First Post of the School Year

It's "first post" time!  I'm very excited for the next installment of American Conversations.  It's a little strange that we're all scattered across campus now and getting help with readings will be a little more involved than going a few doors down.  I am grateful to have another year with my classmates regardless.  Just like last year, I commit to making three substantive posts a week and more as I have insights relevant to American Conversations.

Last Day of AmCon 102

A "word cloud" I made of my blog.

Today was our last day of class, and I found it to be very bittersweet.  I know that many of my classmates won't be returning for 201, and I wish them the best, but I will miss them in class.  I know that the only reason I'll be able to continue with American Conversations is because I'll be taking two summer classes to make room in my schedule.  Two year conversation programs, while worthwhile, are hard to accomodate into a four year plan.

On a different note, I found the in class quote review to be helpful.  I found more connections that I could use in my final paper, as well as just having a clearer context for themes of the semester.  We've really covered a lot of ground this semester, and I look forward to using what I've learned next semester in Amcon 201!

Concise writing concerning Democracy

I've done quite a bit of work on my final essay, and the following are quotes that I'm using to make my argument.  However, they are also relevant beyond my paper because they embody the components and themes of Democracy that we have discussed this semester.

1. "On the contrary, I am persuaded that in the case the collective force of citizens will always be better able to achieve social prosperity than the authority of the government."  Democracy in America, Pg. 91.
2. "If we do not get out sleepers, and forge rails, and devote days and nights to the work, but go on tinkering upon our lives to improve them, who will build railroads?  And if railroads are not built, how shall we get to heaven in season?  But if we stay at home and mind our business, who will want railroads?  We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us."  Walden, "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For", Pg. 60.
3. "And like other American Dreams, the power in this one lay in a sense of collective ownership: anyone can get ahead."  The American Dream, "Dream of a the Good Life (II): Upward Mobility", Pg. 60.
4. "Social scientists in several fields have recently suggested a common framework for understanding these phenomena, a framework that rests on the concept of social capital.--By analogy with notions of physical capital and human capital--tools and training that enhance individual productivity--"social capital" refers to the features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit." "Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital".

As I shifted through this semester's works, I was surprised by the amount of new terms that were introduced.  I did not use terms such as "voluntary associations" or "social capital" before this semester, and when I try to explain what we're learning about in class I'll use a term an confuse my friends.  I'm not sure if that concerns academia or if terms like those should be understood by all citizens.  I hope I'll have more clarity on the subject when my fellow classmates bring in quotes and prominent ideas form the semester. 

A New Threat to Democracy: "Beware Online Filter Bubbles"

 While browsing through TED talks, I couldn't help but notice the following video and its relevance to our ongoing conversation on responsibilities of a citizen.  In the video, Eli Parjser identifies a new blockade of information: invisible filtering of content.  As social media outlets such as Facebook have worked to become more profitable by data-mining and monitoring user interests, what shows up in one's newsfeed is now tailored by algorithims.  While this may aid in convenience by cutting down on unwanted content it also narrows our scope of the world.

For example, there is now no longer any standard google search.  This is dangerous because as of now it is not clear to citizens how content is being filtered--many are not aware that it is happening at all.  If we allow our content to be filtered according just to our interests, we can inadvertently become isolated and more ignorant.   

 

NOW presentation & reflections

Our group of five analyzed the National Organization for Women for part three of our ongoing analysis of democracy in America. While at the beginning, our group only had a vague understanding of women's associations, by the end we had all become knowledgeable resources about the subject ourselves. The project truly was a group effort, and I observed no unequal distribution of the work. The most difficult part of the presentation was just deciding how we were going to present the mountain of information we collectively gathered on the organization. I am happy to report that our group presentation of NOW has been a positive and well worthwhile experience of the semester concerning our ongoing conversation on Democracy.

While our content was serious, our pageant-style presentation was intentionally ironic.  I had a good time with this, and I hope my classmates enjoyed our presentation!

Osama Bin Laden, personal reflections, and beaded flag pins.

I am not the first, nor will I be the last to reiterate the news: Osama Bin Laden is dead.  While diligently studying for a biology exam, I took a quick facebook break only to discover the monumental news.  I went on to watch the live news feed on MSNBC and await president Obama's speech for over an hour.  Albeit a distraction, I am grateful to social media for alerting me to the event and enabling me to watch the news unfold.

A flag pin constructed of beads.

As American Conversations is an ongoing analysis of democracy along the course of American history, an event such as this is of utmost importance.  Looking back on 9/11, the tragedy was coupled an enormous sense of patriotism.  For example, I remember that all the craft stores wtihin my town had run out of red, white and blue bead.  Everyone I knew had made an American flag bead pin.  While small, the American flag pin is my "dense fact" for American patriotism and 9/11. 

Many news correspondents had alluded to the surge in patriotism following 9/11, posing the question Will America be united once again?  Or, in consideration of Tocqueville, will this event help America overcome the threat of individualism and allow for greater democracy?

I know that there are presentations in class tomorrow, but I am curious to know what my classmates think of the news.  I for one wish that I had some red, white, and blue beads to make a flag pin and more time to reflect on the matter.

More Black Elk, arguing a claim and sentence structure.

During class on Friday, my group examined Black Elk Speaks through religious tones and the effects of westward expansion.  By the end, we came up with the following:

"Using Black Elk's dialog, Neihardt offers the reader insight into the ritualistic spirituality of the Lakota culture and how this spirituality influenced their response to internal conflict with other tribes and the American soldiers.". 

Our claim took most of class time to construct and even then we were not completely satisfied.  The construction of a thesis statement continues to be my greatest challenge.  I hope to continue Black Elk with this statement in mind, as well as Black Elk's vision an mysticism.