As I walk through my dorm room, I gather different things around me. I grab a white Aeropostale shirt, a pair of American Eagle jeans, I grab a coffee cup with snowflakes all over it that my mother had received as a gift last Christmas, and last but not least, I grab a red Dooney & Bourke handbag that I had received for my birthday. I took the tag out of the clothes and flipped over the other items. I read the tags of each item, and to my surprise, the majority of the things I had picked up were made in China. Whether a person is buying clothes or going to grab a bite to eat, the product being bought or being consumed may in fact be produced outside of the United States. According to Cline, “the past three decades has shown that economic growth of developing countries is closely tied to the growth of their exports” (pg. vii). I believe that globalization has occurred due to the import and export of supplies between the world’s many countries.
It’s the middle of the day and I haven’t eaten all day. I go down Military Drive in San Antonio, Texas, look straight ahead, and see an Olive Garden. I look to the left and see a Rocky’s Mexican Restaurant. To the right I see a China Harbor Chinese Restaurant. No matter where a person is at in The United States, American restaurants are not the only restaurants being seen, there are many types of foods from different cultures. In Japan, Italy, and Mexico, they don’t only have Chinese, Italian, and Mexican food. They also have American food such as McDonald’s and Subways. In fact, according to NationalMaster.com, Japan has 3,598 McDonald’s restaurants and 103 Subways (Japan); Italy has 290 McDonald’s restaurants and eleven Subways (Italy); and Mexico has 290 McDonald’s restaurants and 262 Subways (Mexico). With American restaurants growing in other countries and different cultures’ restaurants growing here in the United States, it continues the globalization around the world.
I get in my white Dodge Durango SUV and turn on the radio full blast. As I switch through the stations, I pass some Reggaeton music, then I switch through the oldies station, even the local hip hop station. Everyday musicians that are heard on a local radio station are not all American artist singing. For instance, Daddy Yankee, who sings Reggaeton music, is originally from Puerto Rico. Or did you used to move to the beats of the Beatles back in the day? The Beatles are originally from Liverpool, England. Big fans of Lady Sovereign and her fast tempo hip hop music also know that Lady Sovereign is originally from England. Even if you don’t admit it, everyone has heard of Justin Timberlake, former NSYNC band member. According to Justin Timberlake’s fan site, he is currently performing his tour in Australia (Justin Timberlake). This is not only Americans sharing their music with the rest of the world, we Americans are also becoming familiar with other famous artist from other parts of the world.
People who attend Church every Sunday is not a surprise, neither is hearing about a person who must obey and follow accordingly to what the Bible has to say. Religion is a controversial issue that lies within society. But where does each Religion originate from? NationMaster.com reports about Catholics, Muslims, and Jehovah Witnesses within the United States, Japan, Italy, and Mexico. The religion Roman Catholicism was founded in Jerusalem, Islam traces back to Saudia Arabia, and Jehovah Witnesses originates from Pennsylvania. Statistics show that 63,188,000 Americans are Catholic; 4,140,277 are Muslim; and 1,035,802 are Jehovah Witnesses (American Religion). In Japan, 505,000 people of the population claim to be Catholic; 254,834 claim to be Muslim; and 218,262 claim to be Jehovah Witnesses (Japanese Religion). In Italy, 57,689,000 Italians are Catholic; 987,751 are Islam; and 234,795 are Jehovah Witnesses (Italian Religion). In Mexico 765,552 of the population claim to be Catholic; 318,608 claim to be Islam; and 593,802 claim to be Jehovah Witnesses (Mexican Religion). The three religions, Catholicism, Islam, and Jehovah Witnesses, have all originated from somewhere different in the world, but have grown in different countries as well.
