Americans have a desire and a right to be protected in the United States of America from terrorists. The most important statement or question that should be asked of the individual is where do you draw the line between security and civil liberties? Our technology is so vast and improved that the government has the power to track domestic information.

The goal or mission statement for NSA (National Security Agency), according to president Bush, is to prevent future terrorist attacks such as the one from 911. President Bush states the “911 was more than an attack from terrorists. It was an act of war.” Bush authorized NSA to eavesdrop on domestic calls from Al-qaeda. Furthermore, this idea of the government tracking and eavesdropping on domestic conversations is similar to operation Shamrock which happened during the Cold War.

Some citizens feel that Bush authorizing the NSA to eavesdrop on private conversations is an unconstitutional act. Although, when 911 occurred, many people were shocked, afraid, and ready to attack the people who had hurt so many. “There were 2,974 people that died and another 24 were listed as missing.” So to prevent a repeated attack, and to ensure national and individual safety, the government has organized programs to spy on targeted or suspicious individuals who are thought to be a threat to our society. In addition, when confronted with this idea of invading privacy one individual stated that “technology is not perfect. It is inevitable that totally innocent Americans will be affected by these programs.” This is hundred percent true. Although, what's more important, your child's safety or your conversation with grandma, or your location kept private? Personally, I'm willing to sacrifice the right to keep my telephone blocked in order to protect not only myself but my neighbors, relatives, and loved ones.

An ethical democratic citizen can look at this idea of security vs. civil liberties and understand that it's not about the individual, it's about the population as a whole and what's better for the society. Similar concepts are used when voting. When an individual votes they put the person they feel will do the best job to improve our country in power. Citizens vote to improve society as a whole not necessary to benefit the voter personality. Anther example, is when we are in an airport. We have to be searched by security in order to board the plane. Is it not our right to just board the plane? Why does security have the right to search through my belongings? Well, the answer is simple. It's for the safety of everyone else on the plane. In conclusion, the government listens in on billions of conversations for the safety of the citizens with the goal of preventing pain, loss, and sorrow from another terrorist attack.

Rob Reimen- Lack of Sensitivity

In the podcast "Best Society", Rob Reimen emphasizes the fact that the western world has become less sensitive. In 1921, in Paris, a French philosopher “wrote a brilliant essay on the crisis of the human spirit, saying that the human spirit gave humans a distinction from animals.” The spirit gives humans the power of imagination and some idea about truth, justice, freedom and what is good. Rob Reimen says that the “human spirit of modern man has become mixed up. We have become less sensitive and are addicted to noise and excitement.” Individuals now need stronger means to satisfy their own sense of excitement. For example, the movies with John Wayne in the 1950s were exciting. Today we have movies such as Top Gun and James Bond, which are action packed to keep our attention and excite us. In addition, it used to be that even the view of the slightest part of a woman would cause sexual excitement, but not anymore. The concept of needing more could be compared to drugs. People who use them continually need more to get the same satiation or excitement from them. Also, in order for the news to get viewers, they need to say things like breaking news, danger, and war, because it captures the audience and it's exciting. Some philosophers feel that this change in society and becoming less sensative is a result of a change in values. According to Rob Reimen, our youths' changing values are due to the previous generation. Parents aren't teaching their kids what's right and what's wrong, nor are they teaching it in school. The public school does not value art as strongly as other subjects or as they used to in the past. Art, culture, and other methods enable individuals to express their feelings.

Citizens are now beginning to accept issues that were previously not accepted. The clothing that is being sold to small girls are tight, revealing, and are sexy. The sayings on clothing are rude and rebellious with sayings such as "who cares?", "princess", and "playboy bunnies". In addition, we have become invaded by technology. It rules people's lives. We plan our days so we can watch television shows that begin at a specific time. We buy Shrek, Spiderman, and High School Musical in stores just because they were advertised on television. Kids want an item just because it has the character's picture on it. Furthermore, teen swearing is also something that is extremely common. So much so that it's becoming accepted and unnoticed to the people hearing it. Other examples of how tolerant we have become as a society include abortion and gay marriage. Through the images of television and the push in store and from peers of what to buy, our culture has become less sensitive to the change in what has become accepted.

Due to our technology and culture we now have become the mass man; we feel that we should automatically have freedom and all our physical needs met. We should have no restrictions or criticism for what we want to do. We are now taught to “not think, just be entertained.” We now don't have as much art and imagination. Art gave individuals a way to express their feelings and create meaning to the BIG life questions. Furthermore, without art and culture humans rely on the physical means of expressing themselves, that is usually violence. In conclusion, our culture, ideas, and values are changing for the worst. We have become superficial, focusing on entertainment instead of adressing the important things in life. What are we, the current citizens of America, going to do to help our society survive morally?

(This picture=IPHONE)

Works Cited:

"Spider-man the official site for spiderman movie fans." Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. MARVEL. 22 Nov 2007 .

