Identity

  

Digital identity is the data that uniquely describes a person or a thing and contains information about the subject's relationships.The social identity that an internet user establishes through digital identities in cyberspace is referred to as online identity.

A critical problem in cyberspace is knowing with whom one is interacting. Currently there are no ways to precisely determine the identity of a person in digital space. Even though there are attributes associated to a person's digital identity, these attributes or even identities can be changed, masked or dumped and new ones created. Despite the fact that there are many authentication systems and digital identifiers that try to address these problems, there is still a need for a unified and verified identification system. There are issues of privacy and security related to digital identity.

With all of this information online, and identities easily being stolen protection is need to prevent crime being committed. Social login, also known as social sign-in, is a form of single sign-on using existing login information from a social networking service such as Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to sign into a third party website in lieu of creating a new login account specifically for that website. It is designed to simplify logins for end users as well as provide more and more reliable demographic information to web developers.

Social login is often considered a gateway to many of the recent trends in social software and social commerce because it can be used as a mechanism for both authentication and authorization.

Therefore with more and more of our lives being online, and out interactions with other people online will there be a time when this is our only interaction? Will it replace teachers in schools... The need for pupils to go to school to learn.... The need for people to do anything themselves. This brings in to question will we lose out individual identity and just become all the same? Never the less technology is part of our lives 

http://www.identityblog.com/wp-content/images/2008/06/TheSevenLawsWordle.png

Digital Identities

http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/12/30/social-media-update-2013/

The latest Pew Research Internet survey states that 73% of online adults in America now use a social networking site of some kind. This shows that the majority of Americans now have a digital identity.
Now it has been identified that Instagram users are as likely to check the site as much as Facebook users.
Many other social networking sites are becoming almost as dominant as Facebook, such as Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, etc, which shows much much of an impact social networking has on our lives.

6 years ago, when Pew conducted a similar survey, only 5% of American adults claimed to use social networks, whilst now it is half of America. This shows how much social networking has affected our daily lives, through the way in which we communicate.
It is also evident that social networking has become more dominant due to the rise of smartphones, therefore many people, especially teenagers are always interacting through social network sites. The social media has become a huge phenomenon. For example, often you see people around campus, or in various public places with their faces glued to their smartphones.

Social networking can have a negative impact on peoples lives though. Identities of people on internet can ultimately be ruined due to the fact personal information can spread across the internet for everyone to see forever. For example, Amanda Todd's story.
In addition, many people create there own anonymous identities as it is easy to mask yourself behind a screen. However, sometimes this can go too far, for example, through the idea of the 'catfish' where people decieve others in believing they are someone they are not, by taking a fake identity of someone else.
Even though there are negative effects of social network, it is evident that it can also produce enhanced relationships between peers and can promote more face to face time if you discover you have a similar interest with someone.

Digital Identity in America

Write a post illustrating and analysing the various digital identities available to Americans today. What can this tell us about the meaning of identity for American in the future?

Digital Identity is becoming the whole identity in America today, with sites such as Youtube, Facebook and Twitter to name a few, it is becoming all the more regarded as a way of expressing ones feelings and beliefs, without having to communicate with people face to face. 

With this, comes anonymity, and often people don't use real names or information. This becomes a problem when it is the younger generation whom are more versed in this way of life. Therefore it becomes increasingly difficult for adults to monitor what children are doing. Things like cyber-bullying now take place, and causes even more problems because of the anonymity, as there is no-one to take the blame.

Facebook is a digital identity that is used by people of all ages in America, and strengthens communication between people who live near or far from each other. Facebook shows you what people are doing and how they are feeling, but the public feel, combined with the fact that people's parents now have Facebook, means that a person's identity is often subdued or restrained.

Twitter, on the other hand, is far more anonymous, yet has the appeal of celebrity interaction, and has brought the typical American, into the same space as a Celebrity and what makes up their identity. Twitter allows you to 'retweet', or re-post a tweet that someone else has posted, meaning that this form of digital identity allows for Americans to imitate or copy the identity of others, or what they think is desirable in a person.

For the future, this means that America could become a place of less social interaction, and more social networking. Identity will become less individual, and thus more to with conformity and avoiding rejection. Proof of this is Apple branded products, in that even though they aren't always the cheapest or best choice, the desire to conform or to have what everyone else has, is stronger. Therefore, American identity is becoming conformity with help from new digital identities.

