...Mark Horton AC1208870 EN130.1.1 English Composition II Assignment 7 Argument Essay 03/03/13 Is Big Brother Watching You Employers want their employees to feel safe at the work place. After all a safe, happy worker is a productive worker. Today companies spend millions of dollars annually on security systems and security guards. Some companies even check the purses and bags of its employees as they enter and leave the workplace. Many employees feel that this is necessary. However, we see companies all across America cross the line with surveillance and invasion of privacy in the work place. If a company truly checked applicants thoroughly would there be a need for such extensive work place surveillance. The company that I work for has surveillance cameras at every corner of the building. These cameras are constantly patrolling the parking lot. A few years ago my car was vandalized and when the video was reviewed security realized that the camera did not patrol the area of the parking lot my car was in. I was amazed that such expensive equipment was useless in my situation. All along I thought that my car was safe in the parking lot however, I soon realized that this was not the case. Maybe the money that was spent on the cameras should have been given to the employees in the form of a raise. Later it was announced that we would only have two security guards at the front entrance of the building and the other guard’s services were no longer needed. This left...
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...Big Brother is watching you more closely than ever: CCTV cameras, the spies in our midst Britain is one of the most watched-over societies in the world, with as many as two million CCTV cameras around the country. These cameras are supposedly to protect the British population, and to get criminals to reconsider what they are doing, before committing any crime. But according to John Kampfner, the author of the article “Big Brother is watching you more closely than ever: CCTV cameras, the spies of our midst”, which was published in 2012, this surveillance of the British population is a wrong way to fight crime. In the first part of his article John Kampfner writes, that if it was ever the case that security cameras were not up to their job, which is to make us feel secure, then it is certainly not the case right now. He writes about how Britain’s first surveillance commissioner Andrew Rennison has sounded a wake-up call, because he believes that most people have no idea how advanced the technology has become, and therefore also have no idea how much they are getting watched. In the next part of the text, John Kampfner mentions the Jamie Bulger case. Jamie Bulger was a two-years-old, who was abducted from a shopping centre in Liverpool. The surveillance cameras ended up leading to the conviction of the abductees. According to John Kampfner this was a great breakthrough for the police. He writes: “This was seen as a huge and very welcome breakthrough in policing. Although the...
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...Big Brother is Watching You Russell Edward Brand has been known for a lot of controversy throughout his career. As a famous 38-year-old comedian, actor and a great author, ‘Big Brother is Watching You’ is yet another commentary where Russell Brand clears up his mind, with what he allegedly considers a righteous statement. Of English origin, Russell Brand wrote ‘Big Brother is Watching You’ to express his thoughts about the 2011 England riots, which were taking place on the 6th to 11th September in London, along with several other cities in England. Russell Brand’s main point of the statement is to criticize the British Home Secretary, Theresa May, with her ways of handling the riots. He rebukes her and brings his own point of view to the public, as he has a strong disapprobation of the way that Theresa May deemed the protesters actions and behavior. His commentary was publicized on 11th August on the final day of protesting on the British national daily newspaper The Guardian, on the same day after Theresa May had given her speech. As Russell Brand is a former citizen of London (though born in Essex), he sits across the globe, after being transplanted to Los Angeles, and expresses his thoughts about why the inhabitants would protest and be nothing but troublemakers for the authority with their “mindless” actions in his homeland. All this while harshly involving a great amount of sarcasm to implicitly articulate his disapproval. To exemplify; “Wow! Thanks guys! What...
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...spying on Americans the big thing they really have a problem with is the Patriot Act. What this act did was give sweeping surveillance and domestic gathering powers to law enforcement in the name of fighting terrorism. I wonder if you take a poll between the people who have suffered through a terror attack and the people who have not, how much off a difference in opinion there would be. The debate has heated up over the last few months thanks to an individual named Snowden. Who by the way is to chicken to even come back to his own country and back up his own accusations. Gen. Keith Alexander along with the director of the FBI testified before a House committee to answer these accusations. Alexander stated that surveillance programs had help disrupt more than 50 terror threats worldwide, 10 of which had targets on U.S. soil (Marshall, 2013). Now I want you think about this. What if those 10 terror attacks had not been disrupted because law enforcement can’t use the Patriot Act and further if you or someone in your family was hurt by those would you feel different about spying then? As far as this idiot Snowden he has of yet provided any proof for his claims so how can you any entirely what he is saying. People argue that law enforcement agencies can come into your home and detain you because they feel you are partaking in anti-American activities. They can monitor your web surfing records, monitor your phone calls, and probably even know what library books you check out. Some think...
