Perhaps you have heard people say we have a dummying down problem in the United States. Many academics have wondered if this is true and many psychologists say that it is. Some people explain the problem, as a one of nature and nurture.
These people say that we have a dummying down of our society because those who are of less intelligence tend to produce the most offspring and have the most children even though they cannot pay for them. The same people say that the more intelligent and wealthy people have less children and therefore we are repopulating our society with more poor people, who are uneducated and genetically inferior. (this is what they say?)
This of course is not politically correct to say however, it is said often and I have heard such words uttered in many coffee shops across the country. It’s hard to say if this is actually true, as we know even very poor people who work very hard overcome all the barriers of society and can easily make it into the upper class. That is in the United States of America of course.
Education seems to be the key along with hard work ethic, which comes from strong nurturing from the family. It would appear that there is a dummying down of society and this is troublesome for the future of our nation.
The cause or the reason is probably not as important as what we do in the future to solve the problem. Proper education and the building of self-esteem along with hard work ethic, and proper mentoring can most likely solve this issue amongst human societies in America. Perhaps we should consider this in 2006 rather than calling each other stupid. Think on it.
By: Lance Winslow
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Filed under Society by on Nov 19th, 2010. 
There are not exact guidelines for classes in the United States and different theories try to make it classified. Most Americans believe in a three-class model. They are the rich, the middle class, and the poor. America is a diverse society considering its culture, economy, politics and ideology which make different levels of wealth, income, education, occupation and social behavior. It is not easy sometimes to classify certain groups or people in a certain class.
One approach which is more common is based on cultural and economic diversity of the people and defines more of them in middle class.
“Sociologist Dennis Gilbert, William Thompson and Joseph Hickey as well as James Henslin have proposed class systems with six distinct social classes. These class models feature an upper or capitalist class consisting of the rich and powerful, an upper middle class consisting of highly educated and well-paid professionals, a lower middle class consisting of semi-professionals, a working class constituted by clerical as well as blue collar employees whose work is highly routinized and a lower class which is according to Gilbert is divided between the working poor and underclass.”
“A stratified society is one marked by inequality, by differences among people that are regarded as being higher or lower… it is logically possible for a society to be stratified in a continuous gradation between high and low without any sharp lines… in reality… there is only a limited number of types of occupations… People in similar positions… grow similar in their thinking and lifestyle… they form a pattern, and this pattern creates social class.” -Dennis Gilbert, The American Class Structure, 1998
The nominal approach believes that American society is sociologically and economically fragmented and it causes no clear class distinctions.
There are also some who believe in certain classifications, but the most common idea points out the American society as a highly developed one which frames a complicated class system. Again those who put vast majority of Americans among the middle class are more.
Class in the US is more based on the personal income and educational attainment for the people age 25 or older. It results in the hierarchy in which individuals find themselves.The members of the society are distributed among positions of varying importance, influence, and prestige. It describes the positions a person may be regarded in the society. The positions are not equal some are more agreeable than the others regarding their essentiality to the well-being of the society as a whole. There are some positions which are rewarded with prestige and income. The positions can be occupation related or not, like the role of being a parent or being a member of a wealthy family. The job role itself remains one of the most important status features in the United States and that is why the promotion at work is so important. The positions and jobs create opportunities to enjoy different services and facilities of the society which are not provided equal to all. For example the more money a person has the better clothes he can buy and it is related to the class the very same person belongs.
“It is impossible to understand people’s behavior… without the concept of social stratification, because class position has a pervasive influence on almost everything… the clothes we wear… the television shows we watch… the colors we paint our homes in and the names we give our pets… Our position in the social hierarchy affects our health, happiness, and even how long we will live.” -William Thompson, Joseph Hickey, Society in Focus, 2005
The nature of American lifestyle which is based on capitalism produces classes as well.
“We are proud of those facts of American life that fit the pattern we are thought but somehow we are often ashamed of those equally important social facts which demonstrate the presence of social class. Consequently, we tend to deny them, or worse, denounce them and by doing so we tend to deny their existence and magically make them disappear from consciousness.” -W. Lloyd Warner, What Social Class Is In America
To study the class system in the US different elements must be considered, some of them will be followed briefly in this article.
