1. Xoxo 2. “Florida's Unemployment Figures Improve Slightly” 3. Brent Kallestad 4. The Miami Herald 5. March 30, 2012 6.Http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/30/2722309/floridas-new-unemployment-figures.html
Florida’s unemployment rate is slowly improving showing how change in the modern era occurs quickly and is consequential for a greater number of people. Humans cannot be understood apart from social structures and unemployment is no different. With the decline in unemployment Governor Rick Scot and President Obama can see their individual experiences shaped by macro level social processes when their voter turnout is favorable because of it. People who are unemployed cannot assess their situation on a micro level observation but should pay attention to the cultural processes at work such as Rick Scott’s seven year plan to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. With Scott’s political goals at play Floridians are favoring the democratic Presidential candidate showing how different structures are interdependent and how personal troubles have an underlying social issue connected to them. These politician’s careers are dependent on the economy and job increases not just their personal traits. By increasing individual’s sociological imagination in association with unemployment they can become aware of how governors and political structures impact the economic phenomenon and can alleviate the burden of inadequacy. The spiritual condition Mills points as the root of many contemporary problems may be avoided. If individuals denounce their sense of apathy and rejuvenate their faith in political leaders, involvement in politics can be expected to rise and solutions for social problems such as unemployment and economic inequality can be addressed more efficiently.
Lion Thousands gather at Miami rally for Trayvon Martin Anonymous Gainesville Sun 4/2/12 http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120401/WIRE/120409977/1034?template=printart
Habermas discusses the role of the public sphere checking on government abuse of power. The key function of the public sphere was rational critical debate, but it was being replaced by leisure activities. Lastly, he hoped the public sphere could be revived. A great example of this is the Trayvon Martin case. When law enforcement investigated the murder of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, they declined to arrest him or file charges. The police took it into their own hands to decide the fate of this case without following proper procedure. For over a month, Trayvon’s murder was a private matter. This case would have been swept under the carpet if not for the involvement of thousands of people in rallies across the country. These rallies show that the public sphere is not dead. These rallies have prompted discussions of racism and gun laws in the United States. Habermas would want these discussions to be carried on and to figure out further issues. Realistically, the public sphere will fade away when people return to their daily leisure activities and will not resurface until another devastating issue arises.
Faith Title: Using Social Networks to Spur Greener Behavior Author: Marc Gunther Source: greenbiz.com Date: April 03, 2012 URL: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/04/03/using-social-networks-spur-greener-behavior?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Greenbuzz+%28GreenBiz+Feed%29
Habermas talks about communicative action and explains that it allows human beings to understand and agree with one another, to make plans for communication. This article represents exactly what Habermas would stand for. Steve Case, an advocate for green behavior, shared that we are entering into a second internet revolution. He means that individuals are sharing about businesses, ideas, and advice through the social networks. He believes that “the rise of social networks and the mobile internet may be the best things to happen to sustainable business in a long time.” Habermas likes the ideas of Philo-cafes, coffee houses, and salons. However, he would greatly appreciate this idea because social networks are for everyone and anyone interested. It gives individuals the opportunity to be apart when they choose and to share great ideas and feelings. This has no restrictions except maybe age, which is acceptable being that we need to be reaching a mature audience. Social networks are allowing individuals to take part and express what they truly feel and understand without limitations on them. It creates group solidarity, the latent function as a result of causing people to feel free to come together and talk about whatever they chose and how it may or may not impact others. Also, from the social networks, groups are created and come together outside of the actual network.
Boston Students react to the death of Trayvon Martin Shelby Webb March 22, 2012 http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_fa94ad9c-73d9-11e1-a8bb-0019bb2963f4.html
The Trayvon Martin case pulls in both ideas of Habermas: legitimation crisis and communicative action. Those who have decided to take part in bringing justice for Trayvon Martin feel that there is a legitimation crisis since they believe that racism still exists. Therefore, those people have taken communicative action in reaction to this crisis. This has taken action in several forms. Many have held forums and discussions to talk about the case and the greater issue of racism in America. Others have taken to the streets in protests and candle light vigils asking for Zimmerman and the Samford police department head to be arrested. Just as Habermas believes, those who have taken part of any of the actions for justice for Trayvon, hope that there will be change in the situation.
Schmady U.S. Puts $10 million Bounty on Mumbai Terror Suspect's Head Mark Memmot npr.org 4/3/12 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/04/03/149905188/u-s-puts-10-million-bounty-on-mumbai-terror-suspects-head
The United States government has long established itself as the "police force of the world," dispensing their own form of justice to the ends of the earth, justified by little more than a claim to righteousness. However, the justice they dispense comes in the the form of military occupation, economic sanctions, and in this case, a bounty of $10 million. Now, I know little about this man's beliefs and intentions or history of violence, but the patterns of violence repaying violence is cyclical. In the words of Gandhi, "an eye for and eye makes the whole world blind." Justice should be about overcoming systems of violence and the struggle for power, but instead we only participate and add fuel to the human history of violence. In order to break this cycle, we must have some sort of communication where we can understand why we are violent toward each other and we can hopefully come to a rational conclusion on how we can both find peace for the betterment of human kind, rather than continuing to kill one another.
