In each and every sphere of human life, intellectual skills are heavily applicable. This has led to many disciplines like politics and social life being heavily intertwined and dependent on intellectual skills. As a form of illustration on how intellectual skills are applied in social sphere, this paper analyses several scenarios in which intellectual skills approach are applied in social studies (Jeanne, 4).
In the first example, the main question lies in what should be considered before the other in a business environment. The author claims that it is much prudent for a business to have a higher consideration of domestic issues as compared to international issues. This is illustrated in the example by claiming that a business is more likely to put into consideration domestic political affairs more as compared to international treads. This is a clear illustration that the domestic social structure requires better consideration compared to the larger outer society. This can be claimed to be reason why decision makers appear to consider less profit oriented political policies before considering more profit oriented international business policies. This however doesn’t mean that international affairs should not be considered. Though some international policies might mean optimization of business opportunities, domestic policies are still put more though they cause no business optimization. Towards the conclusion of this illustration, the author acknowledges that there exists a conflict between domestic interests and international or foreign interests. Decision making processes (involves intellectual skills) gives a systematic order of resolving such conflicts and also gives an account on how the conflicts emerge. This is a clear illustration that intellectual skills are highly applicable in studying and dealing with social problems (Howard, 165- 166).
Another example involves the a problem in the American society in the 19th century when some Americans of English origin opposed printing of some government reports in German for German citizens to understand fully. The house was divided over the issue though later the German version was released. This led to multiculturalism in the US. Due to lack of some intellectual skills, some of the American leaders like President Franklin had initially sort to be discriminative against the Germans who were living in America and even published some anti-German articles. Later, this leader realized the need for a strong and united country thus allowed the German publication to be continued. This in a way consolidated the US and at the end of the day brought about acceptance of a multilingual country. As a result, laws aimed at making other language speakers in US become English speakers by force were withdrawn causing an embrace to acceptance of cultural diversity (Howard, 167-169).
However, to form a unified government, the US had to have a national language which I believe was done by consensus and after careful intellectual engagement. This was initially meted with great opposition from the Germans who all through wanted to maintain their native language. In a way to win over the Germans and make English the official language in USA, the immigrants were urged to learn English. This enhanced national cohesion and integrity. Only the Germans remain defiant claiming that they wanted to keep their national language. This led to subdue of Germans after all immigrants learnt English and became one nation. In one of the academic writings, it was quoted that preservation of native language does not in any way create a nation. This assimilation into the English culture caused most of the native immigrants to lose their cultural backgrounds and norms but in 1930s, the federal government started encouraging preservation of indigenous culture as a way of promoting cultural diversity. In this illustration, intellectual skills are applied whereby the US population was able to coexist coherently despite the cultural differences (Howard, 172).
Later in the same illustration on how intellectual skills can be applied in social studies, the immigrants were first introduced to using English upon entry into America. This led to some foreigners being placed in high position to act as some sort of pinning force to immigrants that being English was advantageous. However, after the First World War, some American leaders came up strongly to support conversion of immigrants to be fully Americans. This meant conversion from native language to English. In one of the most powerful speeches of the time entitled ‘America for Americans’, Theodore Roosevelt claimed that any immigrant not ready to be 100% American to leave soonest. This made most immigrants become English speakers and then later the native languages started fading off. This brought about some kind of intellectual imbalance and unequal way of life forcing the federal government to encourage people to retain some of their native norms and traits as a way of promoting cultural diversity. Most of the immigrants learnt English by their own drive but later, it became a basic requirement for acquisition of American citizenship by naturalization (Howard, 172- 182). This made the main aim of making English the official language in America an achieved aspiration. This illustrates a great deal of application of intellectual skills. It is commonly claimed that the best way or tactic to compete with a person is to play it in disguise (Geoffrey, 46). Initially, when the English Americans tried to change the Germans, opposition was very high but when they first accepted the Germans, it was easy. With time, the Germans converted to English and by making it a requirement in citizenship by naturalization, their dream was achieved. This is a great illustration of application of intellectual skills in dealing with a social problem or phenomenon (Geoffrey, 48).
Representation of the social phenomenon in America as outlined above
The American federal government called for preservation of native languages after 1930 showing that the ratios may not have changed greatly after that. The ever increasing percentage of English speakers indicate application of intellectual skills where English speakers the government applied intelligence to covert people into English without use of force.
Works cited
Jeanne F. Social Studies 11: United States History and Government. The New York State Education Department, Albany, 2008 Print
Geoffrey S. Authentic intellectual work in social studies: putting performance before pedagogy. Penguin Publishers, 2005 Print.
Howard Z. History is a weapon: A People’s history of the United States. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2010 Print
