This week's blog assignement

For the blog assignement this week, please select one of the articles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights that carries a personal meaning to you. Using reputable news sources find 2 -3 stories that discuss how this right is violated in some county (countires). You can also use Amnesty International website (http://www.amnesty.org/). Based on the news you have found, discuss the importance of the UDHR article you have chosen. Do not summerize the stories, but rather use them as examples to your argument. Remeber to provide links to your sources.

Obama/FDR

This has been an interesting task. I found it difficult nonetheless trying to intertwine current history being made with American rhetoric. While dissecting both speeches I enjoyed both of them but admit that I like President Obama’s address more simply because I voted for him, and believe in the changes he thinks our nation needs. I don’t mean that FDR’s speech was not influential because it was. It held a certain amount of nostalgia. It reminds me that in order to know where our country is going we must know where we have been.
Without the clear difference in time, both Presidents struck very similar tones. They acknowledged the current state of the nation, freedom, but most importantly they discussed the necessity for change. They declare the importance of morality, and that in order to improve the world we must first improve ourselves. Fear can strike the lives of many, and nations must overcome that fear in order to prevail. Listening and rereading these speeches fortify my belief in our president, and simply wait patiently for our nation to get back on track.

4 freedoms, then and now

Colleen Fitzgerald
1/30/09
QU301
For 12 years, Franklin D. Roosevelt served as one of Americas greatest Presidents, yet during his Presidency, Roosevelt faced many struggles. President Roosevelt expressed his wishes to secure a better America in his address to Congress in 1941. In this address President Roosevelt named four freedoms he believed were essential to human freedom; freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Today many Americans still struggle to obtain these freedoms as expressed in President Obama’s inauguration speech.
When President Roosevelt was in office, two main obstacles to overcome were the Great Depression and World War II. When President Roosevelt wrote about freedom of fear, Roosevelt wished for a Utopian America. This America would be free from a Depression that would cripple a nation and cause suffering for its people and a country where Nazism was gone and war did not exist. However today times have changed and new fears exist. In President Obama’s speech, Obama spoke that “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” This new fear Obama pledges to over come is a combination of the worsening economy, global climate problems, and a never ending war in the Middle East. However, both President Roosevelt and President Obama believe that America should not live in fear, but should persevere and become stronger for it.
Another freedom mentioned by President Roosevelt was the freedom from want. During his Presidency, Roosevelt developed a ‘New Deal’ to help America struggle out of the Great Depression. In his speech, President Roosevelt wished for an America where its people were satisfied and free from poverty. Today the same dream of a prosperous America still exists in President Obama’s speech. Today, America is in a similar situation that President Roosevelt was in the 1930’s to 40’s with an economy that was sinking. President Obama promises in his speech to strive for an America where its people have all the necessities to live a happy, prosperous life. For both Presidents, these dreams of a better America still exist. Just as President Roosevelt fought for these freedoms and persevered, so shall President Obama fight and God willing succeed.

FDR and Obama Think the Same

While Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to Congress, “The Four Freedoms,” and President Obama’s Inauguration speech were written in very different times, their message remains consistent. These speeches were meant to uplift a nation in its darkest times. FDR proceeds to outline four freedoms, which he deems “essential human freedoms.” His first freedom, of speech and expression, is also the first amendment and Obama reinforces its importance when he states, “we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.” The next freedom he discusses is the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way. Many U.S citizens denounce this amendment and freedom because they feel Christianity is pushed on them because its mark is on our currency and judicial system. Obama also mentions God and the scripture in his speech. To them I say what better way to prove we have religious freedom then for the president to be able to speak about God. Just because U.S citizens have the right to worship any God they choose does not make religion taboo and force individuals not to talk about their religion in public. If a Muslim somehow were president he would be able to pray to his God and mention it in public. I do not believe Obama or the U.S government mentioning God or Christianity is crippling to an individuals freedom of religion. The next freedom according to FDR is, the freedom from want. Obama tackles this freedom by demanding that American Citizens have the skills, and rights to rebound from this economic crisis. He believes that a good economy is America’s “rightful place.” Not only does Obama see the large issue of the economy but he specifically mentions the right of Americans to earn a “decent wage [and] a retirement that is dignified.” The last freedom is from fear. Obama strikes the Muslim world and reminds them “your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.” While FDR believes freedom from fear entails not being “in a position to commit ac act o physical aggression against any neighbor,” Obama feels that it is our right to arm ourselves for protection but it is better to use compromise instead of war. The two documents were scribed decades apart but their sole message still reverberates around this nation loudly.


