This Land Is Your Land: Citizenship- a Political Strategy

Author’s Note: I wrote this paper just yesterday for a Cities and Citizenship class at the University of Washington. Through Anna Secor’s readings and teachings in this class, it is interesting to know that the concept of “citizenship” within the “city” is much more complex (and complicated) than I really prefer to think about it. However, like most things, I am more intelligent (at least I think so) with this knowledge. My understanding of the city as contested urban space has expanded. And my overall insight about the human race and its relationship to others is strengthened and enlightened.

The citizenship ideal is built around the notion that where you stand, so you belong, a sort of this land is your land utopian idea. This idea is referred to as utopian because psychology, geography, and policy refuse to support such a theory leaving it to the entertainment of the mind instead. The real concept of citizenship is much more complex and continues to bring lengthy debate from the left and the right, republicans and democrats, the rich and the poor, the professional and the resident.

However the many perspectives, this discussion will focus on citizenship as a political strategy in which “citizens” publicly appeal to society claiming identity and belonging through discourse and action. The question raised in this discussion is whether or not society returns the persons’ claim thus granting social identity and belonging and if society, as an institution, also appeals to persons’ in granting political ownership. In other words, this city may belong to me, but do I also belong to this city? Following Anna Secor’s notion of spatial stories, this discussion will explore the tactics and strategies of peoples in claiming political belonging and social identity in a quest for citizenship.

Social Media and Charity?

The recent increase in Social Media hype thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Vimeo and a number of other microblogging sites has produced a new kind of marketing- Social Media marketing. Studies are showing that Social Media marketers are among the most requested of marketing jobs now available. Companies and businesses are using Social Media to turn a profit. Looking at Skittles and TOMS Shoes, its worked. Of course, its not all just for money. Sometimes its for buzz and conversation, or even “friendship” (hello friend requests). And that’s where Charity comes in. Foundations and not-for-profit organizations are looking to take advantage of the Social Media market as well. Unfortunately, these organizations may not have quite the budget say Nike or another company has to devote itself to Social Media campaigning. But that’s not to say that some organizations are engaging Social Media users, and doing a really good job at it.

With major interest in the growing market of Social Media, I have come across in work or fun of the following charitable organizations that, I believe, give hope and set the bar for how charities and social media can work together for a cause.

• Invisible Children: This 5 year old organization located in San Diego, California has literally taken over the cause-related Social Media market. With a mass following of young people around the country, Invisible Children continues to use Social Media efforts to end Africa’s longest running war and its exploitation of child soldiers. Now with a Roadies Tour coming to a school near you, Invisible Children is known as one of the most inspiring organizations of this generation. You might see Invisible Children in the news, on Facebook, and even… on Oprah.

Thoughts on My Next Life…

I realize, as someone who never “leaves the office” (I suppose this is partly because my office is online which means I never get away from it… Thanks to the iphone) how incredibly important it is to sometimes just stop. Pause and think about the things you used to before work took over your mind. That’s how this post came about.

Mostly, my posts seem to focus on some sort of intellectual, academic or spiritual intrigue as a reflection of my life and thoughts, which makes this post very appropriate as a collaboration of “thoughts” on my next life. While it may neither be academically or spiritually fascinating in any way, I find it personally amusing.

As a note: You should not count any part of this post as a theological take on life… Read at your own caution… and amusement If you know me well, you might find that the descriptions below have a sense of hilarity to them, since I apparently lack the capacity for a number of reasons to make any of them reality in this life.

Descriptions of my next life:

• sing the National Anthem at the World Series
• Oprah follows me on twitter
• climb a mountain
• work with extreme makeover: home edition
• write my own cook book

Have Churches Gone Digital?

It has come to my understanding that the new media millennium has done more than take over our personal and social lives (via Myspace, Facebook, Twitter), it has crept into our professional portfolios (via LinkedIn, WordPress, and sometimes even on Flickr). Your best friend, your mom and your boss are all on Facebook. Your colleagues on are in your network on LinkedIn and in your spare time, you manage a blog (like me). Don’t forget that you can now receive updates via Twitter from @your_neighbor, @SenJohnMcCain, @Taco_Bell, @Starbucks, @WorldVision, @Microsoft, even @Oprah. The point is that there has emerged 2 kinds of people in the world: (1) the internet addict and (2) the internet handicap. No matter what category you or your mom falls into, you are both online. (*Actually, did you know that Mom Bloggers or Digital Moms are now a market of their own?) Welcome to the Digital age. 

So you, your aunt Kathy and your company have all gone digital. But have churches gone digital too? 

The truth is

what have i learned this quarter?

Today is the last day of Spring quarter (and hopefully my last day EVER in a spring quarter) of school. While the day isn’t quite over (1 more final to go) I am ecstatic to publicly post the things that I have learned this last quarter. Like the old saying goes “success is not measured not by what one brings, but by what one leaves.” and in this case, success can be measured by what notes my brain has left for my memory to dance to. or something like that.

they say that we can own our homework... but we know that homework really owns us.

so…. what have i learned this quarter?

• business students are incapable of understanding the failure of neo-liberal idealism in today’s globalized society (ie. chris)
• last minute study sesh’s are not the best way to study before a final, but… still work
• study groups will save your life! anytime other students comply to give you their study notes is like being handed 20 bucks
• the spaghetti factory celebrated its 40th anniversary this year for 10 weeks every tuesday (we often celebrated with them)
• a sunny day = a day with no school work always, sometimes its just too nice outside to be in class
• interdisciplinary arts classes are 200% easier than urban studies classes
• 20 credits is cake when you have professor’s like detray
• one of my professors this quarter has actually delivered baby’s in the bush
• same professor feels that the only thing people want in life is to know the future of their children is in good hands (learned this from too much LSD)