In a free society laws subject to change

In a free society laws subject to change

4:40-5:10

The purpose of democracy is to offer representation and an equal voice for all the citizens. In addition the democratic government national and local have a responsibility to maintain law and order in society on a daily basis. In order to do the government, issues laws that are recorded in official government documents such as the Constitution to provide the security ad safety of people’s freedoms. Although most laws are fixed in  society there are some laws that are subject to change.

First consider a situation in which laws in a free society are subject to change. This scenario often occurs when an existing law has experienced a flaw such as a loop hole or resulted in unexpected circumstances. For example, in many US states there have been multiple “Stand your ground laws” state that acting in self defense is legitimate from attacker, have been issued as legal and legitimate until recently. In February 2012, George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida was on his rounds in his neighborhood when he believed to be under threat by 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Martin who was walking home from school was talking on his phone. In the neighborhood community retreat of  Twin Lakes, Zimmerman got suspicious and called the neighborhood watch for assistance in further action. They advised him to follow, but lost track of him. Soon, at night when Trayvon Martin was coming home from a convenience store, Martin spotted Zimmerman.  Martin and Zimmerman exchanged words and apparently  when Zimmerman went to reach for his phone, Martin punched him in the nose. In retaliation, Zimmerman shot Martin in defense. After this incident the black community was outraged and asked for justice in that Martin was wrongly killed and underestimated. The initial encounter with police did not result in arrest because police sighted the “Stand your ground laws” as reasonable. However, the black community insist it was a racial attack on an unarmed black teenager. Currently, the “Stand your ground law” is being reviewed as to when it is ok to act in defense from an attacker and when it is not. Since Martin was fatally shot, “Stand your ground laws” is example when laws are subject to change in free society.

In contrast, consider a situation in which laws in a free society are subject to change. This scenario often occurs when an existing law is very effective and helpful in protecting the safety of the citizens. For example, consider the Department of Homeland Security/TSA mandatory pat down and security checking laws implemented in airports. Despite earlier controversies of the pat down, slight modifications were made but the laws are still implemented to maintain safety in all public transport in rail and flight. Another example, where laws remain stagnant are the NHRTA laws regulating the importance of safety in public infrastructure, automobiles and other transport vehicles. Since a lot of fatal car accident have occurred in the past the NHRTA was formed to  implement safety standards for the safety and protection of all licensed drivers. There have been tighter driving license examination and testing procedures to make sure that drivers especially the youth and elderly are aware of road and legal rules. Likewise, due to increased pollution and efforts to reduce carbon emission the EPA has issued mandatory laws for automobile manufacturers to design cars that burn clean natural gas and ethanol based gasoline. Thus, it is evident that, laws are not subject to change when it is effective in protecting the interests of the people.

Thus, it is circumstantial of when laws are subject to change. If a law, such as the “Stand your ground law” has loopholes in causing harm to people, like Trayvon Martin, then the law is to be changed to prevent fatal incidents of violence similar to the Trayvon Martin shooting by George Zimmerman. However, when a law is effective in protecting the interests and safety of the people as well as the nation then the law remains stagnant. This is especially true of laws relating to safety standards in all disciplines of society. Overall there needs to be a fine balance between the 2 extremes.

Wealthy politicians cannot offer fair representation to all the people.

Wealthy politicians cannot offer fair representation to all the people.

5:10- 5:40

Since the start of human civilizations, a ruling class has been in place to maintain order in society. Without the ruling class, the rest of society will lack direction and pandemonium through violence and civil unrest will occur. Over time, the ruling class became more affiliated with wealth than with the common person and has often been challenging to offer fair representation for all people. In general the majority of the population have often expressed disapproval of a wealthy politician over a normal politician because people fear that fair representation may not be possible in some circumstances.

First consider  a situation when wealthy politicians can not offer fair representation to all people. This scenario is often true when there is only a handful of wealthy people and the rest are of the poor working class, which accurately portrays a third world country. In the South American country of Nicaragua, Arnoldo Aleman was a wealthy politician who assumed the presidency in 2006 as the 81^st president. Since then the country has been in famine and disease due to poor government regulations. Most politicians in impoverished countries come from wealthy backgrounds since money is required to campaign for office. In the case of Aleman, he was a lawyer and active in business of commodities such as coffee and tobacco. Since Nicaragua was a 3^rd world country, many people can not afford to meet their biological needs of food, water, shelter and clothing, likewise have no access to education. After serving five years it was evident that Aleman’s administration there was widespread corruption in his government as. Also he was accused of money laundering and embezzling funds for personal gain. In all Arnoldo Aleman has embezzled $100 million while in office. This crime is very heinous considering the fact that most of the country is in poverty. Hence, Arnoldo Aleman is an example of a wealthy politician unable to show fair representation for the people.

In contrast, some wealthy politicians can offer fair representation to all people. Although many politicians are generally wealthy, local politicians can be examined here. David Miller is currently the mayor of Toronto, Ontario. Before serving as a politician he was a lawyer at a prominent law firm in Toronto. His annual salary stands at $163, 040 which is fairly wealthy but this year he declined a 2.42% wage increase. One of his campaigning promises was to stop a bridge from being constructed to Toronto Island Airport since he felt that doing so would put the interests of the lobbyists in front of the public. Likewise, when he was councilor of the ward he opposed a condominium building project near High park, and instead used that land for affordable housing for low income residents. He was also part of exposing a computer leasing scandal where the city’s budget chief had inappropriate relationships with the salesman of MEP financial services. He was reelected second term for his good action. Another example, President Barack Obama. Obama came from a middle class family and worked his way up the social ladder to becoming a lawyer and acquiring US presidency in 2009. Recently, there has been debate over increasing the college loan interest rates by Republicans to fuel more money into the private sector. Obama opposed this measure because his recent speech and earlier struggles surrounding the college loan interest issue relates to the struggles of so many college students across the US.  So it is evident that wealthy politicians such as Obama and Miller can offer fair representation to all people when they come from the same background as their constituents.

