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II. World Trade'''

II. World Trade'''

One word sums up most historians’ view of the world today:  “globalism”.  That was not even a word 50 years ago.  “Globalism” means treating the world as one political unit, as one massive village.  Distances appear to be shortening between people, cultures and nations.  Travel is more affordable for more people.  Mobility is greater.  Trade among nations is larger.  Television and the internet link the world’s population of 6 or so billion people like never before.

One word sums up most historians’ view of the world today:  “globalism”.  That was not even a word 20 years ago.  “Globalism” means treating the world as one political unit, as one massive village.  Distances appear to be shortening between people, cultures and nations.  Travel is more affordable for more people.  Mobility is greater.  Trade among nations is larger.  Television and the internet link the world’s population of 6 or so billion people like never before.

One [[invention]] in late 1947 made most of this possible.  Three scientists invented the [[transistor]] at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey.  This tiny invention brought about a massive revolution in [[computer]]s and communications.  With improvements, the transistor permitted microelectronic control and amplification of signals.  This greatly advanced communication, as in radio, television, telephone and later the internet.  This also permitted the storage of massive amounts of information, as in computers.  Bell Labs, then part of AT&T, made this invention available to the entire world.  Soon transistors replaced vacuum tubes in radios and televisions, enabling them to work better.  The Japanese flooded the market with improved products.   

One [[invention]] in late 1947 made most of this possible.  Three scientists invented the [[transistor]] at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey (exit 44 on I-78, near Berkeley Heights).  This tiny invention brought about a massive revolution in [[computer]]s and communications.  With improvements, the transistor permitted microelectronic control and amplification of signals.  This greatly advanced communication, as in radio, television, telephone and later the internet.  This also permitted the storage of massive amounts of information, as in computers.  Bell Labs, then part of AT&T, made this invention available to the entire world.  Soon transistors replaced vacuum tubes in radios and televisions, enabling them to work better.  The Japanese flooded the market with improved products.   

[[Apple Computer]] sold a personal computer for home use in the late 1970s and, in 1981, [[IBM]] introduced its own personal computer.  Time magazine declared the personal (or home) computer to be “Man of the Year” for 1982.  Fifteen years later the internet became popular for connecting computers.  In 2000, presidential candidate Al Gore attempted to take credit for helping create the internet, and the world ridiculed him.  No politician, and certainly not Al Gore, can take credit for all this.

[[Apple Computer]] sold a personal computer for home use in the late 1970s and, in 1981, [[IBM]] introduced its own personal computer.  Time magazine declared the personal (or home) computer to be “Man of the Year” for 1982.  Fifteen years later the internet became popular for connecting computers.  In 2000, presidential candidate Al Gore attempted to take credit for helping create the internet, and the world ridiculed him.  No politician, and certainly not Al Gore, can take credit for all this.

Irish rebellions against British control date back to rebellions in 1798 and 1803, and several secret Irish societies (such as the Defenders and Ribbonmen) played roles in those uprisings.  There was an Irish Republican Army that fought the British at the Battle of Ridgeway.  There was the Easter Rising from April 24 to 30, 1916, during which Irish rebels capture key locations in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic.  The British suppressed this and executed its leaders.  But on 1919, the Irish Republic was declared through the efforts of its leader, Michael Collins (1890-1922).  Unfortunately, Michael Collins was killed just three years later during an Irish civil war.

Irish rebellions against British control date back to rebellions in 1798 and 1803, and several secret Irish societies (such as the Defenders and Ribbonmen) played roles in those uprisings.  There was an Irish Republican Army that fought the British at the Battle of Ridgeway.  There was the Easter Rising from April 24 to 30, 1916, during which Irish rebels capture key locations in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic.  The British suppressed this and executed its leaders.  But on 1919, the Irish Republic was declared through the efforts of its leader, Michael Collins (1890-1922).  Unfortunately, Michael Collins was killed just three years later during an Irish civil war.

Britain remains in control of Northern Ireland, despite the objections of the growing Catholic minority.  On “Bloody Sunday” (1972), the Irish held a peaceful march for freedom in Derry, Northern Ireland.  The British soldiers responded by shooting thirteen unarmed protesters dead, including six minors, and another died from the wounds a few months later.  Five had been shot in the back.  Army vehicles ran over two protesters.  The British never punished those responsible and several songs (one by John Lennon, and other by U2) commemorate the tragedy.  There is a Christian rock group that dedicates its name to the event, calling themselves “Bloody Sunday.”