1. Baciarsi 2. Police search for gun used in California college shooting 3. Ashley Hayes 4. CNN.com 5. April 3, 2012 6. http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/03/us/california-shooting/index.html
From the perspective of C.W. Mills. The shooter, One Goh, had a bad experience during college at Oikos University, he was of a different ethnicity as the majority of the other students and he was made fun of for not speaking very good English, he was also kicked out of the university. You could say he was experiencing alienation because he lacked the same characteristics that people in his community had. You could apply both of Mills assumptions to this case, one being that human beings cannot be understood apart from social structures in which they are formed and interact, and sociological imagination. I think if One Goh would have had a better understanding of his individual experiences and how they are related and influenced by society he wouldn't have committed that crime because he wouldn't have felt so alone if he knew others who feel isolated in society our out there, that he's not the only one who doesn't fit in. I feel that someone who would do this would feel that it is them against the world, and if he would have had a stronger sociological imagination he would have known that wasn't true.
1.Eljaly 2.Hundreds attend Trayvon Martin rally in Greensboro 3.Dioni L. Wise 4.News-record.com 5.March 31, 2012 6.http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/03/30/article/more_than_200_attend_trayvon_martin_rally_in_sit_in_museum
From the point of view of Mills The case of Trayvon Martin is disheartening. While the case has many ethical issues behind it, this case has brought many people together to fight for justice. The problem is that many people think that this case is just about Trayvon, some don’t see the depth of the problem. These people lack, what I like to call, the sociological imagination. They see the problem as being between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman; they don’t realize that the problem goes much deeper than that. These people need to see this individual experience, not as a single experience but as an instance that is influenced by macro level processes. This crime is not just about the killing of a young boy, it’s about the legal system behind the matter and why this case is not being appropriately investigated. This case also leads to the social problem that I call Apathy. From situations such as this one the people, especially those that live in this community will lose their faith in their leaders. They will not trust the police department in the area because they will feel that there is some corruption in that institution. This will in the end cause more problems because society will have no apathy for their leaders since they have lost faith in them.
1. Herman 2. “Martin Death Protests Mix the Old and the New” 3. Dewayne Wickham 4. USA Today 5. April 3, 2012 6. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-04-03/trayvon-martin-protests-social-media/53968464/1
The Civil Rights Movement has been resurrected due to the Trayvon Martin case. According to Habermas, the legitimation crisis in this case would be the institutionalized racism in the United States. In response to this crisis, protestors young and old have come together to discuss how they are going to take action so that there is justice for Trayvon and other minority men and women that have been oppressed by the current institution. Habermas believed that these discussions would happen in Cafes and Coffee shops but in modern society, people are able to express their feelings through the internet. Young and old protestors have come together in the streets as well, participating in rallies and protests hoping for the result of Zimmerman’s arrest and trial. If Zimmerman does go to trial, then this could be a huge step to changing society so that it meets the needs of minorities in America rather than further oppressing them.
Pickles "Georgia Democrats try to repeal 'Stand Your Ground'law" Rebekka Schramm CBSatlanta.com March 27th,2012 http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/17262525/georgia-democrats-try-to-repeal-stand-your-ground-law?hpt=po_bn6 The public sphere explained through Habermas is easily exhibited in this article. Not only is it shown through the typical protest for what you believe in but on a much larger scale. In this short article two democrats plan to introduce legislation to repeal the law that has been used to justify shooter Zimmerman's actions in the huge case of Trayvon Martin. These two democrats are being seen as the voice of thousands of demonstrators and protestors in Geeorgia and all across the US fighting for justice. In defining public sphere, part of the definition described individuals coming together to discuss social problems and using this to influence political action. In every way this article represented the many ongoing fights across the country for political justice not just for the young man killed but for society as a whole. Also, for every group of diverse individuals fighting for various causes. It was heroic for them to take their fight to the next level and it is public sphering at it's best.
1. Ayiti 2. NYPD's stop, question and frisk' policy is racial profiling, critics say 3. Steve Kastenbaum 4. CNN.com 5. April 3, 2012 6. http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/nypds-stop-question-and-frisk-policy-is-racial-profilingcritics-say/?hpt=hp_bn1
This article talks about the issues African American's face with racial profiling by the NYPD. The argument is that the 'stop, question and frisk policy is a racist policy. According to Kastenbaum, African Americans are amongst minorities who are stopped the most by police, and 90% of those stops do not result in an arrest. Many of the people in this article discuss the many times they have been pulled over because they 'looked' suspicious because of the color of their skin. Racial profiling is a growing concern among minorities especially among the black community. In order to tackle these issues faced by minorities today, they have come together as community to not only voice their frustrations, but to also actively protest for change. Tourre, an African American man who has been a victim himself of the 'stop, question and frisk' policy, has filed a class-action law suite against the police along with several men of color saying that this policy is racist. This article displays Habermas' idea of a rational society. Habermas views communication as the vehicle for change. He believed in group solidarity-where people can talk about issues that are of concern to them. According to Habermas in order for group solidarity to happen people must come together to talk about social issues, as a product of their conversations they become motivated to promote change. The minorities in this article have come together in their communities to protest for change and equality.They have taken their voices to the streets to be heard in hopes of changing this policy that is affecting their communities.
