Topic: Are critical thinking and religious faith incompatible? Why or Why not?
Determining the compatibility or incompatibility of critical thinking and religious faith depends upon many variables. Some of these variables are time in history, position of the church, the socio-economic and political factors, other cultural events and the intellectual development of mankind. This essay will provide an understanding of critical thinking and religion with some historical progression of these concepts. It will also provide examples and supporting factors exemplifying both incompatibility and compatibility between religious faith and critical thinking.
Critical thinking as defined by Dan Kurland includes a complex combination of skills. "Among the main characteristics are the following: Rationality, self awareness, honesty, open-mindedness, discipline and judgment. In some, critical thinkers are skeptical and active, asking questions and are analytical and are open to new ideas and perspectives. Critical thinking enables us to recognize a wide range of subjective analyses of otherwise objective data...Facts may be facts, but how we interpret them may vary." ( http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_thinking.htm ).
Critical thinking began during the time of the scientific/intellectual revolution which was a revolution in human knowledge. "The scientific revolutionaries attempted to understand and explain man and the natural world. Thinkers such as Copernicus (1973-1543), Descartes (1596-1650) and Newton (1642-1727) overturned the authority of the middle ages and the classical world...This authority refers to the church and the teachings of Aristotle (384-322_, Ptolemy (c.90-168) and Galen (c.130-210)." ( http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture10c.html ) Thus, the Revolution in science that emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries can be felt today in every aspect of our daily lives and our critical thinking.
We must remember that during the Middle Ages, the power of the church was considered superior to the power of the people and dominated society. During the Middle Ages science played little, if any, role in peoples thinking. Whereas, during the renaissance, science changed the popular outlook on natural forces in the world. ( www.struthers.k12.oh.us/.../ch%2014%20comparimg%20information.pdf ). This medieval world view focused on God who ordered the universe through miracles. Individuals during this time had an absolute and unwavering faith in God. They believed the cosmos was of divine origin and moved according to the will of God. When man began to question and wanted an explanation of these miracles the scientific revolution and critical thinking arose.
"Empirically speaking religion did stop critical thinking and independent thinking for a thousand years and forced the first scientists underground and to edit and obfuscate their research and findings. Gfilileo. Descartes. Copernicus. These were just some of the scientists more or less at the beginning of the scientific revolution that was told that what they were doing was both sinful and misguided. What is more, the Development of the scientific method which is precisely a method of thinking critically, (read Descartes' "on the scientific method" for more information) couldn't occur for 1,000 years after Augustine because of religious intolerance to scientific, critical thinking". (paulitics.wordpress.com/lll/proof-that-organized-religion-stops-critical-thinking/-cashed-similar).
We now know what critical thinking and the scientific method is how it began and developed and how in the past it was incompatible with religious faith. We also now know the skills involved in critical thinking. If we apply these methods and skills to our current understanding of what religious faith is we may conclude that at our current time religious faith and critical thinking are compatible.
Western culture and civilization believes in one monotheolithic God and that we are all sons and daughters of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Our holy scriptures of the old and New Testament are the words of God (written in stories, parables and Laws). This provides the basis of our faith in our religion. For many centuries we believed these stories only because of their divine inspiration. Currently research can give actual proof to many biblical events.
Consider the story of "Sodom and Gmorrah". These sinful cities were destroyed by God through fire and brimstone. Since about 1970 Archeologists have located four cities at this same location with tools dating back to 3000 BCE and also, evidence of bones showing fiery destruction. Also, Mark Hempsell and Alen Bond found in a British museum a Sumerian clay planisphere which plotted the alignment of planets among constellations of stars with an astronomical body that was moving across the sky. Through scientific discovery it is now proven to have been an aten class asteroid that hit the earth at the same time and place of the destruction of Sodom and Gmorrah. ("sodom and gmorrah"the science channel 284 3/28/10).
