Building Community on the Net :: Internet Web Cyberspace Essays

Building Community on the Net All sorts of reasons have been advanced in recent years to explain the decline of community in America, from the way we design our neighborhoods to the increased mobility of the average American to such demographic shifts as the movement of women into the labor force. But the onslaught of television and other electronic technologies is usually cited as the main culprit. As Harvard sociologist Robert Putnam observes, these technologies are increasingly "privatizing our leisure time" and "undermining our connections with one another and with our communities."[1] In his essay "The Strange Disappearance of Civic America," Putnam draws a direct parallel between the arrival of television and the decline of what he calls "social capital" -- the social networks, trust, and norms of reciprocity that are the essence of healthy communities. As he points out, a "massive change in the way Americans spend their days and nights occurred precisely during the years of generational civic disengagement."[2] It follows that computers, VCRs, virtual reality and other technologies that, like television, "cocoon" us from our neighbors and communities exacerbate the loss of social capital. With the advent of computer networks and "virtual communities," however, some feel that electronic technologies can actually be used to strengthen the bonds of community and reverse America's declining social capital. Advocates stress that electronic networks can help citizens build organizations, provide local information, and develop bonds of civic life and conviviality. While the claims are no doubt overstated in many cases, as they always are when new technologies are involved, there is growing evidence that this may be the case, particularly in local community networks. The social and political ramifications of electronic networking has become a favorite topic of speculation in recent years. Cover stories, conferences, books, Web sites, and radio and television programs devoted to the subject have grown exponentially. In looking over the burgeoning literature on the political uses of the Net, I find that most of it falls into three general categories: 1) questions of democratic culture and practice, such as the pros and cons of direct democracy, issues of privacy and social control, and the changing nature of public opinion; 2) how on-line petitioning, electronic voting, information campaigning and other forms of "netactivism" can promote politics more narrowly defined; and 3) the implications of networking technologies for communities. This paper leaves aside the first two categories[3] and focuses specifically on the third: whether computer networks can be used to strengthen and enhance the bonds of community.

