Morality in Arts

The "the Moral Mind" is very inspirational. It invites the argument between "being right" and "being moral".

In the second story it tells, I tend to believe that Julie and Mark should not be blamed as "immoral". There are a few reasons for me to think so. First, they were aware of what they were doing and clearly knew the possible consequence of whatever they did when they decided to have sex with each other. Therefore their dicision was mature and responsible enough. Secondly, what they did was not harmful to each other, instead, they both benifited from whatever they did. And thirdly, what they did was not directly harmful to the society. One may argue that siblings sex may produce genetic abnormality which is potentially harmful to the society. But whatever we do always has an indirect impact on the society and therefore we do not need to make a decision by considering every potential impact on the society. Otherwise, nobody is going to be able to make any decision.

However, in the first story. The murderer was absolutely wrong and immoral because what he did was harmful to those victims and obviously he made his decisions without those victims' consensus. Scientists may argue that the murderer's brain operated differently and therefore he was innocent. However, a morality judgement doesn't need to be made by a doer of an action him/herself. That the murderer doesn't think so doesn't mean that the entire morality system cannot make a judgement against his/her behavior. We always have the rights to judge a person's decisions and behaviours.

This article also reminds me of morality standards on arts. I have long been believing that art works don't need to be judged morally. In other words, there are only "good" or "bad" art works but no "moral" or "immoral" ones. This could be a debatable statement but I still would like to display a few justifications:
1, From an artist's perspective, an artist has no moral or social purposes to create his/her works (if he/she has, his/her works are not considered art works).
2, From a viewer's perspective, it doesn't matter whatever an artist uses/describes in his/her works, a viewer should only focus on "how" but not on "what" an artist creates. If a viewer judges an art work based on morality standards, he/she is not viewing an art work and this is not the author's business any more.

Of course, if an artist creates his/her works purposely to promote any moral standards, no matter the standards are good or bad, he/she is no longer considered artist, in my mind. If an artist promotes bad(harmful) moral standards through his/her works, he/she is no longer an artist, and more importanly, he/she is immoral.

We Connect

In The Moral Mind, I was intrigued by subject matter and various examples explaining how psychopath’s brains work to the common solider in war time. Author Henry Haslam reveals the truth of war and unbelievable military tactics. During combat, “the crime of murder is turned into an act of heroism” (179). I was immensely shocked to discover that even with encouragement and motivation to be viewed as a national hero, soldiers resist due to compelling inner instincts, obligating one to feel a moral impulse. The fear of killing overrides the fear of being killed. Army General Marshall found that during World War II, less than twenty percent actually shot at the enemy! Emotions hindered their will to act. This was surprising to me. The US Armies response was, although completely atrocious, not surprising. Changing their training regimens by rehearsing the kill to shoot reflexively desensitized the soldiers. Bombing and long-range firing detached the solder from direct contact to an enemy, so the personal feel of killing someone was removed. This links directly to studies done by neurologist Joshua Greene comparing personal moral situations with impersonal moral situations. The difference is discretely built into the brain. Certain areas are activated depending on the situation, and the idea of “me hurts you” (178) is simple and innate to our moral decisions.
This article provided many different examples and studies which connected the pieces of how the brain works. Primates are able to understand morality. Mirror neurons also explain empathy. Our emotional brains are able to, in a sense; imitate another’s just by seeing their actions, expressions, and/or movements.
I have only had the chance to tutor at Canal Alliance once, but based on the idea of helping, I can readily see why it comes easy to me to explain how to do something like a homework assignment. My brain, emotions, and ability to experience empathy allow me to feel a student’s frustration or misunderstanding as if it were my own. Through this sensitivity, I react with different ways to explain. Knowing this information with hopefully help me feel even more engaged with those I help because for me, empathy is real and scientific. I can actually sense others emotions and thoughts and use it to connect us more.

Prompt: The Moral Mind and The Brain is an Argument

In "The Moral Mind," Lehrer illustrates some of the ways in which our brains are wired for empathy: "These innate emotions are so powerful that they keep people moral even in the most amoral situations" (179). What situations/contexts are most apt to elicit our moral emotions and corresponding actions? He offers a series of examples of this inherent sympathy/morality--which are most interesting to you? Can you relate to your service experience in any way?
and/or
In the next chapter, "The Brain is an Argument." Lehrer talks about the importance of doubt and the inner dialogue in making decisions and judgments. He writes that although confidence is comforting, the "desire to always be right is a dangerous side-effect of having competing regions inside one's head" (210). As Lehrer illuminates through a variety of stories, feeling sure and acting on certain assumptions can create a dangerous sense of false security. Again, what interests you most here? Why? Can you link to your service experience?

Canada

“Canada’s objective was to create a safety net woven so tightly that children in the neighborhood couldn’t slip through” (3). I feel like by us going to MCCS, we are trying to help pursue Canada’s goal. We are tutoring the kids, so we can help them get good jobs and careers. What Dominican is doing with MCCS is really good. We are using our knowledge to help these kids get better lives. I feel like we need even more people to continue what Canada has done.

Canada's Vision for Education

Canada is motivated to change the public school system in Harlem becuase of several factor. First off, he was a by-product of the same failing education system, yet he became educated and earned at Masters degree. Thus, he has a strong personal connection and a sense of community within his context. He has worked for a long time fighting for what he believes in- a good education for inner city children of low economic status. He has tried to implement programs, but always runs into barriers. Barriers that include- school boards,teachers unions, funding, resources etc, yet he continues to fight for his beliefs. He stance, is that he just doesnt want to give a quality education to say 500, or 5000 students, but an equal good education to all students. He sees there no point in saving 1 when he can potentially save all. Education has fallen to the waste side in this country; we spend more money on defense programs than we spend on any other program in America. The comparison isnt even close. Then on jail systems. It shows where we have our interest invested! War is a notion profitable, as you think education of its citizens would be as well? but it has yet to be evident..

