Shelley : Kellner/Stephans

Okay- i thought the Stephans article was easier to read and a little more clear on Habermas than the Kellner one, so i am going to "blog" about it. First of all, i liked how Stephans quoted other professors/ authors/ political figures and we were able to hear their views on habermas in their own words. I was able to understand habermas a little better and his views became clearer (i thinnk?!?!?!?) Anyway, the first thing that i had a strong opinion about while reading was when i came to this sentence:
"His writings don't influence masses of blue-collar workers, but they are read by a lot of German party officials and journalists and so on. In this way he is very influential."

I thought to myself wouldn't the blue-collar workers be the audience that Habermas wants to read his articles? They are the ones with problems and whose voices need too be heard -- not the upper class white men, in this case the German party officials and journalists. If he is so influential, the working class would be inspired to practice what Habermas is preaching: express their views and ideas about society and the world in which they live!!

Also, the paragraph on communication, when Stephans writes:
" in a world of abusive talk-show hosts, misogynistic rap groups and earphone-encased teen-agers. Habermas continues to believe that somewhere behind the better of our attempts to communicate with each other, there have to be some shared values, shared respect and acknowledged equality."

I sort of believe that we are making less progress in terms of communication. I mean, my neice doesn't even call me on the phone--she texts me! Right there shows that we are becoming a generation that avoids true communication by short emails, texts with abbreviated words, even talking on the phone pails in comparison to talking face to face. Habermas' outlook seems so optimistic----i'm reminded of the song "Imagine" by John Lennon : "You may say, I'm a dreamer/but i'm not the only one/I hope someday you'll join us/ and the world will live as one" Sure it is a nice idea, but a little on the unrealistic side.

The only thing left that i seem a little confused about is the stuff about politics: I don't even know what a democrat or republican is, let a lone a liberal or radical----(Stephans stated that Habermas stands somewhere between a radical and a liberal). If i brush up on that i might be able to understand a little more of Habermas' views.