In Conclusion.....

          In my opinion, looking at the modern world today, I am more impressed than disappointed. Though war and selfishness has grown strong over the years, one other thing has also grown; judgment. People are learning to take more cautious decisions and are improving their human nature. The world has done many great things such as establish the U.N. to enforce compatibility laws and to control even distribution of goods. The world has also enforced more peace treaty rules. I think overall, the world should work on better ways to handle conflict that war. That would be my biggest wish. Seeing as the world has taken more of my advice than Thomas Hobbes, I am superior to him and I continue to relish in my glory but continue to be selfless.   

Blog Wednesday-The Cycles

"Philosophies of leadership are determined by beliefs about human nature."

This means that you judge a leader on what you believe a leader should be. This is similar to the different views of a leader between Democrats and Repubilcans during an election.

    Democrats VS Republicans:




This statement is based on the opinion of the judge. This is also based on how the leaders human nature leads him to believe how a leader should act. One leader may think that the way to get through to his followers is to be harsh and strict (Hobbes) and another may believe that you must be understanding and allow the people to control how they are being governed (Locke). For example in high school presidental elections, one candidate might advertise that the student body will decide what happens in the school, while another candidate might only offer ideas though up by the student coucil. 

Locke's Point of View:
I agree with this statement. I know that not everyone is going to agree with me and my philosophies so the idea of leading based on your human nature doesn't seem as astonishing to me as many might think. Like my fellow philosopher, Hobbes, we each have our own outlook on life. To each his own.

"The governed have a responsibility for their governance."

I think that this means that the people under the power of a leader have a strong say in what goes on in their place of governance and have the power to over take the leader if the person doesn't respect the followers rights or make a fight to change their situation. This reminds me of the recent event that took place at one of CVU's opposing schools, South Burlington High School. The school banned "friction dancing" from their Winter Ball, to which the students were not happy about. The students reacted by not buying tickets in effort to change the situation. Though this was a strong statement, it did not work. The Winter Ball was therefore shut down.
Article: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13801208

Locke's Point of View:
This is one of the rules that I live by. I believe that we should always be allowed to live how we choose and to decide how we want to be led. When they say " The governed have a responsibility.." I think it means that it is more than just a choice to have a leader that respects the peoples wished and rights, but it is a rule of living. This isn't a suggestion but an order to make sure as followers you are taken care of. 

"Human Nature does not determine our actions; it inclines us towards certain actions."

In my opinion this manes that sometimes, you have to do things because it is what is right or necessary even though it may not be what you believe. To help me understand this better, I think of the average freshman in high school. During my freshman year, a lot of people that I had known were changing and doing things that they had talked about being against. They were not bad people, but they felt that to be popular or "fit in" they had to sacrifice their beliefs for someone elses.  


Locke's Point of View:
I disagree with this statement because I think that Human Nature is another way of saying Personality. It is how we act, live, and how we decide to act. If we think that we should act one way then we will. Everyone is is given the rights of life, health, liberty and possession and everyone is made equal so we should not have to change ourselves to acclimate to each other. 

Blog Monday- LOTF Ending

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a rather intuiging book, but the ending is one of the worst I've ever seen. In my perspective, many things were wrong with the ending, such as Jack and his tribe taking away Sam and Erics liberty by forcing them into Jack's tribe after Piggy is killed. That is another thing; The death of Piggy represents how Jack, Roger, and the rest of Jack's tribe took away Piggy's God-given right of life. At the end of this, there is no third party to come between two conflictign party's when the only two parties left are Jack's tribe and Ralph alone.

I have taken it apoun my self to re-write the ending of Lord of the Flies. My ending will consist of moral rights and human nature put int my perspective. Ralph, Piggy, Sam, and Eric could have joined Jack's tribe to seem as though they had given up. They boys will go to the camp, hiding knives, then later that night, go and kill Jack. This wouldn't go against my morals because I believe that Jack was a bad leader who didn't allow his followers the rights of every human, therefor he was overthrown. When the boys wake up in the morning, Ralph tells them that The Beast has taken Jack. All of the boys go out to search for the Beast, when a team of Marines burst into the forest and take them to the beach. There the boys break down and emotionally tell the men what has happened over their time on the island, but know one said anything about what really happened to Jack. The boys are flown  home, changed forever.
 LORD OF THE FLIES: IN LOCKE'S PERSPECTIVE:
( I felt like writing an alternate ending)
As Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric made their way through the forest, Ralph had the feeling they were being watched, but quickly pushed the thought to the back of his minf, in fear of losing his focus on what he was about to do. As the boys aproached the entrance to Jack's tribe, 3 hunters began to walk towards the boys. Ralph and the others quickly made sure their blades were tucked away in their tattered shorts. "We would like to talk to Jack," Ralph told the boys. The leader of the 3, Roger, came forward, " Why? Are you pansy's finally going to give up your little strike and finally join us?" Ralph smirked at Roger, " Actually yes!" Roger looked baffled. "Um, okay. One minute." The boys dissapeared into the camp. Shortly after, Jack came out, as savvage as could be, with markings on his face, leaves in his hair, and his feet resembled ones of the trolls in the fairytale stories Ralph's mother used to read him. " Well, well boys! It's about time! Well, jolly good, then. Roger, give the boys a tour of the camp and tell the boys to prepare for a feast greater than that of any King!"