Dan!

Presidential Post

There is a saying that goes "change is the only constant", we all know that Obama is an agent of change, however, it turns out FDR, a president who Obama should try to emulate, was a believer in change as well. While we in America have the luxury of FDR's four freedoms, FDR's goal of worldwide freedom has not been achieved as of yet. Obama's speech suggests that the four freedoms are not a lost cause though. He says that America will be a friend to each country and we will extend our helping hand if they are willing to unclench their fists.

The most obvious similarity between the two speeches is that FDR exclaimed that tyrants seek to attain a new order with the crash of a bomb. That is still true today, and the world certainly has it's fair share of Bin Ladens, Zawahiri's and Ahmadinejad's. Obama indirectly targeted these tyrants in his speech and gave them a message that they are on the wrong side of history, and that the world will remember them based on what theyh build, not what they destroy, a very powerful message.

Freedom

Hi Everyone,
Happy snow day! I was reading through both of the presidential speeches and noticed many similarities. I decided rather than comparing everything I would focus on one main topic - freedom. I know it isn't the most original topic to compare but I thought the word and meaning of freedom was the backbone to both speeches. Franklin D. Roosevelt opens his speech by saying, "In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms." Meaning that the United States is what is was that day because of freedoms that its people had. President Obama also mentions this idea by saying, “For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.” According to FDR, sixty-eight years ago, the United States was what it was because of the freedoms that humans had. Today, sixty-eight years later in a country that has drastic changes in human rights and innovation is still based on the idea that it has all happened from the freedoms that men and woman have.

In the closing of both FDR and President Obama’s speech the people of the United States are encouraged to embrace the freedoms they have. FDR says, “The nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women.” Obama’s similar words are, “…and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.” The future of free men and woman are what makes our country a better place. Both president’s give hope to the people of the United States and remind them that we got to where we are because of our people and we will continue to prosper because of what we can do with our freedoms.

I also felt that the Presidents didn't just give hope to the people of the United States but they also both mentioned the term "world." President Obama mentioned world wide problems and cultures more than FDR but both Presidents made sure to remind the people that not every place in the world is as fortunate as the United States. Back to their closings, the people of the US should use the freedoms they have to not only make our country a better place but to use what we have and know and be aware of the hardache that other nations face.

FDR and OBAMA.. Freedom!

I agree with you Cory, President Obama and FDR’s speeches are very similar and address the necessary freedoms we all live under in this country. I appreciated how Barak reminded all of us about our roots and where this “freedom” really came from. He stated in his speech, “For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West…” He went on to mention how hard our great grandparents worked to get us to where we are today. Our ancestors saw the meaning of freedom as something a lot bigger than having luxuries for themselves. They wanted a better life for all. No one would be left out.
When President Obama was elected as the US president, he realized how hard his job would be. He would have to address so many issues that were left unraveled from our previous president. He would have to address one of our biggest concerns freedoms.
President Obama put light back into the American peoples’ eyes. He assured us that this would be a long road ahead, but things would look up. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Address to Congress stated how hard he would work to ensure every American four simple rights, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. America is constantly changing and freedoms are being lost and gained. Both times these speeches were written America was in a big hardship. These presidents wanted to ensure all Americans that they will do there best to gain the freedoms we all deserve in life.
Both Obama and Roosevelt want to lead American to a successful country once again. They both address world peace. In FDR’s speech he says,” The World order in which we seek is the cooperation of free countries, working together in a friendly civilized society.” Just like Cory said, both men are targeting their speeches in the light that things will look up. I am confident that Obama will lead our country up and above where we were before this recession.