Words Sweet Words

I never knew what it was like to feel complete desperation. I never knew the emptiness of loneliness and loss until she was gone. The moment when you feel your whole world crashing in around you, and your whole being shaken with remorse; the sheer terror of heart-wrenching pain. I always thought moments like these were rare. That desperation and emptiness were not things I would ever have to experience. I would hear stories about death and war, horrific atrocities far away, but I never hought I'd have to endure them.My life was perfect. Well-put together. Full of love and Joy. Nothing bad could ever happen. Moments of pain were a stranger. Until the day she was gone, until the moment where I found pain right where it resided, in the face of my dead mother. I walked into my fifth grade homeroom sure that I was going to ace my test that day. There was no doubt in my mind. I had studied for hours, made notecards, written facts over and over until my hand hurt; I was prepared. I sat down in my favorite seat. You know those kids that sit in a different seat everyday at the eginning of the year to find the perfect one?Like theyre adults looking for a home to buy? They consider the angle of their view of the teacher, how much sun the seat gets, how close it is to the door in case of an emergency, and many other factors. I was one of those kids. I searched for my perfect seat in homeroom for about three weeks. It took so long because I had trouble choosing between several candidates. I finally found the perfect one. It was located in the second row in from the door on the right. I could see the teacher but didn't feel forced to make direct eye contact the ntire time she was talking.My seat was formed Just right that it had a slight arch on the back that helped support my â€Å"s† shaped spine. It really was perfect†¦ until that day. Everyone came in and sat down, but something was different. Andy sat in front of me. His long hair was so greasy it made feel like I needed to shower for him. He was one of those boys you look at and imagine the cartoon squiggles come out from around his body to imply his stench. It was brutal. I could tell my day was off to a good start. Suddenly the phone rang.When you're in fifth grade, hearing the phone ing is like matching the first three numbers on your ticket to the winning lottery number. The person on the end of that phone could be anyone, and everyone in your class wants it to be some form of their ticket out of class. This morning was different though. Rather than everyone dropping what they were doing to find out who it was, it was ignored. No one stopped, no one wondered, no one but me. I wish I hadn't wondered. The teacher approached me with the most solemn face I had ever seen anyone have in real life.Andys tang grew stronger and stronger as my mind ran hrough scenarios as to what she could want from me. Maybe it wasn't me she wanted; maybe it was Andy. Maybe she finally smelt his funk, too, and was going to tell him to shower and get a haircut or ne would nave detentions torever. Maybe it wasn't for me. As she finally met her destination and leaned over my desk, I realized that wasn't the case. â€Å"Sarah, sweetie, you need to go to the principal's office right away, okay? Go very quick, okay? No dilly dallying. † Her voice had a bitter- sweetness to it.That pleasant tone people use to cover up the ugliness behind their words, like a yogurt-covered raisin. I didn't fully catch on to the true depravity that awaited me. I knew it couldn't be good. Being sent to the principal's office immediately was never a good sign unless it was student appreciation day. Candy awaited on those days. There was no candy today, though. Not a hint of sweetness carried in the air between the principal and I as he told me my father was coming to get me. There was no sweetness in my father's face as he drove us to the hospital without a hint of explanation.I don't think anything clos e to sweetness could exist in the cold, whitewashed halls of that hospital. We entered the room. There I saw my mother, as white as the walls that surrounded her. She was dead. I approached her as if she was a foreign being, some alien from one of my Saturday morning cartoons. The constant tone filled the room. I knew what that was. I learned about it in health class. That tone meant heartless. My mother once had a heart, but not anymore, the drunk driver took it from her. He stole the thing that kept the beep going, but now it was Just a tone, a dead tone.That ambient sound seemed to resonate from every direction, in every corner, getting ouder and louder as my mind and heart began to soak in all that was happening. I didn't know what to do or think. I Just stood. Stood in the stillness of the loneliest moment of my life. There would be healing after this. I knew that restoration and recovery were in the future, but that future seemed very far away. That future didn't get any close r in the months that followed. It wasn't until I reached my freshman year when I knew that I could move on. In the movies, when someone dies theyre always remembered by some dramatic, life-changing statement.A philosophy they followed that everyone knew them by. My mom said many of these throughout my childhood, I'm sure, but I can't recall any of them. It may have been easier if I could, if I had a profound testimony to lean on from my mother that loved me so much, but I didn't. I knew one thing, though, that she had them. Whether I remember them or not, I know they existed. She had something to share, and she did. She affected so many lucky people in her lifetime. We all have something to say. I took that thought going into my freshman year, knowing I wanted to change.I wanted to change others and myself and make the same difference I knew my mother made in her short life. I know she made her moments matter. Her gentle words of wisdom that sang from her mouth to my small ears, and to the slightly larger ears of others, were what made her memorable. I used that insight as the foundation for my life to this day, and will continue to remember how my mother made winsome moments in her life and others. Even if I don't remember them, her words were real, as real as the sweet moments that they created and that are remembered by all.

How Successful Were the Methods Used to Fight Apartheid in...

