1. We began yesterday reading through the typed notes for Unit four. As I read through the points, students have to fill in the missing words on their handout. They also are asked to write things in the margins when we cover a topic that could use more description or explanation. (I have been really pleased with how their listening skills have developed and some are getting better at recognizing that the few minutes it takes to write the extra information pays off in the end with higher marks and better understanding. Good job!)
2. We had a good discussion, despite a few students interupting (CHRIS AND CALVIN), about the Security Council of the United Nations. Having watched the movie The Interpreter in English earlier this year, students should have a clear understanding of the function and set up the the U.N. The Security Council is a group of five countries that are stronger, more prominent powers that were allied together during the Second World War. These five countries EACH have veto power to overrule anything the other nations pass.
3. We discussed, briefly, how Truman was able to get the “okay” from the U.N. and not be vetoed by countries in the Security Council, namely the Soviet Union and China, in order to begin their entry into the Korea War. Obviously, since the Soviets were fighting for the spread of Communism in Korea, and the Americans were fighting to stop that, all the Soviets had to do was use their veto power and the authorization to go to war would have been withheld. At the time, though, China was disallowed from being involved with the U.N. and Security Council and the Soviets were boycotting their involvement as well until China was allowed back in. This was Truman’s chance to bypass both the Soviets and China and get the approval for war, because those countries weren’t present to say ‘nay’. Interesting, hmm? Timing is as important in history as it is in life.

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Here is a report on sanctions the Security Council more recently imposed against Iran for continuing to enrich their Uranium industry, a possible nuclear danger to the world.