economy setback had the Allies lost, the U.S. intervention was inevitable and would have been unethical for Wilson not to enter the war.

What do you do? (poem)

What do you do when you have a friend,
their problems are showing but they keep them within
You see that they're suffering and you want it to end
but you don't know what to do or where to begin?
Tell me what do you do?

What do you do when there's pain in your life,
you try everything to make it seem right
you look but it doesnt appear to be in sight
and you know it's day but there still is no light?
Tell me what do you do?

What do you do when you need some help,
you can't afford to live or even feed yourself
you say "change will come" but you don't believe yourself
You cant depend on anyone and don't feel you need yourself
Tell me what do you do?

What do you do when you lost someone you care for dearly?
You think of them everyday and pray that "they can just hear me"
That one inspiration who understood you clearly
and you realize that they'll never again be near me.
Tell me what do you do?

What do you do when you cant stand up?
You swallow your pride and man up.
Go to the lord with your hands up
and ask him what he demands of us
That's what you do!

Why Am I Not Satisfied? (Poem)

Over the past years, I've been relatively successful, most would agree.
I've been captain of football, won the leadership award, and got a 25 on my ACT.
It seems most would be jealous, and even want to be me.
So why am I not satisfied?

I've been tempted by death and I still lead a life.
Things people could only dream of, I've done these things twice.
I've been that person people lean on when they need advice.
So why am I not satisfied?

I've succeeded where others failed.
Triumphed where none have prevailed.
I've sail where none have sailed.
So why am I not satisfied?

I am not satisfied because I have not tried
I walked in the water, while others have dived
If you put your success by your ambition, and drive
set them up as a fraction and chose to divide
Will you be happy at what you see, or respond like I've?
And at the end of the day, be not satisfied?

My Aspirations (POEM)

I aspire to be great through high school and college.
I aspire to excel and gain immeasurable knowledge.
I aspire to be successful at my ventures even after I've fallen.
I aspire to be ME.

I aspire to meet anyone, who in my life will be influential.
Someone who'll help me reach my full potential.
Someone who'll help me turn my flaws into tools that are instrumental.
Someone who'll help me find how to be ME.

I aspire to find someone who's looking for me.
Who don't share my same eyes but see what I see.
When it comes to being their own person, this person's that, completely.
This person is someone who is in need to meet me.
And though I am whole this person completes me.

I aspire to meet someone who has a fatal attraction.
I aspire that person from the movie, that "lights, camera, action."
That special someone who's the addition to my subtraction.
This person I aspire give me what I'm lacking.
And this person I aspire, her name's SATISFACTION.
She's whats aspired by me!

Why Youth Idolize Entertainers.

Over the past few decades, the entertainment business has grown exponentially.The movies have become more real life and extravagant, the rappers have become more explicit, vulgar and relevant, unfortunately. As the times have changed so have the people, and the influence. So why is it that the youth seem to idolize these individuals more and more?

It's simple. Because we are human. We are designed to adapt to the times and what's around us. What's around us is death, violence, jail all of which are places many of us don't want to be around. Who are the people who seem to be exempt from this type of treatment? Entertainers. When normal people are pulled over for a crime, and we are guilty, typically we go to jail. When entertainers like O.J. commits crimes they are found innocent. R. Kelly had visual evidence that proved him guilty, and he still got off. Basicly, if you want to succeed in society, then entertainers are the people to be.

What Do Women Want?

I thought of myself as pretty season on girls. I've been with older girls, who aren't really considered girls, more like women, and younger girls who seem to be a tad immature for my taste.I thought I've pretty much experienced some of the best and the worst of them and figured I could overcome anything a female threw at me. Hell I guess you can say I considered myself an authority on the matter.

So why is it that I am stumped? I've met a girl that I really like, and she likes me. So why haven't we got together? Some things make sense, others don't, this one is neither. She likes me and wants to be with me, so she says, which makes sense. But she doesn't want to be with me, which contradicts my previous statement, and doesn't make sense. So I'm lost. If anyone could tell me what could she be thinking that would be great cause I am lost.

Thanksgiving

It's suppose to be a day of thanks and giving where you celebrate with your family. It's when you see the family you haven't seen in a while, and meet family you never knew you had. It's also a great time to meet your girlfriends'/boyfriends' family.Everyone gathers, stuff their faces and drink all in fun. Everyone but us.