------------------------------------------------- How Successful were the Methods used to Fight Apartheid in South Africa? This essay will be discussing Apartheid and what methods were used to fight it, also whether they were successful or not. The word Apartheid is an Afrikaans word for apart or separateness. This was a law put in place by an Afrikaans Prime Minister called Dr. Daniel Malan, Dr. Malan put this law in place in 1948 to keep the Afrikaans race pure of any Black or Coloured blood, and there was always separation between blacks and whites but this law made it legal and legitimate. Apartheid was generally just a different approach to segregation. Blacks and Coloureds were not allowed to do certain things that they could do†¦show more content†¦In 1952 the ANC and Indian Congress reacted by creating the ‘defiance campaign ‘ which targeted six laws the two organizations thought unjust including the law above. By the end of 1952, 8065 protesters were arrested and sent to jail. The defiance campaign ended in 1953 and was not successful in ending Apartheid but it did have a ma jor effect on the ANC; 3000 members joined the ANC during these protests. (aylett 14-15) Nelson Mandela was a very important person in fighting Apartheid because he was a leader to black people as the ANC volunteer leader and part of the first black law firm in South Africa. He also created a new method of fighting Apartheid. Before the Massacre at Sharpeville peacefully and non-violent methods had been used to fight Apartheid but the Youth League did not think these methods were improving anything and moving too slowly for their liking. So violent methods were introduced to the now secret ANC organization and a new organization was created called Umkhonto we Sizwe or MK for short. The methods were to blow up buildings to do with the government like post offices, pass offices and electricity pylons making sure there were no people in them. Mandela left South Africa to recruit supports of the MK and when he came back to South Africa he was immediately arrested and accused of sabotage which Mandela admitted to doing. At the trial Nelson Mandela did not go out without aShow MoreRelatedGandhi, King and Mandela: What Made Non-Violence Work?797 Words   |  4 Pages This violence was usually successful however, there have been several situations, when violence failed, that protesters have had to turn to other methods. Non-violent protesting never seemed to be the right course of action until the ideology of Mohandas Gandhi spread and influenced successful protests across the world. Non-violent methods were successfully used, most notably, by Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Mohandas Gandhi’s methods not only led to India’s independenceRead MoreMark Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., And Mohandas Gandhi2100 Words   |  9 Pagesworld leaders have used the strategy known as civil disobedience and other non harmful acts. With these strategies the leaders were able to successfully achieve their goal. Non-violence comes in many different forms such as, boycotts, freedom rides, sit-ins and marches. One other form of non-violence is to intentionally disobey the law in a calm and peaceful manner. Non-violence has attained many leaders goals in different eras. However, three of the most popular leaders used this strategy to influenceRead MoreNelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom Analysis Essay2976 Words   |  12 Pagesaspect of his struggle for freedom in South Africa. Most modern societies, Americans in particular, view acts of violence as inherently evil. They look to leaders such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King who brought change through n onviolent protest. However, the governments these leaders fought against had rights for citizens and thus the government did not outright murder the protestors. Nelson Mandela performed nonviolent protests for a decade in South Africa while the government violently attackedRead MoreSocial Movement Synopsis Of Mahatma Gandhi3401 Words   |  14 Pagesmovement when India was ruled by Britain. Gandhi led India to independence using nonviolent civil disobedience tactics, and movement laid a foundation for civil rights and freedoms across the world. 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Racism based on skin colour was also institutionalised in law in some of the southern states of America,Read MoreIf Inequality Is Increasing, Are We Likely to See More Armed Conflict?4618 Words   |  19 Pagesthe second part of the essay, a case study of South Africa spanning from the apartheid era to the present will serve to illustrate the theoretical insights from the first part. A decade-by-decade account will be given to show how political struggles transformed over time, which strategies various political actors implemented and how they were adapted to specific political, social, economic and cultural circumstances. The reason for choosing South Africa is because it represents a stunning example ofRead MorePatriotism and People Who Commit Acts of Civil Disobedience Essay2107 Words   |  9 Pagesand Locke looked to nature as the basis for how social and political systems should be understood (Berlin 94). Hobbes had a rather dim view of the state of nature, believing that people were inherently flawed and would fight and struggle without a strong r uler to form laws and force them to conformity. Despite this dim view, Hobbes also argued that the ruler should ensure individual freedom through the process of government so that people’s rights were preserved (Berlin 103). Locke, for his partRead MoreChristian Teachings Concerning Racism3045 Words   |  13 Pagesoriginated in the 18th century when Africans were sold in the slave trade, not because they were being prejudiced against, but because the merchants wanted to make a profit. But as economic profit was being made it became common to think of white people as more superior. This view then turned into beliefs, a system that justified slavery and the buildings of empires. When the British had power of countries such as India and Africa they argued that it was for a dignifiedRead MoreSouth Africa as a Result of Apartheid in the Film A Dry White Season2879 Words   |  12 PagesSouth Africa as a Result of Apartheid in the Film A Dry White Season â€Å"Brink reaches for that unexpected potent strand of Afrikaner thought: an almost religious repugnance toward governmental corruption. And by using a ‘very ordinary’ Afrikaner as victim, Brink proclaims that no one in South Africa is any longer safe (Redman 5).† Andre Brink’s powerful novel, A Dry White Season, was made into a film directed by Euzhan Palcy about ten years after it was written. Euzhan Palcy did an excellentRead MoreThe Role of Unions in South Africa19306 Words   |  78 PagesCollectivism, Unionisation and Union Influence: A decline? An investigation into the attitudes and perceptions of South African unionised employees in a single trade union. Shenaz Sheik Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree Masters- Industrial/Organisational Psychology (M.Soc.Sci) School of Psychology University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Howard College Supervisor: Mr. Dean Isaacs A decline in collectivism, unionisation and union influence? 1 Table of Contents 1. Chapter

