1. Life in Vietnam would be perfect if everyone were totally equal. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer in complete sentences.
- I disagree completely. If we had to do what the people in the story 'Harrison Bergeron' had to do, that would be torture. Some perfect world. Equality isn't what makes everything fair. Being able to have what you need is what's fair. Everyone has needs... and wants. Equity is fairness because everyone is allowed to have what they need without being on the same level as everyone else. Because everyone is different. We take in the knowledge, food, materials differently. Everyone will be able to have what they need, and its fair because it's not that they won't have it, they'll have it with differences, some more, some less.
2. You are designing a society in which everyone is equal. What are the laws?
- Not to be small-minded or simple, but with a society that everyone is equal, I'd like to keep it like it is now. Except with these conditions;
1. Everyone has a right to say, the wealthy & the non-wealthy, the smart & the un-smart, the tall & the short.
2. Everyone has a house; that house will gradually turn into a home with a family.
3. No one has the right to think that they're not lovable, because it is a certainty that there is someone out there who will love them.
4. Everyone will get what they need, at the right level of needs; more education, food, water, etc...
5. No war or killing.
6. People who disobey these laws will be forced to do lots of writing and skip some meals.
3. What would you do to help people who were less capable mentally, physically, or socially to “catch up”?
- I wouldn't force them. I'd get them to reach their ability, to do what they can. And if they can't, I can't blame them. It would be alright to tell lazy people to work harder and get an A+ or something. But when it comes to the disabled, that's like telling them that they're not trying hard enough to pass the level they're in. But who could blame them? I wouldn't, that's for sure.
4. What problems can you foresee that might come in a society with laws that force “equality for all”? How would you handle those problems?
- People would probably lose their identity. Being afraid of the consequences, they follow the laws. Losing yourself is worst than dying. Think bout it. Would you rather die a happy death, being proud of who you are? Or would you want to live like controlled freaks? Everyone would be robots, made & controlled by the so called 'equal' government or whatever. I would probably stop it of course. I would want life as it is now, except with the conditions I made in Question2.
5. Do you believe that total equality is possible, or would human nature make sure that some people would eventually dominate others?
- I believe total equality is impossible. Well, nothing is impossible? Very unlikely, strongly unlikely. Total equality would mean chaos, and i'm pretty sure at least one person wouldn't like it and would try to take control. Maybe there will be total equality for a moment, a little moment. But not for long. Eventually, someone will do something. Something that would make them more than others; smarter, more powerful, etc..
6. In what situations have you felt similarly to any of the characters? What persons, places, or ideas from your own experience came to mind while you were reading this story? Try to list as least two examples.
- The part when Harrison stood up for himself, I did that once with a teacher, except I got away with it because he finally felt like he was wrong. I felt proud, and like a hero. I don't know what would happen if he didn't back down and called the principal. I'd probably be violating tons of school rules! Leading to suspension or maybe kicked out of school. Like the ballerina who joined Harrison when he stood up, I had followed the people who stood up for what they believed in lots of times, and most of the times, we won because we had reasoning and people would listen to us because we had a right to say what we think, unlike in the story. When the ballerinas were dancing and doing not a very good job of it, I was thinking of a dance I did when I was in second grade, it was really embarrassing, stumbling and all. But we were small, and all beautiful ♥
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Something About Advertizing (:
How does advertising influence consumption?
- Advertizing convinces people to do something, buying is one of those doing actions. The thing about advertizements is they don't talk about the bad sides, on how big of an impact it has on others or environment, so when people look at the advertizements they would want to buy it because they don't know the negative effects of the product.
Do you think citizens are sufficiently informed about the sustainability of our consumption habits? If not, how can we become more informed about sustainability issues?
- No, because low-income people don't spend as much, therefore they don't about consuming large amount of things. Not having enough money, they would not be educated as much, so they might not know how to read. Some low-income people don't know about the advertizing of products because they don't own television sets and people usually would stick posters in the cities, not in the outskirts of town. Maybe people could start raising awareness by sticking posters everywhere, with lots of pictures (for those who can't read) and maybe people would be more informed about the sustainability issues.
Do you think these advertising techniques influence what you and your friends purchase?
- Yes, because now that we've learnt about it in school, we will consider about it more when we buy things in the outside world. If it was for a good cause, then we would definately buy it. But if the thing isn't neccessary, or it's just advertized in a way that looks cool, then it's probably not needed and should be thought over before buying it.
- Advertizing convinces people to do something, buying is one of those doing actions. The thing about advertizements is they don't talk about the bad sides, on how big of an impact it has on others or environment, so when people look at the advertizements they would want to buy it because they don't know the negative effects of the product.
Do you think citizens are sufficiently informed about the sustainability of our consumption habits? If not, how can we become more informed about sustainability issues?
- No, because low-income people don't spend as much, therefore they don't about consuming large amount of things. Not having enough money, they would not be educated as much, so they might not know how to read. Some low-income people don't know about the advertizing of products because they don't own television sets and people usually would stick posters in the cities, not in the outskirts of town. Maybe people could start raising awareness by sticking posters everywhere, with lots of pictures (for those who can't read) and maybe people would be more informed about the sustainability issues.
