Journal 4_6

Question from last week:
There are different themes with magic.  There is wizards and witches, phsycics, transformers, mind-readers and so much more.  What is the most believable form?  Why?

This was a dumb question.  There is no believable form of magic.  After watching a physics honors presentatino about the the "Physics of Magic" in my physics class today, I realized that there is no way that any kind of  magic could actually be believable unless you trick your minding into thinking so.  It is, however, easier to get caught up in a world a wizards and witches than to believe someone can read your mind.  This is why series like Harry Potter are so popular.  Yet, the more mystical and realistic something is, the scarier and more humans try to analyze it.  Phsycics and mind-readers deal with people in real life, and that is why they bring a different sense of mysticism than wizards and witches.

Magic is only successful when the viewers lend their minds to the trick.  The Cliche' phrase, "all you have to do is believe" is very prevalent here.  In fiction novels, a reader must become immersed in the story to enjoy it.  Analyzing every move will only ruin the point of the magic in the book.  Magic is supposed to be the unreal, the unimagined and the impossible.  That is why human nature is drawn to it. The magic of today may, however, be the science of tomorrow. Just like flight was magic 100 years ago. 

This week in class:
A) This week in class we watched a documentary on alternative medicine and the spread of its use in the US today.  The documentary we watched had several points to it.  Doctors are being mistrusted because of reputations of expensive medicine being prescribed without it actually helping the patient.  But the documentary focused on the popularity, and profitability, of an alternative medicine market.  The FDA does not have to clear these medicines in order for them to be sold, and yet, several thousands of people are buying them in hopes of a differnt method to recovery.  Right now, over 30% of Americans are turning to alternative methods.

B) Personal experience makes me wonder about alternative methods.  I think a mix of both is the true way to keep your body healthy.  My mom is a certified Yoga teacher, and many of her colleagues and mentors have pointed her in the way of alternative medicine.  It is more natural and organic, there is no question about that.  But I question how effective it really is, for still being relatively high in price.  I think a mixture of the two, in order to not put as many unneeded chemicals into your body as traditional science tend to do, yet still allowing some tradition in to make sure that you are getting the treatments you need is the right way to do things.


C) To bring in a another point, there are some who allow their body to fight for itself without any form of medicine at all.  My neighbor is a firm believer in the strength of the human body and human immune system to fight off sickness and mend itself.  There is something to say for not allowing any kind of excess, foreign medicine into one's body.  I wonder if those are the healthiest, strongest bodies alive today.

Question for next week:
As we near the end of the year in Ethics class, my final question is what was your favorite part of the class?  Which lessons stayed with you most?

Sources:
The Alternative Fix | FRONTLINE | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 09 June 2011. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/altmed/.
Press Release | FRONTLINE | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 09 June 2011. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/press/2203.html.

"7 Basic Principles of Magic (Penn and Teller) « Andy Wibbels." Andy Wibbels. Web. 09 June 2011. <http://andywibbels.com/7-basic-principles-of-magic-penn-and-teller/

journal 4_5

Question from last week:
What is another controversial war in American history?
The Vietnam war was one of the most controversial wars in American history.  Until recently, it was also the longest war in US history as well.  It's main purpose was to support the policy of "containment" that America had adopted during the Cold War.  The purpose of containment was to fight communism abroad to prevent it from entering the United States.  The North Vietnam was communistic, and South Vietnam was under US aid and considered a democracy.   Fought mostly through guerilla warfare, the terrorist pro-communist factions in South Vietnam, the Vietkong, fought agaisnt the American soldiers under cover of jungles, identity and night.  Thousands of lives were cost in a war that didn't  need to be fought.  Through three presidents, the Vietnam war endured the anger of many American "doves" or radical peace advocates.  Anti- war rallies were thrown, and the controversy heightened during the shootings at Kent State Univeristy, where four students were shot and killed by government officials trying to end the rally.  Vietnam was a costly, controversial and unsuccessful war. 


This week in class:

A) This week in class we talked about the principles of magic.  The ten main principles in which magicians use to create their tricks, the ethics of magic and the difference between a magician and a conartist were all topics we focused on.  Through watching much of Penn and Teller and a man that disproves phsycis and others who claim to have supernatural powers.  It is interesting to see how much of a magic trick is just distraction.  When watching penn and teller, it was easy to see the trick when the volume was on mute, but when Penn narrated each trick I was immediately drawn into the distraction, and unable to think critically about how the two magicians performed the trick.  Penn's main point, that was a common theme throughout the unit, was that Magicians are telling you that they are tricking you, while conartists never state that they are about to trick you. 

