Mickel Hoback

Assessment of geographic communities

This week’s reading covered assessment of geographic communities. I found it somewhat odd that the recent readings were dealing with communities and the roles in which we play in them at a time when our country is facing as series of protest and sit in’s designed to address these very things. At the beginning of the chapter it discussed the significance of power in communities and who has it and why. It was explained that some people obtain power within their community by having information, wealth, reputation, and connections. It discussed the importance of citizen participation and social networks in an effort to address issues and concerns within the community. Once again as I was reading this I could not help but think about the recent “Occupy” movements all across the United States.
I took a break from reading and went and got a coffee from a local gas station and while there I saw the local newspaper that showed protesters in New York being drug away by police. I returned home and cut the TV on only to hear about an Iraqi war veteran who had been injured by the police as he stood quietly protesting. I cut the TV off and went back to my reading but the thought of these actions played over and over in my head. How could it be that our government has intervened in countries such as Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, but here in our own nation our government is doing the same things it has condemned other nations for doing. Now I know the situation in Libya was far different than what we are seeing here and that many people will respond that Gaddafi was a crazy murderous leader that needed to be removed from power but is it not true that when the citizens protested there they actually took up arms and confronted the government? The answer is yes!! Suppose any one of our protesters picked up a weapon and marched on Washington what do you believe would happen? I’m pretty sure we would see the same measures taken in Libya by their government.
The chapter this week encouraged members to stand up and address their concerns in numbers due to having a more powerful voice however one must tread lightly when doing this. I think these occupy movements are actually starting to form helping networks for people in the community that need a voice but are often left unheard due to the lack of power and money that they have at their disposal.