Northern Ireland remains in control of the British, despite the objections of the growing Catholic minority.  On “Bloody Sunday” (1972), the Irish held a peaceful march for freedom in Derry, Northern Ireland.  The British soldiers responded by shooting thirteen unarmed protesters dead, including six minors, and another died from the wounds a few months later.  Five had been shot in the back.  Army vehicles ran over two protesters.  The British never punished those responsible and several songs (one by John Lennon, and other by U2) commemorate the tragedy.  There is a Christian rock group that dedicates its name to the event, calling themselves “Bloody Sunday.”

This event made many Irish feel that complete independence is the only solution, and that armed revolt is the only way to achieve independence.  Membership in the IRA then soared.  At one point they launched handheld missiles on the headquarters of the British prime minister, in the hopes of killing John Major.  He escaped injury.  More recently, violence in Northern Ireland has subsided, but there is no end to the controversy over whether the Protestants or Catholics should rule that northeastern corner of Ireland.

This event made many Irish feel that complete independence is the only solution, and that armed revolt is the only way to achieve independence.  Membership in the IRA then soared.  At one point they launched handheld missiles on the headquarters of the British prime minister, in the hopes of killing John Major.  He escaped injury.  More recently, violence in Northern Ireland has subsided, but there is no end to the controversy over whether the Protestants or Catholics should rule that northeastern corner of Ireland.

Islamic terrorism has long plagued the Middle East.  Palestinian terrorists grabbed and murdered eleven Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, shocking the world.  A suicide bomber drove a truck of explosives up to a barracks of American Marines in Beirut, Lebanon, and detonated an explosion that destroyed their building, killing 241 of them in 1983.  Within a year President Reagan pulled American troops out of Beirut.  In March 1998, terrorists bombed American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.  Most suspected Osama Bin Laden as the mastermind behind these attacks.

Islamic terrorism has long plagued the Middle East.  Palestinian terrorists grabbed and murdered eleven Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, shocking the world.  A suicide bomber drove a truck of explosives up to a barracks of American Marines in Beirut, Lebanon, and detonated an explosion that destroyed their building, killing 241 of them in 1983.  Within a year President Reagan pulled American troops out of Beirut.  In March 1998, terrorists bombed American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.  Most suspected Osama Bin Laden as the mastermind behind these attacks.

But it was not until September 11, 2001 (9-11) that Islamic terrorism hit American soil.  A group of 19 Muslims, most from Saudi Arabia, hijacked American airlines and flew one into each tower of the World Trade Center, a third into the Pentagon (probably after the pilot had trouble locating the White House from the air), and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania as the passengers attempted to retake control of the plane from the terrorists.  Nearly 3,000 people died when the World Trade Center collapsed from the resulting fire, as millions watched it live on television.  An outpouring of support for American followed, with only Saddam Hussein of Iraq refusing to fly his flag at half-mast at the United Nations.

But it was not until September 11, 2001 (9-11) that Islamic terrorism hit American soil.  A group of 19 Muslims, most from Saudi Arabia, hijacked American airlines and flew one into each tower of the World Trade Center, a third into the Pentagon (probably after the pilot had trouble locating the White House from the air), and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania as the crew attempted to retake control of the plane from the terrorists.  Nearly 3,000 people died when the World Trade Center collapsed from the resulting fire, as millions watched it live on television.  An outpouring of support for American followed, with only Saddam Hussein of Iraq refusing to fly his flag at half-mast at the United Nations.

President George W. Bush responded by attacking Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan, after the Taliban in charge of that nation refused to hand him over.  Bin Laden is the leader of the terrorist organization called al Qaeda (spellings vary in translating that name from Arabic).  Bin Laden fled, but al Qaeda was broken up in Afghanistan, the Taliban was overthrown, and many of Bin Laden’s top aides were killed by the end of 2001.  Although a democratic provisional government has replaced the Taliban there, the persecution of Christians continues.  In 2006, one Christian was targeted for execution by the Afghanistan country merely for converting from Islam, and the United States did not intervene.  International pressure causes a suspension in the punishment.