Research Papers on English Literature

Research Papers on English Literature The world of John Donne is the world of love, not limited by the single variety of feeling and unchanging picture of love. When we talk about the love poetry of John Donne, we recall his poems from Songs and Sonnets, full of emotions and attitudes. What makes Donne’s poems a masterpiece? Probably, the secret is in his personal autobiographical picture in each and every line and poem. The author is experimenting with his own feelings and emotions through his poetry and brings it up for the reader’s judgement. He does not look for agreement or critics. Donne is more in search for new angles of these feelings that could be brought to him by his reader. The poet is trying to make his poems live and accessible to us, by creating tangible and intangible values and incorporating them in different shapes in the poems. Reading through Songs and Sonnets, we are able to see the transformation of love from purely material feeling towards the woman, mainly based on sexual interest, to highly emotional dedication of self to an â€Å"Angel†, the woman that becomes a reason for living. The author is taking us through his own journey of self-analysis and evolution and drives us to his major idea and belief that in love body and soul are not distinct and cannot exist other than in parallel with each other. Only the love that comprised from body and soul can bring satisfaction and show a human being the highest form of love. Anyone who starts reading John Donne and his love poetry will dive into the world of new and unexpected ways and angles of the feeling we call love.

Dawn - 1202 Words

Disoriented Faith It is psychologically natural for humans to question faith and spirituality after experiencing tragedy and loss. People may doubt or even reject their faith with God whom is depicted in scripture as a source of peace and security in our lives. In Elie Wiesel’s Dawn, Elisha faces a similar spiritual contradiction after barely surviving the holocaust. After all of his family and friends are murdered by the egregious acts of the Nazi’s, Elisha seems to immediately question the logic behind his faith in Judaism and God. Stemming from his upbringing as an Orthodox Jew, his faith does not merely go away, rather, his understanding of God is reinterpreted into a more extreme outlook that acts as his catalyst for change as he†¦show more content†¦Gad appeals to the frustration of many recruits charismatically saying that: The commandment Thou shalt not kill was given from the summit of the mountains here in Palestine and [Jews] were the only ones to o bey it. But that’s all over; we must be like everybody else. Murder will be not our profession but our duty (22). Using scripture as justification, Gad implies that the commandments are not necessarily applicable laws of God in this case. Likewise, during the last day of training, when a masked man addresses the recruits (assumingly the Old Man), he introduces the men to the so-called- â€Å"eleventh commandment: Hate your enemy† (23). An inkling of Elisha’s past interpretation overcomes him at this point as he recalls one of his masters teaching him that it is only the duty of God to take another mans life. Posing an initial self-confliction, these new interpretations ingrained into the mentality of The Movement ultimately overpower Elisha’s previous beliefs, as he continues to kill in multiple operations, each becoming less emotionally impactful than the last. The complete departure from Elisha’s previous set of beliefs is symbolically represented in the assigned execution of John Dawson. Elisha believes that there is something more personal about taking a single ma n’s life. In the cases of other operations, he had indeed killed other men but assistance from other insurgents eased the responsibility of killing.Show MoreRelatedEternity Comes with a Price in Stephanie Meyers Breaking Dawn 782 Words   |  4 PagesSpending eternity with your soul mate sounds like the ultimate dream come true, but what if eternity came with a price? Twilight: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer is a romantic novel based on the hardships of marriage and family for main characters, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. Most of the story of Breaking Dawn takes place in Forks, Washington at the Cullen house and in Bella and Edwards new cottage in the woods. 