Friday, September 28, 2007
EveryWoman: Purity Balls
Al-Jazeera English news story on Purity Balls. An excellent primer, if you ask me. :)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
'No Trespassing, My Father's Watching:' The Ideography of Purity Balls and the Rhetoric of Agitation
In 1998, Randy and Lisa Wilson, a husband and wife from Colorado Springs, threw the first ever purity ball. An elegant and showy affair, the purity ball was created to “partner with God in this generation, share His passion for the beauty of marriage and family,” and “communicate a vision of life, joy, pleasure and healing through the heart of God to families through the authority of Scriptures and the tender direction of the Holy Spirit” (Wilson, 2007). In simpler terms, a purity ball is a gala that fathers take their daughters to in order to sign a “purity covenant” (Baumgardner, 2007, p. 228), or a promise that the girls will abstain from sexual activity until marriage. This year alone, over 1400 purity balls have been thrown (“Purity Balls”, 2007), occasionally receiving sponsorship from large corporations such as Wal*Mart and McDonald’s (“In praise”, 2006). Though still a marginal part of the Evangelical movement, purity balls are quickly becoming central to the blooming “purity revolution,” or a social movement that promotes total abstinence until marriage. To date, 10 percent of teenage boys and 16 percent of girls in America have joined the purity revolution, signing abstinence pledges at school, in churches, or at youth rallies (Baumgardner, p. 228).
Purity balls are enormously picturesque and full of performance, making them a ripe rhetorical artifact. Even the mainstream press cannot resist describing the purity balls with a sparkling, literary veneer. Glamour Magazine, for example, recalls one purity ball
USA Today also contributes its own fairy-tale imagery to the signing of the covenant, watching in awe as
This essay argues that purity balls are a rhetorical performance that establishes the ideological foundation for the purity revolution. That is not to say it is the only way in which the movement becomes grounded, rather, purity balls happen to be the most vivid. More specifically, this work seeks to identify purity as the defining ideograph of the purity ball – and the purity revolution as a whole.
To begin, ideographs are, as rhetorician Michael Calvin McGee defined them, those “recurrent words, labels, or expressions that guide and warrant behavior and belief” (Jasinski, 2001, p. 309). Some common examples of ideographs in contemporary American culture are freedom, security, and rule of law. McGee’s colleagues, Celeste Condit and John Lucaites, further explain that “ideographs represent in condensed form the normative, collective commitments of the members of a public, and they typically appear… as the necessary motivations or justifications for action performed in the name of the public”. In the case of purity balls, purity acts as a key ideograph that is deployed to “impart value, justify decisions, [and] motivate behavior” – namely remaining abstinent until marriage (Jasinski, p. 309). “The important fact about ideographs,” McGee notes, “is that they exist in real discourse, functioning clearly and evidently as agents of political consciousness” (McGee, 1980, p. 7). Purity balls are not lacking in this regard.
The functioning of purity as an ideograph here is remarkably clear. It is used most often as the primary motivator for the event’s performance, a “slogan-like term signifying collective commitment” to a certain purpose (McGee, p. 15). The Generations of Light website, in its introduction page, defines a purity ball as a “memorable ceremony for fathers to sign commitments to be responsible men of integrity in all areas of purity,” and that “the commitment also includes their vow to protect their daughters in their choices for purity” (Wilson). Randy Wilson, host of the original Colorado Springs purity ball, asks the fathers at the outset of the gala if they are “ready to war for [their] daughter’s purity;” presumably the noblest of goals (Baumgardner, p. 227). Several organizations, such as Abstinence Clearinghouse, produce and sell thousands of “Purity Ball Planner” booklets and “Purity Princess Survivor Kits” each year, in addition to purity rings, pledge cards, lanyards, and apparel (Friedman, 2006). A Christian youth ministry that provides materials and memorabilia for purity balls hosts an intensive seminar for adolescent girls with the tagline “Purity Power!” (Michaela, 2007). It’s safe to assume, given these examples, that anything associated with purity balls will have the word purity emblazoned on it in a purple, glittering balloon font – further evidence of its ideographic usage and rhetorical primacy.
Further examples abound. The purity pledge recited by fathers at the ball is saturated with the ideograph, reading that “I, [daughter's name]'s father, choose before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity. I will be pure in my own life as a man, husband and father” (Valenti, 2006; Wilson). Lisa Wilson, co-founder of the original purity ball, reflects on the importance of sexual purity, and muses that given her upbringing, “it’s a miracle I remained pure” (Baumgardner, p. 228). Christy Parcha, an 18 year old high school graduate and purity ball attendee, is forgoing college to write about “emotional purity” (p. 236). In Ohio, the pastor emceeing the 2006 purity ball in Van Wert tells attendees that they’re “here to celebrate the idea of purity,” and that the daughters are expected to “remain sexually pure until the day [they] give [themselves] as a wedding gift to [their] husband” (“In praise”). It’s difficult to counter the observation that purity functions as the core of a “dominant vocabulary of motives,” which constitutes a broader structure of “public motives” within the movement that “shapes consciousness” and “enables or constrains decision and action” (Jasinski, p. 309-10), a critical feature of ideographs.
There is a problem with purity balls, and the sexual purity movement more generally, that merits attention at this point; most notably the fact that an overwhelming majority of abstinence-until-marriage promises – 88 percent – are broken. Furthermore, over half of teenagers who take purity pledges end up having sex within three years (Baumgardner, p. 236). This raises the question of the efficacy of purity outside of certain contexts. It’s clear that purity has an enormous rhetorical power to “motivate” and “justify,” but it’s less clear to what extent and in what environments it’s effective. It’s possible that the boundaries of the purity culture do not reach far from the rhetorical center (which is occupied by rituals like purity balls), thus diminishing purity’s “signification” value as a result of “synchronic tension” with other prevailing ideographs in American public culture (McGee, p. 15-16). In essence, it appears that the rhetorical import of purity quickly dissolves when the purity revolutionaries aren’t engaging in it directly – or when “daddy dearest” isn’t watching (Valenti). This is an interesting conundrum: though the purity revolution attracts more and more followers each year, and though purity functions as an incredibly powerful ideograph for the adherents to rally around, the hurrah is very short-lived and the promises are soon forgotten.
At any rate, it’s undeniable that purity, that “ill-defined commitment” to sexual abstinence and the resistance of physical or emotional temptation, is a key ideograph that “provides the basis for a community” of individuals working towards social change (Enck-Wanzer, 2007). Purity creates the ideological-rhetorical foundation for the revolutionary purity movement, and through its performance, purity balls can be seen as a “rhetoric of agitation,” where the members of the movement feel marginalized and thereby compelled to engage in “extra-discursive” practices when more traditional means, such as public address, lobbying, and legislation, are perceived as inadequate (Bowers et al, 1993). As far as the purity revolutionaries are concerned, they are the outcasts in an “ungodly world” of sexual liberalism that bombards their young with erotic images through magazines, television, music, and schools (Courtney, 2004).
