Democracy in the digital age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Democracy in the digital age - Essay Example As Balkin (2004) argues, digital technologies increase opportunities for widespread cultural participation and social interaction at scales previously unimaginable. For instance, the internet allows individuals to access global audiences and sources of information with considerable ease and convenience. Almost anyone with access to the internet can publish a blog, interact with individuals from all corners of the earth and share experiences. According to Shane et al (2009), digital technology promotes democracy as a core individual and community need, with those able to access digital tools and skills acquiring social, economic and political advantage over those without. Democracy arising from the advent of the Digital Age is further exemplified by the impact of the internet in development of informed communities driven by the values of openness, empowerment, inclusion, participation and the pursuit of truth. A stark reminder of the power of digital communication is in its recent rol e in organizing entire populations across North Africa in a series of coups against undemocratic governance (ICG 2011). However, the digital revolution has also created opportunities for increased limiting and control of cultural participation and interaction. Balkin (2004) discusses how conflict arises due to the advent of the digital age. First, it has to be appreciated that the digital revolution is both an economic and a technological phenomenon. The same features that empower ordinary individuals including cheaper distribution of information and easy reproduction and transfer also attract commercial interests. Here, DVDs, compact discs and streaming forms of media are the perfect examples in terms of low cost production and distribution. The observed democratization by digital technology is thus in conflict with commercial interests as it leads to issues of intellectual

The Literary analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Literary analysis - Essay Example Some of the things that the soldiers from the platoon Alpha Company carried with them from the war were material things while others were mental. The mental issues such as fear and guilt that they carried from the actions that they did during the war are the focus of the book with a keen eye being on the death and life. Most stories in the book are not definite as having a resolution except only when a character dies inclining that the anecdotes used to not help in illustrating closure for either of the platoon Alpha Company. The only true representation is that the death of a soldier at the war had a significant impact on the life of those that survived making it to be a worthy war story. With this overview, this essay will delve into the literary analysis of this text by making a personal claim about the impact of the book and its relevance to readers by highlighting what is either valuable or not within the same. Additionally, the essay will also suggest the context that readers should consider as they read it and explain about the place of O’Brien’s book in modern literature. According to O’Brien, it is not easy to narrate a war story but fictional writing can be used to immortalize the dead, which can be valuable to the readers as it helps in understanding the narratorâ₠¬â„¢s past, present and future if they were involved in war. In the initial pages of the book, the narrator starts by explaining some of the material things that the soldiers came with from Vietnam that they considered them to be what used to make life bearable for them there. Some of these physical things included lighters, cigarettes, chewing gum, bible, Kool-Aid, condoms, while another carried pond cake and peaches among a list of other items (O’Brien 2). The emotions of the narrator are triggered from time to time through the thoughts of death of fellow officer Lavender, which

