After reading the article, “Just Be Nice,” by Stephen L. Carter, and then considering responses to the questions posed for this assignment I was left somewhat stunted. Exactly what audience did the author intend to reach? What was his purpose? However, the next question stands out as being the main culprit in this writer’s dilemma, because it appears to lead the student down a road that, at the least, assumes that Carter had effectively made his point and that the article works. So then, the response to the later must be formed in a question as well, “Effective as what, and works for whom?” Finally, the assignment requires examples to be cited that indicate how and why the article works. I would think especially after conducting a broad internet search and finding a dearth of responses to this specific article, and that it perhaps wasn’t quite as effective as the assignment would have students assume or expand upon.
Carter is a professor of law at Yale University who has written a number of books and articles which are, for lack of any better terminology, criticisms of American culture. “Just Be Nice” is actually part of a much larger effort by Carter that includes his non-fiction books The Culture of Disbelief, Integrity, and the work for which the article may have been taken from, Civility: Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy. Hence, it is obvious that Carter is no stranger to the issues detailed in his article, so much so that his body of work points to someone who is arguably obsessed with issues which are related in the article. However, the article at hand opines for a return of etiquette and civility within the national fabric, and how he frames his argument is by using examples that, as an African American, he...
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...e obvious skin colors and tones, and inflections that occur in speech. Other than those two, females should only wear one set of earrings that are tastefully accepted by the status quo, and males should only be allowed to wear khaki’s that are snuggly supported by a belt.
Works Cited
Ahrens, Tim. "Nice is Not a Moral Value." socialgospelrisingdotcom. Tim Ahrens, 9 Mar. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. .
Dupper, David R. , and Amy E. Montgomery Dingus. "Corporal Punishment in U.S. Public Schools : A Continuing Challenge for School Social Workers." Schools and Children 30.4 (2008): 243-250. Print.
ktf. "keepingthefaith: "Just be Nice" by Stephen L. Carter." keepingthefaith. Blogger, 6 Feb. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. .
The author uses word choice like, “good people” and “educators”, to make his theme stand out and that he wants us to have these traits. After he explains his experience of the Holocaust, Fred Gross tells the viewers how they could make a difference in any kind of situation. “What I would like you to be in general, is educators. Educators to make a difference. But to take part in areas to improve the lives of other people.”
America have a long history of black’s relationship with their fellow white citizens, there’s two authors that dedicated their whole life, fighting for equality for blacks in America. – Audre Lorde and Brent Staples. They both devoted their professional careers outlying their opinions, on how to reduce the hatred towards blacks and other colored. From their contributions they left a huge impression on many academic studies and Americans about the lack of awareness, on race issues that are towards African-American. There’s been countless, of critical evidence that these two prolific writers will always be synonymous to writing great academic papers, after reading and learning about their life experience, from their memoirs.
The nature of a person’s behavior is determined by their values and their actions are guided by those beliefs. In “The Taste of Civilization: Food, Politics, and Civil Society,” Janet A. Flammang, writes about the importance of personal civility and its ability to shape a civil society. She argues that the civil manners are practiced around the table and do not lead to the dismissal of necessary conflict. Flammang discusses that not only is civility necessary, but conflict is the reason civility exists. Personal civility is the belief in how one should act, talk, or express their feelings.
Although an effort is made in connecting with the blacks, the idea behind it is not in understanding the blacks and their culture but rather is an exploitative one. It had an adverse impact on the black community by degrading their esteem and status in the community. For many years, the political process also had been influenced by the same ideas and had ignored the black population in the political process (Belk, 1990). America loves appropriating black culture — even when black people themselves, at times, don’t receive much love from America.
b. Much of the chapter is a long explanation of how whites have brutalized nonwhites (pp.98-101). Difference between cynical and realist.
When describing a physical altercation between two adults, the term is assault and battery. Assault on an individual has more than immediate effects; the effects can last a lifetime in severe cases. In all fifty states, it is a crime to hit, strike or use corporal punishment in any deliberate manner towards any person over the age of eighteen. However, this law does not apply to physical force being used on minors. Spanking, whipping, and paddling are among a few common references to this form of punishment. Physically disciplining children has had many names over the years. No matter which term is used, corporal punishment has a negative impact on every party involved. It is a widely used, socially accepted method of discipline. “Approximately 94% of three and four-year old children have been spanked in the past year (Slade & Winssow 1321). Although spanking is a widespread practice, it is becoming more controversial. The negative effects of spanking greatly outweigh the benefits. Spanking is a socially tolerated view promoting abusive patterns, and has a negative psychological impact in teaching children that pain, fear, and confusion promote conformability.