Another example of a biblical event which happened is the parting of the water in exodus, where God opened the waters to expose the ground so that Moses and his people could escape from the Pharoe's army. The red sea (Reed Sea) is a shallow waterway at the Gulf of Aqaba. Scientific experiments have proven that wind at about 100 miles per hour for a long enough time can push water and it will expose walkable land. The burning bush that Moses experienced during this journey is now proven to be his eleven day journey to Kadesh Barnea to Mt. Bedr in Saudi Arabia. Scientists have proof of a known volcano at this location and underground volcanic vents which can cause bushes to catch on fire. Therefore scientific theory matches the bible. The 10 Plagues that the Egyptian's experienced about 1250BCE at the time of the exodus have now all been proven scientifically as a cascading effect of natural phenomena. ("Exodus"science channel 284 3/28/10).
Critical thinking and scientific methodology currently are compatible with religious faith as this is how we interpret many of these facts and proofs. For many people, these new scientific findings actually reinforce and strengthen our understanding of our religious beliefs and faith.
We now know that our religious stories are not just mythology passed on to us to influence behavior and moral values and create guilt complexes. We can now base our beliefs and stories on historical, archeological and scientific facts. Again critical thinking is a matter of how we interpret and apply any facts. For some, these facts will never be proof and for others it will be proof that critical thinking and religion are compatible. Remember, religion is not a science and never will be. Religion serves to give mankind a belief that life has purpose and a reason for human's existence. For those who believe in the scientific method and in scientific evolution ( ex. Darwin, Carl Sagen, etc.) religious faith and critical thinking will never be compatible.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Blog # 4
A picture is worth a thousand words and maybe even thousands. The word "Thousand" is metaphorical. It could be 50, 500, 2000 or more words. This phrase is used to connote what meaning, feeling or impact the subject matter imparts to the viewer.
However, we first must determine what visual interpretation and visual literacy entails. Visual literacy as defined by the International visual Literacy association is a group of vision competencies a human being can develop by seeing and at the same time having and integrating other sensory experiences. The development of these competencies is fundamental to normal human learning. When developed, they enable a visually literate person to discriminate and interpret the visual actions, objects, and/or symbols, natural or man-made that are encountered in the environment....."(Fransecky and Debes, 1972, p.7)" ( http://ldt.stanford.edu/~pagemc/masters/developing_history/teachers1.htm )
Therefore, we may surmise that visual interpretations depend on ones educational and cultural background. A visual picture stimulates a Psychological impression to our imagination, which helps us to make an individual opinion or interpretation. Also, visual information in the media is part of our cultural background.
For example, briefly, my description of the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo Da Vinci would flow along the following thoughts. The subject's eyes are focused looking straight at the viewer. Her eyes suggest to me knowledge of the world in the past and all that the future world will be. Her mysterious smile with upturned lips on each side seems quizzical and curious. Her smile may be just an echo of a momentary mood or it may be a timeless symbolic expression akin to the archaic smiles represented in prior Greek art. I think she is portraying knowing something that we don't know. The background of rocks and water suggest to me elements of a generative force. A smaller lake is draining into a larger body of water. The rock formations seem somewhat unstable. I wonder if Da Vinci is trying to tell us a prediction of future events. Possibly a flood to come and maybe world's end.
For another example of visual interpretation I could look at "The persistence of memory" by Salvador Dali. In this composition I see forms being distorted in an unrealistic, bizarre, irrational manner. These soft melting watches in a dessert like setting seem to be derived from a paranoid dream-like state. This could relate to the passing of time that one experiences in a dream state. Time is not rigid and is irrelevant when dreaming. The watch on the right side is draped over a shape, possibly a man. Maybe a self portrait of the artist. The limp watches could refer to sexual impotency or the inability to function. The ants devouring the watch to the left may suggest destruction. All in all the optical illusions in this canvas lets one's imagination be free.
Both of the preceding examples exemplify an individual's view of a specific visual object. I am influenced by my past experiences, education, culture, media, etc. Everyone in our course (Hum101) would describe a different interpretation of these examples. It would be interesting to know how a person living in a Middle Eastern, Asian or African country might evaluate and relate their interpretation of these two examples.
Visual Literacy and interpretation also relates to everyday situation that we experience. For example, Lawyers present pictures as evidence in court on a regular basis in cases of accidents, rape and murder victims. They do this to gain the sympathy of the jury for the plaintiff. Billboards on the highway, magazine and newspaper advertisements and T.V. all use visual media to influence people and crate biases. Also, think of the many pictures of our current wars and past wars and other devastating natural events. From these portrayals thousands of words are written. These words relate to the moral, political, economic and even religious aspects of these topics. These words and pictures inspire man to take action in various ways, as well as to stimulate his feelings and imagination and general knowledge.