1. Income which is one of the most prominent indicators of class status. It has total influence on the class of people.
“It should be stressed… that a position does not bring power and prestige because it draws a high income. Rather, it draws a high income because it is functionally important and the available personnel are for one reason or another scarce. It is therefore superficial and erroneous to regard high income as the cause of a man’s power and prestige, just as it is erroneous to think that a man’s fever is the cause of his disease… The economic source of power and prestige is not income primarily, but the ownership of capital goods (including patents, good will, and professional reputation). Such ownership should be distinguished from the possession of consumers’ goods, which is an index rather than a cause of social standing.’-Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore, Principles of Stratification
2. Education which is related to occupation and income. Higher education is required for many middle class jobs. Generally the better income provides better opportunities to study.
3. Culture which contains sub-cultures as well. It causes assimilation among people to be like the other classes maybe. As mentioned before US is a diverse country and it provides assimilation and generalization which will affect everything in people’s lives from the manner in which they raise their children, initiation and maintenance of romantic relationship to the color in which they paint their houses.
Also, agriculture and other industries are important studying about the class system in America.
The elements which mentioned and the others which were all studied by sociologists are used to define the social class in America as: upper class, corporate elite, middle class, upper middle, traditional middle class, lower middle class, working class and lower class.
By: Fatemeh Azimzadeh
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Filed under Society by on Nov 19th, 2010.
In discussing American society and its structure, first of all I’m going to define social stratification itself and the bases on which this concept is founded. Then I’m going to discus which category is more applicable to the American society.
To give a general description, social stratification is ranking social groups based on the things they have in common and the things that are different among them. This categorization is basically made in three different ways:
1) State systems,
2) Caste systems, and
3) Class system.
In a state system the authority and power is monopolized in the hands of a narrow elite. In such society, the elites rule and the rest of people are bent to their will; like the feudal societies. In a caste system, a person’s place in society is given to him/her based on birth and ancestry. Thus the person cannot change his/her place throughout his/her life. And finally in a class society people are given status based on birth and also personal achievements and backgrounds. In other word people of such societies can change their status through their lives. Having said all this, we can now discuss the concept of social stratification in American society.
The history of America bears no sign of feudalism in it. Besides, as people of America were immigrants from other countries so the matter of birth was almost of low significance. Of course there were a number of British elite among the first settlers but they could not be proud of their ancestry in their new home as they were in their homelands; because every one had to work hard if s/he wanted to survive.
Therefore the conditions of young America were not suitable for the foundation of a feudal or caste system. So America took the form of a class system. But it’s clear that we can not relate the formation of a class society in America only to conditions America had in early ages. Some other factors have also contributed to the continuation of this system even to today America. Among these factors are: individualism, industry and job opportunities, and a tendency toward mobility.
In America the idea of individualism is so profound that it can be seen in every aspect of peoples’ lives. Individuals are preferred to societies and in this way personal achievement becomes the measure for giving a person his/her status in society. it is the individual who is responsible for his/her success and failure- it is interesting to know that 43 percent of people polled by Gallup believed “lack of effort as a reason people are poor” and “53 percent” believed “”strong effort” as a reason some people are rich”
Filed under Society by on Nov 19th, 2010.
While signing legislation last week banning nearly all abortions, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds made a major statement about himself and the Religious Right. Governor Rounds stated,
“In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society.”
That is an astonishing hypocritical statement, when one considers the fact South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is one of the bleakest socio-economic places in North America and half of the 10 poorest counties in America are in South Dakota. Yes, that statistic is correct: Half of the 10 poorest counties in America are in South Dakota.
One has to wonder why five of South Dakota’s counties rank among the 10 poorest in the entire country, for a state whose leader implies that South Dakota is the epitome of a civilized society.
Sixty percent of families with children between the ages of 5 and 17 live below the federal poverty line in Shannon County, which encompasses most of Pine Ridge. In households defined as ‘female householder, no husband present,’ the number of children under 5 living in poverty is 68 percent, according to U.S. Census Bureau poverty statistics.
Are these the children South Dakota governor, Rounds was speaking of when he poetically stated how a civilized people treats its ‘most vulnerable and most helpless?’
Life expectancy on the reservation is 47 for men and 56 for women due to the lack of adequate health care. These numbers instantly prompt us to think of the misfortune of a third-world nation and it would be difficult for anyone to believe it is a statistic from anywhere in the United States. Shannon County also has an infant mortality rate that is twice the national average. Child-welfare sources in Shannon County state infant mortality is up to five times higher than anywhere else in the United States.
