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Today in class we discussed in depth the things that set Akhilleus and Hektor apart. While reading the Iliad we have generally found Hektor’s actions to be more heroic than Akhilleus but throughout the last 5 books or so, a lot of opinions have changed. Now we are led to believe that Akhilleus,...

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It was a toss up between this post and another one I wrote called "seeing it from the other side" as what I considered my best argumentative post this semester. I picked this one because in it, I discuss and explore why it is that we consider Akhilleus to be more of a hero than Hektor from a sort of devil's advocate perspective. This post is probably my best because I think it gets at the central issue of what this class is designed to question; what is heroism and what is justice? Sure Dr. Kohen can sit at the head of the class all day and tell us what IS right and what we SHOULD believe but the real way to arrive at those conclusions is to question them for yourself. In this post I question why Akhilleus should be considered more heroic than Hektor even though he doesn't really appear to be in the context of how far we had read when I originally wrote this. Essentially I believe it to be my best post because I actually struggled with and didn't easily accept what was supposed to be the clear answer. Instead I examined and contemplated why I should accept one thing over the other and came to my own conclusion about it that fit my beliefs at the time it was written.

As for the blogging assignment as a whole, I think I liked it more than disliked it. It's a refreshing alternative to paper writing (which I do plenty of) and it was nice to have only between 200-700 words due a week rather than a 10 page paper twice a semester. I think the blogging fit well with how we divided up our reading assignments and was more effective at getting me to really reflect and respond on a weekly basis compared to how a paper would have. It was a valuable tool and it was nice to see my classmates thoughts on some of the same subjects. At first I was skeptical about the blog because I didn't really want everyone reading my thoughts in print like a professor can, but I think I got over that and was able to share my opinion (right or wrong) and not feel self-conscious about it. Now that the class is almost over, I would like to say I will continue to blog but I can't guarantee that is what will actually happen. I barely have enough time to read the paper some days let alone sit down and type down my reactions, questions, etc., to things that I read or watch. This might be something I continue over break or start up again in the summer but as of now, blogging falls pretty low on my priority list.

House backs giving clothing abandoned at airports to homeless veterans

An article posted by the Washington Post today reports that the House passed a bill on Tuesday that would benefit homeless veterans. The bill, if approved by the Senate, would allow the distribution of left-behind cold weather clothing at airports to homeless veterans and their families.

The bill called, the "Clothe a Homeless Hero" act would require the TSA to collaborate with the Veterans Affair Department as well as local veterans charities and organizations to make sure the clothes get to where they are needed. The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) commented that, ""As cold weather approaches across much of the country, this legislation will be a greatly needed help for homeless veterans while we work to end homelessness for good..." The TSA reports that about 850 pieces of clothing left at security checkpoints are turned over to airports daily.

This is one of those articles that, especially around the holiday season, restores (if only a little bit) my faith in our government to accomplish something useful. Even though there is no moral issue at stake here, I still commend the quick and easy approval the House showed for the bill that will actually have a positive impact on a serious problem in our nation; that is the growing number of homeless heroes.

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Egypt minister says end of crisis 'imminent'

An article in today's Lincoln Journal Star reports that Egypt's justice minister, Ahmed Mekki, spoke to press about his belief that the political crisis resolution is imminent. The crisis he is referring to is of course that of Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi, attempt to give himself sweeping new powers.

The powers Morsi wishes to bestow upon himself would, "put him above any kind of oversight, including that of the courts", which are overseen by the Supreme Judiciary Council. Morsi was scheduled to meet Monday (yesterday) with the Supreme Judiciary Council to discuss his proposed decrees while Ahmed Mekki acts as mediator between President Morsi and the judiciary.

However, the article also reports that, "the opposition denounced the decrees as dictatorial, and vowed to press on with street protests until Morsi rescinds them."

This article was reminiscent of our class discussion today about a ruler giving themselves uncontested power, and the effects of that on the state of which they rule. In this case, it seems clear that President Mori's decrees to put himself above all oversight, including that of the courts (the check system of the presidency) is unjust. Although it doesn't seem, according to justice minister Mekki anyway, that the proposed decrees will ever be enacted.

