OPTIONAL POSTING

How do we see technology changing the face of social protest as demonstrated during current protests Iran?

Technology has changed the face of social protest is such a way that protest will never be the same. The Iran people are now able to utilize technology to educate those who are unaware of what is taking place in Iran. The Iran people can now use blogs or tweeter and many other sources to get information out to the rest of the world. We as the outsiders are able to help carry out the protest that the Iran’s are caring in Iran and take to every corner of the world. One of many useful tools to carry protest that is playing a major role in social protest in Iran is blogging. People are able to tell their stories and their experience and share it with the world. One blog that I found interesting that discusses the events that are taking place in Iraq is, MY WAR, Killing Time In Iraq, http://cbftw.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-war-killing-time-in-iraq.html. We see the use of blogs and tweeter as a way of protesting and having our voices heard. Technology is a great tool that is being utilized in such a crucial time in our history in order to educate and change society. I believe that technology has allowed us to share our thoughts and opinion with others around the globe.

Technology is not only a huge part of our daily lives, but it is also our future. Without technology, we as a society would not be able to accomplish as much as we do. We would not be able to communicate with one another as expedient as we do with technology. For example let us take cell phone for instance; what did we do before cell phones? One cannot walk down the street without seeing the majority of people on their cell phone. Cell phones allow us to communicate with our love ones down the street and with others across the world. Technology is very much like people, it comes in many shapes and sizes. Technology comes in the form of a cell phone, YouTube, computer, and iPods and in many other forms.

There is no question that technology has and continues to play a massive role in the Iran war. Let us take a look at tweeter and the benefits it has brought the Iran people. Tweeter has allowed the Iranian people to share their story to the world. The Iranian people are able to have their voices heard because the use of technology such as tweeter. Without such technology, the Iran voice would be nothing but a silent cry, never to be heard. It is such a wonderful opportunity that not only the Iranian’s are able to take part of but also the rest of us the outsiders. We, who do not know what it is like to live in the middle of a war can now a least offer support because of the communication we have with Iranian’s thru technology.

Technology has allowed us to take a major step toward changing the “face” of social protest. We may now be given the opportunity to see videos or read diaries that we otherwise would not be able to, thanks to technology. Some graphic information we may not want to see or read but at least that information is there when we are ready to face the truth and not what others would like us the see as the truth. Protest will never be the same, I am thankful for it, and I am sure the Iranian people feel the same way; their voices can now be heard!


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Iraq-War-Veterans/104855861880?ref=mf

http://vodpod.com/tag/iraq+war

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062504415.html?sid%3DST2009062504596

ASSIGNMENT 4


After reading Klein’s piece, I sat back, thought for a second or two, and found myself unable to disagree with her piece. I agree that our generation or as she calls us, the “Pro-Logo” generations is by far less active and less effective than those in our pass generations.

Is it less dangerous to wear a rubber band or a pin on our shirt to fight a cause? In my opinion, the answer to my own question is YES. It was a lot more dangerous to walk the streets and have our voices heard by those not desirous to hear what others had to say who opposed them than to wear a pin on a shirt. Our society is all about convenience and having a drive thru mentality. I think that people are more willing to wear a pin or a bracelet to “show” support rather than walk the streets because walking the streets may not be convenient.

I see it to be less affective because we are not willing to sacrifice ourselves or our time to fight for a cause. I see our society today to be a lot more willing to settle for a middle ground rather than fighting the fight to win it all. Our society teaches that winning is not as important as participating. For example, kids today are given a reward for participation rather than for excelling. Why are we rewarding failure, if my child does not win a game, then it is because he did not play better than the other team. Therefore, let us teach our kids to play better work harder and win rather then being satisfied with not winning but merely participating. The youth in my opinion is being program to think that participation is as good or equivalent to a victory. I believe the education system calls this, “No child left behind,” what a joke.

I also think that youth today has the mentality that issues do not affect them directly so why get involved. When in reality all issues are directly affecting them. Youth today is tomorrow’s future; therefore, this mindset is frightening and discouraging. While our youth sit around on their couch playing video games, Washington is passing laws that will ultimately affect them directly.

Freedom Riders and anti-Vietnam protest where extremely powerful and very influential in Washington because of the dedication that was given to the fight. The protesters in such movements were very instrumental because they did not give up. They walked the streets, fought congress, and made sure that their voices were heard. They fought with such dignity to the point of being arrested and possibly injured in rallies but even then, they were not stopped. Back then; people knew that whatever Washington was, doing or passing was going to ultimately affect them therefore walking the streets was a necessity not a want. People knew that in order to reach justice and equality work from their part had to be put forth.