Compare Enlightened Despotism with the French Revolution Essay Example for Free

Compare Enlightened Despotism with the French Revolution Essay The Enlightenment, an historical period of the 18th and early 19th centuries influenced actions of absolute rulers. This movement also provided a framework for the French Revolutions. Enlightened despots believed that political change could best come from the ruler. Where as the French Revolution did many things, unleashed new forces, destroy old ideas, offered new promises. Not the Revolution itself, of course, but the people who made it. However, Enlightened despots were encouraged by the philosophers to make good laws to promote human happiness. Despots acted abruptly and desired quicker results. They were impatient with all that stood in the way of their reforms. In addition, they justified their authority on the grounds of usefulness, not divine right? Frederick II (Frederick the Great), the most famous Prussian absolute monarch and a military genius, pursued an aggressive foreign policy. In 1740 he seized from Austria the province of Silesia. His action culminated in a major European conflict, the Seven Years War (1756-1763), in which he was pitted against a powerful Europe. Enlightened monarchs embraced the principles of the Enlightenment, especially its emphasis upon rationality, and applied them to their kingdoms. They tended to allow religious toleration, freedom of speech and the press, and the right to hold private property. Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education. Enlightened Absolutists believe that they had the right to govern by birth. Emperor Joseph II can be said to have fully embraced the Enlightened concept of the social contract. In contrast Catherine II entirely rejected the concept of the social contract while taking up many ideas of the Enlightenment. The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a pivotal period in the history of France and Europe. The Revolution is widely seen as a major turning point in European history-from the age of absolutism, to the age of the citizenry, as the dominant political force. Many interrelated political and socioeconomic factors contributed to the French Revolution. It fell to the ambitions of a rising bourgeoisie, allied with aggrieved peasants, wage earners, and individuals of all classes who had come under the influence of the ideas of the Enlightment. It was and remains a system of ideas that are usually goal- directed. Most ideologies are, therefore, fundamentally political, bright descriptions of the means and methods by which the instruments of revolution, party, or government ought to be used for the purpose of social change. The French Revolution was the first major social revolution, of far greater dimensions and of deeper purpose. Elected to the Committee of Public Safety in July 1793, Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794) soon came to dominate that group, hence dominate the revolutionary government. He exhibited himself as a ruthless individual, incorruptible, dictatorial, impersonal, and determined to sweep away all who opposed the Revolution. He urged the war on against the monarchical powers of France, and he encouraged the Reign of Terror. The major causes of   French Revolution include the following: A poor economic situation and an unmanageable national debt were both caused and exacerbated by the burden of a grossly inequitable system of taxation and Frances funding of the American revolution, A resentment of royal absolutism; An aspiration for liberty and republicanism; A resentment of Manorialism (seigneurialism) by peasants, wage-earners, and to a lesser extent, the bourgeoisie; The rise of enlightenment ideals; Food scarcity in the months immediately before the revolution; High unemployment and high bread prices resulting in the inability to purchase food; A resentment of noble privilege and dominance in public life by the ambitious professional classes. In principle and by legislation, French revolution made the individual citizen the center of a new social order. The social order should, therefore, be designed to maximize this freedom, this personal liberty. References Spielvogel Western Civilization Volume II: Since 1500 (2003) p.493, 517. Scott, H. M, Enlightened Absolutism: Reform and Reformers in Late Eighteenth Century Europe (1990), ISBN 0472101730.

The Importance of Freedom of Expression in America Essay -- Argumentat

The Importance of Freedom of Expression in America Would life be the same without freedom of expression?   Expressions of hate, sometimes called hate speech, are highly prevalent in today's society; one group using them is the KKK, in particular Charles Brandenburg. Government leaders may also want to repress free speech for the motive of keeping the citizenry in the dark so they don't learn about corruption in the hierarchy of our country. The aforementioned corruption is what freedom of expression was created for; to give the populace some control over the government's actions. The Vietnam War was one of the largest events where freedom of expression was used. From wearing black armbands to the massacre at Kent State University, people definitely showed their discontentment. For these and many other reasons, American citizens should have absolute freedom of expression with no interference from the government. Expressions of hate can be tolerated, but become a responsibility of the government when they are acts inciting violence, such as hate crimes.   In the Supreme Court Case Brandenburg v. Ohio, the KKK leader Charles Brandenburg's rights of freedom of speech were violated. He gave a speech to a group of other Klan members with a reporter there filming it.   Brandenburg encouraged taking revenge upon the branches of government because they were restraining the white race, according to him.   This went against the Ohio Criminal Syndicalism statute of 1919. That law made it illegal for anyone to advocate action against the government. This case was instrumental in how freedom of speech is looked at today. The Supreme Court decided that the, "...constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press do not permit a State to ... ...he end of the United State’s involvement in Vietnam. The government should have no interference in the absolute freedom of expression rights the American people have. These many things affected our right to freedom of speech in their own way, but always the American people have come out stronger because of it. Because these rights are guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States of America, the U.S. government should have no say whatsoever in changing or limiting them. If the government takes away our rights of freedom of expression, then what is the war in Afghanistan and Iraq's purpose? What are we fighting for if not the civilians rights to freely express themselves? Works Cited * No named author. Kent State, May 4, 1970: America Kills Its Children:. 1 June 1995. The Ethical Spectacle. 8 Dec. 2004 <http://www.spectacle.org/595/kent.html>.

