An ethical and political issue that has been difficult for people to address is gay marriage. Many people have strong opinions about the topic of gay marriage and weather two people of the same sex should be able to legally get married. There is a torn view with people who think that marrying the same sex should be allowed and that everybody has the right to be happy and love who they want. On the other side, some people think that a marriage should be between a man and a women and not people of the same sex. Religion also comes into play for some religions like Christians who believe that the union of marriage should be of different sexes. They believe that since Adman and Eve, the bond of marriage and procreation should be strictly between the opposite sexes. According to Grisby, Chapter 4; many people who believe in certain religions feel as though engaging in same sex marriage is a sin. The religion that they believe will condemn them as sinners if they support that belief. For many years, same sex couple were frowned upon and looked at as taboo. Just like in the story “The Allegory of the Cave,” the slaves were told not to look at the sun or move their heads in any other direction because it was wrong. When they did see the sunlight they didn’t know what to think and what was normal. Just like some people believe that gay marriage is wrong and were shown for years that marriage is between a man and women. IT is hard for people to change their views when they have been told for years when something was considered wrong or immoral.
Gay marriage is a hard topic to talk about because it is an opinion that many people feel strongly about. In my society of gender class, society makes it difficult for gay people to come out and establish a strong communication group. It is hard for gay individuals to form supportive groups because they fear rejection and backlash from their peers and society as a whole. For example, one of my cousins is gay and he recently came out to everyone about his sexuality. His parents don’t approve of him being gay or anyone gay in general, and do not support him because of this. It is a topic that people feel strongly about, and that is why it is an issue that is difficult for people to address. One of the consequences of not being able to address this topic is gay people not getting insurance because some insurances don’t recognize gay marriage.
When it comes to politics, a lot of politics mix their views with their personal beliefs, but also what they think the people who vote for them want to hear. Also when you live in a democracy, there are a lot of views and opinions, which makes it hard for laws to get passed if you are not a part of the majority.
Response: The answer is quite informative. It is based on specific facts and clear argumentative line. The language structures applied by the author are appropriate. At the same time some grammar mistakes and irregular connotations make the answer not perfect. But the overall content is good enough. The response can be rated as the average.
A contemporary political and ethical issue that like “Allegory of the Cave” has been difficult for people to address is waterboarding. Waterboarding is a very excruciating form of torture that many people don’t believe is necessary. Some may argue that it can be the worst form of torture because not only does it inflict pain, it can also instantly put a person to near close death. People can’t breathe during this form of torture and there is a high possibility of drowning from it as well. A lot of torture is done in secrecy, so it cannot be known for sure what countries use this. Making it difficult to prevent it. Also, just like most other forms of torture, waterboarding can have a huge impact on an individual physiologically. If they do survive, they their way of live could change completely.
This issue has been difficult for people to think about critically and address because although it is extremely morally wrong, it can sometimes get needed interrogated information from people. Most of the people that have this type of torture done to them are prisoners. This form can also be considered one of the quickest forms of integration because of the amount of pain that it’ll bring to the prisoner. They will be somewhat forced to reveal any secret information because their life is now suddenly on the line.
Most people would probably agree that waterboarding should be stopped immediately. However, some Republican candidates have addressed the problem with waterboarding and have said that it is not a form of torture. They believe that it is just a type of improved interrogation and have no doubt that it does indeed work. A huge reasons why it’s so hard to address this issue is because it does in fact sometimes work. For example, if a country was under a terrorist threat and the country had a prisoner from that terrorist group, then this torture could quickly get intelligence needed to prevent it. In the end it could possibly save thousands of lives.
There are also many consequences that could come with a country performing waterboarding. When the torture is actually happening, no one knows for sure how long the prisoner can withstand it. Depending of their physical condition, they could possibly drown and die instantly, with there then being a failure in interrogation. Other consequences can also occur too. A country could be looked at as losing their national honor or the people that run the country have no moral values. This could make them hated by other countries and create some serious conflicts.
In the end, this form of torture is something that might never come to an agreement. There’s too many reasons for why people believe that it could be effective or not. Even current political leaders can’t fully address the issue because no matter what people think about it, it is always morally wrong to torture someone. Looking at past political leaders though, Thomas Jefferson believed that all humans have natural rights and in the case of waterboarding, it definitely goes against those natural rights or laws.
Response: The structure of the answer is logically based. Nevertheless the language is too colloquial. The grammar mistakes such as can also occur too and the pure linguistic structures diminish the overall impression. At the same time the content generally refers to important facts such as ideas of Jefferson. The answer may be rated as average.
One of the most political and ethical issue that has been polarized (again) within the last year is the legality of abortion, and if it is ethical for all parties involved to participate in the action.
