1. sr71-745 2. For Afghan Wives, a Desperate, Fiery Way Out 3. Alissa J. Rubin 4. The New York Times 5. November 7, 2010 6.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/world/asia/08burn.html?_r=1
Mills talks about the power elite as those who command the resources of vast bureaucratic organizations that have come to dominate industrial societies. This article reminds me of the power elite as those Afghan husbands who bind their wives to the house. The Afghan culture prohibits these women from having a mind of their and speaking for themselves. And this article proves that for these women to have no outlet or sense of individualism, they lean toward suicide. The article explains how the choices for Afghan women are so restricted by the Afghan culture and enforced by the power elite (their husbands) that they end up literally burning themselves to death. It's tragic that these women have no voice in society and that they are willing to go to extreme lengths to commit suicide and use resources available to them as a means to do so. These women are so desperate to escape the power elite that they run away knowing that the consequences could be death. Afghan women hold no power in their culture and because of this they often commit harsh suicides to escape their lives.
1.Sacala 2.Green: Oil Traveled Up the Gulf Food Chain, Scientists Say 3.Campbell Robertson 4.The New York Times 5.November 8, 2010 6.http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/oil-traveled-up-the-gulf-food-chain-scientists-say/?partner=rss&emc=rss
Communicative rationality according to Habermas is the theory which expains how human rationality is necessary to have successful communication within a society. When it comes to the BP Oil Spill human rationality and strategies towards the clean-up are a direct result of successful communication. By taking the voice of "knowing how" the spill will effect us, and transforming it to "knowing that" the spill will effect us, can allow us to develop a sense of communicative action, which according to Habermas, combines the use of our human ways of thinking together. This main understanding of the task at hand can help contribute to making plans for a common action, which in this case would be a total cleanup. By relating these theories to the article, one can develop a sense of communicative action when comparing it to the BP Oil Spill. The article describes how even though most of the oil is gone, it is still in part a major problem within our ecosystem. Bacteria that normally consume particles of oil are moving up the food chain at a rapid speed, and are becoming a threat to much of the seafood that we eat. By having this understanding, we as humans can develop a sense of awareness. This awareness can help us to create a common action towards how we as a society tend to deal with the oil spill, and to be able to find a solution.
Dazzler Obama in Indonesia: Much work needed on Muslim ties BBC News 11-9-10 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11334555
That Mr. Obama has an excellent idea of what a democracy needs to be sustained. Muslims in America have faced an ongoing legitimation crisis as society does not meet their needs and they are discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity or religion- a practice America claims to no longer follow. The only way to stop this type of inequality is communicative action, and President Obama has taken the first and most important step which will set people to talking. He stated that the U.S. had reached out somewhat, but more work needed to be done. The president has one of the largest groups of solidarity in the country, and therefore has the greatest ability to affect change. All he needs to do is give people the prompt to begin their communicative action and they can take it from there! -Habermas
1. Mackie 2. Gay Activist Promotes Gay ‘Marriage’ at Ontario Catholic College 3. By Patrick B. Craine 4. LifeSiteNews.com 5. November 8th, 2010 6. http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/nov/10110812.html
Mills is famous for the creation of the social imagination; this article shows the power elite, the church, and the less powerful, gays and lesbians and how according to Mills how important it is to recognize the relationship between large-scale and the actions of individuals to have a successful society. An advocate for same sex marriage and homosexual adoption reached out to a local church to help unite the community and not have deep voids of segregation. This advocate tried to use religion as means of uniting the community and Mills could see this as the discipline of sociology.
1. Pena 2. Behavior: Too Much Texting Is Linked to Other Problems 3. Roni Caryn Rabin 4. The New York Times 5. November 9, 2010 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/health/research/16behavior.html
The subject of this article exhibits the opposite behaviors needed for change to occur. The article explains that texting in combination with social networking has led to students missing school and dozing off in class, among other things. These results, while negative in their own right, pose a real problem for the occurrence of communicative action. If any change for the better is going to occur, we first need communicative action. In our society, it is hard enough to get people together to talk about issues and how to solve them. If texting and social networks are going to further reduce communicative action by causing students to skip or sleep in class, there is little hope for them to come together and discuss pertinent issues.