CANADA

Canada's motivation was to provide the poor children of Harlem the same opportunities to succeed as the children of urban areas. What motivated him was the impact that he could have on these student and to see these children that came from broken homes, violent environment, poverty, attend COLLEGE.
With this goal Canada did face some challenges. The one ethical challenge was selecting who could or not attend the school. This was a task he hated because he knew that in provided the opportunity of success for one child was to take the opportunity away from another. He didn't like knowing that the child that didn't get into the school was would be more likely to fail in life.
The community partner leader, Chris, comes to mind when reading of Canada. She has this strong drive to make a difference in the homeless community of Marin County. She has made her job to teach college student of the issues in hope of an awaking with in student the same drive. She didn't start this program to help the homeless but she does have the same motivation to create change to help those in need for a better future.
What was most surprising to me was social scientists Charles Murry evaluation on poverty. He believes that a reason there is poverty if because the government helps too much. At first glace my reaction was of shock, but reading on I began to understand his reasoning. I have actually even seen the things he spoke about in people I know! Murry points out how government aid has motivated people to not work not wed and have children. The people I know, one is a class mate from high school, a friend of a friend, he has works the system taking advantage of government aid. He lives of of unemployment and admitted to not wanting to find a job because unemployment pays him plenty! My mother's friend's daughter has, I think, 8 kids all from different men. She is always dressed nicely, has even gotten 2 tummy tuck. I asked my mother one day, out of curiosity, what did this woman do for a living, my mother told me that she lived off welfare and child support! I understand Murry's point of view. It is unfortunate that people take advantages of these services that the government offers. It is also unfortunate that people that find themselves in the situation where they need aid in the first place, don't try to get themselves out.
A non basis reason for poverty is innovation of industry. With the creation of machine operated factory many people were left with no jobs, many of whom had no other skills. Its all a domino affect, these people that lose their job are then forced to move to low income neighborhoods where crime and violence is regularly seen, and like Canada said, children exposed to this type of environment have a difficult change of succeeding. So these children instead of growing up and finding jobs rising up from poverty find themselves stuck in the ghettos, because the don't have the education to get out, the don't know of anything else, there influences have taught them to live the easy life of selling drugs or living of the government aid. And as those children have children of their own the cycle begins again and each time making it more difficult to break because if the children's children's role models are parent that didn't amount to anything, what will motivate them to amount to something. And that's where Canada would like to intervene and break the cycle.
My community partner some what helps in attempting to break the cycle as well. They provide assistance to people in need of assistance before they lose their homes to try to prevent them from becoming homeless. The help is just enough to get them past to the next month. Chris, my community partner leader had told us it is not our job to take on the life problem but just to nudge them in the right direction. The community partners want to stop people from losing there homes and moving to the street where there are dangers (violence, drugs) especially if they have children. Unlike government aid that has the ability to influence people to grow dependent, the help provided by the community partners is not. The help these people receive is an incentive to continue to try to come out of there situation.

"The game is fixed against them."

Geoffrey Canada, as many others, are aware that not every individual falls under the stereotype that being an American means living a good and wealthy life. The parents and individuals that showed up to the Promise Academy lottery are the proof of that. Canada describes the group as a "cut off from the American mainstream, their futures constrained by substandards schools,unstable families, and a segregated city." Canada wants to help these children to live a successful life. He realizes that one program is not enough, since after the program is finished, the children are back to square one. Canada's motivation is to save "the kids by the tens of thousands because thats how we are losing them." In order to save them, the situation has to change, from when they are born until adulthood. The poverty level is a large impact on these kids. The problem is that "poverty [is] the dividing line between success and failure in this country, where if you are born poor in a community, like this one, you stay poor," which needs to change. Children who are born into poverty have forfeited their chance to succeed before they are even given a chance to actually do it. The game is fixed to work against them, how is that fair or an equal opportunity to succeed in life?

Whatever it takes even if it takes forever

After reading this assignment it made me think and feel for both Canada and the families affected by poverty. It seems that injustice is what motivates Canada. Just as one parent pointed out in the reading, “it just isn’t fair”, and it’s not. Even though people like Canada try to make life a little fairer, and people like Canada do whatever it takes, it seems helping everyone would take forever. This truth is what causes the ethical/moral debate for Canada which is: how can a person decide who gets help and who doesn’t? “For me, the big question in America is: Are we going to try to make this country a true meritocracy? Or will we forever have a class of people in America who essentially won’t be able to compete, because the game is fixed against them?” (Pg 11 of reading) Unfortunately, I think it will be this way forever because the rich and successful people are the ones with power and authority and do whatever it takes to stay that way. The poor just don’t have the resources to stand a fighting chance, and it is for that reason that the two classes and separating farther and farther apart. There are many families that need help and never get it, and to me at least, the fairest way is to do things by a lottery. That way everyone has the same chance as everyone else. At Emeritus, which is my service learning site, I often see the consequences of having money vs. being poor in old age. Only the wealthy people who generally have a good support system can afford to live in a place like Emeritus. For them life expectancy and quality of living are both greatly and positively affected by their socioeconomic status. For the poor who can’t afford to live in a home, malnutrition and premature death are common as well as health disparities involved with a lack of quality care. So in terms of doing whatever it takes, it seems it will take forever, if ever, to change how life is, to how life should be.

Education and Helping

“Were not interested in saving a hundred kids…or even a thousand…we want to be able to talk how you save kids by the tens of thousands, because that’s how were losing them. Were losing kids by the tens of thousands. “ (pg. 19) This is the quote that stuck with me most from the readings. And it really is true. Why do we make the effort to save some while others fall off? And the answer is it is a start. Just like in the reading there will always be another problem or something else to do, but you have to start somewhere to make a difference. It’s just like at County. When we work with the kids that are at school, we tell our selves we are going to hopefully help that kids or that group, but what about the larger group of kids who didn’t come to school, what are they doing, why cant we help them. There are many questions that are hard to answer and some that don’t really have an answer, besides that we do it because it is the right thing, well hopefully the right thing. These questions are questions that Canada asked himself, and he did something to help the kids who weren’t there or weren’t able to get a chance. It is tough questions to ask why are people poor or rich, and a lot of it has to do with family and education and not to forget money. A lot of kids are poor because they were born poor, and being born poor, sets them up to be poor unless they work hard to not be. A few do, but many don’t and the cycle continues.

Whatever It Takes / One-by-One

At the very beginning of the text it mentions how Canada had a man handing a rose to each woman as she walked in. '"These are for the moms," he said with a smile. "Welcome to the ceremony" (1). This already shows that Canada wanted to help out the families in the community. Showing that kind of respect for mothers is very important in the African American community. By this small gesture, Canada shows that he has respect for the hardships of the people there. When someone from an outside source attempts to help a community in poverty they are not always able to effectively understand what the people are actually going through. Since Canada came from the South Bronx he has lived the lives that these families are facing. He also knows what is most likely to happen to all the kids who don't get in.

In the interview on 60minutes, Canada mentions how the mothers who's children weren't picked in the lottery, were extremely upset because they knew that their children's chances of making it in society had just been cut in half. It seems like no matter how hard people try there is always going to be more to do. That's because it's true. No matter how much one person works for goodness and the well-being of humanity, it won't be enough. There are always more problem. Does this mean that people should give up? No. It means that people should work harder. More people need to be involved. The kids that go through the Promise Academy Charter School will without a doubt give back when they are able to. The sad part, is the kids who don't get in. Canada says, "sure, the five hundred children who were lucky enough to be participating in one of his programs were getting help, but why those five hundred and not the five hundred on the waiting list" (2). Later he goes on to say, "For that matter, why five hundred and not five thousand? If all he was doing was picking some kids to save and letting the rest fail, what was the point?" (2). The point is that without a start there's no hope for anything to ever change. It has to start with the five hundred kids before it can grow to help the rest. That's what a lot of people don't understand. They have the mentality of "oh my vote doesn't count" or "why should I do that, it's not gonna make a difference anyways." What people don't understand, is that without a start, then no change will ever happen. To quote Lao-Tzu "The journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step."

