Changes

In the 1950s and 1960s, the United States and Soviet Union engaged in a “Space Race” to see who could explore and perhaps claim outer space first.  In 1957, the Soviet Union shocked Americans by being the first to launch spacecraft (“Sputnik”) into orbit.  The first astronaut was a dog named Laika, which sadly did not return alive.  The name “Sputnik” inspired the name chosen by a hippie-like leader of a new counterculture movement in San Francisco:  “beatnik”.  The beatniks in the late 1950s laid the foundation for the hippies in the 1960s.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the United States and Soviet Union engaged in a “Space Race” to see who could explore and perhaps claim outer space first.  In 1957, the Soviet Union shocked Americans by being the first to launch spacecraft (“Sputnik”) into orbit.  The first astronaut was a dog named Laika, which sadly did not return alive.  The name “Sputnik” inspired the name chosen by a hippie-like leader of a new counterculture movement in San Francisco:  “beatnik”.  The beatniks in the late 1950s laid the foundation for the hippies in the 1960s.

Sputnik alarmed American politicians, who vowed not to remain in second place in this Space Race.  America launched a project in the 1960s to land a man on the Moon, and used a series of spacecraft named “Apollo”.  In 1969, with the immortal words “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon.  Some conservatives felt that the Soviets never intended to go to the Moon themselves, but wanted Americans to waste money on the project.  It’s unclear what good came of the lunar project, although it did lead to the invention of Teflon, now widely used in cooking.

Sputnik alarmed American politicians, who vowed not to remain in second place in this Space Race.  America launched a project in the 1960s to land a man on the Moon, and used a series of spacecraft named “Apollo”.  In 1969, with the immortal words “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon.  Some conservatives felt that the Soviets never intended to go to the Moon themselves, but wanted Americans to waste money on the project.  It’s unclear what good came of the lunar project, although it did lead to the invention of Teflon, now widely used in cooking.

The Soviet Union continued a more limited space program, and in the 1970s the two superpowers began to collaborate on docketing their spacecraft together in orbit, creating space shuttles, and even building space stations.  In 1975, the Apollo spacecraft and the Soviet Soyuz successful docked together in space.

The Soviet Union continued a more limited space program, and in the 1970s the two superpowers began to collaborate on docketing their spacecraft together in orbit, creating space shuttles, and even building space stations.  In 1975, the Apollo spacecraft and the Soviet Soyuz successful docked together in space.

'''D.  Human Rights'''

'''D.  Human Rights'''

In Africa, ethnic cleansing plagued the nations of Kwanda (where the Tutsi minority was slaughtered by the Hutu majority) and in the Middle East, where the nomadic Kurds have been persecuted by Turks, Iranians and, most recently, Iraqis.  The former Yugoslavia has also been accused of ethnic cleansing.

In Africa, ethnic cleansing plagued the nations of Rwanda (where the Tutsi minority was slaughtered by the Hutu majority) and in the Middle East, where the Kurds have been persecuted by Turks, Iranians and, most recently, Iraqis.  'Ethnic cleansing' (violent displacement of populations) also took place in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

International, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed in the 1960s to combat human rights abuses.  The most prominent is Amnesty International, which has sought release of political prisoners and also opposed use of the death penalty.  Sometimes these groups can obtain publicity and world pressure more effectively than governments can.  But these groups are often biased in what they complain about, and rarely publicize human rights abuses by communist or Islamic governments.  The persecution of Christians is unlikely to generate any outrage by NGOs or the press, unless (as in Afghanistan) the persecution is an embarrassment to Republicans.

International, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed in the 1960s to combat human rights abuses.  The most prominent is Amnesty International, which has sought release of political prisoners and also opposed use of the death penalty.  Sometimes these groups can obtain publicity and world pressure more effectively than governments can.  But these groups are often biased in what they complain about, and rarely publicize human rights abuses by communist or Islamic governments.  The persecution of Christians is unlikely to generate any outrage by NGOs or the press, unless (as in Afghanistan) the persecution is an embarrassment to Republicans.