Friday, June 19, 2015

What Does the Confederate Flag Represent?


Many of us view the Confederate flag’s meaning in different ways. This is much like cultural relativism. So what are we Americans saying about what the confederate flag represents? Some people are saying that the confederate flag is a symbol of national sham, slavery, and institutionalized racism. Supporters of the flag say that it represents their proud southern heritage. The article I found from CNN is about government free speech versus private free speech when the confederate flag is displayed. Is the state of Texas implying that the Confederate flag is a symbol of racism if they are banning displaying the confederate flag on state license plate? Does this also mean that the Supreme Court is saying that the Confederate flag represents racism when they allowed Texas to ban the flag from the state license plate? Or is it, because it offends some people. I personally don’t have an answer. I’m not for or against displaying the Confederate flag and I’m completely unbiased. We can just agree to disagree.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Power Corrupts


The old saying “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” by Lord Acton. The article I found is a good example of how power corrupts. Zhou Yongkang was one of nine men who ruled China. Zhou Yongkang was recently sentence to life for taking large bribes. As some people gain power their morality will diminish because, power tends to corrupt those who possess it. For some people that hold power cannot resist the temptation to play god. There is a history of men seeking absolute power like, Hitler, Napoleon, Caesar, Ramses, and so on. There are many leaders that stole money while in power, people like Ferdinand Marcos, Mohamed Suharto, Alberto Fujimori, Mobutu Sese Seko, and so on. I believe power reduces the fear of being persecuted and can they easily get away with wrong doing.

Friday, June 5, 2015

Slavery


I have always believed that slavery has been abolished until I saw this report from CNN. The United Nations has report that an estimated 10% to 20% of the Mauritania people are enslaved. Mauritania was the last country to abolished slavery in 1981 and has made it a crime to own slaves in 1997. Even though slavery has been outlaw the practice still exists in secret. The government of Mauritania knows that the practice of slavery still exist in their country but does nothing to stop it. Not only are these people force into slavery but they are also being abused by their master. Slavery is now consider to be universally unethical as all countries have abolished slavery. Why doesn’t the United Nations or the International Labor Organization do something to stop this practices? Maybe with some help from everyone, slavery can be abolished forever.