The Importance of Education Reform

Education reform is currently a very hot topic in the United States, and the front runner of this topic is Geoffrey Canada. Canada set his sights on Harlem in New York City, this neighborhood is one of the worst for violence, drug abuse, and other types of crime, so in a way tackling Harlem was like tackling Mount Everest. Thus he began the Harlem Children Zone, this was a charter school for inner city children who otherwise would have to go through the bureaucracy of normal public schools. Canadas goal for this school was to close the achievement gap between children in other neighborhoods or affluent suburbs and the children in the inner city such as Harlem. However, Canadas most important goal is for every student at his school to go and graduate from college. "We are calling our school a Promise Academy because we are making a promise to all or our parents, if your child is in our school we will guarantee that your child succeeds"(22) The school encompasses around 12o students from grades 1-10. Since many parents want their children to attend this school there is not enough room and a lottery is needed. The hope that many people have for this type of schooling is that it will spread all across the United States into other cities like Detroit, or Los Angeles. Canadas goal to close the achievement gap seems steep however, in is own school he has improved test scores dramatically. This story very much relates to my service because unlike what most people think, in the United States not everyone is given educational opportunities, and the system fails them and the end up with a below average education. With more people like Geoffrey Canada however, it will be possible for all students in the United States to succeed.

My Evolved Perspective

This article was very enlightening for me because, not only did it tell a story of hope and optimism buried in poverty, but explained different viewpoints on poverty and where they came from. Canada’s deep-rooted desire and devoted motivation to help the children in Harlem arise from a place I can slightly relate to but feel I could never fully know until I was in that position. Amazingly enough, as much I cannot pinpoint exactly why he is so faithfully determined, I do know it is very real and authentic. Canada’s story is of course unique and individual, but of all the people I have heard or read about who do something great to affect change, they are all wired in a way much like Canada. They are the people who have a raw experience, a burning optimism, untainted hope, human doubts, and the courage to always persevere. Like Canada, these people are the ones with such zealousness to continue working and doing more that they never actually feel accomplished or done. They just keep moving, moving, moving-- always forward.
As I read about the politics and evolution of how people have and still view poverty, I was able to sincerely examine my own bias positionality, and question my perspectives origins. American history is embedded with two opposing, shallow explanations of why poor people are poor. Because I am young and grew up in a fairly isolated town full of self-righteous people, I was familiar with the two perspectives. One is that the American economy denies poor people sufficient income and therefore the appropriate solution is to provide them with what they lack. The other, is that poverty is caused by bad decisions of the poor people themselves, and programs designed to help, actually perpetuate the problem (24). I believe these to be commonly held beliefs by the average middle or upper class people in American society. This is where an ultimate line is drawn between republicans and democrats. Tainted by other’s opinions and my ignorance, I have to admit I believed these explanations to be the only possible answers.
By the end of this article, I felt much more educated and actually on the verge of a sort of epiphany about poverty. All of the research described slightly persuades me, but Martha Farah’s and Annette Lareau’s viewpoints were the most influential. Farah proved practicality on the issue with the studies done on the brain. “It is a physical, mechanistic process in which specific inputs lead to specific outputs” (48). Her example made sense. “Parental nurturance… stimulates the medial temporal lobe…which in turn aids the development of memory skills” (48). Lareau's research leads to an unbiased, tangible conclusion. Observing “culture,” her study was able to, rather then say which parenting methods were “good” and “bad, critically look at advantages and disadvantages of each and gave explanations of how and why middle-class children grow up with a sense of entitlement rather then constraint. They view many adults, likes teachers, as a resources rather then authority. In many of the studies, language was an extremely important factor in children’s brain and cognitive abilities. Combine Farah's scientific research with Lareau’s sociological evidence and one can see the complex combination of factors influencing generations of poverty. All in all, my perspective is deepened by the research, changed by the variety of opinions, and evolved in a way that I will be able to carry with me, especially into my service at Canal Alliance, where it is safe to assume I am working with many children and teenagers who have grown up in poverty. This article has truly compelled me to think more critically and openly about poverty.

IQ Is Equal

By asking himself "Who do I want to help?", "what is my goal for them?" and many other questions(p4,5), Canada dug into the deep side of his heart and realized that he wanted to help the poor children in Harlem who were unable to enroll in that non-profit organization Canada used to work for. He is also facing the personal ethical challenges and inner debates. For example, his Promise Acadamy is still unable to accpet all the needy children. Canada cannot answer himself why he can only support a certain group of students but not other groups and even all the needy children in Harlem. He is also exploring what he can provide in order to help these children succeed. This is one of the most difficult questions which Canada is struggling very hard to answer.
In my service-learning, I noticed that most of the students in MCCS are born in poor countries or poor parts of the US. The starting point of their life is lower than that of the wealthy children. So the difficulties they are facing are not individual but a collective challenge of the society. I can provide support on studies to a few students however I believe we need more social attention and support from the mainstream of the entire society to resolve the problems of proverty, injustice, etc.
A conclusion based on surveys says the the IQ of wealthy poeple tends to be higher than that of the poor poeple(p34). It also says the IQ of children is closely related to the IQ of their parents. It every concludes that intelligence is inherited and probably genetic(p34). I believe this conclusion is in lack of consideration on family education, behavirioral influence, and other non-genetic impacts on children's IQ. When I played hacky sack with the students at MCCS after class, I observed that they are as smart and functional as other students I've ever met are.

Prompt for Whatever it Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America

Find quotes and places in the text that point to:
What motivates Canada?
What are some of his personal ethical challenges/inner debates?
Can you relate to anyone you have met in your service-learning or to your own experience, thus far?
The second chapter, "Unequal Childhoods," chronicles some of the history of the debate surrounding the causes of generational poverty: "Canada had come up against one of the most nettlesome questions in all of social science: Why are poor people poor?" (23). It is interesting to note how non-objective science can actually be, depending on who is designing the tool of measurement, deciding what should be measured, and how this data should be interpreted--on top of all of this, politics also enters the picture. Paul Tough does a good job of laying out some of the different approaches and attitudes to the issue. What most surprises you? What appears finally to be fair and less biased accounts of some of the root causes of poverty? Can you relate any of these findings to your service-learning or why your community partner organization exists?
Watch Canada on 60 Minutes

Society?

Today, in my opinion society and democracy is something everyone talks and thinks about, but not to many people take action on. In the reading is says,” Most of human history is the history of elites, of kings, queens, princes, … and squires, all of whom subordinated and exploited everyday people.” I believe this is still somewhat going on today, because so many people don’t take action, and let the rich and powerful determine what is going on. This can even be seen on a school playground where the popular athletic kid gets to determine what other do because he can make fun of them or not be friends with them. I think that at County, the kids are caught in this trap, where if they want to actually do well in school and respect their teachers, (which is something that not many of them do) then their “friends” or classmates will make fun of them. I think Society hasn’t gotten to a bad point, and believe that the word community that so many people say is slowly becoming extinct. What is community? A community is defined on the web as a place where people live in a common area, with the same rules. Today, the people living in the same area have different beliefs and rules they follow and at the same time never talk to their neighbors. It just seems as people are to narrow minded and don’t look out for the neighbor anymore. Hell, I barely get a wave from people when I wave at them at the crosswalk when the let me go. It is sorta embarrassing to be living in a society where people aren’t friendly anymore and people really only care for themselves.

The Definition of Democracy

Personally, it's been a while since I have read any powerful or stirring articles considering the fact that most people today that take the stage in the recent years have very little to fight for, have no passion, or do not have firsthand experience of the matter they are arguing for. The times that I do find an interesting piece, I can't help but think of what the author ponders about as they write the piece. What inspires them, or how did they come about to such a powerful conclusion? Reading the articles made me think of just this subject.

The name Cornel West has only slipped through my ear a few times before reading this article. The name was not unfamiliar as most text books have mentioned his name before, and even more the list of publications he has written. Nevertheless, I have not had the chance of reading any of his writings before "Moral Obligations."