Unemployment in Shannon County is consistently over 80 percent, adolescent ******* is four times the U.S. average and many families have no electricity or telephone. With winter temperatures 25 to 30 degress below zero and sometimes 50 degrees below zero with the wind chill factor, one wonders how anyone survives.
It is without doubt that those who are anti-choice are doing the least to support families and help children once they’re born, and the political leaders continue to live their real creed: “Love the fetus, ignore children’s needs.”
By: Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD
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Read more on True Test of Civilization – What Does It Mean?…
Filed under Society by on Nov 17th, 2010.
Human values were defined with the very inception of society. The main objective behind outlining values is to keep the humane spirit within us alive so that the world remains a worthy place to live in. One of the most important values in the society is empathy.
Over the years, human beings have become extremely absorbed in the race of progression.
The feeling of empathy for those who exist along with us has somewhere become dormant in this cut throat competition towards advancement. It is time to arouse this value and start concentrating on growing together as a whole and not individually.
Mutual respect is another vital value that actually differentiates animal and human behavior. Whether we agree or disagree, it is essential to respect the values of another human being.
Love is a value that definitely exists in society even today but the boundaries have become rather constricted. Apart from merely loving our own kith and kin, it is cardinal to have love in our hearts for all around us so that we harm none. Loyalty is another significant virtue. It is this quality when present in society as a whole will aid in standing up for the rights of others. When talking of values, how can one overlook honesty? It is this value that helps in reflecting our true inner self to others. No human being is perfect.
Acceptance of one’s flaws and the drive to improvise upon our negatives is what will take the society forward towards betterment. Today, there is drastic need to analyze our value system and introspect what we are passing on to our future generations.
By: Kum Martin
About the Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in home and education industry. He also offers top quality articles like:
Internet Education Advantage, Education Purpose
Filed under Society by on Nov 17th, 2010.
Examining news reports of our society with its increasing cases of child abuse, murder, patricide, prostitution it has become increasingly apparent that we are going to hell in a handbasket! Here are just a few examples lending validity to my insertion making our banishment inevitable.
On November 10, 2010 a ***** South Carolina man who had a mouse lodged in his rectum… a computer mouse. Now my initial question was, what thoughts were in his mind that caused him to even contemplate inserting a computer mouse in his rectum? Secondly, for him to then leave and commit a robbery (with the computer mouse cord hanging from his butt) was totally inconceivable. Now the foolish man is attempting to blame it on his ingesting of mushrooms… nope not buying that, this man is damaged!
Now for a couple of examples of pure stupidity, a man in the Pittsburg area went in and applied for a job at a local Subway. Upon completing the application and exiting the establishment, the applicant decided to commit an armed robbery outside the sandwich shop. Of course he was located by using the information on the application, talk about first impressions! Then of course we cannot neglect the man 18 years of age from Monroe County, Florida who decided to log onto MySpace during the commission of a robbery. He actually left the computer logged onto his home page, left behind empty food containers and soda cans, not to mention pot on the coffee table. Bet this rocket-scientist didn’t even graduate from high school!
On the truly bizarre tip, a Carinthian man decided to slice off his own ********* for reasons known only to himself! The man, 40 years of age endured a six-hour operation and is expected to make a full recovery. My point is that if he obviously did not want them in the first place, why re-attach them? However it appears that handling surgeries in a slipshod manner is commonplace at the Klinikum Klagenfurt where they had mistakenly removed a healthy kidney just days before.
On the other hand, we aren’t protected by the brightest either, for example in Huntington WV the police are being portrayed as total idiots! Harvey Roberts, a murderer who spent 12 years in mental hospitals was transferred to Mimosa Manor in Huntington. Not only was it several days before they even knew who he was and that he was gone! This took place on November 5th and they haven’t found him yet, nevermind that he suffers from extreme delusions – the reason he committed the murder and was incarcerated in the facility initially!
It appears that things are not looking good for the home team, the human race that is for we are truly heading for hell in a handbasket!
By: Lynn R Thompson
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Filed under Society by on Nov 16th, 2010.
THE PERAMBULATION
“And it came to pass at the seventh time, when
the priests blew with trumpets, Joshua said
unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.”
Jos. 6:16
As an indication that they are duly and truly prepared to be initiated, passed and raised in the first three Masonic degrees, candidates for Freemasonry are caused to circumambulate the lodge. Also referred to as a perambulation, the candidate’s travels during the degree is one of the more important ritual tasks to be performed. Hymns and prayers are recited, drawn from passages in the Holy Writings. Depending upon whether he is being initiated as an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, or raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, as candidate’s perambulation becomes increasingly extensive. It is fair to ask both why this tradition is followed and what it symbolizes.