B) I thought the most interesting part of the lesson was the phsycology of magic.  The success of Penn and Teller's shows rely soley on the audiences ability to believe that what is happening is really magic.  If as an audience member, someone sits there and analyzes every single move, the show would be a disaster.  Yet, something about the human brain wants there to be an element of magic in the world and that is why magic shows are popular and succesful. 

C) There are times in a people's lives where we don't want to be in control.  That is why magic is such a phenomemon that we love and appreciate.  In amusement parks, parties and magic shows, there is the element of not knowing what will happen, that the individual doesn't have control over the situation and someone else does.  In listening to modern music every artist speaks about "losing control."  I think that is the same element that makes magic popular.
 
Question for next week:
There are different themes with magic.  There is wizards and witches, phsycics, transformers, mind-readers and so much more.  What is the most believable form?  Why?

Sources :

"The Vietnam War." Digital History. Web. 30 May 2011. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/vietnam/index.cfm.

 

Penn & Teller. Web. 30 May 2011. http://www.pennandteller.com/.

 

Battlefield:Vietnam." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 30 May 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/>.

journal 4_4

Questions for next week:

What muslim community is there in Richmond, Virginia?



I couldn't find every part of the muslim community in Richmond, but there is definitely a foundation for the muslim community.  The Islamic Center of Virginia, centered in a suburb of Richmond in Bon Air, Virginia, focuses on education and unity of the Islamic faith in the richmond area. Their website shows something very similar to a "sunday school" and their breaking ground on a new location.  It is a newer organization, but contains sunday school, summer programs, funeral and marriage services and community outreach to get other faiths to understand the Islamic faith better.

The Islamic Center of Virginia is not the only muslim faction in Richmond, however, when googling "Islamic Mosques in Richmond" only three mosques came up.  This number surprised me, I thought there would be more.  It astounds me that there are over a hundred churches in a thirty minute radius of my house, but I would have to travel 45 minutes to get to one of three mosques in the area if I were muslim.

In class this week:

A) This week in class we watched another clip of thirty days called "outsourced."  It was about a middle aged American man traveling to India to find his old job that had been outsourced to India. His initial viewpoint of the idea of outsourcing was very negative.  He thought that outsourcing was taking away from the American people, and only hurting the American economy.  After living in India for 30 days, he realized that the cost of one American job will give 16 Indians a job, but that those indians are still in poverty.  He was astounded by the fact that the Indians did not complain, and were content in their one room shaks of homes.  He returned home with a sense of compassion for the Indian people.

B)  After seeing "outsourced" I did agree that the Indians are living in poverty and it is good that new money is being put into their economy, but I disagree that it should be at the cost of American people's welfare.  So many people are losing their jobs to outsourcing that worked for American companies.  Shouldn't these companies take care of their own first?  With the American economy drastically falling, I think  it is time for us to close our borders and think about what we must do to better ourselves, not the Indians. 

C) This can be applied to American's foreign policy.  The Iraq war and dealings in the middle east are to aid and provide democracy in those areas of the Middle East.  In a lot of ways, these wars are honorable and good natured, however, they are costing American lives and trillions of American lives for some of the longest wars in American history.  Is it worth it?

Question for next week:
What is another controversial war in American history?

Sources: 
30 Days (TV Series)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 23 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_Days_(TV_series.

 Islamic Center Of Virginia. Web. 23 May 2011. http://ww2.icva1.com/index.php.

 CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Web. 23 May 2011. <http://www.cnn.com/>.

Journal 4_3

Question from last week:

As of September 2010, niether side was willing to compromise their originial positions on the conflict.  Israel is unwilling to split Jerusalem, saying that "Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel."  The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as their capital because it contains the third most holy shrine in the Islamic faith, even though it was originally controlled by Jordan before the Six Day War. 

In Palestine, just a few days ago, two major political factions--the Farah and Hamas--signed a peace agreement.  Alothough this is not necessarily dealing with Israel, Palestine's new leadership should be elected in 2012 under both political factions.  Before the peace talks, these two parties had been competing among palestine, taking away from any chance at peace between Israel and Palestine.  Perhaps the new Palestinian government will be able to reach a compromise with Israel.

This week in class:

We began watching the show "30 days" where a West Virginian man goes to live in Deerfield, Michigan--the Muslim capital in the United States.  I think this show is controversial and important for Americans to see. So many of us live in fear of the Arabs and Muslims, when really they are people just like us!  It is hard to not be xenophobic in today's society, but one must keep in mind that only the extremists are out doing the terrorist attacks.  Many muslims integrate into society with us.  Others are harmless, and are simply preserving a culture that millions of people love and treasure around the world. 

Question for next week:
What muslim community is there in Richmond, Virginia?

Sources:

"BBC News - Middle East Peace Talks: Where They Stand." BBC - Homepage. Web. 01 May 2011. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11138790>.