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Where Marius went wrong

Earlier this week we had a lengthy discussion about the type of leader Caius Marius is. The commoners are ready to riot because they believe they are starving while the upper classes have plenty to eat. The common people dislike him even more because he seems arrogant and he openly states how much he hates them. But the truth is, Marius is right in the fact that the city of Rome needs him and those that protect the city to survive and they should therefore be fed first. However, the commoners ARE starving and they feel they are being treated badly by the rulers. I argue, that even though Marius in fact right about the situation (he and the other soldiers need to be fed first because the city would fall without them) that he is still partly responsible for his own fall because of the way he behaves as a ruler.

Imagine if Marius were more compassionate and actually attempted to reason with the commoners rather than insult them. Instead of fueling their outrage at the way they perceive they are being treated, he could at the very least, make an effort to ease the tension and prevent a full-scale rebellion. Despite whether or not anything can actually be done about the food shortage issue, Marius is only making matters worse by calling the commoners stupid.

This also brings up the issue of Marius as consul. Although he does not want to be consul, he is really the only man for the job. Despite being elected by the people themselves, it is Marius’s comments to the tribunes that cause them to turn around and convince the people that Marius does not care about their well-being and to vote to have him exiled from Rome.

So who is to blame for Marius’s fall? Is it the people, or is it himself? I believe that both sides certainly play a part in it. The starving commoners would probably be unhappy no matter what as long as there is a food shortage, but Marius overthrow is absolutely due to his own actions. He choose to add fuel to the fire rather than attempt to contain it and that is what ultimately led to the people changing their minds about his suitableness as consul and to have him thrown out of the city. The commoners were clearly already unhappy with how things were being run and (while they way they were being handled was really the only option), Marius’s arrogance and insults to the commoners were what sealed his fate.

In a society where the ruling class is necessarily ‘better’ than the laboring classes, a tension between the two is inevitably present. Marius, however, strained the already obvious tension by behaving in a way that had no benefit in any way. If Marius truly believes the commoners to be below him and to be less intelligent and privy to political matters, then how can he rightly expect them to be grateful for his service to the city? He instead acts in a way that rests on the premise that the commoners are truly aware of what would happen if there were nobody to protect the city, which they clearly are not. Perhaps a different outlook on the commoners along with alternative behavior choices would have kept Marius from being exiled in the first place.

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Russian farmer takes on corrupt officials

A Russian man, Eduard Mochalov, has began a new career as a journalist investigating government corruption in his province of Chuvashia. Mochalov spent 8 months in jail under what he claims to be false charges after he tried to have the people who stole his cattle and pigs from his farm, brought to justice. While serving time, his farm fell into disrepair and he was forced to sell nearly everything.

In a region where the "law is selectively used to protect the powerful and crack down on critics", Mochalov has started writing and publishing a free newspaper called Vzyatka in which he calls out corrupt authority figures who use their power for their own gain.

According to the Levada Center, an independent polling agency in the area, "Twenty-nine percent of Russians believe that civil servants only care about using public funds to enrich themselves, a more than nine-fold increase since Putin took power in 2000."

Because of the type of press Mochalov releases, he faces violent reprisal from the very corrupt figures he hopes to stop. However, Mochalov will not be deterred from his cause due to the personal hardships he has faced because of the corrupt leaders who made it impossible for him to settle the matters concerning his farm the legal way.

It started out as a story about the injustice done to Mochalov and turns into one about a hero who willingly risks what little he has left (and his freedom) to help bring down the corrupt leaders who threaten to destroy others lives, just as they destroyed his.

#inthenews

Maryknoll priest Roy Bourgeois expelled over support for women’s ordination

An article posted on the Washington Tribune's "On Faith" section reports that Rev. Roy Bourgeois has been officially dismissed from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers as well as his priesthood after 40 years of service. Bourgeois is being dismissed over his support for ordaining women.