President George W. Bush responded by attacking Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan, after the Taliban in charge of that nation refused to hand him over.  Bin Laden is the leader of the terrorist organization called al Qaeda (spellings vary in translating that name from Arabic).  Bin Laden fled, but al Qaeda was broken up in Afghanistan, the Taliban was overthrown, and many of Bin Laden’s top aides were killed by the end of 2001.  Although a democratic provisional government has replaced the Taliban there, the persecution of Christians continues.  In 2006, one Christian was targeted for execution by the Afghanistan country merely for converting from Islam, and the United States did not intervene.  International pressure causes a suspension in the punishment.

When immigrants failed to learn and speak the local language, tensions arose.  By the end of the 20th century, there was growing opposition in both the United States and Europe to the large amounts of immigration.   

When immigrants failed to learn and speak the local language, tensions arose.  By the end of the 20th century, there was growing opposition in both the United States and Europe to the large amounts of immigration.   

The EU removed most internal border patrols, so people now flow freely from one country into the next, such as from Austria into Germany.  The Muslim influx has been particularly high.  In past centuries, churches would play a central role in integrating the immigrants into the local activities and culture.  But churches, which have become largely empty in Europe anyway, cannot integrate the Muslim immigrants.  In France, a racist politician Jean-Marie Le Pen demanded tougher controls against immigration but he was badly defeated in the election for president in 2002. In 2004, France desperately banned the wearing of the Muslim hijab (headscarf) girls in state schools.

The EU removed most internal border patrols, so people now flow freely from one country into the next, such as from Austria into Germany.  The Muslim influx has been particularly high.  In past centuries, churches would play a central role in integrating the immigrants into the local activities and culture.  But churches, which have become largely empty in Europe anyway, cannot integrate the Muslim immigrants.  In France, a politician Jean-Marie Le Pen demanded tougher controls against immigration.  But the media then labeled him as a racist and he was badly defeated in the election for president in 2002. But meanwhile Islam is overtaking the Christian French culture, as the mosques are more vibrant than the churches in France now.  In 2004, France desperately banned the wearing of the Muslim hijab (headscarf) girls in state schools.

Many European nations now face the controversy of whether to allow women to wear the Muslim coverings.  In late 2006, the Dutch government announced its plan to ban Muslim head coverings in all public places.  In Germany, many teachers are forbidden from wearing the hijab.  A Belgian town banned the burqa (full-body covering) and niqab (a veil that covers only the face) entirely from its streets.  In Britain, schools can fire teachers for wearing face-coverings. Even in the Muslim country of Turkey, its rulers have banned any wearing of the Muslim veil in public buildings since the 1920s, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the modern Republic of Turkey.

Many European nations now face the controversy of whether to allow women to wear the Muslim coverings.  In late 2006, the Dutch government announced its plan to ban Muslim head coverings in all public places.  In Germany, many teachers are forbidden from wearing the hijab.  A Belgian town banned the burqa (full-body covering) and niqab (a veil that covers only the face) entirely from its streets.  In Britain, schools can fire teachers for wearing face-coverings. Even in the Muslim country of Turkey, its military rulers have banned any wearing of the Muslim veil in public buildings since the 1920s, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the modern Republic of Turkey.

Liberals are alarmed by this Muslim clothing because they frustrate the liberal desire to create a secular, atheistic society.  It becomes difficult to complain about a cross somewhere when women are wearing burqas in glaring display of their faith.  Also, some feminists object to the burqa as discriminatory towards women, subjugating them to an inferior position in society.  Only in the sanctuary of the home do Muslim women remove their coverings.

Liberals are alarmed by this Muslim clothing because they frustrate the liberal desire to create a secular, atheistic society.  It becomes difficult to complain about a cross somewhere when women are wearing burqas in glaring display of their faith.  Also, some feminists object to the burqa as discriminatory towards women, subjugating them to an inferior position in society.  Only in the sanctuary of the home do Muslim women remove their coverings.

<br>Booker T. Washington

<br>Booker T. Washington

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<br>Benjamin Franklin

<br>Benjamin Franklin

<br>Patrick Henry

<br>Patrick Henry