Category: Ethics


Come On Everyone, Let's Make A Joke Out Of The American Education System!

Filed Under: Ethics
Jun.15, 2009

Quick! Let’s turn this American education system into a joke!

This week, Bryce Harper of Las Vegas, a well-known 16-year-old who is called the “Chosen One,” a.k.a. the next All-Star baseball player, has decided to skip the last two years of high school and instead get a GED, a choice made with his parents.  This highly-publicized choice has automatically faced criticism from those who believe that although his talents out of class are incredible, he should stay in school to get all of the benefits of a high school education.

This trend of graduating early is becoming more and more intriguing to high school students.  Many want to just get out of high school because they don’t like the drama, or they may feel college would be a more comfortable learning style for them, or they feel that they could be doing something better with their lives than sitting in a classroom.

I, myself, am graduating after my third year of high school, and going straight to a university.  Many people have called me an idiot for my choice, but I feel I have good reasons for my decision.  I have much interest in Computer Engineering, a hot career right now, and I feel like sitting in a classroom learning stuff I will forget next month is completely useless.  I applaud Bryce Harper’s decision to graduate at the age of sixteen.  If I were recognized by Sports Illustrated already, I would be out of school right away too!

I must say, graduating early is not for all students.  The education system is effective.  Sure, not as effective as the other countries of the world, but it does its job of expanding the minds of children and young adults.  But this system does not fit each and every person.  As I see it, the education system fits those kids who need to learn the importance of self-discipline, obviously reading, and thinking outside of the box.  But some kids already get the basics of 10th grade when they enter middle school.  The maturity range of students is so incredible that, I must stress again, this system cannot fit every single child.

So should we get rid of the education system? NO.  Should we accept those who feel it is not right for them? We should more than accept them.

Scott Buscemi

Reference:

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=955764

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Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life

Filed Under: Ethics, Politics
Mar.29, 2009

Pro-choice or pro-life: who’s at fault?

As a pro-choice and well-educated woman, I’m here to put a stop to this argument. The answer is: neither.

I respect the fact that people with pro-life beliefs hold on to their ideologies and morals; no one has the right to insult or demean that. What I don’t respect is the encouragement of unsafe abortions as a result of outlawing it.

The truth is, abortions are just as old as pregnancies. Women have been finding ways to terminate their pregnancies since the beginning of time. Of course, I don’t commend these women at all, but I do feel the compulsion to fight for their rights to a safe abortion as opposed to using a dirty clothes hanger. I am Jewish, and the Jewish faith is very specific in the clarification that a baby’s life is not an actual life until the baby’s head leaves the womb. Until then, it is only “potential life,” voiding the idea of murder. Judaism also says that abortion is acceptable under the circumstances of danger to the mother.  I am not pro-choice because of my Jewish faith, but I do agree with the ideologies.

Also, I’m not pro-abortion by any means; honestly, I would only have an abortion under the circumstances of harm to my body or rape (I’m not including incest because I don’t see that as a remote possibility). Then again, everything is circumstantial. I don’t judge women who have had abortions; everything is based upon perspective, and I don’t have that said perspective of being pregnant. That is why I fight for the choice to keep abortions safe, legal, and rare. I cannot justify why certain women have abortions, and neither can any other spectator. My hope would be to continue the practice of safe abortions so women desperate enough can move on with their lives (and when I say safe, I mean as healthy and sanitary as possible).

The most important thing I want to express is the ridiculousness of the prevalence of this issue. Our economy is in a devastating state; now is not the time to worry about reversing the legalization of abortion. If advocates of outlawing abortion put half their efforts into economic rejuvenation, maybe we’d be at a better financial state. There is a definite hierarchy of social and economic issues, and at this junction in America, the economy is what’s most important, not what goes on with a woman’s body and a potential life.

I’m hoping this article will maybe suppress some of the fire, not fuel it.

-alishasmoo

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Pro-life Myths Debunked

Filed Under: Ethics, Sociology
Mar.28, 2009

Unlike most teenage girls these days, I am one hundred percent pro-life. Although many of my friends have tried to make me see the light, this is one of the few beliefs I will probably never ever compromise. However, I have noticed that many pro-choicers have preconceptions that don’t apply to me at all, or a lot of other pro-lifers for that matter. Although the following statements do apply to many pro-lifers, which is how these rumors got started in the first place, they definitely do not apply to all, and if you are radically pro-choice, this article will most likely not change your views on abortion itself, but hopefully it will enable you to see its opponents in a more positive light.