James Aanstoos defines visual literacy as "the ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through visible actions or images...or messages through imagery. Some authors consider visual literacy to be more of a metaphor...However, the field is credited with the development of educational programs that enhance students' abilities to interpret and crate visual messages,..."
( http://www.computer.org/portal/web/guest/home )
As individuals it is our responsibility to view, evaluate, interpret, learn, discriminate and form our own opinions and judgments just as we would evaluate any work of art. This is what visual and information literacy is all about. That is why a picture is really worth a "1,000" words.
However, we first must determine what visual interpretation and visual literacy entails. Visual literacy as defined by the International visual Literacy association is a group of vision competencies a human being can develop by seeing and at the same time having and integrating other sensory experiences. The development of these competencies is fundamental to normal human learning. When developed, they enable a visually literate person to discriminate and interpret the visual actions, objects, and/or symbols, natural or man-made that are encountered in the environment....."(Fransecky and Debes, 1972, p.7)" ( http://ldt.stanford.edu/~pagemc/masters/developing_history/teachers1.htm )
Therefore, we may surmise that visual interpretations depend on ones educational and cultural background. A visual picture stimulates a Psychological impression to our imagination, which helps us to make an individual opinion or interpretation. Also, visual information in the media is part of our cultural background.
For example, briefly, my description of the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo Da Vinci would flow along the following thoughts. The subject's eyes are focused looking straight at the viewer. Her eyes suggest to me knowledge of the world in the past and all that the future world will be. Her mysterious smile with upturned lips on each side seems quizzical and curious. Her smile may be just an echo of a momentary mood or it may be a timeless symbolic expression akin to the archaic smiles represented in prior Greek art. I think she is portraying knowing something that we don't know. The background of rocks and water suggest to me elements of a generative force. A smaller lake is draining into a larger body of water. The rock formations seem somewhat unstable. I wonder if Da Vinci is trying to tell us a prediction of future events. Possibly a flood to come and maybe world's end.
For another example of visual interpretation I could look at "The persistence of memory" by Salvador Dali. In this composition I see forms being distorted in an unrealistic, bizarre, irrational manner. These soft melting watches in a dessert like setting seem to be derived from a paranoid dream-like state. This could relate to the passing of time that one experiences in a dream state. Time is not rigid and is irrelevant when dreaming. The watch on the right side is draped over a shape, possibly a man. Maybe a self portrait of the artist. The limp watches could refer to sexual impotency or the inability to function. The ants devouring the watch to the left may suggest destruction. All in all the optical illusions in this canvas lets one's imagination be free.
Both of the preceding examples exemplify an individual's view of a specific visual object. I am influenced by my past experiences, education, culture, media, etc. Everyone in our course (Hum101) would describe a different interpretation of these examples. It would be interesting to know how a person living in a Middle Eastern, Asian or African country might evaluate and relate their interpretation of these two examples.
Visual Literacy and interpretation also relates to everyday situation that we experience. For example, Lawyers present pictures as evidence in court on a regular basis in cases of accidents, rape and murder victims. They do this to gain the sympathy of the jury for the plaintiff. Billboards on the highway, magazine and newspaper advertisements and T.V. all use visual media to influence people and crate biases. Also, think of the many pictures of our current wars and past wars and other devastating natural events. From these portrayals thousands of words are written. These words relate to the moral, political, economic and even religious aspects of these topics. These words and pictures inspire man to take action in various ways, as well as to stimulate his feelings and imagination and general knowledge.
James Aanstoos defines visual literacy as "the ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through visible actions or images...or messages through imagery. Some authors consider visual literacy to be more of a metaphor...However, the field is credited with the development of educational programs that enhance students' abilities to interpret and crate visual messages,..."
( http://www.computer.org/portal/web/guest/home )
As individuals it is our responsibility to view, evaluate, interpret, learn, discriminate and form our own opinions and judgments just as we would evaluate any work of art. This is what visual and information literacy is all about. That is why a picture is really worth a "1,000" words.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Blog # 3
Why do human beings believe in things that are not (or cannot) be proven?