Some girls who go walking around the city with diamonds around their necks feel more sophisticated than ever, while some boys feel like they own the world when they’re cruising around town in their Mustang convertible with some new rims. Some everyday accessories being bought for a more glamorous look or being bought to enhance the look of a car are not made in the United States. Since 2002, imports from South Africa to the United States have increased 85.5 percent. The United States has spent 947.7 million dollars on diamonds. The percentage rate has increased from 12.6 percent to 26.4 percent since 2002. The United States has spent 321.9 million dollars on automotive parts and accessories. The percentage rate has increased from 4.3 percent to 33.9 percent since 2002. United States exports to South Africa have been mutual. South Africa has spent 186.3 million dollars on organic chemicals, which has had a percentage rate since 2002 from 4.2 to 36.7. South Africa has also spent 153.1 million dollars on trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles, which has had an increase in percentage rate from 3.4 to 22.8. And South Africa has spent 160 million dollars on civilian aircrafts, which has had an increase in percentage rate from 3.6 to 25.4 percent (Workman). These statistics show how accessories that are bought on an everyday basis are not all originally from the United States.
I now come to my conclusion and final thought. How can the rest of the world be replicating the American ways when, in fact, we are also taking in their music, religions and goods as well? If Americans are saying that other countries are following the American way, then it is fair to say that Americans are following other countries ways as well. The exchange of goods between the United States and the many other countries has caused us exchange cultures and heritages as well.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
A Religion Issue Within Schools
Angela sits in her history class. Ms. Lockhart, the history teacher, begins talking about creationism. Ms. Lockhart states, “We are all here today because God created us.” Now, Angela grew up not believing in God, and hearing this upsets her. Angela’s mom asks, “How was your day at school?” “My teacher was telling us that God is the one who brought us into earth.” Angela’s mom becomes furious knowing that they had been teaching her daughter about God. Why did Angela’s mom get mad? One of the most controversial issues in the United States is the teaching of creationism and evolution in public schools.
What is the big deal about teaching evolution and or creationism in school? The Evolution Theory describes change in the properties of populations of organisms that transcend the lifetime of a single individual (Cline), while the Creationism Theory tells that the Earth was created in six days by God, as written in the Bible in the first book of Genesis(Linda). At Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, Kansas, a Gallup poll found that 68 percent of those surveyed favored teaching creationism along with evolution in public schools; 40 percent favored dropping evolution altogether and teaching children only the biblical version of creation. The teachers are taking an effort to teach both theories and let the students choose how they think the world was created (Davis).
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…(Find)” The First Amendment separates church from state, but church and state always seem to collide. In the Epperson v. Arkansas (1968) court case, a 10th grade biology teacher taught students about evolution from a chapter from a school book, even though, in 1928, the State of Arkansas forbid teachings of mankind evolving from a lower form of animal in schools(Famous). The case ended with with the court deciding that, “The Court does not decide whether the statute is unconstitutionally vague, since, whether it is construed to prohibit explaining the Darwinian Theory or teaching that it is true, the law conflicts with the Establishment Clause" (Thomas). Should the issue of teaching creationism be this controversial? Should we just ban teaching of evolution and creationism from schools?
Some people think that evolution should be banned from school; others think creationism should be banned, and still others think, “Why not let the student choose what to believe?” Should a student have an opinion on what they are being taught in school? I took the initiative to ask students and teachers around Texas State University and John F. Kennedy High School, “What are your opinions on the teaching of evolution and creationism in public school?”
Alexandria Navejar, a freshman at Texas State University, responds to the question by saying, “As a Catholic, I do not have anything against the evolution theory, but it does not make logic sense. The majority of Americans are Christian/Catholic; it makes sense to teach Creationism.” Hallie Johnson, a senior at Texas State University, begs to differ. “I’m an Atheist, and I don’t understand why I have to be taught about the work of ‘God’ if I don’t even believe in one. The Evolution Theory keeps the school out of religion controversies and is based on the theory of science. Let’s just keep religion out of schools.” Ms. Stephanie Woollven, a 10th grade biology teacher at John F. Kennedy, has a different opinion. “I think the students should learn the Evolution and Creationism Theory along with the Big Bang Theory. The students should be exposed to all speculations on how the world may have been created. It is the choice of the student to choose which makes sense to them or goes along with their beliefs.” A Hindu student at John F. Kennedy, Dipen Bhakta, gave his opinion: “I’m Hindu and I don’t in ‘God’ and the whole thing on creationism. I have different beliefs. But to be honest, I do not mind the teaching of the Christian belief on creationism. It informs me on what other religions believe. I would only have a problem if teachers were saying 'This IS the way life was formed!' It amazes me how this topic is so controversial, since I am from a different religion and I don’t have a problem with it being taught in school.” Does the American society overreact on creationism and evolution?