Myth #1: Everyone that is pro-life is a religious fanatic.

Several religions are against the termination of pregnancies, no matter what the circumstances. Although these religions do hold life sacred, this is also to prevent meaningless sex, because a person who really does not want to get pregnant will not have sex, according to their logic. However, I do not actually belong to any of these religions; I merely believe that ending a life to benefit oneself is murder, whether that life is a person one can’t stand or one’s unborn baby. These religions also happen to be against the usage of birth control. I am not; I am actually for birth control so that young women do not get into situations where they feel compelled to get an abortion. To me, the sexual activities one chooses to perform is completely up to her, and since birth control only stops life from being created and does not actually end a preexisting life, I encourage its practice.

Myth #2: Everyone that is pro-life is a prude, or someone who cannot get any.

Not true at all. Interestingly enough, nearly all of my virgin friends are pro-choice, while most of my sexually active friends are pro-life. This may seem like an impossible paradox, or that my friends are not representative of the general population, but it makes complete sense. The pro-choicers tend to be more ambitious and organized; therefore, a young pregnancy would be terrifying and goal-shattering to them. The pro-lifers, on the other hand, are more spontaneous and adaptable, so although a pregnancy would still be hard for them, they would be able to accept it and make arrangements for the child’s care that could still work with their lives. In my opinion, in order to be ready for sex, one does not necessarily need to want kids, but one does need to be willing to understand that it is possible that she will conceive. If one is mature enough to accept that, she will not need to get an abortion.

Myth #3: Everyone that is pro-life has no concept of how hard it is to take care of a child in bad circumstances.

Most people, no matter how privileged they are, have met at least one person who became pregnant before they should have. For me, this includes my grandmother, my mother, and my aunt, who were seventeen, nineteen, and fifteen, respectively. All of them chose to keep their children, although both my grandmother and aunt were in high school at the time. Despite this, my grandmother went on to be an English teacher, and my aunt managed to get her diploma and become a top Nissan saleswoman. Now, they never became brain surgeons, but they did manage to accomplish what they needed to and still had the blessings of their wonderful children. It was definitely a struggle for them, but they managed and the experience made them stronger and more appreciative of life. So if they can do it, then why can’t others? And if one is that worried about the child’s well-being in particular environments, there is still no need to terminate the pregnancy. It’s called adoption. And for those out there that believe that it is unfair to force a young girl to carry her child for nine months only to give it away, well, she really should have thought of that before she pulled down her pants.

Myth #4: Everyone that is pro-life wants to place restrictions on the freedom of choice.

Actually, pro-lifers are very much pro-choice, when it comes to the baby’s choice. The baby may be attached to the mother’s body, but he/she is still a separate entity, with his/her own soul and DNA that is fifty percent different from the mother’s. Why should the mother speak for the baby in whether or not he/she wants to live? The baby obviously wants to live, otherwise he/she would not be growing every second, developing in preparation for living outside of the mother’s womb. If one still wants to insist that a baby cannot possibly know what is best for him/her, then it should be pointed out that the baby’s father, the other fifty percent of the genes, has no say whatsoever in the child’s welfare. In fact, in the United States, it is legal for a married woman to get an abortion without her husband’s knowledge, let alone permission. The father has to give permission for all other surgical procedures performed on an infant, so why not abortion as well? If a man is noble enough to fight for his child’s life, he can take care of him/her himself, absolving the woman of any responsibility after she gives birth other than child support. Yes, she still has to carry the baby, but again, she should have thought of that.

Myth #5: Everyone who is pro-life is just trying to get the government more involved in everything.

It has been very clear throughout history that making something illegal will not prevent it. For example, Prohibition in the 1920s only served to make alcohol more popular, and paved the way for organized crime. Even more relevant is the fact that abortions themselves used to be illegal, until the government realized how dangerous it was becoming for women to get abortions illicitly with unqualified, unsanitary surgeons. Therefore, I do not believe abortion should be outlawed, because it would change nothing. Instead, I am for promoting a greater awareness that infanticide is a morally disturbing act, and hoping that many mothers realize the value of their offspring.

