N-word question #2

I agree that it is a good thing to look at a problem from all sides. The best way to stop the usage of the word is to give people an understanding of the hatred behind the word and the hurt it had caused. In the book Nigger, there were many examples of the hurt that it caused. Some blacks lost court cases and were sentenced to death by juries that called them "niggers." In Boston Public, many of the kids did not fully understand both sides of the "nigger" issue, but discussing it helped them to see both the black and white points of view and to realize how powerful words can be. At abolishthenword.com, pictures of lynchings and other acts of violence portray the hate behind the word "nigger." I agree that it shouldn't be used towards people, but I do think it should be used in an educational setting so that people can understand its meaning, power, and place in history.

Should Congress bail out the Big Three automakers?

I agree with Mark J. Perry who says that the Big Three do not deserve a bailout. "A taxpayer bailout would only reward irresponsible behavior," he said. The United Auto Workers (UAW) gained high worker compensations in the 1970's, and now the companies can't afford to pay the pensions and health care of their workers. Poor planning and management have caused their major problems, and it is unfair that these businesses should be rehabilitated with taxpayers' money while other businesses face bankruptcy. Although I do think that unions have a very important role in protecting workers' rights, the UAW may have overstepped its boundaries and caused a lot of problems. The Big Three shouldn't be bailed out because that gives powerful companies the approval to be irresponsible because they know they can just be bailed out if they get in too deep.

N-word questions

1. "Nigger" is a hard word to define. It is a term used for a black person that has very negative and racist connotations. The word's semantics have changed over time. It started out just to mean a black person, but overtime it was used so negatively and with so much hatred that it has been transformed into one of the worst racial slurs in the English language. The word has also, in recent years, been used by blacks in a satirical or even positive way. To me, "nigger" is a racist term that I don't use, and I don't really have much experience with it at all. My mom, who grew up in Texas in the 60's and 70's grew up in a racist environment, and people would frequently refer to "niggers." People in the black community are a lot more sensitive to the word than white people are because they are on the receiving end of it. The meaning of "nigger" varies a lot depending on the context in which it has been used. Age, race, community, class, setting, and intent all factor into the different shades of meaning the word can take on.

2.I do not agree with Marla Hendricks from the show Boston Public. Since Danny Hanson was using the word "nigger" in an educational setting to try to understand it and not in a racist way, it doesn't matter that he was white. If he was black, others probably wouldn't have objected to it as much as they did. I think that the commercial TV show was an alright place to discuss the issue. The show hoped to get people thinking about the meaning of the word and other racial issues, and I believe it accomplished this.

The Republic

Plato wants to educate the guardians of his ideal republic so that they are both high-spirited and gentle. He proposes to do this by training both their souls and bodies. His curriculum consists of music, which includes literature, and gymnastics (physical training and sports). It is possible to blend these traits because I know many people who are good at music and sports. People can have two different qualities within themselves even if the qualities are completely different.
The elders are to rule the younger. The leaders are selected after being tested throughout their lives. They are put through many tests in order to see if they will make good leaders or not. If they prove themselves by remaining loyal to the State, always fulfilling their duties, and overcoming challenges, then they are chosen as leaders. The "myth of metals" reinforces this because it says that God made some people gold, some silver, and some brass. The gold are the guardians, the silver are the auxiliaries, and the brass are the husbandmen and artisans. The metal that makes up a person does not depend on what kind of metal a person's parents were. This means that each individual has his own talents and must prove himself if he wishes to become a leader.

Is Pakistan an Asset in the War on Terror?

I agree with Teresita C. Schaffer that Pakistan is an asset in the war on terror. Having Pakistan's cooperation in rooting out terrorism will be a huge help. It will benefit both the United States and Pakistan. The major problem is that their are conflicting groups within Pakistan, so contradicting policies are made. The country has many problems, but any support that they can give to the United States is better than none at all. Any help rooting out terrorists is valuable. If the United States works to make their relationship stronger with Pakistan and Pakistan becomes more stable, then the relationship between Pakistan and the United States will be even more important in the future.