With all the issues facing students today (such as rising tuition fees and the suffering job market), we need to maximize communicative action as much as possible. If students are spending too much time on social networks trying to fit in, they will have little or no time left over to deal with the issues they face. The solution to this problem would be to replace the socializing that students do through texting and Facebook with socializing in Philo=cafes. In such a setting, students would still be able to socialize with their peers, but the café would foster relevant conversations regarding things in society that need to be addressed. In short, we must shift our ways of communicating so that we may socialize and simultaneously address issues that are bothering us so that positive change may come about. - Habermas
1. Victory 2. Company Accused of Firing Over Facebook Post 3. Steven Greenhouse 4. The New York Times 5. November 8, 2010 6.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/business/09facebook.html?_r=1
“This very article is a prime example of something I call Legitimation Crisis. This woman is essentially being persecuted because society isn’t meeting her needs. The woman has recognized that she is unhappy with society (her boss, her job, the way things were working etc.) and thus decided to share her feelings over a social networking site called Facebook with her friends. The act of expressing her discontentment over Facebook is what I would call Communicative Action. I believe that this action uses all human ways of thinking and language. In that her boss found out about her post to her friends, she was instantly fired. Firing someone for stating their opinion over a social networking site is absolutely ludicrous to me. Humanity should be able to communicate their problems with one another in order for society to change and progress. Persecuting someone for this expression is only stymieing the evolution of society. Furthermore, I feel that Facebook furthers the notion of solidarity and firmly believe that this woman should not be punished for expressing her feelings concerning her reality to her friends.” -Habermas
1. Astarte 2. Congress' New Chance for Clean Energy 3. Kate Gordon and Jake Caldwell 4. CNN.com 5. 11/09/2010 6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/08/caldwell.gordon.energy/
With the recent midterm election, Congress has a chance to implement newer and cleaner energy sources. This is not a partisan issue but a global one. The use of fossil fuels ultimately impacts the climate, which will impact our economy in a negative way. Working on creating new energy sources will create jobs, and protect the environment.
In order to create change in a positive way, people must be able to look at the bigger picture using the sociological imagination. Instead of focusing only on our private troubles, such as how expensive gasoline is, we must be able to think creatively to find new solutions to an energy problem. People must become motivated to work towards developing new ways to solve an economic and environmental problem by participating in public discussion and debate. The Power Elite, which previously supported the dependence on oil, are realizing that it is to their advantage to transition to a cleaner source of energy. Instead of thinking with a narrow mind,those in power must realize that they will actually benefit if they invest in new energy sources. New jobs will be created which will ultimately improve the economy and increase overall wealth.
1. gmoney 2. Pilot Rebellion: Pilots Refusing to Use Full Body Scanners or Submit to Patdown 3. Sharyn Alfonsi and Jessica Hopper 4. ABC News 5. November 9, 2010 6. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/major-pilots-unions-rebel-tsa-screening-rules-urge/story?id=12100247
Two of the largest pilot unions have come together in a communicative action to bring attention to the current airport full body scans. These two groups have voiced their opinions, letting the public know that they believe these new screenings are "x-rated" and are unethical in their setting. They also discuss how the "scanners emit dangerous levels of radiation and that the alternative public patdown is disgraceful for a pilot in uniform." Some have even commented on how they felt violated after the pat-down and they felt so uncomfortable that they didn't think they could fly after. Last week, an e-mail was sent out by the head of Allied Pilots Association (union representing 11,000 American Airlines pilots), who suggested that pilots forgo a full-body scan and submitting to a public pat down. This group of a somewhat smaller population is voicing their opinions to make a common action to not follow through with these new procedures. They are connected with their various groups of solidarity (other pilots) and coming together to bring attention to a change.
CoAnd Christian areas targeted in Baghdad attacks Jim Muir http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11724378 11/10/11 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11724378 Habermas: It is clear that the recent attacks in Baghdad against Christians demonstrate evidence of an irrational culture. I say this because this society does not weigh heavily free communication, as people cannot communicate their religious beliefs freely and are being killed because of this. Christians in Baghdad lack freedom in their own society. Though the imposters or terrorists causing harm may feel they are doing the common good and are participating in a purposive action, they are hindering their fellow citizens from practicing their religious beliefs. One of the concepts I theorized is the idea of the legitimation crisis; this happens when the society one lives in does not meet their individual needs; they then interact by speaking of the wrongs in their society to others (by speaking out) to attempt to change the disparities. What is interesting in this case, is that many Christians in Baghdad though they are displeased with the government not protecting their rights of freedom; they perform in communicative action by praying for their attackers or remaining in the country even though they are being discriminated against, instead of attacking back. Christians in Baghdad by “sticking together” are engaging in groups of solidarity to create a comfortable community for other Christians. It is unfortunate that the institutions in Baghdad are manipulating the Christians in the society by not protecting their human rights and are indirectly forcing these people out of their country. However, this is a case where the society one lives in can determine if their individual needs will be met and how heavily the legitimation crisis will pursue. It is clear that in Baghdad Christians will continue to face this crisis
1. Aliakbar 2. Proficiency of Black Students Is Found to Be Far Lower Than Expected 3. TRIP GABRIEL 4. New York Times 5. 11/9/10 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/education/09gap.html?_r=1
This article makes a point to spotlight that African American students and youth are less proficient in many aspects of their education regardless of their poverty status. The article then goes on to point out that this is more likely not from just their status of wealth but how their home lives are and the encouragement they receive from their parents or guardians. The fact that the article mentions these possible causes emphasizes Mill's theory of Sociological Imagination used by governmental officials, as well as the Baltimore school district. Baltimore Public Schools used their Sociological Imagination to decipher a problem and cause, such as underachieving minorities. It appears to me that the Baltimore Public Schools were able to view the black student regardless of poverty level and imagine what problems they face, attendance and drop out rates being prevalent. This allowed them to create viable method such as house calls and alerts to help students achieve.
