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To start, here's the entry from the Oxford English Dictionary:
1. An inhabitant of a city or (often) of a town; esp. one possessing civic rights and privileges, a burgess or freeman of a city.
b. Used also as feminine. (Cf. CITIZENESS.)
c. A townsman, as opposed to a countryman.
d. A civilian as distinguished from a soldier; in earlier times also distinguished from a member of the landed nobility or gentry. Johnson says ‘a man of trade, not a gentleman’.
e. With reference to the ‘heavenly city’, the New Jerusalem.
2. A member of a state, an enfranchised inhabitant of a country, as opposed to an alien; in U.S., a person, native or naturalized, who has the privilege of voting for public offices, and is entitled to full protection in the exercise of private rights.
b. as a title, representing Fr. citoyen, which at the Revolution took the place of Monsieur.
c. phr. citizen of the world: one who is at home, and claims his rights, everywhere; a cosmopolitan; also, citizen of nature. (Cf. Cicero De Leg. I. xxiii. 61 civem totius mundi.)
3. transf. Inhabitant, occupant, denizen. (Of men, beasts, things personified.)
4. adj. = CITIZENISH, city-bred. nonce-use.
5. attrib. and Comb., chiefly appositive, as citizen-king, -magistrate, -prince, -soldier, -sovereign; also, citizen-life; citizen-like adj. Citizens' Advice Bureau, any of a network of local offices where members of the public may obtain free and impartial advice, esp. when experiencing difficulties with authorities or other individuals; citizen's arrest Law (orig. U.S.), an arrest carried out without a warrant by a private citizen (allowable in certain cases); Citizens(') Band orig. U.S., a short-wave band made available for private radio communication; abbrev. C.B.
Hence citizen v., to address as ‘citizen’.
http://www.citizenwatch.com/COA/English/history.asp
ReplyDeleteAfter googling"citizen," the first thing listed was a watch company titled "Citizen Watches." In their history, the company states "The company was established in 1918. The founding fathers selected the name 'citizen' so it would be 'Close to the Hearts of People Everywhere.'..."
First I must point out the irony that a corporation was the first thing to come up on google for a word whose context is typically not associated as such. Further in 1918, the term 'citizen' hardly applied to everyone. As we know, the term historically excluded all but middle to upper class white males. Even their use of the 'founding fathers' phrase is typically associated with a very small group of white guys. Even today their persistant use of this jargon excludes a large portion of the world population. You have to wonder if they realize the irony in using a term of exclusion as an attempt to include the 'hearts of people everywhere.'
Mignolo, Walter. 'Citizenship, Knowledge, and the Limits of Humanity.' From 'American Literary History.' Copyright 2006. p315.
ReplyDelete"...one could take a shortcut back to Roman history and to the ideas of citas and most likely develop from there an argument showing how the idea of the city and its dwellers, the citizens, evolved.........BUT let me try another route...Toltecayotl, and defined it as the consciousness of cultural heritage."
Although a larger part of Mignolo's argument revolves around the concept of global citizenship he here presents an alternative to the traditional 'citizen,' instead using a "consciousness of cultural heritage" to stress the importance not of the label citizen but of the "human drive to build communities grounded on memories and experiences..." This type of foundation is broader and more flexible than the typical border mandated ideas of the citizen.
Mignolo, Walter. 'Citizenship, Knowledge, and the Limits of Humanity.' From 'American Literary History.' Copyright 2006. p314.
ReplyDelete"Citizens, foreigners, and passports are part of a short history of the same package that constructed the imperial idea of the 'human' and traced the frontiers with the 'less humans' and the 'non-humans.' "
Mignolo here goes to the base of the problem with the term 'citizen.' Its very existence is not natural nor long standing, but merely a socially constructed method of separating people from one another, and placing them in hierarchical boxes. It excludes from the very beginning.