The reason it has been so difficult for people to come to a conclusive answer on the topic is because the issue ties into both science and moral aspects of a person. Since Roe v Wade, there has been a constant battle with the argument as to whether or not a baby is actually a baby when it is technically still in the womb. There has been much scientific evidence that provides the theory that a baby is still in fact a fetus until it is born. This is where the difficulty from a political and ethical standpoint take place.
There was a recent interview with current Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on when a baby is given rights. Upon the situation of a baby not being born on her scheduled due date does that insinuate that the baby has no rights? Clinton answered that under the law the baby does not in fact have rights even when it is the day of the baby’s scheduled due date.
We have blurred the line between science and government, and it has allowed science to dictate the laws that we must live by. Furthermore, there are other illustration such as climate change, human sexuality, and healthcare that has had science based researched that is supported by the government that creates legislation which intrudes on our own rights.
Giving government the rights to create legislation leads a person to either fully accept the science of something while gradually diminishing the moral conviction to rebuke its initiall findings on the grounds of their own belief. In terms of abortion, at what point does a person say a baby is a baby? Ronald Reagan once said (paraphrasing) “it’s funny, every person who is for abortion has been born already”. Society has to come to the point where they should determine that the arbitrary 20 weeks a woman is given is not acceptable. Therefore, we should come to the point where people either believe it’s right or whether it is wrong. Science has allowed our conviction that we once had to be reasoned with for the sake of science, and not for the sake of human life.
Lastly, when we allow a government the permission to make laws that determine what is in our best interest, we will then allow them to control other aspects of our lives in the future. There was a time where independence was allowing a person to freely do what they want on the grounds that they live by a moral code. Now, we witness our code of moral vanishing why we allow the government to free dictate who can live independently. (552)
Response: The body of this answer is coherent and cohesive enough. The clear argument is stated. The language is simple, but the grammar structures were used in right way. The words for better structuring of the text were efficiently used. This work may be rated as excellent.
Question Set # 2: On Politics and Your Grandparent's Life:Now, imagine you could go back in time and live as one of your grandparents lived at the age you are now. What two "decisions regarding rules that govern our common life" might your grandparent have identified as especially important when he/she was your age? What factors might have affected your grandparent's thoughts and feelings about these decisions? What would your grandparent think and feel about the "decisions" you identify as most important for your life today?
In your discussion post, make sure you explain where and when your grandparent lived. Do not "interview" a grandparent; instead think about the time period and location of one of your grandparents when he/she was a young adult (18-25) and what his/her life was probably like. In your discussion about your grandparent, don't worry about being 100% correct. If you have no knowledge of a grandparent, select an older relative or family friend who lived in the same time period as your grandparent.
Three Replies: Introduce yourself to three classmates and explain how your grandparent's two decisions ("regarding rules that govern our common life") are similar and/or different from the decisions your classmates' grandparent would have identified. Explain to your classmates what seem to be similarities and differences in your grandparents' lives and the politics affecting their lives. If useful compare when and where your grandparents lived and any other factors important to their "two decisions."
Keep in mind, ideologues make very poor debaters. Facts and data and well-reasoned arguments are what you need to learn to do. Also remember the rules of Netiquette!
4.
Two decisions regarding rules that govern our common life that are especially important to me are; racial equity and epidemics. Racial equity should be more enforced because it builds barriers for people to be discriminated against and establishes separation between different races. In the text it refers to how racism was pervasive to African Americans in the twentieth Century. Race still holds a key factor in discrimination and has expanded to nearly all races. Racial equity should begin to be enforced or their will be a global rapture. Secondly, I feel as though epidemics have been controlled in the United States for a good amount of time. For example Smallpox and Malaria were two diseases that threatened the lives of many women in the late 1900’s, yet was contained and quickly dissolved as a problem(not to say that it does not exists). Another epidemic that I was actually around to see was the Ebola outbreak. The quick acting hands of the government officials saved many lives and protected lives of many Americans that could have been at risk of receiving the virus.
Factors influence how you think and feel about these decisions are personal experience and common knowledge of possible outcomes from epidemics. Recently I went to a grocery store in Eastpointe Michigan when I watched a Muslim woman and her young child be verbally assaulted by two young teenage African American boys. It was in my instinct to jump to the woman’s defense and urge the boys to stop their harassment or I would call the police. The situation opened my eyes to the realization that racism is not just white and black, yet includes all races and affects all ages. A factor to support my opinion on epidemics is my prior knowledge of the Black Plaque and the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. The Black Plaque claimed many innocent lives of people from all ages, in our countries history. The disease was incurable and spread like wildfire. As well as the HIV/AIDS in the late 1900’s, it did not claim as many lives as the Plaque but it took over a lot of people’s lives and because it is only treatable not curable took/takes many people’s lives.
Two decisions regarding rules that govern our common life my grandmother would have identified as especially important when she was your age is racial equality and progression. I say these two because my grandmother was alive during the civil rights movement and loves the period and enjoys talking about her personal experiences during the time. Also, progression because she often complains of how she wished technology was as advanced for her when she was my age and how now everything is a simpler time than when she was growing up. I think that my grandmother would support my decisions on what I think is important to life today simply because we have strong similarities in the way we view the world and how it could be better and what is going well for it.
