Blog 19

Chapter twenty three is mostly all about globalization. I actually have a presentation due this Thursday on chapter 23 visual sources. These visual sources aids us in our understanding of just how big globalization is. But the thing about globalization, is that it seems to be globalization of western standards. Everyone wants to be like the west, like Europe, like the United states. Our values, clothing, ideas are all pushed into other cultures. Take sweatshops. Sweatshops produce westernized clothing, as is seen in the first visual source. Blue jeans, something that Africans don't seem to wear, but are making for other countries. I mean, that is what they see of us. And is it positive? Should they want to be like us? I have no idea what their thoughts are when they are working in these shops making things that are westernized. Maybe they are neutral about the items, or maybe they are grateful they have a job? Or maybe they hate having to do this kind of work in order to get paid and survive in a world where money is everything and it is only money that measures success and life and supports us. Money is a big thing all around the world, and it seems that we made it that way. I'm not saying that maybe there shouldn't be, but maybe it shouldn't be praised to the point that it becomes a major motivating of killing. It's almost become a basic need for survival. Water, food? No. Money, in order to get those basic fundamental items. It's spooky.

hallmarks

I'm gonna talk about the Hallmarks here at NDNU. First off, I'm a transfer student. We were never forced to look at these things, and I'm pretty sure freshmen were (but who knows if they even still remember them). I guess I feel like I should have looked at these sooner. They mean a lot to our school, and hold all our values, so why haven't I? I don't know, but I pretty much like all of them. I mean, they're everywhere in the school. 

But anyway, onto the content of the hallmarks. They are all very nice. I like them all, but my favorite ones have to be about Justice. Justice comes in many ways, and I really like the idea that we stand for it. It's kind of simple, almost doesn't need to be stated but I really like that they did. I also really like the community service one and that we commit ourselves to it. I really love that this school is big on that. Its something everyone can do! doesn't matter if you have money or not. Doesn't matter how old you are. doesn't really matter about anything, because its about providing a service, providing some of your time, which makes the biggest difference in some people's lives. I love that, and I love that I've become more aware and engaged in that because of this school. 

blog 17

a good life. It's something we all strive for. And something we all should have. So, why don't we? This little reading says it should be available for everyone, the things that are necessary for one that is. But, we are also all entitled to our own things. How do you think that works? It's either equal or fair. There can't be both.
But the catholic church says it in a way that can seem possible. They say that they are incentives for people to help in the community and be productive for the whole. Smart. Seems plausible actually. And maybe it is, but maybe the problem lies in the whole incentive idea. People have their own incentives, for their own goods and their own beings. That is where the true problem lies. It's too broad just to say be a productive member of your society and of the human race, because, most people are.
Now, it seems here this is where the Catholic Church makes amends to it. That being Godly, means not to ignore our neighbors who may be more poor than us and do not live as good of a life. That is why there are material things, for us to share. And it seems this kind of idea comes straight out of Luke's Gospel. Luke always maintained that all material things should be shared or sold for the greater good of the community, and that those things should go to the less fortunate.

Hitler

The infamous Hitler and the Nazis were a subject of topic for this reading, and the minute I read Hitler I thought back to something I learned back in my English 103 class before I came to Notre Dame de Namur. We weren't really learning about Hitler or anything, but we started analyzing a work that analyzed why Hitler was able to do what he did for as long as he did without the outside world really realizing what was going on.
We, as human beings, have certain beliefs about what could go on in the world. There's only so much violence that we could think up. And it's usually violence that we've seen occur before. We all know there's murder. genocides. rapes. assaults. robbery. All kinds of those things we kind of learn on the way and we see it happen on the news. Something we've never really heard of before Hitler, was the encampment of a certain group of people by other people who thought they were superior and needed to do this to make the world a better place. I mean, there was always racism and slavery and we all know about that, but this took that idea to a whole new level. One that I don't think we could fathom without someone previously doing it. So, even if someone told us that this was happening in another place, we wouldn't believe them because, who does that? What kind of monster would do that? And how could he get away with it! It would be crazy! But, that's exactly how Hitler got away with it. He did the unimaginable, and people could not bring it to the forefronts of their minds.
So, who knows what the lesson here could be.  I guess expect the unexpected. Imagine the unimaginable. Believe the unbelievable. It's all out there. Someone will think of it. And you've got to be prepared for it.