Against ObamaCare

http://www.heritage.org/research/projects/the-case-against-obamacare

This website opposes Obamacare. It states that congress cannot build sound market based health care reform on the flawed foundation of this health care law.
Solutions include: Blocking further provisions from actually going into effect and identify better solutions to reform health care. The website states that the new laws move America's health care system in the wrong direction.
The website includes ways in which congress should get the Health care reform back on track and includes various articles from different people who argue against Obamacare and states solutions which should be made my congress.
For example, by providing individual tax relief for everyone purchasing private health insurance, improve health saving accounts, stop new tax increases, etc.
Furthermore, the website argues that Obamacare violates personal freedom, and thus is considered as being un-American. As well as various other articles which state that obamacare destroys jobs and the economy, cuts jobs and wages, undermines senior coverage options, etc.
It also includes in what ways obamacare will have an impact on seniors, doctors, families and future generations and the economy, including various videos.

Obamacare

The official name for "ObamaCare" is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It is also commonly referred to as Obama care, health care reform, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA). ObamaCare offers a number of new benefits, rights and protections including provisions that let young adults stay on their plan until 26, stop insurance companies from dropping you when you are sick or if you make an honest mistake on your application, prevent against gender discrimination, stop insurance companies from making unjustified rate hikes, do away with life-time and annual limits, give you the right to a rapid appeal of insurance company decisions, expand coverage to tens. ObamaCare's new benefits, rights and protections also include the requirement that all non-grandfathered health insurance plans cover preventive services and provide new Essential Health Benefits. Learn more about Grandfathered health plans.

This video looks at an anti-Obamacare adve and analyses it in detail. It hints around the pros and cons of the Act along with the future of the Healthcare System In the USA. 

The Glass Castle

Review of The Glass Castle on Wordpress
or 
http://rippleeffects.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/the-glass-castle-book-review/

The review I looked at was written on a site called Wordpress, which has many reviews by anyone who has a view on both Literature and movies.
I found the review and interesting read, as while it doesn't mention so explicitly, the reviewer manages to relate the novel to the idea of the American Dream. "Through out the book, I am touched by her capacity to forgive, to persevere, to hope, and to plan for a better future, not only for herself, but for all her siblings." This alludes to the American Dream, as the reviewer thinks there is hope even though the family is struggling immensely. Additionally here reference to planning for a better future could be linked to De Crevecoeur's idea of the new american, and that becoming an American would lead to a better life. This is not the case for the Walls, as they are already in America, yet are not prosperous. 

The review looks at things from many angles, and makes it very interesting to examine the idea  of class. The review makes a point of the success gained, yet the sad mirror that her mother never escaped the life of poverty.

"he was a man with a brilliant mind and a wealth of knowledge which he readily passed to his favorite daughter Jeannette. She learned from him science and engineering, mathematics and history. The glass castle is his promise to her, assuring her one day he would strike gold with the Prospector he had invented, and build the family a glass castle they could all live in. The glass castle remained a glimpse of hope, yet sadly proven to be one illusive dream."

The review again looks at the hope and dream that the family could overcome this, much like the American dream, the review states that Jeanette's fathers promise of a Glass Castle would only ever be an illusive dream.

The review goes on to relate to and sympathise with the main character, along with her hopeless family, because the narrator herself shows them in a sympathetic light, forcing the reader to feel kinship or understanding.

The reviewer highlights this extract from the book, "Mom frowned at me. ‘You’d be destroying what makes it special,’ she said. “It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty." which only gives merit to the idea that the hardships you face only serve to make you stronger in the end, and you can overcome things like poverty.

The Glass Castle

The term ‘class’ has been used since mid-19th Century to describe the stratifications of urban/industrial society – as in upper/middle/working. It was based on differentiation by income level and the cultural signs and markers of such. The term also has associations with Marxist theory (mid 19th C) and the inevitable “class struggle” as the motor of history. In 2002 50% of families earning between $20,000 and $40,000 pa called selves middle class – meaning that the largest portions of the US population was the lowest. One book that demonstrates the issues of poverty in the States is the book, The Glass Castle.

One of the many reviews on this book it by a company called: Goodreads. Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Our mission is to help people find and share books they love. Goodreads launched in January 2007.

“The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette's brilliant and charismatic father captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family.

The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

The Glass Castle is truly astonishing--a memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family.”

A key take on the book, is the comment in the second to last paragraph, as it highlights what so many children have to go through in the States – from past to now. Many do it in silence which is the saddest reality of the book.

Website

Picture - also interactive online review

gay marriage vs America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glAGtuwycyI

this youtube video is one guy with a microphone and a camera man walking around a mall
 and asking people "what's wrong with gay marriage." the answers to this question mostly fell
 into three groups. 1) those who said it was wrong because of what it says in the Bible, 2) those
who for what ever reason said that there was nothing wrong with gay marriage and 3) those
who refused to answer the question. in my option the third group were the most interesting
 because of how there response varied, from a guard at the mall simply that what he was doing
was against the rules. to a man repeating that he was asking a stupid question and if he didn't stop he would make him stop.