Blog 1

Both Obama’s and FDR’s speeches had many similarities. Obama’s inauguration speech touched upon all four freedoms that were in FDR’s speech. Both of these speeches had an underlining understanding of how important freedom is to the everyday man or women. These freedoms are an important staple in our lives and Obama addresses and bring up these freedoms through out his speech. We as a country are lucky to have these freedoms and both F.D. Roosevelt and Obama state that they are willing to help other countries gain these rights. In the beginning of Obama’s speech he says “on this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear”. This was a statement that stood out to me after reading FDR’s speech. The freedom of fear from FDR’s speech states that we as a nation do not have anything to fear, and Obama’s sentence stated before said that we chose hope over that fear. We are lucky to have the ability to have freedom, many other nations and countries do not have the opportunities and chances that we do. American stands for the land of the free, people from all over the world would love to have the opportunity to live in this nation. We are a county that many other counties look to for answers. Both of these men’s speeches help us relies what we have and why it is something that we should not take for granted.

Blog #1

It is expected that Obama's inauguration speech and FDR's "Four Freedoms" were going to have numerous similarities because both were voiced by American Presidents who want the same rights and liberties for the United States. It is interesting to see that back in 1941 FDR had goals and objectives to obtain the same freedoms we are still moving towards today. In almost seventy years our country has still not fully gained many of the four freedoms that FDR spoke of in his speech. In particular, I think Obama mainly addressed our freedom from want and from fear. President Roosevelt was forced to lead his country during the time of World War II and still maintain and preserve our basic human rights and freedoms, and now President Obama has the challenge to do the same for our generations in this time of war and a weakened economy. Unfortunately, we are still living in fear; whether it is fear from terrorism, the safety of friends and family, losing a job or home, our citizens live in just as much fear as they did when FDR was president. Obama said, "Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations." He went on to say that our country will not give up the rights that our ancestors worked so hard and long to get. We deserve to live in a country with fear from being physically harmed, or fear that we might lose all that we have worked for.
Freedom from want was also addressed in Obama's speech when he said "We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield the technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age." It was evident to Obama that the people of our country are unhappy with their economic understandings. Not everyone in our country can afford health care or to attend college, and it is important that we will live in a society where most of our wants are met, the basic ones at least. If our nation was unable to provide us with a healthy peacetime life, the people of the United States would be miserable and would live a poor quality of life. It is imperative that our basic needs be met: food, shelter, clothing, safety.
I also noticed that FDR and Obama made a point that our freedoms are placed in the men and women of our country and we willing give out our help to any of the countries who struggle to gain these rights. Just because we are lucky enough to live in a country of the free doesn't mean that other people around the world are as fortunate, so I found it interesting that both presidents put their hearts out to the rest of the world and offer our support, because we once went through the time struggle that they are enduring now. "...America is a freiend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity..." I think it is a good sign that Obama talked about many of the points that President Roosevelt made in his "Four Freedoms" speech; it shows that Obama had the same mindset as Roosevelt did in his presidency, and that President Obama is targeting our country's main flaws and problems in hopes of leading us to success once again.

Four Freedoms

As stated previously, F. D. Roosevelt’s address to Congress and Obama’s inaugural address both took place during a time of crisis. In Obama’s address, I believe all of Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” were, most likely unintentionally, touched upon. I believe both of these men knew that these freedoms are considered essential to any citizen. Obama offers assurance of these freedoms throughout his speech and all the while offers the people of our time that these freedoms will be strengthened and restored through the present time of crisis.
President Obama mentions that our history offers and reinforces the idea that all are equal and free. Also, all people should be given the chance to pursue this freedom. In my opinion, the way Obama used the word free in this statement implies all known aspects of freedom, including freedom of speech, religion, etc. President Obama then moves on to address the economical hardships of our time. He states that these problems are real and ensuing. However, he states that these problems will be acted upon, so the people may suppress their worries about the crumbling economy. I believe his statements emulate Roosevelt’s freedom of want. Later on in his address, President Obama states that members of all religions, and non-believers, all share a common humanity. He believes that even with the Muslim religion, we share mutual interests. The president unites all these religions by saying that the members all have something in common. And this is the fact that religion and culture has shaped us into who we are today. I believe this is related to Roosevelt’s freedom of religion. Obama also discusses the future actions to be taken with the current crisis, saying that those in power of the people will work tirelessly to keep the threat to a minimum and safety to a maximum. While this all may not have any grounds, it is what I picked up on while looking through the inauguration speech.

