* The internet is the fastest growing and largest tool for mass communication and information distribution in the world. It can be used to distribute large amounts of information anywhere in the world at any time. The Australian government revealed a plan to put in place a compulsory filter on the internet to prevent access to inappropriate material. In 2011, the people of Australia and its politicians alike have expressed major concerns over this introduction of a censorship, as the vast amount of ethical and practical problems associated with this scheme are triggering the debate. Good morning, my name is Amanda and I strongly oppose the introduction of internet censorship in Australia for multiple reasons. * Firstly and most importantly, the concept of censorship opposes our basic rights as people living in a democratic society to choose what we want to be exposed to. This filter will give the government the right to choose what is or what is not appropriate for us to view based on the decisions of a couple of politicians and their own individual beliefs. How can we be completely sure that the filter will not be taken advantage of to give support to the politicians own interests or that they will not add content to the filter that they personally disagree with? It does not give them the right to decided what is appropriate for mature adults, and it is not their business what other people access on the internet. What the politicians should be concerned about in relation to what people look at on the internet is illegal material such as child pornography, which is obviously the main priority of the filter. However, that is an issue that leads itself to my next argument. * Putting in place a filter for something such as child pornography will be unsuccessful. The government is making an attempt to block individual websites that contain illegal material, but the reality is that the internet is such a gigantic place filled with plenty of information that it is impossible to eliminate all traces of it from Australian computers. The filter would also be ineffective against peer-to-peer file sharing where child pornography can be found. This makes the filter ridiculously unnecessary for anyone who is really dedicated to viewing illegal content. To argue that internet censorship would be useful to prevent people from involuntarily coming across illegal activity is also wrong, because illegal material are not things that someone can simple Google and click on. This disgusting material such as child pornography is found in the pits of the internet where no ordinary internet user wanting to research their history assignments or socialise on Facebook would ever manage to stumble across. Australia has some of the worst broadband in the world. It is considerably slower and much more expensive than any other developed country due to the outdated and inadequate infrastructure. The introduction of a filter will slow our internet down even further, and in trials this slowing has occurred in amounts up to 86%. Anyone who has ever been frustrated by a download proceeding at snails pace would never stand for such an infuriating side effect of this already useless filter. It is unthinkable that such a thing could happen in a country that claims to be fortunate and free. * Those who support internet censorship in Australia, claim that it is an effective way of protecting children from the disturbing material on the internet, but as you’ve already heard, the filter is not an effective way of doing anything besides making our internet slow like a snail. Moreover, protecting children from adult content is a terrible excuse for a filter. Whatever happened to just decent parenting? It is the parents’ responsibility to monitor their children’s internet usage. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children learn how to use the wealth of information on the internet responsibly. Introducing the filter teaches parents that they are not accountable for their children’s’ welfare, but the government is. A filter is not a replacement for parental supervision of young children on the internet, nor is it necessary for children mature enough to understand what they encounter. It is a false sense of security for parents who will happily criticise the government at every opportunity but are simply too lazy to supervise their own kids. Furthermore, it hardly seems logical that a filter would be enforced to protect children when the majority of Australian households don’t even have any! * One of the likely reasons why this filtering scheme has caused such debate may be the fact that virtually no one actually desires this proposal to be implemented and yet the Politian’s are continuing to enforce it down our throats. Both the Liberal party and the Greens do not support this scheme and the idea infuriates numerous Australians. This is evident through the petitions and discussions made by outraged Australians attacking the idea of a compulsory filter on the internet. The Labor party are the only people who truly support the plan and some family-orientated groups are also encouraging it as they have children, but they are forgetting the reality that there are many citizens without kids. The main reason this proposal hasn’t been completely discarded yet is because the Labor party is determined that we as Australians require this for our own benefit, regardless of the number of countless people that disagree with it. The fact that our own government will not take into account the opinions of the people that are actually affected by their ideas is extremely alarming. Despite being almost universally condemned by the public, ISPs, State Governments, Media and censorship experts, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is determined to force this filter into your home. What we want to avoid is to degraded into an almost autocratic-like system of government similar to countries like China, Iran and North Korea where internet censorship is extensive. * Ill conclude by saying that the internet censorship in Australia is not an effective way of blocking out illegal material from Australia computers. It is doing nothing more than making our internet cumbersome and sluggish. It is not the government’s job to babysit our nation, Thank you