Observational Learning Essay

Observational learning is when learning happens by observing other people’s actions. Observational learning involves cognitive processes such as attention, motor skills, motivation, and memory. For observational learning to take place the person who is observing the behavior needs to be paying attention to it in order to learn it. Another important part of observational learning is being able to remember the behavior that you saw, so you can repeat it. As well as being able to remember the behavior the person also needs to be able to perform the behavior for observational learning to occur. Motivation plays a role in observational learning because you have to want to do the action for a reason. All these things are important in observational learning. Observational learning can be used on something more basic or more complex. Learning to play a certain song on the piano could be observational learning. My friend had a piano and she would play it when I was over her house, she played one certain song all the time. I would watch her play the song as well as listen to the way it sounded. I learned how to play the song eventually from watching her play it so much. The reason why I paid attention to her playing the piano was that I liked the sound of the song she was playing. I already knew a little about the piano because I had taught myself how to play a very simple song previously, so I had the motor skills, which allowed me to be able to play the song. Of course I was motivated to play the song or else I would not have paid attention to learning it. The reason why I was motivated was because I liked the way the song sounded, and I thought it would be fun to be able to play a full song on the piano. Learning how to play an instrument is a good example of observational learning, but not the only type of learning that can occur. Most people know how to cook, even if they have never taken a cooking class, this is because of observational learning. My friends and I used to make these huge elaborate breakfasts the morning after we had a sleepover. None of us had ever taken cooking lessons, but we knew how to cook because we had watched our parents cook before. When my parents would cook I would watch them and pay attention to what they were doing because the food they were making always smelled really good, and I wanted to know how and why it  smelled so good. Most people do have to motor skills to be able to cook, because it is working with your hands. What motivated me to want to learn how to cook by watching my parents is that I would not have to rely on anyone else to get me food, which could be useful at any given time. Observational learning can apply to many different situations. Learning how to ride a bike is a skill that most children learn, some learn by getting step-by-step lessons by parents or guardians, but some also learn through observational learning. When I was young my parents did not teach me how to ride a bike, I learned by watching my friend ride her bike. I did have all the motor skills necessary to ride a bike, but it did take time to apply it to a different situation than what I was used to, to learn how to apply the skills to bike riding I watched the way my friend stayed balanced and rode her bike by moving the pedals with her feet. What made me pay attention was the same thing that motivated me to want to learn, which was the fact that it looked like a lot of fun. Although most children do not learn how to ride a bike through observational learning, it is possible. Observational learning can be applied to really anything that can be learned. Observational learning is a key part of life, which everyone does it at some point in his or her life. The examples from my life are just a very small bit of the different ways observational learning can be used. There are four important parts to observational learning, attention, memory, motor skills, and motivation. Without one of those important parts, observational learning is unlikely to be successful. The most basic things people do, are learned through observational research. Observational learning is an important part of everyone’s life.

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder - 1285 Words

Bipolar Disorder This paper will contain information on what bipolar disorder in early and late adolescence is, causes and symptoms, medical along with therapeutic interventions and how important it really is to get treatment. Bipolar disorder is a disease that affects approximately 2.6% Americans in the United States in a given year. There is limited data on the rate of bipolar in adolescents, although, it does tend to affect older teens more often and may be related to substance abuse. A lot of times this disorder is referred to as ‘Manic Depression’, which involves the appearance of two emotional states. Juveniles that suffer from this mental disorder have alternating periods of depression and great happiness. One in three people†¦show more content†¦The individual goes through moods of being extremely excited and over joyed. Manic and depressive periods can happen daily in children. While in adults the episodes could be weeks, months, or even years apart. People with bipolar disorder experience extreme shifts in mood, often called â€Å"mood episodes†. A mood episode is a drastic change from a person’s usual mood and behavior. In a mood episode a person’s normal state is distorted which may cause them to react erratically to situations in which they could be overly excited, called manic, or extremely sad or despondent, referred to as depressive. Manic episodes can be so severe that they make it difficult to perform daily functions and may require hospitalization because some people become suicidal. Diagnosing bipolar in children is difficult because the symptoms are similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It can cause hallucinations, paranoia, extreme energy levels, and delusions of grandeur or worthlessness. A depressive mood change is also a behavioral change and has quite the opposite effect than a manic episode because the feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration can disrupt a person’s daily life. However, symptoms of both mania and depression may occur which is called a mixed state. There are several types of bipolar disorder and each involves

