Post one

After going through the reading a number of thoughts and questions have come up for me, most of which have to do with the book (Della Porta and Diani, and the Jasper article on the role of emotion in social movements and protesting.)

At first I had a really hard time getting through Della Porta and Diani (from here on referred to D&D for typing purposes). The explanations and organization of all the different theories or methods which social movements are studied was difficult to get through; which is unfortunate because i think that the evolution of this study (as well as the youth of it) is very interesting.

After muddling through the first chapter, the second was MUCH better, The use of the specific example in the front was a great way to remember the chapter and topics discussed in it as well as a great on going example!

It was in this chapter that I also had some question and more so some relating experiences?
First, the overall topic of the French example (unemployment) really struck a chord with me. Last year in my 248 class we had a group come and speak to us about unemployment in the US. The presentation was phenomenal! This was not a group of yuppies trying to help people for the sake of looking good, not a church group looking for handouts and not some board looking for a vote. This group was found by and for the homeless and unemployed; they focus on mobilizing their "constituency" to protest and lobby local officials in DC to get change for their movement. The stories of these people were amazing.

A specific quote really reminded me of these people, "Mobilization provided a challenge to the image of unemployment as an individual problem and consequently the social stigma attached to it."(pg 34)

This group shared their very personal stories to us (as well as in their newspaper written by local homeless and unemployed persons, and given or sold to the public in DC, money going to their cause) in order to show people that their situation was on some level and individual struggle, but also one inextricably linked with the social struggle of our society.

In class we talk about whether or not a movement is successful, well this one is (or at least i think so) my views and beliefs on homelessness and unemployment are changed, and my actions have also been affected (the last time is was in DC I met one of the paper vendors, bought a paper and proceeded to explain the cause to my boyfriend and later my family)

The other reading, by Jasper discussing the emotions of protests was also just very interesting. I thought that our discussion in class about why people join movement was very relevant because I believe (as Jasper says) that emotions and social movement are inextricably connected. As I was reading that article I thought about something that I did today, while in Petsmart I donated a dollar to local a.s.p.c.a. Why? well first I am an animal lover, and knowing that their are people out there who hurt or mistreat animals angers and saddens me, thus making me much more willing to act (not to mention and commercial with Sarah Mclachlan with all the sad animals, kills me every time!). So this article also seemed to hit home on the level.

Finally I just had a question or thought I guess about emotions during an election year. While for the most part I avoid political conversations like its my job, listening to them can be fascinating. People get so fired up about someone they don't know, or about one little fact. Also the use of fear in campaigning, and the sense of membership and affiliation (like Jasper discussed about neighborhoods) how that fluctuates or doesn't during an election year?