First Assignment
First Assignment
Directions: For today's assignment please read the four quotes below that have all been pulled from articles in the Points of View database on the library's website. Once you read all four quotes, pick the two that you find most interesting, convincing, or crazy (the two you are drawn to for some reason) and write a personal response to each of these two quotes on our blog. There is a question following each quote which will help to get you thinking about the issue at hand. You do not have to answer this question as it appears, it is simply there to help you if you don't know what to say. These response posts to the quotes should be two separate entries in which you discuss what you agree with or what you find wrong with the quote that you chose. Please include the number of the quote (1-4) in your blog entry to make discussion easier on your classmates. Once you have posted your two responses, the next step is to read the ideas of your classmates and post two responses to their ideas. Your original two posts must be completed by Friday 12/14, and two responses to your peers entries must be completed one week from today.
Quotes to choose from:
#1 "Throughout U.S. history, the courts have attempted to define the concept of "obscenity." The most recent definition, proposed in 1971, defines obscenity as work that lacks artistic, scientific, political, or literary value and depicts something that might be considered patently offensive. As this legal definition clearly demonstrates, any attempt to define a subjective concept necessarily relies on other subjective concepts like "artistic value." The idea of obscenity is not a concept that should be defined in legal terms, but rather is something that should be defined personally by every adult consumer."
Question: Is the concept of "artistic value," as it is included in the legal definition of "obscenity," a subjective or objective concept?
Source: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=26608605&site=pov-live
#2 "The USA Patriot Act of 2001 grants additional powers to government agencies, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, to conduct domestic surveillance. In 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reported that the FBI has investigated the library and Internet usage records of over 30,000 citizens. The Patriot Act grants government agencies the right to decide what media can be considered "dangerous," and therefore to justify surveillance of private consumption. Granting the government the power to determine the value of published media erodes the freedoms granted under the Bill of Rights by denying free choice to consumers. In 2006, the U.S. Senate voted to officially designate the Al-Manar satellite television network, the Al-Nour radio station, and their parent company the Lebanese Media Group as "terrorist entities," for their association with the Lebanese paramilitary organization Hezbollah. Specifically, the media outlets were accused of having acted as a source of recruitment and funding for terrorist groups."
Question: Do you agree with the author's argument that the USA Patriot Act poses a danger to the freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights? Why or Why not?
Source: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=26608605&site=pov-live
#3 "Some critics have noted a change in young adult (YA) and children's literature in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Sexuality, sexual violence, gang violence, homosexuality, profanity, and violent crimes against children are increasingly and graphically represented in many of these books. However, in some cases, concerned parents and community members react without taking the time to closely investigate the books they want banned. A book depicting rape, for example, may be offensive to some, but it may also be a useful starting point to engage students in conversations about rape. It might help young people better understand the world they live in, the human condition, and issues they face in their culture. The finer points of criticism involve judging whether a book has depicted something objectionable tastefully and appropriately. Librarians and parents should learn as much as they can about the book in question, and try to determine if it in fact may have redeeming educational value, rather than just gratuitous sex or violence. Some parents may seek a less-offensive alternative that does equally well in dealing with the same topic. Censorship is not, therefore, about repressing information that children and teenagers should have; instead, it insists that parents have the right to educate their children on controversial topics in ways they deem appropriate, and to monitor the materials their children are exposed to in school or at the library."
Question: Do you believe parents reserve the right to teach their children about controversial issues like drug use? Why or why not?
Source: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=26608607&site=pov-live
#4 "The key is that parents become active and engaged in what their children are reading. Just as parents monitor the music, video games and movies to which their children are exposed, parents should be aware of what books their children are reading. Censorship of books should not be about silencing voices on important topics, but about steering young people toward the best possible literature on the topics they are interested in. This, after all, is what education and public tax dollars should be doing in the first place. The conversations around this issue will raise important questions: what is "good literature," exactly? Does reading literature really affect people that profoundly? Should one person or group dictate the moral standards of the entire community? Is compromise the best solution? These are difficult questions that should be part of ongoing discussions in communities where censorship has become an issue.
Question: Do you agree with the author's assertion that parents should examine the books they intend to bar their children from reading? What if the parent is extremely opposed to the subject in question?"
Source: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=26608607&site=pov-live
Please consider your responses carefully before posting them, as your teachers and classmates will be reading and responding to them.
Comments: 25
I believe it is up to the parents to teach their children about modern issues. Parents have the most influence on their children and often childre look up to their parents. so parents should explain to their children about th consequences of drug use and all the problems that go along with it.
I do think it poses a danger but at the same time it doesn't. The whole point of the FBI and the CIA if for the protection of the country. If keeping the country safe without terrorist attacks means slightly intruding the freedoms of the Bill of Rights then its not that bad. Its also like saying would you rather have your rights or be in constant attack for other countries.
I think it is up to the parents of children to teach them about drugs. Because kids dont know any better to do drugs with out somebody telling them that it is not the right path in life, and that it can hurt you in the long run in thier future. That is why parents shouldnt reserve their right on drugs.