Speeches

After reading FDR’s, Address to Congress and Obama’s Inauguration Speech, I found a lot of similarities and differences between the two as well. After reading FDR’s speech, what popped out to me was the paragraph in which he states “since the beginning of our American history, we have been engaged in change—in a perpetual peaceful revolution- a revolution which goes on steadily, quietly adjusting itself to changing conditions…” I find it ironic he cites change since change is such a major facet of Obama’s campaign and his plans for the country. I noticed that both FDR and Obama cite “unity of purpose” in their speeches. Obama says “On this day we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,” in FDR’s he says “our strength is our unity of purpose.” After reading posts on the blog, I agree with what Katie and also noticed that both speeches were given during times of war; and also with what Lauren said about how both speeches leave their audiences with a feeling of hope for the future.

QU301 Blog -1

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to congress and Barack Obama’s inaugural address, though delivered decades apart from each other, share many similarities including the many facets of freedom and the ultimate goal of obtaining freedom. Roosevelt defines, “Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere.” Roosevelt’s speech is directed not only towards the American people but also to the people of the world as is evident in his definition of freedom. He emphasizes freedom of speech, freedom to worship, “freedom from want” and “freedom from fear” “everywhere in the world.” Obama’s speech is directed primarily towards the American people though he does speak to other nations stating, “know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.”
In his address, Roosevelt introduces freedom from want and freedom from fear. Freedom from want means having basic economic necessities such as healthcare, employment, shelter, and education. Obama refers to the current economic crisis and the basic economic necessities that have been compromised. He states, “Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.” While Roosevelt translates freedom from want into global terms explaining freedom from want as, “economic understandings, which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants,” Obama recognizes the improvements that need to be made within our own country to secure this freedom. Roosevelt mentions a world-wide reduction of military strength so that no nation would have the means to act out aggression. Obama emphasizes that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism with not just brute force but, “with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.” Today armaments include nuclear weapons making reduction an even greater necessity.
Both speeches emphasize “we”; that securing freedom is not an individual task but the price of citizenship of a free nation. Obama accentuates, “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world.” Both Obama and Roosevelt refer to our “unity of purpose” as our strength and hope. And as both speeches can be described as “pep” talks directed towards the American people they end on positive inspirational tones. Roosevelt states, referring to our unity of purpose, “To that high concept there can be no end save victory,” while Obama asks us to think of our children’s children who will look back on our generation as the ones that “carried forth the great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.” Both speeches leave their audiences with a feeling of hope for the future.

QU 301 Blog 1

It’s interesting within both of these Presidential speeches, both Franklin D. Roosevelt and Barack H. Obama touch upon the concept of God and thus religion. FDR says in his “Four Freedoms” speech, “…and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God.” In President Obama’s speech he talks about the Scriptures and talks about God’s grace being on the U.S. at the present moment in time, “…and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us…” America as a country prides itself on being a nation where freedom of religion is practiced and that any citizen will not be discriminated against due to what religion they may practice. But as a country we are getting the idea of God and religion thrown at us from a lot of different areas of life. It was brought up in class on Friday that the U.S. says there is a law that says there is a separation of Church and State, but on our currency the words ‘In God We Trust’ are printed everywhere. In our school’s, our children have to do the Pledge of Allegiance everyday, which states in it’s lines the idea that the U.S. is ‘…indivisible, under God…”. Being a Catholic myself, I don’t see any issue at all with having the idea of God on things surrounding our country. However, if I was Muslim or another religion I would probably not enjoy seeing something I didn’t necessarily believe being plastered all over my country’s money or having it spoken about by the heads of my nation. It just makes you wonder if in the U.S. we really have freedom of religion.
I really like the reality in which President Obama addressing our nation’s current state and the atmosphere of the country that he is now beginning to lead, “The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the [Presidential] oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.” There is a commonality of the environments that both Presidents, as well as the American people were living in. FDR’s America and the ‘storm’ that he was facing was caused because of just having been through the most devastating economic crisis America had have experienced. The U.S. was also about a year shy of entering World War Two. Today President Obama is faced with a similar America as well as a similar ‘storm.’ Our country is now in another economic slum, as well as being in a war overseas. Both speeches present these issues and realities to the American people and both address the fact that these issues will be addressed. President Roosevelt and President Obama go on into their speeches in a way to almost ‘pump up’ or ‘pep talk’ the American people to believing in what the Presidents say. They have to give the people the positive feeling that they hope to convey and to have the social climate between government and its citizens.