Bourgeois, who participated in the 2008 ordination rite in Lexington, Ky., for Janice Sevre-Duszynska, was excommunicated and has since been battling the Catholic authorities over women's ordination rites. Bourgeois commented for a statement which appeared on the Women's Ordination Conference website, “The Vatican and Maryknoll can dismiss me, but they cannot dismiss the issue of gender equality in the Catholic Church. The demand for gender equality is rooted in justice and dignity and will not go away.”

I think Bourgeois' has touched on a very real case of injustice. In a world where gender equality has made great strides, it still surprises me that certain organizations, like the Catholic church, are so fundamentally opposed to it. I believe it is inevitable that the Catholic church will have to change its stance on women's ordination rites or face serious backlash, which it already has. Bourgeois has realized an injustice and taken action to help correct it, and despite what the Catholic church may think, he is just in doing so.

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Thousands rally in Ireland after woman denied abortion dies

The Chicago Tribune reported today on a protest rally attended by thousands outside Ireland's parliament on Wednesday. The protesters gathered to express their outrage at the country's strict abortion laws which led to the death of 31 year old Savita Halappanavar after she was denied an abortion and died a week later of septicemia a week after miscarrying.Halappanavar was denied an abortion, even with her own life at risk, because a fetal heart beat was still detectable

"At least 2,000 people gathered for a candle-lit vigil to demand that the government legislate to close a legal loophole that leaves it unclear when the threat to the life of a pregnant woman provides legal justification for an abortion."

One protester, 33 year old Emer McNally, who is 6 months pregnant, said, "My reaction was outrage. Shame that this happened in my country, It's scary to think that medical treatment was denied."

While abortion remains controversial in many countries, I think Ireland's abortion laws are unjust if they deny a pregnant woman the right to abort a pregnancy when her own life is in danger. Not only did her pregnancy end in a miscarriage anyway, but Halappanavar lost her life as well, something that could have been prevented if she had not been denied the abortion.

#inthenews

Judge Suspended in Video Beating Returns to Bench

An article in the Lincoln Journal Star this week reports that Texas Judge William Adams, who was suspended a year ago after a video that showed him beating his teenage daughter went viral, will be reinstated this week.

The video shows, "Adams' older daughter, Hillary Adams, uploaded the 2004 video to YouTube just over a year ago. The video shows William Adams repeatedly whipping his then-16-year-old daughter with a belt for illegally downloading music.The nearly eight-minute video viewed millions of times shows the judge lashing Hillary in the legs more than a dozen times and growing increasingly irate while she screams and refuses to turn over on a bed to be beaten."

Adams' ex-wife has argued that Judge Adams is unfit to sit on the county bench. While he will be allowed back on the bench, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services refuses to present Judge Adams with cases involving violence against children.

The question is obviously, is it just that Judge Adams, who exhibited a clear act of child abuse, be allowed to return to the bench? Can his judgement be trusted and is he mentally fit to preside over cases? The article reports that he was on paid leave, but gives no information on whether he was required to undergo any psychological evaluation or treatment.

#inthenews

Challenging the traditional concept of 'hero'

A movie review of "Flight" (for all you Denzel Washington fans in class) by Roger Moore captures the dissonance created by the movie's plot. Whip Whitaker, played by Denzel, is drug using pilot who successfully lands his plane when disaster strikes mid-air. However, while he is a hero for keeping casualties at a minimum, did his morning drug and alcohol use cause the plane to go down in the first place? It asks the tough question, "Because what do you do with a case like this, a self-destructive alcoholic whose condition may have contributed to a tragedy -- or mostly averted it?"

Director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter John Gatins are credited with coming up with a, "morally ambiguous morality tale that dares to suggest that maybe this guy’s condition was a good thing — in this case."

While the movie isn't based on real life events, it still raises and interesting question. How will audiences view Whip Whitaker? Can he truly be called a hero because he is a drug/alcohol abuser and possibly caused the imminent crash himself? Or is he a hero because his cocaine use allowed him to stay calm and cool during a panic inducing moment? Moore has his doubts because while it is a thriller, "It also straddles that moral fence a little too confidently for its own good."