Myth #6: Everyone who is pro-life lacks compassion for the poor little girls who were led astray.

I hate to say this, but those girls are not that little if they decided to fool around with their boyfriends. Also, that boyfriend is not always the bad guy in these matters. Yes, there’s pressure and all that, but girls have hormones, too. Generally speaking, they want it too. And maybe they did not think about the consequences, but that is one of the tough things about life. Decisions cannot be undone. Although one might think abortion is a solution, it traumatizes the mother more than she realizes until the act is done. There are exceptions of course, but some mothers do miss their deceased children for the rest of their lives, especially when they finally do have families. I would never wish such a thing on someone, and this trauma can be prevented by not having an abortion. In this respect, pro-lifers are actually more compassionate, trying to protect the mother’s spiritual health so that she does not have to live with the burden of regret.

Myth #7: Everyone who is pro-life is old-fashioned and unwilling to conform to modern life.

Abortion is an ancient practice, dating back to at least Old Testament times, although practiced in many different cultures. Common methods included ingesting certain herbs and sticking objects up the cervix. Although giving birth is older than self-termination, abortion is not new enough to qualify as a modern phenomenon.

Now, if you were pro-choice and did not believe any of the above statements, then props to you for not being condemnatory. If you did, I hope you now recognize your error in judgment, and maybe even consider changing your mind about the abortion issue itself. Actually, I am probably kidding myself with that one, but maybe now you will try to look at the other side of an issue before labeling the enemy.

–chelliejellie10

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Stereotypes

Filed Under: Ethics, Sociology
Mar.18, 2009

People (especially teenagers) are exposed to stereotypes every day. They may not like it, but it’s a fact of life. So what really is a stereotype? Webster’s New World Dictionary defines a stereotype as, “a fixed or conventional notion or conception, as of a person, group, idea, etc., held by a number of people, and allowing for no individuality.” This is extremely ironic when you consider that many of the groups being stereotyped (punk, emo, etc.) are trying to be intensely individual. However that is not the point. The point is:  each person is unique, and their special characteristics are what make up the whole of humanity.

People like to categorize other people they don’t know very well into tiny little groups with specific characteristics. This may be because humans have an inherent lust to “fit in” somewhere or because maybe we’re all just a little xenophobic. But whatever the cause, it results in these ridiculous groupings based off of next to no information. This is also why first impressions are worth so much however so often wrong. So if these generalizations aren’t accurate, on what are they formed?

Stereotypes may be formed from material items like clothes, or it may be how someone acts or the choices he or she makes. This is extremely prevalent in high school where teens create cliques and decide they need to be in the “right” clique – preps, jocks, whatever. However, these classifications are certainly not limited to high school. Adults group each other all the time but often to disastrous effects. While these categorizations may be partially correct, they don’t by any means tell the whole story. By stereotyping people into one group, any chance for them to be full, faceted human beings is completely eliminated.

If you use stereotypes, you are implying that anyone who is Irish must have a drinking problem, or anyone who is Asian is automatically a genius. While some of these are humorous and ennobling, most aren’t, and that’s why many people are extremely offended by them. Also, these ideas don’t leave any room for grey area in between. People are more than their race or economic situation. They are a little bit of you and a little bit of me and a whole lot of their own selves. No point in trying to suffocate them into meaningless strata.

- mmeyer

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Overemphasizing Athletics?

Filed Under: Ethics
Mar.14, 2009

If you are a student looking to receive a scholarship from the college of your choice, you know how difficult it is:  You have to go through a rigorous school schedule and at the same time maintain high grades.  In addition to the daily class schedule, you may also have to participate in numerous extra-curricular activities and clubs.  It’s stressful to even think about.  Multiply this stress by four and you have yourself the strenous climb known as high school.  Of course high school does not have to be this difficult.  You could always be the under-achieving, mediocre student who just hopes to graduate and pursue a minimum wage job, making the same amount of money as a 16 year-old.  Making minimum wage is not a bad thing, but making that amount when you’re a 50 year-old is not the ideal thing to do if you can help it.  On the other hand, over-achieving students are constantly competing with their peers to be in the top 10% of their high school class.  Not only that, but they are also vying for attention from various colleges and universities.