Sexual Identity

Same sex rights has been legal nationwide since 2003.. Age of consent in each state varies from age 16 to 18; some states maintain different ages of consent for males/females or same-sex/opposite-sex relations.

LGBT rights related laws including family, marriage, and anti-discrimination laws vary by state. Seventeen states plus Washington, D.C. currently offer marriage to same-sex couples; these marriages are recognized by the federal government, but not by most other states. Additionally, some states offer civil unions or other types of recognition which offer some of the legal benefits and protections of marriage.

“Twenty-one states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and seventeen states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico outlaw discrimination based on gender identity or expression.  Hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity are also punishable by federal law under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. In 2011 and 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Coe Commission ruled that job discrimination against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender individuals classified as a form of sex discrimination and thus violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

All of the new the recent and ongoing changes in laws in the United States on Same sex right show that it is a current issues. As highlighted in the YouTube video it is write in the constitution of America that all people should be treated equally, being given equal opportunities in life. Before the date in the video homosexuals didn’t get this right but into today’s society they are making good progress to reaching this fundamental right.

   Same-sex civil marriage legal

   Civil unions granting privileges similar to marriage for same-sex domestic partners

   State grants limited/enumerated privileges

   Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere recognized

   Judicial ruling against a same-sex marriage ban stayed pending appeal

   No prohibition or recognition of same-sex civil marriages or unions

   Statute bans same-sex civil marriage

   Constitution bans same-sex civil marriage

   Constitution bans same-sex civil marriage and specified or unspecified civil union types

Video

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Obama Pride: LGBT Americans for Obama

This video is stated to be a video to promote president Obama for what he has done for all LGBT Americans, however I believe it promotes gay and lesbian identity in America through its use of famous American's who are known to be gay and are talking about their personal experiences as well as Obama, and they also rejoice for future generations who wont have to hide their identity like they did when they were young.

The video has many interesting stories that I'm sure many people can connect to, and although promoting Obama, I believe the video also manages to understand the gravity of the changes he has caused in America for many, for example he believe that same sex couples should be able to get married, which helped create empowerment for the community in America, this issue itself seems to be of paramount importance in America today as it is something that has only recently happened and I believe more changes towards equality such as this one will be made.

#ProudToLove

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mDm0zsw9vjY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#ProudToLove

This video shows the the global youtube community coming together to celebrate pride month. 
The video is compiled with various youtube videos of people coming out, confessions, and gay youtube stars as well as featuring Obama at the LGBT conference, and many other celebrities such as George Takei and Ellen Degeneres.
The beginning of the video shows various people scared to come out to family, friends, etc. For example, one guy holds up a sign saying 'i'm scared' on it.
 However, there fear was irrational as their family and friends fully accepted this and were proud, as Ellen Degeneres, who herself is part of lesbian community, states that by standing up for what they believe in, that one action changes everything.
In the end, the video shows various people being proud for who they are, and being proud of who they love.
The video also includes the song 'Same Love' by Macklemore, which promotes marriage-equality. The video encourages youtube users to also show their pride. 

Gay marriage vs America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glAGtuwycyI
this video is a guy with a microphone and a camera man asking random people what
wrong with gay marriage. this is equal interesting not only because it shows the diversity
of what people think but also the range of ways that people try to get out of answering the
 question.

NOW

National Organisation For Women (NOW)

http://now.org/

This organisation was developed in 1966 and it is devoted to achieving full equality for women through education. It focuses on many aspects of women rights issues. For example, racial discrimination, women's health and body image, family law, economic justice etc. NOW is currently the largest feminist organisation in the US and has over 500,000 contributing members.
Anyone is able to become a member. There work for justice and equality is made possible by membership dues, individual donations and volunteer hours. There are many ways you take action. For example, urging your representative to pass immigration reforms that's fair to women simply by signing a form.
The NOW foundation carries out various projects. For example, the 'love your body campaign' which is ultimately aimed at young women. The campaign encourages discussions related to body image and healthy living.
The website also includes a blog titled 'Say it Sister!' this is where any woman is able to discuss the issues at hand. For example, one the of the women in the blog discusses the fact that many women have unequal pay, living on minimum wage salaries. 

Feminism USA

Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. A feminist advocates or supports the rights and equality of women.

Feminist theory, which emerged from feminist movements, aims to understand the nature of gender inequality by examining women's social roles and lived experience; it has developed theories in a variety of disciplines in order to respond to issues such as the social construction of sex and gender. Some of the earlier forms of feminism have been criticized for taking into account only white, middle-class, educated perspectives. This led to the creation of ethnically specific or multiculturalist forms of feminism.