Our culture of today spends much time and effort concentrating and presenting various theories on numerous subjects which cannot be proven.
I feel it is human nature to search for reasons to happenings that man does not fully understand. I believe that inherently man wants answers to unexplained events and occurrences in nature and elsewhere. Mankind's various speculations and hypotheses stimulate his imagination. Man also feels he can gain insight into his past and future in his queries, theories and speculations.
Throughout mankind's history there have been Oracles, such as; the Sybyl, Oracle of Delphi, Merlin (~ 1135 A.D.), to name a few. Various prophets also existed, such as John of Patmos ( who wrote the book of revelations in the Bible) and Black Elk of the Sioux Indians. There is also the Mayan calendar, the "Yi Jing hexograms" and the Hopi tribe. Most of these various sources predict the end of the world to be 12/21/12. ( www.endoftheworld2012.net ). Issac Newton of the 17th century studied the Bible and devised a math code to predict the world would end in 2060 A.D. These prophetic papers surfaced in London in 1936. ( "The apocalypse code"-3/3/10 8pm cst, The History Channel).
Prophets cannot prove the end of the world and proponents of this theory look also at the course of current events, such as current wars, global warming, asteroid encounters, etc. Scientists argue that there will be certain solar alignment of celestial bodies in the year 2012. NASA officially indicated that solar flare activity will be at peak during the year 2012. An increase in these flares and sun spot activity will cause increased amounts of charges particles to reach our ionosphere thru the solar winds. They believe these changes and possible magnetic field changes surrounding earth could cause some interference with earth's inhabitants and their satellite technology. But, certainly not the end of the world.
Another example of unexplained phenomena is the Bermuda Triangle where some 20 airplanes and ~50 ships, going back to the 16th century or earlier, have vanished without apparent reason. The visionary Edgar Cayce believed Atlantis is located around Bimini and that radioactive Atlantean crystals caused the disasters of this area. Some believe UFO's have removed people from intact ships. Ghost ships intact have been sighted on numerous occasions since the 16th and 17th centuries. Opponents of these theories propose various answers to these disappearances. Among them include: 1) Methane gas bubbles changing the buoyancy of ships. 2) Human and mechanical failure. 3) Rouge waves. 4) Powerful currents of the Gulf Stream with eddies below the surface. 5) Fog with electromagnetic energy. ( "Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle" decoding the past 3/6/10 9pm cst The History Channel).
The most popular and imaginative suppositions and ascertians are derived from beliefs in ancient alien visitations beginning in eons past. Erich Vondanekin is our most prominent purveyor of this data. There are hundreds of different examples of ancient visitations. ( Vondaniken, Erich, Chariots of the Gods, 1999). My favorite unproven topic refers to the Great Pyramid located in Cairo, Egypt. The question is who built the pyramid? Each stone weighs 1 to 20 tons and The Great Pyramid contains well over 100,000 stones. It took 10,000 workers per month over a 20 year span to build The Great Pyramid, as experts suggest, and placed them 481 feet high. Supposedly using a ramp with stones that went from the ground to the top. However, opponents know the Egyptians had no machinery or construction equipment. It also would take more rocks to build the ramp than it would to build the pyramid. It is common knowledge that the Egyptians left detailed writings of farming, giving birth, Pharaoh worship, hunting, building structures, etc, but the building of the pyramid was never mentioned. There are numerous arguments for and against how the Pyramids came into existence. ( www.netscientia.com/egypt.html ).
Think of the Pairie Reis map of 1531 showing Antarctica ice free. Antarctica was ice free many thousands of years ago. How did they see under the ice to define the land mass on this map in that year? Think about Puma Punko, Bolivia, where megalithic structures are finely cut of interlocking granite stones of ~ 800 tons each, with straight, precise depth of lines. The Aymora Indians had no writing and this occurred ~5,000 feet above see level. Also no trees or agriculture could prevail in that area. What about the Nasca desert in Peru with large carvings of spiders and other animals and flat top of a mountain in amongst the summits of various mountains. Archeologist suggest these carvings were for Religious reasons or irrigation. Opponents feel these land carvings and flat mountain summit were for ancient alien landings. ( "Ancient Aliens" 3/6/10 7pm cst, The History Channel).