It is very unfortunate how sometimes students with the outstanding 4.o GPA and the list of extra-curriculars do not get accepted into the college of their choice.  It must be very discouraging.  They worked as hard as they did, and as a result their dreams are shattered by a piece of paper.  There apparently wasn’t enough room for that one extra student.  This must mean that any other student resume, less impressive than a 4.0 GPA and countless extra-curriculars will not be considered, right?  There wasn’t enough room for the over-achiever, but of course there was room for the student-athlete with a GPA of 2.8.  I’m guessing that the student part was left behind.

So is this how pathetic college institutions have become?  They allow athletes who have no commitment in the classroom to receive full scholarships.  Of course they have to be academically eligible to compete, but it is obvious that their standards are lower than other students.  It can only be hinted at, but there should be some suspicion raised towards the academic requirements of a student-athlete.  Colleges seem to be acting more like professional sports organization rather than institutions of advanced learning.  I’m sure that they want to distinguish themselves in some other way besides academic prestige.  There is nothing wrong with that.  It all becomes tainted when they offer scholarships to athletes who have no other desire but to play their sport for a few years in college and then turn their attention towards their athletic careers.  If universities are going to uphold their strict requirements for academically-driven students, why can’t they do the same for athletes?  Also, why are these institutions paying coaches six- or seven-figure amounts when they should be gathering up funds for the enhancement of their schools?

When a student applies to a university, they are basically recruiting and scouting a school.  The student has to go to the university.  When college scouts scout athletes they are at the mercy of the athlete.  They are the ones who are going to the athlete, and salivating at their next sports icon.  The athlete knows that they have these colleges at their mercy.  Colleges will offer scholarships and other incentives to persuade athletes to attend their school.  Rarely, does the university ever “scout” the student, unless you count letters through the mail.

The reality is that sports and competition are generally dominant in this country and frankly the world.  This can be backed up by the occurence of the Olympics every four years and the World Cup of soccer, which also takes place every four years.  In this country alone, you can look at this month’s March Madness as an example.  March Madness is the name related with the post-season of college basketball.  It has a reputation of creating “madness” with all of the cinderella stories that take place.  Examples would be David defeating Goliath or the underdog defeating the juggernaut.  The championship tournament made up of a field of 64 teams, has been known to halt the productivity of the workplace due to its popularity.  People will call in sick just to watch the preliminary rounds of the tournament.  It is hard to believe that this is what this world has come to, or at least America for that matter.  I personally enjoy athletics and the thrills of competition.  I only condemn colleges and universities for focusing too much on their athletic programs.  It is true that athletes will make their respective country a superpower in the Olympics, but in the end it takes intellectuals and their pure knowledge to make their respective country a world superpower on a global stage.

-payam93

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On Watchmen and the Way of the World

Filed Under: Ethics
Mar.13, 2009

*WATCHMEN SPOILERS BELOW*

I saw Watchmen the other, and as I walked out of the theater, I heard my fellow moviegoers complaining about how terrible the movie was. It was long, boring, all over the place, and so many other terrible things. But they all failed to see what an ingenious film they had just seen. Granted, the movie did jump around, but it wasn’t difficult to follow. I never once found myself bored even when everyone around me rolled their eyes. Of course, I could have gone without all of the crotch-shots, but they were easily avoidable if I just didn’t look at them. Personally, I think it is ridiculous to let something like that distract you. It’s like I said tonight, “you have to look past the dicks.” And it’s true. That is beside the point though. What I’m getting at is this: It takes a different kind to appreciate a story like Watchmen.

The world we live in today is a very interesting one. I hear all the time from a teacher of mine that our generation just doesn’t care. We don’t think about things. We don’t act on the “injustices” done to us. This is absolutely true. We’re all too busy being caught up in the superficialities of our lives. But then again, why aren’t we entitled to those things? If that is how we choose to live our lives, let us live them that way. We’re still young, and so we should be allowed to be young. When we are older, we’ll deal with the problems as they come. But, even in our youth, it does not mean that our generation should not be thinking about every single thing we see. Sadly, I don’t see (or hear) enough of it. That is the problem that I think leads people to write off Watchmen as a bad movie. You can’t go in there expecting to be mindlessly entertained. You have to think about what its telling you. People need to think.

