PART C

Amendments 12, 13, 14, & 15 are often referred to as a major turning point in US government policy. Explain the importance of these amendments:

The 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th amendments of the constitution are considered to be extremely crucial because it lead to the US’s change as a government. They introduced the Electoral College and the abolishment of slavery. For many years the white people had all the power, when these amendments where passed the American citizens of color to have more freedom mainly putting and end to slavery. The 12 Amendment changed how both the president and vice president became elected. Instead of electing a president and vice president together they made the decision to put them on separate ballots. Now a day the president makes the decision on who is appointed vice president.

The 13TH, 14TH and 15th amendment are the ones that allowed the United States citizens freedom. When slavery was abolished things seemed to become more diverse, the government now seems to consist of a few different races and backgrounds (Obama). The 14th amendment states that laws can’t be made that rob people of their lives and freedom, the 15th amendment stated that all citizens of any race had the right to vote but women were not allowed that privilege yet. Every amendment was a milestone in American history because they were the first amendments that allowed all citizens (with the exception of women) to be somewhat equal, attempting to bring the country closer.



Why do you suppose these amendments were passed when they were - given how popular white supremacy has been in the US?

I think that the amendments where passed around that time because although race was still a heavy weighing issue people were starting to realize that slavery would not last forever. Minorities began to stand up for themselves making it known they too had a voice to be heard. For many years it was the whites that had total control and dictated to everyone “below them”. I think Martin Luther King Jr played a large part in the process of getting equal rights for all people. During the movement, he referred frequently to the constitution and relied on it to help get the idea across to people that all people no matter race should be treated equal. Minorities showed their determination to be free, and probably helped to make it known that many of them weren’t scared of breaking the rules anymore. Although White supremacy was still to be feared, it was slowly becoming less of a threat. Things were changing in the world, and people began to realize that they deserved to have rights that whites only had. More and more Black leaders and speakers began to immerge. Although it would be nice to say we now live in a time where the race card is not played that is not the reality. It has without a doubt become much better but I don’t think it will ever go away completely.

Wal-Mart Worker Trampled Analysis

A few days ago the class discussed an article about a Wal-Mart worker that was trampled to death by impatient shoppers on black Friday. Relating this to the AWOL I came to the conclusion that consumption has become a competition. Thousands of people lined up in front of Wal-Mart in long island all for the same reason, buy as much as possible for the least amount of money. If thousands lined up in front of a normal everyday Wal-Mart in a small town, imagine how many of people were followed in there foot steps and did the same all over America for every mega "super-sale" store. It has become part of our culture: showering family and friends with gifts as a way of showing our love and affection for them. Companies plan months in advance strategizing how they are gonna draw in as many costumers come holiday season, promoting big sales and buy one get one free items. I don't think many people realize they have fallen into the trap, they are buying things they might never had thought of buying before until they realized it was on "sale", in reality they are spending more money than saving. The fact that a innocent Wal-Mart Worker was killed because people where in a race and cared more about racking up as many materialistic things they could get there hands on shows that this obsession has gone a little too far. It is a never-ending cycle, because our generation has been raised in this type of society they will most likely grow up the same way, falling into the same trap of consumerism. It shows what a greedy and money hungry society we live in, people will do anything to save a few buck and companies will do anything to make as much money off of them as possible.

PART B CONTINUED :

Regarding the “Full Faith & Credit” provision in Article 4. How does it affect Gay marriage?

In article four of the constitution it states that congress is responsible for letting each state have their own laws and take their own legal actions, meaning that each state can have different laws and actions from other states. Congress gives each state the freedom to make some of their own laws, regarding gay marriage, it has been a controversy, as of now Connecticut and Massachusetts are the only two states that allow it. California once allowed it but just recently banned it. Does that mean the couples that were once legally married are no longer? They are allowed to get married in the state that allows gay marriages, and it would be considered a legit marriage, but only for that state. The downside to this is because it only applies to each individual state, if someone were to go get married in a state that allows gay marriages, than move out of that state, or go somewhere else. In the new state they relocated to, they would not be considered a legit couple.

PART B:

What role does religion play in the way our government is run, What is the significance of the “No religious test”?