If I had to describe the article in two words, I would use the phrase: "incredibly astounding." What this article showed me is a new definition of democracy. Browsing through the Internet, I found that this article was written more than ten years ago, yet the same concept still applies to modern society. What is our definition of a democracy? Living in the United States, one will often feel pressured to adapt to social norms. I personally had to go through this, being an immigrant from the Philippines. In order to be fully accepted by peers, I had to assimilate myself into their culture, while losing my original culture almost entirely. Now that I am a little more grown up, I tend to question what American culture truly is? When I think of the United States, I don't think of people waving the American flag, fast food joints, and football. I think of it as a safe haven--a place where people are able to speak their minds fully, get a better life for themselves and their families, and have a say in who, what, and how the country is governed.

Though this is how I view American culture is now, it was not always the case. I know that through history, countless people have made sacrifices so that I am able to sit in a classroom with people that don't look anything like me, or that I can even go to a decent school in the first place. I find it eerie that actions that people did almost fifty years ago in the civil rights movement has had such an impact on society today. It makes me think of whether my actions today could possibly influence society fifty years from now. And though it might seem far and I might seem insignificant, my actions, and the actions of the people around me will matter somehow.

What struck me the most about this article is West's stance on capitalism. Though not blatantly, he asks the readers what their role is in a nation of capitalism, where only a few control the vast riches the country holds. On a side note, I find it ironic that it is these same people that brown-nose and tell us on media to help out our society through acts of charity and volunteering.

All this aside, I still am trying to re-define the American definition of democracy. Hopefully through education and a deeper learning of what it means to be an American, I can sought this out.

What is wrong with U.S.?

In this democracy of the United States, people do not fulfill their moral obligations in society. If people did, then less people would be in such an unwealthy state. In a democracy, majority rules, yet majority of us are unhappy with our financial situation among other things. So, “What happens if we don't struggle/question/strive as individuals but wait, instead for someone else to do it for us?” Well, what happens is: “One percent of the population owns 48 percent of the total net financial wealth. The top 10% owns 86 percent of the wealth, while the top 20 percent owns 94 percent of the wealth. Meanwhile, 80 percent of the population is experiencing stagnating and declining wages.” Pg 211
The Moral Obligations of living in a Democratic Society
What people don’t understand is that we have the power to change this statistic. It is our right and moral responsibility as people in a democracy to fight for, vote, and make our voices heard on issues in which we want change. Unfortunately many people do not vote or vote according to what the wealthy tell them to vote, which really only makes the situation worse. It is our moral responsibility to be informed and make a change. In a democracy, it should be the majority that has it good, not the other way around. It makes a person wonder what the hell is wrong with U.S. when so many people have so many problems, and yet we vote, by majority on how things are…

The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society

Cornell West beigns the article by asking if the "tradition of struggle can be preserved and expanded?" The tradition of struggle is quite complex and difficult to achieve and maintain in the world that we live in today because of the way that our system is set up to function. According to West, the tradition of struggle "refers to the struggle of decency and dignity, the struggle for freedom and democracy." (209) West refers to W.E.B. DuBois when he talks about race. DuBois understood how it felt to be black in a white American society as he was associated to be the problem. Blacks were not given a chance and they were not considered "people with problems," instead the problem was them for the simple fact of not being white. Where is humanity, decency, or dignity in a society that judges individuals based on their appearance? The question of democracy and freedom is brought up when West discusses the wealth of the nation. America is said to be one of the richest nation in history, yet many people live in poverty. Democracy in America has turned out to mean that a very small percent of the population owns the biggest portion of the wealth. When the top banks and corporations needed a bail out for something that it was their fault, the government provided aid. However, the rest of the nation continues living in poverty and struggling with everyday life with the help of no one, but themselves.

The Importance of Democracy

The struggle for democracy and freedom is a constant uphill battle that brings into thought all the questions surrounding humanity. One major issue that is brought up by Cornel West, is race and what it has to do with achieving democracy. In West’s writing he compiles the ideas of many writers including W.E.B. Du Bois, who puts the problems with different races into focus. “Du Bois asserted that race in this country is the fetishization of a problem, black bodies in white space.”(212) In the United States, black people were considered a problem, instead of being associated with a problem making it easier to assume all black people were a problem. However, West explores how new democracy is to the world because throughout human history elites, queens, kings, and squires were easily allowed to exploit people who’s voice was never heard, but with democracy all voices can be heard. When discussing democracy and freedom you must also bring up the economy of that country to put into focus the decisions of the government. In the United States large corporations determine the health of the America economy, if a company fails many people are without a job or resources to make their lives better. When people become in desperate need for money or a job they will listen to anybody who tells them that they can provide that, even if it sacrifices their freedom through democracy. All of these reading encourage citizens to be informed and to use the voice that they are given, so that the practice of democracy will continue. These writings have also noted how unique the democracy of the United States is compared to other places around the world, and how it lets truly everyone have a voice no matter the social class of that citizen.

The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society

"One percent of the population owns 48 percent of the total net financial wealth. The top 10 percent owns 86 percent of the wealth, while the top 20 percent owns 94 percent of the wealth. Meanwhile, 80 percent of the population is experiencing stagnating and declining wages" (211). When I read these statistics it really opened my eyes to the democratic world as we know it today. Cornell West exemplifies the importance of our moral thoughts and actions. In today's society what makes people "happy" is materialistic items such as cars, jewelry, clothes, etc. No matter how you get these things that is what will make most happy. But are they really happy? Is is true to say that someone with no family and noone to love, but had as much money as Bill Gates, would be happier than a poor married man with a family who he loves and adores?



What I am trying to say is that you can't buy happiness. What we need to do as a society is begin to change our ways. Because democracy is solely threatened by economic decline, "it is not identical to moral and cultural decay, it is inseparable from it" (212). To live in a larger democratic society, everyone's main focus is involved with their quality of life and a constant fear of "the mean and cold heartedness of social life." It has nothing to do with how we treat others. After reading Cornell West "The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society" I now understand that the main focus is ME ME ME. "If I am able to live lavishly than nothing else matters."

The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society

After reading Cornel West’s, The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society, I got a sense of the perception of power and control, with such a low percentage of people controlling a vast amount of the wealth. This concept proves to be important because our lifestyle today is based on consumption and our ability to obtain what we desire. “Most of human history is the history of elites, of kings, queens, princes, prelates, magistrates, potentates, knights, earls, and squires, all of whom subordinated and exploited everyday people” (211). Those who have, “everything they want” are considered to be higher up in society because they wield the things that the less fortunate wish they had. I say that because, while we spend so much time hopelessly trying to reach these materialistic things, we lose sight of our tradition and the very roots we were grounded with. I don’t know if every human being can be placed into the “same boat”, because of our separate circumstances, yet we yearn all of the same things, and if we lose our traditional way of living, it is almost like we become lost. Typically, when you can’t get what you want, a sense of hopelessness develops, and it can be hard to motivate when you’re at that level. Our separation of wealth causes too much complication in communication. A democracy can’t, and won’t truly prevail for the good of all those involved, if not everyone has a voice to be heard. “The roots of democracy are fundamentally grounded in mutual respect, personal responsibility, and social accountability. Yet democracy is also about giving each person a dignified voice in the decision-making processes in those institutions that guide and regulate their lives” (212). So much is lost along the lines of communicating and when one’s life is dependent on it, it’s important to make sure you have a say in the things that will affect you, as a democratic society should. However, when you become numb to circumstance and just allow the status-quo to be, it damages the possibility of achieving this goal. Eventually everyone becomes only concerned with only their own wellbeing, sometimes to the point of turning against each other. Today our standards and methods are different from what they used to be. As Cornel West said, It is near impossible to speak to the public the way Martin Luther King Jr. did and therefore harder to motivate people to move in the right direction. As a society, if we spend too much time with idle chatter and void of action, our “democratic society” may never function as it should.

