Journal 4 Individual and Societal Responsibility
Using your readings by King, Jr. and Thoreau as a jump off point, please think about what a “citizen” is. First,define what makes YOU a "good citizen." How would you define a "good citizen" of the United States? How does Thoreau define a good citizen? Would Martin Luther King, Jr. agree with your definition, or with Thoreau’s definition? Please explain why. (500 words minimum)
Your Answer: A citizen, to me, means that a person is legal in a community or town, who gets to enjoy the rights and freedoms that the country offers. I think I am a good citizen in a lot of ways. First off I obey the laws that the higher ups have made. I obey them because I feel like they made those laws for a reason, that reason would be to protect me from harm. I pay my taxes which are required. I give back to the community by helping out those in need, my neighbors, companies, and homeless. I enjoy the freedoms that have been given to me, by voting for a president. I also enjoy working what ever job I would like to work, this is one of the freedoms I love the most. If I was told I couldn't work, or was told I had to work a certain job I would go crazy. I also get to wear what I want, and go and do what I want. Thoreau defines a good citizen as someone who may not agree with the laws but will follow them regardless (Thoreas Civil Disobedience). I think that Martin Luther King Jr. would agree with both of us, because we were both pretty close on our definition of a citizen. Times we're different when he was living, that is why he became such a hero in people's eyes. He didn't agree with laws or with the government but he didn't disobey fully. He did break some laws of his town but that is because felt the higher laws of the land were the correct ones like the declaration was not being met fully, which he was right.
Question 2 5 / 5 ptsSkip to question text. Explain your personal philosophy regarding your individual rights, freedoms, morality, values and responsibilities, especially to the LAWS, your COMMUNITY, and your COUNTRY. What responsibilities come with being free? Who decides what these responsibilities are? Do these responsibilities require enforcement? If so, by whom? (500 words minimum)
Your Answer: I believe that it is my duty to obey the laws unless I strongly feel that they are unjust. Right now in my life I don't feel that any of the real big laws are unjust. There are always going to be those silly laws that don't make sense to me that isn't harming anyone that I might break. Like in Utah it is illegal not to drink milk, that law tome makes no sense and I would not care if anyone broke that law. Now killing someone, breaking an entre, or doing harm to an animal or human is a big deal to me and is something that should never happen. Unfortunetly it does so we have actions that are set up for someone if that happens like our court systems. I feel this way because of the way I was raised, I am a mormon. My religious beliefs come together with they rules of the land and mesh as one. I believing harming another in any way is against what the law says and what the Lord says. As a citizen in the United States I have the freedoms I do. If I feel that anything is unjust I would need to stand up and say something, let people know that it is not okay the way we are running our country. That is one of my responsibilites of being free, along with obeying the laws. We are free to make our own choices but once we do what comes with it is the consequences of your actions. Those who murder have that choice to do so but they will be affected for the rest of their life, hopefully, for that choice. Fate, laws, government, police, family,friends, leaders, teachers, parents, and ourselves are who deciedes what our responsibilities or consequences will be. If anyone feels their needs or freedoms are not being met they need to speak up and make the government aware of it so that something can be done. We run this country but the gorvernment rules it and can make the official change, we just need to make them aware. Sometimes these responsibilites does need enforcements like maybe jail time, a trial, or maybe even a time out. Each situation is different and would have to be decided at that time by someone higher up or by ourselves.
Question 3 5 / 5 ptsSkip to question text. What should be done with people – preachers, iconoclasts, educators, or anyone else – who seemingly undermine the values of the society where they live such as Thoreau was doing in New England, or Martin Luther King, Jr. in the South? What seems to be the proper relation between the individual and the community, and between the local community and society in the broader sense? Consider Kay Anderson’s attempt to stop Michael Moore from speaking at UVU a couple of years ago because “this man does not represent the values of this community.” (You can watch a documentary entitled This Divided State which deals with the situation at UVU at this link:http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/this_divided_state)
Your Answer: Peopel who undermine the values of the society should be allowed to protest and show how they feel in hopes that something can be done to change it. I like the way Martin Luther handled his protest in a non violent way. That is the only way I think they should be allowed to protest. If they are doing harm to others than it should not be allowed. We are allowed to not agree with a certain law that is in place but it does not mean not obey it all together. It means vocalize what your issues are with a law so that something can be done about it. That was the only way blacks became free and equal was people standing up for what they believed was right. That is the only way we even have freedom was people standing up for what they believe in. If people are doing it calmly I think nothing should happen to them, but if they are doing it aggresivly than if they are breaking any laws they should be punished accordingly. When UVU was having Micheal Moore go speak there it caused a huge debate on if they should let him come or not. Of course people had the right to speak their mind on the issue, just like Micheal Moore is free to speak of what he believes.
Reflection
Reflecting from my past thoughts about different topics in humanities, before I took this class I was more naive. I was still pretty accurate on things, but my knowledge has expanded. It is not just what everyone typically thinks, I know think outside of the box. For example, in the first question of Journal 4 what I thought being a good citizen meant has changed a little bit. I still think that all the things I said are accurate of what I feel being a good citizen is. My knowledge has just expanded; I also think that being a good citizen includes recycling and lowering your carbon footprint on the world. Before, I thought being a good citizen only meant all of the usual things that deal with the law. But now I also know that making a difference for the earth is a big deal as well.
Also after taking this class I have learned that I can’t look at anyone and determine what race or ethnicity they are. I just started my job at the hospital right when I started this class, so it really opened my eyes. We have to ask people’s ethnicity when they come into the hospital to make sure our care is fair all the way around. People always will joke when we ask them that they are something else that they are not. I reply saying that I am sorry but I have to put what you tell me because I can’t determine what you are. I have seen many people that look white with red hair that are actually black. It has just opened my eyes to the differences there can be. I am not as naive as I used to be before I started this class.
