IB English - Journal 16

Journal 16

We’ve become such a narcissistic, “me-first” society that common courtesies have gone right out the door – with a moral fiber that’s barely a thread. And while I’m hardly a religious zealot, I do think a large part of the problem is the secularization of our culture at the hands of the allegedly tolerant and compassionate “progressives.” We’ve taken God out of our schools and poke fun at religion; we devalue human life by condoning abortion and branding anyone who stands up for the unborn a woman-hating Neanderthal. Two-parent households are considered an anachronism; a woman who stays home with the kids instead of getting a job and relegating child rearing to day care is deemed lazy. We all but legalize a drug, marijuana, that takes away ambition and drive, and we attack anyone who’s successful and wealthy – regardless of how hard they work, or how many sacrifices they’ve made in life to get where they’re at. Government has become not an enabler of the private sector, but it’s a misguided Robin Hood, at the expense of personal responsibility – and personal values. ---Stephen Arnold

Articulate the central claim that Arnold makes and discuss the ways in which you agree or disagree with his position. Support your argument by providing reasons and examples from your own experiences, observations, or readings.

Journal #16:

   Arnold states that society has become narcissistic due to the hands people that secularize the society. I agree that society has become narcissistic however I do not agree that it is due to the lose of importance religion has in society. I think there religion might help some individuals become more modest but it is not the universal answer to solve narcissism. On the topic of a stay at home mom being considered lazy, I don't see that stigma in the society I am in. Instead I see both mothers who choose to stay at home for the needs of the children and the mothers that work in order to help the families income and/or working for the enjoyment they get from the job. For the legalization of marijuana, it is a very controversial topic that has multiple reasons to both sides, I do not have a strong or educated knowledge to choose a side and create an opinion. The critics of the wealthy, I believe stems from a popular stereotype of corruption from the wealthy and successful. I absolutely agree that the government has separated themselves from the private sector and are using personal values at the expense of their cause, which would be to stay in control.