On the subject of the social challenges, Juvenal's Satire III gives some enlightening parallel of this particular social challenge of today to that of Rome. It hints that Rome also struggled with this ignorance and bias within their society as well. In focusing on this pattern of the lack of responsibility, Juvenal's Satire III reveals that there was struggle within the social classes and "keeping up with the Jones'" and getting ahead or being bigger and better on the social ladder.
Feeling entitled not only is destructive but brings a whole new level of pride in and essential, we could add, destroys whatever level of patience we may possess because it is swallowed up in entitlement. To that Juvenal's Satire III says, "What man wins favour nowadays unless he be an accomplice-one whose soul seethes and burns with secrets that must never be disclosed? No one who has imparted to you an innocent secret thinks he owes you anything, or will ever bestow on you a favour;"
A lack of responsibility has rippled through society. It did not originate, however it may have escalated, in our day. There was also a major social challenge for the Romans concerning this responsibility cop-out. Taking responsibility not only implies leadership, but it often can quietly, more often powerfully be taken in extreme opposites. This lack of responsibility is starkly contrasted when it says, "one who by a defect of his race never shares a friend, but keeps him all to himself. For when once he has dropped into a facile ear one particle of his own and his country's poison, I am thrust from the door, and all my long years of servitude go for nothing. Nowhere is it so easy as at Rome to throw an old client overboard." Any responsibility there? Of course not! One falls into his own isolated state, thus refusing to accept the happenings of "now" and dwell in sadness. But as you do this you are in some ways throwing others overboard as it says. Its incredible how this rippling responsibility as we see in Rome has not recovered itself and is still a social challenge of today's society.
Another struggle was it exposes Rome's vanity and attraction to materialism. Setting the scene, it talks about how in Rome there was a bit of a high-maintenance spirit that was contagious and, as implied, was esteemed as a social norm saying, "--the first question asked will be as to his wealth, the last about his character: 'how many slaves does he keep?' 'how many acres does he own?' 'how big and how many are his dessert dishes?' A man's word is believed in exact proportion to the amount of cash which he keeps in his strong-box."
How crazy! The opinion of a man and his credibility depended on how much money he made and his success? The screaming priority of class and cash before character is in fact still common in our society today. Do we discern the credibility of society and man's word based on his income and financial strategy and/or stability?
Our social challenge of technology differs from all of these and is unique to our society. Centuries ago, the Romans-- though a developed civilization-- did not have iPhones and iPads to leech onto and disconnect themselves from the real world. Although it is a bit ironic, their disconnection from technology may have completely eliminated this as a social challenge or even a potential problem.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Challenges in society
Being a citizen of a society there are the inevitable social challenges that come as part of the societal package.Though a list of the social challenges facing the United States today could go on for pages, I will only give a few of those that I find particularly interesting.
1) The lack of responsibility.
Responsibility is defined as the state or fact of having a duty to deal, or being accountable or to blame for something. This also includes the opportunity to act independently.
I particularly want to address my personal observation and opinion of parents in their lack of responsibility and thinking that their children can do no wrong. Your teenage backs your truck into another car in the parking lot and naturally, that Toyota doesn't know how to park because he's sticking out too far. Not your 16 year old's fault, right?
Consider this clever cartoon. How true is it? Even though I am a "ripe and aging" college student, I remember vividly the days of grade school and parent teacher conferences. Back in my day I had my shining moment of accountability to my parents as we discussed parent teacher conferences over dinner. "Your teacher says you talk too much." "She said you're slow to start on your classwork." "You're constant chattering is distracting to the other students." True. True. True. Whoops. Of course, none of that is my teacher's fault. She wasn't out to get me nor look for every opportune moment to mark me down.
I'm not at all saying that kids are let off the hook either. There seems to be a rising trend among teenagers and emerging adults. This terrifying trend is very little respect, if not an entire loss, for authority.
How many new, young college students today dismiss and even argue with professors concerning their grades, attendance, or performance. So my alarm didn't go off [I hit snooze twice] and booked it to class [I walked my normal pace] and came into class five minutes late [eight or ten minutes late] and my horrible, mean professor wouldn't let me make up the quiz [always given at the beginning of class] after his lecture. He's so unfair. I'm going to write him a terrible teacher review.
Seriously???
2) The matter of technology.
When I think about how far we've come with computers, internet, communication, music, and technology my head starts to hurt. Its incredible the advances we have made in technology. As benefactors of these we become caught up and so easily become blind to a social challenge that has subtly made its arrival. I feel its safe to say that the most common form of communication today is texting. Email and phone calls are still convenient ways for us to stay in contact with one another.
