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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