Purity balls can be seen specifically as a tactic of solidification, where the “agitating group produces or reinforces the cohesiveness of its members” by invoking purity in all of its forms (Bowers et al, p. 24-25). Solidification is understood to be a “difficult tactic,” because the movement members are “easily energized but difficult to control” – as evidenced by the high recruitment rate and popularity of the purity revolution and the substantial rate of individuals who quickly abandon the cause. Personally, I’m rather skeptical of the efficacy of purity balls in helping the revolution achieve its goals. It’s apparent that these rituals provide an ideological foundation for the broader social movement rhetoric, but it’s also clear that the promissory nature of the galas do little to “control” the revolutionaries and keep them on task – a problematic which may ultimately lead to the demise of the sexual purity movement. The strategies of agitation embodied by the purity ball can “reflect, interpret, convey, record, and sometimes even lead a revolution,” but it certainly is not enough to guarantee its success.
Purity balls are enormously picturesque and full of performance, making them a ripe rhetorical artifact. Even the mainstream press cannot resist describing the purity balls with a sparkling, literary veneer. Glamour Magazine, for example, recalls one purity ball
in a chandelier-lit ballroom overlooking the Rocky Mountains one recent evening, [where] some hundred couples feast on herb-crusted chicken and julienned vegetables. The men look dapper in tuxedos; their dates are resplendent in floor-length gowns, long white gloves, and tiaras framing twirly, ornate updos. (Baumgardner, p. 227)
USA Today also contributes its own fairy-tale imagery to the signing of the covenant, watching in awe as
fathers slip "purity rings" on the fingers of their misty-eyed daughters, the elegantly attired couples drift across the floor for a "first dance," this one-on-one time with Dad is referred to as a "date," and wedding cake is served for dessert. For post-dinner entertainment, a corps of adolescent ballerinas clad in white tulle performs a "ceremonial dance" to the song Always Be Your Baby. (Stange, 2007)
This essay argues that purity balls are a rhetorical performance that establishes the ideological foundation for the purity revolution. That is not to say it is the only way in which the movement becomes grounded, rather, purity balls happen to be the most vivid. More specifically, this work seeks to identify purity as the defining ideograph of the purity ball – and the purity revolution as a whole.
To begin, ideographs are, as rhetorician Michael Calvin McGee defined them, those “recurrent words, labels, or expressions that guide and warrant behavior and belief” (Jasinski, 2001, p. 309). Some common examples of ideographs in contemporary American culture are freedom, security, and rule of law. McGee’s colleagues, Celeste Condit and John Lucaites, further explain that “ideographs represent in condensed form the normative, collective commitments of the members of a public, and they typically appear… as the necessary motivations or justifications for action performed in the name of the public”. In the case of purity balls, purity acts as a key ideograph that is deployed to “impart value, justify decisions, [and] motivate behavior” – namely remaining abstinent until marriage (Jasinski, p. 309). “The important fact about ideographs,” McGee notes, “is that they exist in real discourse, functioning clearly and evidently as agents of political consciousness” (McGee, 1980, p. 7). Purity balls are not lacking in this regard.
The functioning of purity as an ideograph here is remarkably clear. It is used most often as the primary motivator for the event’s performance, a “slogan-like term signifying collective commitment” to a certain purpose (McGee, p. 15). The Generations of Light website, in its introduction page, defines a purity ball as a “memorable ceremony for fathers to sign commitments to be responsible men of integrity in all areas of purity,” and that “the commitment also includes their vow to protect their daughters in their choices for purity” (Wilson). Randy Wilson, host of the original Colorado Springs purity ball, asks the fathers at the outset of the gala if they are “ready to war for [their] daughter’s purity;” presumably the noblest of goals (Baumgardner, p. 227). Several organizations, such as Abstinence Clearinghouse, produce and sell thousands of “Purity Ball Planner” booklets and “Purity Princess Survivor Kits” each year, in addition to purity rings, pledge cards, lanyards, and apparel (Friedman, 2006). A Christian youth ministry that provides materials and memorabilia for purity balls hosts an intensive seminar for adolescent girls with the tagline “Purity Power!” (Michaela, 2007). It’s safe to assume, given these examples, that anything associated with purity balls will have the word purity emblazoned on it in a purple, glittering balloon font – further evidence of its ideographic usage and rhetorical primacy.
Further examples abound. The purity pledge recited by fathers at the ball is saturated with the ideograph, reading that “I, [daughter's name]'s father, choose before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity. I will be pure in my own life as a man, husband and father” (Valenti, 2006; Wilson). Lisa Wilson, co-founder of the original purity ball, reflects on the importance of sexual purity, and muses that given her upbringing, “it’s a miracle I remained pure” (Baumgardner, p. 228). Christy Parcha, an 18 year old high school graduate and purity ball attendee, is forgoing college to write about “emotional purity” (p. 236). In Ohio, the pastor emceeing the 2006 purity ball in Van Wert tells attendees that they’re “here to celebrate the idea of purity,” and that the daughters are expected to “remain sexually pure until the day [they] give [themselves] as a wedding gift to [their] husband” (“In praise”). It’s difficult to counter the observation that purity functions as the core of a “dominant vocabulary of motives,” which constitutes a broader structure of “public motives” within the movement that “shapes consciousness” and “enables or constrains decision and action” (Jasinski, p. 309-10), a critical feature of ideographs.
There is a problem with purity balls, and the sexual purity movement more generally, that merits attention at this point; most notably the fact that an overwhelming majority of abstinence-until-marriage promises – 88 percent – are broken. Furthermore, over half of teenagers who take purity pledges end up having sex within three years (Baumgardner, p. 236). This raises the question of the efficacy of purity outside of certain contexts. It’s clear that purity has an enormous rhetorical power to “motivate” and “justify,” but it’s less clear to what extent and in what environments it’s effective. It’s possible that the boundaries of the purity culture do not reach far from the rhetorical center (which is occupied by rituals like purity balls), thus diminishing purity’s “signification” value as a result of “synchronic tension” with other prevailing ideographs in American public culture (McGee, p. 15-16). In essence, it appears that the rhetorical import of purity quickly dissolves when the purity revolutionaries aren’t engaging in it directly – or when “daddy dearest” isn’t watching (Valenti). This is an interesting conundrum: though the purity revolution attracts more and more followers each year, and though purity functions as an incredibly powerful ideograph for the adherents to rally around, the hurrah is very short-lived and the promises are soon forgotten.
At any rate, it’s undeniable that purity, that “ill-defined commitment” to sexual abstinence and the resistance of physical or emotional temptation, is a key ideograph that “provides the basis for a community” of individuals working towards social change (Enck-Wanzer, 2007). Purity creates the ideological-rhetorical foundation for the revolutionary purity movement, and through its performance, purity balls can be seen as a “rhetoric of agitation,” where the members of the movement feel marginalized and thereby compelled to engage in “extra-discursive” practices when more traditional means, such as public address, lobbying, and legislation, are perceived as inadequate (Bowers et al, 1993). As far as the purity revolutionaries are concerned, they are the outcasts in an “ungodly world” of sexual liberalism that bombards their young with erotic images through magazines, television, music, and schools (Courtney, 2004).