Response: I agree with the author that the racial equality and progression is an essential part of the successful living of society. My grandmother also will support such decision. I appreciate that the author expresses his opinion in the right way by providing real examples to support the argument.
5. The two most important decisions that help govern our society that our important to me our how those decisions affect me first and foremost, but also how it effects the majority of others.
When we look decisions and when they are being made, we tend to look at them through the social spectrum and decide whether or not the decisions being made benefit society as a whole.
However, there are many times where the deciding factors that govern society tend to conflict with a certain individual way of life. Thus, infringing on the rights of the said individual. It creates turmoil for that individual for the sake of the greater good, and in turn prohibits the individual from pursuing their own happiness. Personally, I am a huge proponent of the Bill of Rights, and using that as an example for determining our decisions that help govern society is key to everyone’s well-being.
Although there are decisions that we must revert back to our past existence to help create a more transparent society that benefits all, we have been able to witness when decisions are made that benefit the few while coming at the expense of the many. We have witnessed with decisions on taxing the citizens more than a business, or lax laws being created that giver further power over the worker. All of these decisions being made eventually will create a more destructive future, and that is why I look at decisions I make as not how it benefits me, but how it benefits everyone.
I come from a family of eight, and when I see my parents working every day to maintain a proper and sustainable lifestyle for their family I feel that it should not be taken away by a select few that govern our society. I feel that is why our country has become so great compared to others, because we other countries give complete control to their government to make decisions for them, and we can agree that it has not worked out so well. Therefore, the beliefs that we have in working hard and it will get you to where you need to go is the only influential factor I need to further instill belief in what is the correct way to govern from the right decisions.
My grandparents grew up in the time of the great depression, and I feel that their attitude towards government back then is what I believe it would be now, and I would share the same belief as them, and that is when government is involved it only makes matters worse.
In the time of President Woodrow Wilson and FDR, we can see over time that the original intent of government when they get involved not only prevents our country from excelling, but they make matters worse.
When the banks ran out of money they felt that by creating a Federal Reserve was the key to prohibit bank fraud, when in fact it has gotten us into the predicament that we our into todays, and the banks have for power than ever before. If they were alive today, I believe that they would that the history does indeed repeat itself since we have not understand from our past mistakes.
Response: I agree with the author and really support his opinion concerning that the reason for prosperity of our country is the devotion of the citizens. My grandfather also lived at the time of depression. At the same time I think that we understand our past mistakes but the problem lies within insufficient resources to be applied for further growth.
6. Two "decisions regarding rules that govern our common life" that are especially important to me are rules that you cannot murder and kill people just because someone wants to, and to obey the speed limit. Both of these things ensures the safety of people so that individuals cannot purposely kill someone or accidently kill or injury someone from speeding. The factors that affect my choice as important aspects to me are both of these rules can save lives and protect people from harm. Laws against killing people protect individuals from making irrational decisions. If someone decides they want their neighbor’s car, they can’t just go over to their house and shoot them so that they can have their car. The only person that should decide when it is time for someone to die is God. Someone in my family was murdered and it takes a huge burden on the family affected by the murder. One person’s selfish and angered act or murder can cause a life time of pain to the families affected. The other law that is important for people to follow is obeying the speed limit. This is important because if people are going too fast, they could crash and seriously injure or kill someone else. On the other hand if a car is going too slow, that can cause a traffic jam and upset drivers who will try to speed and change lanes quickly, which could also end in an accident. There are reasons for laws, like obeying the speed limit and murder that should be followed.
Two "decisions regarding rules that govern our common life" that my family friend’s grandparent who lived in Texas have identified with and was especially important when he/she was my age would be immigration laws and job laws. As an immigrant they would be worried about immigration laws and being deported. They would also be worried about finding a job and way of life, while having to follow the job policies. These two things would be difficult for an immigrant to go through because they wouldn’t want to get caught and deported. The grandparents needed to find a job that would be stable enough to survive on, and being able to find a job that allowed them to work. These two rules go together because you need a job in order to survive in a place that is not very well known to someone, but yet the individuals have to be careful not to get caught because they would then be deported. The grandparents would find my decisions as very important factors, but not something that they were worried about or identifying with when they were my age. The way of live was very different back then and the circumstances and way of live was very different. They were not as worried about murder or the speed limit because they were occupied with finding a job and being an illegal immigrant in a foreign country that they do not know much of.
Response: I think that the first rule concerning the murder and killing people is really significant one. From the other hand, the speed limits are important to obey. But as for me without prejudice to the obligations of people to be responsible for their actions on the road, this rule is rather secondary. So it is more important to establish the system of sex and racial equality for the overall prosperity of the country.