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/foreign_affairs/Swiss_snubbed_as_Libya_and_EU_patch_up_dispute.html?cid=8569942
ReplyDeleteIn today's Swiss news, it was announced that "Libya has lifted a visa ban [it had placed] on citizens of 25 European Countries after Switzerland agreed to drop a visa blacklist against top-level Libyans"
This incident involves citizens of one country living/residing within the borders of another. Being a citizen of one country and living in another can put you in the dangerous position of being outside the jurisdiction of rights that your citizenship grants you. Without citizenship of the country you are in, you are essentially guaranteed very little, depending of course on the international human rights policies of wherever you may find yourself. In this case, Libya was able to pretty easily ban the visas of EU citizens, and use the ban as a tool of negotiation for their own benefit.
http://www.northescambia.com/?p=15691
ReplyDelete"Former Century Citizen Of The Year Passes Away"
A slightly different look at the word 'citizen' is presented in this Alabama obituary. I have to ask though, What makes someone a 'Citizen of the Year?' What makes someone a "good" citizen? This clearly must vary according to location, but it was interesting to take a closer look a one example...
"Funeral services were held Sunday a for a former Century Citizen of the Year.
Margherita Swift Jones, 93, of Century, passed away late last week. An Atmore native, she was a resident of Century for nearly 65 years. Jones was names Century’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 2003.
Jones gave generously of her time as a volunteer to the community working with groups including the Flomaton Research Club, Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, local schools, Turtle Point Environmental Center, Century Memory Loss Support Group, and Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was a 1938 graduate of the University of Alabama with academic honors, and she recently received her 75 year membership pin from Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority."
Longstanding presence within the community, volunteering for local church, school, and other organizations..what is it about these things that make one a good citizen?
http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=2306
ReplyDelete"About Us: Corporations have their lobbyists in Washington, D.C.
The people need advocates too."
I must admit that prior to this project I had never heard of the Public Citizen group. This political advocacy and organizing group appears to have reached great lawsuits and is involved in several commercial, international, political, health, and business areas. Their board of directors is comprised of University Law Professor, community organizers, non-profit directors, and lawyers. Although, I must say that their rhetoric throughout their website and presentation of self appears to be extremely general and I had trouble identifying how they are describing "citizen" itself. This became complicated when I initially felt that they only were out to defend the majority white collar worker until I discovered their international trade and business component that refutes this. Thus, I was happy to see that there are mass mobilized groups whom have a holistic approach to the organizing and activism of citizens throughout the US and the effects of our involvements with international citizens.
http://www.citizengroup.com/about/index.html
ReplyDelete"The Citizen Manifesto"
I could not ignore this piece!! The Citizen Group is a marketing company that defines itself as one that "...builds brands for brands and companies that aren't afraid to lead with their values."
This group has managed to put together a very interesting history of brand creation working with a wide array of clients from USA Network, Rock The Vote, San Francisco Public Schools, United Nations, and the list goes on. I was very impressed by their critical views and blunt presentation of their goals to challenge neoliberal capitalist practices. Furthermore, I see this specific group and cite having various keywords that are being worked in our section and throughout other section in our class. I was particularly fond of the following phrase from their "about us" page, "The best of these brands aspire to be part of the solution,
not just part of the problem." As cliche as it might sound, I feel that it goes parallel with one of the major themes from our class. That of going beyond critical high academic theory and into the incorporation of these theories to our most marginalized and under resourced communities across and intersectionally ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, and all forms of identity.
http://cwsinternships.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/poder-ciudadano/
ReplyDeleteTaking advantage of my bilingual ability, I decided to look up the spanish word for citizen, "ciudadano." I was very intrigued by this Argentinian non-profit and non-partisan organization called Poder Ciudadano. Again, much like the earlier groups I have found, revolves around organizing and political activism in communities and government institutions. A key description of this organization reads, "Poder Ciudadano’s belief is that transparent, public information strengthens democracy and local institutions." In many ways, I feel that this is yet another decolonizing effort to ensure that the people remain informed on the exclusive governmental information that directly affects their lives and the future of their generations. I really appreciated the fact that it incorporates an internship opportunity!!
http://citizenhope.org/
ReplyDeleteCitizen Hope is an organization that is dedicated to "[empowering] people to bring about change through community action, political activism and social networking."
Below is the mission statement:
"Citizen Hope empowers people to bring about change through community action and social networking.
2008 was the beginning of an unprecedented movement toward greater social and political engagement. Here in the Bay Area, we’ve created a vibrant and diverse political community capable of influencing the direction of our country. We feel it is our responsibility to continue to build upon these gains in efforts to impact our collective future.