The key to combating the problem of education may be to use the life world scenario introduced by Habermas where groups openly talk about and fix problems in their society. It appears that this may have occurred in Baltimore. We can get all the statistics we need on the problem, what needs to happen now is ideal speech and the lifeworld so that solutions can be chosen and devised so that our future generations will succeed.
1. Pesca 2. Obama Pledges Expanded Ties with Muslim Nations 3. Sheryl Gay Stolberg 4. New York Times 5. November 9, 2010 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/world/asia/10prexy.html?ref=world
In order to effect change in the world, human agency must be recognized and the power of communicative action must be used. Tensions between the United States and the Muslim world are due in large part to a lack of communication, or a reliance on negative stereotypes to form their mutual understanding, or lack thereof. President Obama is confronting these ideas by making an effort, before in Cairo and yesterday in Indonesia, to communicate the need for change. Rather than communication between Muslim nations and the United States being about security, which would inherently perpetuate tensions, Obama says that communication should be about “cooperation across a broad range of areas, from science to education.” He is then not only making an effort to communicate with Muslim nations, but suggesting further action that would ultimately ease tensions; these actions being collaboration based on respect and a desire to learn from one another. Obama says that “no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust” but that ultimately it is a choice as to whether they want to “forge common ground” or “give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust.” Obama also made an effort to comment on and praise the diversity he sees in Indonesia, as well as the unique characteristics of the place where he grew up. By communicating his love for the place he is also putting his relationship to a Muslim country in terms of respect, and not mistrusts. Finally, by using a Muslim greeting he is opening a door for communication by making an effort to meet the people he is trying to make ties with half way.
Shrapnel Gun Advocates Hope to Change Concealed Weapons Law Lesley Tanner CBS Atlanta November 9, 2010 http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/25689419/detail.html
Even though in our modern democratic society there may be very few reasons to carry a gun as we are typically free from coercion, it must be understood in the greater context of our culture and biological needs. At the very basic level, all physical entities whether they are humans or other animals, including groups of people, have had to depend on their ability to protect themselves from harm in order to survive. Using the sociological imagination, it then becomes easy to understand why people would want to remove gun regulation: people want to once again have complete control over the ability to protect themselves from coercion and physical harm. The use of physical violence as a form of power has dominated the make-up of human society for much of our history. Though the power elite now controls society largely through manipulation and authoritative obedience, it is still grossly apparent, especially during wartime, that physical force can be the last and ultimate resort. In many ways, the power elite holds that as the ultimate solution to all problems: when push comes to shove, they are the only ones who can coerce. As the power elite is made up of the government, if the government can manipulate people into allowing them to regulate firearms (by making people think the streets are safer and better-off without them), they can regulate the ability of the masses to coerce others. Although it is by no means a conspiracy on the part of the power elite, it is simply natural that they ensure their status through completely control and manipulation of the people. -Mills
1. Gottenyu 2. Survey: More Americans get news from Internet than newspapers or radio 3. Doug Gross 4. CNN Tech 5. 1 March, 2010 6. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-01/tech/social.network.news_1_social-networking-sites-social-media-social-experience?_s=PM:TECH This article discusses how more Americans receive their news from the internet than more traditional forms of media such as print sources or the radio. However, the television is still the dominant news outlet, and 94% of Americans receive news from more than one source. This appears to be a slight transition from Mills’ belief that the media transformed Americans into one mass opinion, unable to think for itself, and exposed to only one type of thinking. Now that there are more forms of news media people are exposed to more opinions and types of thinking. However, Mills would more than likely argue that despite this expansion in media sources, the power elite still have control over what is delivered to the people on a mass scale while not necessarily the grass roots movements.
1. mht914 2. Violence at Tory HQ overshadows student fees protest 3. Angela Harrison 4. BBC News 5. November 10, 2010 6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822
The student protest taking place in London exemplifies rebelling against the power elite. These students display that the power of manipulation is not always hidden, and that the oppressed are in fact able to identify the oppressor. Even though I do not personally believe that a violent revolt by the working class is the solution to the social and economic inequality that occurs, I applaud their participation in public issues. These student demonstrators value their higher education and seek equality in tuition fees and funding. Those in power seeking to manipulate the students into believing that cutting university funds by 40% while increasing tuition fees to counteract the funding cuts is a "fair deal for students" are absurd in their thinking. The students are clearly not an ill-informed, unorganized, powerless societal group. They made their presence known in London by rallying together with over 50,000 participants. They must continue to be involved with the politics surrounding their education. However, I hope that their participation in politics involves less violence and more debate and discussion.
