ISSUES IN SOCIAL JUSTICE (Chapter Ten)

Chapter Ten

TERRORISM

 Charles Quist-Adade, David Barry and Meghan Kenney

 

Dialectic Reading

 

What question did the text/chapter raise?	What types of terrorism are there?
How did the text answer this question?	This text described five types of terrorism: mass terror, dynastic assassination, random terror, focused random terror, and tactical terror. Mass terror refers to state terrorism, which is implemented by governments to maintain social order. Dynastic assassination targets political leaders and elite with acts violence to challenge their legitimacy. Random terror is a violent act directed at public places (such as shootings in airports and bombings in post offices) to bring attention to a problem. Focused random terror is directed toward “specific agents” (2009, p251) to bring a message to awareness. Last but not least: tactical terror has a larger plan or purpose to rule the government.
How does the answer match your own ideas and experiences?	This chapter enlightened me to the various types of terrorism, which I was completely unaware of. I never thought that terrorism would be such a complex method. However, now that I know all the different kinds of terrorism, I will be able to identify them when I read or watch the news.

 

ISSUES IN SOCIAL JUSTICE (Chapter Two)

 

Chapter Two

DISCRIMINATION FACED BY LGBT COMMUNITY

 

Carrie Buist and Andrew Verheek

 

Dialectic Reading

 

 

What question did the text/chapter raise?	What types of discrimination does the LGBT community face?
How did the text answer the question?	The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community faces numerous types of discrimination in various aspects of their daily lives. Some of which include; hate crimes, marriage rights, employment, and housing discrimination. Many states inAmericado not have any hate crime protection for the LGBT community. This community is a “target group for both physical and emotional violence based solely on their sexual orientation” (2009, p34). Furthermore, only five states in theUSrecognize same-sex marriage; those being Massachusetts,Vermont,Connecticut,MaineandIowa. The LGBT community also faces discrimination when it comes to hiring, firing, and/or promotion situations. They are also discriminated against when trying to purchase a house or rent an apartment.
How does the answer match your own ideas and experiences?	The idea that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community are discriminated against is very unnecessary. It’s hurtful to see that this community faces discrimination in so many areas of their everyday life. I believe each person has the right to choose his or her sexuality without being discriminated against.

ISSUES IN SOCIAL JUSTICE (Chapter One)

Chapter One

RELIGION AND HOMOSEXUALITY

 Frank Tridico, Jacob Armstrong and David Barry

 

Dialectic Reading

 

What question did the text/chapter raise?	Do all Christians scorn upon the idea of homosexuality?
How did the text answer the question?	The “bible clearly states that homosexuality is sinful and that God intended intimate relationships to be monogamous relationships between men and women” (2009, p11). Thus, Christian denominations have supported and legalized heterosexuality, whereas they frown upon homosexuality and see it as “sinful, immoral and worthy of condemnation” (2009, p12). However, the source illustrated two Christian ministries which are not completely against the idea of homosexuality. The first ministry being the gay-affirming ministry. They believe “that homosexuality is not contrary to Christian doctrine; that God makes and loves homosexuals just as he loves heterosexuals, and therefore homosexuality is not an abomination but acceptable in the sight of God” (2009, p14). The second being the ex-gay ministry. They believe that the “sin of homosexuality is not viewed as being any worse than other types of sin” (2009, p14). Therefore, instead of avoiding homosexuals, the ex-gay ministry concentrates on helping gays over come homosexual desires, so that “they can develop a heterosexual identity that is in line with God’s will” (2009, p14).
How does the answer match your own ideas and experiences?	The idea that homosexuals are frowned upon by religions (in this text Christianity) is quite repulsive. Why do people find it necessary to judge someone based on their sexual preferences? I believe each and every person has the right to choose their sexuality without being discriminated against.