In all, it is circumstantial if a wealthy politician can offer fair representation or not. In a poor country, like Nicaragua, the people are less educated are less likely to demand accountability by the politicians. In these countries fair representation by wealthy politicians is not possible. Therefore, politicians are more likely to seek personal benefit since they can get away with the crime due to the illiteracy of the general public. In contrast, in industrialized countries like Canada, people are more educated and expect more accountability by the politicians. Freedoms by the constitution allow the people to access government information and thus wealthy politicians in these countries offer representation to all people since more checks and balances are in place. Also since politicians such as Obama and Miller come from middle class background, similar to their constituents they are able to understand issues and act in favor of them.

Heroes are ordinary people made heroic by circumstance.

Heroes are ordinary people made heroic by circumstance.

5:10-5:40

In any society there are those citizens who have gone above and beyond the call of civil duty to perform extraordinary feats. These feats can range from saving another citizen from danger or stepping up to forces of oppression in society. Heroes  are usually recognized in terms of circumstance or by civil duty. In most cases both are presents.

First consider a situation in which ordinary citizens were made heroic by circumstance. For example, consider the recent act of heroism by a young teenager in Milton, Washington. It was a normal school day morning when seventh grader, Jeremy Wutschik and Johnny Wood were riding the bus to school. However, suddenly the bus driver suffered a heart attack leaving him in grave condition. As soon as Jeremy and Johnny saw this they jumped in took the wheel preventing any accidents. Jeremy pulled the bus to the side of road and called 911 with the help of his peers on the bus. Both Jeremy and Johnny conducted CPR on the driver and made him conscious but was still in grave condition. No other cars were harmed during this episode on the road, and the Milton police department as well as officials hail him as a hero for his quick thinking and action under circumstantial pressure. Another example of a hero made by circumstance is, Captain Chelsey Sullenberger of the Airbus A320 from LaGuradia Airport to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In the takeoff taxi, the plane was soon hit by a flock of geese and diabled both engines with the left engine on fire. Captain Sullenberger was very calm under pressure and tried to communicate with Air traffic controllers of available options to return to LaGuardia airport or attempting to land at the Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. However, Sullengerger used drastic action & self initiative, and ditched the plane into the Hudson River to ensure everyone's survival. Hence Jeremy Wutschick and Captain Sullenberger are heroes made by circumstance.

In contrast, consider a situation in which ordinary citizens were made heroic not by circumstance, but rather acted as rightful citizens fulfilling civil duty. For example, consider CNN Hero 2010, Narayanan Krishnan. Narayanan Krishnan was a renowned Chef of Taj Hotels group in Bangalore who was given the honor of going to Switzerland to start his own professional career. However before leaving, Krishnan stopped at his native village. There he witnessed horrific signs of poverty and people suffering from hunger. After seeing this, his life destiny changed forever from the potential of world renowned chef to a civilian who helped take care of the mentally ill and decapitated people on the streets of Madurai, India. Afterwards he tried to expand his interests by establishing the Akshaya trust which literally means indestructible. The Akshaya trust is a non-profit organization which helps take care of biological needs of those mentally destitute, neglected elderly citizens from families and the unfortunate children. Daily he prepares 3 meals daily to serve 400-500 of these unfortunate citizens. He also carries multiple grooming kits along with soap and shampoo to help take care of them. Thus Narayanan Krishnan is a hero made by civil duty and self initiative.

In all an ordinary citizen becoming a hero depends on the scenario. A hero such as Sullenberger and Jeremy Wutschick are made by acting promptly under pressure due to circumstance. However ordinary citizens such as Narayanan Krishnan are also heroes by acting as good citizens to help the underserved and neglected citizens in society.

Politicians often base decisions on what will please voters, not on what’s best for nation

Politicians often base decisions on what will please voters, not on what’s best for nation

4:35-5:05

In a representative democracy, representatives are selected and voted into office by the people.  The purpose of politicians is to act on behalf of constituents in their best interests that are in par with certain values and morals. Citizens would most often vote a politician who convinces them with a strategy and seems promising. If the politician upholds their promise with the people and satisfy the demands then the chances of re-election are highly imminent. However, in some cases politicians may go against the interests of the people in order to benefit the nation.

First consider a situation in which politicians base their decisions to please their constituents and not benefit the nation. This scenario often occurs when a nation is experiencing times of economic growth and prosperity. People have more disposable income that will increase a country’s GDP. For example, consider the booming city of Sydney, Australia. Sydney has been in the spotlight since the mid 1990s since it was given the opportunity to host the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Home- Bush Bay. After the confirmation that Sydney was hosting the Olympics, construction for the stadium began and completed in time for the Olympics. Overall the Olympics were a success, but many feared that once the Olympics were over the stadium would shut down since it would not be used as much because of other government run stadiums in the state such as Geelong Stadium. However, Home Bush Bay Stadium was not shut down due to political support by local, state and national governments. Both Liberal (Republican)  and Labor (Democrat) Party politicians reached an agreement to support the interests of many sport loving fans because the economy is still booming. Due to good economic circumstances, the government allowed for the existence of the stadium. In addition, in 2007 the stadium under went major expansion because of further approval by the government under Prime Minister John Howard and due to the demand for hosting multiple sporting such as domestic/international cricket matches, rugby and racing. Hence when the economy in nation is bustling then, it is best for the politicians to act in the interests of the voters to satisfy their demands to guarantee re-election.

In contrast, consider a situation in which politicians base their decisions to benefit the nation regardless of views by constituents. This often occurs in scenarios such as bad economic times or a major national disaster. For example, consider the United States under the Bush Administration from 2000-2008. After President Clinton left office in 2000, President Bush faced many hurdles in the coming months to maintain the national surplus. However, on September 11, 2001 the nation changed forever. After the terrorists attacks in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC, the nation was left in shambles and wide spread pandemonium occurred. After the disaster, President Bush along with Mayor Rudy Giuliani  tried to appease families of lost victims. Hence, President Bush eventually declared war on terror in late 2002, to bring justice for the nation. Many people opposed Bush’s declaration of war. Likewise, President Bush founded  two new government agencies, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the sub-agency Transport Security Administration (TSA). Under these 2 organizations, were many controversial laws such as the No Fly list and the mandatory security screenings in airports and trains. The No Fly List was controversial, in that it listed potential terrorists and barred them from flying. Although many people criticized Bush, he did what was right to prevent future attacks on US soil similar to the magnitude of 9-11. Thus in bad times it is appropriate for politicians to act in the best interests of the nation and not the people.