The scripture cited above is from the book of Joshua and refers to the circumambulation by the priests prior to the collapsing of the walls of Jericho. Since it is not likely that mere trumpet blasts caused stone to crumble, either the trumpet symbolizes a much more powerful force, or the entire episode is intended to convey a wiser and more serious truth.
In his recent book, Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark, Laurence Gardner hypothesizes that the trumpet represented a powerful fusion force emanating from the Ark of the Covenant. While that may be true, there is presently no way of either confirming or denying that possibility. However, in that the Old Testament, as well as the entirety of the Holy Bible is littered with allegorical tales, it is equally likely that Freemasonry, which has been in existence longer than Mr. Gardner has been writing, adopted the allegorical meaning as the foundation for the present day perambulation by candidates in Masonic lodges.
During ancient rites of the worship of Deity, designated holy men moved solemnly around sacred objects in a circular manner. Such movement was an integral part of the ritual used by the Hindus and Buddhists. In Islam, circumambulation is used during holy services at Mecca. In each, the movement was intended to represent the spiritual transition of man from daily life to spiritual perfection. That transition was to be accomplished in stages as each man moved more closely in his life and education to the spiritual energy of the Deity.
This ancient custom is retained in Masonry, but its meaning has been generally forgotten. In some present-day Masonic organizations a tension exists between those brethren who wish to pursue the esoteric lessons taught by the Craft and those brethren who prefer a strict adherence to Masonic ritual, which has evolved over at least the past two centuries. Some in the esoteric camp say that the rigid adherence to ritual neglects the more important tenets of sacred ancient philosophy. Certain adherents to the “ritual-only” camp believe that Masonry is practiced in its purest form by working to attain “word-perfect” ritualistic performance. In classic Hermetic tradition, both are equally correct and incorrect.
It is perilous to work in Masonry under the belief that an adherence to Masonic ritual is not Masonry and, therefore, should be relegated to the junk-heap of past relics. It is no less perilous to ignore the fact that Masonic ritual enjoys a sacred connection with the religions and philosophies of the past. More often than not, if one looks carefully into the Masonic past, he will discover that there exists a holy union between the approved ritual and the esoteric knowledge it is intended to convey. Indeed, a Mason may actually discover new joys in attending ritual performances once he learns more about the rich sacred past.
The candidate’s travels, or perambulation of the lodge room, are intended to symbolize the state of spiritual attainment associated with the aid of each of the first three degrees of Masonry. As an Entered Apprentice, the newly initiated Mason learns to humbly submit himself to the fact that knows little, if anything, about what the Craft teaches. In his state of ignorance, the initiated candidate is introduced to the tools of learning that, when studied under the guidance of the more experienced brethren, will eventually enlighten his spirit. A Fellowcraft is presumed to have mastered the rudiments of Masonic symbolism and at least be knowledgeable about the fact that Masonry uses symbols to impart wise and serious truths. His spirit is in need of solid food and, thus, the candidate is led to the study of the liberal arts and sciences, which he is expected to read and understand through the prism of spirituality instilled by Masonry. While continuing to require spiritual food, the Master Mason is expected to take the lessons he has learned and usefully offer them to the community in which he resides by living the spiritual life he has been taught. The perambulation not only symbolizes the candidate’s spiritual state, but also the three stages of preparation necessary before the world may expect to benefit from that spirituality.
In ancient religious practices, the perambulation was believed to a necessary precedent to calling forth the presence of Deity. This once pervasive practice survives today in several of the occult cultures and has fallen into general disfavor. Masonry does not employ the perambulation in hopes that it will magically cause God to appear, for the Craft understands and teaches that the Great Architect is always present. The purpose today is to provide the candidate and brethren with a ritual practice that focuses the mind upon that presence and instills a prayerful attitude throughout the entire ritualistic performance.
Freemasons around the globe are keenly interested in discovering the roots and origins of the Craft. University professors throughout Europe, as well as elsewhere are researching historical archives inspecting new information and re-examining already existing material in hopes of one day being able to declare with certainty whence came Freemasonry. More likely than not, those roots and origins will not easily be discovered without first understanding that Masonry is about man’s relationship to God.