Does today society have what it takes to be successful? Yes, I know that society has what it takes and more in order to be successful and powerful. Today’s society has more tools available than what our parents and grandparents had as tools. We have the use and advancement of technology at our fingertips that allows us to be more powerful than any other movement in history. Technology can bring masse of people together much faster and easier than ever before. Technology allows us to communicate speedily and in great numbers at home and abroad. Technology also allows us to carry our message in many countries around the world. Technology also helps in the production of information, slogan printing and marketing tools. Transportation is also another tool that we have that our pass generations did not have. The majority of households own a vehicle, which allows them to get to the designated rallies or meeting in great numbers. So do we have the power to be successful? Yes, we have the power but are lacking the passion that our parent and grandparents and many pass generations had that served then as their fuel, their anger, their drive.

ASSIGNMENT 3

In order for a movement to be successful, they must be consistent in all that they do but most importantly, they must demonstrate unity as one movement fighting for the same cause. Members must be clear in communicating their thought to the opposing movement. Regardless of the issue being fought, I do not believe that violence is a better tool or weapon than non-violence. I strongly believe that a movement has the power to relate their message without the use of violence.

I know from personal experience that one can have a major and lasting impact by leading by example. For instance, Ghandi displayed a non-violent approach to all issues facing him and his faithful followers. Ghandi NEVER demonstrated a bit of violence in order to get his point or work accomplished. Ghandi with his “truth and firmness” tactic was able to achieve great works such as; organizing an ambulance corps for the British army and commanded a Red Cross unit. Ghandi also assisted in the recognition of Indian marriages and abolition of the poll tax for them and in many other important movements for the Indian people and for the rest of world.

Martin Luther King Jr. was another great man who led many by demonstrating non-violent tactics. Martin Luther King Jr. led many to rallies in pursuit of equality and freedom for ALL humanity. Many demonstrated their animosity towards Dr. King with violence and vicious attacks and in return, Dr. King continued to preach non-violence.

Ghandi and Dr. King were two great admirable men who were in pursuit of justice by the use and great power of non-violent tactics. Not only were they great during their time but continue to remain great in all history books and textbook all over the world.

I believe that violence is as an infection, if not treated it can becomes deadly. We have all heard, “two wrong don’t make a right,” especially when those two wrongs are armed. I think that violence only creates more violence and the side with the bigger weapon is pronounced the stronger of the two. This has been demonstrated throughout history from time to time. Violence may be compared to the domino effect, once one domino falls all others are bound to follow the ripple effect.

Non-violence tactics produce slower outcome, but they indeed produce lasting progression. I strongly agree that if one were to become a good leader, he/she must teach non-violence, respect, but above all things he/she must follow the “Golden Rule” treat others like you would like to be treated. Being humble and teaching humility is by no mean a weakness, it is an admirable and powerful trait, and only those who are elites in our society seek to obtain such trait.

When I think of something that may seem difficult for me to accomplish I always think of my favorite quote from the master of all humility, Jesus, “I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it.”

ASSIGNMENT 3

One cannot engage in war without first having a plan or tactics to use in order to gain victory. In order to gain victory from its enemy one must have solders fighting front line. One must also have solders that bring in the equipment for the front line solders to use. Everyone and every job are needed and there is no one more important than the other, all and everyone is needed for the big V, victory.

The same goes for those who fight for a social movement, in this case, the pro-life movement. In order for the members of the pro-life movement to be a success, they must all fight as one with similar tactics. One must also go into this fight with a certain mentality that allows the members to fight the fight with some spark. The pro-life movement tends to use a lot of mental power in order to fight their fight. The pro-life members fight their fight firstly by approaching their fight as a moral issue. By approaching their fight as a moral issue, the members tend to use passages from the Bible or other sacred writing. These writings allow the members to use guilt against their enemies. However, guilt is not the only tactic used; pro-life members also use sidewalk counseling. This means that members attend rallies and try to educate their enemies by using facts regarding the side affects and dangers of abortion.

The pro-life movement declares it self to be a non-violent movement, thus denouncing any use of violence against their enemies. However, like any other movement, the pro-life movement does have a couple of members who act on their own free will against their enemies with the use of violence and some time even deadly force. The pro-life movement encourages and assists their members in education regarding the dangers of abortion. The members are encouraged to gain knowledge to share with those who they may encounter during a rally or a meeting. The education is also useful to keep the movement growing in the number of recruits. The face is what attracts members to such movement.

