Blog Comments Week 10 Modern Day Slavery Solutions Essays, Week 11 Revisions, & Week 12 Virtues

Since I have not commented on everyone’s blog essays for the past 3 weeks, I have decided to combine the comments into 1 post for easier reading purposes.

Kara:

I think you did an excellent job answering the questions concerning civil disobediance and I agree with everything you said. I like how you stated your opinion but would have liked to see you state an opinion about a slavery issue. Overall, I thought your essay was well written.

I really liked how you based your virtues off of Franklin’s virtues, but explained what they meant to you personally. I think Franklin was very wise and his virtues are something we should all live up to. And you are doing a great job trying to improve your industry virtue. I saw you applying to colleges and I think its great that you are thinking ahead into the future. You are very smart and will go far! : D

Daniel:

You do an excellent job of getting your point across in your essays. When I read your opening line to week 10, stating that you feel Americans should not be expected to show any form of allegiance to their country, my mouth dropped and I immediately began thinking of a defense….until I read your essay. I completely agree with your idea that these days, the government runs the people more than the people run the government. And that goes against what our nation was founded on, by the people, for the people.

You are a very opinionated person and have some ideas that I agree and do agree with, but either way, you state your ideas openly and do not shy away from sharing them, and I strongly admire this trait. I personally believe that we should keep the declaration as it is, because if someone were to even attempt to change it, they would probably screw it up. I only say this because there are so many diverse ideas, and I truly believe in the principles this nation was founded on, and someone wanting to revamp the declaration, I feel, would take away/change the principles and butcher it.

Ps- Cool story about your trip to 14th and Cary. It’s crazy how much you look like my brother!

Christina:

I think your solutions essay is one of your best yet. I absolutely love how you use the John Brown example from slave times and tie it into your solutions. I completely agree with you on every point, even the point about medical field animal testing. I think awareness is a huge solution too, because the more people know, the more they may or may not use a product. I know I wouldn’t.

Smart idea highlighting changes and additions in bold. Your paragraph in which you relate and understand Emerson’s and Thoreau’s ideas actually helped me understand their ideas even better. It was very eye-opening and insightful. Great revision!

Your virtue essay was a very interesting read and I admire (and will implement for my own use) the idea to record everything, especially the reasons behind why something wasn’t done, like going to the gym. I think every person naturally struggles with bodily responsibility and I think my main reason for being irresponsible with it is time management. But it is something that every American NEEDS to make time for, because it can be life saving. My boyfriend is doing a presentation right now called “Health is Wealth” and he discusses how important exercise and diet are in our lives, because the things we do now will be reflected in and on our body later.

Also, your portfolio is incredible! I am in love with the picture on your home page! How were you able to create the separate webpage? It’s a great idea!

Aubrey:

Your paper was an interesting read in contrast to Daniel’s paper in week 10. I enjoyed reading the things America has done for us, such as offering protection. I agree whole-heartedly with your ideas on moral and civil law and think that during slavery, these laws were selfishly ignored for the bettering of the white man. It’s incredible to see how far our country has come, yet at the same time, how much we have fallen.

You have constructed a great list of virtues. Which one to you think you need to develop the most?

Reflections Week 12

1. My eyes were opened to the world of blogging, which I had heard of, but never endeavored before. I learned how to create a blog, make it personal, and share my thoughts on it.

2. Reading Emerson’s “Self-reliance” essay allowed me to see how un-self-reliant I was, and to strive to start thinking "outside the box" and speaking my opinion.

3. Reading Emerson’s “American Scholar” essay struck me with the notion that today, it is especially important that myself and my fellow students to take initiative to be a “Man-thinking” and not just a “thinking man. One of the ways we can do this is by filtering out dangerous material, and in society today, this is truly important because there are so many ideas being pushed on students from mentors and friends.

4. Reading Thoreau’s essay “Walden” and then analyzing his essay by discussing what a full life means to me from a selfish viewpoint, presented me with a clearer understanding of Throeau’s idea to abandon everything to find true happiness. When I abandoned everything, I came to the realization and was reminded that my life would mean nothing without the people I love.

