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.