Containment Americas Plan to Curtail Communism

Containment was a foreign policy of the United States of America, introduced at the start of the Cold War, aimed at stopping the spread of Communism and keeping it contained and isolated within its current borders of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics  (USSR or the Soviet Union) instead of spreading to a war-ravaged Europe. The United States feared specifically a domino effect, that the communism of the USSR would spread from one country to the next, destabilizing one nation which would, in turn, destabilize the next and allow for communist regimes to dominate the region. Their solution: cutting communist influence off at its source or enticing struggling nations with more funding than communist countries were providing. Although containment may have specifically been meant as a term to describe the U.S. strategy for the curtailment of communism from spreading outward from the Soviet Union, the idea of containment as a strategy for cutting off nations such as China and North Korea still persist to this day. The Cold War and Americas Counter-Plan for Communism The Cold War emerged after World War Two when nations formerly under Nazi rule ended up split between the conquests of the USSR (pretending to be liberators) and the newly freed states of France, Poland, and the rest of Nazi-occupied Europe. Since the United States had been a key ally in liberating western Europe, it found itself deeply involved in this newly divided continent: Eastern Europe wasnt being turned back into free states, but under the military and increasingly political control of the Soviet Union. Further, western European countries appeared to be wobbling in their democracies because of socialist agitation and collapsing economies, and the United States began to suspect that the Soviet Union was using communism as a means to make western democracy fail by destabilizing these countries and bringing them into the folds of communism. Even countries themselves were dividing in half over the ideas of how to move forward and recover from the last World War. This resulted in a lot of political and indeed military turmoil for the years to come, with such extremes as the  Berlin Wall  being established to separate East and West Germany due to the opposition to communism. The United States wanted to prevent this from spreading further Europe and on to the rest of the world, so they developed a solution called containment to attempt to manipulate the socio-political future of these recovering nations. The U.S. Involvement in Border States: Containment 101 The concept of containment was first outlined in George Kennans Long Telegram, which was sent to the U.S. Government from his position in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. It arrived in Washington on February 22, 1946, and circulated widely around the White House until Kennan made it public in an article called The Sources of Soviet Conduct — this became known as X Article because the authorship was attributed to X. Containment was adopted by President Harry Truman as part of his Truman Doctrine in 1947, which redefined Americas foreign policy as one that supports the free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures, according to Trumans speech to Congress that year. This came at the height of the Greek Civil War of 1946 - 1949 when much of the world was in conflict over which direction Greece and Turkey should and would go, and the United States agreed to help both equally to avoid the possibility that the Soviet Union could coerce these nations into communism. Acting deliberately, at times aggressively, to involve itself in the border states of the world, to keep them from turning communist, the United States spearheaded a movement that would eventually lead to the creation of NATO (North American Treaty Organization). These acts of arbitration could include sending funds, such as in 1947 when the CIA spent large amounts to influence the result of Italys elections helping the Christian Democrats defeat the Communist party, but it also could mean wars, leading to US involvement in Korea, Vietnam and elsewhere. As a policy, it has drawn a fair amount of praise and criticism. It can be seen to have directly affected the politics of many states, but it drew the west into supporting dictators and other people simply because they were enemies of communism, rather than by any broader sense of morality. Containment remained central to American foreign policy throughout the Cold War, officially ending with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Character of Hamlet Essay - 2018 Words