1. mht914 2. Violence at Tory HQ overshadows student fees protest 3. Angela Harrison 4. BBC News 5. November 10, 2010 6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822
The student protest taking place in London exemplifies rebelling against the power elite. These students display that the power of manipulation is not always hidden, and that the oppressed are in fact able to identify the oppressor. Even though I do not personally believe that a violent revolt by the working class is the solution to the social and economic inequality that occurs, I applaud their participation in public issues. These student demonstrators value their higher education and seek equality in tuition fees and funding. Those in power seeking to manipulate the students into believing that cutting university funds by 40% while increasing tuition fees to counteract the funding cuts is a "fair deal for students" are absurd in their thinking. The students are clearly not an ill-informed, unorganized, powerless societal group. They made their presence known in London by rallying together with over 50,000 participants. They must continue to be involved with the politics surrounding their education. However, I hope that their participation in politics involves less violence and more debate and discussion. -Mills
1.RayRay 2.These Babies Can Out-Climb Their Parents 3.No Author 4.National Public Radio 5.November 5, 2010 6.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131099079&ft=1&f=1024
This article was considered to be more than just a “Creature Feature”. Not even focusing on the fact that these Australian brush turkey babies can out-climb their parents. It’s more along the lines of them being super precocial. These baby birds need no maternal care what so ever once they’ve hatched. They have the ability to fly that same day they came from out of their egg. On the other hand human beings is just the opposite which is known as altricial and relying on someone for just about everything. We can only imagine what the world would be like if human beings were the same way as these Australian brush turkeys. Society would be run a lot more smoothly in terms of individuals already being familiar with different norms such as the behaviors and cues within a society or group. This would give us a head start into the real world and we could elect younger candidates into high position. This will decrease the number of times we would have to vote because having them in office at such a young age would mean they would be there far much longer, and enhance their ability to run the office in the way that it should be appropriately ran.
1602 Violence at Tory HQ overshadows student fees protest By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News BBC News November 10, 2010 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822
Many students protested earlier today because of the cuts being made to teachers which will result in a rise in tuition for students in order to make up for these grants being taken away. However, instead of it being a peaceful protest and the students exercising their rights, it turned into a violent one in which students were arrested and some even hurt. The students participated in what Habermas would like to see, people getting together and talking about issues relevant to society. However, Habermas wants these types of "coffee houses" to be a place where people can gather peacefull and speak about their issues in a calm manner in hopes to help social change. Also, using the internet is a great way to have your voices heard in which many students would not have been able to do during this particular protest because many people came from out of town to attend this protest. Habermas would recommend that the people would gather in a private setting, talk about the issues currently going on and then bring it out into the public sphere in order to gain recognition and to help change and make laws, in which these students currently did. They helped bring attention to this issue that has been sort of swept under the rug in hoped to reverse the law set in place by even having people sign petitions in hope to get the law changed. These everyday "normal" citizens are pointing out to authorities and people that they are being treated unjustly and spoke in part of their shared interests in an effort to make a change, something that Habermas would like to see happen!
1. F Player 2. Barack Obama urges global co-operation to secure growth 3. 4. BBC News 5. 10 November 2010 6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11728504
The world’s economic scale is fragile, and without cooperative action, there will never be a time where a balance is made. In fact, the recent collapse of many global economies has shown that when countries do not work together, when they do not talk to each, the scale is bound to tip away from their favor and cause the shatter of numerous counties economies. We have created a world that is a giant web, in which the happenings of countries millions of miles away can affect the daily lives of Americans. This means that we will have to go to greater lengths to communicate and negotiate over vast spaces and cultures. ------ This is what President Obama is hoping to encourage at the G20 summit that covers topics affecting the global economy as well as the welfare of Americans. When you are the president of the United States your group of solidarity is large and often lofty. Names in your circle include UK Prime Minister David Cameron and China's vice foreign minister Cui Tiankai. These men were part of G20, and they too were looking for solutions and insights into solving their countries problems. ------ This summit is a great and powerful thing. One to which President Obaba should be awarded for attending. It is not until we open the lines of communication with foreign leaders and start taking advances towards communicative action with these countries that America will see economic progress. It is important for the President to discuss, but also listen with an open mind. Leaders from foreign lands will have their own points of view and their own questions they want answers to. If President Obama is able to help these officials, then it is likely they will help him work on his own country’s problems. If the G20 summit opens the world’s leaders minds as well as their mouths, we will start seeing positive change in the global circumstances.
