Honors, your new blog address is here:
http://aristocraticsociety.blogspot.com/
Directives for being added to the listserv will be given in class.
-Ms. H
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
BARACK H. OBAMA - EXTRA CREDIT RESPONSE
Thanks to everyone who left their sentiments and recollections of how you reacted to the news of our new president-elect. If you did not take advantage of the extra credit, you certainly missed out. Keep your eyes open for the next opportunity."It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America." -Barack Obama
Monday, October 20, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Four -isms! Socialism, Communism, Totalitarianism, and Authoritarianism
Hello Students!
I hope you had a restful fall break. I actually had a very restful fall break. I had a chance to catch up on my own graduate work, and I attended a party for my granmother who just turned 80. I also had time to spend with Jazz, my cocker spaniel! He and I went to the park and afterwards I drove him to Wendy's where he ate a couple of rounds of chicken nuggets (yes, he's spoiled rotten!) Hopefully you'll come back to school with all the exciting details of your break!
As we move into reading and dissecting Animal Farm, I want you to read this small section on socialism, communism, totalitarianism, and authoritarianism. These are four concepts I want you to be able to explain with examples by the end of the unit (and how they relate to Animal Farm).
Socialism:
Socialism is an ideology advocating the distribution of wealth among all members of a society, achieved through community control over its citizens’ possessions and means of production. This social control can be administered through small councils or groups or by the government on behalf of the people.
Socialism:
Socialism is an ideology advocating the distribution of wealth among all members of a society, achieved through community control over its citizens’ possessions and means of production. This social control can be administered through small councils or groups or by the government on behalf of the people.
In the late nineteenth century, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels formulated the principles of modern socialism. Marx and Engels believed that any capitalist society would ultimately face the inevitable struggle between the poor working classes and the rich bourgeoisie (those who owned the factories that employed the workers).
This confrontation, according to Marx and Engels, would be followed by a socialist revolution. The socialist movement would completely eliminate the idea of private ownership of capital by placing ownership of the means of production into the hands of the State, thus ending the war between the classes.
Once a society had passed through the stages of capitalism and socialism, Marx envisioned that it would reach a third and fi nal stage. Marx believed this stage would be marked by a completely classless society he characterized as Communist.
Communism:
The Russian Revolution of 1917 was fueled by Marxist Socialist ideals. The Russian population desired a more democratic government and sympathized with the plight of the working poor. Under Lenin’s guidance, the Bolshevik Party—later called the Communist Party—united all means of production under state control and created a government controlled by workers’ soviets (councils). Over the next few years, however, the government became increasingly authoritarian. Revolutionary fighter Leon Trotsky still clung to the democratic ideals of the original socialist movement, but he, and others, were overpowered by the leadership of Joseph Stalin, who eventually exiled Trotsky and took over the government almost single-handedly.
Stalin proclaimed that he would realize the ideals of Socialism and Marxist Communism by generating a massive program of industrialization. Although Stalin still claimed to follow the principles of Marx and Lenin, it soon became clear that he had seized power in order to reinvent the Soviet Union as an authoritarian state in which he would function as an absolute dictator. Stalin maintained his power by threatening and eliminating his enemies, using propaganda to maintain social control, and utilizing a personal police force to execute his orders. Stalin’s communism is considered by many critics—among them George Orwell—to be a perversion and
misinterpretation of the communist and socialist ideals of Karl Marx.
Communism:
The Russian Revolution of 1917 was fueled by Marxist Socialist ideals. The Russian population desired a more democratic government and sympathized with the plight of the working poor. Under Lenin’s guidance, the Bolshevik Party—later called the Communist Party—united all means of production under state control and created a government controlled by workers’ soviets (councils). Over the next few years, however, the government became increasingly authoritarian. Revolutionary fighter Leon Trotsky still clung to the democratic ideals of the original socialist movement, but he, and others, were overpowered by the leadership of Joseph Stalin, who eventually exiled Trotsky and took over the government almost single-handedly.
Stalin proclaimed that he would realize the ideals of Socialism and Marxist Communism by generating a massive program of industrialization. Although Stalin still claimed to follow the principles of Marx and Lenin, it soon became clear that he had seized power in order to reinvent the Soviet Union as an authoritarian state in which he would function as an absolute dictator. Stalin maintained his power by threatening and eliminating his enemies, using propaganda to maintain social control, and utilizing a personal police force to execute his orders. Stalin’s communism is considered by many critics—among them George Orwell—to be a perversion and
misinterpretation of the communist and socialist ideals of Karl Marx.
Elements of Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism:
Totalitarianism:
In a totalitarian state, the government exercises firm control over the public and private lives of its citizens and usually follows a particular ideology. For example, Stalin proclaimed the Soviet Union to be an ensign of Communist ideology. In addition, totalitarian states are led by dictators who retain strict control over their subjects.
In a totalitarian state, the government exercises firm control over the public and private lives of its citizens and usually follows a particular ideology. For example, Stalin proclaimed the Soviet Union to be an ensign of Communist ideology. In addition, totalitarian states are led by dictators who retain strict control over their subjects.