By uniting attendees through awareness, activism and service, we build our political and social community and push forward our shared values and goals."
Analysis: This group has organized events such as A Discussion with United States District of Northern California Judge Thelton Henderson, Saturday for Love - a mixer in support of grassroots marriage equality advocacy in the Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities, and mobilized hundreds of people in the Bay Area for the Obama campaign. The way the organization uses "Citizen" connotes the experience of the "everyday person" and using that experience to do extraordinary things. It is also important to note that their mission implicitly pulls upon the notion of "organizing across difference." In this particular case, the usage of citizen contributes to the decolonial project by allowing "citizens," people from many different backgrounds and experiences, to work together on a common goal.
http://www.citizenschools.org/whatwedo/index.cfm (watch the video!)
ReplyDeleteCITIZEN SCHOOLS is an after-school education program dedicated to enhancing student learning by "democratizing what it means to be a teacher in America" and involving more of the community in educating young people. Middle-schoolers work with mentors, or "citizen teachers," on hands-on apprenticeships, as well as homework help, leadership activities and showcases. Through the apprenticeships, the program connects adults in the area to the schools to offer their particular skills, such as robotics, software engineering, and sewing, in efforts to make what students learn more relevant.
Analysis: Note the distinction made between citizen teachers and 'regular' teachers, as it brings the craft, and task, of educating to those without formal training. Similar to other usages, the word 'citizen' in CITIZEN SCHOOLS denotes a person who doesn't necessarily have specialized training, an everyday person. Moreover, in this case, this is the base of power in the organization, to rely on more citizens in the community to help educate the child, as teachers cannot do it alone. From its beginnings, this organization and its deliberate usage of the word citizen continues to enable the critical project of challenging our failing education system and thinking outside of the box in efforts to mend it.
Emperor Haile Selassie I Address To The United Nations (Oct, 1963): http://www.rastafarispeaks.com/HIM_UN.html
ReplyDelete"War" by Bob Marley (1976): http://tinyurl.com/bobmarleywarlyrics
"That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil."
Analysis: In Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie's speech to the United Nations, he calls into question the myth of global citizenship and the ways in which it is not a reality for much of the African diaspora. In connection to a broader ideal of citizenship, he challenges member-states of the UN, who interestingly prides itself on being at the forefront of world peace efforts, to think about racial discrimination and unrest as it is related to imperialism and exploitation. Thirteen years later, Bob Marley uses this excerpt from Emperor Selassie's speech, to make up the lyrics of his song "War." In step with Selassie's call for world peace, Marley denotes human rights violations and imperialism, as the reasons for war and unrest in diasporic communities around the world, while relating race to first- and second-class citizenship (similar to the notion of the global north and south). Marley's usage of Selassie's words not only points toward the connection of (or citizenship to) diasporic communities, but also towards the syncretism that often occurs within these communities. In the Rastafari tradition founded in Jamaica, Selassie (born Tafari Makonnen) is believed to be an incarnation of God on Earth.
http://diverseeducation.com/article/13654/congress-completes-overhaul-of-health-care-student-loan-program.html
ReplyDelete"Congress Completes Overhaul of Health Care, Student Loan Program"
by David Espo, Associated Press , March 26, 2010
I've never had much hopes for the ability of US politics to be critical pass capitalistic and neoliberal notions and tactics of decision making. Nevertheless, my hopes of US politics always comes by the ability of society to be critical and always seem as if our best politician are heavily concentrated everywhere but political positions of power. Unfortunately, these past months, our specific keyword "citizen" has been only antagonized and utilized as a breaking decision point for both the health care bill and the student loan bill to pass. In the all too popular youtube video where President Obama is called a "lier" in the middle of his senate adress, the topic was the coverage of this new health care for undocumented communities in the US. This moment allowed for the media and politics to focus on the question of citizenship for about two days and then immediately came to the consensus that it would be absurd to afford such health care and educational opportunities to undocumented people. Arguments ranged from their lack of tax payment and what message would be sent out to the world if the US were to all of a sudden support undocumented immigration by providing health care and educational repayment plans. That was it, the conversation ended. After this it all became Democrats say that and Republicans say this. I was shocked when even "Diverse Education," which is known for their critical lenses and pedagogies of reporting issues that affect underrepresented communities fell into this trap as well. Only mentioning citizenship once, "Capping an epic struggle, congressional Democrats put the final touches Thursday to historic legislation enshrining health care as the right of every citizen."