Purity balls can be seen specifically as a tactic of solidification, where the “agitating group produces or reinforces the cohesiveness of its members” by invoking purity in all of its forms (Bowers et al, p. 24-25). Solidification is understood to be a “difficult tactic,” because the movement members are “easily energized but difficult to control” – as evidenced by the high recruitment rate and popularity of the purity revolution and the substantial rate of individuals who quickly abandon the cause. Personally, I’m rather skeptical of the efficacy of purity balls in helping the revolution achieve its goals. It’s apparent that these rituals provide an ideological foundation for the broader social movement rhetoric, but it’s also clear that the promissory nature of the galas do little to “control” the revolutionaries and keep them on task – a problematic which may ultimately lead to the demise of the sexual purity movement. The strategies of agitation embodied by the purity ball can “reflect, interpret, convey, record, and sometimes even lead a revolution,” but it certainly is not enough to guarantee its success.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
GM Strike
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Irish Labour movement
Here's a short clip I found on Youtube after Angela's presentation and the discussion on Tuesday.
It deals primarily with working Irish women at the turn of the century. Although not in America, this proves that the Labour movement was alive and well in other countries at the same time. This is just a brief clip, but I thought it was interesting to note, as America was becoming more industrialized,women empowered, so was Ireland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itLCrFAwjw
It deals primarily with working Irish women at the turn of the century. Although not in America, this proves that the Labour movement was alive and well in other countries at the same time. This is just a brief clip, but I thought it was interesting to note, as America was becoming more industrialized,women empowered, so was Ireland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itLCrFAwjw
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
DVD Resources II
I forget who was doing the legalization of marijuana, but the episode of the ACLU Freedom Files I have on the drug war discusses that issue in depth.If you, meaning the gentleman who is covering that issue, wants to borrow it, let me know.
Also, I have copies of Manufacturing Consent (media) and the Corporation (corporate issues), which I am also willing to lend out. I should also mention again that I have Jesus Camp (evangelical Christianity) floating around in the circuit somewhere.
Take care and control!
The beginning of TV Networks
Media Reform, as I am finding out, has a much deeper history than I originally guessed. While covering the infancy of television in CMN 3210, I read a few disturbing things.
In 1941 RCA "motivated" the FCC to establish market standards for a 510 picture resolution, black and white, AM audio television. The competing system was proposed by CBS. This set had color channels, broadcast in near 1080 resolution on our modern band UHF. This is rather supprizing to me because advertisers would have us believe high def is a new thing. RCA then formed a pact with NBC and ABC and in 1948, the FCC put a freeze on licenses for television, which created a sort of windfall for RCA and the broadcasters on their sets. The networks of today were formed in this four year period. Statements from the FCC, which at the time was lead by the lobbyists and a mostly inexperienced body claimed that standards were necessary to support a post war economy, but I would like to pose a question. Is it possible that the beginning of television was tainted by the negative remarks of Senator McCarthy and the his red police in an effort to control the air waves? Whether your answer is yes or no, the profits and gains made today by these major networks are dependent on the 1940's and the censorship of ingenuity and perspective. Sorry if that ruins Nick at Night for you.
In addition, I would like to ask anyone in the class if they know how to get in touch with the civil rights attorneys on campus.
In 1941 RCA "motivated" the FCC to establish market standards for a 510 picture resolution, black and white, AM audio television. The competing system was proposed by CBS. This set had color channels, broadcast in near 1080 resolution on our modern band UHF. This is rather supprizing to me because advertisers would have us believe high def is a new thing. RCA then formed a pact with NBC and ABC and in 1948, the FCC put a freeze on licenses for television, which created a sort of windfall for RCA and the broadcasters on their sets. The networks of today were formed in this four year period. Statements from the FCC, which at the time was lead by the lobbyists and a mostly inexperienced body claimed that standards were necessary to support a post war economy, but I would like to pose a question. Is it possible that the beginning of television was tainted by the negative remarks of Senator McCarthy and the his red police in an effort to control the air waves? Whether your answer is yes or no, the profits and gains made today by these major networks are dependent on the 1940's and the censorship of ingenuity and perspective. Sorry if that ruins Nick at Night for you.
In addition, I would like to ask anyone in the class if they know how to get in touch with the civil rights attorneys on campus.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Beware of the Militant Feminazi
After reading things like this, I am really thankful that my parents made me go to school.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Womens%20Page/militant_feminazi.htm
Enjoy
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Womens%20Page/militant_feminazi.htm
Enjoy
DVD Resources
Today I received my copy of The ACLU Freedom Files - Season One. It is a half-hour television series that focuses on a different civil rights issue each time. Many of the episodes are relevant to the issues discussed in this class. These include:
Religious Freedom
Voting Rights
Gay/Lesbian Rights
Women's Rights
Youth Rights
Drug War
Patriot Act
The Supreme Court
Dissent
Racial Profiling
If anyone would like to borrow the DVDs for research, please let me know and I would be happy to loan it out for a time.
Take care and control.
Religious Freedom
Voting Rights
Gay/Lesbian Rights
Women's Rights
Youth Rights
Drug War
Patriot Act
The Supreme Court
Dissent
Racial Profiling
If anyone would like to borrow the DVDs for research, please let me know and I would be happy to loan it out for a time.
Take care and control.
Anti-war protest today (Tuesday 18th)
3:00-5-00 in front of Old Main, I am not sure who is organizing it....
Monday, September 17, 2007
Iron Jawed Angels
Hey everyone..Like I said i'm focusing on the Women's Movement..And just a little while ago I turned on channel 17 and a movie called Iron Jawed Angels was playing. Hilary Swank plays a leading women's suffragist named Alice Paul. It's an incredible movie telling the story of a group of women fighting for the right to vote. If you want to know more about women's suffrage it's a great movie to watch. I'm posting a clip from the movie, it's my favorite of the whole thing. Let me know what you think :)
Bitch and Gender-Neutral Pronouns
Its taken me awhile, but i'm finally submitting my first post! To tell you the truth I really didn't know what I wanted to write on. I was waiting for something to inspire me and today I finally found something! For the past year or so i've been very interested in the Women's Movement. Taking my first Rhetoric course my sophomore year I had the same idea about the Women's Movement as most people did and when asked if I thought I was a feminist of course I said no! Whenever I heard the word feminist I thought of radical, bra burning, stick it to the man lesbians. It sounds harsh, but it's true. And back then (I say it like it was so long ago) I wouldn't believe you if you told me i'd have a subscription to a magazine called Bitch: Feminist response to pop culture.
I've only had a subscription to Bitch for about a year now and today I got my 4th issue. I was at work when I opened it and of course I got the same response from people that I normally do, "Is that magazine called Bitch?" Then when I tell them yes they proceed to give me weird looks and call me a crazy feminist. In todays issue I read an article that I thought was pretty interesting called "Zie, hirself, & per." I found this article interesting because it addressed the power of language in creating meaning. More specifically it discussed gender-neutral pronouns in the English language. We experience the power of language everyday. Just today I sent an email and spent 5 minutes trying to figure out if I should address it Ms., Miss., or Mrs. Why should it matter? And why does it matter? One of the main reasons Gender-Neutral Pronouns (GNPS) are being addressed is because many people feel the need for a singular pronoun that can refer to any sex. Many authors including Colette Phair, the author of this article, have written novels only using GNPS such as "zie," "zir," "zirs," and "zirself."
