I think in some aspects that a majority of our world is secular, but I also believe that religion still plays a large role in other areas. If you define religion as the worship of a higher being, and/or a sense of spirituality, living a life or morality, I would say the world has fallen far away from that.
On one hand, you have the world of entertainment, where television and movies say and do things that would have never been allowed years ago. They show things that never should be shown, use cuss words like they are everyday words, and show violence so extreme, that you cannot eat while watching it. I call that secular. Nobody wants to support a religious movie as a box office hit anymore. Kids can’t pray in secular schools anymore, and most places consider “Merry Christmas” to be a “religious” term, and are required to say Happy Holidays. Last Christmas, I even heard an employee at Wal-Mart complain that they were not allowed to say “Merry Christmas”. That was shocking, considering Wal-Mart wants you to believe they are a family friendly store.
With that being said, I would also say that I see religion as a part of society as well. It is not often that you find people running around cursing the name of God, and most people will express some sort of belief in a higher being. Even they don’t go to church on a regular basis, they recognize that a majority of their blessing come from the God they worship. We have God’s name on our money, it’s the principals that our country is founded on, and is included in such documents as our Declaration of Independence. When tragedy strikes our communities, you find people praying together in public, and people finding God again, even if for a short time. When people get sent to prison, they will often claim to have “found God” while inside. So I don’t think we are totally secular, but I think the scales lean toward a secular world.
The text says that the disagreement between non-secular supports, and secular supports, is that for those support secularization; see religion as not so important anymore. Those who support secularization, say that religion is a major part of society. I think that religion is an important part of society; I just think human nature has required more sexual, and violent films because we have become used to minor action, and want more to get our emotions going. Because of that, I think that we are becoming more and more into the world, and less and less into God.
I do think the text brings up a valid point. That in the old days religion had a huge influence over our society and government, but as we have separated church and state, religion has had a lesser influence over government, and because of that, government has become more and more powerful. I think this is because government has not had to answer to a higher power in a long time. Seeing what society has become, I think that we should rethink how much of God we have taken out of our society, schools, government, and world in general.
In looking at the web explorations on world religions, I was really shocked to see so many religions, many I had not heard of. There were millions of followers for many of the religions, which also tells me that people must be more religious than we realize. Maybe they are afraid to bring it into their every day lives, and wear their religion on their sleeve.
I had suspected that Christianity would be the largest part; I just did not realize that so many religions fell under Christianity. I was sad to see that there were so many who don’t believe in anything. Besides religious beliefs, I guess it is sad for me, because I think believing in something makes life better. (At least for me.) I thought there would have been more people following the Chinese traditional religion. It was interesting learning about some the religions I had never heard of, such as Rastafarianism, Zoroastrianism, and Cao Dai.
Overall I thought this weeks readings were very interesting. It has motivated me to learn more about other religions, so I at least will know what someone is talking about when they say they practice a certain religion.
August 8, 2010
A Tale of Two Families
This week was full of eye opening assignments. I was uncomfortable doing the Implicit Bias Test, but learned a lot about myself. I was horrified when watching the film about Rwanda. I could not believe how bad the situation was, how little we did to help. That left me angry for most of the week. Then I look at the Migration website, and the Racial inequality website, and just could not figure out where to put all the feelings I had at this point. I really wanted to believe that in this day and time there was not so many issues with bias or prejudice, but I see that I might be a bit naïve.
The website Where Race Lives: A Tale of Two Families, really brought home how far we have come, yet how far we have to go. Starting with the difference in where the Green’s and Holland’s were allowed to live, and what type of financing they were allowed to get, was sad. From the start Byron and Max have a different head start, and I knew from the start that their futures would be very different.
Job opportunities were so different for Mr. Green’s family, compared to Mr. Holland’s family, that the opportunities they could afford for Max and Byron would be very different. Just education alone, was largely different. It seems very unfair that the “poor” jobs were so affected, and were the cause of neighborhoods becoming more segregated, and poor. I would assume that crime rates in those neighborhoods rose, and it was the start of a discouraging life for Byron. Max on the other hand gets to live in a good neighborhood, and while Byron’s family life is going down, Max’s lifestyle is improving. He gets to go to good school, play in nice parks, and study at well stocked libraries. Max gets to go to a private college, along with his siblings.
