Blog Assignment #5: What Johnny Shouldn't Read

The litigants in the Mozert case argued that the textbooks their children used were not "balanced" when it came to the presentation of controversial topics. What specific complaints did they have about the Holt reader? Were their concerns reasonable for textbooks used in a public school? Why or why not?

The parents, who described themselves as fundamentalist Christians specific complaints about the Holt reader were that only God can make decisions. They argued that the United States is the greatest nation on earth and there should be no question about its history, policies, and founders because this offends God. They believe that international cooperation could lead to a “one-world government” and this can be based on religious tolerance, which for the protesters it is unthinkable. They also didn’t want their children to be reading books about racism and social injustice because they were convinced that America offers equal opportunity for all. They did not want their children reading these types of books because they would have another view of America. Parents also did not want their children reading books about adolescents struggling because to them adolescents are supposed to obey without questioning their parents.
The protesters’ argued, “the purpose of education is not to ask what children think about moral issues, but to teach right and wrong – that is, rules that apply in every circumstance” (40). It seems that these parents want “robots” that do what they are told without questioning anything. It seems they forget that their children are human beings who have the choice to imagine and think critically about issues that surrounds them. Their concerns were not reasonable for textbooks used in a public school because children need to have the ability to think critically in order to make decisions as they are growing up. They cannot have all their decision made because of their religion; that’s what sometimes makes “close-minded” people. People need to step out of the box in order to see the whole picture!!!!!

Assignment #4

What do I want to write about? This was the question that I ask myself when I started writing. There are so many things to talk about and it is amazing that nothing comes up. It took me quite a while before sitting down and get my thoughts together.

Children are my concern and they have being as long as I can remember. We live in a country where fortunally the majority of children have food and an education. But what about the children around the world. Those who don't have a shelter, food, or an education. We focused only on our "needs and wants" that we forget that there is a world around us. Yes, it is easy to just close our eyes and pretend that we are blind. Why? because it is not our business. And this is how we want to make a difference???

I have always argued: If we want to make this place a better world to live in, then why doesn't the government start by doing something and really help other countries without waiting for something in return? The United States has become what we may consider an "empire". We need to keep in mind from the past that every empire has fallen.

For example, the war in Iraq. Is it ever going to end? The United States spends more money on its military than all the nations combined. The war is not a necessity and the money is just going down the drain. The money can be use for the children around the world who are in need of medical attention, food, shelter, and an education. But at the end, this are just my thoughts!!!!

Assignment #3

How does this image represent John Stuart Mill's ideas of the dangers of popular opinion and Tyranny of the Majority? Use one example from contemporary American society to support your point.

The image represent John Stuart Mill's ideas of the dangers of popular opinion and Tyranny of the Majority in the way that everyone follows one another. We believe what we hear and see in the media, newspaper, radio, etc. We also have the tendency to believe what people in power say and think and we believe he/she is right just because he/she is in a powerful position. The sad thing is that we just don't listen to what powerful people have to say, but sometimes even to celebrities who really don't have anything intelligent to say, but since they have money, we follow the crowd. We do it without asking ourselves the why, but because we see everyone following. An example is when people elect Presidents, the majority of times people don't research what the people running for President are true to what they are saying. Sometimes just because others are voting for one, the rest of people do the say thing as well. It is important to research and educate ourselves in order to make good choices or at least do our best to make them. We need to speak up and let others know how we think about particular subjects.

Blog Assignment #2

According to Milton, why or how does truth become a "heresy" if a person only believes things because his pastor or his government tells him so?

According to Milton, truth becomes a “heresy” if a person only believes things because his pastor or his government tells him so. As Milton states “There is not any burden that som would gladlier post off to another, then the charge and care of their Religion”. Unfortunally, we still live in a society where the majority of people agree with what their Religion or government have to say and there is no other truth but that one that it has being said, even when knowing it is wrong. Just because people see some one in power (in this case a pastor or a government official), they have the tendency of believing everything that they say is true without asking themselves questions about the issue.

Why does Milton find that dangerous?

Milton find that dangerous because people are not thinking for themselves but rather they are given the authority to some other human being who makes mistakes as every one else. It doesn’t matter if he/she is a priest or a government official; he/she is still someone who does not have the right answers all the time. People need to be open minded and they have to realize that there are many possibilities out there and just because someone tells you something is wrong, you first have to figure it for yourself.

Do you agree with Milton? Why?

I agree with Milton because we cannot allow church or government to tell us every minute what is right and what is wrong. We need to think critically, but for that we need to be open minded about everything that surrounds us. Life is about having equilibrium in the things that one does and if church or government have the absolute balance in everything, then we do not have the freedom to choose.