Monday, January 15, 2024

1/25…Democracy, pt. 2

What do you think the filmmaker is trying to convey about democracy? What was new to you? What did the film contribute to your understanding of what democracy is and/or can be?

30 comments:

  1. I recall walking into civics dreading the government talks. Especially the one lecture we would have every year about how the founding fathers brought democracy to America and single handedly fixed us as a whole. This statement in particular seemed to get to me the notion that a couple of white men fixed a terrible atrocity that many are still reeling from was a fallacy. I feel as though the filmmaker knew this and built upon this inquisitive notion by comparing modern and ancient (Athenian) democracies. And a connection had been found as to why these two supposedly similar systems had such different outcomes. As America grew and became more industrialized their focus shifted from bringing up their people to building up their businesses. And I feel as though this is the exact point it started to fail and the connection started to shine through. The connection being economics and how it can affect the systems built around it. For Athens it worked as they had a system of barter where equality or equity would benefit the good of society. But when you apply something such as capitalism into democracy it wouldn't work. This is something I feel I had come to terms with at a young age being in a more financially insecure position. Having to be more aware of financials and how it was going to affect me led me to look into the rabbit hole that is economics. And though this documentary did not change my beliefs I do believe they have solidified them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That there is no black and white when talking about Democracy. We as the people know the base definition (for the people by the people), what it should benefit for us, but there are many processes before we can even get to a senses. No matter where you live there is always the same issue even in different countries. Nobody solely agrees on one thing, but problems always arises when nobody can cohesively come up with a solution to peoples troubles. Whether that is day to day business or running a national government. Greed and Wealth always seem to be in the forefront in many cases. Without either you can not make it very far, it’s very depressing to say so, but it is the realistic truth to how things are run. There are different ways people view democracy, and it isn’t always to everyone’s interest. In the movie when there was the scene about different presidential viewpoints in time and seeing how it didn’t help everyone. The laws that were made and the words that were said was not made to help the citizens of the country as a whole. Someone always comes out on top to wreak the benefits. Democracy at the end is very complex, I think we like to think what we know Democracy is, but looks like with how things are going in the world we are a bit far from the actual definition.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maddie Madeline FurmanJanuary 24, 2024 at 1:49 PM

    The film discussed expectations of living in a democracy. It showcased a range of individuals and communities in the United States and the world who felt as though the did not get to take part in the democracy. While I agree that many minority groups are misrepresented, we do not live in a true democracy. The united states can better be classified as a republic. However if was founded on democratic principles, so it the republican form of government often disenfranchises large groups of people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that the movie discussed expectations of living in a democracy. Based on the way school systems are, along with the different people in different communities with their own views of democracy, I just see democracy as a template almost. What I mean by that is as Maddie and I mentioned there is an expectation of democracy but the truth of democracy has lost its purpose or point but that has been lost and thrown off track now.

      Delete
  4. I think that the filmmaker was trying to convey a real insight into democracy. When we think of democracy we think of the saying, for the people by the people. This statement doesn't really stand today, we have the opportunity to vote but at the end of the day, the people in power and with the most money have the final say.
    One moment in the film that really stuck out to me was the barber talking about how as a felon he got out of prison and had no resources, he didn't have a house or a job and it was hard to find either because of background checks. He wants to make a change for the other people who may experience that but he can't vote. That moment really stuck out because it shows the true colors of our democracy, for the people by the people, but only select people.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I feel as though the film shows Democracy isn't just about choosing the majority. It is about how economics has caused it to not just be the democracy of the people, but it is now overruled by the wealthy. Although it is said that everyone is equal, that is not actually the case. Many voices are undermined and not taken into account. I had no idea how cities can differ so much even if they are in the same area. People can be from the same city and have completely different lives and economic situations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Forgot to change it from anonymous, it's Milady