#inthenews

Injustice in Oklahoma

A recent article in the Lincoln Journal Star reports on the Tuesday execution of an Oklahoma man, Gary Thomas Allen, who shot and killed his fiancé in 1986.

“A judge halted Allen's original May 19, 2005, execution after a psychological examination at the prison indicated Allen had mental problems. Three years later, a jury rejected Allen's claims he should not be put to death.”

In 2005, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted that Allen’s sentence be converted to life without parole but was denied by Gov. Mary Fallin denied it.

It is reported that in his final moments, Allen appeared confused and mentioned the presidential election while slurring his speech.

We talked briefly, off subject, about the death penalty and whether or not it was just. Reading an article like this, when the Constitution clearly states that it is unconstitutional to execute those who are insane/mentally incompetent, makes me question Gov. Fallin’s decision. In my opinion, it is clearly unjust.

#inthenews

The Republic in Antigone

At the end of today’s class discussion, Dr. Kohen asked us to consider if we thought Antigone was a hero. There was some debate if, looking at Antigone from a culturally removed perspective, she should be considered a fanatic or a martyr. If we considered her a fanatic, like many probably viewed her, could she still be considered a hero?

Antigone faced the dilemma of choosing to either abide by or defy the laws of the king (in place for the betterment of society-according to Creon, anyway) in comparison to what the gods would have demanded of her. She chooses to confront her own morality, to die to uphold the morals of the gods, and to give Polynices proper burial rights. I think then, the question of if she is a hero is an easy one then; she is absolutely one.

Antigone faced the same type of problem that Socrates sets up in the Republic given that a philosopher-king were unattainable. If a true philosopher-king could not be found, someone from the gold class who was most capable of ruling would take over. Socrates says that without a true philosopher-king, the alternate ruler would eventually deviate from doing what is best for the city as a whole and make compromises rather than stand on moral principle. The compromises would lead to the city’s deterioration from an aristocracy down the ladder where it would eventually become a tyranny.

While I am certainly not arguing that Antigone is a philosopher, I am asserting that her choice to not compromise with king Creon and to instead uphold the principles of the gods is what makes her a hero. Although her actions alone do not make much difference, she represents the philosophers Socrates argues that all societies in decline need in order to keep them from declining further, while her sister, Ismene, represents those who deviate from the will of gods in order to compromise with the will of others.

Creon then, makes an even more harmful decision by deciding to kill Antigone on the basis that she is not useful in helping to uphold his decision to deny Polynices his burial rights. Creon, like the citizens of Athens, does not want philosophers (Antigone) because they question the law. By killing Antigone, Creon has removed the force in place to keep the city from declining. We know that because Creon killed Antigone, his own son and then wife also kill themselves, causing him great pain. The city itself, for supporting Creon’s decision also suffers.

I argue that we should accept Antigone as a martyr and not as a fanatic and that because her actions parallel the story that Socrates tells us in the Republic, there should be no doubt that she was a hero. Regardless of how we view her in our culture, and even regardless of how she was viewed in her own, she made the choice to uphold the gods principles rather than compromise to comply with Creon’s laws, and that is the just thing to do.

#pols383

Communist Vietnam (kind of) defines good music and justice

An article found in the Lincoln Journal Star focuses on the backlash the Vietnamese government has received after jailing two popular musicians. The musicians, Vo Minh Tri and Tran Vu Anh Binh, produce songs criticizing the government for not taking a more aggressive position against China in the ongoing territorial claims of the resources of the South China Sea. They also used their music to show support to imprisoned blogger Ngyuen Van Hai and to encourage peaceful protests. The Communist government of Vietnam sentenced the pair to four to six years in prison for spreading propaganda which challenges the countries one-party government. U.S. Embassy spokesman, Christopher Hodges, commented, "This conviction is the latest in a series of moves by Vietnamese authorities to restrict freedom of expression. The Vietnamese government should release this musician, all prisoners of conscience and adhere to its international obligations immediately".