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 - W. 9/29 - Marx, Engels, Durkheim #2 - W. 10/13 - Weber, Gilman, Dubois, Cooper, James, Cooley, Mead #3 - W. 10/20 - Popper, Parsons #4 - W. 11/10 - Mills, Habermas #5 - W. 11/17 - Berger & Luckman, Garfinkel, Goffman
1. sr71-745
ReplyDelete2. For Afghan Wives, a Desperate, Fiery Way Out
3. Alissa J. Rubin
4. The New York Times
5. November 7, 2010
6.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/world/asia/08burn.html?_r=1
Mills talks about the power elite as those who command the resources of vast bureaucratic organizations that have come to dominate industrial societies. This article reminds me of the power elite as those Afghan husbands who bind their wives to the house. The Afghan culture prohibits these women from having a mind of their and speaking for themselves. And this article proves that for these women to have no outlet or sense of individualism, they lean toward suicide. The article explains how the choices for Afghan women are so restricted by the Afghan culture and enforced by the power elite (their husbands) that they end up literally burning themselves to death. It's tragic that these women have no voice in society and that they are willing to go to extreme lengths to commit suicide and use resources available to them as a means to do so. These women are so desperate to escape the power elite that they run away knowing that the consequences could be death. Afghan women hold no power in their culture and because of this they often commit harsh suicides to escape their lives.
1.Sacala
ReplyDelete2.Green: Oil Traveled Up the Gulf Food Chain, Scientists Say
3.Campbell Robertson
4.The New York Times
5.November 8, 2010
6.http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/oil-traveled-up-the-gulf-food-chain-scientists-say/?partner=rss&emc=rss
Communicative rationality according to Habermas is the theory which expains how human rationality is necessary to have successful communication within a society. When it comes to the BP Oil Spill human rationality and strategies towards the clean-up are a direct result of successful communication. By taking the voice of "knowing how" the spill will effect us, and transforming it to "knowing that" the spill will effect us, can allow us to develop a sense of communicative action, which according to Habermas, combines the use of our human ways of thinking together. This main understanding of the task at hand can help contribute to making plans for a common action, which in this case would be a total cleanup. By relating these theories to the article, one can develop a sense of communicative action when comparing it to the BP Oil Spill. The article describes how even though most of the oil is gone, it is still in part a major problem within our ecosystem. Bacteria that normally consume particles of oil are moving up the food chain at a rapid speed, and are becoming a threat to much of the seafood that we eat. By having this understanding, we as humans can develop a sense of awareness. This awareness can help us to create a common action towards how we as a society tend to deal with the oil spill, and to be able to find a solution.
Dazzler
ReplyDeleteObama in Indonesia: Much work needed on Muslim ties
BBC News
11-9-10
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11334555
That Mr. Obama has an excellent idea of what a democracy needs to be sustained. Muslims in America have faced an ongoing legitimation crisis as society does not meet their needs and they are discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity or religion- a practice America claims to no longer follow. The only way to stop this type of inequality is communicative action, and President Obama has taken the first and most important step which will set people to talking. He stated that the U.S. had reached out somewhat, but more work needed to be done. The president has one of the largest groups of solidarity in the country, and therefore has the greatest ability to affect change. All he needs to do is give people the prompt to begin their communicative action and they can take it from there!
-Habermas
1. Mackie
ReplyDelete2. Gay Activist Promotes Gay ‘Marriage’ at Ontario Catholic College
3. By Patrick B. Craine
4. LifeSiteNews.com
5. November 8th, 2010
6. http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/nov/10110812.html
Mills is famous for the creation of the social imagination; this article shows the power elite, the church, and the less powerful, gays and lesbians and how according to Mills how important it is to recognize the relationship between large-scale and the actions of individuals to have a successful society. An advocate for same sex marriage and homosexual adoption reached out to a local church to help unite the community and not have deep voids of segregation. This advocate tried to use religion as means of uniting the community and Mills could see this as the discipline of sociology.
1. Pena
ReplyDelete2. Behavior: Too Much Texting Is Linked to Other Problems
3. Roni Caryn Rabin
4. The New York Times
5. November 9, 2010
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/health/research/16behavior.html
The subject of this article exhibits the opposite behaviors needed for change to occur. The article explains that texting in combination with social networking has led to students missing school and dozing off in class, among other things. These results, while negative in their own right, pose a real problem for the occurrence of communicative action. If any change for the better is going to occur, we first need communicative action. In our society, it is hard enough to get people together to talk about issues and how to solve them. If texting and social networks are going to further reduce communicative action by causing students to skip or sleep in class, there is little hope for them to come together and discuss pertinent issues.
With all the issues facing students today (such as rising tuition fees and the suffering job market), we need to maximize communicative action as much as possible. If students are spending too much time on social networks trying to fit in, they will have little or no time left over to deal with the issues they face. The solution to this problem would be to replace the socializing that students do through texting and Facebook with socializing in Philo=cafes. In such a setting, students would still be able to socialize with their peers, but the café would foster relevant conversations regarding things in society that need to be addressed. In short, we must shift our ways of communicating so that we may socialize and simultaneously address issues that are bothering us so that positive change may come about.
