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February, 2013

  1. Blog Progress

    February 26, 2013 by Sam Lebold

    I think that this semester’s blogging is going pretty well (as uninteresting of a statement as that was).

    For my passion blog, my topic is turning out to be pretty mediocre. As it turns out, I really like a lot of alternative music, and a lot of alternative music sounds the same. So while I’m finding a lot of new music that I really enjoy, all my blogs are starting to sound the same. I’m struggling to make each blog unique and interesting, when each group or singer that I listen to doesn’t end up being that different from the others that I’ve listened to. I find that as I look back, I tend to describe a lot of songs or groups in the same ways, with the same language. At this point, I don’t want to switch topics, but I’m also getting sort of bored with my passion blog this semester. Or rather, I feel like I’m boring my audience.

    On the flip side, I feel like my CI blog is going pretty well. I’ve found it really easy to find examples from the media to base the blog on, and both topics I’ve done (sexual assault and lowering standards) were issues that I found interesting and that seemed to get people talking in the comments. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of encouraging deliberation by presenting different viewpoints or opinions in my blog, and not taking too extreme of a stance myself. The topics are compelling, and people seem to be talking, so something must be going right!

    In terms of comments, I also think I’m doing pretty well. Last semester, I commented just to let people know that I had read their blog and found something of interest in it. While this still holds for the passion blogs this semester, I think the CI blogs break the mold. I’ve read a few blogs that really got me thinking, particularly those pertaining to race in America. I’ve left really long and well thought out comments on those blogs that I hope have spurred real, true deliberation.

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  2. Gastil: Chapter 9 Handout

    February 13, 2013 by Sam Lebold

    International Deliberation

    I. Intro

    • “The Battle of Seattle” – Peaceful march against the WTO turned violent by militant groups
    • Boston Tea Party – Celebrated in America, but used destructive means
      • Q: How does violence play a role in deliberation?


    II. From the League of Nations to the European Union

    • Woodrow Wilson’s purpose with the 14th point of the Fourteen Points for Peace was to create an association not for international policy coordination, but for simply to make sure all parties remain true to their promise of respecting each other’s sovereignty. US never joined the League.
      • Q: The BIG question in international deliberation: Since people don’t trust their own country’s government, how will they be able to trust global governance?


    III. Social Aspects of International Deliberation

    Social/ Global Component to Deliberation

    • There is a social component to deliberation that plays an important role in international deliberation, due to cultural differences. There must be equal representation and mutual respect in any sort of international context (with the exception of hostile or aggressive nation) and thus it is important to recognize each nation as an independent entity.
      • Q: In a global setting, is each nation held accountable for their actions by a broad, global standard of conduct? If not, should they be, and how so?

    Possibility of an International Constitution

    • At the moment, no international constitution exists, however, German sociologist Hauke Brunkhorst still believes that some sort of international constitution could be possible, and that would make it possible to have a sort of “global public” where there is a sense of basic rights across the board for all nations.
      • An example of this is the UN, where there is a sort of “global public” – World Court
      • Q: Will an international constitution ever be possible, and if so, what would it look like?

    Size v. Power of Nations and How that Impacts Deliberation

    • Size and economic power of any nation have a huge impact on the way a country deliberates, and this is important because trade and economic policy is often the hottest topic in terms of international deliberation.
      • Larger countries tend to dominate, and smaller countries tend to give in to their will, for lack of economic power.
      • Q: Do you think larger countries dominate in terms of deliberation? If so, how does that affect deliberation and how do we combat it?

    IV. Global Public Spheres

    Human Rights Through Public Communication

    • A public sphere occurs when a group of people get together to discuss their own interactions also their relations with the broader “social and political power” of society. A public sphere allows for communication which allows for self and public awareness.
    • In the issue of human rights, a public sphere is important because there are certain human rights guaranteed. A public sphere allows for the collective agreement of what rights are being violated and an agreement on what actions should be taken.
      • One example is the Velasquez Rodriguez vs. Honduras case where Honduras was held responsible for failing to ensure human rights were in place against “abduction and torture”.

     

    • Action can also be taken through global organizations, like Amnesty International, that act as nonpartisan groups that work to ensure human rights are in place.
      • Q: Is it better for a collection of national governments to investigate when human rights are being violated or is it better for nonpartisan organizations to do so?
      • “Globalization from below” is where every normal member of society can work to make a difference as opposed to relying on those few government officials to do so.

     

    • “Finger pointing” at countries forces them to explain their actions in terms of how human rights were upheld. Then, every action made after that is open to scrutiny by  the global public opinion and democratic opposition of that country.
      • Q: Is “finger pointing” in cases where human rights are violated a route that should be taken? Can you think of example/cases where finger pointing worked or didn’t work?

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  3. Young the Giant

    February 13, 2013 by Sam Lebold

    Young the Giant is a group that I’ve been meaning to get to know for quite some time now. I learned a lot this week from listening to their music and reading up on them a little, and in general, I really liked their music.