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...“Big Brother isn’t watching you” In 2011 riots were happening all over the UK. These riots are also known as the “Blackberry riots”, because many of the riots were organized with this technology, such as the Blackberry smartphone. In “Big Brother isn’t watching you”, Russell Brand criticise his native government, for not doing anything but complaining and shows a lot of sympathy towards his fellow countrymen, as he puts himself in their footsteps. Though he cannot see the meaning of this misbehaviour. Russell Brand takes the reader through his point of view on the riots, from his youth in the Essex, where he grew up in a wealthy family, with a good heart, which makes him understand the hate of the rioters and their motives. Even though he is in Los Angeles, writing this article, he tells as if he were in the UK during these riots. Russell Brand is a very well known stand-up comedian, actor, musician and author. The comedian part is very obvious throughout the text, as he uses a good amount of sarcasm and irony. His sarcastic tone is especially aimed towards the government, who, according to Russell Brand, does nothing to find a solution. “Wow! Thanks guys! What a wonderful use of planet’s fast-depleting oxygen resources. Now that’s been dealt with can we move on to more taxing matters such as whether or not Jack The Ripper was a ladies’ man. And what the hell do bears get up to in those woods?” This was Russell Brands comment on the Home Secretary saying the behaviour...
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...Big Brother isn’t watching you The English born writer, comedian, actor and musician Russell Brand wrote the text “Big Brother isn’t watching you”, with a focus on the UK riots in 2011. The riots came as a shock to a lot of people, and especially Russell Brand. While the conflicts and riots were on their highest, the politicians called the rioters “barbarians” and “confrontational individuals” through the media, and tried to convince the world that everything was all right. Brand, who now lives in Los Angeles, is one of many questioning how and why such riots would take place. He is questioning the whole situation of youngsters rioting in the streets and, by referring to his own life, he tries to understand what mindset those youngsters may have. Brand’s main argument is that the rioters are not the only ones to blame. The politicians, the welfare system, the media and society in general should take a large share of the responsibility. Together they must try to answer the question, “why is this happening?” Even though Russell Brand now lives in the US, he keeps stating how proud an English man he is. His home is England, he still is an Englishman, and he even feels more like an Englishman, since he left. He has said, “I feel proud to be English, proud to be a Londoner…” Additionally he identifies with the rioters and therefore he constantly tries to see the problems from their point of view. The youngsters in the UK went on the streets for reasons more complicated than...
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...Big brother isn’t watching you A riot mostly occurs in reaction to a perceived grievance or simply out of dissent. Void and community spirit has since forever been in an everlasting fight because of the human mind and its diversity. When rioters act it is due to a feeling of being mistreated in a divided society where an inability to provide success for all human beings is valid. But instead of labelling rioters as mindless, we need to ask ourselves why they are led to the conclusion that starting a riot is the only way of gaining attention. That is why Russell Brand, English comedian, actor, radio host, author and activist, who now lives in Los Angeles, California, commentates on English riots and why they occur. His commentary is posted in the British newspaper called “The Guardian”, where he also tries to explain the rioters’ motive for the 2011 UK riots. First Brand starts of by explaining how he no longer lives in London and how some may find it bizarre for him to comment on matters in his homeland. However, Brand feels strongly connected to native country and finds it necessary to comment on the 2011 UK riots, as he himself feels deeply afflicted by them. In addition to his attachment to his homeland and therefore the rioters, he initiates his commentary with an explanation of how he never actually had interest in the fictitious theatrics in reality TV. Expect when he was working for Big Brother, a reality game show, where contestants are continuously monitored...