QU301 Blog 1

It is evident after reading both FDR’s and Obama’s speeches that both had similar issues to deal with.
Both speak of “freedom from want” which FDR clearly states in his address to congress as such and is saying that it is a goal of the United States to have all nations in a time of peace and not be greedy or selfish. Obama states in his address how the United States is willing to extend a hand to anyone who is “ready to unclench their fist” meaning the U.S. is willing to befriend any country so long as their interest is for peace for all nations.
Something that both presidents speak of is change, and the power of it. Roosevelt states that the United States has always been involved in change and that it is an aid in keeping peace. That peace is kept by updating the country with change. Obama’s entire campaign was on the platform that the United States once again needs change. Obama speaks of changing jobs, transportation, health care, schooling, communication and energy. That the U.S. needs to change its way of thinking in order to keep up with not only the rest of the nations in the world, but the environment of the Earth itself. Change seems to be what keeps the United States a superpower of the world. The United States needs to change again and evaluate its actions for the future in order to be able to safely hand over the legacy of the United States to future generations.
President Roosevelt stated that it is crucial to make sure there is freedom from fear, meaning that there doesn’t need to be any physical aggression between any two parties anywhere in the world. President Obama spoke directly to terrorists around the world stating America’s spirit is strong and “ cannot be broken” and the United States will defeat them. Both presidents found it necessary to state how the U.S. will not tolerate bullying or aggression and we are a strong, unified country.

President Obama and President Roosevelt both spoke in ways to encourage hope and instill belief in all of their citizens. Yet, both presidents had a tone of seriousness and that it was time to “get down to business” and start to change the country for the better right away. In order to keep the United States strong, we must keep electing strong leaders like Roosevelt and Obama that will lead the country into greatness.

QU 301 Blog 1

Brendan Rimetz- QU 301 Blog

President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech is one of the more well known speeches on the twentieth century. It lays out America’s stance on how the world should be in terms of human rights and all peoples’ ability to be free. The speech gives a basic over view on rights that all people should have such as the right to free speech, the right to religious freedom, the right to a make their lives better, and the right to not have to live in fear of war and violence. It is a relatively simple speech, yet it has an amazing impact because many people, especially Americans, still use these rights and freedoms as guidelines for foreign policy and their views of the world. These rights and freedoms are also still threatened or denied in many places throughout the world today and these violations of human rights are still discussed in speeches today.
In President Obama’s inauguration speech, he also addresses human rights violations and how the world still needs to change. While Obama’s speech is not a direct and straightforward as Roosevelt’s speech is, it is fair to say that he addresses many of the same issues that Roosevelt brought up in his speech. Towards the middle of his speech, Obama addresses the idea of religious freedom in America and how the country needs to use its ability to bring together so many different cultures and religions as an example to the world and as a way to bring peace to the world. Obama goes on further to discuss how he wants to work with the Muslim world and how he wants to bring peace to that area of the world. This is similar to Roosevelt’s idea of religious freedom and people’s rights to worship any religion they wish anywhere they wish.
Obama goes further into his speech where he addresses the poor, which is very much similar to Roosevelt and how he spoke about freedom from want. Obama said that he looks to help the poor people of the world to better their situation and that nations such as America and those that are well off, should help these poorer nations to become better, both economically and physically.
There are other similarities between the Roosevelt and Obama speeches besides the fact that they both address certain inalienable rights that all people should have. They both call for peace and oppose the idea of oppression as a way to gain power and standing in the world. They both also look to create a peaceful and civilized society and world in which nations work together to make peace and prevent any problems or disputes. They both hold high the idea of America being the ultimate example of freedom in the world and that as a free country we must help and support other free countries seeking to maintain and grow their freedom. Both Obama and Roosevelt believe that by following this certain set of guidelines, that peace can be obtained and that the world can and will be changed for the better.
While these speeches are somewhat similar in terms of guidelines and interests, it must be noted the tone and intention of the speeches was different. Obama’s speech was obviously an inauguration speech and therefore was somewhat idealistic and looked to address a wide range of topics. It is also meant to lay out the guidelines and ideals of his administration and how it will act and what it will look to accomplish. It was meant for the American people. Roosevelt’s speech as addressed towards a different group of people. It was directed towards people in the world at that time who where a threat to the American ideals and thoughts regarding freedom. It is meant to lay down the ideals that Americans would defend and looked to give possible reason for American involvement in the war that was occurring in Europe. Roosevelt understood that at the time of the speech there were numerous human rights violations occurring around the globe and he wanted to say that America would not stand for any other that. Those were really the major differences between the speeches.