Society in the hands of the Young

While reading "Living Philosophies," I was intrigued by the roll that both Jacques Barzun and Jane Goodall gave to children. When I think of how democracy is going to influence our society, I automatically think of how the youth of a generation will react to it. I think to the different generations and how each had different problems to face, and how much of the time it is the youth that comes forth and decides what type of society they wish to belong to.

When Barzun is talking about becoming mechanical he discusses language. He mentions that "the jargon-bred speaker now feels more at home with the technical label than the primitive word: rain sounds childish compared to precipitation." I think it's funny how true this is. People seem to always want to sound more precise, and intellectual by using big scientific words, instead of simply stating what they mean. It seems like as children grow into adults they are forced to leave behind the honesty of childhood and develop in order to fit into a world where deceit is necessary. Children are the most open-minded human beings, and the fact that they are molded by what they experience makes me want to change the world before they have to live it. Barzun states, "I had a great-grandmother, born in 1830, who talked to me of the world in her young days in such a way that her memories became part of my imaginative life." This is showing that the way children learn is by what they learn from those who they respect.

However it was not always this way. As Jane Goodall points out, it has taken a very long time for us to realize what we have been doing to not only our societies, but to our planet as a whole. Goodall states that, "beauty replaced by ugliness, entire species that took millions of years to evolve vanishing ever more quickly", which is simply saying that over time we have lost respect for our planet, and all that inhabits it, including ourselves. Goodall also believes that, "It is, by and large the young people who are fighting the hardest to heal the human-inflicted wounds of our sick planet." It seems like there is a mix between people relying on the next generation to fix the problems of the first, and the idea that as generations go on, each is trying to make the world a better place for the next.

Reflection on The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society

When I was reading The Moral Obligations of Living in a Demographic Society by Cornel West, there was a point in the reading which really made me think. It was the point when Cornel West talks about Democracy and how the conversation around the question “What is the role of the most disadvantaged in relation to the public interest?” is important because the “preservation of democracy is threatened by real economic decline,” (page 212). This question was interesting to me because it made me think about the many disadvantaged people in America who are struggling everyday because of our economic crisis. There are many disadvantaged people who are unemployed, have financial problems and are homeless. Also, it doesn’t help that there have been tax cuts from the rich to make people in the middle class sink lower and the lower class even lower in their life. If this continues, America will not be a democratic society but a society full of violence, chaos, no security and many people fighting to survive. Another point that Cornel West makes is the fact that America or “any civilization that is unable to sustain its networks of caring and nurturing will generate enough anger and aggression to make communication near impossible,” (page 212). I found this very interesting because in America we are in a very individualistic society in which we think more about ourselves than we think about others. Also, we keep to ourselves nearly all the time and don’t communicate with others as much as living in a collectivist society. To me this quote says that if we don’t start learning how to care about each other and communicate with each other, we will become angry and aggressive people who could care less about maintaining a democracy in America. If this happens, democracy will fall apart and it will turn to chaos and anarchy. There will be people who think only about themselves and their own survival in the world and will not give anyone else a shred of kindness or compassion. That is why we should all learn to care about each other so we can prevent this horrible future from becoming a reality.

community

To be able to get a sense of community in your neighborhood, you would have to communicate with one another. We all have our own opinions about what's good for the community and everyone has to be open minded about everything. "Any civilization that is unable to sustain its networks of caring and nurturing will generate enough anger and aggression to make communication near impossible. The result is a society in which we do not even respect each other enough to listen to each other" (Cornel West, 212). This quote stuck out to me because without communication, we would all end up dead. We all have to be open to any ideas of change, just in case it may turn out for the better. If there is no respect within the community, then it's not even a community. communication is key. This is just like when I went MCCS today, if you didn't talk to the teacher or communicate with them, how would you get anything done, or how would you get to know the students. Today I didn't really talk to the students, since it was my first day there, and I just wanted to observe. I noticed right away that the students were really shy, and had no motivation to do any work. I tried talking to them, and to get their work done. But I guess it's going to take sometime to warm up to them. By having a wall up and not wanting to socialize, that doesn't help if you want to make friends. Just like on my floor. My roommates were so shut out, that they didn't have a good connection with everyone else. I told them, to be able to get to know them better, they had to broaden their horizons and open the door to everyone; literal and philosophical. And so far, it's been working and we are all getting along better.

Democracy and Our Purpose

Being part of a larger, democratic community, means that we are each individuals who play an important role through voice, activism, voting, running for office, and staying informed. We do have the ability to organize and be heard. We all have the capacity to make an impact and leave a mark, whether our name is remembered like Martin Luther King Jr. or as a teacher of the fifth grade. Like West mentions, even though money is important to the average American, most people are worried about their personal happiness by their low quality of life, being ruled by fear from the media, the chance of violent and criminal assault, the harsh realities of social life and structure, and the failure to experience intimacy. West calls this a “culturally decadent civilization” (212). By this he means, that as our society becomes addicted to superficiality and astray from compassion, anger arises creating a hostile environment and the inability of people to listen and speak. Communication is therefore hindered and stalled to the point that the people of a democracy-whether an individual or representative- are separated. As anger breeds, apathy arises, action decreases, and systems remain unchanged or degrade. “Dialogue is the lifeblood of a democracy and is predicated on certain bonds of truth and respect” (212). If the nurture and care is lost, the democracy becomes an illusion because it is fundamentally based on the ideas of reciprocal respect, individual conscientiousness, and social responsibility. Being part of something bigger than ourselves is simply part of our human nature. We crave being able to feel something, especially amongst others, a community. West describes that it is important for people to have this kind of “spiritual and moral awakening” in order to maintain a democracy.
If indifference and laziness take over, the power of strength in numbers looses its purpose. Greed and the desire to control develop in those who become purely individualistic. Without the communication and input of multiple people with varied opinions, the system can become corrupt, intolerant, and bias. Without questions, there is no seeking and therefore loss of meaning. Without strife, there is no dignity and therefore loss of pride. Without struggle, there is no pain and therefore no real human life qualities. We would become robots of power, a power we could potentially claim, and that would mean the hope of humans was lost because we would be taken over by our own lethargy. But this is not bound to happen, because as humans, we have an innate drive to always continue, to think, to reason, to move, to act. We were born to grow, and change will be seen. Judging its “good” or “bad”, “right” or “wrong” may no be the purpose, but some movement is. We are evolving along a continuum like everything else around us. It’s amazing how everything of the history has lead up to this moment now, not only in the life of humans, but all species, plants and animals. The future is unknown, and although our nation may seem skeptical and fully deserving of doubt, maybe there is so more ahead, some plan, an evolution we are all part of and can never fully know.