In the constitution, it states that the supreme law of the land is that all of the decisions are made under the authority of the United States of America. Nothing is based on religion and no test has to be taken in order for a person to qualify for a job in the US office. If this was the case for every situation I think things would be a lot different then they are. This law is supposed to show how the Untied State is not only based on a dominant religion, when Bush was elected president he made the separation between church and state extremely hard to find. Supposedly it does not keep anyone who is not of the prominent religion in the United out of office. It also allows citizens that currently live in the US; practice any religion they choose because there are no consequences. It will not affect them negatively and they can pursue a career in a office of the United States. I think religion had been a huge part of the AWOL for thousands of years and has become a trap, when this law was written I think it was just a cover up tricking people to think that they could believe in anything they wanted and not be effected, but people are judged all the time and discriminated against because of religion preference and beliefs. The constitution was written not to be like any other country assuring people that they were given freedom one of them being the tight to choose and live by their religion.


Why are there exceptions regarding the 4Th Amendment? Do you think it is ok for people to be searched randomly in public places?

According to the constitution, the fourth amendment states that the government is not permitted to search a person’s house or take a person’s items with a good reason and a warrant. I think a persons privacy should be respected but I believe it can be broken to ensure the safety of other people/citizens. My only objection is that when the law was written it should have been made more specific, it clearly states that random searches are not allowed. After 9/11 security became more intense and while traveling places more and more random searches started. They were not searching people’s items to make it any less convenient or to intentionally invade their privacy. It was done to ensure the safety of the people around them. Events and situations have taken place in the United States that left a lot of people shaken: terrorist bombings and many alleged plots for future attacks on the US. Looking closely you could conclude that there are exceptions being made towards the 4Th amendment but the reason why are acceptable.

Reflection on Thanksgiving and Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day '08

After the conversation we had in class the Wednesday before Thanksgiving day break we discussed what the meaning behind it was and how it relates to the "typical" American way of life. It came up numerous times that we are celebrating family and it is a day dedicated to being thankful for everything you are given but that the reality is that, it was the day genocide started between the Pilgrims and the Indians, where were all slaughtered to death. For my family it is not so much a celebrating of that day but more a celebration of my grandfathers death who passed on thanksgiving many years ago. Its an excuse for my dad to cook and have lots of there friends and out family together. I really enjoyed this thanksgiving more than most cause I realized how to appreciate my family and their friends more, i might actually have "cool" parents. I was really surprised to find out how many of the people at my house knew about buy nothing day and the organization they run. I am surrounded by the artsy type that don't fall easily into that trap (maybe I should learn from them a little more). Although I did not set out to buy stuff on black Friday, I found it sad how desperate people where to get their hands on the best sale possible. Consumption has become a competition and everyone just wants to find a sale to feel better about the money they are spending. It is all a trap the money hungry companies send millions and millions or people promotions or sales to encourage people to spend money they might not have in the first place. When I was walking (at least trying to) across 34th street all I could see where thousands of people, I felt i had lost a sense of freedom, literally being trapped in that crowd and pushed where ever direction the shoppers where going.It made me realize how not worth it, it really is and I don't plan on going next year.

Constitution Assignment
PART A :
Pre-Amble
To ensure that America stays free and that Justice is always served, this constitution was created so that laws and rules must be abided by, the constitution serves the purpose of making sure that everyone is unified and domestic peace is kept in place.

Legislative Branch:
- Made up of Congress, House of Representatives, and Senate
- Makes Tax laws
- Makes laws controlling trade between the United States and other countries
- Representation in senate remains the same, different from the House of Representatives which varies on population of state
- Senate can say yes or no to treaties that president makes
- Approves the production and making of money
- Can declare wars with countries

Executive Branch:
- Makes sure that laws of US are followed and obeyed
- To be a president, you must be a natural born American and have lived in the US for at least 14 years
- The President has a cabinet that he can turn to for advice. i.e) The Secretary of State and Secretary of Commerce
- The President has the power to approve or disapprove laws that the Congress creates

Judicial Branch:
- Justices have to be trained in law.
- Supreme Court is made up of 9 justices
- Is The Supreme Court

I found the constitution to be a very boring thing to read, I thought I was going to be able to better understand the reason behind why the government is run the way it is but instead I felt it was just a long list of rules that should be kept, but continue to be broken. I am not quite sure why the Constitution is the highest law of the land because it seems many of the rules could be easily disregarded and there would not be much or a consequence. An example would be when they talk about the "freedom and justice for all" when that law was made many native Americans and Africans were being put through slavery.