Your Answer: A citizen, to me, means that a person is legal in a community or town, who gets to enjoy the rights and freedoms that the country offers. I think I am a good citizen in a lot of ways. First off I obey the laws that the higher ups have made. I obey them because I feel like they made those laws for a reason, that reason would be to protect me from harm. I pay my taxes which are required. I give back to the community by helping out those in need, my neighbors, companies, and homeless. I enjoy the freedoms that have been given to me, by voting for a president. I also enjoy working what ever job I would like to work, this is one of the freedoms I love the most. If I was told I couldn't work, or was told I had to work a certain job I would go crazy. I also get to wear what I want, and go and do what I want. Thoreau defines a good citizen as someone who may not agree with the laws but will follow them regardless (Thoreas Civil Disobedience). I think that Martin Luther King Jr. would agree with both of us, because we were both pretty close on our definition of a citizen. Times we're different when he was living, that is why he became such a hero in people's eyes. He didn't agree with laws or with the government but he didn't disobey fully. He did break some laws of his town but that is because felt the higher laws of the land were the correct ones like the declaration was not being met fully, which he was right.
Question 2 5 / 5 ptsSkip to question text. Explain your personal philosophy regarding your individual rights, freedoms, morality, values and responsibilities, especially to the LAWS, your COMMUNITY, and your COUNTRY. What responsibilities come with being free? Who decides what these responsibilities are? Do these responsibilities require enforcement? If so, by whom? (500 words minimum)
Your Answer: I believe that it is my duty to obey the laws unless I strongly feel that they are unjust. Right now in my life I don't feel that any of the real big laws are unjust. There are always going to be those silly laws that don't make sense to me that isn't harming anyone that I might break. Like in Utah it is illegal not to drink milk, that law tome makes no sense and I would not care if anyone broke that law. Now killing someone, breaking an entre, or doing harm to an animal or human is a big deal to me and is something that should never happen. Unfortunetly it does so we have actions that are set up for someone if that happens like our court systems. I feel this way because of the way I was raised, I am a mormon. My religious beliefs come together with they rules of the land and mesh as one. I believing harming another in any way is against what the law says and what the Lord says. As a citizen in the United States I have the freedoms I do. If I feel that anything is unjust I would need to stand up and say something, let people know that it is not okay the way we are running our country. That is one of my responsibilites of being free, along with obeying the laws. We are free to make our own choices but once we do what comes with it is the consequences of your actions. Those who murder have that choice to do so but they will be affected for the rest of their life, hopefully, for that choice. Fate, laws, government, police, family,friends, leaders, teachers, parents, and ourselves are who deciedes what our responsibilities or consequences will be. If anyone feels their needs or freedoms are not being met they need to speak up and make the government aware of it so that something can be done. We run this country but the gorvernment rules it and can make the official change, we just need to make them aware. Sometimes these responsibilites does need enforcements like maybe jail time, a trial, or maybe even a time out. Each situation is different and would have to be decided at that time by someone higher up or by ourselves.
Question 3 5 / 5 ptsSkip to question text. What should be done with people – preachers, iconoclasts, educators, or anyone else – who seemingly undermine the values of the society where they live such as Thoreau was doing in New England, or Martin Luther King, Jr. in the South? What seems to be the proper relation between the individual and the community, and between the local community and society in the broader sense? Consider Kay Anderson’s attempt to stop Michael Moore from speaking at UVU a couple of years ago because “this man does not represent the values of this community.” (You can watch a documentary entitled This Divided State which deals with the situation at UVU at this link:http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/this_divided_state)
Your Answer: Peopel who undermine the values of the society should be allowed to protest and show how they feel in hopes that something can be done to change it. I like the way Martin Luther handled his protest in a non violent way. That is the only way I think they should be allowed to protest. If they are doing harm to others than it should not be allowed. We are allowed to not agree with a certain law that is in place but it does not mean not obey it all together. It means vocalize what your issues are with a law so that something can be done about it. That was the only way blacks became free and equal was people standing up for what they believed was right. That is the only way we even have freedom was people standing up for what they believe in. If people are doing it calmly I think nothing should happen to them, but if they are doing it aggresivly than if they are breaking any laws they should be punished accordingly. When UVU was having Micheal Moore go speak there it caused a huge debate on if they should let him come or not. Of course people had the right to speak their mind on the issue, just like Micheal Moore is free to speak of what he believes.
Reflection
Reflecting from my past thoughts about different topics in humanities, before I took this class I was more naive. I was still pretty accurate on things, but my knowledge has expanded. It is not just what everyone typically thinks, I know think outside of the box. For example, in the first question of Journal 4 what I thought being a good citizen meant has changed a little bit. I still think that all the things I said are accurate of what I feel being a good citizen is. My knowledge has just expanded; I also think that being a good citizen includes recycling and lowering your carbon footprint on the world. Before, I thought being a good citizen only meant all of the usual things that deal with the law. But now I also know that making a difference for the earth is a big deal as well.
Also after taking this class I have learned that I can’t look at anyone and determine what race or ethnicity they are. I just started my job at the hospital right when I started this class, so it really opened my eyes. We have to ask people’s ethnicity when they come into the hospital to make sure our care is fair all the way around. People always will joke when we ask them that they are something else that they are not. I reply saying that I am sorry but I have to put what you tell me because I can’t determine what you are. I have seen many people that look white with red hair that are actually black. It has just opened my eyes to the differences there can be. I am not as naive as I used to be before I started this class.