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== United Nations ==

== United Nations ==

As early as August through October 1944, a conference at Dumbarton Oaks established plans to start a new "United Nations" (or "UN") to deal with disputes after the war.  China, Britain, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. agreed on preliminary plans for this new world governing body.  They agreed that it would include a "Security Council" of select powers that would be greater than the other nations.

As early as August through October 1944, a conference at Dumbarton Oaks established plans to start a new "United Nations" (or "UN") to deal with disputes after the war.  China, Britain, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. agreed on preliminary plans for this new world governing body.  They agreed that it would include a "Security Council" for the founding nations to hold powers greater than the other nations.

'''Debate:  Do you think a "United Nations" is a good idea?'''

'''Debate:  Do you think a "United Nations" is a good idea?'''

After our dropping of the atom bombs on Japan ended World War II, nations came together to form the United Nations, first in San Francisco and ultimately in New York, where it exists to this day.  Alger Hiss, who was secretly a communist but served as a top aide to President Franklin Roosevelt, played a key role in founding the UN.

Near the end of World War II, nations came together to form the United Nations, first in San Francisco and ultimately in New York, where it exists to this day.  Alger Hiss, who was secretly a communist but served as a top aide to President Franklin Roosevelt, played a key role in founding the UN.

The United Nations has remained controversial to this day.  In the 1990s, an American soldier named Michael New was ordered to fight under command of the United Nations.  He refused, and was court-martialed (harshly punished) for it.  He then sued, and lost.  Many complain that the United Nations encroaches on the right and duty of nations like the United States to remain true to their own principles.  Defenders of the United Nations say that it provides an important meeting place to discuss and defuse tensions before they escalate into wars.  The United Nations did arrange for many countries to send troops to defend South Korea against invasion by communist North Korea.  But as in Vietnam and most major international wars since World War II, the United States sent the vast majority of the soldiers to the battlefront.

The United Nations has remained controversial to this day.  In the 1990s, an American soldier named Michael New was ordered to fight under command of the United Nations.  He refused, and was court-martialed (harshly punished) for it.  He then sued, and lost.  Many complain that the United Nations encroaches on the right and duty of nations like the United States to remain true to their own principles.  Defenders of the United Nations say that it provides an important meeting place to discuss and defuse tensions before they escalate into wars.  The United Nations did arrange for many countries to send troops to defend South Korea against invasion by communist North Korea.  But as in Vietnam and most major international wars since World War II, the United States sent the vast majority of the soldiers who went to the battlefront.

President Woodrow Wilson would have been a supporter of the United Nations, just as he supported the League of Nations.  His motto was to “make the world safe for democracy.” Today, the “neoconservatives” adopt a similar worldview.  They seek to expand and install democracy in countries all around the world, such as Iraq and Iran.  Others, however, argue that democracy is not compatible with religions in other parts of the world, such as Islam.  Conservative Congressman Ron Paul recently wrote an essay entitled, “Making the World Safe for Christianity,” observing that democracy in Iraq has increased the persecution of Christians there.  

President Woodrow Wilson would have been a supporter of the United Nations, just as he supported the League of Nations.  His motto was to "make the world safe for democracy." Today, the "neoconservatives" adopt a similar worldview.  They seek to expand and install democracy in countries all around the world, such as Iraq and Iran.  Others, however, argue that democracy is not compatible with religions in other parts of the world, such as Islam.  Conservative Congressman and 2008 presidential candidate Ron Paul recently wrote an essay entitled, "Making the World Safe for Christianity," observing that democracy in Iraq has ''increased'' the persecution of Christians there.  

By the way, Congressman Paul blames the treaty after World War I (Versailles Treaty) as the cause for World War II and the rise of communism.  The U.S. Senate never ratified that treaty.

By the way, Congressman Paul blames the treaty after World War I (the Versailles Treaty) as the cause for World War II and the rise of communism.  The U.S. Senate never ratified that treaty.

   

   

Communism secretly invaded the United States during the Great Depression in the 1930s.  After serving secretly as a communist then, Whittaker Chambers had a religious conversion to Christianity (the Quaker religion).  He then went to federal law enforcement officials and identified fellow communists, including Alger Hiss.  Law enforcement agents informed President Franklin Roosevelt, but he reacted by swearing at Whittaker Chambers, and Roosevelt refused to do anything about Hiss.

'''Debate: Should the United States make the world safe for democracy?'''

 

Hiss remained in powerful government positions until a series of internal memos generated by J. Edgar Hoover at the FBI finally forced Hiss out.  But the public never learned about this until Congressman Richard Nixon (like Chambers, a Quaker) held public hearings before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1948, after the Republicans had gained control of Congress in the 1946 elections.  At first Hiss made the public laugh at Nixon’s committee, but when Chambers produced microfilm stored in a pumpkin on his Maryland farm to prove Hiss’s involvement the last laugh belonged to Nixon.  He rode his anti-communism success to become Vice President under Eisenhower and eventually President in 1968.  Hiss went to jail for perjury.  Democrats never forgave Nixon’s combative tactics and eventually they caught Nixon doing something illegal, whereupon the Watergate scandal forced him to become the only president ever to resign (in 1973).  The anti-communist reaction movement was also important in shaping the career of Ronald Reagan, who became president in 1980. 

 

== Immigration ==

== Immigration ==