Lori's Portfolio
"The choices we make, the chances we take, determine our destiny."
~Oscar Wilde
- This is a piece I did for Professor Chuck Stone's Censorship class.
Critical Analysis of the Five Philosophers
Plato - Apology
Despite his conviction that his fellow Athenians were ignorant,
Socrates did not see himself as the possessor of the knowledge that others
lacked. In his mind, his only wisdom lay in the fact that he realized
that he didn’t know anything while they, although ignorant, thought
that they were wise. It is no doubt that Socrates was playfully mocking
his opponents by continually answering one question with another and produced
angry reactions from them. He found that those with the highest of reputations
were the most inferior. He became very unpopular with each group of people
he encountered because they thought he was boasting about his wisdom.
Socrates purpose overall was to put young men on the right track toward
the truth and virtue; whether or not they attained these goals were up
to them. Socrates then questions Meletus, his main accuser. First he establishes
that only Socrates is a bad influence on the youth of Athens. Contrary
to the general nature of things, where the majority of people are unskilled
in a particular area and would thus be detrimental to students of that
area. Also, it would be self-incriminating for Socrates to be purposely
leading the youth astray.
Next Socrates says that he must obey his principles and the gods before
men, that acting according to the truth is more important than acting
on one’s peers would desire. He reveals that he has not earned any
money or power by his actions.
After they decide he is guilty, Socrates proposes that he be given free
meals for his service to the citizens of Athens. After they impose the
death penalty on him, he thanks those who voted against death and warns
the jurymen that they are being overtaken by wickedness. He closed by
reminding the jury; ‘a good man cannot be harmed either in life
or in death’. I think Plato has the strongest case because he believed
knowledge is attainable and it comes from sense experience.
John Milton – Areopagitica
This English poet’s prose in Areopagitica, devoted
the defense of civil and religious liberty. Henry VII established a licensing
system that resembled the prepublication censorship of Pope Innocent VII.
It required printers to submit all manuscripts to church authorities for
their approval prior to publication. This licensing system continued in
England until 1695. John Milton protested against such censorship in his
essay Areopagitica. Many English people associated licensing by church
censors with ecclesiastical supervision, the Inquisition and restraints
on religion, education and intellectual pursuits.
Milton divides his scholarly affections between the classical and the
biblical in Areopagitica. Although in the first half of the speech, classical
reasoning outweighed the biblical. Milton seems to be demonstrating how
Greek and Roman learning can be found in the boundaries of Christian morality.
He flatters members of the Parliament, by comparing their commonwealth
with the societies of Athens and Rome. Milton seems to express a faith
that England’s enlightened leaders would never embark on a policy
that would demonstrate their country’s problems to those ancient
societies. Milton does not argue for free unregulated speech or printing,
but simply that books should not be suppressed before publication.
John Locke – A Letter Concerning Toleration
Locke’s empiricism emphasizes the importance of the knowledge rather
than intuitive speculation or deduction. Locke also held that all persons
are born good, independent and equal.
In Toleration, Locke states his main points by explaining his view of
the relation of Church and State. He also addressed ‘Civil interests’
which include life, liberty and estate. Locke asks, what the duty of toleration
requires? It does not require that anyone be retained as a member who
violates the rules of the church. The church has the right to excommunicate.
The clergy must also preach the duty of toleration. There are also passages
with reasons why the civil magistrate should not enforce religion. Salvation
of souls is the business of God, not magistrates. Magistrate’s responsibilities
extend only to civil matters. Locke strongly believed man has natural
rights to life, liberty and property. The government secure these rights
but doesn’t grant rights. The foundation of all liberal democratic
thought was public vs. private spheres.
John Stuart Mill – On Liberty
Mill’s philosophy bases human knowledge on human reason. Mill advocates
economic policies consistent with individual liberty, and he emphasized
that liberty is threatened by both social and political tyranny. He supported
such measures as public ownership of natural resources, equality for women,
education, and birth control. Mill was probably pegged as the most courageous
philosopher of his time.
Mill endorses all basic liberties: freedom of conscience, thought, and
feeling; freedom of opinion, and the right to frame “the plan if
our life is to suit our own character”. Social norms on the other
hand, are presented less favorable. On Liberty is the weakest case because
with the Harm Principle, these passages are loaded with ambiguities. Neither
Mill’s position on these harms nor his advice on how they should
be handled are all that clear. Despite their lack of clarity, they seem
to work with his own concept of harm. He seems to be authorizing purely
moral offenses of his own self defense rule cited in the introduction.
Mill also speaks of “despotism of custom”, but never gives
us any useful guidelines for determining the point at which social custom
becomes despotism.
- This is a piece from Professor Donald Shaw's JOMC 142 class
How did Ben Franklin Shape American Journalism and American Culture?
Journalism
Ben Franklin stands tall among American history’s greatest contributors. His clear vision of the way things should be, and his skills in both writing and negotiating, helped him to shape the future of the United States of America. Ben stands alone as the only person to have signed all four of the documents which helped to create our Country. He actually helped to write parts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. No other individual was more involved in the birth of our nation.
Ben Franklin never squandered his time, so surely he
must have loved life. Ben is remembered as one of America’s great
thinkers. Through his idea’s and visions, Ben had a clear image
of what America should be and he spent his time making sure that it would
be. Being a fully skilled printer, able to work at any print shop, Ben
opened his own print shop in Philadelphia. His most famous publications
were a newspaper called The Pennsylvania Gazette and his annual Poor Richard’s
Almanac. He brought so many new innovations to the world of Journalism.