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...Big Brother isn’t Watching You The famous phrase “Big brother is watching you” is from the legendary book “1984” by George Orwell. It’s written in 1949, but yet it’s still magnificent. Many years later in 2011 a famous actor named Russell Brand wrote, “Big brother isn’t watching you”. It’s a commentary published on The Guardian’s webpage, and it’s about the UK riots. Brand used to live in London, and he is British. He is commenting on the big riots in London. You can also see in the text that Brand is a British lad. He speaks with a British accent, when he uses the words “mate” and so on. But he’s also speaken from his heart, when he uses the words “shit” and “fucking”. He’s a famous actor, but also a comedian. So that could a stunt in the text, that symbolise Brand’s comment is written with a conscious use of a relaxed language – this is a clear tendency throughout the text. For instance he often uses contractions of words – even in the title. Furthermore he uses slang: “…and have a row with the Old Bill.” (L. 69) Brand is, as before mentioned, a comedian and he writes in a serious but also entertaining and relaxed tone: He is able getting through with his message even though he uses irony and swear words as shit and fucking. These words help underlining his opinion and purpose of the commentary, as they seem quite heated. Brand’s profession is reflected in his choice of words. It would be possible imagining people who would be offended or would have a lack of understanding...
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...Big brother isn’t watching you Young people around the world are rebellious and refractory, and often they do what they want to do. Why are young people rebellious and refractory? Some will say it is because the community affect the young people. The community affects them, but sometimes it is also because the community and government are not taking care of the younger ones in the community. As the young people of England made demonstrations in England especially in Birmingham and Manchester. The reputable English comedian and actor Russell Brand have written a commentary about the riots in England. The Guardian published the commentary on their website back in 2011. Already in the very beginning of the text, we see what Russell Brand’s attitude is to the English riots. He starts his commentary by talking about a situation in the TV program Big Brother. The situation he talks about involves three people from big brother house; Russell Brand describes the situation as tens and exiting “Early in that series there was an incident of excitement and high tension” (line 13). I think he is using the Big Brother series, because he uses the big brother aspect. One of the big brother aspects is that you look after the younger ones and especially the younger ones in one’s own family. Russell Brand is satiric in his commentary on English riots; first, you can see that in the title of the commentary “Big Brother isn’t watching you”. What he writes between the words here are, that in this...
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...”BIG BROTHER ISN’T WATCHING YOU” Void versus community spirit. These two feelings are feelings humans all across the world must deal with every day. They feel like missing out on something because the society doesn’t give them the space needed to become a success. In the summer of 2011 rioters in England drew the government’s attention to the fact that they felt neglected and overlooked in the society. In the commentary “Big Brother isn’t watching you” posted on The Guardian website, the English comedian, actor, musician and writer, Russell Brand explains the rioter’s motive for the 2011 UK riots. Russell Brand currently lives in Los Angeles but he still has a strong connection to his native country and therefore the riots in the UK have also become his problem. In the commentary he describes the situation seen from his point of view. Russell Brand uses an overload of sarcasm and irony to describe his position on the riots. He is very sarcastic about the way the 2011 UK riots have been handled and uses sarcasm to point out his dissatisfaction with the UK government. His attitude to the 2011 UK riots is that it is a common problem, which must be solved jointly. Russell Brand is very astonished at the way the rioters are being described as “mindless”. “However “unacceptable” and “unjustifiable” it might be, it has happened so we better accept it and, whilst we can’t justify it…and work out why so many people feel utterly disconnected from the cities they live in”...
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...Big brother isn’t watching you The persons who join these riots are often people who the society forgot or gave up on; people who need to get a kick in their lives. In fact they need to face the consequences of their actions and their destructive behavior. The English writer, Russell Brand explains the rioter’s motive for the 2011 UK riots. Russell Brand lived in the London before he moved to Los Angeles. In fact he explains the riots as if he has been a part of the happening among these people. Through the text Russell Brand describes how he felt and how he was affected by these people and their destructions. In his article on the Guardian website, he’s attitude is very sarcastic to underline his dissatisfaction to the UK government. In fact his text has an overload of sarcasm and irony to describe his position on the riots. His approach to the 2011 UK riots is the fact that it has been a common problem, which must be solved together. Russell Brand is very astonished by the fact that the rioters are being describes as “mindless”, unacceptable”, “unjustifiable” and disconnected from the cities they live in. This indicate that it is very strong words which is used against these riots, they are placed outside the community. Russell Brand agrees on the fact that it is unacceptable the things that these riots have done. But his opinion is not to focus on all the unacceptable things that these riots have done, instead the government should but in their interests why these people...