http://diverseeducation.com/article/13642/board-votes-to-allow-undocumented-immigrants-access-to-n-c-community-colleges.html
ReplyDeleteNEWS
Board Votes to Allow Undocumented Immigrants Access to N.C. Community Colleges
by Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press , March 23, 2010
Exploring our key word of "citizen," has made me burst out of the all too thick berkeley political bubble. In this article, we are informed of N.C. Board of Education decision to, "The State Board of Community Colleges voted 13-1 to admit illegal immigrants to classrooms if they graduated from a U.S. high school, pay out-of-state tuition of about $7,700 a year and don't displace a citizen."
Being part of an UNDOCUMENTED family, predominantly undocumented community, and working with AB540 students throughout the state, makes be both rejoice and feel hurt simultaneously. Rejoice at the fact that we are being given the opportunity to attend the community college system in the state of North Carolina and I am hurting for the circumstances upon which we will be able to do so. Undocumented students are predominantly low-income students whose families are either working the most gruesome hours in the harshest conditions, disabled, or don't have traditional family structures. In both cases student must be a provider of care and income. Thus, forcing undocumented students to pay out of state tuition and not allowing them to be on equal levels with all applicants is by no means an opportunity but rather an extremely sharp double edged sword.
This decision and issue of undocumented communities calls into question many of the issues and topics that we have faced throughout this semester. With this issue particularly Nepantla comes into mind as undocumented students are being asked to embrace the fact of being in a space within a space as they are given the opportunity to attend community college yet given the worse of circumstances to be educated. Allowed and Marginalized all at once! THen again, when aren't we?
http://www.citizencorps.gov/about.shtm
ReplyDeleteAbout Citizen Corps
Throughout this project i've been able to capture the different attitudes, perceptions, and actions that revolve around our keyword "citizen." Every time that i come across a private or community effort, it predominantly entails different people uniting under a common goal to achieve the betterment of either a hurting population or to attack those without the privilege of being a citizen of the US. The third option is those groups that have been able to unite professionals, workers, and community members. All this organizing has come out of constant issues. Citizen Corps on the other hand was created by former President George W. Bush II to utilize the energy that was created out of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Although at first this might seem as a reactionary project (as I believe too many are), I appreciate the intent of empowering each individual as a capable agent not only of their life but also of the community. Nevertheless, it makes me wonder if they follow the mainstream notions and sentiments against undocumented immigrants, do they exclude them from being part of this Citizen Corps effort? Are they not able to take part in the services that are being provided by Citizen Corps? Can they not, in times of need, aid just as much as any other abled bodied individual?
http://bayarea.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/10/bay-area-emerges-as-center-of-nonprofit-journalism/?scp=6&sq=citizen&st=cse
ReplyDeleteBay Area Emerges as Center of Nonprofit Journalism
By FRANCES DINKELSPIEL
Despite "Citizen" not being a central piece to this news article, I find it extremely relevant to our keyword and to our class in general. Journalism and the media have been a central focus to our class throughout this semester. Earlier in the semester we had a class wide discussion on the coverage and portrail of the protests against the budget cuts and last week we discussed the intricacies of "propaganda." What we haven't discussed is what would be a world without media or propaganda? Or, what happens when the printed media corporation falls?
This is what this articles engages the reader with. Not so much these two questions, but rather, informs the reader that the journalistic and printed media business has taken a huge hit (400 less journalist). This gave rise to a wave of non-profit journalism to be born and allow for non-traditional and non-mainstream literature and news coverage to be mobilized. In this, a new Bay-Area journal "The Bay Citizen" has become amongst the most prominent.