Even with all the struggles, it is good that Byron earns a scholarship to an Ivy League school. While, Max had plenty of money to travel, and go to college, Byron had to worry about money.
I could not believe the difference in what the two families sold their houses for. The sale of house seems to be determined by the majority of the race that lives in that neighborhood. What surprised me even more was that these sales were in the 90’s, and the year 2000, within my lifetime. Byron now owns a condo, and makes monthly payments, Max gets to buy a house with the help of his parents. Now begins the cycle for the next generation.
My father is Hispanic, and my mother is White. I have noticed the same type of differences as Byron and Max, with my parents. My father grew up poor, and has many family members that still live in bad neighborhoods, that we are not allowed to visit because they are very unsafe areas. My father is the first college graduate from his family, and left home at 18 because he wanted a better life.
My mother on the other hand, came from an upper middle class family. She lived in a nice house; her father and mother both had doctorates. Her brother and her both have graduate degrees. They traveled to many countries, and the family she has left, live in upper class neighborhoods, where we can visit without worry of safety. My father says when he met my mother that he thought his life was good enough, because it was better than his parents. He was in the military, moving up in rank, and was a decent guy who never got in trouble. However, my mother knew that everyone should have a college degree; they had to save for the future, and provide a good start in life for their children. So he tells us he would not be where he is without my mother. He has a college degree, is almost at the top rank in the Marine Corps, and has saved for the future, affording all of his children a college degree, and they have done things for their children, that were never done for my dad. They are happy because they know their future grandchildren will have a better life than they did.
I feel really bad for people who have to live life struggling for each success. I wish our society were very different. I think those that work past the problems in society are our hero’s, and should be very proud of themselves.
The website Where Race Lives: A Tale of Two Families, really brought home how far we have come, yet how far we have to go. Starting with the difference in where the Green’s and Holland’s were allowed to live, and what type of financing they were allowed to get, was sad. From the start Byron and Max have a different head start, and I knew from the start that their futures would be very different.
Job opportunities were so different for Mr. Green’s family, compared to Mr. Holland’s family, that the opportunities they could afford for Max and Byron would be very different. Just education alone, was largely different. It seems very unfair that the “poor” jobs were so affected, and were the cause of neighborhoods becoming more segregated, and poor. I would assume that crime rates in those neighborhoods rose, and it was the start of a discouraging life for Byron. Max on the other hand gets to live in a good neighborhood, and while Byron’s family life is going down, Max’s lifestyle is improving. He gets to go to good school, play in nice parks, and study at well stocked libraries. Max gets to go to a private college, along with his siblings.
Even with all the struggles, it is good that Byron earns a scholarship to an Ivy League school. While, Max had plenty of money to travel, and go to college, Byron had to worry about money.
I could not believe the difference in what the two families sold their houses for. The sale of house seems to be determined by the majority of the race that lives in that neighborhood. What surprised me even more was that these sales were in the 90’s, and the year 2000, within my lifetime. Byron now owns a condo, and makes monthly payments, Max gets to buy a house with the help of his parents. Now begins the cycle for the next generation.
My father is Hispanic, and my mother is White. I have noticed the same type of differences as Byron and Max, with my parents. My father grew up poor, and has many family members that still live in bad neighborhoods, that we are not allowed to visit because they are very unsafe areas. My father is the first college graduate from his family, and left home at 18 because he wanted a better life.
My mother on the other hand, came from an upper middle class family. She lived in a nice house; her father and mother both had doctorates. Her brother and her both have graduate degrees. They traveled to many countries, and the family she has left, live in upper class neighborhoods, where we can visit without worry of safety. My father says when he met my mother that he thought his life was good enough, because it was better than his parents. He was in the military, moving up in rank, and was a decent guy who never got in trouble. However, my mother knew that everyone should have a college degree; they had to save for the future, and provide a good start in life for their children. So he tells us he would not be where he is without my mother. He has a college degree, is almost at the top rank in the Marine Corps, and has saved for the future, affording all of his children a college degree, and they have done things for their children, that were never done for my dad. They are happy because they know their future grandchildren will have a better life than they did.
I feel really bad for people who have to live life struggling for each success. I wish our society were very different. I think those that work past the problems in society are our hero’s, and should be very proud of themselves.
