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, which was hyped in the media, alarmed some Americans, and politicians 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.  Some schoolbooks and promoters of the space program teach that the space program led to the invention of Teflon, now widely used in cooking, but that claim is false.<ref>''See'' [http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ahrpa/opa/kids/calendar/kidfeb.htm Patent site]; [http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/mar/05/business/chi-0703050135mar05 Chicago Tribune article]</ref>

Sputnik, which was hyped in the media, alarmed some Americans, and politicians 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.  Some schoolbooks and promoters of the space program teach that the space program led to the invention of Teflon, now widely used in cooking, but that claim is false.<ref>''See'' http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ahrpa/opa/kids/calendar/kidfeb.htm; http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/mar/05/business/chi-0703050135mar05</ref>

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 successfully 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 successfully docked together in space.

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 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 nomadic Kurds have been persecuted by Turks, Iranians and, most recently, Iraqis.  The former Yugoslavia has also been accused of ethnic cleansing.

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 results 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.

The United Nations issued a Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.  It included in basic human rights “life, liberty, and security of person.”  In the United States, Rev. Martin Luther King led a movement in the 1950s and 1960s to establish civil rights for African Americans.  There were many protests and arrests, and Rev. King himself spent time in jail at one point.  But he and his supporters overcame the opposition and established equal rights regardless of race.  Ever since, virtually every other movement has attempted to claim authority based on this major civil rights movement.  Yet some movements today that claim to be civil rights movements actually conflict with Rev. King’s own Christian goals.  For example, Rev. King spoke out against the black Muslim movement, but he is almost never quoted for it.

The United Nations issued a Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.  It included in basic human rights “life, liberty, and security of person.”  In the United States, Rev. Martin Luther King led a movement in the 1950s and 1960s to establish civil rights for African Americans.  There were many protests and arrests, and Rev. King himself spent time in jail at one point.  But he and his supporters overcame the opposition and established equal rights regardless of race.  Ever since, virtually every other movement has attempted to claim authority based on this major civil rights movement.  Yet some movements today that claim to be civil rights movements actually conflict with Rev. King’s own Christian goals.  For example, Rev. King spoke out against the black Muslim movement, but this criticism by him is almost never quoted by the media.

Public praise of Christian human rights workers is also rare.  An exception was in 1979, when the Nobel Prize committee broke from its own tradition and gave an award to an outwardly religious woman, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India.  She was recognized for her work on behalf of the sick and poor of India.  When the government of India announced its intention to tax her award, thereby preventing her from contributing it to her work, an international outcry caused the Indian government to allow her to receive her award tax-free.  When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Indians gave her a funeral with full military honors!

Public praise of Christian human rights workers is also rare.  An exception was in 1979, when the Nobel Prize committee broke from its own tradition and gave an award to an outwardly religious woman, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India.  She was recognized for her work on behalf of the sick and poor of India.  When the government of India announced its intention to tax her award, thereby preventing her from contributing it to her work, an international outcry caused the Indian government to allow her to receive her award tax-free.  When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Indians gave her a funeral with full military honors!