The face used by the pro-life movement is life. The “face” of the movement is taught to members and non-members. The “face” is of the pro-life movement is keep consistent and does not change from recruit on to the battlefield. The members of pro-life movements usually carry a bit of resentment against those who do not see their cause. They may even become angered against those who may be fighting them against their mission to save lives. For example, its being reported that an antiabortion extremist is been charged for the shooting of Dr. George Tiller, a doctor who performed late term abortions in the state of Kansas. Such radical actions do take place in society when an individual takes his movement’s mission into his own hands. When these tragedies occur, pro-life movements condemn such extreme tactics. Slogans and pictures are also extremely affective in the fight for live. Images and pictures often allow others to see unborn babies or graphics pictures of abortions in hopes of new recruits and/or dismantling the enemy.

Assignment 2

Women’s rights for centuries have and continue to be a controversial topic here, in the United States and in many nations abroad. Women have fought for the right to live; vote, chose and hundred of other human given rights that other have and take for granted. Women have been part of politics since politics were introduces into society. Women have formed movements to help combat those who choose to see woman as objects and second-class rather than for what they are, women, mothers, sisters, wife and most importantly human beings. Movements have allowed women to break away from society role and become who they want to be, individuals. Such movements have also given women the right to choose and the right to speak out on their choices. These movements have allowed women to become closer to other women and they have allowed women to have a great and powerful impact on history.

If I were given the opportunity to construct or choose the ideal figurehead for the Women’s rights from 2009 going forward, I would choose a woman. I would choose a woman of mixed race, a woman with a White father and a Mexican mother. This combination is very important, for it gives this woman a light complexion, and the “White” which symbolizes power in our society. I would also see that she was of light complexion, which is attractive to the majority of society thus allowing her acceptance easily embraced. Her Mexican mother would help in giving her the minority vote, which will allow many women from Latin culture and second and third world countries to embrace her humble upbringing. This woman would be in her early thirties, thus making her young and attractive to the eye yet giving her a bit of life experience in discussing women issues. This woman would have an independence view in politics; this would allow her to take stand in liberal and conservative issues as an individual. She would be a Christian women with Christian believes, thus allowing her to relate to many around the world those of Christian faith and non-Christian faiths as well. She would also be married with two children a little boy and a little girl.

I think that it would be beneficially to the Women’s right movement to have such women as their icon. I think that women need someone that they can relate, someone that they can understand and someone that they can respect and allow to represent them as a woman. Women would benefit from such icon because women and men alike would respect this icon because she represents a lot of “us” as people. She is a white, minority, Christian, a wife, mother and s woman.

I would like to think that such icon would not have pitfalls but in all reality, we all do. The pitfall that I think this icon would have is being a Christian and this is because religious does not mix with politics. Many would take this great attribute and would belittle it in pursuit of dismantling such icon. People would not be ready to have such icon hold such power of authority such in the case of Claudette Colvin. Claudette Colvin who was one of many who said, “No” during Martin Luther King era and segregation times. Claudette, who was also one who refused to give up her seat because she was of color to those who were not ready to hear what she had to say during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. People where not ready to hear from Claudette maybe because she was not part of the middle class or simply because she was too early for her time.

I think that Claudette Colvin did not have as big of an impact as Rosa Park because of her social status. She was not part of the middle class and many would not listen to her because she was of the lower class. Rosa Park was in fact part of the middle class and had more connections then Claudette Colvin. History happens or is given a chance to happen when people are ready or have courage to hear or fight for it. For example, the piece written by Young or Crenshaw, they both write about women who were willing to fight for what is right, their freedom to be women. Claudette Colvin might have not made the headline but I am sure without a doubt she put the fear in those who did not see her as a women, black American woman and gave the doorway to the other who followed such as Rosa Parks.

Assignment 2

In this post, I will be discussing the “frame” of pro-life movement. I will also go into detail of people or groups who have been responsible for the framing of the movement that I am studying, pro-life movement. I will also discuss whom and what makes up the followers of my movement and what keeps them as part of the movement for years and even centuries.

A frame can be as simple as a picture or a symbol. Many of pro-life movements have chosen to use an unborn child in the womb as a symbol for their movement. This symbol is used to attack the attention of many and even shock others. Other frames that this movement has taken into their movement have been slogans such was, “adoption not abortion” but the most affective frame in my opinion have been the stories told by those who have either chosen an abortion and now regret it or those who at one point might have been aborted by their mothers while in the womb. These types of frames tend to be very effective because they are heartfelt. One can feel someone’s regret by the tone of his or her voice or because of the pain/hurt that is portray as the story told. Without a doubt, testimonials are the strongest and most powerful frame of the pro-life movement.

The pro-life movement does not have one particular iconic face to represent it. The pro-life movement has many iconic faces that represent their movement. For example, Kenny Chesney (country singer and entertainer of the year CMA2007), Tim Tebow, (football quarterback, 2007 Heisman Trophy Winner), Rebecca St. James (singer), Kim Alexis(super model), (“Butterfly Kisses" Singer,) Bob Carlisle,
(French Supermodel), Noelia Garcia, (Miss Teen California), Kim Gloudemans (Redskins'Cornerback), Darrell Green, (Former Dodger All-Star), Brett Butler. This is just a short list of many iconic faces who are supporters of pro-life movement.