Oh, and if you haven’t seen the movie, I guess here is where the spoilers start. Anyways, at the end of the movie Adrian Veidt reveals that he was behind the events of the whole movie. His goal was to save the human race from itself, one that many would call noble. Although, considering the fact that he killed millions of people to achieve it, he loses some of the shine he would otherwise hold. Where one person once could see a hero, they see a villain. But that is where most people cease thinking. They leave it at that; Veidt was a villain who killed millions. Dr. Manhattan was weak for being exploited, and the Nite Owl and Silk Specter were fools for keeping the secret. Rorschach is the only one who comes off noble for attempting to reveal the truth. But then what happened at the end? Was there not peace; and by peace I mean true peace. Yes, it would only hold as long as the “threat of Dr. Manhattan” loomed over it, but that could be forever. This of course leads to the moral discussion of whether its right to kill all of those people to achieve this goal. This is the main point of this note.

Is what Veidt did wrong? Is one life, ten lives, millions of lives worth the rest of the worlds? In the movie, the outcome of the cold war would have ended in a nuclear holocaust where even more would have died. So that’s the question then; is it okay to sacrifice some for the “greater good”? I know most people would really think it’s wrong. “There is always another solution!” they would say. Kind words in a cruel world. Regrettably, sometimes there isn’t always another way.

Does it make me a monster for agreeing with Veidt?

I don’t condone the monstrous massive murder he committed, I think it’s disgusting that anyone can go through with something like that, but can you not see the twisted elegance of his solution? The way that through all the death and destruction, peace shone through. It worked without a flaw. I don’t think it would be right to choose the people who were to die, but someone had to, right? Even as I write this, I feel horrible about how no part of me feels bad about thinking what I do, but then again there’s a difference between Veidt and myself. While I may think it’s the best solution, I could never go through with it. I couldn’t hold so many lives in my hands even if the fate of the world rested on it. Thankfully it’s just a comic book though. But don’t think it couldn’t happen today, or tomorrow even; in real life I mean. The idea may sound horrible, but I don’t doubt that it’s been done before (on a smaller scale) and that it won’t happen in the future.

Though, for those of you who disagree, do you not think that the people who died in the movie would have chosen to live if they knew doing so would doom the world? No, they would be happy their lives were sacrificed to make peace. You see, an individual usually makes such a little impact. One life, no matter what anyone says or thinks has no greater effect on the history of everything. The universe keeps spinning despite what any of us could do. Even amongst the living the individual finds it difficult to make an impact. For example, even if I were to die tonight, nothing would change. Yes, the lives of my friends and family would be rocked, shattered even, but people would live their lives after. Yet, with these sacrifices, the individuals who died did make an impact. Because of their loss, life kept on going. Yes, there could have been a million different outcomes, but that’s not the point. That reality is the one we’re supposed to see. It’s supposed to make us think about what’s wrong and right.

I know it is hard for most people to admit to agreeing with something like this. I even know many people completely disagree; every life is sacred. That’s exactly what I’ve been saying though. It would be selfish to cling to life knowing it would kill everyone else. So, even though the choice was never theirs, their lives were more sacred than anyone else’s because they saved the world.
I’m sure I rambled a lot, but here’s a little summary: Is it wrong to sacrifice some for others? While I never personally could, I find myself saying “no” when faced with no other option. Of course, if there is a way to save everyone, I would in an instant. Sometimes that’s not the reality though.
So in the end, Watchmen proved to be a magnificent film which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys thinking. Personally, I’m going to be picking up the graphic novel as soon as I can so I can get an even more in depth experience. Also, I wish more movies were like Watchmen in the way you have to think. I really think it would encourage the youth of America to be more thoughtful and worldly; something we’re in dire need of.

-Omega

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What's the Deal with Weight?

Filed Under: Ethics, Psychology, Sociology
Mar.08, 2009

Our society has many faults, but one I really don’t understand is how the negative appearance, particularly concerning weight, is considered an acceptable and time-consuming topic of conversation.