The thought of good people brings warmth and joy to my heart. On a daily basis I would like to think that most, if not all, of the people we surround ourselves with strive to be good people. My initial thought that came to mind before I began to read David Foster Wallace’s “Good People” was that this would be a story about all the people around each other doing good for one another bringing happiness to me as a reader. The story took a huge turn as it did not talk about the good of the people, but the expectations and judgments we hold for others to be good people. My eyes and my heart opened up, as Wallace’s story unfolded, in which he used a controversial issue to make a point by tugging at the emotions of the reader. I now know that this story was not to make a statement about a very controversial issue, but to make us realize that being a good person doesn’t always mean we have to follow by the expectations or rules that have been set for us, but by being who we truly are and having an understanding for one another.
Contrary to popular belief, corporal punishment is still an accepted form of punishment in some countries. In these countries, many see this kind of punishment for children as normal, natural and harmless. Yet, human rights activists believe that it is damaging and must be stopped. For example, Gambian teachers are working to end corporal punishment. The Gambia Teachers' Union has been training teachers on alternative...
Reading, Richard. "Speak softly - and forget the stick: corporal punishment and physical abuse." Child: care, health and development (2009): 286-287. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 April 2011.
Respectability Politics are limiting concepts that take away people's individuality and social values. This issue directly affects the African American community, within the entertainment business, politics, and everyday social interactions. Many actions and traits are scrutinized by members outside of the African American community, but are then imitated and seen as acceptable when done by other cultural groups. This has gone on throughout centuries and is still very prevalent in today’s society. Fredrick C. Harris and Tamara Winfrey Harris have a distantly different ways of addressing the topic of respectability politics in today's society.
Wallace, David F. "Good People." The Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2014. 149-55. Print.
The frequency of a lesson known since the beginning of time is slowly but surely beginning to fade away. This lesson is in civility and civil discourse. Many individuals in today’s society do not focus on how they treat each other, but on social status and appearance. To some social status and appearance may be important, while to others it is not. For instance, a man named Michael Bond understood the importance of being kind to others.
As I experience college life, I realize my morals are different from others. When crossing the street, I always wait for the cars to pass and if I do cross I make sure they see me. This is also a safety precaution that I was taught because drivers are frequently distracted and do not see pedestrians walking. On University of Northern Iowa’s campus, drivers are used to waiting for pedestrians; instead, I find myself waiting for the cars to go when really they are waving me to cross. Other students mindlessly walk across the street not even thinking about the cars. Another moral of mine is the golden rule; treat others how you would like to be treated. However, other kids did not grow up in a town that taught this. So, I let others in the door first, open the door for others, or let them cut in line. While everyone else takes advantage of what I am doing for them and do not receive a “thank you” back I brush it off because I know better. For my culture system to survive and thrive well we need to treat others well. This is part of the functionalist perspective that Emile Durkheim describes with the Arunta tribe. He understood the role that religion had on
For example, if people saw me wear Concords, they would categorize me as being into basketball or hip hop. It is also mostly guys who are wearing basketball shoes that notice my shoes. Therefore, it makes me feel masculine and makes me feel like I belong to the basketball or hip hop culture, but at the same time, I feel like I do not belong to a certain group. Thus, fashion is different in ethnics group, gender, and class because it serves to unite people or to establish a separation from other groups. It originated from women in order to make up for their disadvantage status, middle class in order to increase their social status and marginal social groups for their lack of social importance and cities for social density and wealth (Fashion, 310). Therefore, fashion play an important role in our lives back then and
The Chinese Philosopher and originator of Taoism, Lao Tzu, once said, “Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained.” This, precisely, is where mankind derives what it means to be good. In a culture where goodness is often defined vaguely, there is a sort of universality attributed to the virtues of compassion and integrity. Compassion is the quality of love and mercy for fellow man, a merit that works in accord with integrity, one’s unfaltering commitment to their innate morality. To be stated briefly, if one is to walk the road of life, these values in tow, the brand of goodness will surely follow.