From time immemorial, man has questioned himself about God’s existence. The fraternity of Freemasons consists of men who have decided that He does exist and who openly profess their faith in His existence. A man cannot become a Mason without a belief in the Supreme Being. Even though he already possesses faith in God before joining the Craft, a candidate may not have a very developed idea of what that means to himself, his family, his friends and his country. While Freemasonry does not teach such a man about the existence of God, it does teach him how God relates to His creations and how we who are created in His image may benefit those with whom we come into contact each and every day.
What is stated here may be tested by you in the setting of your own lodge. The next time you are seated in a lodge room and observe the ritualistic perambulation, silence yourself and allow God to speak to your heart throughout the entire performance. There will be plenty of time to talk to the member sitting next to you after the performance is concluded. Consider the stages of your own spiritual development and try to identify your spiritual strengths and weaknesses. Later, work very hard to improve upon your strengths and to eliminate your weaknesses. If you try this exercise in lodge on a regular basis, more likely than not you will discover that you are practicing real Masonry and in the doing also discover the basis for the origins of the Craft to which you belong.
By: John R. Heisner
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Read more on Masonic Ring Symbolism – Joshua’s Perambulation of Jericho…
Filed under Society by on Nov 15th, 2010.
What’s next for the Church of God? Malachi’s Message has served its purpose. (A book written by Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God). Those who have ears to hear have listened to what the Spirit of God has had to say to the Church of God. It’s now time to move on.
The Work of God must go forward. The only work that’s left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God’s ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2). Soon God’s two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God’s about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).
By Gerald Flurry’s own admission, Malachi’s Message has nothing to say about nations. That’s proper, because it was basically his commission to focus in on the Church. Does Mystery of the Ages warn the world? (Herbert W. Armstrong’s crown work). How can it when it doesn’t even include the words Germany, Beast or Europe in its index? Mystery of the Ages is undoubtedly the most important book written since the Bible to preach the gospel around the world. But doesn’t Gerald Flurry understand that’s already been accomplished? BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
The Work of God must go forward, not backwards. It’s true that we must always preach the gospel, but now it’s time to emphasize a WARNING MESSAGE. The Church has been warned. The world hasn’t. We must warn them like they’ve never been warned before!
There is only one book on earth today (other than the Bible) that clearly warns THE GERMANS ARE COMING! Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall is a hard-hitting book that details the events concerning the rise of the prophetic Beast in Europe, the fall of our Israelite countries, the Two Witnesses, and lets you know why it all has to happen. If you haven’t already read it, check it out for yourself! It’s available for free online.
Malachi’s Message is the Little Book to God’s Church today. Beyond Babylon is the Little Book with a big impact, destined to become a NATIONAL DEBATE and an INTERNATIONAL CONTROVERSY. It must reach “the largest audience possible”. There exists a Little Book for the Church of God and there’s a Little Book for the nations. This follows the biblical principle of duality. I hope and pray the People of God perceive this to be true, even if their leadership remains too proud and stubborn to see (Ga. 2:9; Rev. 11:8).
After prayer, years ago, God promised that His GREAT INSPIRATION would result in a GREAT PUBLICATION (Prov. 1:23; Ps. 68:11). Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall showcases those precious truths to the world (Isa. 45:3). I realize the two witnesses are considered controversial figures (Rev. 11:10; Jer. 15:10), but they must boldly declare God’s judgments (Micah 3:8). After all, it’s the LORD’S CONTROVERSY (Micah 6:1- 2). The wise will hear this INTERNATIONAL THUNDER and take shelter (Rev. 10; Prov. 27:12).
The message of God will roar from Jerusalem, and both the heavens and the Earth will tremble at His Word (Joel 3:16). Herbert W. Armstrong said when God’s time comes, the plain truth about traditional Christianity would drop like a BOMBSHELL (USBIP). God’s Time has come! Beyond Babylon explodes that “news bomb” with FULL FORCE! There’s no holding back. (During my interrogation by Israeli Secret Service agents, I told them my book is the only explosives I’m involved with).