August 1, 2010
Social Construction of Gender
This weeks reading about the social construction of gender, was both enlightening and frustrating. The chapter begins with a sad story about Andrea Ellington, and her stressful life, raising 3 kids on $20,000 a year. I wondered how naive I am thinking that we are in American, and life should be better for people.
For the most part I agree with what the chapter says about the role biology plays in our gender roles. I think some of what a person does according to gender is due to sociological influence, but I also think biology plays a large role. I have known girls who are “girly girls”, and girls who are “tomboys”. The one’s I know who are girly, were mostly raised by their mom, and did all the beauty regiments, and shopping with their mom. The one’s that I know that are tomboys, either had a lot of brothers, which would probably be explained under gender socialization, or played sports with their Dad, who didn’t have any son’s, and so made his daughter the closest thing he could to a “son”. My Dad did this with one of my younger sisters, who is the only tomboy. The rest of us like girl things.
However, there are certain things she will not do, and I believe this is due to her being, genetically, a girl. She does not run around loud and rambunctious. She does not want to hunt and fish. Although, I know there are girls who do. I think there are just certain things that she doesn’t do because she is not a muscular. She does not want to be smelly, and get really dirty outside. While she dresses more like a tomboy, she still will maintain some sort of clean, girl, look.
One of the things that was hard to fully understand was the section where there are gender identity issues. When talking about George Jorgensen becoming Christine Jorgensen. I guess its hard to understand if someone if born a female or male, how they identify with the opposite sex, unless there is some sort of confusion in the brain, or in the hormone levels. I think its just one of those things that is hard to understand, unless you have been through it, or know someone who has. I wonder if something happen in their childhood that bring the confusion? It must be a hard life to have to go through something like that.
I really liked the section that talked about gender roles in advertisements. It’s funny how far we have come. Now we have women showing strong body poses, and being in the military. I think we still have advertisements that show women in weak roles, such as when they advertise a woman in provocative ways. I wish women would not do those sorts of ads. I think it brings women down, and continues to make people think we are just sex objects.
Overall, this chapter, and the assignment were very enlightening. I really learned a lot, and loved getting to know how women in other countries view their inequality. I think we have come a long way, but I think we still have a ways to go.
For the most part I agree with what the chapter says about the role biology plays in our gender roles. I think some of what a person does according to gender is due to sociological influence, but I also think biology plays a large role. I have known girls who are “girly girls”, and girls who are “tomboys”. The one’s I know who are girly, were mostly raised by their mom, and did all the beauty regiments, and shopping with their mom. The one’s that I know that are tomboys, either had a lot of brothers, which would probably be explained under gender socialization, or played sports with their Dad, who didn’t have any son’s, and so made his daughter the closest thing he could to a “son”. My Dad did this with one of my younger sisters, who is the only tomboy. The rest of us like girl things.
However, there are certain things she will not do, and I believe this is due to her being, genetically, a girl. She does not run around loud and rambunctious. She does not want to hunt and fish. Although, I know there are girls who do. I think there are just certain things that she doesn’t do because she is not a muscular. She does not want to be smelly, and get really dirty outside. While she dresses more like a tomboy, she still will maintain some sort of clean, girl, look.
One of the things that was hard to fully understand was the section where there are gender identity issues. When talking about George Jorgensen becoming Christine Jorgensen. I guess its hard to understand if someone if born a female or male, how they identify with the opposite sex, unless there is some sort of confusion in the brain, or in the hormone levels. I think its just one of those things that is hard to understand, unless you have been through it, or know someone who has. I wonder if something happen in their childhood that bring the confusion? It must be a hard life to have to go through something like that.
I really liked the section that talked about gender roles in advertisements. It’s funny how far we have come. Now we have women showing strong body poses, and being in the military. I think we still have advertisements that show women in weak roles, such as when they advertise a woman in provocative ways. I wish women would not do those sorts of ads. I think it brings women down, and continues to make people think we are just sex objects.
Overall, this chapter, and the assignment were very enlightening. I really learned a lot, and loved getting to know how women in other countries view their inequality. I think we have come a long way, but I think we still have a ways to go.