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1/26/2020 0 Comments How Does Music Affect Our LivesHow Does Music Affect Our Lives: The Connection between Communication and Music Music is present throughout our lives, from the moment we wake up and hear that song that starts our day off, to that song that reminds us of that relationship we once had with that special someone, or a song that a city uses as its anthem for it’s sports team or a song that a country listens to, that helps comfort them in a time of tragedy and loss. Music helps us communicate and relate to things when we can not find the words to help us express our feelings. When we have had a tragedy in our lives some people turn to alcohol, drugs, or something else to get rid of a terrible memory. After the attacks of September 11th music was used as instrument in rebuilding the lives of the many New Yorkers who had lost loved ones, or had witnessed the horrific events. Bruce Springsteen was one artist that released an album at this time; the album was titled The Rising. This album conveyed the feelings of the citizens of New York City. Some of the tracks were titled, “Into the Fireâ€. “You’re Missing†and “Lonesome Day†We also had Sir Paul McCartney’s Freedom a song that was used as a memorial for the 9/11 attacks. Another band that helped heal the wounds of 9/11 was U2. Since the beginning they have written songs that reach a wide variety of fans from all over the world. One song that sticks out is, “Pride (In the Name of Love)†these lyrics talk about many great figures throughout history, including Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi. These are some of those lyrics. One man come in the name of love One man come and go One man come, he to justify One man to overthrow In the name of love What more in the name of love In the name of love What more in the name of love One man caught on a barbed wire fence One man he resist One man washed on an empty beach. One man betrayed with a kiss In the name of love What more in the name of love In the name of love What more in the name of love Early morning, April 4 Shot rings out in the Memphis sky Free at last, they took your life They could not take your pride… (U2 The Unforgettable Fire, 1984 Island Records) Music is also used at funerals as a send off into the next life or as a testament to the life of that person. My uncle was murdered in the fall of 2002. Everyone including my grandmother took it hard. They song my cousin chose for her father was Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Music has been there for me when I have no one to talk to. In the book Popular Music and Communication by James Lull there is a paragraph that explains musicians and how they communicate to their fans, “Popular musicians are loved, even worshiped, not only for their abilities to write songs and perform them publicly, but for their ability to “speak†to their audiences. Even an artist whose only contact with the audience is through the sale of millions of compact discs and tapes communicates “personally†with each listener†Pg. 33 of Popular Music and Communication by James Lull Sage Publications, C 1992. Everyone has a soundtrack to their lives and I found the first part of mine in 2000 with an album by a band named Papa Roach. My mother and father are separated; there divorce was based on the fact that my father was abusive towards my mother. The one song I could strongly relate to on that album was a song titled “Broken Home†I can't seem to fight these feelings I'm caught in the middle of this My wounds are not healing I'm stuck in between my parents I wish I had someone to talk to Someone to I could confide in… Broken home All alone I know my mother loves me But does my father even care If I'm sad or angry You were never ever there When I needed you I hope you regret what you did I think I know the truth Your father did the same to you… (Infest, Papa Roach, April 25, 2000, DreamWorks Records) When I heard this song it really opened my eyes, for the past sixteen years of my life I never knew that my fathers father had left when he was very young, it was a revelation to me, that this man who is my grandfather, that I have only seen a few times in my life, and my father were one in the same. After recently ending a relationship with someone that had truly changed my life I continue to listen to this song from a popular punk rock Band MxPx. The song is about someone giving up on girls and relationships and joining G. S. F. “Girls Schmirls Foundation†“You didn't have to be so mean to me I guess now I see how it's gonna be I'm joining GSF, I've made up my mind Forget this thing called love, it's a waste of time Girls ain't no good anymore, anyway! Not for one second have I understood Why they do what they do, why they say what they say Always happens to my friends, it always happens to me It's taken me 19 years to finally see She said “Can we just be friends? It's just not working out. †Another broken heart that I can do without Girls ain't no good anymore, anyway! Not for one second have I understood Why they do what they do, why they say what they say†Many of my friends say that they can relate to how I feel and the song is a good way for me to get my feelings out and to show that girl she hurt me. Music is also used to help boost morale in teams and fans at sporting events. Once a Spurs fan hears, “Are You Ready for This? †they automatically begin to get hyped for the preceding