THE AFRICAN WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT FUND USA

Over the past ten years, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has blazed a trail for women’s rights and philanthropy across the African continent. The first pan-African women’s grant maker on the continent, AWDF has established itself as an innovative organization at the cutting edge of social justice and women’s rights philanthropy in Africa. But they have recently created a charity in USA. Women in America have a challenging life. Black Men have a more chances and challenging life…. Ultimately meaning that Black woman have worst chances and opportunities..

Recognizing that there is a global movement to support African women and development, a coalition of African women and their US allies has created the ground breaking African Women’s Development Fund USA (AWDF USA).  A sister organization to the African Women’s Development Fund in Ghana, AWDF USA was incorporated in New York City in 2002 .

"AWDF USA provides a vehicle for effective American philanthropy to Africa that builds the capacity of the continent’s women for social change and sustainable development.  Through its research, public information and convening initiatives, it also seeks to highlight the tremendous impact that African women-led philanthropy and non-profits are having on the lives of their families and communities across the continent and the diaspora."

Website

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the church of Jesus Christ of the latter-day saints

http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

This is the official website for the religion that is known as the church of Jesus Christ of the latter-day saints other wise known as Mormons. It shows how Mormons should act and what there current history and teachings are. I say current because Mormons are the only religion to rewrite there holy book.
This religion sharpens the image of American identity because what a Mormon is expected to be follows in line with the image of a perfect American home e.g. marred with a big family that is clean cut and respectable. another reason id the growth in American pride because when Jesus Christ came back to earth he can back and did his teachings in America.

Southern Baptists Convention in America

Southern Baptists Convention are a christian denomination, who believe in the literal words of the Bible. What differentiates them from other christian denominations is that their baptisms require full immersion in the water, and believe that the christian themselves should choose whether to be baptised, rather than it being performed as an infant.

The Southern Baptists Convention is the worlds largest Baptist denomination, and the largest protestant body in the USA. In 2011 it's members population was 15,978,112.

The website itself clearly explains Southern Baptists views, and is easy to navigate around. It lists all of its churches in America and the list is kept up to date. It has daily devotions for its members to follow, which includes a bible passage. It has an FAQ section which could prove extremely useful to newcomers to the faith.

This helps to sharpen the definition of American Identity through it's determination to keep church and state separate, and they declare "Baptists cherish and defend religious liberty, and deny the right of any secular or religious authority to impose a confession of faith upon a church or body of churches.", which generally implies that they believe in the idea of religious freedom which is stated in the constitution, along with the idea of a seperation between church and state.
It also does this through its high family values, believing that man and woman are equal, but that man should have more power in regards to the ministries as the scriptures teach.

http://www.sbc.net/

Religion in the USA

Christianity is the most popular religion in the United States, with around 73% of asked Americans identifying themselves as Christian in 2012. This is down from 86% in 1990, and slightly lower than 78.6% in 2001. About 62% of those questioned claim to be members of a church congregation. In the mid-1990s the United States had the largest Christian population on earth, with 224 million Christians.

Christianity was introduced to the Americas as it was first colonized by Europeans beginning in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today most Christian churches are Mainline Protestant, Evangelical, or Roman Catholic. Immigration further increased Christian numbers.

One of the many Christian groups across America is Catholic Men’s Fellowship of California is a ministry for today’s Catholic man. It helps to establish new parish men’s faith groups, and it serves existing men’s groups. CMF sponsors conferences, retreats, leadership days and other events throughout the state that are especially for men. It provides resources and assistance to parish men’s groups. CMF is not a fraternal, service or a social organization; it is a lay apostolate responding to the call for a new evangelization to enrich each Catholic man in his journey of faith. Their purpose is to encourage men to become daily followers of Christ. To also help men renew their minds and transform their lives and hearts. They have seven principles that they live by claim that every mans life can be and should be lived accourdiung too.

This group is different to normal Catholic group as they only look at the issues that males have in society and claim that man was first created by God - implying that man should take priority in having their lifes sorted.

Website

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Amish

Source: http://amishamerica.com/

This website represents the Amish organisation. It includes various information such as news,stories and their lifestyle. The man responsible for this website is Erik Wesner. Although he is not Amish himself, he has been fortunate enough to experience Amish life for himself first hand.
The Amish community originate from Pennsylvania during the 18th century. They keep to old traditional values, have a strong sense of community, dress simply, refuse to conform to society, etc.
The website includes an Encyclopedia which has a diverse range of topics as well as useful questions. For example, the discussion of Amish business, their beliefs, clothing and appearance, etc. Many seem to be interested in the Amish lifestyle and various questions are asked such as, do Amish use electricity?, What do Amish eat?, Do Amish visit doctors?, Do Amish vote? etc.
It also includes a blog where various Amish people are able to write about current news, as well as sharing photos with the rest of the community, quizzes, and general updates which illustrate the strong sense of community.
It could be considered that the Amish community does sharpen the sense of American identity due to the fact they place a high value on hard work (manual labour, etc) even though they have strayed away from the mainstream American society. 