He is known for printing cartoons, illustrated news stories, and letter
to the editor. He believed strongly in the power of the press, using his
printing press as a way to bring the news to all people. He used cartoons
and pictures so that everyone could understand the news, even people who
had not learned to read. Ben also used Poor Richard’s Almanac to
express a sense of humor in his journalism and writing expertise. The
Titan Leeds Hoax lasted for several years, appearing in the 1733, 1734,
1735, and 1740 editions of the Almanac, showing his wit and humor through
his cleaver personality.
Not just through his essays and news, in 1731 Ben founded America’s
first circulating library, helping bring journalism to America’s
forefront. People could borrow books to read even though they might not
have been able to afford to buy books to read. Again, been wanted to use
his printing press to help and people understand the world around them.
Culture
A list of Benjamin Franklin’s inventions reveals a man that greatly shaped and modernized American culture. Ben being a man full of talents and interests brought out his ability to be an inventor. He had a natural curiosity about things and the way they work made him try to find ways to make them work better. Although he was a practical man to us, he made practical things more luxurious for the average man.
Ben had poor vision and needed glasses to read. He got
tired of constantly taking them off and on, so he figured out a way to
make his glasses let him see both far and near. Today, we call them bifocals.
Ben, being interested in the human body looked for ways to help it work
better. For example, his brother John suffered from kidney stones and
Ben wanted to help him feel better. He developed a flexible urinary catheter
that appears to be the first one produced in America.
In colonial America, people warmed their homes by building a fire in a
fireplace. Ben figured there had to be a more efficient and safe way to
stay warm. His invention of an iron furnace stove allowed people to warm
there home less dangerously and with less wood. Later he established the
first fire company and the first fire insurance company as well.
In 1752, Franklin performed his famous kite experiment. These electrical
experiments brought him instant fame and by sheer good fortune, he managed
to survive his own inquisitiveness. He became the wizard of electricity,
exerting significant influence on both the theoretical and experimental
aspects of the phenomenon. As a testament to his research, most of the
electrical terms we use today, such as battery, positive/negative, and
charge, were originally coined by Franklin. Ben was awarded many honors
from Harvard, Yale and The College of William and Mary but despite the
accolades, Franklin remained very modest and humble. What made the achievements
even more remarkable was the fact that Franklin had no formal education
in the sciences, relying purely on his personal intellect and curiosity.
Later, other famous inventors like Thomas Edison and Alexander Bell would
follow in Ben’s footsteps by trying to find ways to help people
live better. Today’s curious thinkers are keeping Ben’s traditions
alive by coming up with new ideas, inventions and improved ways to make
things work better.
Ben was a leader. His intelligence, passion, devotion, perseverance and
charisma made him one of the greatest American minds of our national heritage.
He seems to embody and personify the American dream. The son of a candle
maker, his story proves that with determination and dedication, success
is within anyone’s grasp. Benjamin Franklin was truly the Enlightened
American that helped shape our future.
Franklin possessed all of these qualities and that is why he is considered to be one of the greatest American minds and a proud pillar of our national heritage. However, our affinity for Franklin extends deeper. He seems to embody and personify the American dream. Born the son of a candlemaker, few people would have surmised that Franklin would master so many disciplines. His story proves that with determination and dedication, success is within anyone's grasp. A leading American statesman, inventor, philanthropist, publisher, revolutionary, and thinker, Benjamin Franklin was truly the Enlightened American.
This is a Case Briefing I did for Media Law, JOMC 164, better know as the toughest course in the J-school.
United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
Argued January 23, 1996 Decided September 13, 1996
No. 95-1048
Daniel Becker and Washington Area Citizens
Coalition Interested in Viewers' Constitutional Rights,
Petitioners
United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
Argued January 23, 1996 Decided September 13, 1996
No. 95-1048
Daniel Becker and Washington Area Citizens
Coalition Interested in Viewers' Constitutional Rights,
Petitioners
Facts: The 1992 election season witnessed the advent of political advertisements
depicting the aftermath of abortions. In that year, Daniel Becker was
a qualified candidate for election to the United States House of Representatives
from Georgia's Ninth Congressional District. At 7:58 p.m. on July 19,
Station WAGA-TV, which was then licensed to Gillett Communications of
Atlanta, Inc. Gillett aired, at Mr. Becker's request, a campaign advertisement
that included photographs of aborted fetuses. WAGA-TV received numerous
complaints from viewers who saw the advertisement.
Issue: Anticipating that Mr. Becker would wish to broadcast
similar materials later in the campaign, Gillett filed a petition with
the Commission requesting a declaratory ruling on the following question:
Whether a licensee may channel a use by a legally-qualified federal candidate
to a safe harbor when children are not generally present in the audience
if the licensee determines in good faith that the proposed use is indecent
or otherwise unsuitable for children.
Ruling: The Supreme Court found the Commission's approach to section to be "a reasoned attempt to effectuate the statute's access requirement," while at the same time accommodating broadcasters' discretion to the extent necessary. In so holding, the Court recognized that "Federal candidates are the intended beneficiary," and that the section "did more than simply codify the pre-existing public interest standard" governing broadcasters by "singling out" qualified candidates and "granting them a special right of access on an individual basis."
Rationale: The Commission's Declaratory Ruling violates the "reasonable access" requirement by permitting content-based channeling of non-indecent political advertisements, thus denying qualified candidates the access to the broadcast media envisioned by Congress. The ruling also permits licensees to review political advertisements and to discriminate against candidates on the basis of their content, in violation of both the "no censorship" and "equal opportunites" provisions.
Contact Information: loribarbour@alltel.net