Sociology and Politics - Essay Example

?Sociology Narcotizing dysfunction is characterized by the overexposure of issues carried out by the mass media. As a result of the inundation, the public tends to become passive and unresponsive to the issues that beset them even if these do affect them. The aftermath of the war in Iraq was a period wherein the media actually inundated the public with so many news items related to the outcome of the war. Among these were relevant concerns that would have led to a more critical view of the war. However, the public before, during, and after the war kept seeing, hearing, or reading about the war that it came to the extent that the public were no longer affected by it. Aside from narcotizing dysfunction, the media was also responsible for gatekeeping, a process which basically determines the news stories as well as their slants. It is evident that the mass media during the war in Iraq had apprehensions over the prospects of military victory. This negative bias towards the war was carried out even during the aftermath. The news did not dwell much on the tactical military gains but rather n the effects of the war on civilians. 2. A military unit that commits murder on some individuals and do not feel any remorse or guilt for the criminal act may or may not did so because they were following orders. It must be pointed out though that since the term (“murder”) used connotes illegality, then the said unit may indeed be conscious in what they are doing. This means that they are not only following orders but also believed in the ‘morality’ of the act. Such behavior could be attributed to the conclusions made by Stanley Milgram through his experiment. In the Milgram experiment, the subject is put in a situation where he is told to send electric shocks to another wrong person. It is his response to such orders that his behavior towards such circumstances is observed. In the case of the military unit, however, it is implied that the members already knew that that the order given to them is immoral and yet they continue to do so. It is at this point that ordinary soldiers, whose job require fighting and annihilating the enemy as ordered by superiors become what Milgram describes as “agents in a terrible destructive process.” 3. Paul Gorski’s Myth of the Culture of Poverty correctly sums up the valid and well-grounded arguments against common notions that people who live in poverty share a common culture that is characterized by weak work ethics, absence of motivation to succeed, non-appreciation of the value of education, and alcohol and substance abuse. It is quite clear that the prejudices against them are not at all shared by the poorer members of society but these basically originate by the upper social classes or the more economically advantaged. The problem here is that as these prejudices or myths continue to be treated by the middle class and the economic elite as truths, efforts undertaken to uplift the conditions of the poor would be carried out without belief that these would really bring about changes in the ranks of the beneficiaries. In fact, considering the immense cultural influence of the economically advantaged sectors in society, the said myths could be propagated through various means and would even make the poor sections think that these are indeed true. The worst effects of such myths on the culture of poverty is when it embraced by the poor sections of the population. Once this happens, the will to improve their conditions even if it means introducing fundamental changes in society would diminish. This would result, of course, to maintaining the status quo, which is to the advantage of the economically better off. 4. There is essentially only one basis for justifying racial profiling according to individuals, groups, and the government and this is the interest of national security. This had actually been the justification used in the West Coast, when thousands of Japanese immigrants, including citizens of Japanese descent, were interred during the height of World War II. Such justification was again employed in the aftermath of 9/11. There were also other cases of racial profiling that were implemented, if not by the federal authorities, by the states. In the states and in the cities, however, racial profiling is also being done not just in the interest of national security but also in line with the efforts to curb crime. At a glance, especially when the perspective is taken from the perspective of the government, this practice may be valid. However, on the side of the ethnic and racial groups in the U.S., this is basically an infringement of their rights. They naturally feel being singled out as potential perpetrators of crimes and terrorist acts. As a consequence, this creates climate of fear within their ranks. They would also develop the notion that the general public would consider them, simply because of their race or creed, to be a menace to society. 5. Social institutions in the U.S., from the most basic which is the family to an entire political and economic system have all the factors that could encourage gender discrimination. These institutions definitely have rules, which dictate on how things should be done. Unless the rules are reviewed from the perspectives of gender equality, these could indeed allow discrimination. The activities that are considered as normal in society may also be factors that promote gender discrimination unconsciously. For example, in the case of families, the males and females have their distinct roles in home maintenance and they very rarely cross to the line. It is also in the distribution of the resources that gender discrimination becomes more apparent. In the American society, that it is the males who usually enjoy a bigger share of the resources. There may be some exceptional women who manage to earn bigger than most men. However, the majority of the women are still earning less than the men. In fact, this gap can also be seen in the situation of the average family. Power is another aspect where gender discrimination is very evident. In American society, it is clear that it is the men who tend to acquire economic and political power most often. The general elections alone would give a proof on this. So far, women politicians were given opportunities by the mainstream political parties only up to the vice-presidential candidacy. 6. New York State senator Diane Savino’s argument in favor of gay marriage is one that simply negates the arguments against it. Obviously, the passionate speech was delivered at a time when the Senate has to cast its vote regarding the issue which is why Savino had to make it as short but sharp. She focused on debunking the fears raised by those who are against same-sex marriage, particularly that this would desecrate the very essence of the institution of marriage. At the same time though, she also presented her argument from the perspective of one who adheres to the salient points of the Constitution regarding freedom and equality and the relationship of both. She points out that gay and lesbian couples who wish to be married and enjoy the rights and privileges accorded to them by law should be treated equally as heterosexual couples. Savino also dealt with the arguments against same-sex marriage from based on religious beliefs. She pointed out that religious hierarchies within the state of New York should not be threatened or should not feel that their freedom to practice their beliefs is impinged. The churches are still allowed to deny gay couples marriage. However, Savino made it clear that the government, being separate from the church, should not base its decision on religious beliefs. 7. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is clearly a satirical attempt to present an argument against religion. It is clear that this so-called church is not a religion at all. However, the people behind it wish to present itself as an institution just like other established world religions such as Christianity and Islam. Instead of a god though, it presents the Flying Spaghetti Monster as a deity. However, what clearly distinguishes it apart from the likes of the major religions is that it does not have a system of spiritual teachings that would basically dictate the moral convictions of its believers. Nevertheless, in its website, it is stated there that it does have a dogma and it is basically the rejection of any dogma. This is where it becomes apparent that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, otherwise called as Pastafarianism by its members, is indeed a satirical effort by individuals who only wish to tell the religious institutions that they are basically man-made institutions and not real products of any diving being’s will. Pastafarianism is not a religion but in its attempt to expose the fakery in religious institutions it presents itself to be one. 8. Sir Ken Robinson presents a discussion with the help of illustration regarding the poor and ineffective kind of education that students nowadays have to undergo. First of all, he explains that the educational system itself is generally flawed due to the circumstance that its design is old, made during the time of the Industrial Revolution, and is, therefore no longer applicable now. The educational system tends to separate individuals according to their grade or degree. This basically results into the disruption of the basic human tendency to learn better in groups. Aside from this, Robinson also the explains that it is now more difficult for kids to learn because of the fact that there are just so many distractions brought about by modern conveniences. As a result, the incidence of ADHD has risen through the years. Robinson points out that the increase of ADHD cases is very much related to the kind flaws of the educational system. At this point, it is made clear that the behavior of the individuals and the manner that they cope with society are greatly influenced by the kind of educational system that is in place. If society has to guarantee that total development of every citizen, regardless of their economic status, it is necessary for it to make drastic changes in the educational system. 9. David Harvey, a sociologist, correctly explains the reasons why the capitalist system is always hounded by the inevitability of crisis. According to him, crisis is actually inherent in capitalism. It starts with the method of capital accumulation and the unavoidable negative consequences that hit the labor force who also happens to be the consumers of the products that capitalism produces. However, even as he does cite Karl Marx for his correct analysis regarding the greedy nature of capitalism, he does not base his conclusion on the crisis of over-production which Marx considers as the cause of the capitalist crisis. For Harvey, the problem is the growing power of finance capital. This can be attributed to the fact that Harvey has also acknowledged the reality that capitalism has learned to circumvent, although temporarily, the crisis of overproduction, by machinations with the help of the giants in the financial sector. In effect, in the wake of the capitalist crisis, it is finance capital that has managed to survive and even flourish even as the traditional capitalist enterprise, such as the industrial and manufacturing sector, is frequently hit by the effects of the shrinking market. Because the crisis is inherent in capitalism, the only solution, as suggested by David Harvey, is to seek an alternative system that is definitely more responsible, just, and humane. 10. The benefits of a universal health care system in the United States clearly outweigh the disadvantages that are often raised by those who are against it. It is a fact that the arguments against the universal health care system are primarily based on the premise that this is going to hurt the private health care business sector and it would also be an additional burden on the people because it would mean additional taxes. However, there are three basic arguments that could be used to counter these two perspectives which are ostensibly more concerned with the fiscal health of the private sector and the government more than the physical health and general well-being of the people. First of all, the universal health care system is good for the U.S. because it guarantees equal access to immediate health care for the people who may not be able to do so normally because of their economics statuses. Since there is clearly a growing gap between rich and poor in the country, the application of such system would somehow reduce the impact of the said gap. Secondly, the universal health care system in the US does not need to be fully subsidized by the government. As in the case of Japan, the government could simply provide a health insurance system which is compulsory for all citizens of legal age. Thirdly, the universal health care system, contributes much to the sense of being taken care of by the government, which therefore encourages the people to be more active in a democracy. 11. As in the case of the Philippines, it is clear that the biggest obstacle to curb tremendous population growth cultural in nature. The logic of introducing drastic measures in order to lessen the degree of population increase is quite simple and acceptable by the standards of sociology, and science as a whole. However, there are beliefs, particularly religious and traditional, that impede efforts at educating people about the necessity of contraception as the means to lower the growth rate of the population. In the Philippines, for example, it is clear that the Roman Catholic Church is at the forefront of the movement against the reproductive health and rights bill, which would have granted women, especially those from the poorer sections of society, access to free or cheap contraceptives. What made it even more difficult is that the government itself, in the hope of retaining power through winning the popularity game, continues to toe the Catholic line in this matter. Being predominantly Catholic, a large part of the population has yet to be convinced that population control is an urgent necessity