The Hopi Tribe

http://www.hopi-nsn.gov/

The Hopi Tribe is located in Arizona, and they state that "Since time immemorial the Hopi people have lived in Hopituskwa".

The site is a government type of site, with information about tribal relations and various laws to do with their tribe. Their history is most known for the fact that their tribe is surrounded by the Navajo tribe, with whom there were many arguements. Their total population as of 2012 was 18,327.

The Hopi Tribe have always viewed their land as sacred, and important, as agriculture is a very important part of their culture. This is reinstated on the website, with the homepage at one point saying they "maintained our sacred covenant with Maasaw, the ancient caretaker of the earth, to live as peaceful and humble farmers respectful of the land and its resources."

This means that as farmers, they are most likely self-sufficient in many ways, meaning their economic situation is less immediately concerning as they would not be in need of food.

This shows that they present their identity as a humble and self-reliant tribe who identify with the land.

They also earn money from the coal that is mined at the location of the Navajo tribe, as they share royalty income.

Annually, tourism is also one of their sources of income.

They also seem very proud that "Over the centuries we have survived as a tribe, and to this day have managed to retain our culture, language and religion despite influences from the outside world." Showing that they wish to retain their culture as it is a huge part of their identity.

The website has newspaper articles and other relevant information regarding the tribe. I believe the website is a reliable source, as it is a government site and although is probably a fraction biased, it has very valid information.

Cherokee Nation

http://www.cherokee.org/Home.aspx

The Cherokee Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in America. This website shows not only the culture of there ancestors but also how the very same people are growing and adapting to survive in the 21st century. when you open up the homepage you see there three plans for completing this Home. Heath. Hope. Homes meaning that they are expanding and building homes for more Cherokee family's. Health meaning improvements to the Cherokee Nation health care system. Hope referring to the fact that along with the homes and the health care the improvement to education with give the Cherokee Nation a hope for a better tomorrow.

Native Americans

                               

Native Americans throughout history have been seen as “Savages” and “Uncivilised” compared to that of the European White Man. All of the Native tribes from across the country were categorised as the same; they all wear feathers, they all use bow and arrows, they all dance around fires. This couldn’t be more from the truth. The diversity of environments determined the way in which the tribes evolved – Weather, landscape, temperature.

This website: http://www.tolatsga.org/aben.html focuses on the history of the Abenaki Tribe. It looks at a range of things associated with the tribe; Names, Language, Divisions, Culture and there History. Extending across most of northern New England into the southern part of the Canadian Maritimes, the Abenaki called their homeland Ndakinna meaning "our land." 

Here are two of the sub catergories in detail:

Population

“Before contact the Abenaki (excluding the Pennacook and Micmac) may have numbered as many as 40,000 divided roughly between 20,000 eastern; 10,000 western; and 10,000 maritime.” Diseases from Europe such as Smallpox, killed off thousands of them. Currently there is about 3,000 members of the tribe left and they have a committee in the State of Vermont. They been given recognition on a local level. But In 1982 they applied for federal recognition which is still pending.

Language

“Algonquin, but distinct from the languages of the Micmac to the north and the New England Algonquin to the south. There was also a dialectic difference between the eastern and western Abenaki with language of the western Abenaki being closer to that of the Pennacook.”

It would seem though that in today’s world Native American Tribe are becoming more accepted on a state level giving them rights they hadn’t had ever before. Hopefully this acceptance will increase on the same path making it a brighter future.

Picture Source: 

http://people.ucls.uchicago.edu/~snekros/2008-9%20webquests/products3/index.html

Tulalip Tribes

http://www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov/

The Tulalip tribe is located north of Everett and the Snohomish River and west of Marysville, Washington. The tribe population currently has around 4,000 members.
The term 'Tulalip' means 'a bay shaped like a purse' and was used in 1855 to describe the tribes who has joined together on the reservation.
The Tulalip tribe appears  to be economically successful and has high economic standards compared with other tribes as well as high health standards. The reservation owns the Tulalip casino, Cedars cafe, Torch Grill, Tulalip Resort hotel and Spa, etc.
Furthermore, the tribe provides many different services. For example, Health and dental clinics, a senior retirement home, and higher education assistance.
The website also states that the reservation is 'rich with natural resources marine waters, tidelands, fresh water creeks and lakes, wetlands, forests and developable land.' thus, this shows the tribes living conditions are satisfactory, and the website portrays the fact that environment preservation is very important among the tribe. Also, it is evident that the tribe plans to keep their own identity as they still practice their culture through activities such as fishing, hunting, gathering berries, etc. As well as participating in old customs such as Winter dancing, the Salmon ceremony and spiritual work. In addition, one of their values states 'We uphold and follow the teachings that come from our ancestors.'
The website also states the tribes missions and values. For example, they believe they will arrive at a time where each and every person has become most capable. 