July 25, 2010
Global Inequality
We should care about global inequality because it affects everyone. It affects the rich, the poor, and the middle class. It affects every country, and every citizen. To not care would mean to take away our humanity. The text and podcasts talk about what global inequality does to us, and they stress important factors, but we also have to remember that what makes us human, is our ability to care for others, and to help others when they are down.
When we have global inequality the rich just seem to get richer, and the poor just seem to get poorer. The rich exploit the poor, and use them for their own gain. Treating them as if they are not human, paying them bare minimum, and becoming greedier in the process.
Global inequality is unjust for the poor. They fight daily just to eat, and provide shelter for their families. They do not have enough money for food, clothing, and health care. This often leads to involvement in criminal activities, just so they can afford food. They might become involved in extremes, such as, drug trafficking, human trafficking, or unfair child labor.
The inequality can lead to uprisings, and violence, as those who are struggling are angry. It has also been known for those that are rich, to use their power to take over governments, and ruin a country in the process. Adolf Hitler comes to mind.
I also think global inequality could contribute to substandard products being imported, and affecting our country. I remember the problems recently with many toys coming from China being found to contain lead. I know China is thought to be a powerhouse, and I understand we even have a debt to them, but on the map in the text it shows that they are a lower middle class country. I assume most of their citizen’s struggle, and only the powerful have wealth. This is why so many businesses outsource their work to China and India. They can get cheap labor, and cheap materials. So global inequality causes a person in China to work for a few dollars a day, but someone in American to make twice as much. In turn, we loose jobs in America, in favor of cheaper labor in another country, and that country is exploited, just for a few dollars to buy food.
There are many statistics that tell us why we should care about global inequality, but I think we also have to realize that to not care is to stop being human. We need to rescue the children in sweatshops in India, we need to stop the trafficking of women and young girls from Russia, and we need to make things more equal so we can all know our world is a better place.
Instead of dividing people into classes, (rich, poor, middle class) why not help each other out to make the world more peaceful. This might be one answer to end most wars.
When we have global inequality the rich just seem to get richer, and the poor just seem to get poorer. The rich exploit the poor, and use them for their own gain. Treating them as if they are not human, paying them bare minimum, and becoming greedier in the process.
Global inequality is unjust for the poor. They fight daily just to eat, and provide shelter for their families. They do not have enough money for food, clothing, and health care. This often leads to involvement in criminal activities, just so they can afford food. They might become involved in extremes, such as, drug trafficking, human trafficking, or unfair child labor.
The inequality can lead to uprisings, and violence, as those who are struggling are angry. It has also been known for those that are rich, to use their power to take over governments, and ruin a country in the process. Adolf Hitler comes to mind.
I also think global inequality could contribute to substandard products being imported, and affecting our country. I remember the problems recently with many toys coming from China being found to contain lead. I know China is thought to be a powerhouse, and I understand we even have a debt to them, but on the map in the text it shows that they are a lower middle class country. I assume most of their citizen’s struggle, and only the powerful have wealth. This is why so many businesses outsource their work to China and India. They can get cheap labor, and cheap materials. So global inequality causes a person in China to work for a few dollars a day, but someone in American to make twice as much. In turn, we loose jobs in America, in favor of cheaper labor in another country, and that country is exploited, just for a few dollars to buy food.
There are many statistics that tell us why we should care about global inequality, but I think we also have to realize that to not care is to stop being human. We need to rescue the children in sweatshops in India, we need to stop the trafficking of women and young girls from Russia, and we need to make things more equal so we can all know our world is a better place.
Instead of dividing people into classes, (rich, poor, middle class) why not help each other out to make the world more peaceful. This might be one answer to end most wars.
July 18, 2010
Social Class
After exploring the People Like Us website (http://www.pbs.org/peoplelikeus/), and reading my sociology book, I’ve become quite irritated. I always knew our society was materialistic, but not to the degree you see in the text, and on the website mentioned above. It’s no wonder there are so many issues in society today.
The reading and website tell us that social class matters more than it should in the United States. I can’t believe that people are the way they are in the videos, yet we say that people don’t like to admit that the class section exists. Do they not see how they come across? “Look at who my relatives are, I wouldn’t drive a Ford, middle class people have no taste, preppy, dorky, looser, ghetto”. Who are they kidding? They radiate being snot. Learning to be a butler? Making sure you talk to someone of class with proper words? Are they kidding? Aren’t we all humans? The people with new money crack me up. It seems they are more brass than those with old money. The statues are overkill. (I sure hope there is nobody rich reading this.) LOL! I can’t believe the lady being interviewed, Laura, says that she doesn’t consider Police Officers to be classy people. How in the world is that marriage going to work?