game. The same is at football games, especially college football games. When the fans at Texas State hear “Go Bobcats†they automatically get on there feet and begin to participate in the hand gestures and sing the chorus. The football team, whether win, lose or draw will be on that field singing the Alma Mater. There are those fan jams that are required at any sporting event, such as Queens “We Will Rock You†and “We are the Champions†Music is used at these events to get a crowd hyped and the teams pumped and excited that they are playing in front of a large group of people that believe in them. As you can see Music is all around us. It is apart of our lives. It helps us express our feelings towards other people, it helps us to close old wounds made by tragic events, it also give us a reason to cheer and sporting events, but the most important thing music gives us is a voice, a reason, a definition of who we real are. Bibliography 1. McLaughlin, Terence. Music and communication, New York, St. Martin's Press [1971, c1970] 2. Lull, James. Popular music and communication, Newbury Park, Calif. : Sage Publications, c1992. 3. Lynyrd Skynrd. Lynryd Skynrd, MCA Records, c 1973 4. Papa Roach. Infest, DreamWorks Records, c April 25, 2000 5. Paul McCartney. Freedom, Capitol Records, c November 13, 2001 6. U2. The Unforgettable Fire, Island Records, c 1984 7. MxPx GSF, At The Show, Tooth and Nail Records, c. July 27, 1999
1/3/2020 0 Comments Kate Chopin and the AwakeningWhat features make The Awakening a “local color†story? The amount of detail that is spent on the area and is significant. Every time a character that is colored is introduced, limited time is spent describing the character. Local color is what defines an area, town or people. “The Awakening†touches deeply on all of the local color of the area it is describing. What customs and beliefs of Edna Pontellier's society are significant in relation to her psychological development? To be a good person in Edna’s society meant being a mother figure who completely surrenders her sense of self in favor of her husband and children. Edna is trying to become a human being the best way she knows how. Edna refuses to take the mother road. Instead, she seeks her humanity What attitudes and tendencies in the Creole characters does Edna have trouble adjusting to? Creole society is very open when it comes to sexuality, and Edna has trouble with that. She was not brought up in the Creole society, so she has trouble accepting it. Examples can be seen when they pass around the novel that has explicit sexual content while on vaction. It can also be seen in Robert's behavior. He is very openly flirtatious with Edna, and he has the repuation of being a flirt in the past with other women. Why did Edna marry Leonce? Is he the model husband? She married him because she didn't want her father to choose her husband. She wanted the freedom of being able to choose herself. “Was he the best choice? †Probably not for Edna but it was who she chose. What incidents in the novel reveal that he may not be a good husband for Edna? As a traditional Creole gentleman of the times, Leonce believes it is his duty to provide financially for the family and it is Edna's duty to be devoted to him, their two children, and their home. When Edna suggests she is not interested in these domestic duties, Leonce is incapable of comprehending what she means. In his mind, this line of thinking is utterly ridiculous. Against that backdrop, Leonce's inability to communicate effectively with his wife expands the problem. When Edna shares her feelings with Leonce, he dismisses them. When her behavior contradicts his expectations, he dismisses them. By dismissing Edna and her concerns and never communicating with her about them, Leonce severs any ties that exist between the two. How do Mlle. Reisz and Mme. Ratignolle function in relation to Edna and the novel's view of women as mothers and artists? Mme. Ratignolle shows the society's view of women as mothers. Her advice to Edna is to “remember the children. †Ratignolle is loving and nurturing, but devoid of independence or personality. Mlle. Reisz, though, is living her life as she desires, not caring what society thinks of her. She is able to be extravagant and lavish, fully embracing her artistic capabilities because she does not have other obligations. She denies society's structure, and encourages Edna to do the same. This free lifestyle is what Edna comes to desire and seek for herself. What kind of mother is Edna? What kind of artist is she? Painting evokes the passion that Edna lacks in her life. There are suggestions that Edna's art is somehow flawed. Madame Reisz cautions Edna about what it takes to be an artist, the “courageous soul†and the “stronged wings. †Edna also loves her children, however she would not give herself to her children but rather sacriface herself for them. She realizes that she has lives in a society filled with limitations, therefore sees her only way out by freeing herself permanently from society. How are the background characters such as the young lovers and the lady in black at the shore, significant in Edna's story? These minor characters all serve to contrast with Edna and her struggles with her own identity and place in society. The young lovers are a stark contrast to the marriage of Edna and Leonce, at least as Edna perceives her marriage. The young lovers are described as walking shoulder to shoulder, suggesting they are equals and connected. Edna does not feel this with Leonce. The lady in black is likely an old widow who is now living out the end of her life in the expected way. She wears the color of mourning and serves as a visible picture of what the last phase of what life is like in this society. In detail, explain how the flashbacks to Edna's past function. How does her father compare to the other men in her life? In