Does anyone have the power to change something written on the Constitution? If so who? Why?

Why does it seen the politicians are the only really people being provided common defense?

Why does the president have to be born in the uniter states even if he comes from at least one citizen of the US?

2008 Elections

Watching the 2008 election brought back a lot of memories, going with my parents to vote, staying up late in front of the TV flipping to different news stations, waiting anxiously for the results to come in. This election however was a little different, because I am older I seemed to follow more watching the debates although I felt they became excessively repetitive and boring I felt I understood more about the candidates how the whole electing a president thing actually works. It seems like the past 3 months that is all anybody has been talking about, and because Obama was the candidate for the democrats he had more of a “celebrity” status than previous elections. I think many people who were not normally interested in elections took an interested because they wanted to feel as much a part of making history as the next person. Overall I think Obama did a really good job campaigning and got his voice heard where it needed to be heard most. I thought it was a very smart move for him to elect Joe Biden as vice president because he has a large appeal to once Hillary supporters.
I think it was clear that the American people were ready for a change, but how much can Obama really do? Being as though the country has been left in his hands in such horrible shape because of the bush administration. I am afraid people will be impatient and when they don’t start to see improvement as fast as they would have liked and blame Obama for not addressing every problem he “promised”.

Dominant frameworks of Capitalism:

Capitalism is more complicated than most would understand, there are many different aspects to the way it is run. The official definition of Capitalism is an economic system in which goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed through the mechanism of a free market based deeply on the right to private property and the profit motive. The three major defining concepts of capitalism are Land, Labor, and Capital. These all have a lot to do with the production of a product. Land (the natural world) is the natural resources the product needs. Labor involves all the work necessary to produce and sell the product, lastly Capital which is the resources (the stuff) used to "re-shape" and sell the final product. People who have money to start off are able to get father in life than people who don't. There is a lot of strategy behind capitalism many companies and businesses try to make the most money possible while spending as little as possible this is also known as profit motive. It the seller and the consumer who both try and get the most out of every dollar they put towards the product, the price of their product set according to the market price. That is the highest price the seller will sell their product for and the lowest price the consumer is willing to pay for (buy low, sell high). Based on supply and demand the market price will shift. If demand of a product goes up price and quantity will also go up, if demand goes down so will the price and quantity. If Supply goes up price goes down while quantity goes up, lastly when supply goes up quantity goes down. A free market economy will cause competition between business because the government does not impose regulations with leaves the market to set its own level, this lack or regulation is what is causing the economic crisis occurring right now. Why do people work as hard as they do? Is it because they want to? The invisible hand is what pushes you to do not always what you want, but what you know you have to do in order to provide a comfortable life for yourself and the people in your life (self interest). One of the most common stories you will hear in American is the "Rags to Riches" one. So many people are drawn to the fact that we have upward mobility, where you can start at the bottom with little money but still make it to the top. That motive knowing you can make something of your life encourages people to continue to work.

I,Pencil Response:

I, Pencil - By Leonard E. Read is about the general history of the pencil, what it is used for, how the everyday person does not really think twice about using it. Very few take into account the many hours of labor that went into making such a ordinary, everyday object. A pencils journey to life is more complex than most would expect, using a Cedar tree from California to form the exterior eventually traveling to the Mississippi river where clay is collected for the graphite. Going through hours and hours of manufacturing to make school and office supplies for the millions of people in America. It not the people who produce the pencils that demand them, they do it because they have to make a living for themselves.The pencil wants the person using it to let creativity flow, great ideas and meaning full thoughts can evolve from it.

"Pick me up and look me over. What do you see? Not much meets the eye -- there's some wood, lacquer, the printed labeling , graphite lead, a bit of metal, and the eraser." That is the pencil talking explaining how most people just see the pencil for what it looks like and not how complicated the design actually is. One thing i found every interesting while reading was this quote "It has been said "only god can make a tree." why do we agree with this? Isn't it because we realize that we ourselves could not make one?" I think that makes a lot of sense, many people believe that what we as humans have no control over on a "higher power" or some spirtial performance. What we can not prove people have a hard time believing. "I, Pencil, seemingly simple though I am, offer the miracle of my creation as testimony that this is a practical faith, as practical as the sun, the rain a cedar tree, the good earth." very simple objects can play a large role in someone else's visions, weather it be artistic or not. Objects we take for granted are made from the environments that surround us.