All in all it is circumstantial when, politicians should base decisions in voters interests or the nation. When a nation such as Australia is booming then the politicians satisfied the demands of citizens in expanding Home Bush bay stadium. However, when a nation such as the US in turmoil, then politicians have to against the interests of citizens to benefit the nation as did President Bush by establishing the TSA, DHS and No fly list to prevent future attacks of terrorism.

Scientists should seek to confirm theories or hypotheses rather than to refute them.

Scientists should seek to confirm theories or hypotheses rather than to refute them.

Science is an understanding of nature and some utilize this understanding for the manipulation of science for the greater good. Scientists develop hypotheses in order to apply their understanding of knowledge for a further understanding of science. In most cases, it is beneficial and efficient use of time to help a fellow scientist confirm their theories instead of refuting them. It will help gain confidence and respect the field. However there are times when refuting a theory is best.

First consider a situation in which scientists would confirm the theory than to refute it. In the 1920s, Marie Curie and her husband were very diligent scientists who discovered the importance of radioactivity and how it worked. They conducted many tests and confirmed prior experiments by other scientists. Their discovery of radioactivity is very beneficial and people supported them since it could help cure disease. Another example, is scientific research done by Gregoor Mendel has earned him the title of "father of genetics". He conducted multiple experiments with pea plants and traced the pattern of heredity. Mendel has established important laws of genetics that are still used today. For example, the Law of Independent assortment and Law of Segregation have been widely accepted in the scientific community because of the widespread scientific evidence that is present in microscopy of cells undergoing meiosis. Likewise, Watson and Crick were trying to decipher the importance of DNA and in the process deciphered the structure and the interactions of the various nucleotides. Their discovery was also widely accepted because it was the missing piece of the puzzle in the study of genetics. Hence it is evident that when a scientific theory or finding is going to further the understanding of the field then fellow scientists and the public should confirm and embrace the theory. 

On the other hand, only trying to confirm theories could actually lead to more problems and even danger. In the past their was a company that marketed a drug called thalidomide to pregnant females that would help reduce nausea. The drug did help to reduce nausea but their were actually two forms of the drug that were created during its synthesis, one that was safe and reduced nausea and another that reduced nausea but also caused birth defects in unborn fetuses. If scientists only spent time confirming that this drug helped to reduce nausea, they would prove that it does but this would do nothing about the other side effect for one of the forms that included birth defects. Another example, is that of stem cells in today's modern society. Since the 1990s embryonic stem cells were the primary modes of research to generate potential cures for various diseases. However, under the Bush Administration and prior administrations, ES cell research was often opposed because of the controversy for taking away lives in acquiring the stem cells. Hence from 2000- 2004 stem cell funding by the federal government was slashed due to the controversy of the research. As a result, scientific research that causes harm to the human race or any other living creature should be refuted to save lives and values in society.

It is that understanding of nature and the quest for the greater good that drives science. A balance must be found for when scientists should seek to confirm theories and hypotheses and when they should try to refute them. If a certain idea or theory could potentially lead to danger and risk of life, then scientists must try to refute the claim in order to maintain the safety of a society. If ideas are harmless and lead to only good things then they should help try to confirm them as no harm can come and overall utility is maximized. It is also through attempting confirmation that confirmation is achieved and science is furthered and so is our understanding of nature surrounding us.

Action taken for the good of greatest number can be detrimental to interests of the few

Action taken for the good of greatest number can be detrimental to interests of the few

4:00-4:20

The United States as well as many other democracies take into account of the majority vote and opinion on a public issue for government action. This is exemplified by the 3:1 majority voting rule in the House of Representatives and Senate as well as during the election process. The politicians elected into office have the responsibility to act on behalf of the majority of constituents. Although in most cases, the government rules for the majority in hopes to better society, but there are times when majority vote will hurt the minority.

First consider a situation in which, action taken for the greatest number can be detrimental to the interests to the few. In US society and in Europe there have been many cases of gun crime that have taken innocent lives. Most of these crimes have been committed by criminals and even peers that target the youth population due to the gullible nature of youth today. For example there have been multiple instances of gun related violence in the United States over the past year. In March 2012, at Oikos University of Oakland, California several  students were shot execution style by One Goh, One Goh was a 43-year old student who was bullied by his peers and decided to take revenge. From this incident, the US is reconsidering its gun laws and possible alterations to the 4^th amendment. If the legislation passes to restrict the use of gun laws then it will help the majority to be safe from future attacks, however those who are interested in recreational shooting and hunting are at a loss. Another example, is when a major infrastructure project such as a dam or road expansion for a highway is started in a local community, it is done with the sole purpose to benefit the community. By widening the roads and building a well it will reduce traffic congestion and contain water for future use respectively. In the process, there are people who will oppose this project because their property or land may be at risk of being taken away due to the expansion. Thus this is another example where action to help the majority of the community will harm the minority interests.

In contrast, consider a situation in which, action taken for the greatest number benefits all citizens. In the US democratic system there have been times when the majority has been able to tyrannize the minority by racial, sexual and religious discrimination. Over the past few decades and since the start of democracy in the United States, there have been certain mechanisms put in place to minimize discrimination of minorities. For example, the Bill of Rights in the American Constitution is a document that is referred to by many minorities and citizens to preserve their rights and freedoms. The document outlines several freedoms, including those of speech, religion, and right to own arms that are guaranteed for every US citizen. When a person's fundamental rights have been infringed, he or she can turn to the courts to ask for an injunction and even claim reparations and damages. Also, equal rights to basic public services such as health care and education are not detrimental to the minority and helps society to move forward.  These paths to recourse attempt to not only protect the victim but to also discourage others in the future from infringing on those rights. Likewise, when developed nations help 3^rd world nations by giving aid money helps the majority. The majority in this society are poor and malnourished thus there is no need for rebellion. Hence over the past few decades, organizations such as Engineers without borders and Habitat for Humanity have helped underprivileged families live a happy and safe life by providing basic biological needs of clothing, food, shelter and sanitation facilities. Therefore in these cases, the action taken by wealthy nations to help the poor helped the poor majority in 3^rd world countries.