Prompt for West, Barzun, and Goodall reading

(The prompt simply provides some ideas for your reflection. Responding directly to the prompt is not required! You are completely free to engage other ideas and to make connections between readings and with service in whatever way makes sense to you.)

Cornell West starts his piece "The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society" by stating the inherent complexity and irrationality of tough social issues, especially those related to race. He restates W.E.B. DeBois’s analysis that “Being Black in America is to be a problem . . . Problem people become indistinguishable and interchangeable, which means that only one of them has to be asked to find out what the rest of them think” (5). He connects this issue to the idea that democratic sensibility “cuts against the grain of history” in which the ruling class exerted its power over the underclass, effectively dehumanizing the “ordinary” individual. Thus, West asserts, if we are to live justly and democratically, we must critically engage and examine issues of race and power: “No democracy can survive with a middle class so insecure that it is willing to accept any authoritarian option in order to provide some sense of normalcy and security in their lives. It also opens the door for significant segments of that middle class to scapegoat those who are most vulnerable” (10).

Think about what this means and if you can relate to anything related to your service or community partner. Also, see if you can connect to similar ideas conveyed by Barzun and Goodall:

What does Barzun mean by his struggle against the “mechanical.” He writes that “any ossified [fossilized] institution . . . manifests the mechanical. So does race-thinking—a verdict passed mechanically at a color-coded signal. Ideology is likewise an idea machine, designed to spare the buyer all further thought” (pg. 3 of pdf, right hand side).

Jane Goodall writes that it is “impossible to overemphasize the power of the individual in the shaping of the values of a society. . . In human society, the legacies of a Hitler or a Jesus, a Gandhi or an Ayatollah Khomeini, are testimonies to the impact they made during their brief years on earth. . . Every single one of has, I believe, a significant part to play in the scheme of things” (pg. 9 of pdf, right hand side).

What does it mean to be part of a larger, democratic community. What happens if we don't struggle/question/strive as individuals but wait, instead for someone else to do it for us?

Deo...the Personification of Strength

Before reading the synopsis of this book, I was already interested in just how someone with just $200 could possibly make it to medical school. Just this fact alone made me relate to how if someone like Deo who has been through so much is able to make it out alive in a city like New York. Little did I know that his life was more gruesome and horrifying than I could ever imagine.

Most families, when they first immigrate to the United States have the same goals as Deo. They praise the lifestyle here as they are able to get a second chance at living a comfortable life, free from persecution and the toils that their hometown has brought them. I certainly could relate to this fact because my family immigrated from the Philippines to San Francisco almost 10 years ago. Sadly though, the United States is not necessarily a country where "get-rich" schemes work. Immigrant or not, America is a country where you only get out as much as you put in. In simpler terms, it means that you have to work (hard) just to even get by. Unlike most immigrants, Deo knew of this fact, and knew that just because his hardships are over in his hometown of Burundi, only new challenges await.

If there's anything that this book taught me, it's that strength could be found in a lot of ways. For example, Nancy and Charlie gave both strength and hope to Deo when he needed it most. And who would've known that such a simple couple could receive that same strength given from an African immigrant in Burundi. Sharon, also had strength and conviction in making sure that Deo was well taken care of and made it her top priority for him to find a nice house and make it out of Harlem in one piece. Without these characters and the strength that they gave to Deo, he might not have survived the ordeals of living in a big city like New York

In the end, Deo is someone us students should all be able to relate to. We often complain about how hard life (and school) is when we get bombarded by homework or by our parents for not graduating quickly enough. I know for sure because I've been in that same position. But upon reading this book, I can't help but belittle the problems that I have in my life, especially the ones that are school related. Nevertheless, Deo taught me that a little strength, a little luck, and a lot of hard work will conquer anything in life.

Strength In What Remains Reflection

As we discussed earlier in class about grief Deo himself experienced a whole lot of grief. So it got me thinking; how does one cope with grief. In my opinion, grief is of course a horrible thing that noone is wanting to have, however it is inevitable. Because it is inevitable it is important for us to accept it and learn from it. This is how we can grow as individuals. It is like trying to live in a perfect world. If nothing bad happened we would not be able to grow as individuals. The grief that we experience will only strengthen us. It is important to understand that doing this alone is a very difficult task. Connecting with others is another factor that must be taken into account when wanting to "evolve" as individuals. For example, I personally had a friend of mine killed when I was in 7th grade. I was experiencing alot of pain and didn't know what to do. He was a great friend of mine and we had played soccer together. Without my soccer team, I really don't know what I would do. It was important for us to come together and accept the fact that it happened and help eachother get through it. This really opened my eyes to cherish everytime you have with your friends because sadly, it could end any second. This is a very important lesson that I learned at an early age and will keep with me for the rest of my life. It has helped me mature as a person and as a friend.

Strength in What Remains Reflection

I think what motivates people to kindness or generosity instead of violence or destruction, is that they think about themselves. If you were in Deo’s shoes, you would want someone to help you out. Yeah Deo, really didn’t like getting help from other people, because in his country, he felt like he was a “parasite”, or someone who couldn’t provide for himself. The people from Deo’s country would’ve thought lowly of you. But he didn’t want to be rude, so Deo took the aid just to show he didn’t want to be thought of as rude. Also I think why people helped Deo out was because they felt sympathy towards Deo.

In the book, I was shocked that the Wolfs offered Deo one of their rooms in their house. Because nowadays you rarely see anyone in the real world offering their house to the homeless people. The only help the homeless would get is at the soup kitchen. This is what struck out the most to me; people helping a stranger. Again this is very rare in the world, so it definitely made me think about our world. And how we all should take the time to help each other out.

At first, when Deo arrived to New York, I thought that this book would be a story about how Deo suffered while in New York and how he will bounce back on his own. Go through the pain and sufferings to becoming successful. Deo did bounce back but, not on his own. He had help from Muhammad, Sharon, and the Wolfs. It made me realize how much one person or a group of people can change someone’s life. Just like what Deo said, “No group of people is really too small to change the situation!” (158). I feel like this quote perfectly ties in with our class. I mean we are a group of people trying to maybe change a person’s life, but either tutoring them or whatever help someone needs. Not only will physically helping someone will maybe turn their life around, but also a smile will do, when you can’t do anything.

Strength in What Remains Part 2

Deo's persistence in seeking out an education and bettering himself versus mourning of the absence of his family and the destruction that had taking place back home had greatly compelled me to this novel. Deo had his moments where memories broke him down. However, he never once gave up on his dreams of going to medical school and doing what he loved the most. Persistence for his love in education motivated Deo to work hard to achieve what he wanted in life rather than accepting failure.

Considering his experiences of schooling while he was younger, school was absolutely necessary for children. It was a long way to get there, "School lay three long descents and three step climbs away" (81). However, Deo went through the distance just to be educated. Schooling was enforced by his parents because according to his mother, "...no one is ever going to tell me that I didn't go to school. If my child went, I am educated, because I have an educated child." (83) Therefore, education was valued tremendously. One can guess that his drive for motivation started as he was younger.

