ENG 101-A Blog Daniel DeLuca
Section One-Introduction
Hello Everyone, My name is Daniel DeLuca and this semester I learned a lot in my English 101 course with Ms. Benningfield. Our English class looked at different key aspects in literature: wealth and poverty, justice, ethics/morality, government, and what it means to be an individual in society. All the readings related to these topics were very interesting, some more intriguing than others. English 101 was fun to be a part of because topics and authors were broken down and dissected to make a clearer understanding of the topic. The class, as a whole, made excellent strides on the way to becoming experts in understanding different topics of literature and improvement of overall writing skills. The importance of being a good author in each of our essays was stressed and improvements of things such as grammar, paragraph length, and voice were made. Overall, this semester was yet another great leap in our learning period and a step to becoming a better writer. Enthusiasm by our Professor contributed dramatically to the development of our class and I really enjoyed being a part of it.
Section Two-Government
The ideal government consists of many factors and aspects that relate to protecting and governing a society. Governments are required to rule justly on a society (ties into our justice section), and to help out those in need. In a just government, members of society are given rights that a government has no right to punish. Rights are to be equal and to be punished by that of the government equally. Take into consideration the words of Thomas Jefferson when he says, “…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” (Jefferson, 80). A government grants citizens the right to live a free life, and that that life be full of happiness. Obviously in some societies today, governments do a poor job of this. The societies where a government lacks the power to fully control, citizens need to play a key role and stand together in trying to live an ideal life.
Citizens play a very critical role in government. In a Democracy, the power is in the hands of the citizens. The citizens are encouraged to vote and run for positions in government. The role of a citizen has the most power in a democratic government, and that power cannot be abused. The role I play in government is to vote leaders into office and do so ethically. Who knows, maybe someday one of us will be able to run for office and be the eyes and ears of the citizens that voted one of us in to office. Without citizens, a government would not be able to do its job fully. Citizens are a key ingredient in an ideal government.
Section Three-Wealth and Poverty
Based on our readings, the best way to close the gap between the rich and poor is to unite the people and develop a way/method to where poverty is limited. The poor need at least something to live in decency and comfort and that can be made possible from the efforts of the rich. Showing compassion and concern can go a long way in life. John Kenneth Galbraith said, “An affluent society that is also both compassionate and rational would, no doubt, secure to all who needed it the minimum income essential for decency and comfort” (Galbraith, 412). Just a little bit can help the poor live in comfort and it takes a “real” society to unite to do this for the less fortunate.
I handle money by trying not to spend a lot of it on needs; rather I spend the most on wants. I’m talking like food and clothing being an everyday necessity. I do not like to spend a lot on those so I always enjoy a free meal or sales at Macys. Wants may not be as important, but we buy less of what we want rather than what we need.
Everyone should help those in need, even if it is a dollar in change you give to a homeless man on the street or a dollar bill to put into the collection basket at church. On Thanksgiving this past November, I was fortunate enough to serve a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless in Lexington. I really enjoyed this experience because it made me realize how fortunate I was to be as lucky as I am to go to college and earn a degree and not have to worry about money at this time. The poor are so friendly and I feel as if it is my duty to help them out anyway I can. Some people think otherwise, for example our good friend Andrew Carnegie, who believed that everything must be earned in this world and what is earned is kept. I cannot follow this because in order for this gap to be tightened, we must act out towards helping those that live in poverty.
My goals and aspirations for my money are to open a driving range up for less fortunate kids and teach them about golf, and I want to create my own charity. Of course I will most likely spend some for myself, but I believe in the motto “better to give than to receive.”