All in all it is circumstantial in which action taken for the greatest number is detrimental to the few. During times of controversy or public expansion such as school shooting or infrastructure and it is aimed to help the majority. As mentioned by restricting gun laws, it will help the majority to be safe, harm the minority interested in recreational shooting. Likewise, public expansion can reduce traffic congestion and increase water storage from highway expansion and dam construction respectively. However, land owners are harmed by loss of land and money. Whereas, in developing 3^rd world countries, helping the majority is good because there are hardly any wealthy people who would be harmed by the presence of humanitarian organizations.

In the recording of history, it is impossible to be objective.

In the recording of history, it is impossible to be objective.

4:25-4:55

History is the record of past events. The recording of history is considered to be subjective because people interpret historical events with multiple points of view. Often times, raw emotion may alter the subjectivity of recording history and form bias. Subjective recordings are often very influential to the significance of the event and speculate if the event really occurred. Subjectivity is a two way street with bias or credibility.

First consider a situation in which, the recording of history is impossible to be subjective. In many instances, it is very hard to refrain from recording history with pre-conceived notion and emotions of the person as well as of society. In many historical cases, vague items and feelings of patriotism leads to a skewed accounts of the situation. For example, in the history on the division of India and Pakistan, the history books for both the nations contradict each other. Indian books support the views of Indian National Congress at the time and condemned Mohammed Ali Jinnah who was thought to be primarily responsible for the drift between the nations. Indian books tend to quote and exemplify, the cause of the divide by Jinnah. Jinnah was the head of the Muslim league under the Indian National Congress. He was a strong supporter for the non-cooperation movement but he saw that many Muslims’ demands were not met by Gandhi’s party. Hence it is evident that India accuses Jinnah for his selfish motives to become the father of Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan's history books praise Jinnah for the liberty they received from the clutches under Gandhi and Indian Congress that bounded their freedoms. The biases are clearly seen in the case. The books from each nation contains quotes and references from supporters of the ideas that authors wanted to pen down, despite the fact that the presence of both the ideas at the time indicates a very grey situation with a lot of bias.

On the other hand, consider a situation in which, the recording of history is very subjective. For example, the significant destruction of the twin towers on September 11th 2001 was recorded by numerous video cameras and transmitted to every television set in the United States of America and internationally. Each national broadcasting corporation transmitted this video on this day, allowing for a significant number of third party observers. Although the intentions surrounding the towers’ destruction can be debated, the fact that this event occurred cannot. It was objectively recorded by multiple camera’s and broadcasted nationally and internationally. Thus, the widely known 9/11 event can be considered an objective recording of history. Likewise, the existence and subsequent extinction of dinosaurs is clearly documented by historians and paleontologists alike. Radioactive carbon dating and other techniques have pieced together the evidence of dinosaur fossils for existence as well extinction. Scientific experiments were conducted on fossil remains to estimate the date of extinction of dinosaur species. Thus museum exhibits and scientific publications have made the account of dinosaur existence and extinction more credible and objective.

In all, it is circumstantial when a historical reading is objective or not. When preconceived notions and bias such as religious  or national superiority come in the way of historical reading then it is hard to be objective. This has been shown by the two sided story of India’s divide. India blames Jinnah for the divide into Pakistan for selfish motives, preaching Islam superiority and desire to become father Pakistan nation. Whereas, Pakistan blames Gandhi for not giving into demands of Muslims under the non-cooperation movement. However when there are multiple forms of objective recording by 3^rd parties, such as television and radioactive analysis of September 11 and dinosaur extinction respectively the objectivity is easily verified with no controversy.

Ordinary citizens, not heroes, determine the history of a nation.

Ordinary citizens, not heroes, determine the history of a nation.

12:40-1:10

Throughout the course of human history there have been many heroes. Heroes exist in every nation and are known for a great feat. However ordinary citizens are also important for a nation’s history. Heroes generally have extra characteristics qualities that set them apart from common citizens such as charisma, a personal unique vision, leadership and compassion. Although heroes are often lauded by many for these acts of greatness there are ordinary citizens that have changed the course of history of a nation.

First consider a situation in which a hero is responsible for determining the history of a nation. Often, in times of despair people have sought for someone to help them come out of suffering. In the United States, since the beginning of time, African Americans and minorities had been discriminated against by their skin color and had been offered low standards of living, education and the right to earn income or property. However, in the 1950s the separate but equal movement was initiated by groups to make their colored counterparts feel more welcome. In stark contrast, many colored individuals suffered greater discrimination by the separate but equal laws because if they did not, severe penalties were bound to occur. Soon, a young law graduate from Mississippi was going to change US history for the better. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr earned a PhD in Theology at a very young age and had a strong vision to end segregation in the United States. Dr. King used Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of Satyagraha, Non-cooperation and non-violence to bring equality of colored citizens and other minorities. He initiated many marches across the south to bring awareness of discrimination and segregation was wrong and inhumane to the white majority. The most famous march was in Washington that was aimed to end segregation and give equal opportunity to all people regardless of skin color. Likewise, MLK’s famous I have a Dream speech changed the course of US history by using non-violence to bring equal opportunity for colored people in all aspects of life. Thus MLK is a hero who had a set vision that must be accomplished and was successful.

In contrast, there are ordinary citizens, not heroes that have changed the course of history in a nation. On the early fall morning of September 11 , 2001 in New York City, many were not aware of the horrific tragedy that was imminent in a couple of hours. After flight 93 crashed into the first tower of the World Trade Center, people were in panic and had no idea how to cope with this disaster. However, the NYC fire department had many courageous firefighters that put their lives at risk to save innocent civilians from further harm and saving lives. The fire department as well as Mayor Rudy Giuliani were very quick to respond to the calamity at Ground Zero. Mayor Giuliani issued an instant state of emergency and is ordinary citizen who acted quickly and correctly to the situation at hand. Likewise, the general public also determine the history of a nation by taking part in the democratic process. Due to efforts of citizens, the US was able to elect the country’s first non-white President, Barack Obama, to office and was viewed as a milestone in US history. Also, everyday citizens contribute to the history of the nation by improving the economy through getting educated and getting jobs to improve the nation.

Thus it is circumstantial, of when a hero or an ordinary citizen will change the course of history in nation. A hero, is someone like MLK who has done something unique and made a major impact on the nation such as ending segregation. However ordinary citizens such as NYC firefighters change the course of history by doing their civil duties of helping people during a crisis which required no vision but immediate action. Therefore, either a hero or an ordinary citizen can change the course of history in nation, because it depends on the situation.