I was homeschooled from 4th grade until graduation. So I don’t get the Belles, shown in the video from the People Like Us website. The dancing seems provocative, and the costumes were bizarre, yet they think they are the upper class of high school. I am really glad I did not go to regular high school if they are all like that. They put on performances at half time of football games, and that make them better? What about the smart kids in school? The reading makes a good point about education being a way to have a better life, and that to me seems more important than having old money, social status, or if you know which fork to use.
I never realized until I read the text, that there is an “Upper Middle Class”. I thought there were just a low class, middle class, and upper class. Not only do we have upper middle class, but there is working class, and lower middle class as well. Way too many “classes”. It makes it almost seem ridiculous. On the PBS website I played the “Chintz or Shag” game, and scored middle class. Oh well. LOL! Overall it was an enlightening, and fun in a weird way to explore the site, and see how other people actually think. However, I really hope these snotty people are the minority, rather than the majority.
I think there are honestly people who want to get ahead, not just for material possession, but also to make better lives for themselves and for their families. Then there are people who just want to make money and move up on the social class scale because they want to be noticed, envied, and show off how rich they are. Social class matters way too much to the middle and upper class, in my opinion. Even if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would like to believe I would not change. Sure I might get some more clothes, and a new car, but I would hope that I would help others. I know for certain I would not buy any statues for my lawn.
It’s sad with all the struggles of the lower class, and how they just want to do better for themselves, yet there are people out there stressing over the proper word for curtains, and if there are extra sofa arm covers to hide the dirt. Where we go to school, where our dad works, what car we drive, and our shoe brand, should not matter more than what we do to contribute to society. We need to be concerned about how much we help others, and not just ourselves. I guess, according to where you grew up, the peer pressure to do well, and be materialistic, matters too much. I guess for Paris Hilton’s circle, it might be really embarrassing for her to be caught with a Roxy purse. Perhaps she would be shunned in her own circle.
I prefer to wear comfy jeans, a cozy shirt, and flip-flops or converse, and no matter where I go (a trip to Macy’s, a quick walk through in Neiman Marcus, or eating out at cheesecake factory) I feel good about who I am. I am lucky that my friends, and family, do not judge me, or others, for the brand of clothing we wear. Instead of judging a person by whether they walk close to a wall with their head down or walk down the middle of a hallway with their head held high, why not get to know their heart? Get to know where they come from and how they want to help make our world a little more comfortable to live in. I have misjudged a few people based on appearance, only to find out they were some of the most remarkable people I had the privilege to get to know.
The reading and website tell us that social class matters more than it should in the United States. I can’t believe that people are the way they are in the videos, yet we say that people don’t like to admit that the class section exists. Do they not see how they come across? “Look at who my relatives are, I wouldn’t drive a Ford, middle class people have no taste, preppy, dorky, looser, ghetto”. Who are they kidding? They radiate being snot. Learning to be a butler? Making sure you talk to someone of class with proper words? Are they kidding? Aren’t we all humans? The people with new money crack me up. It seems they are more brass than those with old money. The statues are overkill. (I sure hope there is nobody rich reading this.) LOL! I can’t believe the lady being interviewed, Laura, says that she doesn’t consider Police Officers to be classy people. How in the world is that marriage going to work?
I was homeschooled from 4th grade until graduation. So I don’t get the Belles, shown in the video from the People Like Us website. The dancing seems provocative, and the costumes were bizarre, yet they think they are the upper class of high school. I am really glad I did not go to regular high school if they are all like that. They put on performances at half time of football games, and that make them better? What about the smart kids in school? The reading makes a good point about education being a way to have a better life, and that to me seems more important than having old money, social status, or if you know which fork to use.
I never realized until I read the text, that there is an “Upper Middle Class”. I thought there were just a low class, middle class, and upper class. Not only do we have upper middle class, but there is working class, and lower middle class as well. Way too many “classes”. It makes it almost seem ridiculous. On the PBS website I played the “Chintz or Shag” game, and scored middle class. Oh well. LOL! Overall it was an enlightening, and fun in a weird way to explore the site, and see how other people actually think. However, I really hope these snotty people are the minority, rather than the majority.