5. My group members seemed to have a good grasp on what their lives complete and while I was trying to find what made my life complete in my essay, I instead found bits and pieces of advice and wisdom through reading theirs. My eyes were opened and I was reminded how through other’s writings, one can learn so much about the person, and derive vast wisdom.

6. When I struggled to write my essay on Nature, I discovered a personal flaw, communicating my voice. Sometimes I focus so much on the “eloquent” wording, that my message becomes marred and indirect.

7. In reviewing and commenting on my own blog posts for week eight, I was able to read how my voice has changed since the beginning of the semester. It seems I am constantly finding a stronger voice every week, something I have struggled with.

8. When asked to write an essay on modern slavery issues, I found out startling statistics concerning sweatshops present in AMERICA. I was shocked to learn how much forced labor occurs in our country, right under our noses. Though this assignment was less thought provoking internally for me, it was very eye opening and inspired a personal awareness.

9. After reading my group member’s essays on modern slavery, I was impressed at the opinions stated and wished that I had taken more of a passion and stated more of an opinion in my essay. There were also several interesting beliefs in the class discussion, which I tried to participate in more so because it dealt with an issue close to my heart, the fight for religion.

10. When reflecting back over the semester and the errata I would correct if I were to take this class again, it came down to one single, simple word: time. Time management is one of my biggest downfalls and this week I was able to acknowledge this through Franklin’s essay and strive to manage my time better so that I will have more time to consider the assignment, state my opinion and voice it correctly.

My Short List of Virtues Necessary for Well-Being and Living the Good Life:

Diligence

• Being focused on my schoolwork and not getting distracted by facebook, boyfriend time, etc.

Punctuality

• Getting to bed at an appropriate time each night so that I am not running late in the morning, which causes stress

Tranquility

• Keeping my temper at work when coworkers upset me and on the road

• Learning to use caution in my language when I am angry

Spirituality

• Spending time every day reading the Bible/doing devotions and attending church daily for spiritual growth

Healthy Lifestyle

• Eating more fruits and vegetables, less soda, no going out when I do not feel like cooking even though there is plenty of food, no skipping breakfast because I overslept

• Being dedicated in exercising daily by going to swimming classes and not skipping, also training for the marathons I have signed up to run

Balance between carefree and caring too much

• Not caring so much when little things go wrong in my everyday life, also not wanting everything to be so perfect and thorough because sometimes that is impossible

Honest/Outspoken when called for

• Not keeping my thoughts to myself but letting them free when the time is necessary

• Not shying away from my feelings because I do not want to offend other people, this is why I feel trampled on at times

Quick-thinking/Creative/Knowledgeable

• Being able to educate myself so that I can be prepared and have good ideas and suggestions to offer at my job as an event planner

Cleanliness

• Taking the time to nurture my appearance each day, no matter how early I may have to get up, so that I appear professional and calm and not having to rush or stress

• Brush and floss 2x a day to avoid cavities

Balance between selfless and selfish

• Learning how to say no to things when I have too much to do

• Not pointing the finger so fast when I argue with my boyfriend but instead trying to understand the situation before I selfishly blame him

Order

• Being organized so that work doesn’t interfere with school, and neither work or school interfere with family time and spending quality time with my boyfriend

Frugality

• Saving my money for the my future goals, moving out and being independent

The virtue I feel the need to most fully develop is spirituality. I am a firm believer that once this virtue is developed, other virtues will ensue. Living a healthy lifestyle starts with seeking the most important thing in my life, God, and putting Him above anything else.

There are several things I can do develop my spirituality and relationship with God. First and foremost, I can read my Bible at the start of each day. Whether I purchase a devotional to guide me, or I interpret each passage on my own, spending personal time each day will strengthen my personal relationship with God. Keeping a journal and recording my eye-opening findings will provide me with something to go back to when I do not understand something or need more direction. This will also I also encourage me when I am discouraged. Secondly, I need to attend church weekly. This is only a problem for me when I do not get enough sleep on Saturday nights. Therefore, I need to be responsible in getting to bed at a decent time, not only on Saturdays, but every day so that I wake up and allow enough time for my devotion. Prayer in abundance, particularly thanking God every day for the little things, will not only make me a happier person, but will also develop my spirituality. These are several things I can begin practicing with dedication to fully develop my spiritual virtue.