The pro-life movement tends to recruit members by attending rallies, abortion clinics, universities and educating those who are not aware of the consequences of abortion. The pro-life movement focuses on non-violent approach. By non-violent approach, I mean to say that they battle their enemies “abortion” by using facts, testimonials, videos, poster boards, and many other non-violent approaches.

The person and persons who were responsible to frame the pro-life movement are the same one who are responsible for continuing the framing of the pro-life movement, everyone. It is simple to say that everyone has and continue to frame the pro-life movement because this movement affects everyone, from young people, to middle age people to elderly people. It affects women and men alike. It also affects the religious and the non-religious. The pro-life movement is a moral issue thus affecting everyone in society. Many Christian associations have frame and continue to frame such cause since abortion was introduced in the early 400 BC, because pro-life is a moral issue that continues to affecting everyone without any discrimination.

The individuals and groups who frame the pro-life movement are driven by the morality of the issue. These faithful followers continue to share their message of life because maybe they might just be able to save a life or two along the way. Who knows, if it were not for previous framers of such cause many former framers would not be here to share their story of pro-life, myself being one of those survivors.

I do not believe that the pro-life movement can be reframed to be more exclusive, because it does affect everyone. It affects everyone because we all have the right to live. Who is to say that only women should be part of such movement or only Christians? Everyone has the equal right to live whether one may think so or not.

Assignment 1
We as a society will not always agree on issues that affect us as a whole. These differences can bring people together than otherwise would not associate with one another. This is what we call a social movement, a group of individual drawn together by the social issue or event. This group can demonstrate or take a stand in a positive manner, but something their feelings or thoughts are carried out in a negative manner. We as individuals are given the option to choose to carry out our movements in a radicalism manner or assimilation manner. The chose that we make whether to choose radicalism or assimilation can be the determining factor of our success of caring out our movement or our failure.

The women’s movement was a success because of the choice that they was women made to stick together for the same common goal. In the 1960’s women where tire of not being treated as equals to men. Women where also tired of being beaten, not having the same opportunities in education as men and worse, women where treated as second class to men. These women created the women’s movement that succeeded in bringing some equality into their lives. These women where able to come together for a very important common goal, their freedom, their rights and they achieved this by using assimilation tactics.

The anti-Vietnam war movement was the largest and most successful movements in history because of its unity. This movement did not target one specific type of person; this movement was meant for all. The Vietnam War affected wife, children, students, husbands and employers. This movement did not discriminate against anyone. This movement was so large that it was impossible to control. Therefore, history finds individuals who chose to use radical tactics and other who used assimilation tactics in order to get their point across to those who oppose them. The anti-Vietnam war movement was a great success because it was not just one group of people getting together; it was a whole nation coming together.

The Chicano movement was started because of the lack of equal right for Chicanos. Chicanos did not hold any role of authority or of interest in society. Chicanos were not offered equal right in the education system as other ethnic groups. This is when the Chicanos decided to start a movement that would gain them equal right as other has taken for granted. The Chicano movement started their movement by using assimilation tactics. The Chicano movement began by taking seat in the school boards; they also began the National Association of Chicana and Chicanos scholarships. These efforts brought the Chicano community together as one fighting for the same goal, better education, higher economical status, equal rights and better jobs. This was accomplished by using assimilation tactics rather than radical tactics.

The gay rights movement was a little more radical than the previous movement discussed. This movement was started out of need for security, freedom and equal rights. Before the movement was established many gays where intimidated by individual and people in power (police officers) with brutality and physical and mental abuse. The gay community quickly established themselves into a movement in search for equal rights. However, the gay rights movement carried out their goal and message using radical attempts and in many instances horrible bloody fights often where the results of their campaigns.


I do not know which strategy seems better when comparing Dr. King’s strategy against Malcolm X’s strategy. This is hard to say because violence was a large part of both of their time in history. Not only did you have the Vietnam War taking place, which was full of violence but you also had segregation in schools, which was also nothing but violence. Violence was a huge part of history during these two great events. However, in the other hand we have a society who is in desperate need of non-violence during those ugly times in history. History has taught us from time to time that two wrong do not make or justify a right.

I do believe that Dr. King and Malcolm X could have met in the middle. These two men were extremely influential and could have found a middle ground. It is a shame that history was stolen from us by having these two powerful individual taken from us. I think that if given time Dr. King and Malcolm X would have eventually come together to fight the same fight, but I unfortunately we will never know.