for the country. Because of the cultural factors, which are mainly conservative and traditional, people may still deny themselves the use of contraceptives. Politics 1. Rhetoric versus Reality: Rogue States in Interstate Conflict, which is jointly written by Mary Capriolie and Peter Trumbore a journal article that dealt with the issue of how states which have conflicts with each other, tend to create labels that would only worsen further the strains between themselves. It is clear that the label ‘rogue’ means that a state no longer submits itself to the rules and conventions, whether written formally or not, recognized by the community of nations. As a result, the state that bears this label may well be considered as the enemy. However, it must be pointed out that in most cases, the labels were unilaterally declared by the US and this was done because the said states have been conducting steps that the US considers as inimical to its interests. It is therefore clear that the labeling may only tend to worsen the already fragile peace that such countries are observing. The label ‘rogue’ states may only result in the alienation of an entire people, making them even more belligerent in the process. Therefore, in conclusion, the said labeling of ‘rogue’ may not be based on reality but on rhetoric. 2. The countries of the OECD that are chosen for this are the Netherlands and Germany. It is clear that both countries are found in Western Europe and are key members of the European Union. The said countries are also similar with respect to the kind of economy that is being maintained. However, both the Netherlands and Germany are also facing similar problems brought about by the influx of immigrants. With the heightened risks brought about the possibilities of terror attacks, the two countries have also seen to it that national security measures are also intensified. It is in the course of ensuring safeguards against terrorism that both also implemented policies that would essentially violate the rights of the individuals. In the Netherlands, a law that bans the wearing of the usual Muslim woman’s headwear, the burqa or niqab. Germany, on the other hand, continues to practice certain rules that clearly discriminates the migrants. What is clearly common also is that both countries are trying to embrace multiculturalism. However, even as they try to do, it is clear that these have also failed to educate people on multiculturalism. 3. If the map from Worldmapper is the one used in taking a perspective of the world, the political appreciation of the balance of power among the countries would also differ significantly. The current map of the world has most of the developed countries north of the equator while the rest of the world especially the most populous countries are in the south. This naturally gives the impression that northern countries are destined to be more powerful and rich. However, if the map is inverted, with the south side up, it would also give the impression that the more populous although less developed countries are more powerful. This is how the geographical location of a country can be considered as a political factor too. However, it is a fact that the map cannot be altered. The point here is that positioning of the countries has indeed created the impression that countries in the north are always more powerful. The truth though is that it is the countries with the most number of inhabitants and natural resources would naturally be more powerful if these are not subjected to the machinations of the northern countries. 4. The Abu Sayyaf is an armed group based in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, particularly in Sulu and Basilan. Unlike other insurgent Muslim insurgent groups in the region which fights the Manila-based Philippine government in order to set up a free Islamic state, the Abu Sayyaf focuses on bandit activities such as extortion and kidnapping to generate funds for its own terror activities. Listed by the US government as a foreign terrorist organization, the Abu Sayyaf has close ties with the Al Qaeda. In fact, its key leaders are trained by the said terror organization. In terms of tactics, the Abu Sayyaf employs hit-and-run guerilla tactics against the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which is similar to what the Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan are employing against the US-led alliance. The mission of the Abu Sayyaf, which is Arabic for the Sword of God, is similar to that of other armed Muslim militant organizations. This is to launch punitive actions against the non-Muslims. The goal is to create a separate fundamentalist Islamic state in southern Philippines. 5. One of the key lessons that Brazil and Argentina could learn from the Asian financial crisis and the financial meltdown in 2008 is that when the global economy seems to peak and the national economy follows suit, the next thing that would certainly occur is drastic downtrend. This is brought about by the fact that capitalist global economy has been on a boom-bust cycle ever since, which means crisis is inevitable. Another major lesson is that the country should never go into heavy borrowing. If a country does not curb its debt dependency while going into deficit spending, it would certainly be badly affected by a global crisis. The Asian financial crisis affected worst the countries that had their currencies pegged to the value of the dollar. It must be noted that in all boom and bust periods of global capitalism, the value of the American dollar was a principal factor. Because of this Brazil and Argentina must consider trading with other countries without pegging the value of their currencies to the American dollar. In this way, their respective economies would be insulated from the inevitable crisis that usually begins in the US.’ 6. The water conflict between India and Pakistani may well be considered as one of the most prominent in the world today. Most of Pakistan’s water supply passes through India first. However, in recent years, India has been establishing systems and structures that have significantly affected the water supply that flows through Pakistan. The conflict even heightened more when India expressed plans of building more dams and on the key river systems that happen to supply Pakistan at the same time. As expected Pakistan was enraged by this and cases were filed against India. There was already a treaty that was reached before and this relatively eased the tension between the two countries for a time. However, as India begins to search for solutions to water supply and power problems, it saw the disputed river system as the key. As India vehemently insists on its right to do whatever it wants with the water that runs through its territory, Pakistan is also encountering serious problems with its water supply. At the moment, this water conflict only became another mitigating factor in the long-standing diplomatic impasse between the two countries. In the past, there were in fact instances when its respective armed forces had skirmishes. Read More