Reflections Week 11

“…when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say, that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of the first. So I might, besides correcting the faults, change some sinister accidents and events of it for others more favorable. But though this were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a repetition is not to be expected, the next thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing. “ – Benjamin Franklin

Reflecting back over the semester and the errata I would correct if I were to take this class again comes down to one single, simple word: time. I have never been, and am convinced I will never be, able to construct my time wisely. Time management is one of my biggest downfalls and always comes back to bite me, especially in online classes. With the stresses of work, exercising, time with my family, friends, and my boyfriend, it is easier to put school aside and focus on these things first, especially when I do not have to actually attend class. With this in mind, I would change my procrastination habits in a heartbeat! No more waiting to complete all the writing assignments on the same day, last minute. No more lagging to participate in group discussion because I only have a couple hours left before next week’s discussion opens. No more readings not being completed. No more submitting blogs 3-4 days after they were supposed to be posted. NO MORE GETTING BEHIND!

I would also change, as I have stated before, my voice in my writing. I have always struggled voicing my opinion, however, this is something I know I can change. I would like to strive harder to find the meaning behind the reading, to take the time to reflect on it, and to voice the idea that I am most passionate about. This is how I can voice my opinion, and it factors down to setting aside time to think. Fortunately, this week, I was granted another opportunity to rewrite my modern slavery essay, and focus on an issue that I was much more passionate about. Because I was given more time, I was able to reflect on the topic and voice my opinion. However, I would like to get to the point where I am not needing that extra week to find my voice.

Reflections Week 11

“…when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say, that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of the first. So I might, besides correcting the faults, change some sinister accidents and events of it for others more favorable. But though this were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a repetition is not to be expected, the next thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing. “ – Benjamin Franklin

Reflecting back over the semester and the errata I would correct if I were to take this class again comes down to one single, simple word: time. I have never been, and am convinced I will never be, able to construct my time wisely. Time management is one of my biggest downfalls and always comes back to bite me, especially in online classes. With the stresses of work, exercising, time with my family, friends, and my boyfriend, it is easier to put school aside and focus on these things first, especially when I do not have to actually attend class. With this in mind, I would change my procrastination habits in a heartbeat! No more waiting to complete all the writing assignments on the same day, last minute. No more lagging to participate in group discussion because I only have a couple hours left before next week’s discussion opens. No more readings not being completed. No more submitting blogs 3-4 days after they were supposed to be posted. NO MORE GETTING BEHIND!

I would also change, as I have stated before, my voice in my writing. I have always struggled voicing my opinion, however, this is something I know I can change. I would like to strive harder to find the meaning behind the reading, to take the time to reflect on it, and to voice the idea that I am most passionate about. This is how I can voice my opinion, and it factors down to setting aside time to think. Fortunately, this week, I was granted another opportunity to rewrite my modern slavery essay, and focus on an issue that I was much more passionate about. Because I was given more time, I was able to reflect on the topic and voice my opinion. However, I would like to get to the point where I am not needing that extra week to find my voice.

(Revision) Free Money: Fact or Fiction?

The past couple of weeks, our assignments have been to write about examples of modern day slavery as well as solutions to end them. The two issues I decided to discuss were conflict diamonds and sweatshops. While I felt I made a strong argument with supporting references and material, I was weak in vocalizing my opinion. I believe the reason for this was due to the fact that any humane and good-hearted person would naturally view the issues of conflict diamonds and sweatshops as evil. This therefore made it more difficult for me to state my opinion, as the natural opinion instated was rather obvious. For my revision, I would like to rewrite my essay on modern day slavery discussing an issue that came to light when I read Aubrey’s and Kara’s essay concerning money and personal enslavement. It is also an issue that has personally affected me this week, and a heated one at that….welfare.

