Final Reflective Essay

Sociology is defined as the study of society.  It is the study of the origin, development, organization and functioning of human society.   During this course, we’ve covered a variation of topics that I found quite interesting.   One of the topics I learned and became very familiar with is “debunking.”  Debunking was a dynamic idea in throughout the course.  It means “to go beyond the obvious and to search for deeper explanations for social behaviour.”  This can be used to expose a claim that you may think is false or exaggerated.  This concept helped me understand how Ghana is not how I thought it was.  I had always thought of Ghana as only a country with severe poverty but after looking into it, I figured it is not only a country with poverty but it is much more than that.  Ghana is like many other countries, it does have poverty but there are still people and kids willing to learn and work.  The kids there want to learn but the school system does not really let them do that to the full extent.  In the media, in school, it is always shown that Africa is a poor country.  It does not show everything that countries in Africa have to offer.  One of the things that Ghana has to offer is the kind people that live there.  Even though they do not have everything we have here in Canada, they still make the best of what they have and are happy with it.  They are very nice to everyone.   Children in Ghana want to learn but they are not given all the opportunities given in Canada.  Some students in Canada are not thankful of the education they are receiving and they don’t want to learn.  However if the same education was offered in countries like Ghana, students would be much more than excited to learn.  Debunking helped me realize things are not always as they seem and you have to look further in to find out the truth.  A social justice event that I attended involved students who made a trip to Ghana.  This even furthered my knowledge of how Ghana is really like.  The things they talked about made me realize how different countries can be but can also have some similarities.  The experience these students went through seemed like it was amazing and after hearing the stories I also felt like making a trip to Ghana and experiencing what they experienced myself.  Throughout the course, I also learned more interesting things such as viewing all other cultures the same which is referred to as “cultural relativism.”  After furthering my knowledge about this, I want to educate other people who view their culture as the best about cultural relativism.  Before taking this course, I didn’t know I was going to learn about such interesting things so I am glad that I took this course.  This course made me realize even though some cultures are very different they could be very similar in ways at the same time.

Social Justice Event: Ghana Trip

During this course, we have discussed a lot of things about Ghana and they were quite interesting.  As Charles is also from Ghana and was born and raised there, he knew almost everything about Ghana.  He even showed us pictures when he was in Ghana which was quite cool to see.  I was quite interesting in learning more about Ghana.  So I went to a seminar which involved students who participating in taking a trip to Ghana.  Many people believe that countries in Africa are just poor, dirty and not worth visiting.  After hearing what the students had to say about Ghana, I was very surprised on how much fun they must have had.  Ghana is still lacking many of the things that the first world countries have but it is still a beautiful place to visit.  One of the main problems in Ghana is the education.  Even though they are still trying to educate kids,   the school system is still not as strong as in other countries.  There needs to be more schools and teachers for the students to learn everything they need to know to become successful in their life.  Another problem is the medical system.  When kids get sick there, doctors don’t have all the right tools needed to find out what the problem is.  Countries like Canada and the United States should be obligated to offer Ghana the things they are missing to help out all the people there.  However, even though Ghana does not have everything to offer, one thing it does have to offer is how kind and thankful the people are there.  The kids are still thankful of what they have instead of how someone people in Canada and United States are still not thankful even though they have more.  The students who went to the Ghana trip got to participate in helping out the kids at the school and seeing how the education is there.  The internet can give you information on anything that you want to know so I think the internet should be more available in Ghana so people can learn everything they want to learn.  The students also said the kids were super nice and were very willing to learn.  After hearing what the students had to say after visiting Ghana, I also want to visit because it just seems like a whole another experience which I would love to take part in.  I want to be a part of something that helps out kids who are not as fortunate.  I also want to visit because it will help me realize that even though you sometimes cannot have everything you want, you have to appreciate what you got and that’s what everyone does there.   I think that even what the students did for Ghana on their trip was amazing because you have to start somewhere and after this trip, there could be many more.  One surprising thing that a student said was how they didn’t have bed sheets which I also found pretty funny.  So if I ever visit Ghana I will always remember to take some bed sheets with me.

Video Entry (3): Coco Beans – Affective Reading Method

In the video, “What Have My Cocoa Beans Got to Do with Canada” it discusses that people need to use their Global Sociological Imagination. Global Sociological Imagination is based on the assumption that our individual biographies are not created by us as individuals but are a collective product of actions and reactions of legions of people around the world. People need to understand that even though you may never meet or talk to people, their lives maybe still affect you in one way or another. Everyday our lives are being affected by people we have never seen or met and also by those we will never meet. People do not consider about where all the stuff we use is coming from such as our clothes, or food. For example, the cocoa beans that were planted in Ghana many years ago are now being used as food in Canada. The cocoa beans are used for making chocolate by the chocolate factories. I feel that this video makes me realize that even though we do not know where the things are coming from, we need to appreciate them because you really do not know how much hard work the person or people have put in to make that item. This video not only makes me think about where my chocolate comes from but also the other things that I use every day. I didn’t know that the cocoa beans used to make the chocolate I eat comes from a country so far away which is pretty cool Not only are our lives affected by them but their lives are also affected by us because they need to plant the cocoa beans in order for us to make chocolate. . After watching this video, I now know how much other people’s live affect our own.