1. dalila 2. "Worldwide weird: Feline fun in Japan's cat cafes" 3. Lindsey Galloway 4. BBC 5. April 3, 2012 6. http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120402-worldwide-weird-feline-fun-in-japans-cat-cafes
I think Habermas would be interested to see how his idea of "groups of solidarity" has manifested itself in Japan. In cities throughout the country, individuals meet at cafes after work not to discuss the issues of their society, but to play with cats. These so-called cat cafes have become popular, providing entertainment, and serving drinks and food to patrons. Upon reading this article, I found it eerily similar to Habermas' notion of a philo-cafes, save the "philo" part. The fact that groups of people gather to play with cats, yet do not do the same to discuss issues of importance is disheartening. In this respect, Habermas was right- clearly, society is not meeting individual needs. Clearly, in this case, society has placed an emphasis on entertainment rather than communication.
Sunshine Do Negative Ads Make A Difference? Political Scientists Say Not So Much. Shankar Vedantam NPR April 3 2012 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/04/03/149875138/do-negative-ads-make-a-differencepolitical-scientists-say-not-so-much?ft=1&f=1024 The rise of negative campaign advertising is indicative of the shift towards manipulative rather than coercive or authoritative power. These rather than focus on the real issues these ads attempt to exploit the fears and hopes of the electorate to influence the election. Further, the advent of superPACs and other such groups used to disguise the sources of candidates funding and advertisements means that the public is even less able to identify those that are attempting to control them. The another major point of this article is that negative ads are being used even though they have not been shown to be the most effective form of political campaigning. The idea that those who create these ads, people in the advertising business, are pushing these types of add because they have created a lucrative business in producing them. This shows the dominance of the corporate sector over the other forms of power elite because advertisers have been able to make negative ads a defining feature of political campaigns even though it may not be in the best interest of politicians to use them. Further, they have been able to convince politicians to use negative ads even though the electorate, at whom the ads directed, seems fed up and disgusted with these types of ads.
1. Devaio 2. Zimmerman to Surrender if Charged: Attorney 3. NBCMiami 4. NBC 5. 4/4/2012 6. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46941293#.T3yT3PDOXWw
The Trayvon Martin case has seen an incredible amount of attention due to its controversial nature. Habermas described what he called a legitimation crisis: where a society does not meet the needs of an individual and those individuals are manipulated by institutions and structures. While racism is definitely a contemporary legitimation crisis, so is the obvious nature of pulling favors in legal matters. Since Zimmerman's (the defendant in question) father was a judge and has quite a bit of pull with the legal department, there has been a lot of speculation about whether or not they are delaying or even helping Zimmerman escape charges. This sort of manipulation is becoming widespread in our country and can been seen especially in the lobbying efforts made to congressman and the perks both businesses and congressman receive, as well as the final versions of the laws that are passed.
Watever1 Thousands gather at Miami rally for Trayvon Martin Associated Press Gainesville Sun April 1, 2012 http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120401/WIRE/120409977/1034?template=printart
The Trayvon Martin rally in Miami this past weekend would have made Habermas proud for it exemplified the role of the public sphere in civic matters. Thousands of people came out to support the case of Trayvon Martin and his family as well as the calling for justice from the Sanford Police Department and the State of Florida. While the facts and rumors of this case continue to be spun by the media, most will agree if it were not for the public outcry by ordinary individuals this case would have still remained largely hidden. Through these public sphere discussions, not only has this case been national but also the larger structural matters stemming from the case such as racial profiling, feelings of safety/control and current gun laws. By individuals actively engaging in communicative action with one another, they are able to voice their opinions freely while simultaneously breaking the media’s monopoly on who gets to control “the story” of the case. Rallies such as this give people the tools to be able to communicate freely with one another and gives them a feeling of power; this feeling of power in Habermas’s opinion was being increasingly taken away from individuals by institutions. In the case of the Trayvon Martin rally, people are not passively sitting around listening the official story(s) presented by the traditional media, for which many believe are severely distorting the facts for ratings, but instead engaging in interaction with one another. Hopefully rallies for this case as well as host of other criminal justice/social justice issues in America continue to happen so that citizens are able to communicate their ideas freely.
1. Ayitidou 2. “US unemployment aid applications hit 4-year low” 3. Christopher S. Rugaber 4. The Miami Herald 5. April 4, 2012 6. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/22/2707580/us-unemployment-aid-applications.html#storylink=misearch
According to Mills, the sociological imagination is the ability to see our individual experiences as they are related to and influenced by macro level social, cultural, and historical processes. The article is about the rate of unemployment applications in Florida being at the lowest in 4 years. This relates to Mills idea of sociological imagination because we have seen so many of these articles and news reports in the media about how unemployment has been such an issue. This article brings home the issue of unemployment since it shows its effects on Florida. Being a Florida resident, I am aware of the decrease of job opportunities. I understand how the unemployment rates in Florida are affecting my family and friends now. So with the rate of unemployment applications decreasing, this is parallel with the fact that more people are going to find a job.