"John Wayne." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. November 21, 2007 . Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 21 Nov 2007 .

"Michelangelo Art." 22 Nov 2007 http://www.moodbook.com/art/michelangelo.html.

Podcast from: "What is the best society?." APM: Word for Word . 22 Nov 2007 .

Picture source from:

http://www.silverspider.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/iphone.jpg

Walking Tour

This is my walking tour podcast.....Have you thought about this before?

Premise: Love is one of the greatest ideals.

Conclusion: So because love is so powerful we should have distinctive right and wrongs. We should love our neighbors and not murder them.

There can only be ONE Truth

Relativism is the idea that all viewpoints are equally valid and should be accepted. It is similar to moral relativism, which makes judgements based on social, cultural, historical or personal circumstances. A relativist says that although they may personally feel something is wrong, such as stoning women, it's acceptable because that's their culture and we have no right to tell someone what they can and can not do.

Stoning women because they are unacceptable to the public eye, or pitchforking babies is wrong, whether it's accepted in a specific culture or not. Human life is precious. It's a cherished gift. For example, if a woman is stoned to death her family will suffer grief and loss. If she worked, the family will have to reorganize finances. The children would grow up with out a mother. Furthermore, the conscience and psychology of a person throwing stones and killing a woman, is something they will remember and think about for the rest of their life. In the Bible, a woman was accused of adultery and Jesus said "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone" (Blank).

In addition, if there were not rules or someone to say "that's wrong" where would we be? Everyone has their opinions but there's only one truth. Faith, our foundation for defining truth, was fought for by our founding fathers. Every human has a conscience. Everyone knows right from wrong..Are you going to act on it or sit and watch others be harmed? The choice is yours.

This is a women being buried before she is stoned to death.. How can you just watch?

Absolutism, which is in opposition to relativism states that there is one truth worldwide. Usually the truth is based on religion but it can also be based on humanity. Furthermore, relativism, is not a good way to demonstrate ethics. Ethics is the study of values, and right and wrong. If a person has no standard of right and wrong how can you determine what's right and wrong? It would always be relative and changing. How can a person be of good moral character and watch others be beaten, tortured and have innocent lives killed? If an individual is strong in their ethics they should stand up for what's right. In conclusion, relativism approves actions such as murder, stealing, and abortion. Is that the kind of ideas and reality that you want your kids growing up with? Ideas spread...

Works Cited:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4460673.stm (relativism)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_relativism (moral relativism)

http://www.amitiesquebec-israel.org/texts/stoning.htm (picture)

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/absolutism (absolutism)

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2004/20040811.htm (quote from bible/John 8:7)

Love=endless possiblities

Love is very important in our society as well as our country. Love, according to Cornel West, is a "dangerous force in all the world." For example, love can cause people to put aside their differences and treat each other as equals. Martin Luther King Jr., was willing to fight for equality. He felt that men were equal and it did not depend on skin color. He fought for rights through peace and persuasion. Eventually, black people were treated as equals. Love also causes people to give of the most precious gift, life, to save others. An example of this is when Jesus Christ sacrificed his life, and went through great pain on the cross for the people that he cares deeply for. In First Corithians of the Holy Bible is defines love as “patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things.” For example,during 911 people across the United States were sympathizing with those who had lost loved ones. They were not happy with the pain that the terrorist attack had caused on their fellow citizens. In addition, after Katrine, people sacrificed their time, energy, and money to help those who were hurting. The United States citizens were demonstrating peace, love, and patience to those who suffered.

Furthermore, love is the bond that binds humans together for life, in marriage, and it's what forgives when a person has been hurt. Furthermore, if every American citizen loved the way God loves us, the United States would be not only united against death, pain, and suffering, but there would be happiness in schools, at jobs, or in the supermarket. Lying, stealing, and cheating, would not occur because everyone would treat each other like they would want to be treated. Love; what you can do with it.......it's limitless...

Works Cited:

1. Cornel West Podcast

2. http://www.explorelove.co.uk/love_definition.htm

Picture:

3. http://www.smart-kit.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/originals_7hearts.jpg

The Gifts of Black Folk, Part 2

Quotes from The Gifts of Black Folk, Part 2.

Cornel West

1. " Now that we are a nation that has the blues can we learn something from the blues people."

---Talking about terrorism now that Americans have been terrorized can the Americans learn something from the black people, who were accustomed to pain, suffering, and sorrow long ago.

2. "Sooner or later life is going to knock you to a wall and push you on your knees."

--- Have to face reality and death you can't avoid it all your life.

3. " Dialogue is lost in the younger generation."

--- From such an increase in technology!

4. "How deep is your love from others."----"dangerous force in all the world"

---Wow; thought provoking question. Are we willing to sacrife what we want to help another?

5. "World view rest on pudding."

---I liked how he brought pudding in the story.... World views are skewed, unstable, and changable.

6. " Let the monster perish."
---?

7. "Niggerization, Paideia"
---?