      Delete
  6. What Milady said I feel the film shows Democracy isn't just about choosing the majority. It is about how economics has caused it not just to be the people's democracy but it’s now overruled by the wealthy. That moment stuck out because it shows the true colors of our democracy, for the people by the people, but only select people.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I believe that the filmmaker was trying to convey the reality of democracy, no sugar-coating. We all understand the textbook definition, "government of the people", but what does that really mean? In actually, it is interpreted differently by everybody. Opinions do exist, crazy, I know! In my humble opinion, as an 18-year-old female college student, democracy offers my voice in determining our collective future. It is the knowledge that my thoughts matter in the decision-making process, regardless of my gender or background. I can take an active role in democracy by voting and supporting causes that I care about. It is essential to my development as a student because it protects my rights and offers a forum for candid discussion and a range of viewpoints. Democracy is essentially the guarantee of inclusion, involvement, and the defense of fundamental rights, laying the groundwork for a culture that prioritizes justice and equality.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think the filmmaker was trying to convey the concept of change when considering the understanding/view of democracy and what that looks like properly implemented. The filmmaker shows democracy throughout the centuries and how it has transformed. It showed how the focus around democracy became more about business and money due to the system of our government over time- therefore focusing less on the people and more on profit and success. The film also displayed how democracy is affected by issues like racism, debt, etc. It was new to me to see just how much democracy truly has changed over time and it made me have a perception growth by hearing the interviews from others around the world throughout the film. Seeing the negative aspects of change in democracy over centuries made me feel disappointed. Although it was sad to see how much democracy has changed as well as the negative aspects, it makes me hopeful for improvements in the way democracy is understood and implemented and how it can possibly be reformed. My beliefs weren't changed by the film, but I feel like I did definitely gain new viewpoints and understandings. it also confirmed many of my beliefs and the knowledge I had prior to watching.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Democracy was described as being "abused and misapplied.” There are many instances in the United States and other countries where democracy isn’t executed properly or it’s not actualized but it’s something that is ideal to reach towards but not actually achieved. The movie mentioned how democracy can have negative effects and mentioned who we’re really governed by. Is it the people governing the themselves or finances/the wealthy? People trying to govern themselves can have positive outcomes for the people but it can also lead to tyranny. It could lead to an oppressive government. The filmmaker describes different parts of democracy that we know and understand at first thought and others parts that we didn’t know existed or were even important. It shows a deeper meaning.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I feel like the filmmaker has seen that democracy isn’t for the people anymore but rather the people who have funds to make decisions that get the final say. Democracy has evolved so much over the years, what really is democracy anymore? Everyone has a different view point of it. Democracy was a good idea at one point, but I believe the idea that it once was, is completely different from what it actually is.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I gathered from the various people that were interviewed that in the so-called democracies we have in the world today, our freedom can always be taken away because there are certain people that have more power than us (aka the wealthy white men). We might feel like we have power in politics, because we can vote on decisions, but in reality those decisions can always be reversed. For example, at one point, women won the freedom to have autonomy over our bodies, but now that freedom has been taken away. At one point, affirmative action gave people equal opportunity to get an education, but that was also taken away. Another example to relate it back to education is Brown v Board ruling for schools to be desegregated, but the de facto result of it being that integration was never successful and our schools are still segregated. Democracy in our country is something that often gives us a false sense of power and freedom. Even when the government listens to our voices and makes changes that we request, there's always the fear of it being overturned or interfered with. Several of the interviewees in the film expressed this feeling. The film so far has made me believe that if the definition of democracy is “power of the people”, then I don't think we should label our country as such. Wealthy people will always have more power than everyone else and can interfere with freedoms that we worked so hard to fight for.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Democracy is an idea we are all taught when we are younger but are shown poor examples. In Ancient Greece a true democracy was formed and the public (well men) of Greece would come to plays to see the issues and vote on issues. We have taken this word over the years and warped it into thinking not having a say in all the rules and laws in our country is normal. The US is run by wealthy people who make all the choices for the public with little to no say from us. The United States is an awful example of a republic. We are shown countries in the world that showed the power of the people and how they won’t be upset about the outcomes as long as they had a say. It was run by the people because the republic failed them. I know these things I just never realized how bad it was in other places.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The first impression I received from this film was about the influences of economy on democracy. The Greek philosophers warned us that money could corrupt the processes of democracy through greed, and capitalism can lend itself to that situation unfolding. This film gave me the idea that there needs to be a progressive discussion on the relationship between our government, it's leaders, and the economy, and how that needs to look moving forward.
    I also noticed the painting about democracy: about how when it's used for good it can be so effective and when it's power is used for personal gain, it can become harmful.
    Finally I left with this feeling of comfort knowing that democracy and all its facets its an internationally shared experience, not just American, and perhaps we can all benefit from sharing our wisdom about how to navigate this political concept in today's landscape.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The meaning of what democracy is can be differentiated based on the person you ask. How can we be a democracy and tell the citizens that they have a vote and voice in what can be changed if they contribute in trying to see change, but nothing ever changes? Can we be an exemplary democracy when so many people are not treated or don't have an equal voice? The film shows different opinions on how people view democracy. Some citizens think the way democracy is currently is acceptable, while some citizens don't think we ever did run a sound democracy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hannah