I think there are honestly people who want to get ahead, not just for material possession, but also to make better lives for themselves and for their families. Then there are people who just want to make money and move up on the social class scale because they want to be noticed, envied, and show off how rich they are. Social class matters way too much to the middle and upper class, in my opinion. Even if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would like to believe I would not change. Sure I might get some more clothes, and a new car, but I would hope that I would help others. I know for certain I would not buy any statues for my lawn.
It’s sad with all the struggles of the lower class, and how they just want to do better for themselves, yet there are people out there stressing over the proper word for curtains, and if there are extra sofa arm covers to hide the dirt. Where we go to school, where our dad works, what car we drive, and our shoe brand, should not matter more than what we do to contribute to society. We need to be concerned about how much we help others, and not just ourselves. I guess, according to where you grew up, the peer pressure to do well, and be materialistic, matters too much. I guess for Paris Hilton’s circle, it might be really embarrassing for her to be caught with a Roxy purse. Perhaps she would be shunned in her own circle.
I prefer to wear comfy jeans, a cozy shirt, and flip-flops or converse, and no matter where I go (a trip to Macy’s, a quick walk through in Neiman Marcus, or eating out at cheesecake factory) I feel good about who I am. I am lucky that my friends, and family, do not judge me, or others, for the brand of clothing we wear. Instead of judging a person by whether they walk close to a wall with their head down or walk down the middle of a hallway with their head held high, why not get to know their heart? Get to know where they come from and how they want to help make our world a little more comfortable to live in. I have misjudged a few people based on appearance, only to find out they were some of the most remarkable people I had the privilege to get to know.
July 11, 2010
Technology
I think technology is great! I think we are more advanced because of it, and I think we can see, hear, and learn things, we would never know without it. However, I do think there is a fine line that can be crossed. It is funny, because this is a current issue in our home. My sister has gotten so comfortable with technology, that she has lost some social skills, and actually prefers talking to friends online, or texting. My parents have been telling her that she needs to interact because someday she is going to have to go for a job interview, and if she can’t “talk” to people in person, she is going to have a hard time convincing a potential employer that she is the right person for the job.
I love technology because we are military, and we move a lot, and without it, I would not be able to keep up with many friends I have met in different places. I love my Petville game I play online with friends on Facebook. In person I like to talk to friends I know, but I am not really good at meeting new people. It is very uncomfortable for me. I would rather meet people, get to know them on facebook, or through texting, and then when I am comfortable, deal with them in person.
So in my experience, and with the experience I have seen among friends, I would say that we have become very dependent on technology. Therefore, we have isolated ourselves, by depending on technology to interact, and to relay information. As I type this, my Mom is laughing, because my Dad texted her to tell her to bring up his water when she comes upstairs. HA HA!
I have also seen a lot of TV shows where people have their technology taken away to see how it changes their lives. It’s interesting how people actually have withdrawals. They can get angry, try to sneak, etc. Eventually they learn they are too dependent, and try to change habits. Most of the time when there is a follow up, they find that the person has gone back to their old habits.
I think we should be concerned to a degree. We need technology in order to enjoy the success we enjoy in this country. However, I think we have to be careful to not let it over take our lives. Like the family I saw when we went to eat lunch after church, the Mom, Dad, and 3 kids, were all on cell phones, or game players. They did not talk the entire time. I think in those cases, we have to be concerned, and need to make sure people understand that too much of a good thing, is not good.
I love technology because we are military, and we move a lot, and without it, I would not be able to keep up with many friends I have met in different places. I love my Petville game I play online with friends on Facebook. In person I like to talk to friends I know, but I am not really good at meeting new people. It is very uncomfortable for me. I would rather meet people, get to know them on facebook, or through texting, and then when I am comfortable, deal with them in person.
So in my experience, and with the experience I have seen among friends, I would say that we have become very dependent on technology. Therefore, we have isolated ourselves, by depending on technology to interact, and to relay information. As I type this, my Mom is laughing, because my Dad texted her to tell her to bring up his water when she comes upstairs. HA HA!