 

GLOBAL SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

Global Sociological Imagination is a notion that our actions and inactions can have ramifications not only to our immediate terrain, Canada, but also to people on the other side of the world. Theses consequences may be positive or negative ones, they make shape your life or sabotage your life. My life was most definitely shaped by countries like China and The Philippines. You may be wondering why or how? Well, I’m quite the picky dresser. The one who probably takes hours when out to shop, just to come to the finding that I have yet no articles of clothing in my hands. However, when gone to this one store called “Aritzia” I tend to fall in love with all their pieces. And theses pieces are usually made in third world countries, such as China or The Philippines.  Thus, when I buy these pieces I am being impacted by the actions of the country China or The Philippines. 

 My life has not only been shaped by the actions of some countries but, also by the inactions. India for instance, has impacted my life in an enormous way. India being a place with not many opportunities convinced my parents to immigrate to Canada. A highly developed country, with an excellent education and health care system, and also financially with a better and brighter future.  Hence, having been born in Canada has provided me with many more opportunities I would ever have in India just at birth alone.

 Global Sociological Imagination is also a notion that our own actions and inactions too; have consequences to other parts of the world.  I for one believe I have not impacted people around the world, however it would be safe to say that I have helped or impacted some peoples lives here in Canada. Some ways I have impacted some lives include: donating my old clothes to the Big Brother Donation, who take the clothes to resell at ValueVillage to low income families. Another way I believe I impacted some people of our society is by going berry picking with my grandparents one summer. Theses berries are sold at various markets for people in our community to buy. I haven’t done anything that I feel has helped people on the other side of the world, however I am still young and I can change that.

BODY RITUAL AMONG THE NACIREMA

 

The article “Body Ritual Among The Nacirema” by Horace Miner is quite the deceiving article. It enables one to believe that the Nacirema are disturbing individuals with strange “rituals.” When matters of fact, these strange “rituals” are the very same “rituals” we practice in our very own life. The article states that the focus of the Nacirema is the human body therefore; they practice rituals that concern the belief “that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease” (paragraph 4). The Nacirema participate in rituals to compensate this very belief by grooming themselves to look a little more attractive. To follow these rituals it’s necessary for every family to have “one or more shrines devoted to this purpose” (paragraph 4). This basically means that every family must have at least one or more washrooms to practice their “rituals.” The rituals “consist of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders” (paragraph 9). The “hog hairs” being bristles of a tooth brush and the “magical powders” being toothpaste, which demonstrates this ritual is simply a person brushing his or her teeth. Some other examples that indicate these “rituals” to be common include: everyday each “member of the family, in succession, enters the shrine room, bows his head before the charm-box, mingles different sorts of holy water” (paragraph 7). This practice may be a person washing his or her hands, or face, or if a man “scraping and lacerating the surface of the face with a sharp instrument,” meaning shaving his beard with a razor (paragraph 11). Essentially, each “ritual” has a translation, such as the “holy-moth-man” are dentists, the “medicine men” are doctors who work in “temples” meaning hospitals, and the “vestal maidens who move sedately about the temple chambers in distinctive costume,” (paragraph 12) are nurses. In essence, the author used a stranger’s perspective to get across a vital point. The point being; one can truly make a culture seem strange and disturbing to others. Just by the choice of words and the way they are phrased. Therefore, one should not judge a culture before understanding it, and its people.

Biographical Sketch

 

My name is Tina Randhawa. I am 18 years old, born on November 25, 1993. I graduated from Fleetwood Park Secondary School, and I am currently in my first year of post-secondary studies. One of my many interests includes traveling. I enjoy learning about different countries and their cultures. I find it very thought-provoking comparing different cultures and their way of life to the style of life in Canada. I enrolled in this course because it is a requirement for me to attain my Bachelor of Arts – General Studies degree. I am aspiring to become an elementary school teacher. After my Bachelor of Arts Degree I am hoping to pursue the PDP program at Simon Fraser University. However, by any means it is not to say that I have no interest in Sociology. In fact, I am quite intrigued to learn and understand the society in which I live in.

 My current understanding of Sociology is very much limited. I understand Sociology is a study of society and the way it functions. It is the study of human groups and their interactions with one another. Sociology is the study of how we create society and how society creates us. I am very interested to learn the number of different perspectives that can be used to understand not only the society in which I live in, but also the society in which other people in different countries live in. My knowledge of Sociology is quite basic and I hope to expand it, and broaden my horizons to more elements which create societies.