Guns N' Roses' New Album Is Up Against a Chinese Wall The Title Is a Problem for Authorities And Even for Some Shanghai Fans

Hey guys I was browsing a message board about one of my favorite bands, Guns n Roses, and came across this article which discusses how their newest CD is banned in China. I thought this might be a good article to discuss freedom of speech as well as freedom from fear as mentioned in the FDR speech. I will write my response at some point this weekend, but for now I’m going out!

Cheers,
DAN!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122728243679848085.html?mod=todays_us_page_one

Guns N' Roses' New Album Is Up Against a Chinese Wall

The Title Is a Problem for Authorities And Even for Some Shanghai Fans

By JAMES T. AREDDY

SHANGHAI -- The heavy metal band Guns N' Roses is roiling China's music scene. But sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll aren't the issue.

The trouble is the name of the group's latest album: "Chinese Democracy."

Axl Rose

It has taken 17 years for the band to produce a new studio record. Now, even before it goes on sale Sunday, in a release heralded by its producers as a "historic moment in rock ' n' roll," the disc is getting the thumbs down from Chinese authorities. It's also causing anxiety among GN'R's legion of loyal fans here, who aren't sure they like what lead singer W. Axl Rose is trying to say about their country.

China's government-owned music-importing monopoly has signaled that local record distributors shouldn't bother ordering the GN'R production. Anything with "democracy" in the name is "not going to work," said an official at the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corp., part of the Ministry of Culture.

For fans, the response is more complicated. GN'R developed a major following in China in the late 1980s, when the young Mr. Rose was recording early hit songs like "Welcome to the Jungle." China was in the throes of its own rebellious era, and heavy metal was its protest music. GN'R's popularity soared in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. Learning the band's 1991 ballad "Don't Cry" was a rite of passage for a generation of Chinese guitarists.

"It was not only the music, the band's clothes also pushed the craze," says 30-year-old Chen Lei , one of Beijing's best-regarded rock guitarists, who cites GN'R as a primary influence.

GN'R nostalgia remains strong. A program on state-run China Central Television last year ranked "Qiang Hua" (literally, "Guns Flowers"), as the group is known in Chinese, at No. 8 on a list of top rock bands of all time.

Chinese fans eager for news on the Web about the new album sidestep censors by using coded language. Many deliberately scramble the name, typing "Chinese Democraxy" or "Chi Dem." They say they fear that typing the Chinese characters for the title will draw government scrutiny. Still, it's not much challenge to find news about the record on the Web, where even the site www.chinesedemocracy.com is a discussion of GN'R, not politics.

Some fans in China relish how the album discomfits the establishment. "Rock 'n' roll, as a weapon, is an invisible bomb," says one.

Leo Huang, a 25-year-old guitarist, just hopes it will retrace GN'R's roots. "I prefer rock 'n' roll," said the skinny 25-year-old guitarist after a recent gig with his band, the Wildcats, at a hard-rock bar below a Shanghai highway.