Section Four- Justice
Justice in my mind is something that clarifies an end to a mean. The punishment has to fit the crime. Justice is a word that is mixed up in our world and is often confused, because it seems like there are a lot of injustice acts in the world today. People are being executed for either a crime they didn’t commit or because of their race or gender. Take for example the punishment of stoning to death, a subject we discussed and watched a movie about. Women are being stoned in the Middle East for crimes they didn’t commit, or because husbands want revenge or think they are up to something. Preposterous reasons for taking the life of a human being and those people fulfilling the execution should be ashamed. Another instance of injustice was a nineteen year old Muslim girl, Katya Koren, was stoned to death by participating in a beauty contest. One of the men that were suspected of killing her said that he felt no regret or remorse for doing it (Muslim Girl). Many more acts of injustice take place every day in our world and the reasons why are simple: people will always disagree between things, and other cultures besides ours practice more religious customs. Both of these reasons will always be around in our lifetime. Someone has to do something and step up to take charge in changing people’s perspectives.
The things I would do to change injustice is to protest and to lead a group of people in protest, but do so nonviolently. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led African Americans in protests and marches, but did so nonviolently. Even though violence was sometimes a problem during their marches, Dr. King would speak out and tell everyone that violence is not the way to go and is not the only option for standing up in what we all believe in. Dr. King stood up for justice by trying to tackle the injustice events. In a letter he wrote from Birmingham jail he says, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King, 214). So any acts of injustice threaten justice and cause justice to take a backseat.
Laws that are unjust make laws that are just seem to be wrong and confusing. The saying “laws are made to be broken” is phony. Just because a law is unjust, does not mean that it should be broken. Follow every law in a respectful manner, and if it happens to be a law you do not agree with, consult with a local representative or leader. All laws are punishable and the punishments are not worth breaking the law.
I do not often fight injustice because I am not old enough yet to where it affects me emotionally. I really do not know what stops me; I guess it would be a lack of confidence in standing up for what I believe. Justice is a big word in our English language, but injustice is also one that overshadows the good, just things in this world.
<http://revphil2011.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/423/>
Section Five-Ethics/Morality
Ethical/moral behavior is that of living, or trying to live, by the virtues. Living a virtuous life requires a lot of discipline and self-control. One can say that they live a virtuous life, but it is easier said than done. Virtue is “the most evident bridge between morality and religion” (Murdoch, 733). Iris Murdoch said this in her piece titled “Morality and Religion.” Most authors would agree that virtues are very important in living an ethical/moral life. Always in the world, you will have people who behave unethically in every society that exists. Even in our society in the United States, unethical behavior happens every day.
Examples of unethical behavior include those that are involved with the drug scene, selling drugs. Another would be child molestation or being sexually abusive to a minor. A very big occurrence of this is in the news today. I am talking about Jerry Sandusky and the Penn State football program. Sandusky was scene showering with twelve, thirteen year old kids. Now, that is a prime example of being unethical and living against morals. He knew he was doing wrong things, but kept doing them anyways. The case is yet to be heard, but most likely justice will be served towards Sandusky and it should be.
The idea of ethics/morality coincides with religion. Without virtues, there is no way to connect the two, and religion helps enhance those virtues in daily life. I’m not saying that a certain religion must be practiced, but at least some form of religion would help to strengthen virtues and faith. A person must be happy and a religious community or community in general would definitely help. Aldo Leopold says, “All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts” (Leopold, 749). An individual is most happy when he is participating in any form of community that branches out.
Now, happiness is definitely tied into ethics/morality, but happiness differs from pleasure. The two have to be separated and known when each is in use. To be happy it takes friend support and confidence with what you do in everyday life. If someone succeeds at a certain task or event, happiness is usually involved with that. Happiness is tied in with honor, a feeling of accomplishment. Talking about happiness and honor, Aristotle says, “Men of superior refinement and active disposition, on the other hand, identify happiness with honor, this being more or less the aim of a statesmen’s life” (Aristotle, 698). Pleasure can also be present, but pleasure is also tied into selfishness, seeking pleasure for one’s own benefit. Pleasure does not have to be there for happiness to be present.
The way I find happiness is I either turn music on that cheers me up, or just do something that I like. I play golf so whenever I am playing or practicing, I am happy because I love the game. I do not need to do a lot to be happy since I am a happy person overall. I enjoy life and try to live by the virtues the best I can.