BLOG 14

It seems that some countries had a lot to deal with when the colonizing that the European countries started began. China, japan and the ottoman empire had a lot on their hands, and it's a wonder how they survived through it all. I got stressed just reading about all they had to deal just at the second page of reading!

China's population growth had big impact on them, a negative one. They didn't have an industrial revolution or anything like that in Europe, which resulted in not having enough food or jobs to sustain their growth. China now had unemployment and starvation, leading to a weaker China, and a more miserable one. Not only that, but their government was not able to keep up with controlling the people. There was not enough man power or resources to keep everything going as smoothly as it was before. Now that is a scary thought, isn't it? Because of that, authority took it into their own hands to be harsh and cruel to their peasants, because how else would it seem like they had control? This then resulted in an uprising of gangs. Man, and I thought what I said before was scary. Imagine living in that type of society at those times, with European culture breathing down your back and trying to change the ways you've always known. It seems to be all to much for China and its people.

The Taiping uprising. That's a lot of change right there, especially with women. Women were now considered equal, getting equal land, being able to fight, be civil servants, put in higher positions and no longer was family a center for marriage, it was all about mutual attraction. Which, if you think about it, is where we are now in American culture. You don't really get married to have kids, and get rich with a husband and worry about those things. You get married because you find each other attractive and you grow to love those people.

CALL TO ACTION

I went to the Belmont creek clean up site for Call to Action Day. Let me first say, that I love that our school does this. I love that they sacrifice one day of school for us to service our community and those around us. It really does show that this school cares about its mission and others. It’s really what being a Catholic and believing in God is all about. It’s about others, the less fortunate, our earth, and giving up not only our money, but our time to help in any way. I feel so honored to be part of the school that takes that to heart. 

       With specificity to the Belmont clean up, it was honestly one of the best times I have had. I went in not knowing who was going to be there, what I was even going to be doing, or anything. I ended up meeting some people, and seeing some of my friends. We all came together to clean up the creek. And we really did. We went around and cleaned up trash, and then we went down to the creek where most of the trash was and cleaned up. We saw a water bottle in the water, stuck in some debris and we stayed there for about 15 minutes trying to get it out because the water was kind of deep and we didn’t want to go in, so we threw rocks at int the water to try and get the ripples to push the water towards us and it worked! It took some time, but it worked! That’s the amount of care that needs to go into everyday life and I’m glad I worked with people who really did care and put that much work into trying to get one single piece of plastic out. Because, it all matters. The little things matter. No matter what you do, the little things matter. It really put a perspective on how badly we treat our Earth and this Earth can only sustain us for so long. We need to love it in order for it to love us. Not only that, but don’t we want people who come into Belmont to be amazed, not disgusted by the amount of trash and waste we throw around. So, I challenge each and everyone one of you( I don’t even know who reads this, but whoever you are) to pick up at least one piece of trash everyday wherever you go. It will make a difference! Trust me! Even if you do not think it will, it does. When we were working today, there were many seniors where we working and almost all of them thanked us for cleaning up the park and for doing such a good job at it. It matters. It matters to them, and it solidifies us, all of us. We need to start caring. So, please, accept my challenge, as I will be doing it too. Tell your friends. And please, throw away your trash, recycle, or compost! It is all available to us here. There’s no reason not to! It’ll help everyone and you in the long run! Let’s not treat this place that gives us life with disrespect. 

XC post

The speaker and what he had to say was interesting. I know that we had to answer a specific question about the legacy of colonialism in places the man has worked, but when asked that question, he did not really answer it. He kind of went on a tangent about living here and stuff. So, I am just going to blog about what he said and what I found intriguing during his presentation.

The speaker works with an international organization, MSF, that is a short term emergency operation. Specifically he talked about Ebola. Children and pregnant women were the highest at risk to contract ebola.
Other things he said were that many nurses and doctors died out there, which was very devastating to their health care system! And that there were many orphans that came about it because of their parents dying from contracting ebola. It was a scary thought. Consequences that I have never thought about before. We only think about healing the sick, but we don't really think about the effects of even getting to a country like that and having them trust us and then the side effects if someone they try to treat ends up dying.

He also said that the people working in actual contact with people had to wear equipment, but they became so hot and sweaty that they are only allowed to work in them for one hour because they could faint! These people really do a lot and I was surprised and impressed with the speaker and the passion that he had for these people in resource poor countries.