So in the end, the question remains, should the Evolution Theory or Creationism Theory be taught in public schools? This controversial issue has not been resolved and will continue for years to come with the different beliefs in society. The Founding Fathers’ intentions were to separate Church from State, but it seems as though the two will always collide.
What is the big deal about teaching evolution and or creationism in school? The Evolution Theory describes change in the properties of populations of organisms that transcend the lifetime of a single individual (Cline), while the Creationism Theory tells that the Earth was created in six days by God, as written in the Bible in the first book of Genesis(Linda). At Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, Kansas, a Gallup poll found that 68 percent of those surveyed favored teaching creationism along with evolution in public schools; 40 percent favored dropping evolution altogether and teaching children only the biblical version of creation. The teachers are taking an effort to teach both theories and let the students choose how they think the world was created (Davis).
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…(Find)” The First Amendment separates church from state, but church and state always seem to collide. In the Epperson v. Arkansas (1968) court case, a 10th grade biology teacher taught students about evolution from a chapter from a school book, even though, in 1928, the State of Arkansas forbid teachings of mankind evolving from a lower form of animal in schools(Famous). The case ended with with the court deciding that, “The Court does not decide whether the statute is unconstitutionally vague, since, whether it is construed to prohibit explaining the Darwinian Theory or teaching that it is true, the law conflicts with the Establishment Clause" (Thomas). Should the issue of teaching creationism be this controversial? Should we just ban teaching of evolution and creationism from schools?
Some people think that evolution should be banned from school; others think creationism should be banned, and still others think, “Why not let the student choose what to believe?” Should a student have an opinion on what they are being taught in school? I took the initiative to ask students and teachers around Texas State University and John F. Kennedy High School, “What are your opinions on the teaching of evolution and creationism in public school?”
Alexandria Navejar, a freshman at Texas State University, responds to the question by saying, “As a Catholic, I do not have anything against the evolution theory, but it does not make logic sense. The majority of Americans are Christian/Catholic; it makes sense to teach Creationism.” Hallie Johnson, a senior at Texas State University, begs to differ. “I’m an Atheist, and I don’t understand why I have to be taught about the work of ‘God’ if I don’t even believe in one. The Evolution Theory keeps the school out of religion controversies and is based on the theory of science. Let’s just keep religion out of schools.” Ms. Stephanie Woollven, a 10th grade biology teacher at John F. Kennedy, has a different opinion. “I think the students should learn the Evolution and Creationism Theory along with the Big Bang Theory. The students should be exposed to all speculations on how the world may have been created. It is the choice of the student to choose which makes sense to them or goes along with their beliefs.” A Hindu student at John F. Kennedy, Dipen Bhakta, gave his opinion: “I’m Hindu and I don’t in ‘God’ and the whole thing on creationism. I have different beliefs. But to be honest, I do not mind the teaching of the Christian belief on creationism. It informs me on what other religions believe. I would only have a problem if teachers were saying 'This IS the way life was formed!' It amazes me how this topic is so controversial, since I am from a different religion and I don’t have a problem with it being taught in school.” Does the American society overreact on creationism and evolution?
So in the end, the question remains, should the Evolution Theory or Creationism Theory be taught in public schools? This controversial issue has not been resolved and will continue for years to come with the different beliefs in society. The Founding Fathers’ intentions were to separate Church from State, but it seems as though the two will always collide.
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