This has also inspired me develop an assignment that I will bring into my own classroom in the near future. As part of the syllabus, I will ask that the project that my nieces and nephews (students) will be working throughout the semester be not only a 10 page paper but also be produced in a "News Article" format to be submitted to non-profit newspapers and magazine. This will allow their knowledge to go pass the confines of academia and we can ashare that our knowledge production is not fosterred and trapped at the university but rather gained, produced, and shared with the communities at large. heeeeey! :)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-census-debacle-scenarios,0,6233097.story
ReplyDelete"Census Bureau concerned about head count problems, from identity theft to non-participation"
HOPE YEN
Associated Press Writer
April 8, 2010 | 12:41 a.m.
Thinking back on the short discussion that came out of the following question of whether or not one should fill out the census, this article helped me think of the answer to this not only in terms of our keyword but also see the other side, those who are working the census. It is as if both sides are too caught up analyzing one another though double consciousness by means of attempting to understand why each one is acting or will act how they believe according to their own conclusions of the other's perception of themselves.
The census team has clearly communicated that it is low income, non-english speaking, immigrants, communities of color, and those with these intersectional identities that shy away and do not take part in the census. Thus, most of the 700,000 agents that are sent out across the US will be predominantly focused on our communities. It makes me immediately question whether these agents will be part or allies to these communities in order to be better received. Furthermore, if not for the few spanish speaking ads that I caught on tv, I did not hear of a massive non-english census outreach.
Lastly, I would like to point out the fact that this huge outreach that will begin in May to the most underserved and marginalized communities in the US will take place for the cesus in order to ensure that all states have equal political representation in the House of Representatives. Nonetheless, will the issues that continue to disempower these communities that are being outreached to for the census be represented and fought for? What's the point in counting UC if OUR voices never reach D.C.?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/citizenx/index.shtml
ReplyDeleteI was very very VERY impressed with this website. The BBC Schools branch developed this website that introduces children to "citizenship." Not only are they introduced to the identity of a citizen but also the rights and responsibilities that come with that identity. The site is very colorful and has various forms of presentation that incorporate a photostory, animation, quiz, and background information for two sections (1) Rules and Responsibilities and (2) Identity of Citizen.
What went above and beyond was the fact that the site extends far further than only the identity and rules & responsibilities of Citizen, but, establishes the difference between (1) Being a Citizen, (2) Local Citizen, (3) National Citizen, and (4) International Citizen. Again, this site is for CHILDREN! I can guarantee you that most adults have hardly ever engaged in a conversation on the identity and rules & responsibilities of being a citizen much less the extended citizenships.
Nevertheless, I would have truly appreciated an initial stage where a child would be able to express or present their initial notion of what a citizen is and the rules & responsibility of one prior to engaging in the various interactive tutorials. Furthermore it is crucial to identify how loaded and powerful those who create this tutorials for children are as they shape the definitions, ideas, and attitudes towards citizenship on the youth.
Discovering this website made me envision what it would be like to have Ethnic Studies across Pre-K through 12? (SHOUT OUT TO SF STUDENTS AND ALLIES who helped get ES in High Schools! WOOT WOOT!!)
Lowe, Lisa. 'Globalization.' p121. KACS.
ReplyDelete"The coexistence of migrant diasporas and indigenous peoples creates material imaginenes dictated less by citizenship...then by social identities and overlapping affinities."
I love this quote from Lowe because it calls attention to the evolution of the importance and popularity of the word 'citizen.' It also demonstrates the growing importance of different forms of self identifications. I like the fact that it almost sounds hopeful...a day where 'citizen' doesn't matter as much as something like 'human,' and where the borders that have been drawn between people of different nations is not one of the first standards of identification.
http://gigaom.com/2010/04/09/citizen-journalism-startup-plans-global-expansion/
ReplyDeleteThis article references a new and growing news website that advertises its identity as a "citizen media." It allows registered users to submit articles on various happenings within the area in which they live (which may or may not be covered by larger broadcasting news companies). According to the article, "AllVoices" is planning a global expansion into thirty different countries that it believes are not getting enough local and international coverages from existing sources.