Do you think these advertising techniques influence what you and your friends purchase?
- Yes, because now that we've learnt about it in school, we will consider about it more when we buy things in the outside world. If it was for a good cause, then we would definately buy it. But if the thing isn't neccessary, or it's just advertized in a way that looks cool, then it's probably not needed and should be thought over before buying it.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Examples for Sustainable Development :]
1. We should plant trees because we are cutting down to much.
2. We should build unharmful dams (unlike the Three Gorges Dams) to make hydro electricity.
3. We should use solar energy to charge things and for other electicity uses.
4. We should make windmills to make wind energy.
5. We should use recycled stuff.
6. We should renew stuff and use that.
7. We should use efficient water fixtures.
-xoxo-
2. We should build unharmful dams (unlike the Three Gorges Dams) to make hydro electricity.
3. We should use solar energy to charge things and for other electicity uses.
4. We should make windmills to make wind energy.
5. We should use recycled stuff.
6. We should renew stuff and use that.
7. We should use efficient water fixtures.
-xoxo-
Monday, October 4, 2010
Migration ♥ (;
I know this girl who migrated twice in her lifetime so far. These movements consisted of push factors and no pull factors whatsoever. She was born in America, living all her life learning and adapting to the life over there. Her parents, though, were Vietnamese and were always busy, so the one who actually took care of her was her grandma. In December 2005, her grandma felt sick and decided she wanted to die in her homeland, Vietnam. She flew there and two weeks later passed away. This girl, had to skip school, and live with her uncle. She made a temporary internal migration to North Carolina from Georgia. This region was much different from her old one. It was lonelier, and the last thing she wanted was to be friendless. She hated it there, her cousins were mean and she was living in such a dirty environment, for it was all rural. She missed all the urban stuff in Atlanta; all the shopping, the water parks, the clean schools. But it wasn't her choice anymore to choose where she wanted to live.
After about two months, when her dad came back from her grandma's funeral, he sadly confirmed that he couldn't take care of her anymore; not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't make as much money. That was when she made her second migration, this time, external. She flew all the way to Vietnam with her aunt who made a good living. I guess this changed her life big time. She got sent to a private British school, it was much different from American schools, and spelling was one of the many differences. It was hotter in Vietnam, and it made her skin turn from peachy-pale to yellowy-tan, which was not that bad. The food there was amazing, and she was growing so fast. The only bad thing was that she was always far away from her Dad, and she was such a Daddy's girl. She missed all the American stuff, but relocating to another area made her think differently about the world. It was so different, so new to her. She liked the experience. She now goes to American International School, where true friends were made, American history coming back, and she felt like herself again, except more mature. And that girl... is me (: ♥
After about two months, when her dad came back from her grandma's funeral, he sadly confirmed that he couldn't take care of her anymore; not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't make as much money. That was when she made her second migration, this time, external. She flew all the way to Vietnam with her aunt who made a good living. I guess this changed her life big time. She got sent to a private British school, it was much different from American schools, and spelling was one of the many differences. It was hotter in Vietnam, and it made her skin turn from peachy-pale to yellowy-tan, which was not that bad. The food there was amazing, and she was growing so fast. The only bad thing was that she was always far away from her Dad, and she was such a Daddy's girl. She missed all the American stuff, but relocating to another area made her think differently about the world. It was so different, so new to her. She liked the experience. She now goes to American International School, where true friends were made, American history coming back, and she felt like herself again, except more mature. And that girl... is me (: ♥
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
'A Message From Mother Nature' Answers :)
1. The main point of the article is about whether global warming cause climate change.
2. Parch - to make dry and hot.
Torrential - rapid violence.
Batter - to beat or pound really hard.
Dispute - to have a debate or argument.
3. Climate is a pattern of weather through a long period of time. Weather is the change in atmosphere in a short period of time.
4. The examples in the article of extreme weather are the heat wave in Russia, the flooding in the United States, and the monsson rains in Pakistan.
5. No I have not experienced extreme weather.
6. Perception means what you understand and think about things; your opinions and understandings.
7. According to the proofs and theories, I think that global climate change is caused by global warming because it makes sense that the Earth's natural disasters are caused by the heating of the Earth's atmosphere.
2. Parch - to make dry and hot.
Torrential - rapid violence.
Batter - to beat or pound really hard.
Dispute - to have a debate or argument.
3. Climate is a pattern of weather through a long period of time. Weather is the change in atmosphere in a short period of time.
4. The examples in the article of extreme weather are the heat wave in Russia, the flooding in the United States, and the monsson rains in Pakistan.
5. No I have not experienced extreme weather.
6. Perception means what you understand and think about things; your opinions and understandings.
7. According to the proofs and theories, I think that global climate change is caused by global warming because it makes sense that the Earth's natural disasters are caused by the heating of the Earth's atmosphere.