the first one, Edna is talking to Robert and recalls a “summer day in Kentucky, of a meadow that seemed as big as the ocean. †This memory reveals to us that Edna's interest in running away and being engulfed by something larger than itself has its manifestations in her childhood and is not something that she is just starting to consider as an unhappy wife and mother in Creole New Orleans. As the chapter progresses we learn that Edna had some “loves†in her past, but that they were more of her imagination than any possibility of reality. †With all of this flashback information, it comes as no surprise then that when Leonce woos her, even though she doesn't love him. Leonce is everything her father isn't, and that is part of his appeal. Edna even openly admits that the fact that Leonce is Catholic and that that would irritate her father is one of the reasons she agreed to marry him. This flashback gives us a very complete picture of Edna's history in regards to men and establishes the foundations of her marriage to Leonce. This has a great effect on the reading of the novel. It makes Edna's character more complex and more interesting How does the view of romantic love develop in the course of the novel? What is the doctor's view of marriage and childbearing? The genuine affection that develops between Edna Pontellier and Robert Lebrun is a form of romantic love. They shared their thoughts on a range of subjects that might appear uninteresting to others. As their friendship grew, they become more comfortable with one another. Robert rests his head on Mrs. Pontellier because it is comfortable. His goal is not to be forward or flirtatious. Roberts’s romantic feelings for Edna increase as this intimacy grows. Robert leaves for Mexico very soon afterwards. He hopes to escape his feelings because he realizes that he has fallen in love with Edna. His love developed naturally over time. His feelings morphed from a close friendship into emotional intimacy/understanding and then into love. Can you think of an emotional attachment and/or a romantic obsession you have studied in a previous work? How does that incident or character compare with Edna's emotional and romantic relationships? In a book i recently read, the main character's wife has a small dilema. She loves the man she is married to but rejects him at the same time. The reason she rejects him is because she was chosen as his wife and she did not get to choose him. Its a bit more complicated than this but this is a basic summary. This compares to Edna because she doesn't want a husband to choose her. She wants to choose the husband. She picks a man based on how he woos her nicely. This causes the ultimate problem that she ends up not loving her husband. The similarity is in the differences. Both took a different path to get to the same area. The end result was the same though. The women in the book I read, ran away. Edna committed suicide in order to run away. What are the main images and symbols in the novel? One of the main themes is the Sea. At the very end of the novel, Edna drowns herself. The irony of the scene is that Edna has learned how to swim, so here she is certainly exhibiting an act of agency by swimming far out into the water that used to scare her. Now, she is not scared and as she swims she recalls all the troubles and misunderstandings of her life. Her drowning symbolically represents her freeing herself from what she felt was a life of restriction. Here in the water, she experiences that which her life did not allow. The novel starts with the symbol of a caged bird, and references birds in several other chapters as well. The caged bird is a clear symbol for Edna as she feels caged in her roles of wife and mother and in the expectations that the Creole society has imposed on her. Later in the novel Reisz questions whether Edna has strong enough wings to fly above the social conventions of the time to be truly free of the rules and norms of the day. In the end, Edna sees a bird with a broken wing, just as she is not strong enough (or willing enough) to struggle on this society. Why does Edna get involved with Alcee Arobin? Alcee Arobin follows Edna around and spends a great deal of time with her while Mr. Pontellier is not home. At first it is just friendship, Edna takes no real interest in Alcee because her love lies with Robert. She has secretly always hoped for Robert, but Alcee is conveniently there. Sick of her old life, Edna simply takes up Alcee as a lover for the companionship. In a sense, she lives out her relationship-fantasy of Robert with Alcee. Why do you suppose critics were outraged at this novel in 1899, saying it committed “unutterable crimes against polite society†and should be labeled “poison†to protect “moral babes� The story showed a women reaching the ultimate low because of rules society layed out. She killed herself because she felt that everything constricted her too much. I think that the reason they called it so horrible is because it showed the darker side to the norms of society. It also showed how oppressed women really were. What is your reaction to the end of the novel? Do you agree or disagree with the reasons for Edna's final action? I agree with her final action because I think too much damage had already been done. If she had gone back and told her husband she wanted a divorce, I think he would of brushed it away. She had a person who would of loved her and treated her like an equal. He saw that he had fallen in love with her and left to Mexico. The best oppertunity for her to get what she needed stepped out the door right then. The story also hints that she has always run away from her problems and not looked at them straight on. This means that all her problems have been building up over her life. I don't think that amount of damage is reversable.
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