    I guess it’s easy to say that I pretty much like all of their music, because, as I was surprised to find, Young the Giant only has one album out at the moment. Their self-titled album only has 12 tracks originally, with an additional 3 tracks on the deluxe album. The album is about two years old, but some of their songs, most notably Cough Syrup and My Body, are just starting to become popular now. I’m tempted to say that if you’re going to give them a listen, just listen to the entire album, or at least get a feel for all the songs on the album through the 1 minute 30 second sound bites from iTunes.

    For the most part, this California-based group produces music true to their location. This is the kind of music that I picture myself listening to while on a hammock on the beach. It’s incredibly chill music with a lazy-beach, California-esque vibe. Most of the songs are slow and peaceful, and make me want to doze off in a day-dreaming type way. Some of my favorites of the slower songs were Typhoon, I Got and Apartment. They all have a pretty similar sound to them, and my one criticism would be that unless you got to know their music very well, it might sound a bit repetitive.

    On the flip side, there were a few tracks from the album that stood out because they broke the mold. The faster tracks of 12 Fingers, Your Side, My Body and Cough Syrup all have a bit more of a driving beat behind them, with an emphasis on electric guitar and fun, upbeat piano cords that really bring these song to life. These were, out of all the songs, my favorites, because I tend to not be a huge fan of slower music, and I, for the most part, like music that gets me going and gives me something to dance to.

    My Body is a song that I actually knew long before I wrote this blog, and it’s one of my all-time favorites from this summer. It’s got an adventurous, go-get-em theme to it, with quite a catchy beat behind it, and I really like that about it. I like to listen to this song as I’m walking to class or on my way to do something fun when the weather is beautiful out. It just puts me in a really good mood!

    So as for recommending them, it depends. If you’re looking for something chill, then Young the Giant is right up your alley. If you need fast-paced, stronger music, they may not be for you. Either way, they’re definitely worth a bit of a listen. Check them out!

    Overall grade: B+

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  4. Standards for Women in the Military

    February 13, 2013 by Sam Lebold

    I based this week’s CI blog on an article I found while reading USA Today. Normally, I don’t pull my news from USA Today, but this article is more of an opinion piece, so I thought it would work just fine.

    I couldn’t figure out a way to scan the article into the computer, but I’ll bring it in to class on Thursday if anyone really wants to check it out. The title of the article is “Women in the military say standards should stay the same”, and it features the voices of several female officers in the military discussing specific standards. The article also discussed how changing standards in the military would change the future of the way tasks are handled in the military, and how it could have future consequences.

    The standards that the article refers to are standards that have to be met in order to perform a specific task or be in a certain position in the military. Until recently, because of physical restrictions, women were not allowed to serve in ground combat fields, which included, according to the article: “infantry, tanks and artillery”. These are all exceedingly demanding tasks in terms of physical strength, and they also require quite a bit of endurance, knowledge and experience. The article at one point goes into a little more detail about some things that these positions might entail, and it seemed to me to be incredibly difficult (ex- carrying 100 pounds of equipment, loading 40 lb shells into the breech of a weapon, etc.) While these tasks do seem incredibly difficult, it seems like gender shouldn’t be something that stops men and women from holding the same position, right? Well, I actually don’t know the answer to that question.

    It was because of this physical aspect to specific tasks that women previously were not permitted to serve in ground combat. However, about a month ago, the Pentagon lifted these restrictions, and the integration will take place over the next few years. So, in a few years, there should be opportunities for both men and women in every position in the military. This raises some very serious questions, some of them with answers and explanations that might not be what everyone wants to hear. In light of recent events, many are starting to question certain standards that are placed before soldiers for certain tasks. Men and women are different, with different builds and different strengths. IN GENERAL (note the emphasis), even when at top physical ability, men tend to be stronger than women, simply because of their builds. It’s in our anatomy. So the question arises: if the military is allowing women to serve in all positions men do, should standards be changed to accommodate for the differences between men and women?

    I don’t personally see any easy answer to this question. Part of me argues that yes, standards should be adjusted for women so that they can be equally represented in all aspects of the military. Women and men are different, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have every opportunity to serve equally. Another part of me, however, wants to argue that if we are treating women as equals to men, then standards shouldn’t be adjusted. I think that’s the viewpoint that I’m leaning more towards… I know I certainly don’t want (as a citizen who is protected by the military) any standards to be lowered at all. I want the best soldiers in the military to be in the most needed positions, regardless of their gender, and I don’t think that anything should be compromised in order to have women and men equally represented.

    I suppose the question comes down to each individual’s definition of what is actually “fair”. Is it fair to have men and women equally represented no matter what (and change standards so that this can happen), or is it fair to hold men and women to the same standards, no matter what, regardless of their gender? I’s a pretty loaded question, I’ll be the first to admit. As a women, I know it would annoy me to be told that I couldn’t serve somewhere simply because of my gender. At the same time, men and women are different, and I’ll admit to the fact that I want soldiers to be physically strong- it’s their job. And if there’s someone better qualified for a job than I am, whether it is because of their strength, experience or intelligence, it might hurt, but I would still want them to get the position. The standards the military has in place are there for a reason –  we need soldiers to be well equipped for their jobs. They’re fighting for our freedoms! So, where exactly do we find a balance of fairness, especially in terms of a job that is based so heavily in physical ability?