A person who enters public life is necessarily forced to surrender some degree of personal privacy.

A person who enters public life is necessarily forced to surrender some degree of personal privacy.

12-12:30

In the drastically changing field of technology of today, it is very hard for public figures to maintain privacy. In grocery stores, the internet, television, radio and other mainstream media feed the public’s appetite for celebrity gossip. In every country there are film industries such as Hollywood and Bollywood where film stars lived depend on luring fans to earn a living and most importantly prestige, fame and an image for the people. However, not all people who gain public attention in the media are forced to surrender their personal privacy.

First consider a situation in which a person entering public life will be forced to surrender their personal privacy in order to exist. The US houses Hollywood as the largest film industry  in the world. Hollywood has had many famous movie stars over the past few decades who have been under the public eye in many occasions. For example, the renowned King of Pop, Michael Jackson started out his lucrative career in the Jackson 5 band. Eventually in the 1980s he started his own solo career and began to revolutionize the world of pop music and dance by introducing unique choreography, music style and vocal skills. Michael Jackson became world number 1 in 1984 with the all time hits such as , “Thriller , Don’t Stop till you get enough and Black or White. Both of these singles charted number. His new role as the King of Pop, required him to sacrifice his personal life and privacy in order to gain global fame and support his fans . By sacrificing his personal life he has left us with a gold standard and legacy in the pop music industry that can never be replaced. Another example, is Britney Spears who was nicknamed the Queen of Pop in the mid 1990s  also revolutionized pop music industry by creating a unique style of singing and choreography that is still famous today. She is known have to started the modern idea of sex appeal and has transformed the female image throughout world by establishing a standard for all women. Thus MJ and Britney Spears are both renowned examples of famous individuals who had to give up privacy in order to gain and preserve their fame.

In contrast, there are situations in which a person entering public life does not have surrender their personal privacy in order to exist. For example, the recent 2010 CNN Heroes Aki Ra and Narayanan Krishnan are ordinary people who gained fame for their humanitarian service. Aki Ra, is a former Cambodian soldier of the notorious Khmer Rouge. The Khemr Rogue was responsible for a totalitarian government that forced everyone into agrarian labor with communist ideal thus killing thousands of civilians. In addition to starving them, soldiers such as Aki Ra  were trained to fight in combat by shooting innocent civilians and plant thousands of land mines to prevent civilians from escaping. Since the days after the Khemr Rogue, landmines has been a major problem in Cambodia taking people’s lives, paralyzing them and making them immobile.  Aki Ra is known to many in Camboadia and the world for removing thousands of landmines through his self motivated organization that he had  planted himself. He is also known to have helped victims of landmines lead new lives by giving them shelter, a place to emotionally heal and live happy lives. However, despite media attention through CNN his personal life is still kept private, and only his humanitarian service is shown to the world. Thus Aki Ra is an example of a person gaining a public image as a hero but not sacrificing his privacy to survive.

All in all it is circumstantial as to when a person entering public life will have to sacrifice personal privacy. If the person has reached the attention of many through mainstream media such as the internet and tv especially in the entertainment industry, then people like MJ and Britney Spears have to sacrifice their lives to survive and earn a living. However, other people like Aki Ra who have become famous through public service and not as appealing to the public eye is not as closely watched by the media. The media might only cover his humanitarian work thus Aki Ra does not have to sacrifice his private life to survive after gaining a public image.

Education comes not from books, but from practical experience

Education comes not from books, but from practical experience

Education is the transmittance of knowledge or skills from a source to students and other learners. There are two ways of transmitting knowledge, via books or by offering practical experience.  Unlike the practical experience that hands-on activities provide, books are more passive and the authors tend to transmit their knowledge or skills uni-directionally to readers. Practical experience is sometimes important in certain fields to give the big idea and has multiple areas of interpretation and learning experiences.

First consider a situation in which education comes from practical experience and not from books. Experiential learning is superior in most instances of education, because of the higher level of engagement of students that leads to better retainment. For example, one cannot learn to swim or do math by reading a book; one must practice, make mistakes, and learn from the errors. Likewise, many students either volunteer ot take up jobs to learn certain values, handling the public and developing social skills that are not clearly represented in books. Another example is in medical education. Medical students in human anatomy class are not restricted only to book s but have labs to give a big picture and learn visual skills and orientation of the major organ systems and organs. Although it may be learnt from books, practical applications of the knowledge must be learnt as well to become a well rounded physician.   As a result, only when students apply the skills or knowledge they learned in a practical setting such as swimming laps or doing math problems can these skills truly be learned and valued.

In contrast, some subjects must be learned from reading books, and with no practical experience. In many college classrooms World History courses aim to teach students the contributions of Ancient civilization. For example, reading the books and primary sources can give chances for students to give own interpretation of the material. By doing so, students can actively engage with the material and start thoughtful discussions. Likewise, history books compared to other subjects are well written with thorough revision in order to suit the audience of the text. A trip to museum on ancient civilizations is very limiting because there are only specific exhibits. Without background reading and knowledge it is meaningless. Thus in study of history , it  is often times better to gain knowledge from books rather than practical experiences, because there is more room for interpretation. 

All in all, educators must be holistic in their approach to education and gain a fine balance as to when students should be educated through books or practical experience. Thus whether or not an education is gained from practical experience or books is circumstantial. For skill based professions such as Medicine, practical experience provides a better education by applying knowledge to real life situations and thus learn skills with practice. However, for most cognitive and academic subjects,  a strong background knowledge in the often abstract topics can only be obtained through books. As in the case of history, without books, practical experience is pointless. Certain background knowledge is needed from books to make personal connections for essays.

A good education is its own reward.

A good education is its own reward.

6:15-6:50

Education has been an important of human society from ancient civilization. It has been utilized by many people to achieve social mobility in the social class ladder. In Ancient times this was not possible, but in the 21^st century with a better social structure and equality there are more opportunities for people to move up the social ladder. In any case, a student’s drive to gain an education is dependent on the overall purpose of the student. If the student views education as a means of developing and moving up the social ladder than education is rewarding in itself. However, if the student comes from a well to do family, the case is different.