Analysis  of Push by Sapphire

http://hhsdrama.com/documents/StudyGuidePush.pdf

I find this analysis of Push by Sapphire to be important because of the fact that it is exceedingly detailed. In this piece of work that is 26 pages long there is a detailed summery and analysis of every chapter as well as a look at all of the characters. after that it looks at import places and objects in the book. Then it goes on to discuses themes. At this point this study guide starts to look at the different style that the author Sapphire has used. Then we get what every student hopes for some important to remember quote from the book and finally there is a number of discussion topics that will help any student get a better understanding of the text.

'Push' by Sapphire review

http://www.womanist-musings.com/2011/09/review-of-push-by-sapphire.html

This review was written by Renee Martin in 'Woman's Musings.' Renee starts with a brief summary of the plot and the characters involved. She states that Clarise represents 'all those who have fallen from the system.' I feel this is true as the idea of the novel is that Clarise is able to 'push' herself in order to gain an education and enhance her own life, which very much follows the whole idea of the American dream.
Renee then goes on to state how Clarisee was shut out even though she was in need of care. She seems sympathetic as she says 'It had me wondering how many victims of child abuse slip through the cracks in just the fashion.' Thus, I believe she is not portraying African Americans in a negative light, rather the authority who fail to help her with her issues back at home. However, it is clear Renee believes that she is treated different due to her race. She states that Clarise refuses to discuss her problems with the police, which is 'another example of how social institutions have let down this young black woman.' as she feels she is unable to trust the white authority.
Renee Martin compares 'Push' with 'the colour purple'. She states that 'As much as this book was about sexual abuse, it was also a statement about the various ways in which the system continues to fail poor people of colour.' I agree with her statement, as even though Clarise pushes herself to read and write and how much readers wish for her to achieve a successful life, it turns out she has HIV, which there seems to be a higher rate of HIV among poor women of a different race.
Renee concludes that 'Push' 'is about seeing those whom we have chosen to create as invisible in order to actively oppress and exploit.' So basically the book had been written in order for more people to acknowledge that there are characters similar to Clarise out there who are not been treated fairly and that something needs to be done about it. 

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/racist-roots-arizonas-immigration-law

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2010/05/06/papers-please-not-exactly/

Here I have two different looks at Arizona’s papers please law. One from the Rachel Maddow show in which they show that this law is not only racist in its design but also the kind of people who created it.

Were as on fox news there atrial was not a look at the problem with this law but a platform for them to tell the Rachel Maddow show to leave the law alone  because they cannot see what was wrong with it.

Pro & For Immigration

http://www.immigrationcontrol.com/

This website is pro Immigration. AIC (Americans for Immigration control) is an 'American non-partisan grassroots organization with more 250,000 members. It was founded in 1983, and the aim of the organization is to stop many 'illegal aliens' crossing the border from Mexico. The fact the Mexicans are labelled as 'illegal aliens' illustrates the organizations distaste for immigration.
They also aim to reduce annual legal immigration to numbers which can be readily assimilated.
The organization comes up with some solutions. They state that the amount of legal immigrants crossing the border should be reduced to no more than 250,000 per year, as well as increasing border control.
Their primary concern is they fear for the unity of the United States. "If we don’t take action now, the surging flood of legal and illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America will soon form a majority in California and the Southwest. Some of these Latino militants are already organizing to form those states into a new nation called AZTLAN.If and when that happens, these United States will be united no more!"

http://www.nclr.org/index.php/about_us/faqs/the_truth_about_nclr/

This website is FOR Immigration. The NCLR (National council of La Raza) is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the US. Who are committed to strengthening the nation by promoting advancement of Latino families.
The NCLR has helped more than 22,000 low income Hispanic families purchase their first homes. In addition, various health clinics have helped prevent sickness to up to 100, 000 families. The NCLR works to welcome Hispanic into American society, rather than treating them as different.
The website includes various issues which needs to be addressed. Such as, children and youth, health and nutrition, education, etc. There is also an opportunity for people to help those in their own community to feel accepted and providing them with equal rights.  

Pro and Anti Latino/Hispanic Immigration

Anti Latino/Hispanic Immigration

http://www.fairus.org/

FAIR: Federation for American Immigration Reform

FAIR is an organisation that is against immigration in general, rather than solely Latino or Hispanic immigration. While the don't demand to completely stop immigration, they want to reduce it to a significantly smaller number than currently, which they label 'traditional'.