I have also seen a lot of TV shows where people have their technology taken away to see how it changes their lives. It’s interesting how people actually have withdrawals. They can get angry, try to sneak, etc. Eventually they learn they are too dependent, and try to change habits. Most of the time when there is a follow up, they find that the person has gone back to their old habits.
I think we should be concerned to a degree. We need technology in order to enjoy the success we enjoy in this country. However, I think we have to be careful to not let it over take our lives. Like the family I saw when we went to eat lunch after church, the Mom, Dad, and 3 kids, were all on cell phones, or game players. They did not talk the entire time. I think in those cases, we have to be concerned, and need to make sure people understand that too much of a good thing, is not good.
July 3, 2010
The Criminal Justice System
In this weeks reading, the topic that really grabbed my attention, was the information about prisons. It was very shocking to learn the number of people we support in prison, and the cost is about $25,327 per year, per prisoner! That comes from our tax dollars. With the cost, the number of people who reoffend, and the large number of people we have there in the first place, I think its time we rethink how we run our society, and how we run our prisons.
If a primary reason that a person commits a crime is believed to be a result of economic status, then why don’t we take that $25,327 a year, and put it towards the families that suffer economically? Take that money, and fix our schools, our neighborhoods, and give the children we are raising, the feeling that somebody cares, and wants to give them a future. Provide a way to college, and a good education will give them other choices.
Another thought is to quit using our prisons to punish smaller crimes. Find a way for those who commit crimes, such a prostitution, to learn a better way of living life. Usually those crimes are committed because a person is desperate. So take that money, and make them less desperate. Give them education so they can learn a trade, and learn to contribute. If you give them a sense of self worth, then they will learn not to be so self-destructive.
Prisons seem to also be concerned with the “rights” of the prisoner. If a person is going to do a crime, then why should their time in prison be anything less than hard? I am sure there are things that can be cut in order to save the taxpayers. If prison is a nightmare experience, rather than a cell, TV, and free education, then maybe they will think twice.
If prisons turn out lifetime, hardened, criminals, then we have to look at what kind of programs can be implemented to change that. With all the “genius” people we have on this planet, somebody can’t come up with something better? Give them a skill in prison that is something they will love to do on the outside. If they don’t love what they do, they won’t stick with it. Figure out what they love, and what they are good at. Train them, and give them a chance when they get out. If they love cars, teach them mechanics, if they love cooking, make them a chef. Then when they get out, give them a real job that they can be proud of.
I realize this may not work for the criminally insane, but it might be a solution for the rest who are just criminals because of economic status. As for those that are insane, I say lock them up and throw away the key. I know that sounds hard, but if they are insane, how can they be rehabilitated enough to stop harming society?
If a primary reason that a person commits a crime is believed to be a result of economic status, then why don’t we take that $25,327 a year, and put it towards the families that suffer economically? Take that money, and fix our schools, our neighborhoods, and give the children we are raising, the feeling that somebody cares, and wants to give them a future. Provide a way to college, and a good education will give them other choices.
Another thought is to quit using our prisons to punish smaller crimes. Find a way for those who commit crimes, such a prostitution, to learn a better way of living life. Usually those crimes are committed because a person is desperate. So take that money, and make them less desperate. Give them education so they can learn a trade, and learn to contribute. If you give them a sense of self worth, then they will learn not to be so self-destructive.
Prisons seem to also be concerned with the “rights” of the prisoner. If a person is going to do a crime, then why should their time in prison be anything less than hard? I am sure there are things that can be cut in order to save the taxpayers. If prison is a nightmare experience, rather than a cell, TV, and free education, then maybe they will think twice.
If prisons turn out lifetime, hardened, criminals, then we have to look at what kind of programs can be implemented to change that. With all the “genius” people we have on this planet, somebody can’t come up with something better? Give them a skill in prison that is something they will love to do on the outside. If they don’t love what they do, they won’t stick with it. Figure out what they love, and what they are good at. Train them, and give them a chance when they get out. If they love cars, teach them mechanics, if they love cooking, make them a chef. Then when they get out, give them a real job that they can be proud of.
I realize this may not work for the criminally insane, but it might be a solution for the rest who are just criminals because of economic status. As for those that are insane, I say lock them up and throw away the key. I know that sounds hard, but if they are insane, how can they be rehabilitated enough to stop harming society?
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