I belive a parent should have an intrest on what books they are reading in school. Sometimes books do contian explict language and discriminating slur torwards people that might take it to offense. If the parent is going to try to ban the book, the parent might want to get the background of the piece and figure out the true meaning in the context.
I do believe that parents have the right to teach their kids about controversial issues. But, the kids are going to learn no matter what. Just like if a less explicit book teaches you about something the same thing a violent book does, a teacher can teach you about something rather than just your parent. I also think that parents try to hide thing, like drugs, way to much. These thinks are out in ther world you just have to be smart enough to know the consequences. The parents who complain about things like this, i think, are over protective and need to understand is that, no matter what, they have to grow up sometime.
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i disagree with this. I dont think that parents should be engaging in what we do because that just becomes noisy and bossy. I read what i want, watch what i want and i play what i want i think that parents shouldn't worry so much about things that their children read in school because if it was really that offensive the school would not have used it in the first place. You cant please everyone.... so dont try
I believe that people our age should be able to read books about these kind of acts. Such as rape, substance abuse and other criminal acts.. it is true that these things are a reallity and to attempt to pull a cloak over the eyes of children in schools is completely pointless because they will not be prepared and they will not be able to deal with the pressure and the sittuations that they encounter later in life
Well with the whole idea of parents teaching their kids about these subjects, i think that with each new generation, children become more immersed in these negative parts of society. most parents only know form what they read or minor experience, but us, we have drungs, rape, and all of that all around us. i agree that books with these sensative topics should be read indepth and understood for their true meaning instead of skimmed and tried for harsh subject matter.
So many parents today are way over protective. Even though parents might be smarter than they appear, they seem to want to pretend that they are oblivious to things. violence, crime, war, drugs; all of these are presented to teens throughout the world via video games, music, books, society in general... Parents should understand that this is the generation we live in. To teens now a days, these things dont bother us. its like were immune to our feelings... at least i know my parents are always yeling at me when im watching a show where they swear or talking about sexual humor, but to us its just there, and its funny, and were used to it. like swearing, they are just meaningless words today, where the vulgarness disapears and the emphasis on the subject matter begins... i mean like with immature children, not engaging in your childs life could be a negative thing, but if your kid has a lot of comon sense, well, then i agree you should trust them with their own judgement.
I agree with what was stated in article 4. I do think that parents should have the right to know what their children are reading. In my opinion "good literature" should contain knowledge for all ages, something that that anyone could pick up, read and enjoy without the suspicion of being a bad influence. however a "bad influence" is not always based on the reader's interpretation, because others have different beliefs of what they think is right or not and what should be read..
in a way i do think that the patriot act does pose a danger to people's rights, because people do have the right to read, write, speak and believe what ever they want. This act does take away some of these rights because it limits what the people can put out in the world including literary works.
however i do believe that the patriot act is a good idea, because it also protects the people from other things, and can prevent events like sept. 11th.
I think that parents should be able to know what the kids are reading but shouldn't be able to stop the kids from reading the book, it should be up to the kid if the book is "ok" with them. If not, read another book in replace of it.
I believe that parents have the right to teach there children about theses subjects. I also think that at our age we should be mature enough to learn about rape and drug use. Our parents know what is best for us, and have had experience and gone through life. Parents , in most kids lives have the biggest influence on them. These things are reality and if we do not learn about them first you will most likely make a wrong decision.
I agree with passage four. I believe parents should have the right to know what is being put into there childrens head. Many novels may have swear words, or explicit things that parents would want to ban a book for. Parents should trust there children to be mature enough to read the book, but at the same time check over what they are reading. If the parents are worried about what the book is saying i think they should read it before they go about banning it. Also, in my opinion good literature is something that is true , and reality.
I agree with passage 4 because parents should know what their kids are reading in school. But depending on the age and if the kid is mature enough to read the book they shouldnt be able to stop the kid from reading the book they want to read.
yes i believe parents should teach there kids about these subjects because it may give them a better understanding of what to do if put into diffrent situations. But i think either way kids will find out, but hopefully parents will have a greater influence on them to do the right thing.
yes parents should teach there kids about sexual activities, drug use, and other influencial things... although sometimes the parents views may turn their children into the wrong direction.
I think that if you have something to hide from the government than you probably shouldn't be doing it in the first place. if you are innocent than there should be nothing to hide from them.
I think that reading about these cases in books is one of the best ways to find out about it. Sometimes people are not comfortable talking about these subjects and would rather be informed about the issues through reading.
Reading that material not only educates, but prepares kids and young teens for those subjects out in real life. Theyre going to find out anyways so mine as well tell them early on.
I think parents should not budge into what their kids are reading. Theyre reading it for a reason to be educated and maybe the material interests them. Reading books with some questionable content is a lot better then getting into trouble.
Reading about these things in books is the best way anyone can learn about it , there is no need to hide or ban these books from teenagers these promblems are out there and there is no reason to hide it learn from peoples mistakes, it will help you out if that situation was to come upon you.