This website is interesting because it is creating a hub of communication between citizens from both within and outside their own countries. The phrase "citizen media" becomes inclusive of all citizens, not just those of one country.
http://www.citizensenergy.com/main/Home.html
ReplyDeleteCitizen's Energy is a corporation founded in the belief that everyone deserves basic human rights such as a warm home and healthcare. The corporation exists to channel money from private enterprises into charities and foundations that help to provide these basic needs. Their oil heat program provides home heating oil to struggling families in cold-winter states by working with thousands of oil dealers. Their Citizens Wind project manages all aspects of the building and maintaining of windmills. They state, "...we offer communiies a partial ownership of the project and commit a portion of the profits from our ventures to benefit local programs in the communities where we operate. In this regard, we serve ou r larger corporate mission to help make life's necessities more affordable and available to those in need.
The entire corporation is founded on principles of human rights as transferring to the citizen, as well as the personal responsibility of the citizen to help in providing such rights.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=86bd6811264a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=86bd6811264a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD
ReplyDeleteI decided to take a look at the website for US Citizenship and Immigration Services an chek out the requirements for eligibility for ciizenship. This is considered the general path to citizenship hrough naturalization...
"Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for naturalization under section 316(a) of the INA, an applicant must:
* Be 18 or older
* Be a permanent resident (green card holder) for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
* Have lived within the state, or USCIS district with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence, for at least 3 months prior to the date of filing the application
* Have continuous residence in the United States as a permanent resident for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of the filing the application
* Be physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application
* Reside continuously within the United States from the date of application for naturalization up to the time of naturalization
* Be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government (civics).
* Be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law"
The most interesting and subjective facet of these requirements to me was te last one. It seems like a clause that could be used at the discretion of any officer to allow or disallow citizenship at their will.
Different links throughtout the page also provide details such as "Benefits and Responsibilities of Citizensip," and a "Naturalization Self Test" that quizzes your knowledge of the basic history geography and politics in the US to help you practice for the actual test. All of these things, on top of a hefty payment are required in order to be considered for US citizenship.
http://www.inthesetimes.com/issue/25/12/postel2512.html
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to put this issue out there for examination--I came across these issues quite a bit last year and I think they are very relevant to the idea and formation of the term citizen.
In 1990 Yugoslavia was dissolved into violence as the different ethnicities fought for their own country. One by one nationstates like Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina separated from Yugoslavia, eventually leaving Serbia and Montenegro, the last to pull apart. Before the split, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship Yugoslavians held multiple citzenships--both to yugoslavia as well as to their internal repulic. When Yugoslavia disintegrated, they came to belong only to the smaller republic. Passports reflecting the changed citizenship had to be reissued, Yugslavian passports were no longer accepted. The latest piece in this history of Balkan conflict was NATO's invasion of Serbia, and the US supported independence of Kosovo.
Even today, although Kosovo is recognized as a country worldwide, its neighbor and former possessor, Serbia, refuses to legitimize its borders. When traveling in the area, citizens of any country will find it difficult to pass from Kosovo through Serbia. Passport stamps from Kosovo are blacked out and oftentimes you are forced to go back out of the area through Kosovo, into Macedonia, and back around to get through Serbia. Citizens of Kosovo are not recognized by Serbia--this is just one case where the notion of citizen and the country that you belong to can be a volatile situation.
Danny Postel, the author of the article 'Citizen of a Lost Country' still continues to identify more with the "real" Yugoslavia than he does as an ethnic Serb living within Croatia.
The whole area remains a hotbed of identity conflict.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rgr_2mwWrM
ReplyDelete"What is a Citizen? Lets Ask the New Zealand Government"
i loved this video! There are several youtube videos that duel with the question of citizenship and what a "natural born citizen" means. Nevertheless, I found this video to be amongst the most genuine and direct in answering the question of citizenship. "I cant give you a definition of citizenship, because the government respect it to be up to your interpretation, so its something we can't do," this is one of the best and honest answers to date that I have heard from a government official in any part of the world. Throughout this project, when the question is posed to a government official, they often conjure as many higher-end lexicon to provide an extremely lengthy answer that often times just goes in circles about three times and ends with "but you know its up for contestation or debate." Now on the flip-side, the question becomes whether a government that allows citizen to be defined by its people freely is any better, worse, or just different than one who has multiple definitions according to the government agency and official that is answering the question?