Since I just got the magazine today i've really only skimmed through the article, but I plan on looking into this topic a lot more. It really makes you think about the power of language and the possibilities. I'd be interested to see what people thought about the issue of GNPS. Is it possible to completely get rid of pronouns like "he" and "she" and replace them with GNPS? And will this be a positive step for the women's movement?
Sorry this post is so vague, but i'm headin off to yet another meeting. I'm post more on the women's movement and perhaps this topic specifically when I get home. For now, check out their website if you want!
www.bitchmagazine.org
MegO
I've only had a subscription to Bitch for about a year now and today I got my 4th issue. I was at work when I opened it and of course I got the same response from people that I normally do, "Is that magazine called Bitch?" Then when I tell them yes they proceed to give me weird looks and call me a crazy feminist. In todays issue I read an article that I thought was pretty interesting called "Zie, hirself, & per." I found this article interesting because it addressed the power of language in creating meaning. More specifically it discussed gender-neutral pronouns in the English language. We experience the power of language everyday. Just today I sent an email and spent 5 minutes trying to figure out if I should address it Ms., Miss., or Mrs. Why should it matter? And why does it matter? One of the main reasons Gender-Neutral Pronouns (GNPS) are being addressed is because many people feel the need for a singular pronoun that can refer to any sex. Many authors including Colette Phair, the author of this article, have written novels only using GNPS such as "zie," "zir," "zirs," and "zirself."
Since I just got the magazine today i've really only skimmed through the article, but I plan on looking into this topic a lot more. It really makes you think about the power of language and the possibilities. I'd be interested to see what people thought about the issue of GNPS. Is it possible to completely get rid of pronouns like "he" and "she" and replace them with GNPS? And will this be a positive step for the women's movement?
Sorry this post is so vague, but i'm headin off to yet another meeting. I'm post more on the women's movement and perhaps this topic specifically when I get home. For now, check out their website if you want!
www.bitchmagazine.org
MegO
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Call to arms
This will be the first of many posts I will be making on this subject. As a class in social movement and rhetoric, I come to you in confidence and belief that you will be able to help with the current situation. My girlfriend Jill Manges, has been suspended until fall 2008 for having a mental disorder. Jill suffers from PTSD and had an episode in class. Judicial Board had initially portrayed Jill as a perpetrator and in non-compliance with a student behavioral contract under the charge that this episode was student misconduct. Jill has no control over these flashbacks, she has no recollection of the events that occurred, and she is using every resource she has at her disposal to cure herself of this disorder. I quote the hearing in which they decided to suspend her: "I will do everything in my power to be in compliance with student policy, I love this school, and really want to stay." Jill WAS a candidate for independent study next summer, but that is less likely if she is not a student.
The board had to our attention the secondary trauma of the other students, as a tie in to the argument that this is potentially a situation as dangerous as Virginia Tech, but let's look at the facts: 1. no one was harmed in the incident
2. the professor is in full support of Jill returning as a student
3. The class voted unanimously that Jill be reinstated
This is my conclusion that when the institution is out of touch with the students and teachers of a campus, it stands to reason that action must be taken. I will not lie, I am angry, this is the same argument that people use to discredit individuals like Abagail Folsom. This is a call to speak, this is a call to move, this is a call to arms.
The board had to our attention the secondary trauma of the other students, as a tie in to the argument that this is potentially a situation as dangerous as Virginia Tech, but let's look at the facts: 1. no one was harmed in the incident
2. the professor is in full support of Jill returning as a student
3. The class voted unanimously that Jill be reinstated
This is my conclusion that when the institution is out of touch with the students and teachers of a campus, it stands to reason that action must be taken. I will not lie, I am angry, this is the same argument that people use to discredit individuals like Abagail Folsom. This is a call to speak, this is a call to move, this is a call to arms.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Civil Rights Movement
My blogging for this semester will concentrate on the Civil Rights Movement. Something of particular interest to me concerning this topic is the notion that this movement is something of the past. Doing some simple research on the topic confirms this. After doing a search of "Civil Rights Movement", the first page of results was filled with timelines and dates marking the beginning and the END of the movement. The word "history" is visible within the first three lines of the description of most of the websites, reaffirming the notion that it is simply an event that existed in the past.
For those that do not know, the movement was formed in the 1950s due to the racial discrimination and marginalization of African Americans. Some of the defining events of the movement were the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education, the lunch counter sit-ins, and bus boycotts (specifically Rosa Parks'). The notable leaders of this movement were Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I think that will suffice as a mini history lesson, so let's switch gears and discuss this notion of the movement being "history."
As I think about possible reasons for this widespread idea that a Civil Rights movement no loger exists, I increasingly attribute it to the following reasons:
1) Society (generally speaking) has been, in a sense, tricked into believing that there is no longer any reason for a Civil Rights movement.
2) Many important events happening today are not interpreted as advancements in/violations of Civil Rights.
While I do believe the second reason to be true, I want to focus on the first because I think it is far more important due to its implications. There is evidence all around us that people no longer think racism and discrimination are problems (i.e. The Don Imus incident, when so many people found it outrageous that his comments were seen as racist). It pains me when I hear people jumping all over Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson when they speak out against racism. The most common outburst I hear goes something like: "Shut up already! All he wants is exposure, he doesn't care about the issue at all." It is true that when a major event involving race occurs, you are likely to see Sharpton and Jackson speaking out against it. But take a second to think about why that is....TV exposure? A desire to be seen in public?....Or is it because they are the only consistant voice speaking from the other perspective? While the news networks prefer to portray African Americans as criminals and savages, Sharpton and Jackson try to speak on behalf of those who are otherwise unheard. Do they speak for everyone, of course not, even if at times they claim to, but they are nonetheless important. I ask you this, if they never spoke out, WHO WOULD? I welcome individuals who wish to speak out in the face of racism, but to this point i have not seen many.
I know this post is somewhat long and possibly confusing, but we are dealing with a long and confusing issue here. In order to give it the attention it deserves, I think we must look at many different details so that we can have an understanding of it from many different angles. i plan to post more throughout the semester, but before I do again I would like to wait to see what kind of feedback this post receives in order to generate some talking points for the next post. I look forward to hearing from everyone, whether the feedback is positive or negative.
For those that do not know, the movement was formed in the 1950s due to the racial discrimination and marginalization of African Americans. Some of the defining events of the movement were the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education, the lunch counter sit-ins, and bus boycotts (specifically Rosa Parks'). The notable leaders of this movement were Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I think that will suffice as a mini history lesson, so let's switch gears and discuss this notion of the movement being "history."
