During the Transcendentalist movement of American Romanticism, writer Ralph Waldo Emerson became one of the people on the forefront of the transcendentalist ideal. His belief was that people should, "speak what [they] think today in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything [they] say today". This view is that spontaneity and following one's beliefs is good. As evidenced by events in the world and in my life, it is shown that spontaneity and belief in ideals in the way that Emerson states is best for ones' good.
In politics, some have been spontaneous and outspoken, that led to their success. Take for example, the current President of the United States, Donald Trump. Though many do not agree with his harsh words, his followers support him due to him "telling it like it is", or, telling the truth. This way of speaking is what gave him his platform to rise, beating other candidates who have softer words. He has been shown to exemplify Emerson's statement that "tomorrow [he will] speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything [he] say today". Formerly being a member of the Democratic Party, he switch to being far-right on the Republican Party, both opposing and contradicting sides. This shows that it has been successful to "speak the truth", or "hard words".
Some people, however, use this spontaneity in ideal to pick up their self-worth. Christopher McCandless, whose story was made well known in Jon Krakauer's book Into The Wild, showed his spontaneity as giving him happiness. Though he perished due to a tragic accident at the end of his trek, his spontaneity helped go places such as into Mexico and back without papers, as well as helping him journey the west without problems. His ideals were his ideals, and he followed them wherever they took him; he was spontaneous and that led to the betterment of himself.
Some, on the other hand, believe that it is best to go with the flow and to not be spontaneous, such as in beliefs or in life, as to opposing Christopher McCandless' way of life. Granted, there are some subjects that should not be taken with spontaneity, but spontaneity helps many people in intuition. In my experience, being spontaneous helped me solve problems that cannot be solved due to time restraints. In an engineering club, my group was faced with a problem building a bridge, and we had to be spontaneous in terms of materials and design. Spontaneity led to my success.
So, it is shown that spontaneity and individualism can, in fact, lead to success. In life, people should practice spontaneity and belief in their own ideals more. Perhaps that will lead to a happier society.
Friday, March 9, 2018
Argumentation Blog #3: Haunts, Physical or Mental?
We sometimes desire to be in a natural disaster, such as a tsunami or tornado, just for the experience. We look at the edge of the highway when an accident has happened, with just a sliver of hope to see a dead body covered by a tarp. More rarely, we ponder what would happen if we killed someone. Are these thoughts innate? A feeling we are born with? Feelings like these are acquired by experience; how we're raised and what we see in the world.
From an early age, we are taught that death and/or topics surrounding death are basically a taboo. Death is hidden in closed-casket funerals, and the van carrying a recently deceased body is unmarked. This, in my experience, has taught me to be morbidly curious about death. When I entered a hospital, the idea of death scared me, but in a macabre way drew me in. This shows that this feeling of morbid curiosity is not innate.
On the other hand, cultures that are taught to embrace death view it in a different way. In Laos, cremations occur on open-air funeral pyres, not hidden from view. Children raised over there are raised around the idea of death, as they pick up the bones of their recently deceased family member. This contrasts with the American-taught notion of death in which it is hidden and almost taboo.
Some people, however, believe morbid curiosity and other ideas such as evil are innate. But, as children, people cannot grasp the concept of race; therefore prejudgment against other races does not occur. It is in the hands of the environment and people around them that racism is taught.
Ideas such as morbid curiosity and evil are, in my and others' experiences, not innate. We are taught how to think this way. If people in the United States raised their children in a way that celebrated death, or maybe did not have a racially prejudged environment, perhaps children will not see death and race in the way that Americans do today.
From an early age, we are taught that death and/or topics surrounding death are basically a taboo. Death is hidden in closed-casket funerals, and the van carrying a recently deceased body is unmarked. This, in my experience, has taught me to be morbidly curious about death. When I entered a hospital, the idea of death scared me, but in a macabre way drew me in. This shows that this feeling of morbid curiosity is not innate.