Does the previous small sample of the unproven or unexplained stimulate your imagination? Do these various arguments, pro and con give any insight into the cause and effect relationship of occurrences in the past and future that are questionable? Have these unexplainable subjects speculations and explanations given us any answers to the unknown? I believe so. This is why human beings believe in thing that cannot be proven.
Our culture of today spends much time and effort concentrating and presenting various theories on numerous subjects which cannot be proven.
I feel it is human nature to search for reasons to happenings that man does not fully understand. I believe that inherently man wants answers to unexplained events and occurrences in nature and elsewhere. Mankind's various speculations and hypotheses stimulate his imagination. Man also feels he can gain insight into his past and future in his queries, theories and speculations.
Throughout mankind's history there have been Oracles, such as; the Sybyl, Oracle of Delphi, Merlin (~ 1135 A.D.), to name a few. Various prophets also existed, such as John of Patmos ( who wrote the book of revelations in the Bible) and Black Elk of the Sioux Indians. There is also the Mayan calendar, the "Yi Jing hexograms" and the Hopi tribe. Most of these various sources predict the end of the world to be 12/21/12. ( www.endoftheworld2012.net ). Issac Newton of the 17th century studied the Bible and devised a math code to predict the world would end in 2060 A.D. These prophetic papers surfaced in London in 1936. ( "The apocalypse code"-3/3/10 8pm cst, The History Channel).
Prophets cannot prove the end of the world and proponents of this theory look also at the course of current events, such as current wars, global warming, asteroid encounters, etc. Scientists argue that there will be certain solar alignment of celestial bodies in the year 2012. NASA officially indicated that solar flare activity will be at peak during the year 2012. An increase in these flares and sun spot activity will cause increased amounts of charges particles to reach our ionosphere thru the solar winds. They believe these changes and possible magnetic field changes surrounding earth could cause some interference with earth's inhabitants and their satellite technology. But, certainly not the end of the world.
Another example of unexplained phenomena is the Bermuda Triangle where some 20 airplanes and ~50 ships, going back to the 16th century or earlier, have vanished without apparent reason. The visionary Edgar Cayce believed Atlantis is located around Bimini and that radioactive Atlantean crystals caused the disasters of this area. Some believe UFO's have removed people from intact ships. Ghost ships intact have been sighted on numerous occasions since the 16th and 17th centuries. Opponents of these theories propose various answers to these disappearances. Among them include: 1) Methane gas bubbles changing the buoyancy of ships. 2) Human and mechanical failure. 3) Rouge waves. 4) Powerful currents of the Gulf Stream with eddies below the surface. 5) Fog with electromagnetic energy. ( "Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle" decoding the past 3/6/10 9pm cst The History Channel).
The most popular and imaginative suppositions and ascertians are derived from beliefs in ancient alien visitations beginning in eons past. Erich Vondanekin is our most prominent purveyor of this data. There are hundreds of different examples of ancient visitations. ( Vondaniken, Erich, Chariots of the Gods, 1999). My favorite unproven topic refers to the Great Pyramid located in Cairo, Egypt. The question is who built the pyramid? Each stone weighs 1 to 20 tons and The Great Pyramid contains well over 100,000 stones. It took 10,000 workers per month over a 20 year span to build The Great Pyramid, as experts suggest, and placed them 481 feet high. Supposedly using a ramp with stones that went from the ground to the top. However, opponents know the Egyptians had no machinery or construction equipment. It also would take more rocks to build the ramp than it would to build the pyramid. It is common knowledge that the Egyptians left detailed writings of farming, giving birth, Pharaoh worship, hunting, building structures, etc, but the building of the pyramid was never mentioned. There are numerous arguments for and against how the Pyramids came into existence. ( www.netscientia.com/egypt.html ).