<http://www.examiner.com/christian-living-in-houston/the-virtuous-life-of-the-proverbs-31-woman-photo>
<http://modernreject.com/2011/08/the-lone-christian/>
Section Six-Individualism
An individual in society is on that doesn’t rely on other people’s accomplishments or another’s fame. An individual has self-control, dignity, and can rely on him or herself for anything. The individual, specifically, plays a critical role in the society because each individual combined with other individuals, make up the community. Each one contributes something unique to the make-up of a society. Individuals are so important that without them, there would be no communities, no nations, and no world.
The responsibilities of an individual towards his/her society are very simple: to work and contribute to the society. Effort has to be made by each being so the society continues to strive and prosper. I see myself contributing as an individual to my society by going and participating in church and going to school, two things that are usually part of every individual’s life. Contributing to society helps all individuals and unites the society.
Individualism unites a nation or country; to stand up for what everyone believes in and to take pride in being an individual. Emile Durkheim says, “Not only is individualism not anarchical, but it henceforth is the only system of beliefs which can ensure the moral unity of the country” (Durkheim, 281). He is saying that individualism is the only idea or belief system that unites people to stand up for a certain cause. They rise up and speak out because they are unified and together. Each individual supports each other, so therefore the collective group has to have strong support. Every individual has to do their part to adding comfort and compassion to the collective community/society.
Section Seven-Conclusion
To conclude, I would just like to say that I have enjoyed this class very much. Reading authors such as King, Murdoch, Jefferson, Aristotle, and many more have influenced me and have helped me grow with the way I look at the world in perspective now. I really liked the section on government the most because I got to see different opinions on how a government is supposed to work. Overall, I had a really good time and got to read interesting pieces that I would not have normally read. I want to thank Professor Benningfield and the class for making this an enjoyable semester.
Section Eight-Works Cited
Section Eight-Works Cited
Aristotle. “The Aim of Man.” Ed. Lee Jacobus. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 698. Print.
Durkheim, Emile. “Individualism and the Intellectuals.” Ed. Lee Jacobus. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 281. Print.
Galbraith, John Kenneth. “The Position of Poverty.” Ed. Lee Jacobus. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 412. Print.
Jefferson, Thomas. “The Declaration of Independence.” Ed. Lee Jacobus. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 80. Print.
King, Martin Luther Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Ed. Lee Jacobus. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 214. Print.
Leopold, Aldo. “The Land Ethic.” Ed. Lee Jacobus. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 749. Print.
Murdoch, Iris. “Morality and Religion.” Ed. Lee Jacobus. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 733. Print.
"Muslim Girl Katya Koren, 19, 'stoned to Death over Beauty Contest in Ukraine' | Mail Online." Home | Mail Online. Web. 04 Dec. 2011.
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392454/Muslim-girl-Katya-Koren-19-stoned-death-beauty-contest-Ukraine.html.>
Photograph. Shashank ND. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. <http://shashanknd.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/how-the-government-is-killing-indian-startups/>.
Photograph. “Mother Teresa Biography.” I love India. Web. 27 Nov. 2011.
Photograph. Revphil2011: through the Bible in a Year. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <http://revphil2011.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/423/>.
Photograph. “The Virtuous Life of the Proverbs 31 Woman.” Examiner. Web. 4 December 2011.
<http://www.examiner.com/christian-living-in-houston/the-virtuous-life-of-the-proverbs-31-woman-photo>
Photograph. “The Lone Christian.” Modern Reject. Web. 5 December 2011.
Hi Daniel I'm Mackenzie Long from your ENG 101-A and I think that you are a great writer. You are very fluid in the way that you write and in the end your writing all comes together. I liked your use of writers and the way you connected real world events to coincide with the authors that you used in your writing. I also liked how you connect yourself through each section. My only one criticism is to use more authors in each section to connect to your writing. All in all a very good post.
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