1.Mezanmi 2.Trayvon Martin Miami Protest: Thousands Gather, Demand George Zimmerman Arrest 3.David Adams 4.Huffington Post Miami 5.April 1, 2012 6.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/01/trayvon-martin-miami-protest_n_1395156.html
The Sociological Imagination encourages us to connect individual experiences and societal relationships. The individual case of Travyon Martin has turned developed into a media frenzy and civil protest throughout the nation. This case allows for sociologist to assert that a social issue of racism may still be current today. In the United States, racism and efforts to abolish this mindset was perhaps the most prevalent in The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) with the intentions of outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans. According to the article, “thousands of protesters gathered in a downtown bayfront park on Sunday demanding the arrest of the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, in central Florida a month ago”. This incident brings to light the incongruity of justice and legal action of our institutions, arguing that the thing advocates of this case want the most to see is for chargers to be filed against Zimmerman at the least. Until this is done, it shows that society is composed of people that receive more favor and legal aid in terms of skin color. For instance, many argue the differences between Joran van der Sloot and George Zimmerman based on the victims. Yes, the motives may have been different but the issue lies in the amount of support and urgency to charge the men. All in all, seeing the amount of angst made public by the Trayvon Martin case leads one to believe that society is changing in that the laws, such as the Self Defense and Stand Your Ground Law are being better defined and that many individuals are becoming more socially aware, which in turn can be grounds for an advancement in society that we are to look further than our local environment and personality to influential structures in society, while we make history.
Above all, I seek a rational, fair, and just society. It is difficult to do this, however, when there is a dichotomy between political parties. Political ads that are negative seek to denounce opposing parties. This is detrimental to a society that needs to be unified in times like these. Instead of condemning one another through ads, candidates should work together to change the institutions of our country. Through coercion, authority, and manipulation these institutions have our government in the throes of war. Unfortunately, too many leaders in this country are focused on the needs and wants of those who are rich. Corporations may as well be running our country. Political ads today seek to manipulate the masses. Political figures have become too consumed with power. They do not focus on the poor, impoverished people who are exploited through these institutions. The media has become a monster in which people are convinced that the rich are good people, and that the poor do not exist. People are convinced to turn the other way when they see a homeless person, and to buy the best of the best, because they are convinced that is what it means to be affluent in America. Thanks to the media, instead of people having political discussions- debating in public and actually discussing issues- the media has made our opinions for us, and we are not able to say otherwise. The internet has thankfully helped to change this, but people still need to be politically active and actually attend political rallies and attempt to talk to these high-ranking officials to demand change. But still, when political ads are shown on television, how are people supposed to talk back to that? People have become too apathetic when it comes to politics. The masses are being controlled by corporations. This needs to stop. People should not lose faith in their politicians. They should be active in deciding who will run their country.
1. Beebis 2. Do Negative Ads Make a Difference? Political Scientists Say Not So Much 3. Shankar Vedantam 4. NPR 5. 4/3/12 6. http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/04/04/149875138/do-negative-ads-make-a-difference-political-scientists-say-not-so-much?ft=1&f=1024
1. Holmes 2. Waiting for Justice 3. Glenn Minnis 4. Black America Web 5. Friday, March 30, 2012, 5:43 am 6. http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/moving_america_news/38559
This article reflects on the case of a murdered Black 17 year old, named Trayvon Martin. The only known details are that Trayvon went to a store, bought Skittles and iced tea and somehow caught the attention of a 28 year old man named George Zimmerman. Zimmerman followed Trayvon and eventually shot him, but was not sent to prison after being interviewed by the local Sanford police. This has incited cries of injustice throughout the nation and the world, particularly throughout the Black community.
The entire Trayvon Martin case would greatly intrigue Jurgen Habermas. He would find the amount of communication taking place in the "public sphere" as a good sign. He would be pleased to see that citizens are making an effort to become more than passive consumers, swallowing whatever we're fed by the media and government. He would be pleased to see that we're forming "groups of solidarity", having meaningful, progress-focused conversations and are acting on our ideas to make society better. Furthermore, I think he would find the role of the media in the case to be interesting, because many stations like the liberal CNN and the more conservative FOX are engaging in "communicative action" that largely reflects the voices of the public. They bring specialists on to argue back and forth about everything from the evidence to the motives and what Americans could or are already doing to bring about justice in the most progressive manner possible. It's remarkable what a bit of arguing can do to even the most "passive" of societies.
At the top of each post you must list the following information: 1. Your Codeword 2. Title of the news article you choose (see suggestions below) 3. Author of the news article 4. Source of the news article 5. Date of the news article 6. Link (url) to the news article
Those six lines should be followed by your reflection from the perspective of the social theorist you choose from the list of options for each due date. A reflection is not a summary. Instead, what you are expected to do is to thoroughly read the news article of your choice and reflect on it from the perspective of one of the assigned Social Theorists. Note that your reflection may include a bit of summary, but it must not consist entirely of summarizing the article. Good reflections will analyze the issue discussed in the article from the perspective of one of the assigned Social Theorists; outstanding posts will even take the voice (write in the tone and style of) the Social Theorist. Reflections should be a minimum of one paragraph. They must be posted no later than 4pm on the due date below and the article you choose must have been published within two weeks of the due date. There are 3 points possible of Extra Credit for each post.
