Changes

A decade later, in 1961, the Soviet Union reacted to a different problem:  huge numbers of refugees fleeing communism in East Berlin to live in the free West Berlin.  While President Kennedy was enjoying a long, relaxing weekend, the communists built a concrete wall to separate East Berlin from West Berlin.  Barbed wire was placed atop this “Berlin Wall,” and armed guards were posted along it to shoot and kill anyone trying to escape from the East into the West (no one would want to go in the opposite direction).  Stories of daring and sometimes successful escapes are fascinating to read.  This was the wall at which President Ronald Reagan stood in the late 1980s demanding that the head of the Soviet Union “tear down this wall!”

A decade later, in 1961, the Soviet Union reacted to a different problem:  huge numbers of refugees fleeing communism in East Berlin to live in the free West Berlin.  While President Kennedy was enjoying a long, relaxing weekend, the communists built a concrete wall to separate East Berlin from West Berlin.  Barbed wire was placed atop this “Berlin Wall,” and armed guards were posted along it to shoot and kill anyone trying to escape from the East into the West (no one would want to go in the opposite direction).  Stories of daring and sometimes successful escapes are fascinating to read.  This was the wall at which President Ronald Reagan stood in the late 1980s demanding that the head of the Soviet Union “tear down this wall!”

Back in 1945, the United Nations was set up by Soviet spy Alger Hiss, who was a confidant of Roosevelt, initially in San Francisco.  The United Nations charter established a General Assembly on the principle of one vote per nation.  There was an 11-member Security Council on which Great Britain, China, the United States, France and the Soviet Union had permanent seats.  The other seats rotate and have representative nations from around the world.  Today the Security Council has 15 seats, and communist Hugo Chavez from Venezuela seeks a seat on it.  Any nation on the Security Council can veto any proposal.  The United Nations moved to New York City where it sits today, and many feel it is ineffective or even counterproductive.  Supporters of the United Nations say that it is important to promote peace and participate in peacekeeping operations.

Back in 1945, the United Nations was set up by Soviet spy Alger Hiss, who was a confidant of Roosevelt, initially in San Francisco.  The United Nations charter established a General Assembly on the principle of one vote per nation.  There was an 11-member Security Council on which Great Britain, China, the United States, France and the Soviet Union had permanent seats.  The other seats rotate and have representative nations from around the world.  Today the Security Council has 15 seats, and the communist Hugo Chavez from Venezuela has requested a seat on it.  Any nation on the Security Council can veto any proposal.  The United Nations moved to New York City where it sits today, and many feel it is ineffective or even counterproductive.  Supporters of the United Nations say that it is important to promote peace and participate in peacekeeping operations.

The United States had several reactions to the Cold War.  One was a policy of “containment”, whereby America helped smaller countries seeking to resist the spread of communism to them.  The Truman Doctrine was a statement of support to Greece and Turkey against communist advances, and Congress authorized military and economic aid.

The United States had several reactions to the Cold War.  One was a policy of “containment”, whereby America helped smaller countries seeking to resist the spread of communism to them.  The Truman Doctrine was a statement of support to Greece and Turkey against communist advances, and Congress authorized military and economic aid.

That single maneuver turned certain defeat into certain victory, as the North Korean army was then stuck without supplies.  But a month later communist Chinese began flooding into North Korea by the hundreds of thousands to help the fellow communists.  General MacArthur wanted to defeat them also, but President Truman refused and fired MacArthur for his subordination.  MacArthur had disobeyed orders from his commander-in-chief, and faced consequences for that.  In July 1953, a ceasefire was signed reestablishing the 38th parallel as the dividing line.  A demilitarized zone on both sides exists to this day.

That single maneuver turned certain defeat into certain victory, as the North Korean army was then stuck without supplies.  But a month later communist Chinese began flooding into North Korea by the hundreds of thousands to help the fellow communists.  General MacArthur wanted to defeat them also, but President Truman refused and fired MacArthur for his subordination.  MacArthur had disobeyed orders from his commander-in-chief, and faced consequences for that.  In July 1953, a ceasefire was signed reestablishing the 38th parallel as the dividing line.  A demilitarized zone on both sides exists to this day.

The North Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, ruled the country for decades and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong Il, who recently alarmed the world by saying he has nuclear weapons.  South Korea, meanwhile, has grown, with capitalism, far stronger than North Korea.  South Korea had its first free elections in 1987.

The North Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, ruled the country for decades and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong Il, who more recently alarmed the world by saying he has nuclear weapons.  South Korea, meanwhile, has grown, with capitalism, far stronger than North Korea.  South Korea had its first free elections in 1987.

Repeated attempts to reunite North and South Korea have been total failures, as North Korea remains completely communist (like China and Cuba) while South Korea is one of the most Christian and free enterprise nations in the world.  The South Korean electronics company Samsung has risen to dominance in the computer video market (it makes remarkable computer and television screens), and the South Korean car company Hyundai has also been successful in competing against the Japanese and American companies.

Repeated attempts to reunite North and South Korea have been total failures, as North Korea remains completely communist (like China and Cuba) while South Korea is one of the most Christian and free enterprise nations in the world.  The South Korean electronics company Samsung has risen to dominance in the computer video market (it makes remarkable computer and television screens), and the South Korean car company Hyundai has also been successful in competing against the Japanese and American companies.