Question:
Think we're headed in the right direction? Please selct one and say why.

Personally, for me, it's religion.

Choices:
We're going in the right direction!
I blame America/President Bush
Liberals
Religion
The Middle East/Islam

 

You gotta blame Condelezaa Rice too, it IS her job to deal with foreign relations!

quote:

That said, I kinda resent the fact that you feel the need to put Islam up with the Middle East when you already have an option for religion.

Something tells me they were referring more to the Extremist Islamic Fundamentalists...the kind who believe that God wants them to eliminate entire factions of people... I know I didn't think of it as Islamists as a whole.

I think that is very different from religion in general.

Well if you're going to blame religion you could just as easily blame loss of religion. If people were loyal to their religions and followed it in the way it was meant to be followed, all religions that I've heard of call for peace, tolerance and acceptance of people of other faiths. I think the problem is that a few countries in the world have all the power and the rest just kiss their asses or face the possibility of war. But yes, this apathetic attitude can't be helping.

That said, I kinda resent the fact that you feel the need to put Islam up with the Middle East when you already have an option for religion.

I think Americans need to educate themselves more about what is going on the world. Regardless of whether this contributes to the world's wrong direction or not. Most everyone I know has no problem criticizing our administration for the way they handle a situation, but then they don't even know anything aobut the situation themselves. In my Intro. to Political Science class at the beginning of the year, I mentioned Kim Jong Il and Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat and all I got was blank stares (N. Korean dictator, Israeli PM, Palestinian leader...I'm not sure if the last two are still alive, but at least I knew who they were...). Sigh...

quote:

Originally posted by Cybele:
Frankly, I think these are all shallow options. The reason the world is going in the wrong direction cannot be blamed on the errors of a single group of people. Not Americans, not the Bush Admin, not the residents of the Middle East, not Republicans or Democrats, and not people who believe in God.

The reason the world is going in the wrong direction is ignorance and a strange apathy. We seem to forget that its ourselves we are killing. We have tunnel vision and can't see beyond these narrow labels that we think separate us from each other....

well said. I agree. We are blindly going through life, accepting what is given to us. Not enough people are questioning what they hear and believe because they are scared to or lazy or simply don't care enough. I believe society is using itself (and its institutions) as a vehicle to continue its capitalistic and technologically-driven ways. We are taught what the "right" and "best" way to live is... and people are beating themselves and each other up to reach that unattainable ideal. I believe it is important to be educated in any and all possible ways, from all different perspectives and cultures. There will always be biases and disparities in this world, but there is a lot of room for improvement. The world may be more technologically advanced but we pay a price for it and we must start taking responsibility for the direction we are going. By being educated, people are able to learn about many issues and make up their own minds about them, as well as help themselves and others by changing and growing. I believe there is more people taking education less seriously, and those who are able to attend university sometimes choose not to. These are the people that are missing out... that are blindly accepting what they believe they can't change. But I believe we can.

I disagree with "FreedomIsNotFreedom8." I am religious to an extent... but i'm starting to realize that the church is many times hypocritical... and that, although i believe there is a God, there is no tangible proof of one. No one can be sure until they die, and then they can't pass on the information. Thus, I am happy that some people believe... but that belief *should not* put boundaries on people's lives on this earth. If anything, belief in God should enrich lives, not cause restriction like it sometimes does. With that said, I do not believe that there is anything wrong with "not following God." The beauty of it all is that we are *able* to believe what we want, when we want to... and for that I am thankful.

quote:

Originally posted by Cybele:
Frankly, I think these are all shallow options. The reason the world is going in the wrong direction cannot be blamed on the errors of a single group of people. Not Americans, not the Bush Admin, not the residents of the Middle East, not Republicans or Democrats, and not people who believe in God.

The reason the world is going in the wrong direction is ignorance and a strange apathy. We seem to forget that its ourselves we are killing. We have tunnel vision and can't see beyond these narrow labels that we think separate us from each other....

I disagree in one way. The one reason that AMERICA is LOSING IT is not because (like she said(refer to the quote)) President Bush...or Islam. But IT IS the people that choose to not follow GOD. That's one of the reasons. That's my opinion.

Frankly, I think these are all shallow options. The reason the world is going in the wrong direction cannot be blamed on the errors of a single group of people. Not Americans, not the Bush Admin, not the residents of the Middle East, not Republicans or Democrats, and not people who believe in God.

The reason the world is going in the wrong direction is ignorance and a strange apathy. We seem to forget that its ourselves we are killing. We have tunnel vision and can't see beyond these narrow labels that we think separate us from each other....

President Bush may have made a few 'errors in judgement', but considering the pressures hes faced with on a daily basis and the need of maintaining homeostasis and the foreign policy challenges, i believe that he is not as 'bad' at his job as he appears. DO not forget that it is also his Cabinet that exerts influence upon him, as well as dictating a large proportion of the decisions that he announces.

For me, it's a combination. Religion is certainly divisive...you can't deny that. Bush has done a very poor job as president, but it is not just him, either.

Personally, I feel that there today's students are far too apathetic. We are not as involved in politics as are parents were (60s).

Basically, I'm not really sure.