That night, the boys sat down to Jack's dining table to feast upon the glory of finally being united. "Tonight we feast in honor of our once rivals," Jack shouted, "finally coming to their senses to join us; together we will live as savages!" The boys whooped and hollered in glee. "Let's feast, Savages!"  The boys ate and ate; just when Ralph though his stomach was about to explode, Jack ordered for everyone to retreat to the fire pit. The boys danced and sang and danced more on Jack's command. When it was time to go to sleep, Ralph, Piggy, Sam, and Eric were struggling to keep their eyes open, but remembered what was about to happen and became alert. When it was assured that everyone was asleep, the boys crept to Jack's large tent. In one swift swipe, Ralph cut Jack's throat to insure a painless, noiseless death. Sam and Eric dragged Jacks body deep into the forest and buried him.

In the morning, Roger, Jack's right hand man, awoke to greet his leader as he had done every morning since Jack started sleeping in his own private tent instead of by the fire with the rest of the boys. Roger went into to the tent then ran back out just as quick. "Somethings happed to Jack!!" Roger yelled. All the boys gathered, including Ralph, Piggy, Sam, and Eric. All of the boys were a blur. You could here snippets of conversations between the boys; " Maybe he went for a walk"  or " It was the beast!" Ralph stepped forward, "It was the Beast! I saw it with my own eyes! I saw his shadow dragging an object when I got up to use the bathroom, but I was too scared to think about what he was carrying." " Then we must find the Beast and kill it in return!" Roger yelled. The boys grabbed their hunting gear and started sprinting through the forest. Roger and Ralph were running together when they heard the bushes moving. They stopped and gaped at the bushed and waited for the Beast to come out and end them right there, but instead, came out a man. The man was dresses in Marine uniform and boasted many medals. The rest all seemed to fly by. The boys were gathered on the beach, where they all lost it and told the men on the beach everything, everything except Jack's true position and status. The boys were flown back home, except they were returning as different people; the people Jack made them become. They were returning as Savages, changed forever.
THE END

Thesis:
In Lord of the Flies, the boys human nature doesn't effect their actions, but how they choose to survive.

Though their situation tragic and even enraging, I have never seen people more in touch with their natures and how they choose to live their lives based on the events that have occurred in their lives. The Lost Boys have lost their parents, homes, even their lives, but the boys have worked together and were selfless in helping eachother through the 15 year walk. They have shared their precious food with one another, their help, and even their urine for drinking water. The only killing that went on between the boys was when an army from another country attacked them and killed them off. I believe that the boys have grown to be better  people for what they have gone through and should  set an example for all people around the world.

Thinker- Blog 1- Locke

Salutations!,
My name is John Locke; I have many views on life and beliefs in how human nature impacts our world. I believe that humans are born with natural rights that they have the knowlegde to use even in the most uncivilized places. Every human is born with the God-given rights of health, life, liberty, and possesions, as opposed to my rival philosopher Hobbes who believes that "everyman is enemy to everyman." All humans are entitled to own possessions of their own. If these natural rights are being restricted by a second party, then you must invite a third party to make sure the first and second party's agree and split resources evenly. A leader to govern the people is only elected if the leader can give the people what they want and respect their rights as humans. My takes on life reflect on my Altruistic beliefs. Overall, I believe in selflessness and the good of mankind.

My beliefs have reflected on many people in many ways. Though there are many violations of my personal laws of life, their are many examples of society taking my words of wisdom into their own lives:

Suddam Hussein:

Suddam Hussein was in office as the President of Iraq from July 16th, 1979 to April 9th, 2003. All was well until around 1980 during the Iran/Iraq war. In 1988 Suddam was the force behind the attack on Northern Iraq and then again in the invasion of Kuwait. In 2003 President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair claimed that Suddam had ties with terrorist organizations and had access to weapons of mass destruction and thus needed to be overthrown. In March of 2003, US invaded Iraq, deposing Suddam. On December 13th 2003, Suddam was captured and guilty of killing 148 Iraqi Shi'ites and was sentenced to death by hanging. Suddam was executed on December 30th, 2006. Suddam took away the God-given right of health and life, therefor he was overthrown by his people and even countries around him.

Martin Luther King Jr.:

MLK was an inspirational leader and took a big part in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He followed the teachings of Mahatma Ghandi to apply his non-violent ways to getting heard and making a difference. MLK was a Baptist minister and took part in civil  rights movements in his early career. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference which he leaded as the President. In 1963, MLK led the March on Washington where he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. From there MLK went on to open the mind and hearts of Americans, eventually ending racial segregation and discrimination. MLK was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King was assasinated on April 4th, 1968. Martin Luther King Jr fought for the rights of Life and Liberty that were taken from African-Americans by speaking to people with the risk of being arrested or killed. The "I Have a Dream" speech seemed to be straight out of one of my philosophies. MLK believes in equal rights, as do I. I applaud Martin Luther King Jr and his efforts that changed the world.