Think of the Pairie Reis map of 1531 showing Antarctica ice free. Antarctica was ice free many thousands of years ago. How did they see under the ice to define the land mass on this map in that year? Think about Puma Punko, Bolivia, where megalithic structures are finely cut of interlocking granite stones of ~ 800 tons each, with straight, precise depth of lines. The Aymora Indians had no writing and this occurred ~5,000 feet above see level. Also no trees or agriculture could prevail in that area. What about the Nasca desert in Peru with large carvings of spiders and other animals and flat top of a mountain in amongst the summits of various mountains. Archeologist suggest these carvings were for Religious reasons or irrigation. Opponents feel these land carvings and flat mountain summit were for ancient alien landings. ( "Ancient Aliens" 3/6/10 7pm cst, The History Channel).
Does the previous small sample of the unproven or unexplained stimulate your imagination? Do these various arguments, pro and con give any insight into the cause and effect relationship of occurrences in the past and future that are questionable? Have these unexplainable subjects speculations and explanations given us any answers to the unknown? I believe so. This is why human beings believe in thing that cannot be proven.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Blog#2
Why are so many people uncomfortable with the idea that many problems don't have a single solution? Give an example of a current controversy in which there are different factions arguing that theirs is the one RIGHT answer and explain why there is in reality no one right answer to the issue.
Throughout mankind's history, one will always find differences of opinions to various topics. This is due to the fact that man's diversity is based on his socio-economic, educational, political and religious values. It is easy to understand why many people feel uncomfortable that various problems don't have a common single solution. Agreement among people would make life easy, uncomplicated and would avoid many conflicts. I feel man strives basically to achieve a coherent, congenial, peaceful and rational lifestyle. However, thru history, due to man's basic individuality, we will always incur differences of opinions and different solutions to problems.
We only need to consider the current controversy related to universal healthcare. The Democrats of Congress are supporting a massive government takeover of the healthcare industry at the taxpayer's expense of trillions of dollars. Individuals and doctors will be subservient to governmental bureaucrats making their healthcare decisions. Senior citizens will be at a serious disadvantage for services due to a governmental cut back of 500 billion in federal Medicare funding. This plan is strongly supported by Liberals and Leftists in our society. In opposition to this proposal are the Republican Congress men who support reform of healthcare but prefer a revision of the present system. This includes, oversight of insurance company premiums, insuring people with existing medical conditions, tort reform, ability for individuals to buy insurance across state lines, and no cut back in Medicare funding. The Republican proposal would not increase costs into the trillions of dollars and would maintain a non-socialized medical system for the USA. The Rightist and the Tea party movement are in favor of this ideology (Fox news nightly reports). Both opposing sides feel their plan is the right way to go. The previously stated are just a few of the issues involved. We cannot discuss the details of an approximate 2000 page legislative bill in this paper. Obviously, a compromise is needed, as both sides do have some valid arguments. There is no one right answer to this issue.
One can look back into our American history to the Philadelphia convention, now known as the constitutional convention of 1787. Fifty five delegates, with George Washington presiding, designed and passed our present U.S. Constitution ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Convention ). During this process, there was much disagreement. Benjamin Franklin gave the members an analogy. He, in essence told the delegates to imagine 3 pieces of wood that don't conform to a solid concentric surface. Therefore, you shape each piece to fit together and make a solid, concentric, strong and durable surface area. He effectively brought 55 delegates together to form The House of Representatives, the Senate and Constitution of the United States ( http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm ). In conclusion, I must state, "we are all different......we have always been different, we will always be different. The diversity of mankind will never be conquered by national governments or by religious leaders. Our diversity is the reason we exist. We exist to be individuals; we exist to be different.........." ( http://wahiduddin.net/views/diversity.htm ).
Throughout mankind's history, one will always find differences of opinions to various topics. This is due to the fact that man's diversity is based on his socio-economic, educational, political and religious values. It is easy to understand why many people feel uncomfortable that various problems don't have a common single solution. Agreement among people would make life easy, uncomplicated and would avoid many conflicts. I feel man strives basically to achieve a coherent, congenial, peaceful and rational lifestyle. However, thru history, due to man's basic individuality, we will always incur differences of opinions and different solutions to problems.
