La diferencia de Carlos Slim Domit y Bill Gates - Primero Parte

cpalmer14's Fotobabble

Racism in America

I agree with Mr. Smiley that race tends to be a sensitive topic of discussion.  However, I do not believe that the topic is avoided because much the United States population is racist. In fact, I think we have almost gone to far in trying to correct racist views.  We are now so politically correct for fear of offending anyone that we avoid saying anything substantial.  Therefore, it is very difficult to have meaningful conversations about race.  People who do bring up substantial issues such as poverty, crime and, out-of-wedlock childbirth in the black community are labeled racists.  In reality, they simply trying to the issues to light, so they can be resolved.  I will not deny that there are still racists in America.  There probably always will be.  However, I believe they are small minority.  I think people sometimes try to attract attention to the issue of racism in America by injecting race into situations that had nothing to do with race.  By bring such attention, I think are actually making the problem of racism worse.  They are inflating a relatively minor issue and causing people to think more about race than is wise or necessary.  Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of a world in which people would be judged by the content of their character not the color of their skin.  He wanted society to be "colorblind".  Since race is continually being brought to the forefront in today's society, people are actually becoming more aware of color.  We need to stop highlighting race so much.  I think conditions will improve if we actually do not focus on having targeted conversations about race.  For example, in response to isolated incidents such as the Trayvon Martin case, which I do believe involved racism, I think discussion is appropriate.  However, the conversation should be limited and calm.  Over the summer, the media coverage of the Trayvon Martin case and its implications was seemingly constant.  The debate was also very intense and polarized, but not always productive.  I think many people were so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of coverage that they stopped paying attention.  I believe most effective addresses regarding race are those that are calm and simple yet powerful.  For example, President Obama gave a the nation an insight into his experiences living as a black man in America, which I think was very effective.  He was not condemning anyone or yelling about how unfair his situation is.  He spoke calmly and honestly from the heart.  I think people respond best to that sort of message.  Conversation about race should be equally as calm and heart-felt.  They should create a desire for unity not further division.

Dead Man Walking

My beliefs regarding the death penalty were very much affected by watching Dead Man Walking.  I had never really considered the pain of the family of the person on death row.  Most parents never stop their child, no matter how heinous a crime he or she committed.  Siblings, too, can still be very attached to their brother or sister.  The family of the crime victim is not the only the family that experiences the pain of losing a loved one.  I have also never really considered that death row inmates could be sympathetic and repentant.  Matthew Poncelet, at many times repulsed me, however, by the end of the movie, I found it difficult not to feel sorry for him.

I am now unsure of how to feel about the death penalty.  I maintain that serial killers should receive death sentences simply because they are too great a threat to the public.  If they escape while serving a life sentence in prison, they would kill again, as Ted Bundy did.  However, in the case of non-serial killers, I do not know how to feel.

While researching the death penalty in class, I have been shocked learn about the sheer number of executions that have taken place in the United States in recent years.  I always figured death sentences were rather rare.  It hard to wrap my head around the fact that government has ended so many lives so methodically and indifferently.  I also find it curious that according to research southern states seem so much more willing to execute people.  Finally, I would like to know more about the estimated number people on death penalty, who are actually innocent of the crime they were convicted of.

Restorative Justice

I think restorative justice is very interesting and potentially realistic alternative to the traditional justice system.  I think certainly for minor offenses such as unarmed robbery it worth pursuing.  People usually rob out of desperation not malice.  Therefore, they are likely to be repent for their crime and will not offend again when they are released.  Also, through a restorative justice program, robbers are less likely to become hardened and resentful in prison.  I think murder is a very different circumstance.  Serial murders should without question go through the traditional justice system.  It is imperative that they spend the receive life sentences because they will kill again if they are ever released.  In Connor McBride's case, I think the restorative justice was not necessarily a bad idea.  I think he is repent for killing Ann Grosmaire and aware that he needs to address his anger issues.  He is not making excuses for himself.  I think through the restorative justice program, he may truly be rehabilitated and learn to control his temper.  I do not think he will a threat to the public when he is released.  I think the restorative justice is in keeping with Catholic Social teaching.  Although McBride violated the teaching about the life and dignity the human person, he himself is still a person.  I think the teaching promotes forgiveness.  By forgiving McBride, the Grosmaires upheld his dignity.  The restorative justice program       gives people the opportunity to considered forgiveness rather than hate.  Hate tends to be bred in the traditional justice system, and it also prevents healing.  I think in many ways restorative justice can be a better option.

Hotel Rwanda

Yes.  Unfortunately, I do believe Jack was right.  I think the fact is that suffering has become all too commonplace on the local news.  If we were to cry every time something bad happened, our eyes would never be dry.  We simply cannot handle to carry the tragedies of the world on our shoulders.  We would be so overwhelmed and never get out of bed because we would become so cynical about the world around us.  Therefore, we put up a wall so to prevent ourselves from becoming too emotional affected by tragedies.  Also, I think many people have the mindset that they are powerless to help change the situation, so why should they bother getting worked up over it.  Honestly, I do not think they are very wrong in thinking that way.  A single person watching the news in the United States will be able to affect the situation at all.  However, people united as a group can very much be a force for change.  I would try to get people to help by openly discussing the genocide in Rwanda whenever possible.  I would organize meeting and rallies to bring attention to genocide in my local area.  Then, once I had a significant following, I would organize events across the country.  If enough people in the United States or any other country committed themselves to fighting for change, they would very likely get attention from the media and the government.  Governments would then be hard pressed not to intervene if the majority of citizens were calling for intervention.