First consider a situation in which an education may not be considered rewarding to an individual. In today’s modern world of technology and the media it is becoming very common to see people move up to the social ladder with talent and skill outside the educational barriers. A very well known example, is the Royal Family of England. Both Prince Charles and Prince Williams are heir to the throne and are in high social standing compared to the general public. They have inherited wealth and a public image that is satisfactory to live a luxurious life. Prince Harry & William are privileged to have the means to pursue their passions and can learn merely for the sake of learning. They have the resources to further their artistic skills, ponder about philosophy, and plan about saving the world through volunteering as well as humanitarian service work. They do not view their education mostly as a means of providing food on the table but more as something that will round themselves out as developed human beings who can contribute beauty to the world. Also Prince Harry and Williams have both attended public school, and served the British Royal Army, both breaking with tradition of their ancestors. As a result, they have proven themselves worthy in public eyes and thus they are socially accepted and not scorned by citizens as incompetent or stupid. Education has preserved their image in public eyes.

In contrast, consider a situation in which an education is considered rewarding to an individual. In today’s modern world, the majority of individuals are encouraged to complete high school and complete a bachelor’s degree in order to get job, and income to fulfill the biological needs of food, water, clothing and shelter. Education itself is a reward to those who are not born wealthy and are often middle class or lower middle class. A very well known example, is Elizabeth (Liz) Murray. Murray was born in the Bronx, NY to HIV infected and drug addicted parents. Both parents were not able to provide for her in any means since both passed away from HIV/AIDS.  At the age of 9, Liz moved into a dirty apartment and attended school temporarily due to the lack of money to attend school, for the cost of clothing or books. Liza and her family were desperate for money and struggled, often times starved for days to fulfill their drug addiction. Eventually both her parents abandoned her, mother died from AIDS and the father could no longer pay the rent. Soon Liz was left homeless but was sent to high school by the government. From her father she learnt the importance of education and developed a passion for learning. At first, she had not attended school regularly for years, but at 17 pledged to become a "straight A" student and complete her high school education in just two years. She did a year's work a term and went to night classes. A teacher saw her gumption and mentored her. When he took his top 10 students to Harvard, she stood outside the university and instead of feeling intimidated she admired its architecture – and decided it was within her reach. Then she heard that the New York Times gave scholarships. After gaining a scholarship from NY times for underprivileged students she attended Harvard and became a renowned international speaker for youth across the world to combat drugs, gangs and violence.

In all it is circumstantial when a good education is a reward and when it is not. If an individual was born into a well to do family such as Prince William of the Royal family then education is not a reward to put food on the table but rather a social status symbol to be accepted by the public. However, in the case of Liz Murray, education was a social equalizer that allowed her to move up the social ladder and attend Harvard to become a renowned inspirational speaker and American Best Selling author.

Progress seldom comes from the deliberations of a group. Rather, progress most often comes from the creative thinking of individuals working alone.

Progress seldom comes from the deliberations of a group. Rather, progress most often comes from the creative thinking of individuals working alone.

5:40-6:10

In American society, one of the key values enforced in the nation’s classrooms and workforce is group or team work. It is viewed that team work will help accomplish a task more efficiently and often times more successfully than say by an individual. By working as a team it is possible have everyone come up with ideas and amalgamate them for a larger yield. Whether group work or individual work is dependent on the individual’s or groups makeup of attitude, motivation and drive to complete a task.

First consider a situation in which progress or success in  comes from individual creativity and self motivation. In rare cases working in a group may hinder one’s ability to think for themselves because other group members may dominate and take charge. Instead of taking a leadership role, they follow the leader. Time and a well thought out plan is sufficient for one to succeed in a desired goal. Often times working in groups, members tend to : veer of topic, unequal  distribute the work, lack of communication and unfair grading procedures. A well known example, of self motivation and success is Bill Gates. Bill Gates, the son of an attorney and a schoolteacher, Gates entered Harvard in the fall of 1973. He dropped out two years later to found Microsoft with childhood friend Paul Allen. In the 1990s, a stock of Microsoft was worth close $1.50 a share and as he developed his empire, the stock skyrocketed to almost $40. Since the early 1980s, many versions of Windows and multiple products have been launched further expanding Microsoft. In 2007, more than thirty years after he left Harvard, the co-founder of Microsoft would finally receive his degree (an honorary doctorate) from his alma mater. Hence, Bill Gates is an example of a person who progressed up the social ladder as an individual with a personal goal to enhance computers rather than working with a large group.

In contrast, there are situations where progress or success comes from group work rather than individual creativity and self motivation. In the early 1900s during the early years of the Industrial Revolution  people had limited ways of mobility through the steam engine and automobile. However, soon Wilbur and Orville Wright were going to change the course of history. The Wright brothers were inspired by a model helicopter bought by their father at the time from a French architect. Their dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. There they worked together to experiment various materials and kites, and after 4 years of experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights in 1903. With courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world forever. In addition, during the 1950s, the United States was in close competition with the Soviets in the so called “Cold War”. Both countries had large scientific groups in various fields of nuclear weaponry, aeronautical engineering and space dynamics. With the efforts of these groups working together resulting in remarkable human feats such as John Glenn becoming the first man to land on the moon Hence this is an example where progress has come from deliberations in group work. 

In all it is circumstantial to determine whether or not a group or individual will succeed in  a given task. Whether group work or individual work results in "progress" really depends on the make-up of the members. Some people tend to be more effective on an individual basis and receive creative inspiration when having not to deal with the distraction of various members. Other people tend to slack off and rely on the initiative of the rest of the group whereas they would have taken more responsibility working alone. The group's progress also depends on the individual capabilities of members; a group composed of creative, hardworking people will most likely yield progress. As the old saying goes, a group is only as strong as its weakest link.If a group does not have any good communication and equal distribution of tasks then failure will occur. It is evident that success for a goal can occur for a group or an individual when there is a set goal with steps that must be achieved.

In business, competition is superior to cooperation.

In business, competition is superior to cooperation.

12:30-1

In today’s world of Capitalism the bottom line for most businesses and companies is that of profit incentive as well as growth. Many businesses seek to out compete rivals in the same field of manufacturing in hopes to gain more consumers resulting in more profit, hence cooperation between companies is viewed as harmful to earning a profit. However are specific times when competition is necessary and other times when cooperation is necessary.

