Unit 6 Blog #2

Biological weapons have been used throughout history to cause massive damage to country's population, morale, and armies in large scale wars. While first used in crude ways by transmitting diseases through dead bodies or animals, as technology has advanced, so has the biology that has the power to infect and kill millions of people. Biological warfare has branched into the cultivation and use of bacteria, which are easier to control than most viruses that have just as much potential to harm the offensive army as the targets of this kind of attack. This kind of warfare is effective because it can be passed from person to person, with little effort put into the act after the initial bacteria or virus is sent out to a group of people. Biological weapons are usually grouped in three sections, such as germs, bacteria, and chemicals. While chemicals are considered on a different level of warfare, Chemical Warfare, they are still linked to biological warfare in the sense that they affect people directly by being ingested through food or water and spread from person to person. I think that this is a very effective method of warfare due to the stealth at which bacteria and/or viruses could be spread to enemies. However, I believe that this method of warfare is closely linked to terrorism, due to its lack of shock-and-awe violence like nuclear bombs. In a way, biological warfare has the potential to kill many more people than a weapon of mass destruction could due to the fact that once someone is infected, they can spread diseases to any person that they are in contact with without having any knowledge of it for a period of time.

Unit 6 Blog Post #1

With the progression of technologies, and the higher understanding of atoms and their actions in the 1930's and 1940's, America (as well as a few other countries) entered into a new era of warfare in which Weapons of Mass Destruction became one of the largest means to start and control war throughout the world. With the majority of American research and efforts to create a bomb in the year 1939, World War II was already turning out to be a different beast entirely in the numbers of casualties, types of weapons used, and aftermath. Atom bombs, or nuclear bombs, were created due to an increased understanding of the mechanics of atoms, as well as the pressure from the US to continue to be on the cutting edge of weapon development in order to fight for our place as the most powerful nation in the world. Nuclear bombs were used in the Cold War to warn the Soviet Union of the power that our country held, and we showed the effects of this power when the first atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Since then, the United States developed a hydrogen bomb that was tested in 1952. Soon after then, the Soviet Union developed a Hydrogen bomb as well, and started the "arms race" for nuclear weapons.
I believe that it is unethical to use weapons of mass destruction during war or any other time to stop an enemy, deplete armies, or send a message across. However, I also believe that war does not act upon a set list, or any list, of ethics and responsibilities. Because of these beliefs, the use of nuclear bombs is to me, never excusable or justifiable.

Unit 5 Presentation-Domestic Terrorism

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wxfAp9CR0nr8ClK7gIL2TunYe__OMXSG3TSjBAFuWKM/edit#slide=id.gde121808_05


This presentation describes the most prominent groups of identified domestic terrorists in America, and focuses on the actions and history of the Animal Liberation Front, the Earth Liberation Front, and the Black Liberation Army. While researching these various organizations, I found myself continually challenged due to the fact that I believe in the ethical treatment of animals, the continued efforts to use sustainable and earth friendly sources of power, and the advancement of equality among people of all races, genders, religions, and every other identifiable and discriminated against traits. I also explore the current issues of gun control and the possible repercussions on our national security with the rise of protesters against tightening gun control regulations and limiting the ease of obtaining and using firearms of ordinary citizens.