Video Entry (2): “The Dangers of a Single Story” – Affective Reading Method.

The video is about a girl named Chimamanda Adichie who lived in Nigeria. She describes that if we are shown only one view on an issue, we then make unfair decisions on that issue without completely knowing the truth or understanding it. She gave numerous examples from her own life on how Africa is viewed by others. For example, the books she read when she was younger had foreign characters and so she was convinced that her books also had to have foreign characters. She talks about how people assumed things just based on where she lived and the colour of her skin. This video illustrates how people should not judge someone based on one thing. You cannot judge a person just on one single. It is very easy to believe a single story. She talks about how people think Africa is just a poor country and they think that based on the single story of Africa because that is what they hear. They do not know about what Africa has to offer and all the progress it has made because they do not see or hear about that.

I feel that the Chimamanda is talking about a real serious issue and it is good she is bringing out the truth. I thought it was interesting that even her professor believed in the single story. I think that everyone atleast once in their life have believed a single story they heard about something or someone. Sometimes people are nothing like what you think they’re like and you need to get to know the person before you make a judgement about them. I know that the media deceives us and only shows us what they want to show us. This video tells us that life is not exactly how it is in books or even TV shows, and it is up to us to find out the truth. People often make instant judgements about topics that they don’t know the whole truth about, including me; I probably have made judgements about someone based on the single story I heard about them. After watching this video, I have been reminded not to judge someone on just one perspective or one single story.

Video Entry (1): Canadian Culture – Affective Reading Method

The video is about Canadian Culture. These two men are singing about Canadian culture and how they’re searching for it. They’re giving examples about things that are Canadian.  This video shows Canadian culture in a good way. Our culture is illustrated as one with the acceptance of all people. It shows how the Canadian culture is made up of many cultures.  Canada is regarded as a peaceful country. The Canadian culture is regarded as well-mannered and accepting.  I feel that the way the video represented Canada is absolutely correct because I know that Canada is a country where everyone is welcome and we are peaceful because we do not go into many wars.  I think the song they sang was pretty good because they made a song just based on Canadian culture and the song talks about stuff that applies to us Canadians.  I believe Canada is a beautiful country and it is represented by Canadian culture which is made up of a variety of cultures.  Canada is very accepting of immigrants from other countries and does not discriminate against anyone.  I know that Canadian culture is very distinctive because there is no other country like Canada.  The video highlighted the many great things about Canadian culture.

Who will Liberate Liberia?

What question did the text/chapter raise?	How did the text answer this question?	How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences?
About how much will the Bush Administration spend on Iraq?	Experts say the Bush Administration will spend almost $200 billion on Iraq.	I knew that a lot of money was being wasted on Iraq but I am surprised that it could reach up to almost $200 billion.  This is absolutely outrageous because children are dying every day due to the lack of food and shelter and instead of spending that money on them they would rather use it on Iraq.
Where is the “coalition of the willing” to liberate Liberia?	“The Bush government contends that Liberia’s liberation can be carried out by Liberians and Africans themselves, but Iraqis cannot liberate themselves.”	This reading was the first time that I had read about the liberation of Liberia.  I totally agree with what the answer in the text says.
Would Bush rather spend money on the children dying or spend it on war?	According to Bush, “If we want peace we must prepare for war, no matter the cost.  It does not matter if the cost of war is higher than the price of peace.”	All George Bush cares about is money.  He is preparing for war to get resources and materials from other countries that will make him tons of money.  He does not care about making peace at all.

 

Negotiation, Not retribution

By Dr. Charles Quist-Adade
(Dialectic Reading Method)

What question did the text/chapter raise?	How did the text answer this question?	How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences?
How is it possible that a Nation who trained Osama ended up starting a war on terror in a country that this man wasn’t even living in?	There are some hidden intentions that people will never be allowed to know.	I believe that the US has many hidden intentions such as if they really went to Iraq just for war or did they go for other resources.
Who trained Osama Bin Laden and why?	“He was trained by the US and armed to kill soldiers and Afghans, including mothers and their children.”	I have heard that Osama bin Laden was trained by the CIA and this reading just confirms that.
What does Georg Hegel mean by “that men do not learn from history.” Provide an example.	He is trying to say men do not learn from the mistakes from the past.  Ex.  “Bush Administration would have resorted to negotiations even with the devils who committed the heinous crime on September 11, not retribution.”	I believe that Hegal is absolutely right because if Bush has learned something from the acts on 9/11 he would not wanted to retaliate.