1. Xoxo
ReplyDelete2. “Florida's Unemployment Figures Improve Slightly”
3. Brent Kallestad
4. The Miami Herald
5. March 30, 2012
6.Http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/30/2722309/floridas-new-unemployment-figures.html
Florida’s unemployment rate is slowly improving showing how change in the modern era occurs quickly and is consequential for a greater number of people. Humans cannot be understood apart from social structures and unemployment is no different. With the decline in unemployment Governor Rick Scot and President Obama can see their individual experiences shaped by macro level social processes when their voter turnout is favorable because of it. People who are unemployed cannot assess their situation on a micro level observation but should pay attention to the cultural processes at work such as Rick Scott’s seven year plan to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
With Scott’s political goals at play Floridians are favoring the democratic Presidential candidate showing how different structures are interdependent and how personal troubles have an underlying social issue connected to them. These politician’s careers are dependent on the economy and job increases not just their personal traits. By increasing individual’s sociological imagination in association with unemployment they can become aware of how governors and political structures impact the economic phenomenon and can alleviate the burden of inadequacy. The spiritual condition Mills points as the root of many contemporary problems may be avoided. If individuals denounce their sense of apathy and rejuvenate their faith in political leaders, involvement in politics can be expected to rise and solutions for social problems such as unemployment and economic inequality can be addressed more efficiently.
Lion
ReplyDeleteThousands gather at Miami rally for Trayvon Martin
Anonymous
Gainesville Sun
4/2/12
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120401/WIRE/120409977/1034?template=printart
Habermas discusses the role of the public sphere checking on government abuse of power. The key function of the public sphere was rational critical debate, but it was being replaced by leisure activities. Lastly, he hoped the public sphere could be revived.
A great example of this is the Trayvon Martin case. When law enforcement investigated the murder of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, they declined to arrest him or file charges. The police took it into their own hands to decide the fate of this case without following proper procedure. For over a month, Trayvon’s murder was a private matter. This case would have been swept under the carpet if not for the involvement of thousands of people in rallies across the country. These rallies show that the public sphere is not dead. These rallies have prompted discussions of racism and gun laws in the United States. Habermas would want these discussions to be carried on and to figure out further issues. Realistically, the public sphere will fade away when people return to their daily leisure activities and will not resurface until another devastating issue arises.
Faith
ReplyDeleteTitle: Using Social Networks to Spur Greener Behavior
Author: Marc Gunther
Source: greenbiz.com
Date: April 03, 2012
URL: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/04/03/using-social-networks-spur-greener-behavior?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Greenbuzz+%28GreenBiz+Feed%29
Habermas talks about communicative action and explains that it allows human beings to understand and agree with one another, to make plans for communication. This article represents exactly what Habermas would stand for. Steve Case, an advocate for green behavior, shared that we are entering into a second internet revolution. He means that individuals are sharing about businesses, ideas, and advice through the social networks. He believes that “the rise of social networks and the mobile internet may be the best things to happen to sustainable business in a long time.” Habermas likes the ideas of Philo-cafes, coffee houses, and salons. However, he would greatly appreciate this idea because social networks are for everyone and anyone interested. It gives individuals the opportunity to be apart when they choose and to share great ideas and feelings. This has no restrictions except maybe age, which is acceptable being that we need to be reaching a mature audience. Social networks are allowing individuals to take part and express what they truly feel and understand without limitations on them. It creates group solidarity, the latent function as a result of causing people to feel free to come together and talk about whatever they chose and how it may or may not impact others. Also, from the social networks, groups are created and come together outside of the actual network.
Boston
ReplyDeleteStudents react to the death of Trayvon Martin
Shelby Webb
March 22, 2012
http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_fa94ad9c-73d9-11e1-a8bb-0019bb2963f4.html
The Trayvon Martin case pulls in both ideas of Habermas: legitimation crisis and communicative action. Those who have decided to take part in bringing justice for Trayvon Martin feel that there is a legitimation crisis since they believe that racism still exists. Therefore, those people have taken communicative action in reaction to this crisis. This has taken action in several forms. Many have held forums and discussions to talk about the case and the greater issue of racism in America. Others have taken to the streets in protests and candle light vigils asking for Zimmerman and the Samford police department head to be arrested. Just as Habermas believes, those who have taken part of any of the actions for justice for Trayvon, hope that there will be change in the situation.
Schmady
ReplyDeleteU.S. Puts $10 million Bounty on Mumbai Terror Suspect's Head
Mark Memmot
npr.org
4/3/12
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/04/03/149905188/u-s-puts-10-million-bounty-on-mumbai-terror-suspects-head
The United States government has long established itself as the "police force of the world," dispensing their own form of justice to the ends of the earth, justified by little more than a claim to righteousness. However, the justice they dispense comes in the the form of military occupation, economic sanctions, and in this case, a bounty of $10 million. Now, I know little about this man's beliefs and intentions or history of violence, but the patterns of violence repaying violence is cyclical. In the words of Gandhi, "an eye for and eye makes the whole world blind." Justice should be about overcoming systems of violence and the struggle for power, but instead we only participate and add fuel to the human history of violence. In order to break this cycle, we must have some sort of communication where we can understand why we are violent toward each other and we can hopefully come to a rational conclusion on how we can both find peace for the betterment of human kind, rather than continuing to kill one another.