We only need to consider the current controversy related to universal healthcare. The Democrats of Congress are supporting a massive government takeover of the healthcare industry at the taxpayer's expense of trillions of dollars. Individuals and doctors will be subservient to governmental bureaucrats making their healthcare decisions. Senior citizens will be at a serious disadvantage for services due to a governmental cut back of 500 billion in federal Medicare funding. This plan is strongly supported by Liberals and Leftists in our society. In opposition to this proposal are the Republican Congress men who support reform of healthcare but prefer a revision of the present system. This includes, oversight of insurance company premiums, insuring people with existing medical conditions, tort reform, ability for individuals to buy insurance across state lines, and no cut back in Medicare funding. The Republican proposal would not increase costs into the trillions of dollars and would maintain a non-socialized medical system for the USA. The Rightist and the Tea party movement are in favor of this ideology (Fox news nightly reports). Both opposing sides feel their plan is the right way to go. The previously stated are just a few of the issues involved. We cannot discuss the details of an approximate 2000 page legislative bill in this paper. Obviously, a compromise is needed, as both sides do have some valid arguments. There is no one right answer to this issue.
One can look back into our American history to the Philadelphia convention, now known as the constitutional convention of 1787. Fifty five delegates, with George Washington presiding, designed and passed our present U.S. Constitution ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Convention ). During this process, there was much disagreement. Benjamin Franklin gave the members an analogy. He, in essence told the delegates to imagine 3 pieces of wood that don't conform to a solid concentric surface. Therefore, you shape each piece to fit together and make a solid, concentric, strong and durable surface area. He effectively brought 55 delegates together to form The House of Representatives, the Senate and Constitution of the United States ( http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm ). In conclusion, I must state, "we are all different......we have always been different, we will always be different. The diversity of mankind will never be conquered by national governments or by religious leaders. Our diversity is the reason we exist. We exist to be individuals; we exist to be different.........." ( http://wahiduddin.net/views/diversity.htm ).
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Blog post #1 HUM101
Blog post #1
Nuclear power was conceived in 1942, with the first successful controlled nuclear chain reaction. This experiment was conducted in secrecy, under the bleachers at the University of Chicago. Later in 1942, the first atomic bomb was produced and tested. Testing took place at Alamagordo in New Mexico. This successful test led to the dropping of two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II. After the war, researchers began to use nuclear energy to produce electricity. Nuclear reactors were built to produce steam to drive giant steam turbines that created the electricity. The first of these reactors were built in Idaho, December 1951. Nuclear energy was very popular up until the 1970s. From the 1970s to 2002 the nuclear power industry suffered declines and stagnation ( www.world-nuclear.org ). The projected demand for electricity and the growing concern for global warming are making nuclear energy more popular than ever. Even recently, President Obama stated he would like to see more nuclear power plants built. Gas, oil, and coal are the dominant energy sources that are in use now (www.ecolo.org). These fossil fuels are being exhausted rapidly and are at the center of attention for being the cause of pollution and global warming. I believe that nuclear energy could replace fossil fuels all together. Nuclear energies are cleaner, produce small amounts of waste that are easy to manage, and have absolutely no global effect. If well managed nuclear energy could be sustained very long term.
Nuclear power was conceived in 1942, with the first successful controlled nuclear chain reaction. This experiment was conducted in secrecy, under the bleachers at the University of Chicago. Later in 1942, the first atomic bomb was produced and tested. Testing took place at Alamagordo in New Mexico. This successful test led to the dropping of two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II. After the war, researchers began to use nuclear energy to produce electricity. Nuclear reactors were built to produce steam to drive giant steam turbines that created the electricity. The first of these reactors were built in Idaho, December 1951. Nuclear energy was very popular up until the 1970s. From the 1970s to 2002 the nuclear power industry suffered declines and stagnation ( www.world-nuclear.org ). The projected demand for electricity and the growing concern for global warming are making nuclear energy more popular than ever. Even recently, President Obama stated he would like to see more nuclear power plants built. Gas, oil, and coal are the dominant energy sources that are in use now (www.ecolo.org). These fossil fuels are being exhausted rapidly and are at the center of attention for being the cause of pollution and global warming. I believe that nuclear energy could replace fossil fuels all together. Nuclear energies are cleaner, produce small amounts of waste that are easy to manage, and have absolutely no global effect. If well managed nuclear energy could be sustained very long term.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
First blog
I am new to this whole blog thing, I hope I set everything up ok and everyone can read this.
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