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  5. Teaching Philosophies

    February 12, 2013 by Sam Lebold

    My least favorite philosophy was the first and shortest philosophy, by Harry H. West. Overall, I felt as if his teaching philosophy was too vague and put too much emphasis on the professor, and not nearly enough emphasis on the student. Teaching and learning, to me (and to a couple of the other professors whose philosophies we read), is a two way street, and it involves the interaction of both the teacher and the learners. I also felt like he packed a lot of big words into a small space, and by doing so beat around the bush and didn’t really make a lot of profound statements about how effective teaching could be done, or made statements that should kind of been common sense, such as being fair, acting professionally or applying the subject matter. I’m pretty sure those are things everyone expects out of a teacher.

    One part that I think really needs some revision is the second paragraph, which discusses how a professor should “convey a genuine sense of excitement” about any topic.  He doesn’t really define what it means to be “excited” about something, and I think the word “excitement’ standing alone sends the wrong message. In this paragraph, he also implies that the best way to be excited about something is to be prepared and knowledgeable about it, and that in general is a pretty flawed way of thinking.

    On the flip side, I really liked the third philosophy, entitled “Why I Teach” by Larry D. Spence, because I felt like his entire philosophy was realistic, even if it didn’t sound glamorous. One of my favorite statements that he made was “Each day of learning brings failures, triumphs, crises, and delightful surprises. But it is always difficult.” This statement recognizes that there will be ups, downs, and rough patches in teaching. He also recognizes, rather bluntly in the third paragraph, that his teaching is not what makes the student learn, that the student has to actively participating as well. A teacher can teach well all they want, but a student who isn’t receptive isn’t going to be phased by it.

    Lastly, I really liked how he talked more about learning than about teaching, because learning is, as I said, just as important as the teaching. I fell like Spence really understands that the teacher isn’t simply conveying information to students, but rather that they’re helping them to learn the material (and that there’s a difference between the two). He talked about how learning is not an easy thing, because if we knew everything, we wouldn’t have to learn in the first place. Failure is a part of learning, because in my opinion, learning how NOT to do something is sometimes the best way to learn HOW TO do something in the future. I like how Spence recognized this. So I suppose if I were to modify this statement, I would emphasize this point more.

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  6. Two Door Cinema Club

    February 5, 2013 by Sam Lebold

    First off, I just want to put it out there that I’m really excited about this week’s blog.

    I listened this week to Two Door Cinema Club, thanks to the suggestion by Hannah. And I think I might have a new favorite band, just based on what I scraped the surface with this week as I was listening.

    Two Door Cinema Club was so fun to listen to, to say the least. Their music was so upbeat and catchy, and not mainstream at all. The music, like Weezer and Matt & Kim’s, were fun and floaty, which made their music really easy to listen to. I felt like I could just sort of let my brain go while listening to their music, without having to try to decipher any lyrics or make a personal connection. Their music was good because it sounded good and had unique flair- if only I could say the same thing about all groups.

    Something else I want to mention is how I felt like their music was really of high quality, despite the fact that they did rely heavily on a lot of electronic sound. Lately, a lot of fans of classic rock and other, older forms of music have been bashing on some up and coming bands that produce music in a different style than they do. They often claim that groups that use electronics or modifications are cheating or not producing real music. However, I think that electronics are just another instrument, and it takes an artist to wield them. I have a friend who DJs and produces his own house music on the side, and he probably puts in triple the amount of time producing his music than someone who simply strums something out on a guitar. He also understand the way music is shaped and works together with other sounds, because he has to put all the sounds together himself. So I really respect the quality, on-par music that Two Door Cinema Club is producing.

    Upon doing a little more research, I was surprised to find that the group is actually based in Ireland. You can’t hear it in their voices at all! (Speaking of, I really like the voice of the lead singer. And the fact that is name is Sam helps quite a bit too). Anyways, the band has, since its genesis in 2007, produced two albums: Tourist History in 2010 and Beacon recently in 2012. Most of the music I listened to was from Tourist History, but that’s probably because the tracks from Beacon haven’t had as much time to become popular yet. However, I made sure to listen to Hannah’s favorite, Handshake, from Beacon. It wasn’t my personal favorite, but it was up there for sure. All the tracks I listened to this week were really good, and pretty similar- I liked their consistency. I particularly liked What You Know, This Is The Life, I Can Talk and Sleep Alone, with my favorite being Something Good Can Work.

    If Two Door Cinema Club were to be playing in the soundtrack of my life, they would surely be playing during a montage of sorts, or when I’m walking around and experiencing something new. They have a background-esque feel to some of their songs, so this seems fitting, especially because some of their songs have been featured on commercials and are commonly played in a lot of clothing stores.

    Overall, I loved the sound. It was so fun to listen to Two Door Cinema Club, and I feel like (as opposed to some of my other blogs where I already knew some of the songs) I actually experienced something new this week. I’m grateful for the experience, and I will definitely be adding some Two Door Cinema Club to my iPod! Overall grade: A, with a big thumbs up!

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