Deo showed love for education even at the start of his journey in New York. Even though it was crucial that he learned English, he spent a lot of his free times just looking through books in bookstores, fancying the idea that he could read them. For work's sake and to get by in America, he saved up his measly wages to purchase an English-French dictionary to learn the native language. In addition, the fact that he had gone back to school even though he had already gotten to his junior year back in his country is truly inspiring. No matter the hardships he had to go through, the troubles of getting his green card for permanent residency or going through the process of taking placement tests to get into Columbia, Deo made it through with the act of persistence.

Without the assistance of Sharon's, "...undifferentiated help to anybody," Deo probably would have never gotten to accomplish his dreams (174). Sharon's kindness never failed. From the moment they entered the rectory where she had first met Deo as a grocery bag handler, she saw something in him as, "...someone who could see beyond his nose." (175) She knew that he needed help, and she provided anything she could to help him survive in New York. Based on her past experiences, she has helped anybody that came along her way. In addition, considering her background as a nun, she believed and lived by the basic instruction of St. Benedict, "Recieve all as Christ." (173) Thus, no matter the troubles of a person, she dedicated herself whole heartedly to helping others. Sharon assisted Deo in finding a home, bettering his English skills, and opening his mind for more experience in New York.

Finally, the collaboration of both Nancy and Charlie completed the circuit of Deo's journey to a life of education. They decided to fund his education and get him into Hunter College, then Columbia University so that he could accomplish his dreams. They have been both aware of what has been going on in Africa, therefore took a chance in assisting someone in need. (168) Their learned knowledge motivated them to help Deo because they know the hardships he probably went through to be in a foreign country all by himself, therefore took him in with kindness.

Therefore, the motivation individuals have to kindness/generosity rather than violence/destruction is past experiences. One can see the struggles an individual has faced in life and therefore seeks to assist them or the struggler takes initiative and persistence to help themselves. Without past experience or knowledge, people may act differently in certain situations.

So many ideas have popped into my mind while writing this so I'm not even sure if any of this makes sense! -___- Sorry

Thing That lead to Acts of Kindess

In an attempt to escapes the killing spree of Tutsis Deo ran away as fast as he could. He didn’t know to where he was running to but he knew that if he wanted to live he had to continue moving away from the killings. One day as he rested he encountered a Hutu woman. Tired and delirious Deo pleaded for his life and he ask the women if he was to die to please not torture him. The Hutu woman replied to Deo that she was not there to kill him but instead she was going to help him. The Hutu woman told Deo “I’m a woman and I’m a mother.” (Pg 127) Even though being of opposite social class the women did not see Deo as a Tutsi, she saw him as a person, as someone’s son. In the majority of cases, individuals personal struggles, moral, and group influences the power to shape the individual as an adult and motivate them to be kind rather than violent.

The being part of a social group or the need to be part of a group could lead people to interact positively others. The first teaching of what is right or wrong a child receives begins in the home were parents/ care takers teach children through example, lecture, and interaction. This was seen in the book when Deo was around the age of 7. Deo first cam aware of Hutu, Hutus, Tutsis classification and this cause him curiosity and to ask his family about it. His family taught Deo that those terms were degrading and not to use them. Deo’s family was a positive influence that taught him to respect other and also the importance of education.

Many times people personal experiences cause them to want to help other. They do this because they know the feelings pain and suffering and don’t wish others to go through they same. The Hutu woman that helped Deo had gone through the loss on a son, husband, and friends, and she had suffered because of the ridicule of others for being married to a Hutu, and these personal experiences was what drove her to help Deo escape. This women felt the pain and new that the killings were wrong and did want to take part of in it. She did not want to cause pain and maybe in helping she also was able to alleviate her own pain.

Morality is learned though different forms and inspires people to perform acts of kindness it giving them a rewarding feeling. Sharon an ex nun, that Deo meet through one of his grocery deliveries, felt the need to help Deo. Though we don’t know much of Sharon the fact that she was once a nun causes us to assume that she had a strong sense of morals and as Deo fed her little bits of his past she knew that he needed help. In part many people volunteer because they feel like they are able to make a difference and this not own makes them happy but also the people who are receiving the help. This could cause those receiving the help to have learned something special and make them also want to spread their happiness and cause them too to want to perform acts of kindness.


Though acts of violence are not found to far from acts of kindness, in general I think it is safe to says that the world is more positive that negative. Negativity is just more apparent because of the devastation it causes. I have faith the most of us learn from our experiences, have good sense of morals and are usually surrounded by those that will positively and motivate us to want to make a difference in the world, these thing are what motivate the acts of kindness.

Deo's Journey

Deo’s journey is a remarkable one, not just because of what he accomplished, but because he never gave up. It could have been so easy for him to just stop trying and give up, but every time the times were tough, he persevered and with the help of other continued on his journey. What exactly was his journey is up for different interpretations, but I believe he wanted to learn the meaning of life and why things happen to different people. Like Deo says, “I wanted to understand what happened to me.” (pg.182). When Deo came to the U.S. he knew nothing of giant building and schools with thousands of people, he knew the land and the traditions passed on by his family. Coming to America was a chance for him to see the world from a different perspective, and I believe that this perspective would allow him to look at where he came from in a different way. Deo was also very interested in the question of good and evil and to go along with that, who he could trust and who he couldn’t. There are strangers everywhere that would help you for what seems like no apparent reason, but there is something inside all of us that wants to help people. I don’t want to put that action into one word, so I will just leave it at that. In Deo’s case he came from a place where “teachers killed their students, priests killed their parishioners…who is left to trust, God? The most powerful, who let everything happen? “When you come from somewhere where that type of killing is going on, it is hard to trust anyone, but growing up in Marin, it seems to me, like I can trust most people. If someone tells me something that’s seems real, I am most likely going to believe it, in Deo’s case if someone tells him something, or offers him something, he is going to be hesitant. This makes sense because of the background we come from and the way we lived are life as children and young men. Although are lives may be different, it seems we are both on a path looking to find the meaning of life and with the help of other and our own perseverance, maybe, just maybe we will find it.

Reflection on "Strength in what remains"

At first, I had no idea what to expect from this book. I had never heard of it before, and I was unaware of the genocide that took place in Rwanda and Burundi. Hutu's and Tutsi's were words in which had no meaning, and Deo was a misspelled name of a band that I listen to on occasion. :) As I progressed through the book however, I felt as if I was right alongside Deo on his horrific yet enlightening journey from Burundi to New York. It is amazing how a person who has gone through so much can be such a productive person in society. What struck me as a reoccurring theme was that the only thing that separated Deo from a statistic was his constant ability to be in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people.
""It's a really tiny place that is changing a great big environment," he remembered thinking. Then he'd exclaim in his own mind, "No group of people is really too small to change the situation!"" pg 158. This quote struck me as the epitome of what this book and this class is really all about. Deo should have made this realization sooner in his life, since Charlie and Nancy were a group of two that changed his situation, but the point is he at least realized this at some point. It took me until this point in the book to realize this as well. A movement to change something starts with one person or a small groups' idea, and eventually gets bigger until something gets done. This quote gives me the inspiration to feel like i have the ability to change something in my community.

