Blog #9 Nussbaum

When reading the Central Human Functional Capabilities it was clear to see that these are the rights that Nussbaum feel that everyone is entitled to and should be free to believe in if they do so chose. These Central Human Functional Capabilities represent social justice in that they are basic things that human beings should have, it is just common sense. With out these capabilities it is hard to imaging what the world would be like. As well as what people would be like, what would we believe in, and how would we think and develop our own ideas towards any topic in life? Every one should be given the right to these Capabilities, I totally agree with Nussbaum’s views and all of her Central Human Functional Capabilities. Her society to me is an excellent example, the government needs to keep in mind and think about different people when creating environments people need to be able to express themselves in their own ways, and they should not feel like they can’t because of society or what other people might think of them. I think that this reading was very interesting and I liked to hear her ideas about the particular Capabilities, even when we think that we know them it is good to read them from a different perspective. I also agree with that fact that the government should leave people be when it comes to their different thoughts about particular topics, beliefs, feelings and emotions. I truly enjoyed this reading and it put in perspective what humans are entitled to.

Blog #8 Rawls

Rawls truly feels that everyone has the right to be treated equally in society, even people who are at a disadvantage in life. Laws do not just affect particular people, they affect many people and politicians need to get the whole picture and think about everyone involved when it comes to making laws in society. If a law is not in the best interest of a minority then that law should not be considered. It is not fair to go against a minority and pass a law even if it is the only group that is not being benefited. I agree with Rawls thoughts on this matter in that it is unfair and not right because in some cases particular groups might be the same ones not benefiting from the laws being passed and this can not happen. People should be cautious of these matters and learn to come up with laws that can help society as a whole. People always have to be thinking of how to improve the world around us, by helping those less fortunate then it is making the cities, countries, and the world stronger. If politicians keep attacking the less fortunate then they are never going to improve. Politian’s must be open minded and try to look for positives and things to improve upon. “Justice and Fairness” is a good motto to live by in any aspect of ones life, but for politicians especially. It is important to be strong and make sure that justice is done by, as well as fairness to those under ones authority who may not be able to make a change.

Blog #7 Stanton

According to Elizabeth Stanton men have an overwhelming power over women. There are many situations in which she explains that women have been undone, or degraded by men. Many of these rights that the women are deprived of have to deal with voting rights, property rights, possession rights and even as bad as citizen rights. Women were very much discriminated against and truly looked down upon. Men left women without representation in the government, they were not allowed to vote, and they were oppressed. As well if a woman is married then she has been striped of her property rights as well as her wages that she earns. There are many more examples that go on of all this discrimination, but it is truly disappointing and sad how because of all these limitations to women it therefore made them totally dependent on their husbands and or men. It was like they could not do anything for themselves or even think for them selves for that matter because men also had the power to deny women the right to go to school as colleges were closed against them. One line that really stood out and caught my attention was the fact that “He has endeavored, in every way that he could, to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life” (Stanton 166). If this is not enough to have power over women I don’t know what is. In order to make a women feel like she is worthless and just put on this earth almost in a sense to be like a man’s accessories is discusting. It really seems to me that women must have served no purpose in the world at this time and that her lives, thoughts and feelings were not important.

Stanton Cady Elizabeth. “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St Martin’s, 2006.pp 161-169.

Blog # 6 King

This blog to me was very powerful, Martin Luther King really comes out and presents many views that are very disturbing and powerful. When it comes to distinguishing between just laws and unjust laws King makes it extremely clear that just laws are “ a manmade code that squares with the moral law or the law of God” (King 179). Also that an unjust law “is a human that is mot rooted in eternal law and natural law” (King 179). “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust” (King 179). He feels very strongly that people have a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws and to obey just laws. He also agrees with St. Augustine that “an unjust law is no law at all” (King 179). People need to take stands to go against unjust laws, in order to change things in our society that are discriminatory and racial. If it were not for people like King who fought against what he felt was wrong then these horrible issues could still be happening today. King truly was the force behind the change I think behind racism. Also it seems to be a trend that these influential people feel that if a law is unjust then people have a moral obligation to go against these laws. I was truly thrown by the fact that King used when talking about Birmingham. “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negros have experienced grossly unjust treatments in the courts. There have been more unsolved bombings in Negro homes and churches in Birmingham that in any other city in the nation” (King 175). This reading to me really showed me how influential Martin Luther King was and that if it were not for him then who knows where the world would be.

King Luther Martin. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St Martin’s, 2006.pp 171-189.

Blog #5 Thoreau

In this reading Thoreau explains that he is not really a huge fan of the government. He understands that there has to be one but he would prefer if the government was involved in a little as possible. He does not like a government that is to controlling or that wants to be involved in every aspect of people’s lives. Thoreau is strongly against the fact that people still support their government even when the government partakes in a wrong doing. This for me is difficult to take, only in the fact that, it is hard for a citizen to truly stand up to the government. Really what now a days can someone really do to voice there opinion besides, letters to the Editor, and talking about issues to others. Some of Thoreau’s suggestions as a way of going against the government out of anger might not necessarily be a wise choice in today’s society. For example not paying your taxes, that could get people into serious trouble. One line that really stood out for me was the line about his thoughts on military matters “The mass of men serve thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies” (Thoreau 139). This really stood out for me and got me to think about what it must truly be like for the men at war. What it is like to train all day everyday in order to be in a ready standing army. Thoreau strongly feels that people should get to decide how their government should be run, “…Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it” (Thoreau 138). He had many strong views but I am not to sure that I would be able to agree with everything that he says in relation to today’s world.

Thoreau David Henry. “Civil disobedience.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St Martin’s, 2006.pp 133-157.