This story addresses two of the issues we have been talking about in class recently. First, it again poses the question of what is good music? When it comes to message and meaning, the Vietnamese authorities clearly do not agree that Binh and Tri's music falls under the good category. While we all agreed that good lyrics are necessary for good music, the Vietnamese government obviously does not think that lyrics about peaceful protests and political ideas earn that title. They clearly label them 'bad'. It also poses the question of how a government should impose justice on its people. Is the government unjust for keeping such harsh restrictions on freedom and expression? Or are the musicians unjust for breaking the law, whether the law itself is just or not?

#inthenews

kayabrams-deactivated20130114

First of all, think about what makes a football player good. He is fast, strong, aggressive, powerful, the star. On the other hand, think about what makes a cheerleader good. She is cute and can wave. Oh, and most important, she knows when to be quiet, turn around, and watch submissively as the real show- the men on the field- take center stage. In an ironic twist of fate, the term cheerleader can be applied pejoratively to its original subject. For cheerleaders are, at bottom, cheerleaders.

theartofthestate

It’s a nice observation to point out how the institution of cheerleading reflects traditional gender roles in our society. It isn’t clear to me however, that abolishing cheerleading is a way to go about changing the culture of gender role pigeonholing that is so rampant in our society.

I think in this case, we need to do more to eliminate the prejudices towards each activity. Through Title 9 we were able to create an athletic climate conducive to female participation, but we see the choice of sports limited to those deemed “women’s” sports. We ought to take this idea to the next step to further break down the gender typecasting in our society.

Incentivize women’s leagues in football. Encourage more participation by males, or attempt to influence societal acceptance of males in cheerleading. It isn’t that there is anything wrong with the practice of cheerleading, but a problem with how we conceive of it.

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Clearly they have never seen cheerleading like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzl2ESWYT2s

'Good' Music

5 bands/groups/artists I consider to be 'good' music in no particular order

1. One Republic

Specifically their album "Waking Up". the song "Everybody Loves Me" is one of my favorites to listen to when I need a pick-me-up. The song is obviously narcissistic and self-centered but it never fails to put me in a better mood. Also, an awesome beat.

2. Neon Trees

"Animal" and "Everybody Talks" (currently a hit on local stations) are my two favorites from them. The lyrics honestly don't make much sense but they are catchy and put me in a more upbeat mood. I could listen to Tyler Glenn sing all day.

3. Adele

This is some of that depressing girl music. Practically all her songs are about having a broken heart and who HASN'T been through that before? She's easy to relate to and her voice is undeniably beautiful (even though "Set fire to the rain" is a horrible song). She could sing A Capella and still be amazing.

4. MGMT

What got me hooked on them was their song "Kids". The song has a message, (people who act like kids and are greedy will ruin our world) even with minimal lyrics. There songs make me want to dance or at the very least bob my head and tap my foot along.

5. Bob Dylan

I like Dylan's music because my Mom loved him and hearing him makes me think of car rides as a kid with her. I think I knew a lot of his songs by heart by the time I was 8. I've never really picked apart why I like Bob Dylan, it's just a sentimental thing that I grew up knowing. It's nostalgic for me.

Looking through this list, I note that the music I would consider to be good has a lot to do with how it affects my mood. I believe that music should have an impact on people, in my case it is that it impacts and actively changes how I am feeling-often for the better. I also mostly like music that makes me want to dance. If a song can inspire in me the urge to get up and jump around, then it is worth listening to.

How heroes are thanked in Illinois

An article in the Chicago Tribune makes an important case when it covered the death of Russell Sonneveld, a former cop in Illinois who lost his battle to cancer earlier this week. Most of us, myself included, probably don't know who Sonneveld was. He and his partner Ed Hammer were the two policeman who investigated Gov. George Ryan's bribes for license crimes which ultimately led to a crash that claimed the lives of Janet and and Scott Willis' six children. While their investigation eventually led to Gov. Ryan ending up in jail, the problem lies in the fact that the media gives attention to the person responsible for creating scandal not those (the true heroes) who are responsible for uncovering it.

Hammer said of Sonneveld, "When Russ passed away this week, what I was thinking … so when George Ryan's released, when he goes to the halfway house or when he's totally released in July, you know all the (TV) channels and all the newspapers are going to be covering it. And here Russ passes away from this horrible disease, kind of as an unknown."