Strength in What Remains

I think one of the biggest motivators for individuals towards acts of kindness/ generosity is what lies at the core of the human experience. At the core of all humans, is this trait called love. Love maybe an elusive idea, but it is evident in many ways. Love of the neighbor, the stranger on the city streets, the lost dog wandering the carelessly around town, etc. We all share this emotion in some form or another, some more than others of course, but it exists in all of us. We all experience this collective as part of the human condition: we encounter great movments in life(highs) and we also are faced with extreme hardships (lows) in life, regardless of wealth,friendship, enthnicity, and so forth. Thus, we all encounter this universal problem. Yet we move towards the greater good in all of us, its innate... Its this invisible force, some says its "GOD", for others it may be some type of energy force. In sum, despite what notions we have of someone/something, despite what has happened to us, we can put our differences aside, our feelings aside, and move towards forgiveness, which is a can be shaped in the form of Love. We alll live on the same sphere called Earth, all are part of humanity.

Kindness and Human Potential

One of the main themes in Strength in What Remains is kindness and generosity shown to people who need it the most, from the people less likely to show this type of emotion. Deo’s success and happiness at the end of the story is all thanks to the people who showed him kindness, and took him in. While in New York City Deo is treated very harshly because of his isolation due to the fact that he does not speak english. He is finally shown kindness by a church worker named Sharon when they both bond over the french language, Deo is drawn to Sharon but more importantly Sharon is drawn to Deo. After this experience Sharon makes it her mission to help Deo enter school, and find a place to live. What motivated Sharon to help Deo was the fact that Deo had seen humanity at its very worst with horrible murders, and death practically every where. Sharon wanted to restore his faith in humanity in the slightest ways by showing him kindness, and love while he was adjusting to life in America.

With the Kindness that people showed Deo, he was able to reach his full potential of going to medical school. To reach a persons full potential that person must be nurtured and cared for so that they can grow and be the best that they can be. This was a motivation for Nancy, and Charlie who also financially supported Deo during his years of schooling in New York. “What kind of human potential does he have?” p. 170, Charlie began to wonder this after meeting Deo. People new that upon meeting Deo that he was very intelligent possible brilliant. Sharon, Nancy, and Charlie saw this in him and new that Deo could accomplish great things if someone showed him love, cared for him, and was generous. In the second part of the story Deo really began to flourish and truly love what he was doing, he cam a long way from a man escaping violence and destruction to a man who respected in his profession. Whether it was to restore faith in humanity, or to

Rationality of Animals vs. Humans

"Animals are not rational, only human beings are rational" (184). People have this weird idea that we are superior to all animals, that we are the kings that rule of the animal kingdom. Just because we can destroy huge parts of nature, and push other animals out of their homes, and take all we want from the planet doesn't mean that we are better than animals. In many cases we are much worse. The instructor in the book states "Animals kill for food. They act on instinct, that's it" (184). This is a funny statement to have as support for the first idea mainly because it is contradictory. Since animals kill for food, they are more rational than human beings who kill for much less. People kill animals for multiple reasons, food, coats, sport. People will also kill animals and waste most of the animal. American restaurants alone throw away a ridiculous amount of food every day; wasting the animals that they murdered without thinking twice about it. When it comes to animals killing other animals, they do it, then eat their prey. They don't slaughter vast amounts of other animals to make a profit.

When it comes to killing within species, animals are much more rational than humans. Animals will fight to defend their territory, protect their young, reasons like that. Humans will kill because someone has upset them, if there is an extreme disagreement, if they were raised to think it was OK, on accident, if they are crazy, if they are scared, and if they are in danger. There are other reasons but I can't think of all of them right now. Deo states "He had known cows and he had known militiamen, and for rationality he thought he'd take cows any day" (184). There are actually many people who would prefer being surrounded by animals rather than people. If people are so rational, then why would this be. Is it the rational people who would prefer to be surrounded by animals.

Most animals also don't lie. People lie every day, to enemies, friends, family, loved ones, themselves. Animals (as far as we know) don't lie, simply because they do not talk. Since they don't speak our language, they can't lie. How can we be more rational than animals if we aren't even inclined to tell the truth.

Reflection on Part 2 of Strength in What Remains

In the second part of the book Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder, what was most fascinating to read about was the part where Deo and the author visit the University of Columbia where Deo used to go to college. As Deo walks into the University, he reacts with such enthusiasm and excitement as if he were a child looking at a bunch of presents under a Christmas tree. This place I think for Deo was like a home to him, a place where he could learn and make something of himself. He had suffered so much but with a lot of support and financial help from his friends Nancy and Charlie, he could finally pursue his dream for a medical profession and be able to help people in Burundi who seriously needed medical attention.

When Deo talks about his studies in philosophy at the University of Colombia, it seemed that he was desperate to find answers to his questions about the “nature of good and evil, humanity and God” (page 183). Out of all the questions he asked, I found his question about God the most fascinating. He says “who is left to trust, really? God? God the most powerful, who let everything happen?” (page 183). This question is interesting to me because while he was seeking the answer to this question he was still struggling with his vivid horrific memories of the genocide in his country. He knew he couldn’t trust anyone there and so questioned whom to trust in this world even to the point of questioning if God was trustworthy and seemed to blame him for what happened. Now since then he had learned to accept God into his life as a way to cope with what he had gone through instead of blaming God for what happened in his country. In doing so he had found peace in his life.

It was really fascinating to read about Deo going through so much in his life and still having such perseverance to survive, learn, and hold on to his dignity no matter what obstacles came his way. It really made me think about if I went through what he had gone through would I still have the will to survive and live or would I give up and die? I don’t know, all I know is that Deo’s story was very inspirational to me and made me think that anything is possible if you keep hold onto your will to live, have a dream of a better future for yourself and the desire to help other people out of pure selflessness.

Courage

I believe courage to be not the absence of fear or doubt or despair but the strength to conquer and persevere. Allowing doubt to overwhelm can lead to destruction. In Deo’s case, he could have given up while on the run and wound up dead. Or he could have lost all hope while in New York. Or even worse, he could have given in to all his anger and sadness on his return home, and turned into a man out for revenge. But he didn’t do any of this. He did, of course have doubts, and in his case, many of them remained in his head and not expressed to others. He says clearly, “You know how many times I just thought I would give up” (239). I don’t believe anyone could read his story and argue that he wasn’t strong-willed. So why do certain people have such a capacity to persist, such drive? At first I thought part of the reason for Deo, was his independence and although it served its detrimental action of loneliness, I believed it to be a reason for survival, at least while on the run. Deo was grounded enough to not fall to the persuasion or fear of others. He didn’t allow others to get into his head and cause conflict. He was always conflicted as to why people could do such horrible things, but he never questioned his view values of right or wrong. He never questioned his purpose. He solely fought for his survival. “I really have been successful in finding my own peaceful corners. On my own” (188).
Another reason for his survival was his education and passion for learning. He left his mind open and “trained [it to be] flexible” (188). He kept questioning and never damaged himself by being set in stone about it all. Through his philosophy studies and general education, he found a way to engage his mind for growth, to find and foster curiosity, and to actively keep his mind from being trapped my hatred. With a dispositioned sense of compassion, war in Burundi and the sights of violence and hate created more compassion. He took the energy source, digested it with whatever he had, and regenerated energy back into life. Even in all his trials and tribulations, he found space to be humble, engaged, and “always leave room for uncertainty”
I will never know what it’s like to be Deo. I will never know how it feels to be him, to know what he knows and see what he’s seen. But I do know I can learn from him. I am truly inspired. Like Kidder says “These were truisms, things everyone should learn in college.” I can only hope to have Deo’s optimism, call to action, and intelligence.