In the novel Brave New World social order is maintained through the use of cloning. Individuals no longer are given birth to and raised by mothers and fathers. Embryos are divided multiple times to produce almost one hundred separate eggs. These eggs produce identical human beings. Each group of eggs is treated different based on what they are to become in society.
There are alphas, betas, deltas, gammas, and epsilons, which each have a different social order. Alphas are the elite members of society and are responsible for more work than others. Epsilons are the lower class and are created to become drones who are taught to preform mindless tasks.
People are taught their place within the society when they are young through hypnosis and shock therapy. This teaches them what they are supposed to like and how they are supposed to respond to things.
It was difficult to read this novel and understand how everyone accepted the ideals of the society. As I was reading the beginning as the director taught the students about how the reproduction process was conducted, I felt like the student that kept questioning the procedure. There was one student that asked what the advantages of the new reproduction process were, and I was asking myself the same question. It seems to create a mundane life where many people just live day to day preforming the same task with no hope of change.
I also was shocked at the lengths the society went to to prevent natural births. It was a horrible thing to become a mother, so women were taught to use contraceptives ritually. Giving birth to a baby was wrong and unheard of. Many younger children didn't understand the concept of birth or parents.
Also the idea of sex and relationships seemed very skewed to me. Everyone was for everyone, a motto of the society, was used with sex and relationships too. You didn't just have one partner, you could have limitless partners. Promiscuity was seen as the norm and monogamy was feared.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Reaction to "Skinheads USA: Soldiers of the Race War" Video
The Skinheads video was extremely disturbing. I think the most disturbing part for me was the brainwashing of the youth. Many of the people involved were so young it is hard to believe that they have their own opinions on this topic. Instead these kids are cared for and allowed to deviate from the norms of society, a wish that every child possesses, and in turn are told to hate all other races.
The children shown in the video, no nothing more than to agree with people that support them. I'm sure when you were little you looked up to some, maybe a parent, guardian or another adult. We admired the people that took care of us and hoped to be like them someday. Many of the children in the movie had been abused or disowned by their own parents. When Bill Riccio offered to take them in and provide for them, these children become easy targets for deception.
Bill Riccio also was a rebel, which many children admire. Many children want to deviate from the rules they are told to obey. Riccio, as a deviant, who believes that the one true race for America is the white race, goes against the common views and norms on race. Children are taught to respect all races, yet when they begin to admire someone like Riccio you can see why this concept goes awry.
As stated, one of the goals of White Supremacy is to allow people to be proud of their race. This is a concept that many individuals could agree with. Who isn't proud of who they are and their background. However, White Supremacy takes this concept to a whole new level by suggesting that there should be separation between races and that ultimately there will be a war among races. It is this attitude that stumps the possible of a country free of racism.
The children shown in the video, no nothing more than to agree with people that support them. I'm sure when you were little you looked up to some, maybe a parent, guardian or another adult. We admired the people that took care of us and hoped to be like them someday. Many of the children in the movie had been abused or disowned by their own parents. When Bill Riccio offered to take them in and provide for them, these children become easy targets for deception.
Bill Riccio also was a rebel, which many children admire. Many children want to deviate from the rules they are told to obey. Riccio, as a deviant, who believes that the one true race for America is the white race, goes against the common views and norms on race. Children are taught to respect all races, yet when they begin to admire someone like Riccio you can see why this concept goes awry.
As stated, one of the goals of White Supremacy is to allow people to be proud of their race. This is a concept that many individuals could agree with. Who isn't proud of who they are and their background. However, White Supremacy takes this concept to a whole new level by suggesting that there should be separation between races and that ultimately there will be a war among races. It is this attitude that stumps the possible of a country free of racism.
Reaction to Graeber and Lerner Readings
The idea of Freeskool is very linked to anarchism. It is free education that allows people to choose what they want to learn and teach what they are willing to teach. Even the teacher is not considered an authority. It's more as though they are sharing knowledge. To help eliminate the authority figures, many of the teachers (facilitators) choose not to have a format. This allows for more class participation and makes the system more voluntary.
Freeskool believes that education that is not forced down a persons throat is more likely to provoke their interest. Anarchy believes that people that are not enslaved by their government will be more likely to look out for the community interest, instead of selfish interests.
Freeskool's motto is "no grades, no masters", which was designed to play off of the anarchist slogan "no gods, no masters." There is no government or authority forcing people to comply with an anarchist society. The same is true for Freeskool, people are allowed to participate if they choose and their participation is not judged by an authority. This way knowledge can be built collectively.