I’m going to start with a story that might get you thinking. This past week, one of my friends began receiving welfare. He is a full time student at VCU but has been jobless since the demise of Circuit City. After running into an ex-coworker, he learned that receiving welfare is as simple as filling out an application form and submitting the names of two places you have applied at during the week. Once accepted, you will receive a weekly check for a predetermined number of weeks. My friend has been applying to places but has been turned down because his schedule is rather un-flexible as a full time student. However, the ex-coworker has been unemployed for over 6 months, does not attend school, lives on his own, and in his words “has made little effort to look for a job because he would rather just sit on his butt and take money from the government.” The ex-coworker also relayed to my friend that another guy they both used to work with had a job, was getting paid under the table, and reporting himself as unemployed so that he could receive welfare. And my taxes are going to support these people!

This intrigued me! The welfare system is constructed so that those who pay taxes actually support those who are on welfare. So how does slavery tie into a system where work is not mandatory yet money is handed to the less fortunate on a silver platter?  Simply put, a person can become a slave to a system and a slave to free money. It becomes a way of life, and they learn to selfishly depend on the government and workers of this country to feed, clothe, and provide a home for them. Their minds are dulled, they lack the motivation to work, and their actions become lazy. This is not to say that all people on welfare are this way because my friend is a very hard worker who has been turned away from several jobs due his availability. The money he will receive for a period of 14 weeks will go to support him until he can change his school schedule next semester. However, it is because of people like the ex-coworkers, who take advantage of free money and the inadequacies of the government during these hard times that welfare is viewed so negatively.

Right about now you may be questioning certain things like they can only be on welfare for a specified amount of time, so what’s the big deal? Well, here is some food for thought. Some people have been on welfare their entire lives. Their parents received money from the government and welfare is the only income they know. President’s like Obama want to extend the number of weeks a person can be on welfare or add a weekly bonus to their check. In fact, just recently Obama increased every welfare check by $25 per week! Or maybe you’re wondering why the government wouldn’t look into the truthfulness behind filling out applications for jobs each week. After all, the only requirement for a weekly check is submitting the names of two businesses. But the sad truth is that in today’s economy, the government lacks the hired help to investigate every application. Because of this, people take advantage of the system.

So how do we solve the inadequacies of welfare when a system that is supposed to promote good is so negatively abused? Here’s an idea. Hire those on welfare to make up for the lack of hired help in our government and let them investigate the applications. After 3-4 months, cut off the weekly paycheck that is going to the able-working man who is sitting on his ass at home too lazy to accept a job after applying. Our government does not have money to throw away to the lazy in this poor economy, and either do I!

Reflections Week 10

This week, in my opinion was the most informative week as I read my peers essays and gathered a wealth of knowledge about modern day slavery issues, however, I was rather bored with the overall material. I was not extremely thought provoked by the readings, and nothing really struck me in my writing. However, I was impressed at my group’s opinions and wished that I had taken more of a passion and stated more of an opinion in my essay. There were also several interesting beliefs in the class discussion, which I tried to participate in more so because it dealt with an issue close to my heart, the fight for religion.

Comments on "Modern Slavery" Essays

I really enjoyed reading everyone's essays this week. Opinions were disputed and passions were expressed. So far, this has been my favorite week for essay readings and commentary.

Christina:

Great opening! You really drew me in by making your paper personal and discussing your cute pup. I would have been interested to read more examples of specific testing done on animals that is harmful, however, the end of your paper was incredible when you discussed social justification and the sacrifices any human would naturally make despite how it might affect the animal. It put animal testing into a different perspective and I really enjoyed reading it.

Daniel:

Great title, very catchy. I agree with many of your ideas, especially welfare, but would have liked to see concrete examples to support your opinion. I for one, would like to know why the government will back up huge car companies and bring them out of “debt” while restrictions are put on small businesses. I do however, disagree with your war opinion. I think it is great that the government offers to pay for your college if you join the ROTC and enlist to serve. It is for this very reason, that my boyfriend is able to attend VCU and be debt free after college. In my opinion, the government is making you work for your money and make some sacrifices instead of just handing money to you as in welfare. Overall, great paper, just go back and do a little grammar editing this for this week’s assignment : )

Kara:

I would have liked to see a more specific topic for your paper, but it was very persuasive and interesting to read from a broader perspective. It provided me with understanding as to why people do not fight against the slave system, “they keep working for fear of their lives and the lives of loved ones and even though their forced labor may be tiresome and possibly life threatening tasks, they continue to work rather than be beaten by their employer.” I also enjoyed how you took it from a more personal and everyday perspective stating that “free citizens can also be slaves to certain things.” I found this idea very intriguing, and the more I read, the more I agreed.