AMOL essay:

What is The American Way of Life? At first it seemed like there would be and obvious answer: “2.5 kids, two cars, a white picket fence and a dog.” However, it turns out that its a little more complicated than that, depending on who you ask. Through interviews conducted with family members, teachers, peers, and strangers from the streets of New York City, I gathered an overall idea about what the American Way of Life actually is. Although everyone’s definition of the American Way of Life is different, both Fred Taylor and John Fanning, two middle class white men, were able to agree that they thought it was structured around freedom and the right that people have to persue what they love. They felt it is “Important to live the life you imagined and follow your dreams” (Taylor), and that “People should be able to seek what they feel is necessary in life” (Taylor). It’s interesting that the majority of what they said was similar, possibly due to the fact that they went through some of the same struggles in life; both coming form artistic backgrounds.

The American Way of Life is a never-ending cycle, which involves numerous subjects left open for discussion. Living in America in this day and age has been extremely tough. It a melting pot of different cultures all having different views of what the American Way of Life is, and some of the challenges that go along with it. Financially it has become very difficult to support American family lifestyles “at this point in time the economic system is horrible. The Richer are getting Richer, the middle class is becoming smaller and more people are becoming poorer and poorer.” (Taylor) For the most part everyone that I have interviewed felt America was based on “opportunity,” but with the current government opportunity seems to be getting smaller, and one thing seems to lead to another. How much freedom and opportunity do we actually have? Generally speaking the lower class seems to have a much larger struggle. While walking around the streets I interviewed a lower class Hispanic women who said, “If you are born from a poor family life is harder to get by in life. We do not have the access to the best education, which can make or break our careers.”

People claim you can do anything you want in life, as long as you put your mind to it. But how true is that? Although she felt not everyone was able to seek the “American Way Of Life,” it seems that people agree that education and money play a very important role in the socioeconomic status of Americans. “People who are educated do better in this country” (Fanning). Education seems to be a large part of how successful people become in life. Why were people 40 years ago able to support families without graduating from high school or having a college degree? Why has it changed so much? People who get a lower level of education usually are not able to get highly paid jobs.

Does everyone living in American dream the same dream? Is it to“ work hard, start families, try and make money, and pass down tradition and values to the next generation.” (Fanning) Is that the typical American Way of Life? Who is the one who determines the way we choose to live our lives? People all around the world go to great lengths to get to America because of the “freedom” and “opportunity” they hear we Americans have.

1st draft AMOL essay:

What is The American Way of Life? At first it seemed like there would be and obvious answer “2.5 kids, the cars, a white picket fence and the dog” turns out its a little more complicated depending on whom you ask. Although everyone’s definition of the American Way of Life is different both Fred Taylor and John fanning were able to agree on the fact that they think people should peruse what they love. “Important to live the life you imagined and follow your dreams.” Mr. Fanning said “People should be able to seek what you feel is necessary in life.” Its interesting that a lot of what they said was similar, is it because they went through some of the same struggles in life. Both coming form artistic backgrounds.
The American way of life is a never-ending cycle; Mr. Fanning felt the AMOL was “ based on opportunity. People like and work hard, start families, try and make money, and pass down tradition and values to the next generation.” Although he felt not everyone was able to seek the AMOL, it seems that people agree that education, and money play a very important role and one thing relates to the other. “People who are educated so better in this country.” (Fanning) Education seems to be a lager part of how successful people become in life. Why has it changed so much, people where able to get jobs with out graduating high school or having a college degree, now not so much? People who get a lower level of educated are not able to get as high paying jobs “at this point in time the economic system is horrible. The Richer are getting Richer, the middle class is becoming smaller and more people are becoming poorer and poorer.” (Taylor)

HW assignment #2:

comments left on blogs by me:

"The clip where you are dancing with your ugly doll is really cute! I have one to!" - left on chloe hillmans

"I love the video clip with you and your sister!" - Left on Binta Berry's

"Ali jo i like that in your video your interveiw yourself for most of the video" - left on Ali jo's


Insight/analysis:

In a few of the videos i have seen people have started off holding the camera and not showing there face. They only the things around them, trying to make it seem like you are seeing there life though their eyes.