1. Baciarsi
ReplyDelete2. Police search for gun used in California college shooting
3. Ashley Hayes
4. CNN.com
5. April 3, 2012
6. http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/03/us/california-shooting/index.html
From the perspective of C.W. Mills. The shooter, One Goh, had a bad experience during college at Oikos University, he was of a different ethnicity as the majority of the other students and he was made fun of for not speaking very good English, he was also kicked out of the university. You could say he was experiencing alienation because he lacked the same characteristics that people in his community had. You could apply both of Mills assumptions to this case, one being that human beings cannot be understood apart from social structures in which they are formed and interact, and sociological imagination. I think if One Goh would have had a better understanding of his individual experiences and how they are related and influenced by society he wouldn't have committed that crime because he wouldn't have felt so alone if he knew others who feel isolated in society our out there, that he's not the only one who doesn't fit in. I feel that someone who would do this would feel that it is them against the world, and if he would have had a stronger sociological imagination he would have known that wasn't true.
1.Eljaly
ReplyDelete2.Hundreds attend Trayvon Martin rally in Greensboro
3.Dioni L. Wise
4.News-record.com
5.March 31, 2012
6.http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/03/30/article/more_than_200_attend_trayvon_martin_rally_in_sit_in_museum
From the point of view of Mills
The case of Trayvon Martin is disheartening. While the case has many ethical issues behind it, this case has brought many people together to fight for justice. The problem is that many people think that this case is just about Trayvon, some don’t see the depth of the problem. These people lack, what I like to call, the sociological imagination. They see the problem as being between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman; they don’t realize that the problem goes much deeper than that. These people need to see this individual experience, not as a single experience but as an instance that is influenced by macro level processes. This crime is not just about the killing of a young boy, it’s about the legal system behind the matter and why this case is not being appropriately investigated.
This case also leads to the social problem that I call Apathy. From situations such as this one the people, especially those that live in this community will lose their faith in their leaders. They will not trust the police department in the area because they will feel that there is some corruption in that institution. This will in the end cause more problems because society will have no apathy for their leaders since they have lost faith in them.
1. Herman
ReplyDelete2. “Martin Death Protests Mix the Old and the New”
3. Dewayne Wickham
4. USA Today
5. April 3, 2012
6. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-04-03/trayvon-martin-protests-social-media/53968464/1
The Civil Rights Movement has been resurrected due to the Trayvon Martin case. According to Habermas, the legitimation crisis in this case would be the institutionalized racism in the United States. In response to this crisis, protestors young and old have come together to discuss how they are going to take action so that there is justice for Trayvon and other minority men and women that have been oppressed by the current institution. Habermas believed that these discussions would happen in Cafes and Coffee shops but in modern society, people are able to express their feelings through the internet. Young and old protestors have come together in the streets as well, participating in rallies and protests hoping for the result of Zimmerman’s arrest and trial. If Zimmerman does go to trial, then this could be a huge step to changing society so that it meets the needs of minorities in America rather than further oppressing them.
Pickles
ReplyDelete"Georgia Democrats try to repeal 'Stand Your Ground'law"
Rebekka Schramm
CBSatlanta.com
March 27th,2012
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/17262525/georgia-democrats-try-to-repeal-stand-your-ground-law?hpt=po_bn6
The public sphere explained through Habermas is easily exhibited in this article. Not only is it shown through the typical protest for what you believe in but on a much larger scale. In this short article two democrats plan to introduce legislation to repeal the law that has been used to justify shooter Zimmerman's actions in the huge case of Trayvon Martin. These two democrats are being seen as the voice of thousands of demonstrators and protestors in Geeorgia and all across the US fighting for justice. In defining public sphere, part of the definition described individuals coming together to discuss social problems and using this to influence political action. In every way this article represented the many ongoing fights across the country for political justice not just for the young man killed but for society as a whole. Also, for every group of diverse individuals fighting for various causes. It was heroic for them to take their fight to the next level and it is public sphering at it's best.
1. Ayiti
ReplyDelete2. NYPD's stop, question and frisk' policy is racial profiling, critics say
3. Steve Kastenbaum
4. CNN.com
5. April 3, 2012
6. http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/nypds-stop-question-and-frisk-policy-is-racial-profilingcritics-say/?hpt=hp_bn1
This article talks about the issues African American's face with racial profiling by the NYPD. The argument is that the 'stop, question and frisk policy is a racist policy. According to Kastenbaum, African Americans are amongst minorities who are stopped the most by police, and 90% of those stops do not result in an arrest. Many of the people in this article discuss the many times they have been pulled over because they 'looked' suspicious because of the color of their skin. Racial profiling is a growing concern among minorities especially among the black community. In order to tackle these issues faced by minorities today, they have come together as community to not only voice their frustrations, but to also actively protest for change. Tourre, an African American man who has been a victim himself of the 'stop, question and frisk' policy, has filed a class-action law suite against the police along with several men of color saying that this policy is racist. This article displays Habermas' idea of a rational society. Habermas views communication as the vehicle for change. He believed in group solidarity-where people can talk about issues that are of concern to them. According to Habermas in order for group solidarity to happen people must come together to talk about social issues, as a product of their conversations they become motivated to promote change. The minorities in this article have come together in their communities to protest for change and equality.They have taken their voices to the streets to be heard in hopes of changing this policy that is affecting their communities.