As I think about possible reasons for this widespread idea that a Civil Rights movement no loger exists, I increasingly attribute it to the following reasons:
1) Society (generally speaking) has been, in a sense, tricked into believing that there is no longer any reason for a Civil Rights movement.
2) Many important events happening today are not interpreted as advancements in/violations of Civil Rights.
While I do believe the second reason to be true, I want to focus on the first because I think it is far more important due to its implications. There is evidence all around us that people no longer think racism and discrimination are problems (i.e. The Don Imus incident, when so many people found it outrageous that his comments were seen as racist). It pains me when I hear people jumping all over Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson when they speak out against racism. The most common outburst I hear goes something like: "Shut up already! All he wants is exposure, he doesn't care about the issue at all." It is true that when a major event involving race occurs, you are likely to see Sharpton and Jackson speaking out against it. But take a second to think about why that is....TV exposure? A desire to be seen in public?....Or is it because they are the only consistant voice speaking from the other perspective? While the news networks prefer to portray African Americans as criminals and savages, Sharpton and Jackson try to speak on behalf of those who are otherwise unheard. Do they speak for everyone, of course not, even if at times they claim to, but they are nonetheless important. I ask you this, if they never spoke out, WHO WOULD? I welcome individuals who wish to speak out in the face of racism, but to this point i have not seen many.
I know this post is somewhat long and possibly confusing, but we are dealing with a long and confusing issue here. In order to give it the attention it deserves, I think we must look at many different details so that we can have an understanding of it from many different angles. i plan to post more throughout the semester, but before I do again I would like to wait to see what kind of feedback this post receives in order to generate some talking points for the next post. I look forward to hearing from everyone, whether the feedback is positive or negative.
Capitalism FTW!
Hokay, so here is the deal.
Media reform hinges on the outcome of a major argument that is constantly put forth by conglomerates: That constitutional rights and our belief in the free market support the ability to print whatever they deem as news. The importance of this statement is that this rhetoric permits the media to publish anything they choose in the interest of whomever. SO, news outlets with this perspective will often publicize news that will be the least controversial and the most marketable. Free market dictates that winners are the ones in control, but let's look at that for a moment.
First, the constitutional protection, which applies to all citizens is often interpreted as "the freedom to act as long as freedoms of others are not encroached upon." This freedom of media conglomerates to say what they want means certain people are picked to serve the companies interest. "Profit trumps civil society every time," says Rob McChesney and John Nichols and in doing that, it becomes an argument that modern media are not pursuing everyone's interests, and thereby interfering with others' rights. Medium or Media is defined as
a middle ground where opinions are heard, it is this no longer.
Secondly, the argument of capitalism and the pursuance of that to a multi national status being "the American way" is based in fantasy. Once again common conception would dictate that businesses compete continuously for a chance of making money, but competition there is not. "In the case of radio, television, cable, and satellite TV, governmental agencies grant monopoly rights to frequencies and/or franchises to private firms at no charge (Our Media p.27)." Those favorites of the agencies (or those politicians who owe for coverage) are guaranteed profits for themselves and no one else.
So these arguments, although "American" may actually be just another interpretation in a "no spin zone" that the media occupies, OR did the revolutionaries envision a Forth Estate with riches beyond kings and no way to balance out their power?
Media reform hinges on the outcome of a major argument that is constantly put forth by conglomerates: That constitutional rights and our belief in the free market support the ability to print whatever they deem as news. The importance of this statement is that this rhetoric permits the media to publish anything they choose in the interest of whomever. SO, news outlets with this perspective will often publicize news that will be the least controversial and the most marketable. Free market dictates that winners are the ones in control, but let's look at that for a moment.
First, the constitutional protection, which applies to all citizens is often interpreted as "the freedom to act as long as freedoms of others are not encroached upon." This freedom of media conglomerates to say what they want means certain people are picked to serve the companies interest. "Profit trumps civil society every time," says Rob McChesney and John Nichols and in doing that, it becomes an argument that modern media are not pursuing everyone's interests, and thereby interfering with others' rights. Medium or Media is defined as
a middle ground where opinions are heard, it is this no longer.
Secondly, the argument of capitalism and the pursuance of that to a multi national status being "the American way" is based in fantasy. Once again common conception would dictate that businesses compete continuously for a chance of making money, but competition there is not. "In the case of radio, television, cable, and satellite TV, governmental agencies grant monopoly rights to frequencies and/or franchises to private firms at no charge (Our Media p.27)." Those favorites of the agencies (or those politicians who owe for coverage) are guaranteed profits for themselves and no one else.
So these arguments, although "American" may actually be just another interpretation in a "no spin zone" that the media occupies, OR did the revolutionaries envision a Forth Estate with riches beyond kings and no way to balance out their power?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Welcome to the United States, with the purple mountains and amber waives of grain. Where people have the right to be anything they want to be and have the right of free speech. Now dig a little bit deeper and look at the Gay Rights Movement towards same sex marriages. Although most are American citizens who as American citizens have the same rights of be free and whatnot of everyone else, are being denied the opportunity to also show their love to their significant others to be married. Society has slowly become more accepted of GLBT within the media (will & grace, queer eye, etc) and the documentary The Laramie Project. Celebrities are also becoming more in touch with the Gay rights movement, take Charlize Theron who announced at the Oscars that she refuses to marry until gays are given the same right.
for more information about the Laramie Project : http://www.time.com/time/classroom/laramie/
for more information about the Laramie Project : http://www.time.com/time/classroom/laramie/
Sunday, September 9, 2007
In Whose Honor?
Last year, the University of Illinois dropped their mascot, Chief Illiniwek, in light of an NCAA decision which held that any school using a Native American mascot would not be allowed to participate in NCAA-sanctioned sporting events. Facing a choice between denying student athletes achievements in post-season playoff games and denying a long history of avid fans their beloved Chief, U of I made a difficult decision. Though the “protesting” agent in this case would appear to be the NCAA, this proclamation came after many years of protest by the American Indian Movement (AIM), educators, and allied sympathizers.
In 1968 over 200 American Indians came together in attempts to assess the poor living conditions of Native Americans. This meeting led to the creation of the American Indian Movement. Nearly 40 years later, this social movement has a long history of bringing justice and recognition to American Indians. The first missions of AIM was to improve the slum-like living conditions, protect the rights to practice native religion freely, and to investigate questionable behavior of federal government in its regard to Native policies. Over the years, the missions and focus have spread past these early goals. Among more contemporary efforts of AIM, they have honed in on the controversial use of Native American mascots by sports teams ranging from professional teams to little leagues.
Usually held outside of various stadiums and ballparks, AIM protesters and their allies carry signs, yell chants, sing songs, and embody what Native Americans “really look like” as they attempt to alter the attitudes of fans who walk through the gates. In addition to the mascots themselves which are seen as derogatory and rhetorically violent toward the images of Native Americans, AIM focuses on the different rituals of sports enthusiasts (e.g., the “tomahawk chop” and “war dances”). In 1995, AIM activities were quite active during the World Series which was dubbed the “World Series of Racism” by protesters. Featuring the Atlanta Braves against the Cleveland Indians, AIM activists saw this as a perfect opportunity to address the problem of racist mascots. Part of this activist event included dressing up in other “costumes” to mock Jewish people, African Americans, and the Pope—turning the table on fans to show how mascots would look if done in the spirit of other people, AIM embodied a creative (and threatening) alternative.