Gerald Flurry recognizes the need to offer something to the general public, other than the meaty booklets about prophecy that basically preach to the converted. That’s good and right. But which book would God have us publish? Beyond Babylon fulfills the need to proclaim the gospel while emphasizing a warning to the world; it includes the truth about our Israelite identity and responsibility; about God’s Sabbath and Holy Days versus Satan’s Sunday and pagan holidays; about Israel’s demise and Europe’s rise – these are foundational truths. Beyond Babylon builds upon that sure foundation by pointing out that it’s the sorcerer-pope, the false prophet, who presents Europe’s imminent leader as the Savior of “Christian Western Civilization;” he’ll perform miracles in his presence urging Europe to remodel themselves after the “Holy Roman Empire” (Rev. 13:14). Together they’ll create a counterfeit Kingdom of God.
Beyond Babylon also explains – FOR THE FIRST TIME – why there are two witnesses, what their mission and purpose is, why they’re stationed in Jerusalem and how they fulfill the Elijah role.
PCG minister Wayne Turgeon, during our wonderful correspondence (before PCG minister Dennis Leap turned him against me), wrote concerning my book: “It’s certainly not my place to determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not, but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated version of what you feel is inspired…”. What does he mean it’s not his place to determine whether Beyond Babylon is true or not? Whose place is it? How did he determine if Malachi’s Message was true or not? Are we to rely on men to make up our minds for us? What if he had gone to Joseph Tkach for his approval of Gerald Flurry’s work?
We must trust in God’s Spirit of truth and judge everything by God’s Word. Every Church member must prove to themselves, prayerfully before God, whether Beyond Babylon is biblical (1 John 2:27). Those who exercise this spiritual responsibility will come to understand what’s next in God’s Plan: reaching the cities of Judah!
Beyond Babylon’s sudden appearance should serve as a SIGN, an indication of where we are now in prophecy (John 12:20-23). Soon God will remove the mountain of opposition that blocks my return to Zion and I’ll continue to build upon the foundation that God has laid in Jerusalem the last time I was there (Zech. 4:7-8). From here on out it’s FAST FORWARD!
By: David Ben-Ariel
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Filed under Society by on Nov 15th, 2010.
Imagine a world where all people are similar in looks and thoughts. Such a world would have been extremely dull and boring place not worth living. There would be no conflict but also no new ideas and challenges. No fun in meeting different people as everyone would be same. Someone has rightly said “If two people are identical, one of them is redundant”.
It is by not a chance but by design that Nature has made each one of us different so that no one is complete by itself but all individuals put together make the world a complete entity. Yet how many of us can appreciate the diversity of thoughts and actions. We almost invariably consider other people wrong, if his or her action or thoughts are different from us.
Three Natures of Man
Most religions presumed that all people have similar nature so there need to be only one path of salvation i.e. the unconditional devotion to God. While devotion is perhaps the easiest path to follow, yet it does not suit everyone. In the ancient philosophy of Gita, the most sacred book of Hinduism, Lord Krishna says that there are three paths of salvation. These three paths are the path of selfless action (Karma), acquisition of True knowledge (Gyana) and Unconditional Faith in God (Bhakti). He stated that people are born with different natures, and no single path is suitable for all people. Hence one must choose the path based on his nature rather than the follow the path of others.
The effect of the three natures of the mankind is visible not only in the context of religion but also in every other aspect of life as it is basic to the nature of man. In the modern secular world, where the religious books have been replaced by the legal books, States expect people to have blind faith in laws just like the Popes and the Priests expected their followers to have blind faith on religion.
Blind Enforcement of Laws
Laws are made to achieve an end. People are punished for the criminal acts as these acts are against the interest of the society. Thus any law seeks to balance the welfare of the individual with the welfare of the society. Yet for some people, the enforcement of law become an end in itself. Some people have so much faith in the written laws that they can do anything for upholding the law without knowing the purpose of the law. This can be narrated by the help of a small story.
One officer was posted outside a temple to ensure that no person enters the temple with shoes. The temple had a law that was inscribed on the entrance of the temple gate.
Remove your shoes before entering in the temple.
The officer religiously followed the law and ensured that everyone removed his shoes before entering the temple. One person was coming barefooted from home He tried to enter the temple.
The officer stopped the man as said, “You can’t enter in the temple. You have to remove your shoes before entering the temple”.
The man said, “But can’t you see that I am not wearing any shoes?”
“I am sorry Sir. Rule is a rule. There is no such exception in rule. If you wish to enter in the temple, then go to your home, wear the shoes and remove it here before me. Only then I can allow you entry in the temple.”
One Law: Different Views
Due to the inherent nature of the man and his state, the perspective of each person is different for the law. If we fail to understand these different perspectives of people, we may misunderstand the people and may develop a negative opinion about the humanity.