On the other hand, cultures that are taught to embrace death view it in a different way. In Laos, cremations occur on open-air funeral pyres, not hidden from view. Children raised over there are raised around the idea of death, as they pick up the bones of their recently deceased family member. This contrasts with the American-taught notion of death in which it is hidden and almost taboo.
Some people, however, believe morbid curiosity and other ideas such as evil are innate. But, as children, people cannot grasp the concept of race; therefore prejudgment against other races does not occur. It is in the hands of the environment and people around them that racism is taught.
Ideas such as morbid curiosity and evil are, in my and others' experiences, not innate. We are taught how to think this way. If people in the United States raised their children in a way that celebrated death, or maybe did not have a racially prejudged environment, perhaps children will not see death and race in the way that Americans do today.
Argumentation Blog #5: W.E.B. Dubois
Typically opening sporting events are the National Anthem, or another song meant to represent and incite patriotism towards the United States. However, some do not relate to this patriotism. In this case, some people would rather respond humbly and comply, despite their conflicting beliefs, or not comply at all. African American activist W.E.B. DuBois advocates for a different kind of humility; to "noblesse oblige", that it is best to comply to an extent. Throughout history, people have demonstrated that non-compliance is the side that actually allowed for progress.
In the 1960's, during the height of the Civil Rights movement, Rosa Parks became known for her act of non-compliance. Notably, she sat in front of a segregated bus, a spot reserved then only for white people. Refusing to give up her seat, she demonstrated this act in which she did not comply to the rules that white people placed on her. This movement led to many boycotts, all of which helped blacks in the United States gain a higher level of status in society. Progress happened because of many's acts of non-compliance.
More recently, though, former NFL athlete Colin Kaepernick demonstrated his act of non-compliance. During sports competitions, the National Anthem is typically played at the start, during which spectators and athletes are expected to stand to "honor the flag". However, Kaepernick did not comply in order to protest racial injustice in the United States, and instead kneeled down (an act which led to the end of his career in the NFL). This act, though, inspired many to also "take a knee", showing that awareness of racial injustice has spread. His act of taking a knee is helping kickstart progress.
Like DuBois, many believe that complying with the rules will actually create progress; that appeasement is a good option. However, in the pre-WWII era, appeasement was the ideal that led to Nazi Germany's status as a totalitarian world power. Appeasement did not lead to progress.
As shown in history, progress can actually happen with non-compliance, contrasting DuBois' statement. In a world of growing injustices, though, many have taken the ideals of non-compliance and are using it to power the next social movement. Perhaps in the future these people will spearhead the next historical event of progress.
In the 1960's, during the height of the Civil Rights movement, Rosa Parks became known for her act of non-compliance. Notably, she sat in front of a segregated bus, a spot reserved then only for white people. Refusing to give up her seat, she demonstrated this act in which she did not comply to the rules that white people placed on her. This movement led to many boycotts, all of which helped blacks in the United States gain a higher level of status in society. Progress happened because of many's acts of non-compliance.
More recently, though, former NFL athlete Colin Kaepernick demonstrated his act of non-compliance. During sports competitions, the National Anthem is typically played at the start, during which spectators and athletes are expected to stand to "honor the flag". However, Kaepernick did not comply in order to protest racial injustice in the United States, and instead kneeled down (an act which led to the end of his career in the NFL). This act, though, inspired many to also "take a knee", showing that awareness of racial injustice has spread. His act of taking a knee is helping kickstart progress.
Like DuBois, many believe that complying with the rules will actually create progress; that appeasement is a good option. However, in the pre-WWII era, appeasement was the ideal that led to Nazi Germany's status as a totalitarian world power. Appeasement did not lead to progress.
As shown in history, progress can actually happen with non-compliance, contrasting DuBois' statement. In a world of growing injustices, though, many have taken the ideals of non-compliance and are using it to power the next social movement. Perhaps in the future these people will spearhead the next historical event of progress.
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