So the movement that I will be examining in this class will be social movement and activism against Native American sports mascots in the U.S. Specifically, I will focus on activities of the AIM; however, since much of their activism is connected up to other local groups and individuals, the scope will shift depending upon the events I am analyzing. Far from a cohesive movement, the emphasis of my project will be both on the individuals involved and the movement of social consciousness.
Labor Links
Since there are so many angles I could cover, I had to narrow it down to 3.
1. Illegal immigrants and how they influence the labor movement, the push for tighter immigration/labor restrictions.
2. Women in the workforce and how there is still a strong movement to gain equal pay, fair hiring practices etc.
3. Unionization and how it affects the labor movement.
Here are a few links I would like to share with you:
This is a link I like simply for some legalities:
www.law.cornell.edu/topics/Table_Labor.htm
This is a link to a great site that discusses unions and how the movement is is full swing, useful articles and info on the push to unionize America. It has some useful links, info and stats on unions in America.
www.aflcio.org
This site outlines some womens issues, it seems pretty good and it has some useful links on it for some history and organizations that support womens labor rights:
womenshistory.about.com/od/worklaborunions/Women_and_Labor_Unions_Trade_Union_Organizers_Strikes.htm
1. Illegal immigrants and how they influence the labor movement, the push for tighter immigration/labor restrictions.
2. Women in the workforce and how there is still a strong movement to gain equal pay, fair hiring practices etc.
3. Unionization and how it affects the labor movement.
Here are a few links I would like to share with you:
This is a link I like simply for some legalities:
www.law.cornell.edu/topics/Table_Labor.htm
This is a link to a great site that discusses unions and how the movement is is full swing, useful articles and info on the push to unionize America. It has some useful links, info and stats on unions in America.
www.aflcio.org
This site outlines some womens issues, it seems pretty good and it has some useful links on it for some history and organizations that support womens labor rights:
womenshistory.about.com/od/worklaborunions/Women_and_Labor_Unions_Trade_Union_Organizers_Strikes.htm
The National Gay Rights Movement.
In 1924, The Society for Human Rights in Chicago became the earliest known gay rights organization in The United States. Still today in 2007, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered (GLBT) members of society are still fighting very hard everyday to be respected and gain the rights as other American citizens. As the United States of America, a country who fights for a depends on the phrase "the land of the free," to deny millions of American citizens the rights as heterosexual citizens is extremely hypocritical and against what America stands for.
Reports show that over 1000 rights and privileges are denied to homosexuals in our country because they do not have the right to marry. Millions of American citizens fight everyday in a very old social movement that has gained some, but little ground in making the U.S. "the land of the free." This semester I plan on focusing on the GLBT movement, specifically the movement of giving members of the GLBT the right to marry in our country. This is issue is very important in today's times and is even seen as one of the biggest issues in the 2008 presidential election.
Here's a time line of the gay rights movement if you're interested in the slight progress the movement has made over time:
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html
Reports show that over 1000 rights and privileges are denied to homosexuals in our country because they do not have the right to marry. Millions of American citizens fight everyday in a very old social movement that has gained some, but little ground in making the U.S. "the land of the free." This semester I plan on focusing on the GLBT movement, specifically the movement of giving members of the GLBT the right to marry in our country. This is issue is very important in today's times and is even seen as one of the biggest issues in the 2008 presidential election.
Here's a time line of the gay rights movement if you're interested in the slight progress the movement has made over time:
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html
Student Anti-War Movement
For this semester I am taking on the task of researching the Student Anti-War Movement. Because this topic pertains greatly to all of us, due to our varying status' on campus I am excited to learn more about this movement.
A few results to my original searches included a bit of a background on what the student antiwar movement is. One way of involvement is by joining a campus antiwar network. The Campus Antiwar Network is an independent, democratic, grassroots network of students opposing the occupation of Iraq and military recruiters in our schools at campuses all over the country. Their goal is to unite all antiwar students on colleges and high schools alike to democratically build a broad antiwar and counter-recruitment movement to help bring the troops home now. Within this movement, youth and students have a clear and decisive role to play in organized campuses across the country to help shut down the war machine by cutting off the supply of soldiers, cutting war funding and organizing to bring youth and students out in the streets.
Other ways of becoming educated, as well as involved, is by visiting the following site which focuses on Campus activisim.
http://www.campusactivism.org/index.php
Also, another site that is heavily rooted in student activisim is the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Here is the link to their website as well.
http://www.studentsforademocraticsociety.org/
Overall, I am excited to have chosen this topic and am more than excited to learn as much as I can about the present movement involving students on campuses all across the country.
A few results to my original searches included a bit of a background on what the student antiwar movement is. One way of involvement is by joining a campus antiwar network. The Campus Antiwar Network is an independent, democratic, grassroots network of students opposing the occupation of Iraq and military recruiters in our schools at campuses all over the country. Their goal is to unite all antiwar students on colleges and high schools alike to democratically build a broad antiwar and counter-recruitment movement to help bring the troops home now. Within this movement, youth and students have a clear and decisive role to play in organized campuses across the country to help shut down the war machine by cutting off the supply of soldiers, cutting war funding and organizing to bring youth and students out in the streets.
Other ways of becoming educated, as well as involved, is by visiting the following site which focuses on Campus activisim.
http://www.campusactivism.org/index.php
Also, another site that is heavily rooted in student activisim is the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Here is the link to their website as well.
http://www.studentsforademocraticsociety.org/
Overall, I am excited to have chosen this topic and am more than excited to learn as much as I can about the present movement involving students on campuses all across the country.
The Socialist Movement
For this semester I will be in charge of blogging about the Socialist Movement. Prior to recieving this as my movement, I had very little or no knowledge about this movement. So first off I will give you guys a little bit of background information.
The International Socialist Organization, also known as ISO, strives to build a future socialist society. They have branches all over the country that focus on different areas of their agenda. Some of the different areas of their struggle include: the movement to stop war and occupation, fights on racism and anti-immigrant scapegoating, the struggle for women's rights and the right to choose, opposing anti-gay bigotry, and worker's rights.
The ISO believes that the root of the problems in our society lies in capitalism. In a capitalist society like ours it is set up so that the few who rule profit from the labor of the vast majority of the population. In our society it is set up so that we have rich people and poor people and that's how it functions. In the U.S. a small part of the population enjoys immense wealth while millions live in poverty, even though we have enough resources for all.
The ISO is fighting for a world free of exploitation which they think lies in socialism. They base their beliefs on revolutionary socialists like Karl Marx, V.I. Lenin and Leon Trotsky in that they think the only people that can inact this social change are the workers themselves. Socialism can only come from below.