In Many of the videos people show there home, which to me shows that people value their home and realize they are lucky enough to have one. It is a aspect of their life they find important.

I was surprised to see that people did not show there family as much as i would have thought. some chose to only one member from there family, others did not show any. many it is because at this time in our life realationships with our family can be difficult.

A DAY IN THE LIFE from Francesca Taylor on Vimeo.

Description and analysis:

DESCRIPTION:

1. In my video I have included what I find to be important in my life. The first person you see is my grandmother who is a huge inspiration to me. Through the majority of the film I am walking around Tribeca (my neighborhood) with one of my best friends, Emma. We walk through Whole Foods, which has become a favorite spot of ours to eat in and just hang out with our friends. A little later one we are in a park across the street from our elementary school what we would always go after school and fool around. We all have a lot of memories there. All of the still photographs are of my friends and family who are a huge part of my life. Lastly the video clips at the end were taken in school, where my friends where just being themselves, having a fun time.

2. I have lived in Tribeca all my life and I cannot imagine living anywhere else. I have made many of my best friends here, the ones I know I will always stay in touch with. Everyone living here has become a close knit community and its nice to walk out of the house and run into someone you know almost every time.

School is also another very important part of my life. I am extremely grateful to be getting a good education in a school with a ton of diversity. I have made long-lasting friends and, although I don’t look forward to being in school everyday, I have amazing people by my side to make time go by faster.

3. Most things in my life seem to be pretty good. I try and balance out everything I do in life. As I have mentioned before, my friends are there and support me, for the most part, 100% in everything I do. So far I am enjoying school and find all the classes I am taking to be very interesting.

What’s bad – I feel like my neighborhood has slowly begun to change. When I was growing up I was surrounded my independent artists and now more and more ugly skyscrapers going up and its becoming more populated with young businessmen who are making extremely high salaries.

What’s neutral - I am not a morning person at all and it is like pulling teeth to get me up at 6:30 in the morning every day for school.

4. If I could have included anything it would have been my love for music and traveling. I like just about any kind of music but my favorites are Coldplay, Radiohead, and Kings of Leon but the list goes on forever. I have been traveling since I was two weeks old with my parents and did not start to appreciate and realize how lucky I am to have been the places I have been. Some of them include Turkey, Italy, France, Argentina, England, Mexico, and Amsterdam.

ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT:

5. My general pattern in my way of life is someone who is trying to live each day like it’s your last and is trying to enjoy it and have a fun time.
6. I am not really sure how all the aspects of my life fit together. The good things in my life help me to get through the bad and neutral things. If I have a problem my friends are there to fix it. I guess I am as much a part of why the neighborhood is changing, I don’t realize it all the time but I am. I consume from big giant empires that throw the little guys out of bossiness. Because I have realized it I am more aware.

7. I think there are certain aspects of my life that are very typical, I go to school everyday, I like to spend time with my friends but sometimes I have to put that second and put school first. I am entering some of the most important years of my life and, like most teenagers, I am going through some of the common issues. But I feel I also live a life that most of America will never get to experience, I was brought up in New York City, what is thought of as the most famous city in the world. I am constantly in the middle of crowded streets, surrounded my siriens and cars. I feel I have a little more independence that most kids, I don’t have to rely on my parents driving me everywhere, I can just hop on a subway.

8. I am curious to see how my way my life changes as I grow up and get older. What am I going to call “home”? Who are going to be my friends? How, in ten years down the line, will I have changed as a person? Will I have amazing stories to tell from my travels or will I be trying to raise a family in the suburbs (hopefully not!). I find it really interesting how people start off one way and have the ability to change who everyone thought they would become, I have seen this happen many time and I am still young, how will it be when I am older and wiser and am able to understand things better?

HAVING A HARD TIME WITH MY VIDEO. MORE TO COME!

TESTING TESTING!

Just making sure the new blog is up and running!