The Banning of the Harry Potter Series - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 922 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Literature Essay Level High school Topics: Harry Potter Essay Did you like this example? The Harry Potter Series had been a controversial topic sense the first book Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone that came out in 1997. When we were first introduced to Harry Potter the Boy who Lived. Throughout the books we are introduced to different characters both good and bad, there are deaths, torture, and discrimination but do I believe that the books should be banned? Not entirely. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Banning of the Harry Potter Series" essay for you Create order The book shows us that anyone can be a hero no matter what happens when you were younger or who your family is. J.K. Rowling shows us that we should stand up for what we believe in even if others around us dont believe in the same thing. To be strong and to be proud of who we are and where we came from. But not everyone feels the same way about the books like I do. Some people find the Harry Potter books to be inappropriate reading because of the way Harry and his friends behave. Some note that Harry lies, breaks rules, and disobeys authority figures, including the professors at Hogwarts, and that he ends up being rewarded and praised for his actions.They feel that heroes should be entirely good people who do as theyre told and respect others (Harry Potter Banned). While this may be the case in some instances, students could use this as a learning opportunity because no one is perfect and human beings all make mistakes. So when they say our heros should be entirely good it makes me cringe. So there saying when I get older I cant be someones hero because Ive made mistakes in my life hows that fair? What their saying isnt entirely wrong breaking rules, lying, and disobeying authority is never good and can lead to other bad things later in life but should they really blame books for their problems or should they be looking at the ones raising them? One school that banned Harry Potter was St. Marys Island Church of England school in Chatham, Kent. Head teacher Carol Rockwood explained that The Bible is very clear and consistent in its teachings that wizards, devils and demons exist and are very real, powerful and dangerous and Gods people are told to have nothing to do with them. She added that I believe it is confusing to children when something wicked is being made to look fun. (Harry Potter Banned). Some people think that the Harry Potter books (especially the later ones) are too dark and scary for children to handle. The series begins as Harry is orphaned, and he soon learns his parents were violently killed. There are intense battles. Good people die, suddenly and horribly. (Harry Potter Banned). Death has always been a big part of the serious. As the series progresses, it is death that defines Harrys character development. Cedrics death leaves Harry traumatized. Siriuss death shows Harry the high cost of Harrys mistakes and the extent to which death can alter his future. Dumbledores death, of course, leaves Harry rudderless and vulnerable, forcing him to mature to a new level of personal responsibility. (At the BookShelf) By Book Seven, Harrys own death represents the ultimate boon that bestows upon him the power to at last defeat Voldemort, whose vulnerability is created by horcruxes, dark magic used to protect him at the expense of his living soul. As Harry marches to his death, Every second he breathed, the smell of the grass, the cool air on his face, was so precious. In this moment, as Harry accepts death, life itself becomes sweet, even beautiful † a sharp contrast to the cursed life that Voldemort cannot escape from. (At the BookShelf) This contrast is again the pivot-point of the mortality theme that Rowling develops. Voldemort looks like death, he brings death wherever he goes, his army are the Death-Eaters, and several aspects of his iconography associate him with the Grim Reaper of legend. (At the BookShelf) In spite of this objection, Snape is willing to die for the cause of righteousness, just as James and Lilly were, just as Sirius was, just as Dumbledore was, and just as all the casualties of the Battle of Hogwarts were. Even Harrys poor owl, Hedwig, chooses to die to protect something she loves. (At the BookShelf) When perceived as a pattern, heroism in Harry Potter means accepting death. In contrast, fighting against death is analogous to raging against the storm for Shakespeares King Lear, who, like Voldemort, is reduced to a cursed existence in consequence. (At the BookShelf) But one side of the Harry Potter controversy are those who say that J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter books are wonderful fantasy novels with powerful messages for kids and the ability to make even reluctant readers eager readers.(Harry Potter Controversy) Some Christians believe Harrys magical exploits pose an active danger. According to them, Hogwarts teaches the kinds of witchcraft explicitly condemned as punishable by death and damnation in the biblical books of Deuteronomy and Exodus. (Good Education) So no I wouldnt recommend a little kid reading these books and they should they be banned from elementary schools. But do I think they should be banned from high schools and libraries? No. In High School were almost adults so shouldnt it be our choice to read what we want? The Harry Potter series is alike Fahrenheit 451 because in both books there was a problem that had two sides good v.s evil and rebellion v.s The Law. There where people changing sides in both books.