I hear it all the time. “Have you seen how fat she’s getting?”, “Jeez, he needs to get a bra for his manboobs”, and “She’s too skinny.  I bet she never eats” are commonly phrases used to poke fun at someone, and I personally find it disgusting.  It’s time that this kind of superficial categorization is stopped.

First of all, how is talking about someone’s weight even interesting?  Yeah, maybe being anorexic or obese is unhealthy and not particularly attractive, but why the duration of the discussion is longer than two seconds is a mystery to me.  Is someone who feels a compulsive need to criticize the appearance of others simply such a boring person that they have to attack others in order to come up with a topic to talk about at all?  If not, then why not discuss something else?  There’s plenty of topics out there that are more relevant.  To me, even gossipping about that one girl that hooked up with that one basketball player is more mature than talking about weight.  At least the former actually reflects on who the person is, even if it the content may distort the truth.

Which brings me to the second point.  How does someone’s physical appearance show who they are on the inside?  Believe it or not, some people actually believe that those with a healthier weight have better personalities than their over or underweight counterparts.  Overweight people are stereotyped as lazy while underweight people are said to be overconforming to society.  This is not always true.  Body shape is strongly correlated with genetics, and sometimes there is not a lot someone can do to change it.  If a person is genuinely nice, then who really cares?  It’s not your body, so don’t judge it.  And by the way, you really don’t have to check it out. No one is forcing you to stare at anyone’s cellulite.  Even if they’re wearing short shorts, you can still look elsewhere, maybe into their eyes, where most people prefer you look anyway.

And if that isn’t enough to convince you, think of how the person talked about feels.  He/she is probably already really self-conscious about themselves, and they don’t need you to rag on them even more.  How would you feel if you overheard people criticize you for something as trivial as your body shape?  Not so good, right?

It’s not even just preteen girls that do it.  It’s guys, girls, men, women of all ages.  It’s universal, but if you happen to be one of the few that refuse to participate in this superficial trend, then kudos to you.

In conclusion, next time you run out of topics to discuss, try talking about somthing that doesn’t make fun of someone else.  There’s so much more variety in that category, and I’m sure you’ll find that they’re much more fun to discuss anyway.

-chelliejellie10

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Chains and Spikes: Does Depression Make Us Feel Cool?

Filed Under: Ethics
Mar.04, 2009

Look about your surroundings, you cannot venture far before discovering the ethereal alter-ego of gangsters. The group whose members contain the negative-image of the delinquents we see in our ghetto-esque areas, the one, the only, the emos. These kids who are silhouettes in an otherwise lively crowd drag down the mood of themselves and others because of their “terrible lives that nobody understands!”

Many of our local “emotional folk” are distinguished by a few things: spiky protrusions, hanging chains, and a sullen yet fake look of weakness. These bastions of “pain and sorrow” claim that they have a terrible life and that they need to hurt themselves to relieve the pain. Frankly, these exoskeletons of malice and melancholy are ploys to attract attention to themselves in a feeble attempt to make themselves feel better. I have met many of these “emos” and found them to have great lives, wonderful parents, and good grades! This disregard of their own success is rather hilarious, as they force themselves to believe their facades of darkness solely against them and no one else.

Relating to the nineteenth century German affair the kulturkampf (cultural struggle), these children are struggling for acceptance in a world that procures stereotypes out of thin air to throw at these black-laden kids. However, clothing is negligible, as there are those few who maintain a regular mindset, but share the same taste in clothing, makeup, etc. These kids, however, are worthy of some condolences, as their taste in fashion has synthesized hatred from many all targeting them due to one little similarity.

In short, the issue is that many kids choose to adorn themselves in a cloak of isolation, while blasting music into their ears that supports their “apparent” sadness. Morally, many find that tuning others out helps them deal with their “pain”, but how can they do that when all they do is prolong their inevitable sadness? Is this what we want? A gloomy world where no one understands each other and one little problem can send somebody’s morale to the pits? A pathetic excuse for avoiding life?

Alas,  j’ai parlé trop, adieu! (I have spoken too much, good bye!)

-MATH

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