The site itself is rather clever, in that it doesn't want to eliminate immigration, and uses language the could easily persuade people to see in their favour. However they are clearly against the rising population of foreign born citizens, as shown in their map under 'Immigration Facts', which suggests that the do not approve of the growing percentages of foreign born population, and would like to see the percentage decrease. This shows that they are stuck on the idea that America should be American, and contradicts the idea of the melting pot.

Although the website doesn't specifically state that they are against the immigration of Hispanic/Latino's, I found an article that talks about this:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/federation-for-american-immigration-reform-fair 

This refers to the founder of FAIR, John Tanton, who 'warned of a "Latin onslaught," complained of Latinos' allegedly low "educability."' Clearly showing that he was not too favourable of Latino's. Additionally in the same article, Linda Chavez, who used to work for one of Tanton's other organisations, resigned because of memos on The Catholic Church and Latin America. She called them "repugnant and not excusable" and "anti-Catholic and anti-Hispanic."

This explores similar issues to those raised in Huntington's 'The Hispanic Challenge', such as the idea of border control, which FAIR advocates, as the border is not as imagery rich as crossing the sea and seeing the statue of Liberty.

Comparison
Both sites look at the issue from the point of the upcoming immigration reform, but from varying sides.

Pro Latino/Hispanic Immigration

http://www.hispanicfederation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=77 

Hispanic Federation: Taking Hispanic causes to heart.

The Hispanic Federation is an organisation which advocates and seeks to promote the social, political and economic well-being of Hispanic-Americans. On Immigration they believe 'structural changes to the country’s immigration process are necessary to reinvigorate the country’s economy and commitment to citizenship, allow families to reunite and maintain our promise of a better future for all who are willing to work hard and contribute to their families and local communities.'

Again, while the site is not strictly about immigration, it is one of the main issues today, so has prominence. They insist on  family reunification as the chief tenet of immigration reform. However, they are specifically focused on the Latino/Hispanic community as opposed to FAIR.

The site is equivalent to FAIR's in that they have a similar, simple layout, and you can easily find any information required. However they provide help to people who want to Immigrate, which is not something FAIR would do as an organisation.

Walls

                                        

Walls. Walls can have such a powerful influence. The division of territory has always been a part of society and used for a range of many reasons. They are used as simple structure to separate the gardens of people’s homes to huge construction projects like the Great Wall of China or Hadrian’s Wall with the main purpose of defending a country for invading armies. One of the most famous walls in history is the Berlin Wall as this was what split the City in half. Centred around Communism and Capitalism with its destruction in 1990 it helped along way to end the Cold War In 1990. But today you most active and topical wall is that of the USxican (United States and Mexico) border. Should the US Government make it a wall like Berlin 50ft high all the way across from coast to coast rather than in some just in specific located areas or have no wall at all? Should the US spend Millions of Dollars on border control police? Should more responsibility be handed over to the Mexican Government?

Many Mexicans illegally or legally immigrate to the USA to for a better quality of life as they believe that there is more opportunities in work/ pay/ social activities, along with the fact the crime rate drops dramatically. This has an inverse relationship with the life expectancy rate. Whether all s true and good is hard to tell as circumstances change on family to family.

 An interesting website: http://www.migrationinformation.org/usfocus/display.cfm?ID=935 gives facts and figures on the Latin America to US Immigration and goes through how the immigration on rise and will evidently carry on this way in the future. The Latinos already count for 16% of the US, 4% of which is from Mexico alone. Some obscure ones include,

• Mexican immigrant men outnumbered women in 2011.
• The foreign born from Mexico were more likely to be of working age than the US born and foreign born overall.
• In early 2011, 59 percent of all unauthorized immigrants in the United States were from Mexico.

There are some US citizens that would say, “Block off the Mexican border and send them all back, The US is meant to be a White Nation.”  But Immigration has always been a part of the History of the United States. http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-the-u-s-stop-all-immigration is a website that debates: should immigration to the United States be stopped? One person argued,

Serious Drain on Americans

Most homeless and impoverished people were born in this country. They need to be housed, fed, clothed, educated, and employed! Many have fought wars and paid dearly for their loyalty to a government/system which has exploited and trashed them, a system which preferentially allows corporations to import educated, privileged foreigners to thrive in the land Americans have fought to build, even die for. It is a disgrace.