In terms of recognition and redistribution I think that the ISO is mostly concerned with redistribution. They aren't asking for society to recognize any particular group and try to understand and accept them, they are simply asking for the redistribution of wealth so that all citizens of the world can be closer to equal and not have a select group of individuals enjoying extreme wealth at the expense of others. And not for a small group to have that wealth while a huge part of the population has so little.
Overall I think that this is a very interesting movement and I look forward to pursuing it this semester and learning more about their ideas and actions.
Here is their website if anyone wants some more information on them.
http://www.internationalsocialist.org/
The International Socialist Organization, also known as ISO, strives to build a future socialist society. They have branches all over the country that focus on different areas of their agenda. Some of the different areas of their struggle include: the movement to stop war and occupation, fights on racism and anti-immigrant scapegoating, the struggle for women's rights and the right to choose, opposing anti-gay bigotry, and worker's rights.
The ISO believes that the root of the problems in our society lies in capitalism. In a capitalist society like ours it is set up so that the few who rule profit from the labor of the vast majority of the population. In our society it is set up so that we have rich people and poor people and that's how it functions. In the U.S. a small part of the population enjoys immense wealth while millions live in poverty, even though we have enough resources for all.
The ISO is fighting for a world free of exploitation which they think lies in socialism. They base their beliefs on revolutionary socialists like Karl Marx, V.I. Lenin and Leon Trotsky in that they think the only people that can inact this social change are the workers themselves. Socialism can only come from below.
In terms of recognition and redistribution I think that the ISO is mostly concerned with redistribution. They aren't asking for society to recognize any particular group and try to understand and accept them, they are simply asking for the redistribution of wealth so that all citizens of the world can be closer to equal and not have a select group of individuals enjoying extreme wealth at the expense of others. And not for a small group to have that wealth while a huge part of the population has so little.
Overall I think that this is a very interesting movement and I look forward to pursuing it this semester and learning more about their ideas and actions.
Here is their website if anyone wants some more information on them.
http://www.internationalsocialist.org/
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Animal Rights
For my social movement, I will be discussing animal cruelty and the pain and suffering they go through during laboratory experiments. They are used as research tools to make sure toxic things do not harm ourselves. Many animals are also sacrificed for educational purposes, such as dissecting in various classrooms. One of the movements that I came across is called The American Anti-Vivisection Society. It is the oldest organization in the United States devoted to ending research on animals. I am here to just have everyone recognize what animals are going through. I am not asking anyone to stop eating meat and become a vegetarian. Just look at the facts and understand what is happening to many animals across our nation. Lastly, I will also be discussing the Animal Welfare Act which contributes to AAVS. Below I offer a link to the AAVS website and a quote by its founder, Caroline Earle White. Any questions? Feel free to ask. Thanks.
"When it comes to the last hour of your life, it will be a great consolation to feel that you always protect the poor, the helpless, and the unfortunate; and that you exercised a particular care towards animals."
~ Caroline Earle White
http://www.aavs.org/
"When it comes to the last hour of your life, it will be a great consolation to feel that you always protect the poor, the helpless, and the unfortunate; and that you exercised a particular care towards animals."
~ Caroline Earle White
http://www.aavs.org/
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Globalization a.k.a Global Justice Movement
Globalization is a collective name in which many social movements are going under. What I hope to do is to bring about those social movements and study what they are going for. I hope to be able to understand the nature behind Globalization or Global Justice Movement. I have a few questions in mind that I hope my research will be able to answer. The main question that I have, is there any one way to stop globalization? The Global Justice Movement is my movement and I hope to be well knowleded in this area.
Marijuana Legalization
I will be looking at the movement to legalize marijuana. I want to look at history, medicinal marijuana, and personal use. This movement has outspoken supporters from all walks of life which I feel will make it an interesting study. Marijuana legalization could be seen as a redistribution issue as the supporters want a reformation of the current U.S (and global) Drug Policy. It could also be seen as redistribution through recognition, as both recreational and medical users would like for its use to be acknowledged as acceptable behavior. I'm excited to be able to discuss this movement in a mature setting because I realize it sometimes seems to be one that is not taken seriously. I'm welcome to any suggestions.
Down below, I've posted the link to NORML's website. They are probably the biggest organization in the Marijuana Legalization movement. Under that is a video clip from the 1989 Madison Harvest Fest, a pro-legalization rally held annually in the Midwest. It's a little old, but it features an appearance from the U of I chapter of NORML.
www.norml.org
Down below, I've posted the link to NORML's website. They are probably the biggest organization in the Marijuana Legalization movement. Under that is a video clip from the 1989 Madison Harvest Fest, a pro-legalization rally held annually in the Midwest. It's a little old, but it features an appearance from the U of I chapter of NORML.
www.norml.org
Labor movement
I will be discussing the labor movement. As far as the direction I will take, it will probably be along the lines of immigration and how it is affecting the labor movement. Much of my topic will deal with illegal immigration, our countries dependence on the workers, and how it affects labor in this country. Any suggestions are welcome.
Chris
Chris
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Texas Anti-Death Penalty Movement Saves Kenneth Foster
August 30, 2007
Movement to Save Kenneth Foster Wins Historic Victory
Family members and supporters of Kenneth Foster, Jr. are jubilant in the reaction to Texas Governor Rick Perry’s announcement today that he would commute the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, who was convicted under the controversial “Law of Parties” for a 1996 murder in which he had no actual involvement. The Board of Pardons and Paroles had recommended clemency by a vote of 6-1. Foster’s execution had been scheduled for tonight.
In a statement announcing the commutation, Perry said, “I am concerned about Texas law that allowed capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously and it is an issue I think the Legislature should examine.”
Reaction among Foster’s family and friends included both joy and disbelief. “We felt a bit of disbelief because Perry’s decision was so unprecedented.” said Dana Cloud of the Save Kenneth Foster campaign. “But everyone is so happy that Kenneth will be able to touch his wife and daughter and that we have a chance of seeing him free. Anything is possible when you are alive.”
Claire Dube, a close high-school friend of Kenneth’s and an active member of the Save Kenneth Foster Campaign, broke into tears when she heard the news. “We don’t even know what to say. It’s incredible.”
Keith Hampton, Foster’s attorney, also expressed relief and happiness at winning his client’s life. Hampton thanked the activists of the grassroots movement that started in Austin and spread around the world for putting the necessary pressure on the Board and the Governor to win. “Extra-legal means work,” he said.
“Governor Perry once said that there was no hue and cry against the death penalty in Texas,” commented Lily Hughes of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. “Well, here was your hue and cry.”
Foster’s family and other supporters will continue to work to free him from prison. “It seems like ten years on death row under 23-hour lockdown could amount to time served for any crime that Kenneth ever committed,” Cloud said.
Perry’s decision is historic. Not only has the Board of Pardons and Paroles rarely recommended clemency (by one count, 3 times since 1982), but Rick Perry has overseen more executions than any Governor of the State of Texas, including George Bush.
“This case demonstrated to the world just how arbitrary and capricious capital punishment is,” Cloud said. “It gives people pause when someone who killed no one could come this close to being executed.”