First consider a situation in which competition is superior than cooperation in the business world. When humanity is flourishing and more pocket money is available, competition is a good method to allow companies to give alternative options and choices for the consumer. In the case of any business, for example, automobile manufacturers believe it is very important to compete against other companies to make themselves appeal to customers, take more control of the market share and gain more profit than competitors. In the case of Toyota and Honda, they are control the car market because they offer cars with high fuel mileage at reasonable prices compared to American companies. The major benefit of competition though, companies are forced to stay abreast of the latest technologies and put a lot into research and development of new products which ultimately benefits the   consumer. There is a lot of choice for the consumer when competition is utilized and monopolies are not in place which means the price of goods  remains low. Another example, is in today’s economic situation where many businesses are being hit hard by the recession. In the 1990s many people invested in their homes in hopes to get higher profit margin but when the housing bubble burst in 2007, people were panicked and had little or no savings left to spend for economic growth. Due to the recession, many companies suffered and tried to offer alternative options for consumers to meet their needs in tough times. For example, electronics are a must in any household, the price is a determining factor. Recently, Best Buy had announced closure of several 100 stores nation wide because no merchandise was being sold most likely due to high prices. Whereas, stores like Walmart and Staples have experienced company expansion because of tailoring to customer needs at affordable low prices. In the end , competition is a must because it offers more options to the customers at different price ranges meeting the needs of consumers.

In contrast there are times when cooperation is superior to competition in the business world. When humanity is under stress and suffering from a natural disaster or a disease outbreak it is best for businesses to cooperate which each other for the betterment of society. For example, in the recent outbreak of Swine and Avian flu in 2009, pharmaceutical companies were under pressure to find a drug that would curb and lower the incidences of H1N1 flu. In most case pharmaceutical companies are most concerned with patenting drugs and making a large profit off the patent but in the case of disease outbreaks, competition should be set aside. Suppose Merck Institute generate an antiviral drug that targets viral cell walls and Pfizer devised a drug that targeted progeny of viruses as well reverse transcriptase then it seems reasonable for both companies to put their innovations together as one product and cooperate for the good of humanity. Thus when diseases break out, it is best for medical companies to cooperate rather than compete for the betterment of human kind. If drug companies competed instead of cooperating they would harm themselves because, if consumers died from disease then they would have no customers left to get profit from.

All in all it is circumstantial as to when businesses cooperate or compete. When humankind is suffering from a disease outbreak or times of natural disaster companies should cooperate with each other to alleviate the problems faced by consumers rather than competing. In contrast, when humankind is flourishing or has some economic strain, then companies need to tailor to the needs of the consumer by offering more choices at different prices in order to make a profit. Also competition lowers prices of the same good and prevents monopoly of the product or industry.

Creative inspiration, rather than careful planning, often results in the best solution to a problem.

Creative inspiration, rather than careful planning, often results in the best solution to a problem.

12-12:25

Throughout the history of mankind, there have been many problems that have been faced and resolved. In many cases either  careful meticulous planning  or  creative inspiration was being used. Planning requires one to have a set of pre-meditated steps that must be followed to accomplish a certain task where as creative inspiration relies on random spontaneous thoughts, might be a solution to a problem. There are specific circumstances when creative inspiration succeeds and other times careful planning is necessary.

First consider a situation in which careful planning will result in a best solution to a problem. For example, during World War II, for the Allied Powers to dismantle the Axis of Evil a strategic plan was carefully thought out by General Dwight Eisenhower and other Allied Military personnel. With only strategic planning and cooperation by all Allied nations was Operation D-day successful in ending the occupation for the Axis of Evil. Likewise, in the field of education a student desiring to go to medical school can not just go and attend medical school. They must follow a strategic plan and go through a set of steps to reach their goals. In most cases, students register and prepare to take the MCAT, then soon after applications are filled out, interviews take place. Interviews then determine if a student  was accepted or rejected. Another example that requires planning is that of in the   in hopes to get an interview from a medical school. Once a medical student is accepted, further advanced planning is necessary for successful transition from home to the Medical school environment. Lastly, in the recent efforts by US military in an undercover mission in Pakistan has resulted in the capture and death of the most wanted terrorist responsible for the 9-11 attacks on the US. Under Commander in Chief Obama, and other top military personnel strategic planning and guile was in place for capturing Osama Bin Laden. With secret informants throughout Pakistan, the US army was able to use careful planning and strategic tactics to successfully capture Osama Bin Laden and stage a surprise attack. Therefore in most cases that go after a set deadline or goal, strategic planning is successful.

On the other hand, there are situation in which creative inspiration and artistic thought result in the best solution to a problem. For example, in the 1950s the medical field was baffled by a new enemy not encountered by any medical professional and was taking multiple lives, known as HIV. HIV was a remarkably different disease than any other disease encountered in the past and could not be treated in the normal fashion of antibiotics because HIV was very resistant and continued replicating. In response to the growing number of deaths, many doctors and researchers raced to find a cure and began studying the disease in great detail. Eventually, novel drug known as a reverse transcriptase inhibitor was developed. This drug was immediately administered to HIV patients, lo and behold, the reverse transcriptase  inhibitor was a very potent drug that lowered the incidence of HIV in T4 titres. Another example, is of Archimides in Ancient Greece. Whilst bathing, so the legend states, the intellectual giant Archimedes shrieked “Eureka!” as he conceptualized the idea of buoyancy in his bathtub which later had major implications in irrigation and hydrodynamics.

All in all, it is circumstantial in whether creative inspiration of careful planning results in a better solution. If a problem was encountered before then it is best to use careful planning to reach the goal as in the case of Dwight Eisenhower and President Obama, to successfully bring the enemy to justice for their atrocities. On the other hand, when an enigmatic case such as HIV shows up, creative inspiration and luck may succeed and is based on probability without any planning. Although careful planning is mostly successful, creative inspiration is rarely successful and people to find a balance between these two extremes to solve problems encountered.

The most effective way to change people's opinions is to appeal to their emotions.

The most effective way to change people's opinions is to appeal to their emotions.

5:43- 6:13

Humans are driven by emotion on a daily basis  and is an important part of social life. With the  drastically changing field of media and technology, many companies rely on imagery and advertising to appeal and change people’s opinions. Also people tend to change opinions when a hardship is affecting a country. However there are times when cognitive reasoning is successful such as in times of peace and prosperity.