This video also made me think of how does our government go about making decisions on citizenship? Do they take on a differential consciousness approach? A double consciousness approach? Neither? Unfortunately, most likely its neither.
https://bspace.berkeley.edu/access/content/group/b4792217-4cb9-483b-9206-6e0bb296604c/citizenship.PDF
ReplyDeleteBerlant,"Citizenship," Keywords for American Cultural Studies
"Although we tend to think of citizenship as something national, originally the citizen was simply a certain kind of someone who lived in a Greek city: a member of an elite class who was said to be capable of self-governance and therefore of the legal and military governance of the city."
In examination of this genealogy of the word citizenship, it seems that the elitism part hasn't changed much. Instead all that has changed is the scale of the institution that the "non-citizen" is up against, an entire nation as opposed to a single city. All those in the periphery (people of color, the poor, womyn, queer folks, etc.) are still yet to enjoy all the rights that come with being deemed a "citizen."
http://www.good.is/post/model-citizen/
ReplyDelete"Model Citizen: Lauren Bush's FEED bags help carry the burden of African hunger."
"...Bush has a conscience that propels her beyond the benefit-gala circuit. To wit, this morning, as she breaks her fast in downtown New York, she's talking about FEED bags—the reusable burlap and cotton totes with the word "feed" stamped on the side—that she's designed to raise money and awareness for world hunger."
Analysis: What makes Lauren a model citizen? The fact that she seemingly has a conscience beyond that of her rich peers who come from families that own the transnational corporations that make the devastation of the global citizenship myth and the logic of coloniality possible? Or the fact that she has used her personal faculties for a good cause? Perhaps it is both that make her a MODEL citizen. What is more interesting is the fact that what makes her a CITIZEN is not examined here. The simple fact that she is a native Texan gives her a pass to her citizenship being assumed. It also further constructs a particular sort of mysteriousness around the actual meaning of citizenship. This piece adds to the mound of articles and stories that not only assume citizenship has a universal meaning to most, but also fail to address how its existence is questionable for some.
http://nijla1.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/older-than-america-first-feature-film-by-a-native-american-woman-georgina-lightning/
ReplyDelete"Older Than America: First Feature Film By A Native American Woman, Georgina Lightning"
"Are you a fan of Cowboy and Indian films? Think about why you relate or enjoy these films. Do you think your enjoyment of these films is related to your place as an American citizen and the popular American narrative of 'us against them?'”
Analysis: In her summary of the film trailer "Older Than America," Nijla (a Cal alumna) invites readers to think critically about what it means to be an "American" citizen, especially in a land that did not originally belong to our current nation or its founding fathers. With a single sentence, she further contributes to the project of decolonizing what it means to be a citizen by challenging the binary construction of the citizen as the "us" and the non-citizen as the "them."
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/03/31/africa-union-creates-fund-for-african-women/
ReplyDelete"'The need to take action now is urgent so that whatever we decide and declare directly benefits the common African citizen. It is only when we act now that our people will come to appreciate the existence, foundations and future of our organization. Let us act now,' added Mutharika."
Analysis: Because I primarily think of citizen in the national sense, I didn't quite understand this sentence upon first read. So I double checked the OED definition of citizen. Finally upon reading the third definition of the word, "Inhabitant, occupant, denizen," I wondered why the government doesn't also use this definition of the word citizen. If someone inhabits a particular place, whether bound by geopolitical, community, or psychological markers, are they not citizens of that locale? In the U.S., you must go through a rigorous process that supposedly guarantees your allegiance to the nation or you are born with citizenship status because your parents are citizens. However, it is just as important that you contribute to sustaining your community, through work and support. And yet this holds no place in assigning citizenship to persons that inhabit a place.
http://www.feministing.com/archives/020544.html
ReplyDeleteGuest Post: "On how I became an American"
"After fifteen years of living in the United States, I've embarked on the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. It's important to me to write about this in this forum because immigration clearly is a feminist issue - one that has to do with everything from reproductive justice to political oppression to global capitalism to education justice. This is my immigration story, and how it has connected with these issues."