Character of Hamlet Wer gar zu viel bedenkt wird wenig leisten -Schiller He who reflects too much will accomplish little It is impossible to attain completeness in the assessment of any ones character and more so in the case of Hamlets, for its note are complex and mysterious. But on rigorous study, Hamlets character can be described though partly but adequately by the above quote. Hamlet is the most famous, the most popular play in the English language. But to quote T.S.Eliot -So far from being Shakespeares masterpiece, the play is most certainly an artistic failureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. And probably more people have thought Hamlet a work of art because they found it interesting, than†¦show more content†¦Here Amleth directly knew that his uncle was guilty quite in contrast to Hamlets case and Amleths life was in great danger also in contrast to Hamlets as his uncle Claudius was fond of his nephew. He takes good care of him and calls him his son as well. There is no great apparent danger to Hamlets life from Claudius until he is aware that Hamlet knows of his devilish act of murdering the King Hamlet. In the case of Amleth he had every reason to act as if he were mad because that was necessary to him to accomplish his duty of avenging his fathers murder. It is hard to understand why Hamlet pretends madness when he could have done what he had to with great ease and no one would have objected to Claudius dethronement as Claudius was not popular with his people, which is quite evident from the fact that Laertes could raise a public revolt against the king so boldly. In Amleths case it was completely different, his uncle had complete support in the coup. And A.C.Bradley further observes that Shakespeare was not properly able to link all the portions of Amleths story into Hamlet. The other way of analyzing Hamlet is from the play itself. This is the most fascinating part and it makes the most interesting reading. First and foremost we must go to the backdrop in which the play is set and the introduction of Hamlet into the play. The country isShow MoreRelatedHamlet Character Essay1189 Words   |  5 PagesThe Troubled Prince: An Analysis of Hamlet â€Å"To be, or not to be: That is the question†(3.1.58). This is probably the most famous quote in all of Shakespearean literature and was uttered by the main character, Hamlet, of the play â€Å"Hamlet† written by Shakespeare. It demonstrates his instability and suicidal thoughts. Throughout the play he comes off as a very unpredictable and complex character. He makes many rash decisions, but at the same time often takes a lot of time to contemplate many of hisRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Hamlet1065 Words   |  5 Pageswill be explaining where and when Hamlet talks about certain characters, to help explain how he thinks about them (ex: King Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude). This essay will help to explain Hamlet as well as his thought process throughout the book (story). In Act 1, Scene 2 (Gertrude) (Lines 141-145) Quote â€Å"That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly.—Heaven and earth, Must I remember?† In this first part from line 141 to 143 Hamlet says â€Å"Oh God, do I have to rememberRead MoreEssay on The Character of Hamlet1852 Words   |  8 PagesThe Character of Hamlet  Ã‚        Ã‚   This essay will delve into the character of the hero of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet as it develops through the drama, and will analyze the more important features.    Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts† explain the popularity of the protagonist:    Much of the delight of modern readers, of course, comes from the study of the characters of the principal figures in the play, for Shakespeare has presentedRead MoreCharacter Duplicity in Hamlet4193 Words   |  17 PagesIn Act I Scene II of Hamlet, Gertrude asks Hamlet, Why seems it so particular with thee? Since death is common to all, she asks, why does Hamlet seem to be making such a particular fuss about his fathers death? He replies, Seems Madam? Nay it is. I know not seems. It is not a question of seeming, but being: His black mourning clothes are simply a true representation of his deep unhappiness. With this line, Shakespeare develops the theme of appearance versus reality and that he intends to stressRead MoreEssay on Hamlet- The Characters766 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet The prince of Denmark, and a student at the University of Wittenberg. At the beginning of the play, Hamlets father, King Hamlet, has recently died, and his mother, Queen Gertrude, has married the new king, Hamlets uncle Claudius. Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and cynical, full of hatred for his uncle and disgust at his mother for marrying him. When the ghost of Hamlets father appears and claims to have been murdered by Claudius, Hamlet becomes obsessed with avenging his fathers deathRead MoreFemale Characters in Hamlet4091 Words   |  17 Pagesis a story of one, or at most two persons. As a rule, they are male protagonists. But to say that Shakespeare’s female characters are shallow, undeveloped and used just as a decoration on the stage is very wrong. Women in Shakespeare’s tragedies have no leading role and they are, to paraphrase Northrop Frye,[1] not tragic heroines, but heroines in a tragedy. All female characters in Shakespeare’s tragedies have one thing in common – they end up dead. It is always an untimely, unnatural death. ThisRead MoreEmpathy for the Character Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare771 Words   |  4 PagesEmpathy for the Character Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare I believe deep down everyone has felt like they themselves where Hamlet. They can empathize with some of the emotions Hamlet was feeling, the grief and the sorrow, the abandonment and resentment. Not many carry their fantasy as far as Hamlet did. Shakespeare wrote of a man who had to face the great loss. Not the loss of his beloved father or of his lover Ophelia, but he lost himself in a world of make-believe where he couldRead MoreThe Characters Traits of Hamlet Essay813 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet is a Shakespearian tragedy that takes place in the kingdom of Denmark. The plot consists of murder, betrayal, revenge, suicide and insanity. Hamlet the prince of Denmark, main character of Hamlet, has many character traits which are contrasted by other figures in the play. Hamlet’s personality is especially contrasted by three other main male figures of the play being Horatio, Claudius, and Laertes. Horatio is Hamlet’s best friend in the play whom is let into the mind and secretsRead MoreAn Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Essay1592 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Hamlet by William Shakespeare has been considered by many critics as one of the best plays in English literature. It has also been considered as one of the best tragedies among the many Shakespeare wrote. It is a story which revolves around this person called Hamlet, prince of Denmark. It is set in the Elizabethan times in the 16th century. It is a tragedy because it results in the deaths of many characters either accidentallyRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis Essay1014 Words   |  5 PagesNicole Ventzke Crystal Jensen 1102 T/H 2/14/11 Hamlet Character Analysis: Hamlet One aspect that makes William Shakespeare’s Hamlet alluring is how he broke the limiting mold of the one-dimensional character by representing characters in all of their human complexity. Hamlet, for example, is a compelling character because he is complicated. As Hamlet himself observes early in the play in, â€Å"Tis not alone my inky cloak/nor customary suits of solemn black, /Nor†¦forced breath/No, nor the fruitful

Caucasians and African Americans Free Essays

Without Reservation is a history of how the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, composed mostly of Caucasians and African Americans who exaggerated or fabricated their Native American ancestry, rose to power in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, it exposes how they were corrupted by money, power, and influence, creating and essentially looting the world’s largest casino-resort complex. The first third of the book traces the Pequots’ formation in the early 1970s, when Indian rights attorney Tom Tureen sought the location of a defunct Pequot reservation near Ledyard, Connecticut. We will write a custom essay sample on Caucasians and African Americans or any similar topic only for you Order Now Tureen met Richard â€Å"Skip† Hayward, a laborer and failed preacher with rather dubious claims of Indian ancestry; his grandmother was the daughter of a black father and a mother listed as Indian on some documents. (Benedict 146) Declaring himself an Indian (which he had never done before), Hayward basically charmed his way into becoming chief of a tribe who history was at best murky, attracting a growing number of members whose Indian blood was as non-existent as his own. Most were Hayward’s own relatives; said Tureen, â€Å"The Pequots are all Haywards. † (Benedict 59) With Tureen’s help, Hayward gained political power and access to government money by arousing and shrewdly manipulating public sympathy for Native Americans. The tribe’s members were mostly non-Indian, simply claiming identity with an oppressed people was convincing enough; according to Tureen, â€Å"We never had to lie or mislead anybody. . . . We were never questioned about those other aspects. † (Benedict 117) In 1992, the Mashantucket Pequot opened Foxwoods, then the world’s largest casino, on tribal land and with funding by both the federal government and Chinese-Malaysian financiers Lim Goh Tong and Colin Au. (Benedict 213) The casino, exempt from paying taxes, was then the only such resort in New England and proved itself quickly profitable; its 1995 gambling profits exceeded $300 million. (Benedict 295-296) Though Hayward was something of a con artist (he had been a failed blue-collar laborer and preacher, and his revival of the Pequot tribe smacked of chicanery), he was ambitious and tried to