First consider a situation in which it is most effective to change people’s opinion by using reason rather than emotion. In most democratic nations, citizens experience financial security and high quality of life. When economic times are good, people tend to view capricious leaders as crazy and narrow minded. Over the past few decades, the issue of climate change has become a major controversial issue in society. Many organizations such as the United Nations and the EPA have encouraged Americans and other global citizens to take action against global warming by encouraging alternative energy. Often times these organizations use less imagery and more facts with supporting data to make their case heard. Recently in the 2012, National Clean Energy Summit held in Long Beach, CA was held to bring awareness and realization to the people about the importance of alternative energy fuels and what humans can do to reduce their carbon footprint. Thus innovative products and ideas had been proposed and discussed upon to encourage more people to cooperate in this effort. Likewise, the EPA and other organizations have been discussing alternative energy options for the US as a whole due to the skyrocketing cost of gasoline at the pump and for heating oil. Thus, these cases show that organizations in a stable and often prosperous society can change people’s opinion with cognitive reasoning.

In contrast there are times when it is effective to alter people’s opinions with emotion. This can be exemplified in the Post World War I Germany, when Germany lost and was forced to surrender to the Allied Powers. In addition to the defeat, the German government had to pay huge sums of fines and reparation as a means to negotiate for their ignorance and destruction of human ideals. After the reparations were paid, the German economy suffered and many people were below the poverty line. A few years past and in the mid 1920s came Adolf Hitler who would change the crippled Germany back to its feet. Hitler initially was a soldier in the Austrian army and knew how humiliating it was to lose to the Allied powers. He was fed up with his country and wanted to make change and make his mother Germany proud. Thus he started big rallies in community centers and public places across Germany to appeal to people’s emotions and scapegoat the Jews for their woes. Hence Hitler, was successful as a leader and took over the German Chancellorship in 1934 and established the Nazi Party. Even elected as Chancellor he used emotion and articulate speaking skills with gestures to appeal to any Germans by infusing the concept of the perfect “Aryan” race and everything else was inferior. Thus, Jews, gypsies, mentally disabled, senior citizens, sexually ambiguous, and people of color were being punished and banished from society as a means to pay for German humiliation. Hitler was responsible for the death of these innocent individuals by using his ardent speaking skills to persuade the public that there is hope for German Reich to last a thousand years. Thus Hitler is an example, of a leader who used emotion to appeal to the masses and change the opinion of hopelessness to patriotism.

All in all, whether to change people’s opinions with emotion or cognitive reasoning is circumstantial. When a nation is facing hardship, as in the case of Post World War I Germany, Hitler used emotion to bring hope to millions of Germans by appealing to their emotions. However, when a country is facing stability and a problem arises, it is often better to use cognitive reasoning to change people’s opinions as in the case of the National Clean Energy Summit.

It is better to tolerate minor defects in the law than to change it.

It is better to tolerate minor defects in the law than to change it.

5:00-5:30

The purpose of the law in any society is to provide justice to those compromised of their well being, stability, preservation of certain rights and freedoms of a nation. Most laws are written are written with a clear intention of being strict to prevent misinterpretations or loop holes. If a law is well defined, then it will be harder for people to break it and take advantage of the law for their personal gain. All laws are meant to be interpreted but, if a law lacks clarity then there is more room for ambiguity and interpretation. Thus minor defects in laws are often times ignored but other times action is taken to change the law for the betterment of society.

Firstly consider a situation in which it is better to tolerate the minor defect of a law than to change the law altogether. Over the past few decades, the internet has transformed society in tremendous ways making our world smaller. Laws on the internet and other multimedia are somewhat obsolete and ineffective. For example, the US copyright law was made for the clear intentions of preventing fraudulent usage of media and to give credit to the creator. Multimedia such as music, movies, reading material, and tv shows have been protected by the US copyright law of 0f 1975 up to the last few years since mid 2005. After mid 2005, the internet as well as other forms of nanotechnology such as Ipads, smartphones, Amazon kindle and other electronic handheld devices have made it easier to break the copyright laws by posting material on the internet without the author’s notice. Recently, in 2009 the SOPA, stop online piracy act, was proposed in the US House of Representatives by Repulican Sentaor Lanmar Smith. However, SOPA was defeated by the internet with negative propaganda and widespread protests that it violated the right to free speech, expression and data online. Many citizens believe that SOPA would hinder free speech and caused social unrest. Thus, some people have left the SOPA and copyright laws as they are, since these are minor defects in the law that might heal by themselves.

In contrast, consider a situation in which it is better to correct the minor defect of a law than to change the law altogether. In the US the 4^th amendment of the Constitution allows citizens to possess firearms. Over the past few decades, there have been changes to the freedom of using firearms due to certain incidents. The recent incident at Oikos University, in Oakland,CA have put the gun laws in the spotlight once again. The shooter, a Korean, One Goh walked into school one morning of April 2, 2012 at Oikos lined up students and faculty in the classroom and shot them execution style. It was later revealed the shooter had been bullied and acted in retaliation. Thus gun laws are currently being revised in California and else where to prevent this incident. Likewise, in the recent George Zimmerman shooting of Trayvon Martin has questioned the validity of Florida’s “Stand your Ground law”. The “Stand your Ground law” states that if a person is under attack by someone and their life is in danger they can restrain or attack the perpretaor in self defense. In the case of Trayvon Martin, a 13-year old, was causing no problem and was shot deliberately by the neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Zimmerman claims he was attacked by Martin and shot him in self defense quoting the “Stand your Ground law”. Now after close scrutiny the law is being modified because too many incidents in the past few years have led to innocent people being killed under the law. There was a loop hole as to what is considered acceptable forms of self defense and weak gun laws. Thus in the case of Zimmerman, the “Stand your Ground law”  is going to be modified to prevent future blunders.

All in all whether or not a defect in a law should be ignored or acted upon is circumstantial. If the defect is not going to cause any direct harm, such as SOPA and Copyright infringement laws from the internet , then it should not be changed altogether rather tolerate it to see where it ends up. On the other hand, if the defect of a law such as the “Stand your Ground law”  has too many loopholes giving justice to criminal acts of violence then modifications must be made to the law to prevent future atrocities.