The first category of people is the masses that follow the law of the land religiously. The faith of people in laws is the most necessary requirement for the existence of any society . If the people lose faith is laws, it is likely to create anarchy in the society and weaken the society. Faith in law suits most people as they don’t have to apply their mind to find out the reasons or justification of the law. They just follow the law as they believe he laws to be sacrosanct. They have high moral quotient because the follow all the moral laws of the society too. They have the strongest soul but weakest mind.
Yet all people can never have faith in laws. You need some people who enforce the laws for the larger interest of society. This need is fulfilled by the people of second type i.e. the people having nature of “karma”. They enforce the existing laws to make the society better by bringing order in the society. Such people enforce the law with best of his ability without any selfish motive as they believe that the performance of ones duty is the greatest service of State. They are the patriot of their country and heroes of the masses.
If we have only two types of people, then the world would have order but no progress as the society will soon reach to the state of static equilibrium. Thankfully, nature has preferred variety to uniformity. Thus there are some people, who seem to defy all conventional wisdom and seek True Knowledge themselves. Einstein echoed the thoughts of such people when he said “I just want to know the thoughts of God. The rest are details.” They simply can’t follow any law or rules. They question every law and try to know the divine law or the True Knowledge. They are the rarest people and falls in the third category.
They face highest opposition from the society as they are very small in numbers but they have virtually everyone else against them. They are quickly branded as criminals by some and heroes by others. Yet as the time changes, their branding also changes. People like Stalin, Mao, ****** and Mussolini were the biggest heroes of their time. Yet after they died, they became the biggest villain in the world. People like Christ or Gandhi were treated as criminals and punished repeatedly in their lifetime. Yet they became National or even International Heroes subsequently. In every society and every era, there are some people who are born to defy the law and rules only to discover newer laws which are more suitable for the man.
Science is No Exception
What is true for religion and statutes (State made laws) is also true for very walk of life. Science is no exception. Most people have blind faith on the “laws of science”. They **** anyone who challenges these laws as if these laws had been created by God. There are other scientists who use these laws to solve the problems of man. They are the people of Karma. Finally there are scientists, who seek to know the True Knowledge. They challenge every laws of science and make new laws of nature. You can find these three types of people in every profession and every walk of life. Just think over it and try to view the world from this perspective.
By: Awdhesh K Singh
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Filed under Society by on Nov 15th, 2010.
The Negative Effects of Pornography on Women and Society.
One person’s pornography is another person’s “Great picture”.
Someone once said “pornography is difficult to define, but you know it if you see it and that is the premise on which this article will be based.
Pornography is a world wide, multi billion pound industry, and is generated in many media, mainly visual. It is clear therefore that there is a public demand for pornography, but we need to ask ourselves why.
Pornography based on sexually stimulating pictures of women – in this paper I will not deal with the issue of ‘male’ pornography – exists only because the primary sexual stimulus of the male is visual. Men are, of course, capable of responding to other sexual stimuli, but in the vast, overwhelming majority of cases, the primarily preferred stimulus is visual.
Society has, for its own purposes, developed for the most part along monogamous lines, and men are expected to have one sexual partner more or less for life. Males are not biological programmed to live this way, and are naturally polygamous. The innate urge to procreate demands (on the most basic level) that the available seed should be shared amongst the largest possible number of fertile partners, and for this reason, males are designed to respond quickly to visual sexual stimulus.
Here we have the reason for the existence pornography – it meets a biological need that society would prefer to deny.
To gauge the scale of the industry, there are about 244 million pornographic Internet pages based in the US alone, some 89% of the world total.
The effect pornography has on women caught up in the industry are many.
Women who enter the industry usually do so through economic necessity.
For the most part, the simply have no other way of earning their living, apart from selling their bodies in either an actual or virtual way.
It is a commonplace that people who are economically vulnerable are vulnerable in many other areas too and are easily exploited, especially in an industry which is frowned on by society, and which might also be also illegal.
One of the issues associated with pornography is that it is alleged to affect the male pornography user by decreasing is empathy with women, and engendering a callous attitude to women in general. According to Zillmann and Weaver “Men tend to respond to women witnessed in pornographic portrayals with disrespect. These women are naughty; they are bitches and ****** and deserve what is coming to them” (Zillmann and Weaver)
The word used to describe women in the foregoing paragraph are the common currency of Internet pornography sites, and they encourage a view in a primarily young male audience that women are valueless and can be treated in any way a man may wish.