- Habermas
1. Victory
ReplyDelete2. Company Accused of Firing Over Facebook Post
3. Steven Greenhouse
4. The New York Times
5. November 8, 2010
6.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/business/09facebook.html?_r=1
“This very article is a prime example of something I call Legitimation Crisis. This woman is essentially being persecuted because society isn’t meeting her needs. The woman has recognized that she is unhappy with society (her boss, her job, the way things were working etc.) and thus decided to share her feelings over a social networking site called Facebook with her friends. The act of expressing her discontentment over Facebook is what I would call Communicative Action. I believe that this action uses all human ways of thinking and language. In that her boss found out about her post to her friends, she was instantly fired. Firing someone for stating their opinion over a social networking site is absolutely ludicrous to me. Humanity should be able to communicate their problems with one another in order for society to change and progress. Persecuting someone for this expression is only stymieing the evolution of society. Furthermore, I feel that Facebook furthers the notion of solidarity and firmly believe that this woman should not be punished for expressing her feelings concerning her reality to her friends.”
-Habermas
1. Astarte
ReplyDelete2. Congress' New Chance for Clean Energy
3. Kate Gordon and Jake Caldwell
4. CNN.com
5. 11/09/2010
6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/08/caldwell.gordon.energy/
With the recent midterm election, Congress has a chance to implement newer and cleaner energy sources. This is not a partisan issue but a global one. The use of fossil fuels ultimately impacts the climate, which will impact our economy in a negative way. Working on creating new energy sources will create jobs, and protect the environment.
In order to create change in a positive way, people must be able to look at the bigger picture using the sociological imagination. Instead of focusing only on our private troubles, such as how expensive gasoline is, we must be able to think creatively to find new solutions to an energy problem. People must become motivated to work towards developing new ways to solve an economic and environmental problem by participating in public discussion and debate. The Power Elite, which previously supported the dependence on oil, are realizing that it is to their advantage to transition to a cleaner source of energy. Instead of thinking with a narrow mind,those in power must realize that they will actually benefit if they invest in new energy sources. New jobs will be created which will ultimately improve the economy and increase overall wealth.
1. gmoney
ReplyDelete2. Pilot Rebellion: Pilots Refusing to Use Full Body Scanners or Submit to Patdown
3. Sharyn Alfonsi and Jessica Hopper
4. ABC News
5. November 9, 2010
6. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/major-pilots-unions-rebel-tsa-screening-rules-urge/story?id=12100247
Two of the largest pilot unions have come together in a communicative action to bring attention to the current airport full body scans. These two groups have voiced their opinions, letting the public know that they believe these new screenings are "x-rated" and are unethical in their setting. They also discuss how the "scanners emit dangerous levels of radiation and that the alternative public patdown is disgraceful for a pilot in uniform." Some have even commented on how they felt violated after the pat-down and they felt so uncomfortable that they didn't think they could fly after. Last week, an e-mail was sent out by the head of Allied Pilots Association (union representing 11,000 American Airlines pilots), who suggested that pilots forgo a full-body scan and submitting to a public pat down. This group of a somewhat smaller population is voicing their opinions to make a common action to not follow through with these new procedures. They are connected with their various groups of solidarity (other pilots) and coming together to bring attention to a change.
- Habermas
CoAnd
ReplyDeleteChristian areas targeted in Baghdad attacks
Jim Muir
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11724378
11/10/11
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11724378
Habermas: It is clear that the recent attacks in Baghdad against Christians demonstrate evidence of an irrational culture. I say this because this society does not weigh heavily free communication, as people cannot communicate their religious beliefs freely and are being killed because of this. Christians in Baghdad lack freedom in their own society. Though the imposters or terrorists causing harm may feel they are doing the common good and are participating in a purposive action, they are hindering their fellow citizens from practicing their religious beliefs. One of the concepts I theorized is the idea of the legitimation crisis; this happens when the society one lives in does not meet their individual needs; they then interact by speaking of the wrongs in their society to others (by speaking out) to attempt to change the disparities.
What is interesting in this case, is that many Christians in Baghdad though they are displeased with the government not protecting their rights of freedom; they perform in communicative action by praying for their attackers or remaining in the country even though they are being discriminated against, instead of attacking back. Christians in Baghdad by “sticking together” are engaging in groups of solidarity to create a comfortable community for other Christians. It is unfortunate that the institutions in Baghdad are manipulating the Christians in the society by not protecting their human rights and are indirectly forcing these people out of their country. However, this is a case where the society one lives in can determine if their individual needs will be met and how heavily the legitimation crisis will pursue. It is clear that in Baghdad Christians will continue to face this crisis
1. Aliakbar
ReplyDelete2. Proficiency of Black Students Is Found to Be Far Lower Than Expected
3. TRIP GABRIEL
4. New York Times
5. 11/9/10
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/education/09gap.html?_r=1
This article makes a point to spotlight that African American students and youth are less proficient in many aspects of their education regardless of their poverty status. The article then goes on to point out that this is more likely not from just their status of wealth but how their home lives are and the encouragement they receive from their parents or guardians. The fact that the article mentions these possible causes emphasizes Mill's theory of Sociological Imagination used by governmental officials, as well as the Baltimore school district. Baltimore Public Schools used their Sociological Imagination to decipher a problem and cause, such as underachieving minorities. It appears to me that the Baltimore Public Schools were able to view the black student regardless of poverty level and imagine what problems they face, attendance and drop out rates being prevalent. This allowed them to create viable method such as house calls and alerts to help students achieve.