build Foxwoods into a larger complex, with a wide array of entertainment offerings, including an Indian museum. However, many of the newly-attracted members had hoped to avoid working and live for free on the reservation; as it was, Hayward provided members living there with homes, stipends, and free college educations. Ultimately, tribal elder Kenny Reels, whose Indian ancestry was as dubious and invented as Hayward’s (Benedict 232-234), led a disgruntled group of members and deposed Hayward as leader, aiming instead of skim and enjoy the profits. Said one member: â€Å"I haven’t got my first million. My wife’s got to work. People should be enjoying themselves. Why can’t I have a BMW? † (Benedict 293) Ironically, Hayward, a somewhat shady character, had tried to behave as a legitimate leader and businessman after Foxwoods opened, only to be ousted by former supporters. Today, Foxwoods brings in immense amounts of money but is deeply in debt due to the current Pequot leaders’ gross mismanagement. RELATIONSHIP TO CLASS Without Reservation relates to the hospitality industry by illustrating some of the less savory aspects of gaming, giving ample detail of the political maneuvering necessary to bring both the Mashantucket Pequot and Foxwoods into existence. Hayward was basically a classic huckster, promoting himself as an Indian (which misled Tureen and many others who helped him) and envisioned a grand project that would make him and his followers rich. The tribe used its political connections to overcome not only fierce local opposition to the casino in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but also environmental regulations (from which Indian casinos are exempt, like taxes). Foxwoods’ construction irrevocably changed the surrounding countryside, removing thousands of trees and much of the local wildlife. (Benedict 226-227) Like many businesses, gaming depends on those relationships to politicians on various levels, but gaming is more controversial due to communities’ concerns about the effects casinos supposedly have – namely, increases in crime and political corruption. Indeed, the Pequot reservation and surrounding communities witnessed a sharp rise in violence and drug activity in the late 1990s, widely attributed to the casino. Indeed, current tribal leader Kenny Reels’ own nephew was imprisoned for rape and drug offenses. (Benedict 347) In addition, it shows the perils of mismanagement. Skip Hayward, while not a polished professional with a business background, tried to run Foxwoods and the tribe cleanly, carefully watching the profits and planning to put them back into future expansions. Sensing a â€Å"classic product cycle† when Foxwoods’ novelty began wearing off, Hayward tried to add shopping, a museum, and other venues. (Benedict 266-267) However, an accomplished CEO who fired a crooked auditor was forced to quit, shortly before Hayward himself was ousted by a corrupt element of the tribal leadership. Since then, the casino continues to enjoy high revenues from gambling but is in serious financial disarray; because tribal leaders have routinely dipped into the profits for their own uses (and for their supporters), Foxwoods has had trouble repaying its construction loans and has descended into deep debt. CRITIQUE A fast read for its length, Without Reservation is very well-written, with clear, strong prose and a brisk narrative. While an expose, the book is not written in a sensational style, but rather more like a tight fictional narrative. It exposes the shady political machinations behind both the tribe’s â€Å"revival† (if indeed the Mashantucket ever genuinely existed) and the casino’s creation, as well as the infighting between Skip Hayward and Kenny Reels. The book has two main ironies; the first involves Hayward’s own dubious background and evolution into a relatively honest figure, while the second involves race. The tribe drew both white and black recruits from the Northeast, many of whom came from poor backgrounds and saw membership in the Mashantucket Pequot as a means of getting rich without effort. Reels, a black Rhode Islander with a small amount of supposedly Indian blood, exploited the racial differences between the factions to force out Hayward and his adherents. The tribe, intended to unite the races in a race to which none actually belonged, split apart along mainly racial lines. In general, this book offers keen insights into not only the creation of the world’s largest casino but also into how racial identity is manipulated for political and financial reasons, how a group of poor outsiders used public sympathy to gain federal recognition (and money) with virtually no evidence of their Indian ancestry, and how greed and mistrust ultimately ruined the tribe’s key figures. It manages to tell a complex, scandalous, somewhat tragic story without exaggeration or sensation, making it a straightforward, rewarding read. How to cite Caucasians and African Americans, Papers