Clerihew

 

Little Huey
Swam to a buoy
saw a fish that was gold
made a move that was bold

 

 

 

Couplets


The dolphin jumps and plays

He wishes he could do this for all the days

He counts and counts until he can
He sits in the water and makes a plane

His ideas are small but big
He says he will do a little jig

So he puts on a show
He thinks he will glow

 

 

Tanka

The dolphin is born
It swims to its mother's
Side to get comfort
The dolphin jumped into the air
He came back down with a splash

 

 

 

 

Haiku

The dog barked at me
But I was not scared at all
The dog wagged its tail

 

 

 

 

 

Diamonte

Puppy
Curious, Playful
Clawing, Barking, Chewing
Baby, Frisbee, Hunter, Canine
Growing, Aging, Growling
Bigger, Stronger
Dog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vietnam War

              

      Did you ever wonder what the Vietnam War was all about?  The Vietnam War was a brutal battle that lasted for more than fifteen years. It started in 1945 between France and Vietnam. The Vietnamese desired to have their independence and self governing rule from the French.  The Vietnamese, primarily in the northern parts of Vietnam, were leaning towards communism and the French were opposed.  Years of sporadic fighting ensued between the French and the Northern Vietnamese.  Eventually, in 1954 the United States became involved, primarily to protect our country’s National Interests and the spread of communism.  U.S. personnel acted as advisors to the South Vietnamese, assisting them fight the war on communism against the Northern Vietnamese. The Vietnam War didn't start escalating until 1960.  The Vietnam War had a tremendous impact on our society of the 1960s and still does today.  Primarily the Vietnam War influenced the U.S. Military and how it fights wars, society and how it views war, and lastly, how the U.S. government resolves conflict today.

      The Vietnam War influenced both the military and society as seen through the prisoners of war they abused.  In 1965 things started blowing out of proportion. The North Vietnamese started killing American men and taking prisoners. These prisoners of war (called POWS), were usually tortured and beaten up very badly.  The North Vietnamese, now our enemy, kept our American soldiers in dark jails and always had them hand cuffed.  The U.S. captives in efforts to survive were forced to send messages and secretly communicate with each other.  Every effort was made by the POWs to tell America how badly they were being treated. Some soldiers were recaptured and some were killed or never found. When they returned they were bloody, swollen, and badly injured.  Seeing our POWs being mistreated enraged the America public, giving question to why we were there, and strengthened the resolve of the U.S. Military.

When Americans began dying, the President started taking more aggressive action. He ordered many U.S. soldiers into the area and made an alliance with the South Vietnam soldiers. Together the United States Military and the South Vietnamese fought against many Vietcong guerrillas. Unfortunately, the Vietcong guerrillas used a special  technique called the hit and run attack. This meant they shot at the enemy and then went back into the woods. They used this method many times killing and injuring many U.S. soldiers. The Vietcong Guerrillas and the North Vietnam soldiers also used Punji sticks. Punji sticks were very sharp bamboo. They would be placed in big pits at the bottom, right side up. The North covered the pits with normal sticks, leaves, and with little bits of dirt. They also stuck these sticks in trees, water, and fields. They were placed in fields to prevent helicopters from landing and Army soldiers from parachuting down. They placed them in trees so when American soldiers came walking by they would fall down on them. Those were some of the tactics used by the North Vietnamese and greatly impacted the U.S. Military on how to fight the war.
     The U.S. fought by using B-52 bombers, tanks, and helicopters, attempting to adjust to the Vietnamese tactics of using Punji sticks and “hit and run” opportunities. The B-52 bombers were large airplanes filled with many explosives.  They would use these bombs on strategic targets, attempting to disrupt the North Vietnamese supply lines and devastate the enemy. They would also use these if our U.S. soldiers were in trouble or needed some help. The U.S. Army used the tanks to drive over Punji sticks and over hard surfaces. American soldiers also used the tanks for protection and the tanks sheer fire-power. If soldiers were walking on foot they would usually be alert at all times and would watch every step they took so not to step on lethal Punji sticks or land mines.

     The Vietnam War, continued to influence the U.S. Military on how to effectively fight the war.  Many lessons learned were revealed to our American Military planners.   The war taught us a great deal with regard to our warfare fighting strategies, how the enemy might fight, and how we might use bombs to prevent the loss of American lives. American warfare planners now more clearly understand the great affects the environment can have on fighting a war.  For example, the jungles and forests of Vietnam caused us great difficulty then and as a result we are better prepared for those difficulties.  Now we use the jungle and trees to our favor.  Another thing is the usage of bombs. Where to bomb and how to keep soldiers alive while bombing is something we have learned from the Vietnam War. Last, how the enemy fights. In Vietnam, the North built pits, traps, and Punji sticks. They were all deadly to us. They took some lives away or they injured someone real bad.

     Back at home, some of the vocal American public had a different reaction to the war. Some people were protesting on why we were in the war. Some college students gave speeches on the subject. They would also attend marches, rallies, and speeches. College  students also boycotted schools. They would stay at home making speeches or they would leave the country to avoid the draft and serving their country. Some joined the ministry also to avoid the draft and so they could preach. A lot of people were not in favor of the war and thought we should bail out. They thought the sooner we bail out the more lives we save. Martin Luther King gave great speeches about the war.  Some people saw him as a great leader. Other people just committed suicide by just sitting in the street and lighting themselves on fire. This is how some people dealt with the war.