1. dalila
ReplyDelete2. "Worldwide weird: Feline fun in Japan's cat cafes"
3. Lindsey Galloway
4. BBC
5. April 3, 2012
6. http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120402-worldwide-weird-feline-fun-in-japans-cat-cafes
I think Habermas would be interested to see how his idea of "groups of solidarity" has manifested itself in Japan. In cities throughout the country, individuals meet at cafes after work not to discuss the issues of their society, but to play with cats. These so-called cat cafes have become popular, providing entertainment, and serving drinks and food to patrons. Upon reading this article, I found it eerily similar to Habermas' notion of a philo-cafes, save the "philo" part. The fact that groups of people gather to play with cats, yet do not do the same to discuss issues of importance is disheartening. In this respect, Habermas was right- clearly, society is not meeting individual needs. Clearly, in this case, society has placed an emphasis on entertainment rather than communication.
Sunshine
ReplyDeleteDo Negative Ads Make A Difference? Political Scientists Say Not So Much.
Shankar Vedantam
NPR
April 3 2012
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/04/03/149875138/do-negative-ads-make-a-differencepolitical-scientists-say-not-so-much?ft=1&f=1024
The rise of negative campaign advertising is indicative of the shift towards manipulative rather than coercive or authoritative power. These rather than focus on the real issues these ads attempt to exploit the fears and hopes of the electorate to influence the election. Further, the advent of superPACs and other such groups used to disguise the sources of candidates funding and advertisements means that the public is even less able to identify those that are attempting to control them. The another major point of this article is that negative ads are being used even though they have not been shown to be the most effective form of political campaigning. The idea that those who create these ads, people in the advertising business, are pushing these types of add because they have created a lucrative business in producing them. This shows the dominance of the corporate sector over the other forms of power elite because advertisers have been able to make negative ads a defining feature of political campaigns even though it may not be in the best interest of politicians to use them. Further, they have been able to convince politicians to use negative ads even though the electorate, at whom the ads directed, seems fed up and disgusted with these types of ads.
1. Devaio
ReplyDelete2. Zimmerman to Surrender if Charged: Attorney
3. NBCMiami
4. NBC
5. 4/4/2012
6. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46941293#.T3yT3PDOXWw
The Trayvon Martin case has seen an incredible amount of attention due to its controversial nature. Habermas described what he called a legitimation crisis: where a society does not meet the needs of an individual and those individuals are manipulated by institutions and structures. While racism is definitely a contemporary legitimation crisis, so is the obvious nature of pulling favors in legal matters. Since Zimmerman's (the defendant in question) father was a judge and has quite a bit of pull with the legal department, there has been a lot of speculation about whether or not they are delaying or even helping Zimmerman escape charges. This sort of manipulation is becoming widespread in our country and can been seen especially in the lobbying efforts made to congressman and the perks both businesses and congressman receive, as well as the final versions of the laws that are passed.
Watever1
ReplyDeleteThousands gather at Miami rally for Trayvon Martin
Associated Press
Gainesville Sun
April 1, 2012
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120401/WIRE/120409977/1034?template=printart
The Trayvon Martin rally in Miami this past weekend would have made Habermas proud for it exemplified the role of the public sphere in civic matters. Thousands of people came out to support the case of Trayvon Martin and his family as well as the calling for justice from the Sanford Police Department and the State of Florida. While the facts and rumors of this case continue to be spun by the media, most will agree if it were not for the public outcry by ordinary individuals this case would have still remained largely hidden. Through these public sphere discussions, not only has this case been national but also the larger structural matters stemming from the case such as racial profiling, feelings of safety/control and current gun laws. By individuals actively engaging in communicative action with one another, they are able to voice their opinions freely while simultaneously breaking the media’s monopoly on who gets to control “the story” of the case. Rallies such as this give people the tools to be able to communicate freely with one another and gives them a feeling of power; this feeling of power in Habermas’s opinion was being increasingly taken away from individuals by institutions. In the case of the Trayvon Martin rally, people are not passively sitting around listening the official story(s) presented by the traditional media, for which many believe are severely distorting the facts for ratings, but instead engaging in interaction with one another. Hopefully rallies for this case as well as host of other criminal justice/social justice issues in America continue to happen so that citizens are able to communicate their ideas freely.