    I believe that the filmmakers were trying to convey what democracy used to be, what it means to others, and how it truly is today. In the film, it is explained that democracy used to simply mean people working to make choices together despite their differences. I think this is the purest, simplest form of democracy. But today, democracy is being controlled by money. The focus has shifted from the people to businesses, and while people have the opportunity to vote, it is those with money who have the real power. I understood the basic textbook definition of democracy before the film, but now I’ve seen the evolution of democracy through multiple perspectives. I also never knew the depth of the negative aspects of democracy and how they affect people around the world.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think that the film maker is trying to convey how the definition of democracy changes over time. It changes with what is going on around the people and what things are happening at the time. Today it is about the money and it is run with people with a lot of money, but when it was first created democracy was about working together to figure out which choice was the best choice for the area. I think that America today understands that we have a democracy but I don't think they understand what a democracy means it is getting lost with time and money. This film helped me to understand that while democracy is struggling a little on defining it, it is still important and that if redefined it can help to put America in a better position. In the documentary it talked about how they split people up differently then they used to be and made them work together and it helped to form a well functioning society, If we did that in America would it change anything? Would it make it so voices were heard? And maybe doing that will help distribute the wealth better, I know its not actually possible but it is something I wonder would better America.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think the filmmaker was trying to convey the message that the leaders of democracy in the world today are greedy and power thirsty. The film shed a lot of light on how there is a long history of leaders who do not prioritize the people and there is a lot of discrimination. I liked how they talked about what democracies used to be like in Greek times. They talked about how the best leaders of democracies are the ones who do not care about gaining more power and they care about societies. As soon as the leaders begin to be ambitious for power, they begin to rule on that basis which leads to tyranny. This film gave me a solid foundation of the history of democracy and the impact that different democracies throughout the world have had on people.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think the film maker was trying to show many different democracies and how they operate. They showed us how students feel about being in a democracy and if they feel it's working. I loved hearing about the origin of democracy in Athens. They did a great job explaining the origin of democracy and thought me a lot about the intentions of democracy. this film contributed to my understanding on democracy by showing me the original values and current status in the world.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I think the filmmaker is trying to convert that even though democracy is supposed to typically be for the people it is unfortunately not in a lot of cases. Many countries do not protect their people. I think the film contributed many different ideas and expanded my knowledge on democracy. It expanded beyond the basic textbook definition. Overall the film contributed to new ideas and thoughts on democracy not just in my country but many other countries also. I feel it opened my eyes and allowed me to see through another pair of eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This film definitely opened my eyes to multiple perspectives. They interviewed people who may not have had their opinion shared formerly and I appreciate that fact. I think they are trying to convey the fact that there isn't one definition for democracy and democracy in theory is very different form democracy in practice. The last man who talked about democracy being justice was new to me. It made me think about how different sides of society may have different definitions of what democracy is. This film solidified my opinion of democracy being good in theory but falls short in practice.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This film made me realize how much i lived in a bubble and i really enjoyed that it was able to bring me out of that safeness i felt before. there are many different definitions of democracy based on who you ask and in the grand scheme of things there are different practices for democracy. this film made me upset in numerous ways but its something that everyone needed to hear

    ReplyDelete
  22. I believe the film makers wanted to show two sides of the same coin to highlight how a difference in opinion can be based in a lack of knowledge. There were interviews of greek citizens stating that they were fearful that immigration would lead to a demise or dissolution of their nation's cultural identity. While being juxtaposed with the other side of the situation which were people merely seeking refuge from countries dealing with violence issues, those of which who seem to hold no secret agenda of watering down greek culture. It was interesting to see these two binary oppositions being compared so closely together and really acted as lens of the humanity on both sides.

    ReplyDelete
  23. People harbor diverse thoughts and sentiments about democracy while residing in regions governed by distinct political ideologies, especially within the United States. It is perplexing that despite sharing the same democratic system, individuals can interpret and understand it in myriad ways. This realization struck me when I delved into the origins of democracy, unraveling its historical roots and evolution.
    Understanding the true essence of democracy became an enlightening journey for me. It shed light on the multifaceted nature of this political framework and how interpretations can vary widely. What was particularly eye-opening was recognizing the extent of corruption in the world and acknowledging my own lack of education on such critical matters.
    The exploration of democracy's origins not only broadened my perspective but also prompted introspection about my role in this democratic society. It highlighted the importance of being well-informed and actively engaged in shaping a system that is meant to represent the collective will of the people.
    In essence, uncovering the roots of democracy served as a wake-up call, compelling me to question preconceived notions and strive for a deeper comprehension of the democratic principles that govern our shared existence.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The film allowed me to see different perspectives of democracy and how people live with/without it. It shows how democracy is supposed to be for the people but it is not actually doing so. I knew about democracy in the past but I did not know how much and how bad people were struggling with this issue. It helped me understand more about this topic and how it is completely different in different areas around me. I know more now about what is going on around me and I think that is really helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The filmmaker made me realize that there are always two sides to different stories and never to dismiss the pros and cons. That many people struggled because their issues are not often heard. There’s always an upside and downside in democracy.

    ReplyDelete

1/23…Democracy, pt. 1

Have you done much thinking about democracy and what our schools might/should have to do with it? If so, what have you been thinking? If not...