Not only does Sonneveld's death go mostly unnoticed by the media, but he also died having lost a great deal due to his part in uncovering the scandal. Before Gov. Ryan was sentenced, he made sure Sonneveld and Hammer were both demoted and publicly slandered.

I think the author of the article, John Kass, makes an excellent point. I hear people complain all the time about how the only thing on the news or in the papers are terrible and negative things. Why is it that our media, while I am just as likely to be interested in positive media coverage, chooses to focus on the bad? Sonneveld's story also reminds me of Glaucon's 'perfectly just man'. While Sonneveld was probably not 'perfect', he is an example of someone who perused the just cause and got none of the rewards. While Gov. Ryan, who acted unjustly (and illegally) was still elected to office that year and will be happily greeted by many upon his release from jail.

#inthenews

The premise in question

After discussing Plato’s Crito in class, one thing about Socrates’ argument for not escaping has stuck with me. His want to not do injustice to Athens and the Athenians rests on the premise that he cannot escape and save his life without breaking the city’s law, which would equate to breaking all their laws. He argues that the city cannot endure if the citizens don’t obey laws that they oppose. However, I disagree with this. I would even go as far to argue that citizen disobedience to laws they oppose is what compels a country’s lawmakers to change and adapt as time and culture change.

Socrates assertion that breaking one law equates to breaking all the laws is a little extreme, in my opinion. While I may have broken the laws governing underage drinking because I opposed them, that does not mean I am likely to break the law and say, murder someone just because I want to. Like we talked about in class today, when faced with a law I do not want to obey, I mentally weigh the benefits of doing as I please versus the consequences if I were to be caught and then act. Disobeying one law I oppose does not ignite in me the desire to break all laws, it just ignites in me the desire to show my opposition in the hopes that that law will be changed.

As I mentioned previously, this kind of disobedience due to opposition can even be beneficial to a society. If many people are disobeying a law they oppose, perhaps that law should be reexamined or abolished in order to better serve the public. A society that has the ability to recognize when a law is being disobeyed due to opposition also has the ability to endure the incurring change. Citizen’s do not need to treat a societies laws like a steel chain, where when one link is broken the entire structure is broken and cannot endure, but rather like a brick wall, where the entire structure can endure even when one brick is missing.

However, I recognize that often times it is only a few who disobey in opposition to a law and that the likelihood that a law be changed simply because a small group doesn’t agree is not very high. While there may be opposition, the law is probably still followed by and accepted by many others. Either way, the disobedience and opposition of the few doesn’t mean they will suddenly disobey all other laws and cause the entire societal structure to crumble.

While I know that Socrates’ overall argument was more complex than this, I believe this premise is unsound and calls into question the basis of the argument itself. If Socrates could save his own life by breaking the law and not equivocally break all the laws, causing injustice, than perhaps he wouldn’t be doing harm to Athens and the Athenians on the larger scale he believes he is. In essence, sometimes disobedience and opposition can lead to reform that creates an enduring society rather than causing it to crumble equaling injustice.

#pols383

Is wiretapping still justifiable?

An article on CNN’s website earlier this month centers around a recent U.S. Supreme Court Case regarding the Justice Department’s ability to “stop suits against telecommunications companies for participating in wiretaps of potential terrorists.”

The question of the Constitutionality of the federal government’s ability to use electronic surveillance to keep tabs on potential terrorists has been an issue since 9/11. The article states, “…Verizon Communications, Sprint Nextel, and AT&T were accused of privacy violations by assisting the government with intelligence gathering following the hijack attacks on New York and Washington.”

While in office, President Bush secretly suspended the requirement that a federal judge must sign any search warrants that would allow the government to monitor phone calls and e-mails originating in a foreign country in the interest of national security.

The question is whether it is just that our federal government be allowed to block suits that may infringe upon the constitutional rights of our country’s citizens. While it may have been in the best interest of our national security to monitor electronic activity immediately after 9/11, the question of if the federal governments right to continue this practice, uninhibited, this many years later is questionable.

#inthenews

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