“Public sentiment has been turning against capital punishment,” Hughes said. “We’ve seen a lot of states stop executing people. Winning Kenneth’s life might be a real turning point in the history of the death penalty in Texas.”
For more information
Movement to Save Kenneth Foster Wins Historic Victory
Family members and supporters of Kenneth Foster, Jr. are jubilant in the reaction to Texas Governor Rick Perry’s announcement today that he would commute the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, who was convicted under the controversial “Law of Parties” for a 1996 murder in which he had no actual involvement. The Board of Pardons and Paroles had recommended clemency by a vote of 6-1. Foster’s execution had been scheduled for tonight.
In a statement announcing the commutation, Perry said, “I am concerned about Texas law that allowed capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously and it is an issue I think the Legislature should examine.”
Reaction among Foster’s family and friends included both joy and disbelief. “We felt a bit of disbelief because Perry’s decision was so unprecedented.” said Dana Cloud of the Save Kenneth Foster campaign. “But everyone is so happy that Kenneth will be able to touch his wife and daughter and that we have a chance of seeing him free. Anything is possible when you are alive.”
Claire Dube, a close high-school friend of Kenneth’s and an active member of the Save Kenneth Foster Campaign, broke into tears when she heard the news. “We don’t even know what to say. It’s incredible.”
Keith Hampton, Foster’s attorney, also expressed relief and happiness at winning his client’s life. Hampton thanked the activists of the grassroots movement that started in Austin and spread around the world for putting the necessary pressure on the Board and the Governor to win. “Extra-legal means work,” he said.
“Governor Perry once said that there was no hue and cry against the death penalty in Texas,” commented Lily Hughes of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. “Well, here was your hue and cry.”
Foster’s family and other supporters will continue to work to free him from prison. “It seems like ten years on death row under 23-hour lockdown could amount to time served for any crime that Kenneth ever committed,” Cloud said.
Perry’s decision is historic. Not only has the Board of Pardons and Paroles rarely recommended clemency (by one count, 3 times since 1982), but Rick Perry has overseen more executions than any Governor of the State of Texas, including George Bush.
“This case demonstrated to the world just how arbitrary and capricious capital punishment is,” Cloud said. “It gives people pause when someone who killed no one could come this close to being executed.”
“Public sentiment has been turning against capital punishment,” Hughes said. “We’ve seen a lot of states stop executing people. Winning Kenneth’s life might be a real turning point in the history of the death penalty in Texas.”
For more information
Post-Mortem America?
Hello everyone. My first blog post and though I am not sure it applies directly to where we are in class I felt the need to submit it. I am not going to go on at length about it now. I may in the future but I am simply too depressed at the moment. If nothing else, I do think the content is at least apropos in the grand scheme of discussing to the "Rhetoric of Protest/Social Movements." So without further ado or comment, here is what I have today.
Post-Mortem America
by Chris Floyd
Tomorrow is here. The game is over. The crisis has passed -- and the patient is dead. Whatever dream you had about what America is, it isn't that anymore. It's gone. And not just in some abstract sense, some metaphorical or mythological sense, but down in the nitty-gritty, in the concrete realities of institutional structures and legal frameworks, of policy and process, even down to the physical nature of the landscape and the way that people live.
The Republic you wanted -- and at one time might have had the power to take back -- is finished. You no longer have the power to keep it; it's not there. It was kidnapped in December 2000, raped by the primed and ready exploiters of 9/11, whored by the war pimps of the 2003 aggression, gut-knifed by the corrupters of the 2004 vote, and raped again by its "rescuers" after the 2006 election. Beaten, abused, diseased and abandoned, it finally died. We are living in its grave.
I encourage you all to follow the link above to read the work in its entirety. Oh, and for a bit of commentary on the above, here is another blog I frequent.
Once Upon A Time... by Arthur Silber
Take care everyone.
Post-Mortem America
by Chris Floyd
Tomorrow is here. The game is over. The crisis has passed -- and the patient is dead. Whatever dream you had about what America is, it isn't that anymore. It's gone. And not just in some abstract sense, some metaphorical or mythological sense, but down in the nitty-gritty, in the concrete realities of institutional structures and legal frameworks, of policy and process, even down to the physical nature of the landscape and the way that people live.
The Republic you wanted -- and at one time might have had the power to take back -- is finished. You no longer have the power to keep it; it's not there. It was kidnapped in December 2000, raped by the primed and ready exploiters of 9/11, whored by the war pimps of the 2003 aggression, gut-knifed by the corrupters of the 2004 vote, and raped again by its "rescuers" after the 2006 election. Beaten, abused, diseased and abandoned, it finally died. We are living in its grave.
I encourage you all to follow the link above to read the work in its entirety. Oh, and for a bit of commentary on the above, here is another blog I frequent.
Once Upon A Time... by Arthur Silber
Take care everyone.
Women's Movement
Being a student of Women's Studies, I am extremely interested in both historic women's movements as well as contemporary, while I do not have a concrete focus at the moment here are the key issues according to the National Organization for Women:
Abortion/Reproductive Rights
Violence Against Women
Constitutional Equality
Promoting Diversity/Ending Racism
Lesbian Rights
Economic Justice
Visit http://www.now.org/issues/ for further information as well as other important issues.
Abortion/Reproductive Rights
Violence Against Women
Constitutional Equality
Promoting Diversity/Ending Racism
Lesbian Rights
Economic Justice
Visit http://www.now.org/issues/ for further information as well as other important issues.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Praise Be to Dagon!
From the Teens-4-Christ forums. I stumbled across these whilst researching for the Purity Revolution.
The Big Media Reformist cont.
This is an excerpt from the Media Reform Network, mediareform.net for more information. The statement is often made that the U.S. media system offers the best of all possible worlds in terms of serving audiences. However, over the past half century, as the bottom line operating mode of the predominantly commercial system has intensified and public interest components have been dismantled, many government representatives, citizens' groups, academics, and concerned individuals have become involved in the movement to reform the system. A belief that broadcasters who use the public airwaves should be required to serve the public interest is at the root of the media reform movement.
This is more in response to the second question posed about media reformists, what issue are their or projects in the works: Some media activists are engaged in media literacy education, or training people how to interpret media with a critical eye; others produce and build networks for distribution of alternative media. Media reformists focus on bringing public pressure to bear on media outlets and owners, as well as government bodies and agencies, to create changes that will serve to enhance the democracy and diversity of the mass media public sphere.
This is more in response to the second question posed about media reformists, what issue are their or projects in the works: Some media activists are engaged in media literacy education, or training people how to interpret media with a critical eye; others produce and build networks for distribution of alternative media. Media reformists focus on bringing public pressure to bear on media outlets and owners, as well as government bodies and agencies, to create changes that will serve to enhance the democracy and diversity of the mass media public sphere.
The Big Media Reformist
Well needless to say, I resonate quite strongly with this cause, so I will be managing this section of Crazy for Rhetoric for the duration of the class this semester along with some help from our resident continuing ed member, Rob. First and foremost, what are the interests most central to the Media Reform Movement, where can one find more information on the Media Reform agenda, and what references (terminology) are made when discussing media reform?
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