Yet, for some fans in this nation of 2.6 billion ears, the new album's title is an irritation. Democracy is a touchy subject in this country. Elections are limited to votes for selected village-level officials, and senior leaders are all chosen in secret within the Communist Party. Many Chinese wish for greater say in their government. But others -- including some rockers -- think too much democracy too quickly could lead to chaos, and they resent foreign efforts to push the issue.

Mr. Chen, the guitarist, says the "Chinese Democracy" album title suggests "they don't understand China well" and are "just trying to stir up publicity."

Some Chinese artists, loath to be branded as democracy campaigners, declined valuable offers to help illustrate the album. "I listened to their music when I was little," says Beijing visual artist Chen Zhuo . He was "very glad" when GN'R asked to buy rights to use his picture of Tiananmen Square rendered as an amusement park -- with Mao Zedong's head near a roller coaster. Then, Mr. Chen looked at lyrics of the album's title song and, after consulting with his lawyer and partner, declined the band's $18,000 offer. "We have to take political risks into account as artists in China," says the 30-year-old.

The new album's title track, already released as a single, begins with eerie, high-pitched noises that sound vaguely like chattering in Chinese. In the song's three verses, Mr. Rose sings of "missionaries," "visionaries" and "sitting in a Chinese stew."

The overall message is unclear, but his most provocative lines aren't. "Blame it on the Falun Gong. They've seen the end and you can't hold on now," Mr. Rose sings. It is a reference to the spiritual movement that Beijing has outlawed as an "illegal cult" and vowed to crush.

Mr. Rose, 46, who is the only remaining original member of GN'R, is rarely interviewed and declined to comment for this article. He picked the new album's name more than a decade ago. In a 1999 television appearance, he discussed the thinking behind it.

"Well, there's a lot of Chinese democracy movements, and it's something that there's a lot of talk about, and it's something that will be nice to see. It could also just be like an ironic statement. I don't know, I just like the sound of it," Mr. Rose said.

Mr. Rose in recent years has visited Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Xian, and he worries he won't be let back in, says his assistant, Beta Lebeis. "Everything is so controlled," she says.

Chinese authorities in recent years have started letting once-controversial artists perform in the country, but they remain uncomfortable with hard rock. The Rolling Stones played their first China concerts in 2006, but only after bowing to government demands to drop certain songs, including "Brown Sugar," that were considered controversial.

Fresh barriers went up after a Shanghai concert in March by the singer Bjork, who punctuated her song "Declare Independence" with shouts of "Tibet!" Officials thought it sounded like agitation against Beijing's rule of the restive Himalayan region. In new rules issued later, they threatened to hold promoters responsible for performers who violated its laws, "including situations that harm the sovereignty of the country."

One casualty: GN'R promoters in China dropped plans for two shows this year, says Ms. Lebeis.

The Ministry of Culture forbids imports of music that violate any of 10 criteria, including music that publicizes "evil sects" or damages social morality. In reality, many songs make it into China anyway, pirated and via the Internet.

It's unclear how much exposure the new record will get. "I have to say, 'Chinese Democracy' sounds sensitive," says a Beijing radio station's programming chief who doubts it will get much air play.

The title alone makes it "impossible" to imagine the album will be released in China, says Nicreve Lee , a student in northeastern China who runs a Web site called GN'R Online (www.gnronline.cn). He says his first reaction listening to the title track was, "This is an anti-China song." But, he says, "I gradually began to understand what the song wants to say. Perhaps Axl Rose doesn't know China well, but at least he is on the right track."

QU 301

hi, just posting to see how things work!

just trying this out...hope it works!

QU 301

Hey guys, I just want to make sure I know how to do this haha see you all tomorrow. - Joe

Hey everybody!  I just wanted to make sure I did this right.  Somebody respond !  =D

Welcome!

Welcome to the QU 301 -Meanings of Freedom class blog!

As many class blogs, this one is designed to facilitate class communication, but all are welcome to participate. This course is designed to evaluate the basic freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. constitution from a historical and international perspective and their impact on shaping the public sphere, and how those concepts are interpreted and applied in other countries around the world and how they influence societies.

If you are in this class, please post your weekly responses here, as well as all observations and materials you find interesting! Please remember to include links and proper citations!