Authoritarianism:
Authoritarianism is a form of government control comparable or almost identical to totalitarianism. In an authoritarian state, the government, under the leadership of a dictator, strictly controls the population, often through overt oppression or the elimination of democratic rights and liberties. In an authoritarian state, the government single-handedly writes and enacts laws. Citizens have no real opportunities for participation. Authoritarian states rely heavily on propaganda in order to control the population. Some techniques frequently employed in the
maintenance of absolute control are the oversimplifi cation of ideas, false and exaggerated patriotism, the promotion of group mentality, censorship, and an elaborate leadership cult. Hitler’s dictatorship in Nazi Germany, or Stalin’s oppressive government in the Soviet Union, are examples of authoritarianism.
Authoritarianism is a form of government control comparable or almost identical to totalitarianism. In an authoritarian state, the government, under the leadership of a dictator, strictly controls the population, often through overt oppression or the elimination of democratic rights and liberties. In an authoritarian state, the government single-handedly writes and enacts laws. Citizens have no real opportunities for participation. Authoritarian states rely heavily on propaganda in order to control the population. Some techniques frequently employed in the
maintenance of absolute control are the oversimplifi cation of ideas, false and exaggerated patriotism, the promotion of group mentality, censorship, and an elaborate leadership cult. Hitler’s dictatorship in Nazi Germany, or Stalin’s oppressive government in the Soviet Union, are examples of authoritarianism.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
ANIMAL FARM - WEBQUESTS and E-BOOK!
Students,
We're now reading Animal Farm by George Orwell! This is Unit II: Allegory, Propaganda, and Persuasion. Here are a few items you need that will help you get started:
2. WEBQUEST - REGULAR
https://umdrive.memphis.edu/kmhill2/WEBQUEST%20-%20REGULAR.doc?uniq=yd7avs
We're now reading Animal Farm by George Orwell! This is Unit II: Allegory, Propaganda, and Persuasion. Here are a few items you need that will help you get started:
1. ONLINE COPY OF THE BOOK - ANIMAL FARM
Always refer to this link when it's time to read this in class.
2. WEBQUEST - REGULAR
https://umdrive.memphis.edu/kmhill2/WEBQUEST%20-%20REGULAR.doc?uniq=yd7avs
3. WEBQUEST - HONORS
https://umdrive.memphis.edu/kmhill2/WEBQUEST%20-%20HONORS.doc?uniq=yd7avm
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Extra Credit Blog Response #1
Utopian Society Members - As you all know, schools do NOT allow cellphone usage on their campuses for many reasons! :-( Think about how this makes you feel.
Read the following article: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/03/editorials-balancing-act-on-cell-phones/
Construct a response to that article using the following guiding questions:
- What is the issue presented in the article (quick summary)
- How is cellphone usage related to learning, or how is it related to being a classroom or school disturbance?
- What ideas or solutions would you add to the MCS policy on cellphones that will accomodate parents, teachers, AND students?
- What evidence can you present that will prove that your stance on the policy would be most effective (in other words, what proof do you have that your suggestion would work the best? Keep the emotions out of this!)
Your response needs to be 300 words or more and consist of opinions and judgements that are backed up with evidence and facts!!! You can do it!
Reward for completion: Replace ANY grade with 100 points (except the syllabus and syllabus agreement!)
How To: Blog Responses
Students -
It's not necessary that you sign up for google or blogger in order to respond to my blog. Here are the steps to respond:
1. Before you can respond to ANY blog, your parents must give you permission to access my internet site. This is to protect your identity, privacy, and to keep you safe. Safety is Fairley's #1 priority, and this applies even to the internet. See me for the form.
2. You will find the blog topic you want to respond to and click on "comments" at the end of the blog post. This will navigate you away from the main page.
3. Once you are there, type your response where it says "Leave your Comment"
4. Under "Choose an Identity", choose "Name/URL"
5. For "Name/URL", put in your classroom blog nickname (this is the nickname you gave me in class to identify you online).
6. Click "Publish Your Comment" after you're done.
Your responses will not be immediately posted because I moderate them. Please don't click "Publish Your Comment" more than once. It will go through.
Good luck and happy posting!
It's not necessary that you sign up for google or blogger in order to respond to my blog. Here are the steps to respond:
1. Before you can respond to ANY blog, your parents must give you permission to access my internet site. This is to protect your identity, privacy, and to keep you safe. Safety is Fairley's #1 priority, and this applies even to the internet. See me for the form.
2. You will find the blog topic you want to respond to and click on "comments" at the end of the blog post. This will navigate you away from the main page.
3. Once you are there, type your response where it says "Leave your Comment"
4. Under "Choose an Identity", choose "Name/URL"
5. For "Name/URL", put in your classroom blog nickname (this is the nickname you gave me in class to identify you online).
6. Click "Publish Your Comment" after you're done.
Your responses will not be immediately posted because I moderate them. Please don't click "Publish Your Comment" more than once. It will go through.
Good luck and happy posting!
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