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The narrative follows the American and British armies as they fought the Vichy French in Morocco and Algiers, and then later when they fight the Germans and the Italians for Tunisia. The novel follows the inexperienced and ill-led soldiers from battle to battle as they gradually become a more cohesive and deadly fightingRead MoreDawn Bread4057 Words   |  17 PagesPRINCIPLES OF MARKETING DAWN BREAD GROUP MEMBERS: SAFURA ALI (7626) AALIYA KHATOON (8158) MEHSUM MANSOOR (9321) AHMER HAMMAD ANAM FAKHAR UD DIN (9014) QURAT UL AIN PARACHA (9210) SUBMITTED TO: MS. MALIHA MURTAZA KHAN DATE: 13TH May, 2009 Letter of transmittal May 13, 2009 Ms Maliha Murtaza Faculty Member Marketing Department Institute of Business Management Dear Ms Murtaza: Following is the report on marketing program of DAWN BREAD, you asked during theRead MoreDawn as the Brand1792 Words   |  8 PagesDawn the Innovator in Brand Building Jacquelyn Denton American Intercontinental University Abstract Dawn has created a loyal fan base since its introduction in 1973. Dawn marketers utilized several marketing techniques such as brand equity and positioning to remain the leader of dish soap sales. Dawn has built brand equity by using the original Dawn to spring board their new products such as the ultra concentrated Dawn with power scrubbers. Dawn positions itself in the market by fulfilling theRead MoreThe Dawn of the Night585 Words   |  2 PagesThe preceding tale, as it happened, proceeded towards the writer upon the general route of the petty town talk. Feeling half-quenched by the apparent buzz, (to be blamed solely on the peculiar inquisitiveness of the writer) hence it happened that the story once again was absorbed, evidently providing a much more absolute procession of facts, through the obliging mother; Mrs. Sheila Jones’s account. Which was precisely thus: Through the whole week, they told her she does not want to meet her. TheyRead MoreThe Devil At The Dawn Of Christianity904 Words   |  4 Pages The devil at the dawn of Christianity bore little resemblance to the ruler of hell, the antichrist and agent of evil that he is known as in present day. Satan makes few overt or implied appearances in the Old Testament. For the important role of God’s greatest adversary, early Christians had to flesh out great parts of Satan’s story in order to develop him into his present, fearsome persona. The Christian story of the Devil is heavily influenced by earlier Greek mythology, and early Christian writingsRead MoreWithout Seeing the Dawn879 Words   |  4 PagesWithout Seeing the Dawn A novel by Steven Javellana (summary) The novel Without Seeing the Dawn first published in 1947, is set in a small farming village called Manhayang, Sta. Barbara, somewhere in Negros. Like most rural baranggays, the hardworking and closely-knit village folk there had simple needs, simple wants, and simple dreams. They were living their own simple lives when the violence of war reached their place and brought death to their village, their homes and their hearts. Read MoreSummary Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1732 Words   |  7 Pagesmoving to look in the case again, desperate. Willow was still confused. Tara went on. â€Å"The dolls-eye crystal isn’t here.† â€Å"Maybe it’s in Dawn’s room?† Willow suggested. Her shoulders slumped a second later. â€Å"Too bad she doesn’t have a room right now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dawn didn’t exist. Just like the first time Buffy broke the news, Willow had trouble wrapping her head around it. Before, she admired the strength and power the monks had to alter reality, perceptions, and memories. Actually being in a world where Giles

Annual Catholic Appeal free essay sample

The Annual Catholic Appeal helps families in the Archdiocese of St. Louis every year. By using donated money from the people of St. Louis, the ACA helps everyone out by using the money for various different needs. These include: schools, soup kitchens, families, the homeless, and everyone else in the community. Through the help from the community, the ACA was able to raise over thirteen million dollars, all from donated money. In fact, it was the largest pledge amount in the fifty-nine year history of the ACA. With numbers like these, it raises an interesting question: how are people in my own community and throughout the Archdiocese impacted by the ACA? With more than thirteen million dollars, the ACA can help an abundance of families and communities The ACA gives out scholarships, hosts soup kitchens, and gives money to priests, who serve us. They offer marriage prep classes to help young couples stay true to God and make show them how to live a life full of faith, charity, and peace. We will write a custom essay sample on Annual Catholic Appeal or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They help people with dieses, like HIV, so they can pay the medical bills or rent out an apartment, which they cannot afford without the help and thoughtfulness of the ACA. They help aspiring seminarians, who will soon be pastors in our own communities and grow to become leaders of faith and role models for all of us. There are a lot of things the ACA is doing for our communities, and you see them everyday. Whether it’s a struggling parish that can’t afford to stay open, or helping the homeless man that just walked down your street, the ACA helps everyone in need and refuses to say no to anyone.