The key to combating the problem of education may be to use the life world scenario introduced by Habermas where groups openly talk about and fix problems in their society. It appears that this may have occurred in Baltimore. We can get all the statistics we need on the problem, what needs to happen now is ideal speech and the lifeworld so that solutions can be chosen and devised so that our future generations will succeed.
1. Pesca
ReplyDelete2. Obama Pledges Expanded Ties with Muslim Nations
3. Sheryl Gay Stolberg
4. New York Times
5. November 9, 2010
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/world/asia/10prexy.html?ref=world
In order to effect change in the world, human agency must be recognized and the power of communicative action must be used. Tensions between the United States and the Muslim world are due in large part to a lack of communication, or a reliance on negative stereotypes to form their mutual understanding, or lack thereof. President Obama is confronting these ideas by making an effort, before in Cairo and yesterday in Indonesia, to communicate the need for change. Rather than communication between Muslim nations and the United States being about security, which would inherently perpetuate tensions, Obama says that communication should be about “cooperation across a broad range of areas, from science to education.” He is then not only making an effort to communicate with Muslim nations, but suggesting further action that would ultimately ease tensions; these actions being collaboration based on respect and a desire to learn from one another. Obama says that “no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust” but that ultimately it is a choice as to whether they want to “forge common ground” or “give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust.”
Obama also made an effort to comment on and praise the diversity he sees in Indonesia, as well as the unique characteristics of the place where he grew up. By communicating his love for the place he is also putting his relationship to a Muslim country in terms of respect, and not mistrusts. Finally, by using a Muslim greeting he is opening a door for communication by making an effort to meet the people he is trying to make ties with half way.
Shrapnel
ReplyDeleteGun Advocates Hope to Change Concealed Weapons Law
Lesley Tanner
CBS Atlanta
November 9, 2010
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/25689419/detail.html
Even though in our modern democratic society there may be very few reasons to carry a gun as we are typically free from coercion, it must be understood in the greater context of our culture and biological needs. At the very basic level, all physical entities whether they are humans or other animals, including groups of people, have had to depend on their ability to protect themselves from harm in order to survive. Using the sociological imagination, it then becomes easy to understand why people would want to remove gun regulation: people want to once again have complete control over the ability to protect themselves from coercion and physical harm.
The use of physical violence as a form of power has dominated the make-up of human society for much of our history. Though the power elite now controls society largely through manipulation and authoritative obedience, it is still grossly apparent, especially during wartime, that physical force can be the last and ultimate resort. In many ways, the power elite holds that as the ultimate solution to all problems: when push comes to shove, they are the only ones who can coerce. As the power elite is made up of the government, if the government can manipulate people into allowing them to regulate firearms (by making people think the streets are safer and better-off without them), they can regulate the ability of the masses to coerce others. Although it is by no means a conspiracy on the part of the power elite, it is simply natural that they ensure their status through completely control and manipulation of the people.
-Mills
1. Gottenyu
ReplyDelete2. Survey: More Americans get news from Internet than newspapers or radio
3. Doug Gross
4. CNN Tech
5. 1 March, 2010
6. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-01/tech/social.network.news_1_social-networking-sites-social-media-social-experience?_s=PM:TECH
This article discusses how more Americans receive their news from the internet than more traditional forms of media such as print sources or the radio. However, the television is still the dominant news outlet, and 94% of Americans receive news from more than one source. This appears to be a slight transition from Mills’ belief that the media transformed Americans into one mass opinion, unable to think for itself, and exposed to only one type of thinking. Now that there are more forms of news media people are exposed to more opinions and types of thinking. However, Mills would more than likely argue that despite this expansion in media sources, the power elite still have control over what is delivered to the people on a mass scale while not necessarily the grass roots movements.
1. mht914
ReplyDelete2. Violence at Tory HQ overshadows student fees protest
3. Angela Harrison
4. BBC News
5. November 10, 2010
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822
The student protest taking place in London exemplifies rebelling against the power elite. These students display that the power of manipulation is not always hidden, and that the oppressed are in fact able to identify the oppressor. Even though I do not personally believe that a violent revolt by the working class is the solution to the social and economic inequality that occurs, I applaud their participation in public issues. These student demonstrators value their higher education and seek equality in tuition fees and funding. Those in power seeking to manipulate the students into believing that cutting university funds by 40% while increasing tuition fees to counteract the funding cuts is a "fair deal for students" are absurd in their thinking. The students are clearly not an ill-informed, unorganized, powerless societal group. They made their presence known in London by rallying together with over 50,000 participants. They must continue to be involved with the politics surrounding their education. However, I hope that their participation in politics involves less violence and more debate and discussion.
