Civil rights movements in California - Assignment Example

Civil rights movements in California Introduction Role of protest movements Civil rights movements in California like the student movement, women’s movement, environmental movement, and the gay rights movement aimed to achieve specific objectives. The protests collectively influenced past government policy and, perhaps changed contemporary American lives. For instance, the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) served as primary political expression for the Mexican-American community of California. Relevance of protest movements Presently, impacts of such movements are less significant because of existence of various sector specific watch groups and technological advancements. However, social movements countercheck the modern political events in California (Cammaerts et al. 25). Occupy Wall Street movement Occupy Wall Street movement inspired many while a section of the citizens felt confounded by it. The slogan addressing leadership exemplified a factual praxis and shows real history. It addressed firmly established political signifiers of justice, freedom, and democracy, which crosscut the society. Mark Arax Critique Mark Arax claim that society comprise of isolated individuals, passionate about personal gain and acquisition instead of the social good is an unproven hypothesis. Largely, it is an individual idea that lacks public perception and daily human concerns. Mark Arax based his argument on a few failed strategies championed by selfish individuals who pursued to satisfy personal interests. Rather, he should focus on the main theme of social movements of enhancing every citizens’ lives. California Dream California Dream predominantly expresses individual freedom and personal gain. Social movements promote wide range of political activities based on shared familiarities of injustice, prejudice, and oppression of certain societal groups. The movements work around identity political realizations, which typically aim to secure the political freedom of a specific group marginalized within its larger context. Struggle for civil liberties and California dream have common themes. Throughout American history starting from colonial period through to the new millennium, entail civil society struggles to make the world a better place for present and future generations. Governor Brown's Plan Controversy Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to divert water from the San Joaquin Delta exhibits controversy. The plan seeks to transfer water resource from cradle to where it lacks. Conversely, both locations require water resource to facilitate economic activities and ensure better lives of the citizens. Major dilemma relate to which place should be given priority, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or populous southern part region which is populous? Rogene Reynolds claims wealthy individuals are interested in transferring the water away from them shares the predicament. He requests the state should restore the Delta, as Water is gold. He further claims that state policy favors the influential people over their region. In addition, Governor’s proposal assumes the economic and ecological impacts of the water transfer. Spencer Michels describes the delta as fertile and beautiful area for fishing, farming, and boating. Residents of the delta argue that powerful and thirsty individuals, corporate farming groups, federal governments, and state plan to ruin their livelihoods by diverting their water. Governor’s idea is a good move towards enhancing lives of the citizens across California. Even though, it is a populist idea that fails to integrate ecological concerns, financial costs of the project and importantly, the pleas of the farmers and families living in the delta. Thus, the people who live at the delta are justified to oppose the governor’s proposal. Jeff Michael confirms the unease by providing projects estimation. He concludes that the project is a terrible investment and worst key infrastructure project in the history of state. California Dream is similar to the controversy because both involve psychosomatic enthusiasm to attain fast prosperity and fame. Spencer Michels says governor’s plans to build a legacy. Governor Jerry Brown expresses California dream when he explain the project is for ambitious people, who since the gold rush have established trends and the tendency for the whole United States (PBS min. 7). English-Lueck and Solnit's Essay English-Lueck’s article seeks to advance role of technology in the lives of Silicon Valley residents. Majority of whom “comprise people with established separate identities, multiple shifting communities, alliances and networks” (English-Lueck 238). English-Lueck portrays Silicon Valley as built on metaphors that induce a mainly community. Essay-Lueck explains a captivating convergence in social life. Thus according to English-Lueck, technological advancements promote both social cohesion and efficiency to Silicon Valley life. He stamps this idea by highlighting a respondent who expresses an opinion that advancements shall continue to pace younger communities pursuing high-tech prosperity and wealth, for example Silicon Valley. According to Rebecca Solnit, Silicon Valley is a diffused region, decentralized, postindustrial, post rural, post communal, and post urban place. She narrates that Silicon Valley is similar to modern America in which power is virtual and transnational. Through the essay, Solnit delivers a message that corporate power and development subjects citizens to impoverished thoughts of a perfect civilization. Solnits essay (pg.51), “The corporate headquarters was nothing exceptional, but a glass walled box with Pizza Hut-style mansard roof.” However, Soltin fails to identify the major hindrances to equality and development in Silicon Valley. Instead, Solnit should seek ways to champion progressive change. Furthermore, Solnit should identify the role of technology in advancing the wellbeing of citizens of Silicon Valley, while also consider the complexity as addressed by English-Lueck. Eyre of the Storm Eyre of the Storm defines former leftie participants at the eighth annual Conspiracy Conference in Santa Clara, several years after summer of Love. At some point, the narrator highlights, “This is Berkeley, the origin of free speech movement and things are ice for a long time” (pg.86). Eyre of the storm essay highlights collective protest against deformed fascination with crazy conspiracies. Arax’s essay challenges individuals who attempted to modify social order and failed but withdrawn into individual mental order. He combines essay, journalism, and history to capture social disturbance and study entrenched in a community. Generally, the essay is a spectacular panorama of California. Solnit explores layers of meaning of San Francisco Bay Area, through different approaches that illuminates the city and environs from inhabitants’ perspectives. She undertakes thematic study connecting basis of motion-picture technology with Alfred Hitchcock imaging of Vertigo. Across an urban grid, she discovers unlimited treasures and landmarks, queer sites, butterfly habitats, murders, World War II shipyards, Zen Buddhist centers and blues clubs. She enhances an understating of political terrain, both conservative and progressive. Furthermore, she provides the cultural geographies of the Fillmore, Mission District, culture wars, and south of Market world and redevelopment. Impressively original, imagination invites individuals to discover own infinite city. For instance, she gives description of Olompali from traditional hamlet to battlefield and later to dental estate, in comparison to progress of California. Works Cited Cammaerts, B, Alice, Mattoni, and Patrick, McCurdy. Mediation and Protest Movements. Intellect, Limited, 2013. Print. PBS. "PBS NewsHour | California Water: Will Thirsty Interests Divert More Water? | PBS Video." PBS Video. N.p., 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2014. . Lueck, J. A.. "Identified by Technology." Cultures@Silicon Valley. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 2002. 234 - 238. Print. Read More