 |
|
|
"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Chatting with my grand-daughter, I realized there is a lot she doesn't know about World History, foreign countries or their leaders. This in turn made me think about the upcoming election for President in 2008. What would our country be like if it was communist or if we had a dictator as a leader. I used to be very interested in World Governments; so it seemed natural to start doing some research.
As I dove into this endeavor, I have decided this information might be helpful to others. I am sharing a condensed version of the more relevant information that I have found. There is a wealth information on the web, by reading books, and just talking to people from foreign countries. I have linked to some great sites with information and even found some of the web sites designed for some of the dictators.
My personal opinion and thoughts:
I don't want The United States of America to become a communist country, nor do I want a dictator in charge of our country.
For those that are not happy with America I ask you, who did you vote for or did you even vote? I urge you to think about what it would be like to live in a country that is communist or has a dictator as a leader. Then think about the people you elected, is he/she really representing your beliefs the way you would like, if not, contact them.
I really get frustrated when people condemn our President for everything that is wrong with our country and foreign countries. It is the politicans as a whole that are responsible for what happens in our country, the President doesn't do it alone. Our President is the head of the executive branch of the United States government and uses the powers granted to him by the Constitution and by Federal law. Basically our President oversees the country and even though he has a lot of power, it is the Senate and the Congress that are supposed to represent our beliefs. The President has the right to veto the Bills that are given to him for signing. There are certain rules that apply.
I have been amazed how many people do not know that our President can not write a bill and send it to the Congress, he must present his idea to others and they must write the Bill and present it to Congress on his behalf. There are a lot of rules that stay in place to protect us.
- A list of how to contact Senators
- A list of how to contact your Representative
- Contact President Bush,
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500 - Contact Vice-President Cheney
As an american citizen what freedoms are you willing to give up? Religion, Speech, Assembly, Press, to Vote, go to school, or . . . .?
Women in America what are you willing to give up?
- When I was in Sams Club here in Fort Wayne the other day, I saw a woman in a Burka. She walked around trying to the best of her ability not to look at anyone. Her husband and children all walked around freely, in comfortable clothing. How would you like to have to constantly cover yourself up in hot weather, not be allowed to even show your mouth in a public place, walk behind your husband and your children, and not be allowed to even make choices as to what to buy?
- Perhaps you would like to not be allowed to vote because you are a woman.
- Some governments allowed woman or young daughters to be raped, and sometimes their husbands have to watch.
- Worst of all is some women in foreign countries must worry about having their female genital area mutilated.
If you have immigrated to our country and are unhappy with it; why are you staying here? One big question is, why did you come to our country to get away from your country and then you want to change our country, so it is more like yours? Freedom of religion doesn't mean that you should come to our Country and impose your religion on us, or take our religious freedom away from us. Freedom means that in America you have a right to chose to practice your religion without government reprisal and that we do not have a government imposed religion in the United States.
Dictators, are people that have complete control over their country.
My opinion and thoughts:
In thinking about dictators and some of the things I have read I have come to the following conclusions:
- Some people may prefer to live in these circumstances because they don't understand anything else, nor do they have never experience freedom.
- We can't expect to go into a country that's been under a thumb of a dictator and change it overnight, in a few days, months, or even a year. It takes years of redevelopment, reconstruction, and helping to change a way of life that people have become accustomed to. Aftganistan and Iraqi are great examples.
- There are people that want to be free but don't know how to go about it or are afraid government reprisal.
- Throughout history there have been times when in some of people in these countries have found the courage and stood up. The results were not good, many died. More information coming about this subject in a few days.
- These countries with dictators, normally have large militaries making it extremely hard to raise up against them.
Look at each of these men, they don't look like tyrants or dictators. In fact, some of them even smile. I urge you to learn about the candidates that are running for the office of President, the Senate, the Congress, Governor, Mayor or for any political position. It takes time to change a country.
Ten top dictators 2008
Learn about the top 10 dictators on Parade's list in 2008. Then make your own opinion.
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Communism is a political or social idea. In a communist country the government watches over the people, and maintains equality in property, and everything else. Communism is a perfect breeding ground for government corruption.
Learn about these communist countries before you travel to them and check with the State Department to see if there are any concerns:
 |
|
Hu Jintao is the dictator in charge of China is number 5 in Parade's list of worst dictators.
it has always concerned me that we purchase so much from China. Our purchasing from China is allowing the government to become even bigger. Seriously the people's situation in China never gets better. If you have a chance talk to someone who has come here from China; of course they will ask you not to share this information for fear of reprisal for family members that could not come with them.
 |
 |
In February 2008, Fidel Castro made it known that he plans to step down as leader in Cuba. Wow, isn't that wonderful? His brother Raul has been acting president since July 2006. Have you seen any changes?
- ABC News article
- Yahoo will it make a difference
- The Smirking Chimp
- CIA
 |
 |
Nguyen Minh Triet is the leader of VietNam. Vietnam was divided into two parts North and South Vietnam until they reunited in 1975.
The Vietnam War occurred from 1959 to 1975. This was and is still a much talked about controversial war.
I attended Ohio State University in the late early 70's. Rioting at Ohio State,Kent State, and other universities were mind boggling to me at the time and still are.
Protests are meant to be a way that people can communicate their opinion in a group. The idea is that they will be taken more seriously in a group. Protestors
At this time there were riots happening in the US about the war in Vietnam. For some reason there are some people that think that protests work. I particularly didn't like protests because usually immature, emotional, drug users, got overwhelmed with their passion against the war that they caused riots. So they went around destroying things that belonged to innocent people that had nothing to do with the war at all. I recall a night that my boyfriend and I were in a popular pizza place, we were eating and enjoying ourselves, when we decided to leave, there were riots starting around the University. We started back a round about way, wound up getting in the middle and I got a large puck accidentally in my leg, because we got into a mob of demonstrators. I especially didn't appreciate it because this was not my fault, I was not involved. This continued and finally I made the decision that I would withdraw and go home.
The SEATO Alliance was organized in 1954 under the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty. Representatives included Australia, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States. Allies of the United States included: Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.
- Seato information from Columbia Encyclopedia
- Wikipedia
- Why did Australia get involved?
- Information from the State Department about Vietnam
- Jane Fonda involvement
 Copyright 2008, GrannyBroom.com |
Flags courtesy of ITA's
Flags of All Countries used with permission.
Pictures of Dictators and Country Leaders are linked to source, thank you for there use.