The disadvantages of the Freeskool model are the same as can be seen in anarchy. There is a lack of quality control. Without a government wealth, health care, and well being of communities cannot be regulated. Within Freeskool there is no way to tell if the knowledge being shared by the community is accurate.
These downfalls are what make people so afraid of anarchy. Because there is no sort of control, there is no underlying protection. People are afraid that others who do not have the means to support themselves will turn to crime to provide for themselves. This will lead to a community that is constantly fearful and afraid of what others can do to them.
As the article stated, another form of social cooperation can be seen in Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that is built, added to, and edited by anyone who chooses to do so. People can create their own topic page on Wikipedia and provide all the content they wish. From there others are allowed to add to and edit the page. This has the same disadvantage as Freeskool. There can be no way to main to the quality of the website with having some sort of authority to regulate it.
Freeskool believes that education that is not forced down a persons throat is more likely to provoke their interest. Anarchy believes that people that are not enslaved by their government will be more likely to look out for the community interest, instead of selfish interests.
Freeskool's motto is "no grades, no masters", which was designed to play off of the anarchist slogan "no gods, no masters." There is no government or authority forcing people to comply with an anarchist society. The same is true for Freeskool, people are allowed to participate if they choose and their participation is not judged by an authority. This way knowledge can be built collectively.
The disadvantages of the Freeskool model are the same as can be seen in anarchy. There is a lack of quality control. Without a government wealth, health care, and well being of communities cannot be regulated. Within Freeskool there is no way to tell if the knowledge being shared by the community is accurate.
These downfalls are what make people so afraid of anarchy. Because there is no sort of control, there is no underlying protection. People are afraid that others who do not have the means to support themselves will turn to crime to provide for themselves. This will lead to a community that is constantly fearful and afraid of what others can do to them.
As the article stated, another form of social cooperation can be seen in Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that is built, added to, and edited by anyone who chooses to do so. People can create their own topic page on Wikipedia and provide all the content they wish. From there others are allowed to add to and edit the page. This has the same disadvantage as Freeskool. There can be no way to main to the quality of the website with having some sort of authority to regulate it.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Reaction to Goldman Reading
One of the most interesting parts of the Goldman article on Anarchism was the definition she present for the concept. According to Goldman, Anarchism is "the philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law; the theory that all forms of government rest on violence, and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary." I thought this definition was interesting because it states that government leads to violence and destruction, whereas many opposed to anarchism believe that this form of no government leads to violence and destruction.
Goldman believes that ignorance is the reason few understand or believe in the potential success of anarchism. The strive for power and supremacy combats the notion of anarchism, which allows each man to control himself and only himself. The economy is part of the source of opposition. The constant goal of gaining wealth constructs a hierarchy, which leaves some men with more power over others.
Goldman believes that ideas of religion that cause people to believe the are no more than a speck on Earth cause people to be less conscious of themselves. With superior powers controlling people such as God, government, and society, man has no reason to believe in the power of himself. Goldman believes that anarchism is the only philosophy that encourages man to be conscious of himself. Anarchy teaches unity, through the mere idea that men are not considered subordinates or slaves to superior powers.
Anarchism believes, that contrary to what government states, law is not natural. However, government has not survived its purpose in preventing crime, violence, force, and coercion. Goldman believes that crime is inevitable and government regulation only increases the inevitability of it. Under government people are responsible to follow strict rules, which increase the chance of deviation.
Goldman believes that ignorance is the reason few understand or believe in the potential success of anarchism. The strive for power and supremacy combats the notion of anarchism, which allows each man to control himself and only himself. The economy is part of the source of opposition. The constant goal of gaining wealth constructs a hierarchy, which leaves some men with more power over others.
Goldman believes that ideas of religion that cause people to believe the are no more than a speck on Earth cause people to be less conscious of themselves. With superior powers controlling people such as God, government, and society, man has no reason to believe in the power of himself. Goldman believes that anarchism is the only philosophy that encourages man to be conscious of himself. Anarchy teaches unity, through the mere idea that men are not considered subordinates or slaves to superior powers.
Anarchism believes, that contrary to what government states, law is not natural. However, government has not survived its purpose in preventing crime, violence, force, and coercion. Goldman believes that crime is inevitable and government regulation only increases the inevitability of it. Under government people are responsible to follow strict rules, which increase the chance of deviation.
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