Maybe those around us really do deserve our attention and not just our presence. Our society's dependency obsession with our phones is creating communication barriers. We spend seconds, minutes, and some hours upon hours on our smartphones every single day. Are the people we love deserving of our time? Are the alerts and notifications of our technology so important and urgent that we are willing to isolate ourselves and sacrifice one-on-one interaction?
3) The lost virtue of patience.
Fast lane, fast food, fast cash, fast delivery. We want it all and we want it NOW. In today's society we feel deserving of having the things we want with the snap of our fingers. As a well-developed country we feel privileged and entitled. A challenge that continues to consume our society is our impatience and our constant demand for bigger, better, faster, stronger. We become annoyed when our web page takes more than five seconds to refresh and reload. Grocery stores offer fast checkouts and even car mechanics promise quick oil changes. Even the most minor amount of traffic flips our world upside down.
4) The obsession with sex.
Are we aware that there is a new film debuting from Hollywood this summer called "Sex Tape"? Any guesses on the plot line or the movie rating? It shouldn't be to hard to guess. And the surprising thing is that it's not the first of it's kind. Other blockbusters that have been released years before include "Friends With Benefits" and "Knocked Up", just to name a few. An advertised new t.v. series is called "Dating Naked". But this grotesque obsession doesn't end with just movies and television. It can be found in everywhere in music, books, and even our verbal communication.There are crude phrases like "party in my pants" that are too commonly used and are advertising sex as a sport. Jokes are made in the work place, among friends, and in nearly every possible public event.
What is making this a social challenge is that it has drastically exploded in the past few years and has gone from something terrible to something bad. Something bad to something dismissed . Something dismissed to something accepted. And something accepted to something embraced and advocated.
What's comforting is to see that there are still those who are "old school" and hold on to morals and values. In this sex crazed society, solid role models like the above (one of my favorite quotes from our beloved Hermione) give us the fresh breath of good, clean air that we so desperately need in this overflowing ocean of sensuality and sexuality.
1) The lack of responsibility.
Responsibility is defined as the state or fact of having a duty to deal, or being accountable or to blame for something. This also includes the opportunity to act independently.
I particularly want to address my personal observation and opinion of parents in their lack of responsibility and thinking that their children can do no wrong. Your teenage backs your truck into another car in the parking lot and naturally, that Toyota doesn't know how to park because he's sticking out too far. Not your 16 year old's fault, right?
I'm not at all saying that kids are let off the hook either. There seems to be a rising trend among teenagers and emerging adults. This terrifying trend is very little respect, if not an entire loss, for authority.
How many new, young college students today dismiss and even argue with professors concerning their grades, attendance, or performance. So my alarm didn't go off [I hit snooze twice] and booked it to class [I walked my normal pace] and came into class five minutes late [eight or ten minutes late] and my horrible, mean professor wouldn't let me make up the quiz [always given at the beginning of class] after his lecture. He's so unfair. I'm going to write him a terrible teacher review.
Seriously???
2) The matter of technology.
When I think about how far we've come with computers, internet, communication, music, and technology my head starts to hurt. Its incredible the advances we have made in technology. As benefactors of these we become caught up and so easily become blind to a social challenge that has subtly made its arrival. I feel its safe to say that the most common form of communication today is texting. Email and phone calls are still convenient ways for us to stay in contact with one another.
3) The lost virtue of patience.
Fast lane, fast food, fast cash, fast delivery. We want it all and we want it NOW. In today's society we feel deserving of having the things we want with the snap of our fingers. As a well-developed country we feel privileged and entitled. A challenge that continues to consume our society is our impatience and our constant demand for bigger, better, faster, stronger. We become annoyed when our web page takes more than five seconds to refresh and reload. Grocery stores offer fast checkouts and even car mechanics promise quick oil changes. Even the most minor amount of traffic flips our world upside down.
4) The obsession with sex.
Are we aware that there is a new film debuting from Hollywood this summer called "Sex Tape"? Any guesses on the plot line or the movie rating? It shouldn't be to hard to guess. And the surprising thing is that it's not the first of it's kind. Other blockbusters that have been released years before include "Friends With Benefits" and "Knocked Up", just to name a few. An advertised new t.v. series is called "Dating Naked". But this grotesque obsession doesn't end with just movies and television. It can be found in everywhere in music, books, and even our verbal communication.There are crude phrases like "party in my pants" that are too commonly used and are advertising sex as a sport. Jokes are made in the work place, among friends, and in nearly every possible public event.
What is making this a social challenge is that it has drastically exploded in the past few years and has gone from something terrible to something bad. Something bad to something dismissed . Something dismissed to something accepted. And something accepted to something embraced and advocated.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Greeks, gods, glory and genders.
