Friday, June 27, 2014

Humanity versus Objects Prompt

I do not have my topic ready for this week as certain events, including the death of a friend, have prevented me from developing a position. In fact, I had forgotten which topic I wanted to write about quite a few times. I have continuously switched between a eulogy for my friend and something concerning humanity. So while I might write something to dedicate to my friend, I do have a prompt. Consider this claim: "Sometimes it is through arguing that we recognize someone as a human being." When are times that you find yourself recognizing someone else is a person and not just an object in some sense?

Friday, June 20, 2014

Perspectives



    This week, I do not have a letter for you all. Instead, I have an observation essay that likely will not be well-written. I also might readdress the topic at a later date. 
    Last week, I wrote “so-called American Revolution.” The basis for that phrase was based off the perspective of people who would say nothing changed. The slaves were still slaves, women could not vote, etc. However, on the other side, the government changed. The roles of the former colonists were given more rights. Also, the American Revolution started something, the French Revolution being part of it.
    So perspectives are important in making statements. It’s also important to determine which perspectives are valid for making a claim. Definitions are also interesting to consider. For example, are the changes I mention above a “fundamental change”? Personally, I don’t care to argue about that topic.  I care more about the ideas of perspectives.  For example, when someone uses a “racist” term, but a representative of the “offended” party says it was okay, does the opinion of the public matter?
    It is interesting that humans can care for things that do not concern us and not care for things that do concern us. The whole thing is a matter of perspective.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Avoid Extremes



My Dear Readers,
                I must caution you against extremes. When we give ourselves into the extreme ideas on a position, we can only cause more suffering. Some people might feel the only way to make things right is to swap the positions. However, what would that do but instead place the victims in the roles of the offenders? Nothing gets fixed, but instead the very little progress that was made gets destroyed.
                It also is not right to use extreme measures to make a point. For instance, it is wrong for a vegetarian, to explain why he or she does not eat meat, to kill a man’s child and serve it to him. Also, as ironic as it may be, it is wrong for a “pro-life” supporter to wish a “pro-choice” advocate that his or her parents had chose to abort the “pro-choice” supporter. Both, though in different areas, are wrong. They both undermine the goal of their position; the vegetarian is to respect all animals and life while the “pro-life” supporter is to say abortion is never right, regardless of how someone might turn out to be. In addition, the vegetarian would have committed murder and the “pro-life” activist used hate speech. The result of any of these actions would be support for the problem, not the solution.
                 When I look at literature that involves a revolution, I am certainly more cautious about whether I agree with it or not. At the moment, my opinion has been shaped to not praise a revolution unless a solid plan of operation is in place. One thing I praise about the so-called American Revolution is that it only really removed who was at the top. They kept the local governments in place to keep things in control. Then they laid out how they were to run the government, addressing many of the problems from before. While I doubt it was entirely peaceful, that is far better than anything I can say about the French Revolution. When a plan is laid out that does not simply swap who is where in power, but works to treat the citizens correctly, even those who were previously in power, there is hope for progress. Otherwise, there can only be a Reign of Terror and the destruction of progress.
                I turned in to a Japanese murder mystery. At the end of the show, the main character realized that revenge never ends unless someone is ready to forgive. That is true. That is why it is important to teach people how to forgive. We all offend someone one time or another, and sometimes it is truly grave. However, we need to act not only to reconcile our actions, but to forgive and move forward.
                So I say to you again, do not be easily swayed by the extremists in their positions. It is not hard to find that the extremists actually attack the very people they say they are trying to help. Actions must be kept in check by reason and love, and if everyone adopts that, we will make progress.

N.D. Moharo

Friday, June 6, 2014

Post not ready; apologies

Hi everyone. While I do have a topic planned for this week, I have not been able to come up with a draft I am satisfied with nor do I think I will have time to work on it this weekend. Hopefully it will be ready by next week. Until then, I will simply point your attention to J. D. Nyle's story Neostriker: Shining and ask, "What do you think would happen if your dream came true? How would you act in that situation? Would you consider it real or not?"