“He Said WHAT?!”

The subject of moral relativism verses moral absolutism is an issue that is rarely understood or contemplated by most college students. However, it is the underlying issue in many decisions that college students make. From what college individuals attend to the friends they make most all decisions are made based on an individuals moral beliefs. The way we live our lives, our behavior, the way we respond to how we are treated by others, the way we treat others, and the judgments we make reveal our beliefs on right and wrong. For example, most Americans believe that both slavery and the Holocaust were wrong. This is not to say that all individuals living in America actually believe that. However, we not only believe they were wrong, we agree that all Americans should agree with that assertion. There is a logical possibility, however, that we are mistaken and it is our objective cultural conditioning that force us to believe these events were wrong. Fortunately, although this may be logically possible, most Americans would not agree that their intuitions and beliefs on the subject are mistaken. That would mean that owning and torturing other individuals is not wrong, and it is only as a result of objective cultural conditioning that we believe these events were wrong. Now who would admit to believing that?! Even if an individual did believe that owning and torturing other humans were acceptable, most people would not actually admit to holding these beliefs. But why not? Why should an individual be afraid to say how they feel? This is because most people know that such atrocities as slavery and the Holocaust are genuinely, whether viewed objectively or subjectively, wrong.
Nevertheless, who would not lie in that situation? Is lying therefore an absolute moral wrong? No, because ethics are inescapably situational. Although there is general agreement across the moral spectrum that lying is wrong, there are still situations in which it is the morally correct thing to do. However, examples such as this prove to be difficult when assessing moral relativism and moral absolutism. Although my rigid Christian background has sought to instill in me more moral absolutist views on the world, through life’s experiences and mistakes I have formed more moral relativists views on society. However, just like all non-Christians are not moral anarchists, everything in the Christian world is not absolute. Not all Christians are striving for an ultraconservative society. However, the question still remains, what is right and what is wrong? If individuals answered honestly, not only would the answers all be different, the question would still go unanswered for most. Nevertheless, an understanding of the diversity of our society and a general concern for all individuals is the best way to avoid confusion on the subject of right and wrong. If everyone is content and allowed to be themselves while function properly in society, is there really any need have strict definitions on right and wrong? My answer would be, no because it is societies need to over analyze and each persons individual need to feel superior to others, whether intellectually or philosophically, that causes division. However, I could be wrong. That is just my opinion.

Do You See What I See?

Objective perception means perceiving reality, all that confronts our awareness, as it is. It is the process of seeing things as they are, rather than seeing them from a certain point of view or position. With the constant invasion of the news and media individuals encounter on a daily basis it is nearly impossible to form a non-objective view on any situation. Socrates believed that only through knowledge of the self is it possible to come to a truly non-objective understanding of the truth. However, the first step to understanding the self is knowledge of the subjectivities, or biases, that one has. This is the “admitting you have a problem” part of understanding the self.
Our subjective views are formed by a number experiences both personal and observed. If a student in a class sees a professor reprimand another student in the class for text messaging, it is natural for the student watching the interaction to come to the belief that that particular professor dislikes when students text message in his or her class. However, if after witnessing the interaction the student starts to believe that that professor is mean and unreasonable then the student would be taking a subjective view on the situation. Through, the acceptance of this subjective view the student has already limited him or herself. By letting our subjective thoughts control our perception of the world one limits themselves to only accepting the negative. Subjective thoughts are controlled mainly by our feelings and emotions. The student saw the professor reprimand another student. The observing student can understand the feeling of embarrassment the other student is feeling so naturally the student sides with the feeling to which they can relate. Since the student has never viewed the situation through the eyes of the teacher it is more difficult for him to understand that the action made by the student was inappropriate.
By accepting a more objective view of the world it is easier to understand and relate to others. The ability to separate ones personal feelings from reality is not an easily learned or accepted skill. This is because as humans we are controlled by our emotions. This is the one element of human understanding that makes of virtually impossible for most people to take a non-objective look at the world them. Objective perception means pure perception, free from all positions, bias, filters, conflicts, and intentions. It observes whatever it sees without any obscuration or intermediacy, so one can see it just the way it is. It is the purest form of acceptance.

When There's Nothing Left to Burn...

My name is Sierra Carlita Josephine Martin. However, because no one has that much time on there hands or would choose to waste their time saying it all, just call me Sierra Jane. Jane you ask? Well that question will be answered later in the semester I am sure. Patience. Patience. Well who is this Sierra Jane? To be completely ( and typically) honest I don't even know. Nevertheless, I do know that Sierra Jane is not the same Sierra Martin who graduated from Westside in 2006. The Sierra Jane you see before you has seen, heard, and spoken evil and have done and witnessed things so beautiful that it is impossible to describe them as simply "good". However, I have no regrets, only amazing (although sometimes hazy) memories and an even better understanding of the strength and resilience of the human spirit.
At the end of some posts I will give readers a chance to better understand who I am by posting a song that has both meaning and a memory attached. These songs will be amazing! So please be encouraged to go listen, take a good look at the words, and attempt to understand. I know that everyone does not share the same taste in music, however, the wonderful thing about music is how even people who do not share the same language or background can achieve the same feeling and emotional understanding from an amazing song. Well the song for today is Styx Mr. Roboto. I honestly don't believe that there is anything I can say about myself that isn't said in this song. Enjoy!

Mr. Roboto Lyrics (Styx)

Styx - Mr. Roboto Lyrics

(Dennis DeYoung)

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Mata ah-oo hima deDomo arigato,
Mr. Roboto,Himitsu wo shiri tai

You're wondering who I am-machine or mannequin
With parts made in Japan, I am the modren man

I've got a secret I've been hiding under my skin
My heart is human, my blood is boiling, my brain I.B.M.
So if you see me acting strangely, don't be surprised
I'm just a man who needed someone, and somewhere to hide

To keep me alive-just keep me alive
Somewhere to hide to keep me alive
I'm not a robot without emotions-I'm not what you see
I've come to help you with your problems, so we can be free
I'm not a hero, I'm not a saviour, forget what you know
I'm just a man whose circumstances went beyond his control
Beyond my control-we all need control
I need control-we all need control

I am the modren man, who hides behind a mask
So no one else can see my true identity

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto, domo...domo
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto, domo...domo
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto, domo...domo
Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto
For doing the jobs that nobody wants to
And thank you very much, Mr. Roboto
For helping me escape just when I needed to
Thank you-thank you, thank you
I want to thank you, please, thank you

The problem's plain to see: too much technology
Machines to save our lives. Machines dehumanize.

The time has come at last
To throw away this mask
So everyone can see
My true identity...I'm Kilroy! Kilroy! Kilroy! Kilroy!


Sierra Jane