1. Ayitidou
ReplyDelete2. “US unemployment aid applications hit 4-year low”
3. Christopher S. Rugaber
4. The Miami Herald
5. April 4, 2012
6. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/22/2707580/us-unemployment-aid-applications.html#storylink=misearch
According to Mills, the sociological imagination is the ability to see our individual experiences as they are related to and influenced by macro level social, cultural, and historical processes. The article is about the rate of unemployment applications in Florida being at the lowest in 4 years. This relates to Mills idea of sociological imagination because we have seen so many of these articles and news reports in the media about how unemployment has been such an issue. This article brings home the issue of unemployment since it shows its effects on Florida. Being a Florida resident, I am aware of the decrease of job opportunities. I understand how the unemployment rates in Florida are affecting my family and friends now. So with the rate of unemployment applications decreasing, this is parallel with the fact that more people are going to find a job.
1.Mezanmi
ReplyDelete2.Trayvon Martin Miami Protest: Thousands Gather, Demand George Zimmerman Arrest
3.David Adams
4.Huffington Post Miami
5.April 1, 2012
6.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/01/trayvon-martin-miami-protest_n_1395156.html
The Sociological Imagination encourages us to connect individual experiences and societal relationships. The individual case of Travyon Martin has turned developed into a media frenzy and civil protest throughout the nation. This case allows for sociologist to assert that a social issue of racism may still be current today. In the United States, racism and efforts to abolish this mindset was perhaps the most prevalent in The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) with the intentions of outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans. According to the article, “thousands of protesters gathered in a downtown bayfront park on Sunday demanding the arrest of the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, in central Florida a month ago”. This incident brings to light the incongruity of justice and legal action of our institutions, arguing that the thing advocates of this case want the most to see is for chargers to be filed against Zimmerman at the least. Until this is done, it shows that society is composed of people that receive more favor and legal aid in terms of skin color. For instance, many argue the differences between Joran van der Sloot and George Zimmerman based on the victims. Yes, the motives may have been different but the issue lies in the amount of support and urgency to charge the men. All in all, seeing the amount of angst made public by the Trayvon Martin case leads one to believe that society is changing in that the laws, such as the Self Defense and Stand Your Ground Law are being better defined and that many individuals are becoming more socially aware, which in turn can be grounds for an advancement in society that we are to look further than our local environment and personality to influential structures in society, while we make history.
Above all, I seek a rational, fair, and just society. It is difficult to do this, however, when there is a dichotomy between political parties. Political ads that are negative seek to denounce opposing parties. This is detrimental to a society that needs to be unified in times like these. Instead of condemning one another through ads, candidates should work together to change the institutions of our country. Through coercion, authority, and manipulation these institutions have our government in the throes of war. Unfortunately, too many leaders in this country are focused on the needs and wants of those who are rich. Corporations may as well be running our country.
ReplyDeletePolitical ads today seek to manipulate the masses. Political figures have become too consumed with power. They do not focus on the poor, impoverished people who are exploited through these institutions. The media has become a monster in which people are convinced that the rich are good people, and that the poor do not exist. People are convinced to turn the other way when they see a homeless person, and to buy the best of the best, because they are convinced that is what it means to be affluent in America.
Thanks to the media, instead of people having political discussions- debating in public and actually discussing issues- the media has made our opinions for us, and we are not able to say otherwise. The internet has thankfully helped to change this, but people still need to be politically active and actually attend political rallies and attempt to talk to these high-ranking officials to demand change. But still, when political ads are shown on television, how are people supposed to talk back to that? People have become too apathetic when it comes to politics. The masses are being controlled by corporations. This needs to stop. People should not lose faith in their politicians. They should be active in deciding who will run their country.
1. Beebis
Delete2. Do Negative Ads Make a Difference? Political Scientists Say Not So Much
3. Shankar Vedantam
4. NPR
5. 4/3/12
6. http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/04/04/149875138/do-negative-ads-make-a-difference-political-scientists-say-not-so-much?ft=1&f=1024
1. Holmes
ReplyDelete2. Waiting for Justice
3. Glenn Minnis
4. Black America Web
5. Friday, March 30, 2012, 5:43 am
6. http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/moving_america_news/38559
This article reflects on the case of a murdered Black 17 year old, named Trayvon Martin. The only known details are that Trayvon went to a store, bought Skittles and iced tea and somehow caught the attention of a 28 year old man named George Zimmerman. Zimmerman followed Trayvon and eventually shot him, but was not sent to prison after being interviewed by the local Sanford police. This has incited cries of injustice throughout the nation and the world, particularly throughout the Black community.
The entire Trayvon Martin case would greatly intrigue Jurgen Habermas. He would find the amount of communication taking place in the "public sphere" as a good sign. He would be pleased to see that citizens are making an effort to become more than passive consumers, swallowing whatever we're fed by the media and government. He would be pleased to see that we're forming "groups of solidarity", having meaningful, progress-focused conversations and are acting on our ideas to make society better.
Furthermore, I think he would find the role of the media in the case to be interesting, because many stations like the liberal CNN and the more conservative FOX are engaging in "communicative action" that largely reflects the voices of the public. They bring specialists on to argue back and forth about everything from the evidence to the motives and what Americans could or are already doing to bring about justice in the most progressive manner possible. It's remarkable what a bit of arguing can do to even the most "passive" of societies.