The Life You Save Essays - The Life You Save May Be Your Own

The Life You Save Use of Symbolism in ?The Life You Save May Be Your Own? The symbolism that Flannery O'Connor uses in ?The Life You Save May Be Your Own,? illustrates the spiritual struggles between good and evil that we as human's face. The main character, Mr. Shiftlet, embarks on a journey of spiritual means by walking on both the paths of salvation and damnation. Mr. Shiftlet is given countless opportunities to turn himself around and to proceed in the right direction, on the path of salvation. As in the story, these moments that give us a chance for salvation encompass our own lives. Unfortunately, Mr. Shiftlet does not stay on the right path for very long. He finds himself, time and time again, heading towards his own damnation. There are symbols throughout ?The Life You Save May Be Your Own,? that lead one to believe that Mr. Shiftlet is ill fated. Mr. Shiftlet's acquired characteristics exemplify this, His left coat sleeve was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it (910). Mr. Shiftlet's arm, or rather stump, is a physical deformity that represents a manifestation of his soul. Mr. Shiftlet proves to be flawed by making poor choices and only wanting to achieve his own satisfaction. He [Mr. Shiftlet] swung both his whole and his short arm up slowly so that they indicated an expanse of sky and his figure formed a crooked cross (910). This crooked cross is a perversion of religion that is a clue to the future damnation that Mr. Shiftlet will soon face. Mrs. Crater directly advises Mr. Shiftlet that there ain't any place in the world for a poor, disabled, friendless drifting man (915). This symbolizes the fate of Mr. Shiftlet and he does realize the truth behind the cruel words. The ugly words settle d in Mr. Shiftlet's head like a group of buzzards in the top of a tree (916). Those buzzards are ready to attack their prey. Mr. Shiftlet is aware that he must face his end. Mr. Shiftlet later states that the monks of old slept in their coffins! (913). So the symbol in this is the car being Mr. Shiftlet's coffin and part of his spiritual struggle. There are symbols in this story that represent general moral struggles between good and bad and also Mr. Shiftlet makes attempts to do well as he ?taught Lucynell, who was completely deaf and had never said a word in her life, to say the word bird (913). Mrs. Crater's name happens to be a symbol in itself. She's an old woman who has this emptiness and it directly states that She was ravenous for a son-in-all (913). Just as the word crater means a hollow, empty, portion of the earth. Mr. Shiftlet's name is also a symbol, meaning shifty, or not trustworthy. Young Lucynell Crater is an innocent girl brought in the story as a reminder of all that is good in the world. The waiter at the restaurant, in which Mr. Shiftlet left her, said, ?She looks like an angel of Gawd? (917). There are symbols in this story that represent the damnation that Mr. Shiftlet is faced as a consequence to his actions. The first symbol is when he manages to get the car to work. He had an expression of serious modesty on his face as if he had just raised the dead (915). Even as he's taking sweet Lucynell, the ?Angel of Gawd? to her final resting place he's given human aspects as ?He became depressed in spite of the car? (917). And he continues experiencing this depression until he comes across a hitchhiker. Mr. Shiftlet ignores his warning when ?occasionally he saw a sing that warned: ?Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own'? (918). At last, there is hope for him yet. He picks up a hitchhiker on the road, in an attempt to release the guilt that he feels over leaving Lucynell and a saving opportunity to redeem himself. The two converse and Mr. Shiftlet is remembering his own mother, ?an angel of Gawd?he took her from heaven and giver to me, and I left her.? (919). Mr. S hiftlet has so much guilt built