... my favorite paragraph: "When I started looking into it, the price of applying for citizenship had just gone up, to nearly $700. Though I was about to graduate with a Master's degree and had a well-paying job lined up, that is no small chunk of cash. Then I looked at the paperwork. Many of the questions I was required to answer were absurd and offensive: Had I ever been a drug addict? A sex worker? A habitual drunkard? A communist? Right after the communist question, they have the audacity to ask if I have ever persecuted anyone because of their political opinion. It ends by requiring a signature under a statement in which I am to promise that, if legally required to do so, I would serve the U.S. military "without mental reserve, so help me God." These questions were deeply disturbing, and it was very clear which answers would lead to citizenship and which could lead to something far less palatable. "I have the right to be a habitually drunk communist," I thought, "and fuck the military!" I put the forms away and ignored them for over a year. That I am not habitually drunk nor identify as a communist were irrelevant - I could not make peace with this document's version of morality, one that criminalizes addiction, stigmatizes sex work, and continues the legacy of red-baiting in this country."
Analysis: This piece discusses the critical relationship between feminism and the struggle for citizenship. This connection is not made often. I thought the part of the citizenship application asking is she had "ever persecuted anyone because of their political opinion" was very interesting especially because this country has a history of doing this to marginalized groups, including womyn.
W.E.B. Du Boise, Souls of Black Folk, p. 124-25
ReplyDelete(can view here: http://www.knowledgerush.com/books/soulb10.html)
"And finally, now, to-day, when we are awakening to the fact that the perpetuity of republican institutions on this continent depends on the purification of the ballot, the civic training of voters, and the raising of voting to the plane of a solemn duty which a patriotic citizen neglects to his peril and to the peril of his children's children,--in this day, when we are striving for a renaissance of civic virtue, what are we going to say to the black voter of the South? Are we going to tell him still that politics is a disreputable and useless form of human activity? Are we going to induce the best class of Negroes to take less and less interest in government, and to give up their right to take such an interest, without a protest? I am not saying a word against all legitimate efforts to purge the ballot of ignorance, pauperism, and crime. But few have pretended that the present movement for disfranchisement in the South is for such a purpose; it has been plainly and frankly declared in nearly every case that the object of the disfranchising laws is the elimination of the black man from politics."
Analysis: Du Bois calls for political involvement while simultaneously contesting Black disfranchisement, the revocation of suffrage rights, and thereby citizenship. If participation in politics by way of voting is one of the main privileges and practices of citizenship, and yet "politics [may be defined as] a disreputable and useless form of human activity," does this make citizenship disreputable and useless as well? Du Bois examines an important point, the purpose and state of the vote.
http://consumerist.com/2010/02/how-i-maneuvered-through-the-walmart-receipt-check-gauntlet.html
ReplyDelete"Being tired, weary and pretty grungy looking after 3 days of camping with cold and rain, I'm sure I didn't look like the most upstanding citizen. This with the fact that I hadn't shaved for 2 months in preperation for our annual "guys only" winter camping event. I was also in a foul mood having been in traffic for 4 hours and dodging kids in the store to find my items."
Analysis: This piece of consumer Jeff's personal account of how he evaded the Walmart receipt checker raises reason for significant concern about the homogeneity and anonymity of the citizen. He suggests that an upstanding citizen looks a certain way and maintains a certain demeanor. For me, this directly connects to Du Bois' contestation of Black disenfranchisement, in that methods that attempted to racially homogenize this nation's citizenry by excluding people based on race, level of education, and class are generally similar to the criteria that visually connote a "good citizen."
http://www.good.is/post/dear-tsa/
ReplyDeleteearlier today at work, i spoke to a student who was concerned about her parents coming on the plane ride to UC Berkeley for part of our program. she was not concerned about the necessity of her parents being asked to attend, but rather whether her mother would be seized because she is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
its ironic because, despite being a citizen, i worry about this all the time. with my big hair and foreign-sounding name... every time i enter an airport, and pass through security, i wonder whether or not i will be called into question, denied my rights, and ultimately deported back to my father's country... a country to which i now have little connection besides my blood.
so when i came across this article, and the designer's site, it struck me as very interesting. i liked it because it was a seemingly comical way to say "fuck you tsa." but it also caused me to dwell on the question of privilege in being able to carry out an "active role" such as this. you could only pull something like this off, if you felt rather certain that you would not be in danger due to your citizenship status or people's evaluation thereof.
not really an entry.. just some food for thought.