This year, my mother and I got into yet another argument. It appears that they get more foolish as the disputes go on. It started with a justified "you shouldn't go over your cousins house because of the situation over there" to "you take to much stuff as a joke." Which would have been alright, if I wasn't just joking about my dad just getting back from Africa, which he really was just getting back from.

It's the second year in a row where we haven't celebrated as we are used to. It's not that we don't love eachother or anything like that. The fact is on August 12, 2005 my Grandma Rose pasted away. If I had to compare her to anything, it would the cross, not in the sense that she was Jesus, but she connected our family as one.

Now, all her children have gone there own way, my grandfather has gone into a depression, and holidays aren't as they used to. The only plus is, as expected, her grandchildren have remained as one. Even though we don't have that influence in our lives as we once had, we still manage to proceed on, finding motivation where ever we can. While others can't relate to our bond, it feels good to have eachothers presence. So when Thanksgiving comes, I don't look for food, although I love to eat, or people around, although I love my family, it's the memory of my Grandmother I most look forward to.

The Irony of Know-it-alls.

It seems that the world is full of know-it-alls. Evertime I turn around you see them giving advice to someone else. They could be ass backwards and still talk to you like they have the perfect answer for the equation. You could be talking about a boat and they'll tell you to add 2, which has nothing to do with the situation. No matter what they say, they feel they are right.

What's funny, is if there were no know-it-alls, we wouldn't know alot. It's always the people who seem to be outcasts, or in those we think are just weird. What's also funny is that if everyone was a know-it-all then we would all be somewhere dead because we wouldn't be able to tell the right from wrong. I'm not trying to prove anything, I just thought it was amusing and wanted to share it.

"Our Mission is College"?

You ever know that someone is pretending to be your friend, and for your best interest? The people who smile in your face, but speak badly of you behind your back. Those individuals who tell you to work hard, and things of that nature, but when you are rewarded for your hard work they seem to pull you down. This happened to me this past week.

Over the past four years, I've worked very hard to be one of the better football players. I was a captain my freshmen year, and made varsity my sophomore year. The past two years I've been captain, and a starter at both Middle Linebacker, and Quarterback and made all conference both years. Well, just when it appears that my hard work is about to pay off, it gets thrown back in my face.

On Tuesday, a coach from Central State University came to speak with me about a scholarship opportunity. To my surprise, I did not hear about this until Friday, from my coach. The Recruit from Central State was told that they could not pull a student out of class. Yes, this sounds as if they are looking out for my school work, but if teacher from FOCUS or the Brotherhood needed any student they could be pulled out of class easily. This is amazing to me, coming from a school where "Our Mission is College" as self proclaimed, who would have expected you'd be sending them away.

A Week with NO T.V.

This past week I was asked to go a week with no t.v. When it was first proposed to me I thought it's going to be easy because I barely watch t.v. during the week anyway. So the teacher, knowing that I barely watch t.v. instructed me to go without radio as well. Now, I wasn't the most thrilled person about these two propositions, but I never turn down a challenge. Now that the week is over, the outcome is quite surprising.

I spent an entire week supposedly not watching t.v. or listening to music. It felt like I was a child again. You know when your mother says you cant have something, you don't really want it, you just saw that it was there and that's why you asked for it. That's exactly what this was. Normally, I wouldn't thought two seconds about t.v., but when told no, it sparked a rebelliant YES from inside.

I found myself watching all types of shows, and movies downstairs that I never knew were in this house. And on Tuesday, I actually watched the whole report on the voting results, not portion not turning back and forth, the whole show. So for this assignment I must thank you
Mr. B, you allowed me to relive a part of my life that I had forget was there, and it was fun.

If Everything was fun

In today's society all we look for is fun. Whether it be at home or at work, whatever we do has to be fun. What has influenced this is society. Society implants this image that life will be completely worthless in the end, if you haven't enjoyed it. So I was wondering if everything really was fun what would life be like.

Life would be boring of course. If everything was fun and enjoyable and made you happy, wouldn't you be tired of, lets say having fun, everything being enjoyable and always being happy? Of course. We believe that everything should be fun, because everything isn't. It's like that saying about too much of a good thing being bad for your health. The way the human mind works is that it needs to be challenged. You only can have so much fun that will challenge you mentally. So I guess what I'm saying is look for fun in life yes, but don't expect everything to be fun. Challenge yourself and you'll find that life is more enjoyable that way.

My Last Game as A Bronco.

Global Warming.

N. Korea Backs Down.

Why Rappers?