Changes

Advances in communication technology, such as the internet and cell phones, have created a worldwide culture that increasingly prefers English over local languages.  English is easier to type into a computer than Asian languages, for example.  At the same time, the cultural varieties of distant places such as India and Southeast Asia can be appreciated more in the Western world.  Restaurants featuring foreign food are prevalent across the United States now.

Advances in communication technology, such as the internet and cell phones, have created a worldwide culture that increasingly prefers English over local languages.  English is easier to type into a computer than Asian languages, for example.  At the same time, the cultural varieties of distant places such as India and Southeast Asia can be appreciated more in the Western world.  Restaurants featuring foreign food are prevalent across the United States now.

Technology has brought some medical advances, most notably in the expanded use of antibiotics after World War II.  Physicians say that most of medicine today was discovered in the past 70 years.  The modern inventions of the MRI and CAT scan have improved the ability view the human body, and treat illness.  Other modern developments, such as widespread vaccination and insecticides, are more controversial.  Preventive vaccination is credited with eliminating the terrible diseases of polio and smallpox, but other, newer vaccines are opposed by many parents.

Technology has brought some medical advances, most notably in the expanded use of antibiotics after World War II.  Physicians say that most of medicine today was discovered in the past 70 years.  The modern inventions of the MRI and CAT scan have improved the ability to view the human body, and treat illness.  Other modern developments, such as widespread vaccination and insecticides, are more controversial.  Preventive vaccination is credited with eliminating the terrible diseases of polio and smallpox, but other, newer vaccines are opposed by many parents.

Proposals to spend taxpayer money on embryonic stem cell research are controversial and open to much criticism.  In Germany, where the people experienced the horrors of the medical experiments connected with the Holocaust, the people are strongly against embryonic stem cell research.  Private investors show little interest in spending their own money on this even in the United States.  But a political movement linked to the [[abortion]] industry demands that taxpayer money be spent on this research, without any evidence that any good will ever come of it.  If embryonic stem cell research were so great, then why wouldn’t there be many private investors spending money on it?

Proposals to spend taxpayer money on embryonic stem cell research are controversial and open to much criticism.  In Germany, where the people experienced the horrors of the medical experiments connected with the Holocaust, the people are strongly against embryonic stem cell research.  Private investors show little interest in spending their own money on this even in the United States.  But a political movement linked to the [[abortion]] industry demands that taxpayer money be spent on this research, without any evidence that any good will ever come of it.  If embryonic stem cell research were so great, then why wouldn’t there be many private investors spending money on it?

==Security and Terrorism==

==Security and Terrorism==

As communications and travel makes the world seem like a smaller place, security issues become more important.  America can no longer rely on the vast distance of the oceans to protect herself from her enemies.  A terrorist is only a few hours away by plane, or by car in crossing a border.

As communications and travel make the world seem like a smaller place, security issues become more important.  America can no longer rely on the vast distance of the oceans to protect herself from her enemies.  A terrorist is only a few hours away by plane, or by car in crossing a border.

Terrorism is the main threat.  It has existed long before the 20th century.  The Crusades were a reaction to medieval terrorism in Jerusalem.  The anarchist movement that began in the late 1800s, and which claimed President William McKinley as a victim (to assassination) in 1901, used terrorism.  In 1920, a bomb exploded in a crowd in the Wall Street district of Manhattan, killing 40 and injuring 400.  A warning note read, “Remember we will not tolerate any longer. Free the political prisoners or it will be sure death for all of you. American Anarchists Fighters.”  The criminals were never caught.

Terrorism is the main threat.  It has existed long before the 20th century.  The Crusades were a reaction to medieval terrorism in Jerusalem.  The anarchist movement that began in the late 1800s, and which claimed President William McKinley as a victim (to assassination) in 1901, used terrorism.  In 1920, a bomb exploded in a crowd in the Wall Street district of Manhattan, killing 40 and injuring 400.  A warning note read, “Remember we will not tolerate any longer. Free the political prisoners or it will be sure death for all of you. American Anarchists Fighters.”  The criminals were never caught.