So it would seem that this debate on border control will always be a controversial topic in the Nation’s future. One that will cost Billions of US Dollars, hundreds of man hours of discussion, and split opinion in the nation.

http://www.nps.gov/latino/latinothemestudy/immigration.htm

K-12 Immigration

Source: http://www.walworth.k12.wi.us/3-4%20Team/Stelling/Immigration%20Web%20Quest.htm

This K-12 Immigration lesson plan comes from a school in Wisconsin. The aim of the lesson is to allow the students to gain an understanding of what it was like for immigrants throughout the years 1890 to 1920. The students are able to this by reading a primary source called 'A boy's journey' this way students are able to engage in the young boys story. His story describes America as a 'Melting Pot' as the boy states that when he enters New York he was welcomed with open arms and at school he was required to sing 'My Country 'Tis of Thee' which implies that people were becoming infused together to become an American.
Furthermore, the students were required to write a friendly letter as if they were an immigrant. This allows the students to relate themselves to immigrants, allowing them to understand how immigrants were able to turn their life around when they entered America, by becoming an American and creating an enhanced  lifestyle for themselves. The brainstorms which they had to participate in allowed them to be able to compare the immigrants past life with their new way of life as they had to discuss what their new life in America was like. 

Immigration to USA

                                       

http://www.kawvalley.k12.ks.us/schools/rjh/marneyg/05_history-projects/05_mccune_Immigrants.htm

The project that I have found online supports the Idea of the ‘Salad Bowl’ The project talks about how crucial immigration on the whole has been to the United States over the last hundred years, explaining that without  it you wouldn’t have the diversity that you have today, in some ways making the USA bland.

The project talks about how immigrants to the United States localized in certain specific areas, which created clusters of them – whether this was for safety in numbers, familiarity or if it just naturally happened that way. This highlights that there could have been tensions between communities, which doesn’t support the idea of the melting pot. You have ‘Little Italy’s’ forming on the East coast as they came from Europe, along with British, Irish and German clusters forming. Then on the West coast you have the clusters of China as they looked for gold hoping to get rich quick.

Surprisingly it shows with competition for jobs, it was the white British that always won – resulting in the Chinese to be banned from coming to the States as they were seen to be stealing jobs and carried with them a negative atmosphere – another point which shows that not all the different nations immigrating to America were seen as one.     

GLAAD

http://www.glaad.org
 GLAAD is the Gay and Lesbian association against Defamation. It was founded in 1985 as a media advocacy organisation originally created in order to combat the homophobic presentation of the HIV/AIDs aids epidemic in the New York Post and other publications at this time. The association now works to challenge companies and businesses that discriminate against individuals who are not straight or cis-gendered.
They work within the news and entertainment industries to help the visibility of the LGBT community. It is important to have this as these minorities are not often shown in the mainstream media, and if they are it they are often portrayed with a negative or mocking attitude.
GLAAD also uses social media to push for marriage reform and works within faith groups for LGBT acceptance in the USA.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/racist-roots-arizonas-immigration-law

The reason that I choses this web page is because it shows the power and domanice that those who believe that WASPs or white anglo-saxon protestants are the only true Americans.

the Arizona papers please law which was past as an ant immigration  law. this law tells police that if in there work they meet someone who they believe to be in the country illegally then they can ask them for proof that they are a citizen of America or that they are in America legally.
the only defence that there was agents the accusations that this law was not racist was the line that the police will be using there discretion to decide.

Two people have made satisfactory posts... Lucy? Lydia?

Womens Rights| American Civil Liberties Union

ACLU or the American Civil Liberties Union has acted as an advocate for women's rights and equality since 1972. They work to ensure gender equality, and believe that there has been great progress towards this. They claim that 'today gender bias continues to create huge barriers for many, especially poor women, women of colour, and immigrant women.' So are also advocating minorities in a sense. They aim for an America where all women and girls have equal access to quality education, employment and housing. Regardless of their race, class or even immigration status.

This site itself offers things such as a timeline for the voting acts rights and a timeline of the ACLU itself working towards bettering women's rights. It also provides a few info-graphics which are useful, and help to show what has happened in history so far towards women's rights, particularly there is a useful one in regards to women and education. The site is kept up to date, and continues to be relevant today, with topics such as sex discrimination in the workplace, which unfortunately still take place today.

Additionally, one of ACLU's main causes is to end the practice of separating boys and girls in public schools in America based on discredited and outdated gender stereotypes.

Although the female population is in no way a 'minority' as such, there is still a long way to go before true equality is reached. It is still quite rare to find women in positions of high power as opposed to men, and the idea of enforced diversity is interesting in this case as well as others. Some might argue that that is the only way to successfully make these changes in America

However, while the site supports gender equality, it also supports many other issues, and aims to support and extend rights to any segments of the American population which have been denied their rights, such as people of colour, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, prisoners, and people with disabilities. Because of this, they are likely to receive support from many communities, and may be able to help make further changes towards equality in America. 

https://www.aclu.org/womens-rights