The study of culture and society is intriguing and somehow causes me to ponder more and be more observant. In studying classical traditions, particularly Ancient Greece and reading exerts from Greek Mythology has surfaced interesting and revealing similarities and differences in gender roles. And if that isn't enough to interest you, allow me to get a little nerdy and go even further into analysis and discuss Ancient Greek gender roles to those of today.
What is it that drives people, both men and women alike? Power? Money? Advancements? Glory? These are certainly applicable to Ancient Greece and its society. Think about it. The common theme found in Greek history is that of conquering, winning, and basking in glory and power. Nearly every scene is set in war with gods and heroes fighting because of hubris, or pride and putting yourself up against the gods.
In today's society, what is all the power, glory, and money worth if there isn't someone to enjoy it with? Wouldn't it make it all last longer? Would it make it all worth it? This brings other characters into play and analysis. Most often than not, these characters are a family. Common in today's society there is a mother, father, and children. Each gender still has a role. But how have these roles changed since Ancient Greece?
In Greek history, gender roles were clear and well defined. The men went to war, advanced in politics, got an education, had control and were responsible for the protection of their families. Women, were often oppressed and focused on domestic labor and caring for the children and the home. Sexual behaviors played a very big part of gender roles as well. Adultery among men was common, trendy, popular, and socially seen and classified as masculine. In stark contrast, women were expected to stay chaste and clean. Anything less tagged and labeled them as dirty and promiscuous.
Gender roles in society today have not drastically changed of those in times of Ancient Greece.
Modern revelation has taught us that each of us have a role to play within our respective gender. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states that "gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Gender is defining and in fact divine and sacred and as such, our role within our gender is too.
Men are responsible for the protection of their families. They labor to provide. Women are mainly to care for, love, and teach their children. Men and women are to work together in unity, not in dominance and competition, to create living circumstances where peace, love, respect, and work can glorify and bring honor to the family. In today's society we can have both glory, pride, success, and honor as well as family, love, and equality.
Famous for his Greek literature, Homer seems to have a pattern of forcing his characters to choose between family life, loved ones and kleos, honor, glory, and reputation. In Homer's The Iliad, Hector for example leaves to war, risking that he will most likely die and his son will become an orphan, in order to win glory to his father. Paris, as an opposing example, decides to stay with Helen of Troy instead of leaving to war. In his other works, particularly The Odyssey, Homer shows that Odysseus did not want to leave behind his family for war, but when forced to do so, used it as motivation to keep himself alive and faithful to his wife Penelope throughout his long journey. Odysseus sees Penelope as his equal, as a companion, and didn't dominate her as did so many at that time in accordance to gender roles. He denies Calypso and her attempts as seduction and remains faithful to his waiting Penelope.
There could be paragraphs and pages of examples of gender roles and the relevancy and connections they have today and in ancient times. But there are some things that don't change throughout time; men and women are created differently and ultimately have different but complimenting roles and responsibilities.
What is it that drives people, both men and women alike? Power? Money? Advancements? Glory? These are certainly applicable to Ancient Greece and its society. Think about it. The common theme found in Greek history is that of conquering, winning, and basking in glory and power. Nearly every scene is set in war with gods and heroes fighting because of hubris, or pride and putting yourself up against the gods.
In today's society, what is all the power, glory, and money worth if there isn't someone to enjoy it with? Wouldn't it make it all last longer? Would it make it all worth it? This brings other characters into play and analysis. Most often than not, these characters are a family. Common in today's society there is a mother, father, and children. Each gender still has a role. But how have these roles changed since Ancient Greece?
In Greek history, gender roles were clear and well defined. The men went to war, advanced in politics, got an education, had control and were responsible for the protection of their families. Women, were often oppressed and focused on domestic labor and caring for the children and the home. Sexual behaviors played a very big part of gender roles as well. Adultery among men was common, trendy, popular, and socially seen and classified as masculine. In stark contrast, women were expected to stay chaste and clean. Anything less tagged and labeled them as dirty and promiscuous.
Gender roles in society today have not drastically changed of those in times of Ancient Greece.
Modern revelation has taught us that each of us have a role to play within our respective gender. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states that "gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Gender is defining and in fact divine and sacred and as such, our role within our gender is too.
Men are responsible for the protection of their families. They labor to provide. Women are mainly to care for, love, and teach their children. Men and women are to work together in unity, not in dominance and competition, to create living circumstances where peace, love, respect, and work can glorify and bring honor to the family. In today's society we can have both glory, pride, success, and honor as well as family, love, and equality.