This attitude shift has had tragic results. Studies have shown that the callousness engendered by pornography progress to physical harm. The Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography has concluded that there is a causal relationship between exposure to many forms of pornography and several antisocial effects, including increased levels of violence against women. (Linz, Donnerstein, Penrod, 1987).
The pornography industry also has a more direct effect on its female participants. **** film directors seem to believe that safe *** is boring *** – and therefore there is a strong resistance in the industry to the use of condoms. As a result thousands of actors and actresses are exposed to a variety of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, including HIV/AIDS on a regular basis. One actress says “”As I continued to do ******** porn, I started catching STDs all the time. My lower body hurt so badly and at times my private area felt like it was a blazing fire. I could no longer work because I caught so many STDs and infections. I believe that if condoms had been allowed to be used in my own films, I would not have suffered so many physical ailments and infections.” (Avanti M. quoted on AIDS Healthcare Foundation)
Actors and actresses in the pornography industry anecdotally have a high incidence of drug abuse, and as in other areas of society, this leads to dependency, and an ever greater need for drugs, in a vicious spiral of deeper involvement. There is some evidence to suggest that drug use can become so high that earnings from the pornography industry are insufficient to sustain the purchase of drugs, and that as a result, some women are forced to turn to prostitution.
According to The Task Force on Organized Crime found a tripartite link between prostitution, pornography and substance abuse. “The young actors… often perform for drugs rather than money, then are forced into prostitution to finance drug habits.”
(Flowers, R.B, 1998)
The effect on pornography on its consumers is an issue which is receiving increasing attention. Overwhelmingly, consumers of pornography are male, and most of those are in the younger age groups.
The results of one Danish study of a group of 200 Danish students suggested that “The results suggest that, for the average consumer of popular ******** pornography aged 18-30, commonly-feared adverse effects of pornography are non-existent or, at worst, minimal. However, exposure to different kinds of pornography might yield different results.” ((Hald, GMM, 2006)
It would appear to be dangerous to accept this study, as it directly contradicts the perceived wisdom that **** consumers are negatively affected by their habit.
Paul reports that: “men who were shown pornographic films for 90 minutes a day, five days a week, experienced less sexual arousal and interest in similar materials with the passage of time. What initially thrills eventually titillates, what excites eventually pleases, what pleases eventually satisfies. And satisfaction sooner or later yields to boredom. (Paul 1983)
Porn consumers therefore experience a system of diminishing returns, in which more and more stimulation is required to achieve the desired results. Extrapolating from this, it would seem likely that these men would demand more and more extreme acts from their sexual partners, and be increasingly less empathetic with women.
The use of pornography is generally agreed to be addictive, and it has been demonstrated that long term users of pornography begin to prefer ************ to a sexually appropriate response to a live person.
This is a premier cause of the disruption that pornography can cause to male/female relationships. Men can become effectively sexually dysfunctional, leading to serious – and sometimes terminal relationship problems.
A further common issue is that of men being ‘caught’ using pornographic material by their partners. For some people this may not be a problem, but for many women, it is seen as a very serious betrayal. The difficulty here is that commonly, the woman sees the man’s use of pornography as a rejection of her, and because of the innate differences between male and female response to visual stimulus, can not comprehend the common male belief that looking at pornography is harmless.
In a 2003 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, two-thirds of the 350 divorce lawyers who attended said that internet **** contributed to more than half of the divorce cases they handled. They also said that pornography had an almost non-existent role in divorce just seven or eight years ago. (Kearney J., 2005)
Pornography clearly causes harm to those who work in the industry, to its users, and to their families. However, it is not going to fo away any time soon!
Sources.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Flowers, RB., “The Prostitution of Women and Girls”. MacFarland and Company, North Carolina 1998, 119.
Hald GMM. “The Effects of Exposure to Pornography: An Empirical Contribution to the **** Debate”. Journal of *** Research.
Kearney J.
Linz, Daniel; Donnerstein, Edward; Penrod, Steven “The Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography: Do the psychological “facts” fit the political fury?”
American Psychologist. Vol 42(10), Oct 1987, 946-953.
Paul, P., Pornified: “How Pornography is Damaging Our Lives” (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 2005), 83.
Zillmann D. and Weaver J, “Pornography and Mens Social Callousness to Women, 110
By: Norman Munro
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Filed under Society by on Nov 14th, 2010.