 

9/11: Forgiveness is not part of the lessons learned

By Dr. Charles Quist-Adade
(Affective Reading Method)

This reading describes the events that took place on September 11th 2001 and also the reaction of US President George W. Bush. In this reading, it illustrates how George Bush did not learn any lessons from the acts that took place. Thousands of innocent people were either killed or injured and he still did not learn instead the instinct of nationalist hatred and lust for retaliation came out. Being a Christian George Bush did not embrace the words of Jesus Christ “to turn the other cheek” but instead replaced it with “an eye for an eye.” Bush and his team were seeking to go into another war against Iraq just around a year after of 9/11. What took place on 9/11 was horrible and was an act of terrorism but it does not make it acceptable to attack back because that is also considered just as much terrorism as 9/11 itself.

This reading makes me feel that even the people in the world that are supposed to be leaders of a whole country can be wrong and make incorrect decisions. I think George Bush should not have retaliated because he is just creating a chance for more innocent people to lose their lives and harm people. So many families and friends were harmed by the acts of 9/11. I believe every point brought up in this reading because I have lived through the hate and racism brought up because of this. There are many conspiracy theories that I believe are true such as Bush wanted to go to Iraq for more than just war. He wanted the resources that Iraq provides such as oil which can be worth tons of money. I know that thousands of innocent people lost their lives on 9/11 and I think it would be totally wrong to kill thousands of more innocent people just for retaliation. Bush says he is seeking justice but I do not believe this at all, I believe he just wants revenge.

The phantom of the race: The Myth of Race and the Reality of Racism

By Dr. Charles Quist-Adade
(Paraphrastic Reading Method)

In this reading, Dr Charles Quist-Adade illustrates “The myth of race and the Reality of Racism.” “Race does not exist; it is a chimera, a phantom.” Race is due to the change to environmental and climate conditions which distinguishes humans. Race is a social concept; it was prepared by humans which also created many social problems. The hint of race is what created the idea of racism. Everyone is born and raised in a world that cancels an individual to completely overlook the color of the people they co-operate with. “Racism… is a powerful reality, an invention that is absurd, illogical, irrational, and nonsensical. Racism manifests itself in a destructively powerful way.” Racism was generated by humans and must be eliminated by humans. The solutions to the problem of racism are strategies such as educating communities and also governmental participation trying to spread out to the whole population.

“Such adaptation to geographic and climate conditions is a survival mechanism for everyone. Long periods of adaption to geographic and climate conditions ensure the interaction between genes and the environment. In other words, mutation took place in the “original” Englishman and “original” Ibo man in their efforts to survive in the polar and tropical regions respectively. In time they passed on these survival genes to their offspring.”

Race cannot be based on the colour of ones skin because everyone adapts to climate conditions. Englishman and their offspring became whiter in their complexions and the Ibo man and their offspring became darker. There is not one pure race because most people are mixed and that is why skin colour is changing.

I chose this paragraph to paraphrase because I think it is very important to point out that most people are “racially mixed” and that is why everyone’s skin colour is not the same. People living in different countries or areas are going to have different skin colour due to the difference in climate conditions.

Issues in Social Justice: Chapter 12

Chapter twelve: The myth of Race and the Reality of Racism
By: Charles Quist-Adade 

Dialectic Reading 

 

What question did the text/chapter raise?	How did the text answer this question?	How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences?
What is the difference between race and racism?	The text answers this question by saying, “Race does not exist, at least in the scientific sense; it is a chimera, a phantom.  Race is a figment of the collective imagination.”  Racism is a, “powerful reality, an invention that is absurd, illogical, irrational and nonsensical.  Racism manifests itself in a powerful way.”(307)	Race and racism are two things that people need to learn more about.  I always defined race as the colour of one’s skin or one’s culture.  I defined racism as when someone stereotypes another’s culture.  My definition of race and racism did not match with the definition in the text  However my belief that we are all the same and we are all just one race matches with the text when it says, “We all belong to the human race.”(307)
How can we prevent/stop Racism?	The text answers this question by providing that people that are victims of racism cannot fight racism alone.  The process of stopping racism must involve every one of all cultures.  Racism is like a disease, if everyone is not treated then it could spread again.	“As Orbe (2003) notes before we tell others to get out of their boxes we must be prepared to get out of our boxes first.”  I agree with this because it is true that we must change ourselves before we point at others and want change from them.  I believe it will take a lot of work to stop racism but if everyone has the will to stop it then it can happen.
How does racism affect people?	Racism affects people in negative ways every day.  The text answers this question by pointing out that “People are harmed physically, psychologically and emotionally.  Racism in any form, quantity, or shape must not be tolerated.  No form of racism around the world is better than any another.  In all cases, lives are destroyed.”	I feel there is no reason to harm people just based on their culture or skin tone.  Lives are being destroyed because of racism and that is why it should rigorously not be accepted.  I have felt the feeling of being stereotyped because of my skin tone and it is not a good feeling.  I don’t think anybody should feel like they do not belong.