1. mht914
ReplyDelete2. Violence at Tory HQ overshadows student fees protest
3. Angela Harrison
4. BBC News
5. November 10, 2010
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822
The student protest taking place in London exemplifies rebelling against the power elite. These students display that the power of manipulation is not always hidden, and that the oppressed are in fact able to identify the oppressor. Even though I do not personally believe that a violent revolt by the working class is the solution to the social and economic inequality that occurs, I applaud their participation in public issues. These student demonstrators value their higher education and seek equality in tuition fees and funding. Those in power seeking to manipulate the students into believing that cutting university funds by 40% while increasing tuition fees to counteract the funding cuts is a "fair deal for students" are absurd in their thinking. The students are clearly not an ill-informed, unorganized, powerless societal group. They made their presence known in London by rallying together with over 50,000 participants. They must continue to be involved with the politics surrounding their education. However, I hope that their participation in politics involves less violence and more debate and discussion.
-Mills
1.RayRay
ReplyDelete2.These Babies Can Out-Climb Their Parents
3.No Author
4.National Public Radio
5.November 5, 2010
6.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131099079&ft=1&f=1024
This article was considered to be more than just a “Creature Feature”. Not even focusing on the fact that these Australian brush turkey babies can out-climb their parents. It’s more along the lines of them being super precocial. These baby birds need no maternal care what so ever once they’ve hatched. They have the ability to fly that same day they came from out of their egg. On the other hand human beings is just the opposite which is known as altricial and relying on someone for just about everything. We can only imagine what the world would be like if human beings were the same way as these Australian brush turkeys. Society would be run a lot more smoothly in terms of individuals already being familiar with different norms such as the behaviors and cues within a society or group. This would give us a head start into the real world and we could elect younger candidates into high position. This will decrease the number of times we would have to vote because having them in office at such a young age would mean they would be there far much longer, and enhance their ability to run the office in the way that it should be appropriately ran.
1602
ReplyDeleteViolence at Tory HQ overshadows student fees protest
By Angela Harrison
Education correspondent, BBC News
BBC News
November 10, 2010
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822
Many students protested earlier today because of the cuts being made to teachers which will result in a rise in tuition for students in order to make up for these grants being taken away. However, instead of it being a peaceful protest and the students exercising their rights, it turned into a violent one in which students were arrested and some even hurt. The students participated in what Habermas would like to see, people getting together and talking about issues relevant to society. However, Habermas wants these types of "coffee houses" to be a place where people can gather peacefull and speak about their issues in a calm manner in hopes to help social change. Also, using the internet is a great way to have your voices heard in which many students would not have been able to do during this particular protest because many people came from out of town to attend this protest. Habermas would recommend that the people would gather in a private setting, talk about the issues currently going on and then bring it out into the public sphere in order to gain recognition and to help change and make laws, in which these students currently did. They helped bring attention to this issue that has been sort of swept under the rug in hoped to reverse the law set in place by even having people sign petitions in hope to get the law changed. These everyday "normal" citizens are pointing out to authorities and people that they are being treated unjustly and spoke in part of their shared interests in an effort to make a change, something that Habermas would like to see happen!
1. F Player
ReplyDelete2. Barack Obama urges global co-operation to secure growth
3.
4. BBC News
5. 10 November 2010
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11728504
The world’s economic scale is fragile, and without cooperative action, there will never be a time where a balance is made. In fact, the recent collapse of many global economies has shown that when countries do not work together, when they do not talk to each, the scale is bound to tip away from their favor and cause the shatter of numerous counties economies. We have created a world that is a giant web, in which the happenings of countries millions of miles away can affect the daily lives of Americans. This means that we will have to go to greater lengths to communicate and negotiate over vast spaces and cultures.
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This is what President Obama is hoping to encourage at the G20 summit that covers topics affecting the global economy as well as the welfare of Americans.
When you are the president of the United States your group of solidarity is large and often lofty. Names in your circle include UK Prime Minister David Cameron and China's vice foreign minister Cui Tiankai. These men were part of G20, and they too were looking for solutions and insights into solving their countries problems.
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This summit is a great and powerful thing. One to which President Obaba should be awarded for attending. It is not until we open the lines of communication with foreign leaders and start taking advances towards communicative action with these countries that America will see economic progress. It is important for the President to discuss, but also listen with an open mind. Leaders from foreign lands will have their own points of view and their own questions they want answers to. If President Obama is able to help these officials, then it is likely they will help him work on his own country’s problems. If the G20 summit opens the world’s leaders minds as well as their mouths, we will start seeing positive change in the global circumstances.