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...Big Brother isn’t watching you The phrase “Big Brother is watching you” is from George Orwell’s novel 1984. The novel, which was published in 1949, gave a very frightening point of view on the so-called Big Brother society, where the surveillance on society would be huge. The British comedian Russell Brand has changed the phrase to: “Big Brother isn’t watching you” in comment of the then recent UK riots, where he thinks that there clearly is no one, who is watching or controlling the riots. Russell Brand, married to the world famous Katy Perry, is especially known for his role in Get him to the Greek, where his very distinctive British accent brought a smile to every viewer. His comment on the riots is definately in a different genre, where he, with some serious and some sarcastical statements, is trying to define why these riots are occurring. Russell is starting his comment by telling a bit about himself. When he was in his early twenties, he had been participating in various protest. This means that even though he is no longer in the “economic class”, he can still relate to the riots, since he has been part of other riots. This experience from his early life is making him come up with what the reason of the riot could be. When he lived back in London and took part in riots, it was because he felt he was in need for some meaning in his life. Some goal he could go for, or like a direction, he could follow. He is sure that most of the rioting people are having the same problems...
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...would make young people destroy their communities” by that he feels that it is okay to talk about the riots in his home country even though he doesn’t live there anymore. He also thinks it is okay to talk about it, because he had lived in the areas which have been offers to the riots. When he was young and lived in London, he was one of those youth who demonstrated and had the feeling of being ignored by the government. The politicians are criticized by Brand, because they do not give enough attention to the youth, but instead they are “sleeping” with the big companies. “A lack of direction, a sense that I was not invested in the dominant culture, that government existed not to look after the interests of the people it was elected to represent but the big businesses that they were in bed with.” Russel Brand views the media as a part of the blame, because they covered the riots with an attitude like when Brand was in “Big Brother”, a kind of reality cover of the riots. We know that Brand is a comedian, and in this article we do find different jokes and sarcasm in the text to persuade the reader. “Then dopey ol’ Boris came cycling back into the London clutter with his spun gold hair and his spun shit logic as it became apparent that the holiday was over.” Here he uses his humor and his rhetorical persuasion to both...
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...”Big Brother isn’t watching you” Russell Brand Growing up as a Londoner (or an Essex boy as he corrects it to), Russell Brand, who is now in exile, as he puts it, in nonetheless ‘the city of Angels’, Los Angeles, is concerned about the incidents happening in his home country. In the commentary “Big Brother isn’t watching you” he appears very critical towards the politicians ruling the country of which he was born and raised, because of their lack of understanding towards the young people on the margins of society. Based on the recent events, where several riots have taken place in suburban London, he is asking the only legitimately question, he can: “Why is this happening?”. Throughout the commentary he endeavours this specific question. This includes reflections of his own childhood and growing up as a young adult, lacking direction and better things to do. And because of his lack of political insight, he is not trying to find a concrete solution, but either way finds, that the solution is concerning spirituality, as he quotes Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” He therefore draws the conclusion, that if ‘we want to live in a society where people feel included, we must include them’. Right from the beginning we sense a critical style of writing. The writer, Russell Brand, is especially critical towards the politicians, such as the Prime Minister David Cameron and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who had to return from their beloved holidays...
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...Big Brother is watching you more closely than ever: CCTV cameras, the spies in our midst Privacy is essential to our humanity. It permits us to shape and maintain lives, from which personal identity, selfdetermination and freedom arise. In today’s society, however, undisturbedness is mainly an illusion. The line between privacy and public space has simply become as fragile as porcelain. This is due to increased monitoring of human behaviour. In “Big Brother is watching you more closely than ever”, written by John Kampfner in 2012, it is discussed whether surveillance provides protection or disturbs the individual liberty. A coherent structure in essence is the foundation for the written amount of text. The article consists of three components: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Thus it achieves structural integrity. The text mostly centers on the subject of surveillance and its effect on society. To what extent the use of security cameras can be justified is, however, also a focus of attention. The major topic is presented in the introduction by using the words: “The march of CCTV cameras.” The ideas, to which the writer will adhere when discussing the theme, are likewise indicated in the introductory section. The body, where the issue is elaborated, covers the critical evidence that defends the position of John Kampfner. The documentation includes specific facts, description, quotations and references to authoritarian persons. Numerical examples are also used to...
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