Famous for his Greek literature, Homer seems to have a pattern of forcing his characters to choose between family life, loved ones and kleos, honor, glory, and reputation. In Homer's The Iliad, Hector for example leaves to war, risking that he will most likely die and his son will become an orphan, in order to win glory to his father. Paris, as an opposing example, decides to stay with Helen of Troy instead of leaving to war. In his other works, particularly The Odyssey, Homer shows that Odysseus did not want to leave behind his family for war, but when forced to do so, used it as motivation to keep himself alive and faithful to his wife Penelope throughout his long journey. Odysseus sees Penelope as his equal, as a companion, and didn't dominate her as did so many at that time in accordance to gender roles. He denies Calypso and her attempts as seduction and remains faithful to his waiting Penelope.
There could be paragraphs and pages of examples of gender roles and the relevancy and connections they have today and in ancient times. But there are some things that don't change throughout time; men and women are created differently and ultimately have different but complimenting roles and responsibilities.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Me, Myself, and I in Four Epithets
So tell me about yourself.
The first things I think about when someone says that to me usually aren't about my age, my schooling, or my placement in my family tree. Although those are the generic answers I usually give, there are a few specific things that I really want to share when I tell about myself. And that is because they do it so well. So here they are. The four epithets of me, myself, and I.
The first things I think about when someone says that to me usually aren't about my age, my schooling, or my placement in my family tree. Although those are the generic answers I usually give, there are a few specific things that I really want to share when I tell about myself. And that is because they do it so well. So here they are. The four epithets of me, myself, and I.
Serious About Soccer
There are 90 specific minutes that I take very seriously and one of my favorite sayings is "Life's a game. But soccer is serious." I dance on the line bordering passionate and obsessed. I get such a rush stepping on the pitch and starting a game. There is such a mental challenge and strategy in soccer and every time I'm playing the gears in my head are moving 100 miles per hour. The adrenaline rush I felt my first time skydiving pales in comparison to what I feel when I hear that unforgettable, sharp 'snap!' as the ball sinks into the corner of the net. It echos in my ears and that rush seems to last for an eternity. But what I love most is what this sport has taught me and how it has shaped me into the person I am today. Soccer has taught me that there is always more than one player involved. It's never a one-man show. Everything I do effects another whether we are both aware of it or not. Be a team player. Be alert. Think fast. Protect the ball. I've learned how to move and be flexible, not so much literally as figuratively. Directions change so quickly, without notice, and without stopping. I've learned how to accept and embrace those changes.
I love meeting new people. I love those moments of first getting to know someone and going through the questions you ask when you're on a blind date. Usually something like this:
"Where are you from?"
"Provo."
"What is your favorite food?"
"Lasagna."
"What kind of music do you like?"
"Alternative, R&B"
"What do you like to do?"
"Play soccer."
"What is your favorite holiday?"
"July 4th."
"Cool. Wait, what?..."
The looks I get are great. And they are always followed with "Seriously? More than Christmas?".
Its true. I love Independence Day more than any other day of the year. Its hard for me to pin-point any one reason to love it. We celebrate it in the summer sun, barbecuing, playing at the pool, eating popsicles, and going to parades. I have every verse of The Star Spangled Banner memorized. Chills run through my whole body when I hear the deep bang of fireworks. Parade sirens make my heart beat fast as they escort Old Glory down the streets that are lined with people wearing their patriotism. In elementary school when we would learn and sing patriotic songs, I was without doubt "that kid" that sang the loudest and the proudest. July 3rd for me, is always a sleepless night. I feel like most little children on Christmas Eve laying awake anxiously waiting for the next day. Nothing makes me stand taller than pledging my allegiance to the country that has made possible every incredible opportunity I've been given.
Love To Laugh
They say laughter is the best medicine and that is why I'm convinced that I almost never get sick. I absolutely love to laugh. One late night not too long ago I was unable to sleep. To pass the time I watched video clips on my phone of Ellen Degeneres and of Jimmy Fallon. Forgetting I had headphones in and that the rest of the sleeping house couldn't enjoy the hilarious commentary I was listening to, I started laughing out loud. Alone with headphones, I was oblivious to the fact that I was laughing twice as loud than I normally do because I couldn't hear myself. A few minutes and a lot of laughs later my mom entered my room looking at me like I had gone crazy. "Are you... okay?" she asked concerned. Between my giggles and little gasps for breath, I pointed to my phone and said, "Ellen! So! Funny!" followed by my insincere apology of "Haha! So! Sorry!" There are few things I love more than spending time with funny people and laughing until my cheeks are stiff and my abs are aching.
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