Aubrey:

I couldn’t agree with your idea that money is the root of all evil and people will do anything for it. So sad, yet so true. I would have liked to see you take your paper a bit farther, such as suggesting that it is because of the desire for money, that lead people to commit inhume acts such as forcing others to work in sweatshops for very little income.

Workable Solutions: Awareness, Awareness, AWARENESS

Last week I wrote about conflict diamonds and sweat shops. This week I will write about workable solutions to end these un-American slave acts.

As stated last week, conflict diamonds today make up less than 1% of the world’s diamond sales. This is an extreme decrease from 4% in the late 1990’s. The Kimberly Process, initiated in 2002, was established “to ensure that conflict diamonds do not become intermixed with the diamonds not controlled by such rebel groups” requires “diamond-producing countries to provide proof that the money they make from selling the diamonds is not used to fund criminal or revolutionary activities” (“Diamond”). Yes, the Kimberly Process has led to a massive decrease in the sales of conflict diamonds however, 130 million carats are mined annually, averaging 9 billion total value in sales. Of these 130 million, nearly “49% of diamonds originate from central and southern Africa,” a notorious area for trafficking conflict diamonds (“Diamond”). And if 9 billion dollars worth of diamonds are sold annually, then at least 90,000,000 dollars worth of conflict diamonds are purchased. The government has done what they can to establish trade laws and combat terrorist groups that inflict conflict diamond enslavement, but now it is up to us, as consumers, to put an end to the selling of conflict diamonds. There are three questions we can ask to ensure that the diamond we purchase is not conflict. "How can I know for sure that these are non conflict diamonds?" If the diamond is from a non-conflicted environment, the salesperson should have records on file proving the diamond has passed the Kimberly Process. These papers will also have “embellishments and specials textures to prevent forgery.” Second, ask, "Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?" If the diamonds originated from areas like “Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo,” you might want to reconsider your purchase or look elsewhere as these countries are hotspots for conflict diamond trade. Third, ask the “retailer’s policy in buying and selling” conflict diamonds. They should be more than willing to assure you and provide you with a guarantee that their store or company does not have any association with the trade and sale of conflict diamonds (Ryan). Taking simple steps such as just asking questions and raising awareness among consumers can help lead to the annihilation of conflict diamonds and slavery.

The issue of slavery through sweatshops was also discussed last week. While raising awareness about this issue among consumers will help to abolish it, I personally believe our government should take more steps to terminate the practice of sweatshops. These terroristic institutions are established on American soil, allowing our government to have a hand in taking action in the situation. Because the issue is so rampant among illegal immigrants who are forced to take a job at an institution that does not document its’ workers, our government first and foremost needs to tighten its borders against illegal immigration. Secondly, a specific sector should be comprised to investigate companies under suspicion of enforcing slavery tactics on its workers. If a company is found guilty of such acts, the company should be immediately destroyed, all licenses removed, and the people responsible for committing such crimes should be put in jail. I am well aware that our government has already developed a group such as this that has uncovered companies and brought those responsible to justice, however, “budget cuts enacted during the Reagan and Bush administrations put severe limits on the Department of Labor’s ability to police garment factories, and now there are only 800 DOL inspectors available to police more than 6 million factories of all kinds” (Buzzle Staff & Agencies). The government needs to be reminded that sweatshops still do exist, and it is up to the workers to raise this awareness. For this issue, I readily “condone physical, coercive means of persuasion” to stir recognition through protests and rallies to gain public attention. Through protests, consumers become consciences of what companies are associated with sweatshops, and we can stop supporting these companies with our purchases.

Sources:

Buzzle Staff & Agencies, "Sweatshops: No Longer a Thing of the Past". Buzzle.com. October 28, 2009 .

"Diamond". Wikipedia. November 1, 2009 .

Ryan, Allison. "How to Recognize a Non Conflict Diamond". Articlesbase. November 1, 2009 .