WWI Propaganda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_in_the_United_States

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ww1.cpi.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedition_Act_of_1918

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_on_Public_Information

http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/usa.htm

Is propaganda necessary during war? Is the Committee on Public Information created by Wilson justified given the “clear and present danger” of the war? These are all small pages, please look at them all and let’s talk. Is war propaganda Orwellian or is it just common sense? Clearly arresting Eugene Debs and suggesting people eat less meat are in different categories, but where do you draw the line?

US Imperialism -- good, bad, ugly?

Thank you Shawn, Coco, Charlie, Lauren, Nora, Allie, Caroline and Billy for sharing your heart felt thoughts on the work of Tom Stone. I’m so taken by the depth of your analysis and more importantly the ways in which you express yourselves. I find your words very moving – all of them. Thank you.

For this next blog, I’d like us to consider American imperialism. What do you think of the Spanish-American War and the Annexation of Hawaii? Are these events an extension of US policy against Native Americans and Mexicans? Or are they different?

I’m attaching a few different files to look at (all are small and worth completing). One is a letter from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, two are You Tube videos about the annexation of Hawaii and the last one is a small op-ed piece that thinks US imperialism is a good thing.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

http://lists.ccil.org/pipermail/firstnations/2000-November/000011.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS35CnwYEOk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE4DM3e8l_w

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2003-05-05-boot_x.htm

Poverty in America

Thank you for your very insightful comments on Wal-Mart. Your words are all very thought provoking.

I wanted to give you a second chance to sit with some of Tom Stone’s photographs. There are a few new ones on his webpage (some are incredibly disturbing) that we did not see in the show up in Feldman-Horn.

What did you think about our discussion in class? Did the photographs confirm or change your views?

I’m going to post his statement again, even though it is on his web page. What did you think of it? Did something resonate with you, upset you?

And lastly which photograph(s) moved you most or disturbed you most? I’d love to have some dialogue about poverty in America.

http://www.tomstonegallery.com/about/
To my thinking, the original human trauma is our separation. We are too close not to need each other; and too far to trust each other. We rely on dubious senses and clever devices to interact; but we are alone in our thoughts. Lonely, insecure and uncertain; we pair, we group, we associate. We try to belong and we seek to exclude. We form bonds by geography, religion, economy and otherwise. But it is all precarious. We come together and we drive apart.
And we climb our ladder. We step away from those who don’t belong and help those who do. We are connected rung by rung – though less and less – as we push and pull. But some do not climb; and below, the earth is littered with them. They fit too poorly. They stand apart. They stand without.
And what of them; these ones who don’t belong or who are excluded; who don’t fit or don’t try? Is there nothing they value? Is there nothing of them we value? I count it as a measure of our ignorance, the depth of poverty in the world. It’s a glaring marker to how far we have not come. Yet it has also driven our advance; on less fortunate backs and against less fortunate fate.
But is there really no connection there? Does such fate – whether choice or circumstance – speak nothing of us? Tell me we do more than advance in place; with so many left behind. Or promise me we can do better. Say we can reflect ourselves; us and them... That we can see the ways we overlap and distinguish the ways we grow apart. And pledge that we can learn; to fit all of our misshapes; to reward value beyond charity and beyond the marketplace; to be better to each other; to be better ourselves. And promise me it could be a better world. Or tell me we are at our best.

Monopoly: good or bad? Let's decide.

We’ve been talking about big business and monopolies for the past week and Wal-Mart has come up a few times. I found a very interesting video (from a liberal source) that does seek answers from both sides of the issue (Wal-Mart represents itself). You can read the transcript or stream the video. I’d suggest you watch the video to get the full picture. Is Wal-Mart a monopoly? What are the consequences if it is? I think looking at big business at the turn of the century is really important and it’s equally fascinating to contemplate this right now in the present moment. I’m eager to here your thoughts.

http://www.democracynow.org/2005/11/18/a_debate_does_wal_mart_work

p.s. thank you so much for all of your thoughtful comments on the last blog check-in. I was the last to respond.

On-Line Check In

I’ve been thinking about the first semester some and wondering about your experience. This might not be a blog we can dialogue with everyone about – though you never know – I think the possibilities for dialogue are endless. I want to know what worked for you, what you enjoyed, what you struggled with, what you really learned, what you think you want to do differently in the second semester…..kind of like a semester internal/on-line check in. Give it a shot. Make your one entry longer, if you don’t plan on commenting on others. This will be due next Friday at 1:30.

Harriet Jacobs

Rather than have a more traditional essay on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, I’d like to hear your informal thoughts on the book. What did the book teach you about slave life? What were some of the most moving passages for you? What disturbed you the most? Was the book an optimistic one? Are there any moral lessons we can take from it to assist us right now in our lives? Please consider these or suggest your own questions as you ponder the life of Harriet Jacobs.

Waterboarding and other things

What do you think?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2206219,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2206219,00.htmlhttp://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/bstephens/?id=110010827

Optional:Waterboarding demonstration/simulation. Please be advised that the content on the following link may be disturbing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdswfKFt4wo