     Other Americans viewed the war in a slightly different way.  Although perhaps not in favor of the war, did make the sacrifice, and went off to war to fight for their country.  Some joined the military voluntarily such as the Navy or the Coast Guard. It is a dilemma, right or wrong, do you fight for your country? This dilemma is an affect we still have from the Vietnam War.
          The Vietnam War impacted not only our military, our society, but our government  decision process and the decisions we make today.  Whenever there is a conflict that the U.S. might get involved with, our government officials and American people are very careful to weigh all options and make every attempt to settle problems diplomatically.  This additional effort to solve things rationally and through peaceful channels is perhaps the greatest legacy of the Vietnam War in terms of addressing our current national interests.  

      In conclusion to the Vietnam War it was a brutal and gory battle. It took many years to end the war and in 1975 it finally did. Some people might think that the Vietnam War had the greatest impact of the 1960s and taught us many things. It has taught us effective military strategy and tactical warfare fighting in bad conditions. It has

  demonstrated the affects of waging a war through the proper use of dropping bombs.  It has shown us how our society reacts in different ways to war.  It has shown us that staying free as an American people, has a price.  Over 70,000 U.S. Military lost their lives in this war, but they were fighting for America and the freedom of this nation.  Without their supreme sacrifice, we would not have the freedoms that we cherish today.  The war has shown us once again that fighting a war, is a last resort and that diplomatic efforts need to be explored first.  As what was discussed above, the Vietnam War influenced the U.S. Military and how it fights wars, society and how it views war, and lastly, how the U.S. government resolves conflict today.

 

 

 

 

                      Flag Burning should be Illegal


      I believe that flag burning should be illegal. Our flag stands for our nation and our freedom. If you burn the flag you are saying you hate America and you want nothing to do with America. If you love our flag and honor it you love America and you're proud to be an American citizen. The flag should stand for peace, love, and freedom.

     If you want to burn the flag only burn it when it is old and torn.  If you do burn the flag you are saying that you don't care for the people that gave their lives to this great nation. The lives that defended our country and rights. The lives that gave us freedom and peace. Last, the rights to live in this great country.

     If you love this country, then why do you want to burn the flag? If you said it's freedom of speech, then what are you saying? When you burn the flag I don't know what you are trying to get across because I don't understand. The only reason why you should burn the flag is if it is old and torn. The proper ways to do this is burn it and then bury it so it lies to rest. This should be the only reason why you should burn the flag, the only reason.

     Last, I think an amendment should be past. I strongly believe flag burning is unnecessary except when it's old and torn. This amendment would be great because it would stop those who burn Old Glory. Also there would be a lot more patriotism in our nation and towards our flag. Why should we burn our flag when we should honor it and to be proud of carrying it.

     In my opinion you shouldn't burn the flag. People gave their lives to this nation. They would want us to honor our flag and nation. So if you want to burn the flag you should think about the wars we have been through, the lives that were lost and the lives that wanted us to have peace and freedom. The flag stands for everything in this country people, freedom, peace, and everything else it this nation.

 

 

 

 

    

Kidnapped By Aliens

 

          One late afternoon I came back to my apartment to find it trashed from top to bottom. I quickly went to my room and checked all my valuables to make sure they weren’t stolen. Nothing seemed to be missing. I thought to my self who would come into an empty house and take nothing. Then, I heard a noise in the kitchen. When I walked in a pot was swiveling on the floor. I picked it up and saw a note on the back saying look to your left. Then looking to the left there was weird creature with a strange object pointing at me. The next thing I knew my body was breaking into millions of pieces and being sucked into the tiny object.

        After a long time my body was finally released into a long tube with zero gravity. My body was aching all over and I could hardly move or think. Then, I realized that I was kidnapped by aliens. All theses small aliens started studying me and writing down things.  Then they took me out of the tube and put me on a table. They strapped me down and made sure I couldn’t move. Next, the aliens stuck thin tubes into my arms, legs, and head. It seemed the tubes were injecting chemicals into me. I started to feel weak and dizzy. Before I passed out one of the aliens placed a knife on my neck and then I fell asleep.

      When I woke up I seemed to shorter, a lot shorter. Then I looked down and saw my body was a machine in the shape of a prairie dog. “Oh no!!!” I yelled. Then one of the aliens came over and looked at my head. He said something to his partner and then continued to look at me. After he was done he went to my body and examined it. Then, zzziippp an arrow dart went into my neck and I was knocked out cold.

      When I woke up my body was attached back on to me. I felt relieved that I had my body back. Then, the aliens pointed the object back on me and my body began to break apart into a million pieces and being sucked into the machine.

         When I woke up my body was normal and I felt fine except for the pain in my neck and body. The only thing that didn’t seemed to be right was a bump on my arm. Then it started to blink red every time I moved one step. It seemed like the aliens put in a tracking device inside me. I was freaked out, but then thought oh well and I continued to live my life.