Declaration of Independence: "The Brain is Dead"

In the course of human events, some tend to use their brains more than others, in which case it becomes necessary for people to advance from their “natural instincts” from which they have evolved into using their brain power to provide what is “right” and what is “wrong”, what is socially “acceptable” and what is socially “not acceptable.” To thus we must use our “natural instincts” of what is wrong and what is right to further our human development and separate ourselves from overwhelming controlling use of our “brain.”

We hold these truths to be self-evident that all “brains” are created equal. But alas this is not true. Although the government has ensured us with the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness the inkling in the back of our head thinks not. To secure these rights, we must consent as one not to use our brain. Tragic as it may seem, the use of our “brains” takes us off our course of our natural instincts and creates unfair divides within society, making us not so equal.

Our Brains have refused us to become equal- one should not be able to think more than some one else.
Our Brains have forbidden us to hold the same conversation with whomever- without being lost.
Our Brains have held us back from realizing the absolute truth.
Our Brains have stopped us from being friends with everyone.
Our Brains have disallowed us to go to the Ivy League school because our “Brains” are just not good enough.
Our Brains have made us act in others we might not have, if we just used the same set of “natural instincts.”
Our Brains have made us forget more things than we are able to remember.
Our Brains have caused us to revert to using cave man like tactics, such as war.
Our Brains have created the injustices that exist today.
Our Brains have created us to do poorly on school work.
Our Brains have made us embarrass ourselves and makes us do ridiculous things that we wouldn’t normally do.

In every event of our lives- Our Brains have made us a different- in a bad way. If no one used their brain, we would be all stuck at the same level using natural instincts. If we didn’t use our brains we would have lower standards, and be more equal to one another.

We, Therefore, the people of the world, appealing to all, in the name of what is equal and not logical (because we are not using our brains), declare that all must stop using their brain, and revert to using their natural instincts and abandon all former logic. Thus we declare ourselves independent from the one thing that has created all the injustices in the entire world, Our Brains.

Hyde Amendment

Currently the Hyde Amendment that is in place prohibits federal funding to be given to abortion, and is the only inherent barrier in the status quo which prevents women eligible for Medicaid, and meet the standards of being means tested at the federal poverty line at 133% (based on income and amount of people in the family) to receive federal funding for abortion.

Recently this controversial amendment which was ruled on the grounds of equal protection during the court case of Harris v. McRae is being challenged once again but this time by a different branch of United States Government, by that I mean Congress. This issue was most recently introduced in the new senate bill proposing universalized health care for the United States. Although the health care bill is whole different subject, it brings to me to topic of why should federally funded abortions, paid by the publics tax dollars be mandated as well? There is nothing currently set up in the status quo that challenges woman’s’ ability to actually receive an abortion, it’s only a question if the government should have to provide funding for them. The main problem that people such as myself find ourselves identifying with when discussing abortion is the notion if it morally just for us, as a nation of different view points, to use tax dollars to fund abortion. Why should our tax dollars be put towards something that not all Americans believe? Many try to counter this with the idea that they hate the notion of war, and still their tax dollars have to be used to fund something they don’t believe. My problem with that specific example is; your money is a) going to the defense for the greater good and the safety of the nation as well as your own safety and b) your money doesn’t directly take an action which forces somebody to take part in the fighting- soldiers enlist to go into the army, where as creating a draft for the army would be a different story.

My other point of justification as to why I don’t believe a woman should be able to have a federally funded abortions is if money was going to be such an issue why didn’t the person “needing” the abortion invest in free contraceptives, which are a) cheaper than getting an abortion because often times abortion can spiral over thousands of dollars. Its not as if they don’t have the choice to receive the abortion, No, in fact that choice is giving to all woman due the court case of Roe v. Wade.

Abortion can almost always be prevented in except in cases that threaten the mother’s life or rape, so why should it be necessary for the government to fund all the other types of abortions? Why must I or anyone for that matter have to pay for something that they don’t believe in and in some cases that is morally repugnant?

The Inner Ring

I really enjoyed reading the "Inner Ring" because I thought it reflected a major flaw and almost a logical fallacy in our society. How can we be so suppose to get into a certain position, and still not be happy? Its something we all strive for. Even at first reading the essay, I was thinking that this doesn't really apply to me because I would like to think of myself as someone who is happy with where I am and who I am friends with. But than I started thinking about it more deeply, what have I tried to get into that required someone to evaluate my credentials or my ability to be in a certain "group" or "position". The examples are crazy. Just think about all the certain groups in high school that you can only be in if you have the certain criteria, these are just the ones I cam up with at the top of my head; NHS, Math Team, every competitive sports team, Link Crew, Choir , Theater. From there you aren't even fully "in", which CS Lewis also concludes. I thought his insight on society was true. Although its sad to think about, I think its just inherent in nature of society, and as long as we work in this capitalist system (which is where I think much of this hierarchy comes from) I think that its just inevitable. I don't think its necessarily bad all the time either. These exclusive groups, make society different, and form the basis for traditions. The gut question we should be asking ourselves when we are trying to reach that position of "power", is what are our motives, and why are we doing this?

Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is the idea of rejecting common notions such as religion, and it focuses on the individuals being rather than societies being as a whole. The idea of Transcendentalism formed around the 1850's and beyond due to the current situation in America i.e. Civil War, Slavery, New Politics, Etc. Transcendentals prefer logical, intuitive, and personal thinking rather than the following of doctrine and religion. It rejected modern times ideal, and put the spotlight on the soul. The Transcendentalism movement relies on the same principles of that of the Romanticism movement, which also highlighted the power of nature and its strength.

The main aspect of Transcendentalism that applies to me is the power within an individual. Although I don't consider myself a leader, or someone who "stands out" from the rest of the crowd, I certainly do not consider my self part of the norm. I believe there is hidden value in that of an individual that cant be forged into a group of people. To me the strength of individual is greater than the strengthen of the ideals of a group. For example, when I see an individual stand up for a cause, by taking an action against, even a small one, I see more in that one action and logic than I ever do in a large movement. There is something special in that of an individual. Their ideas although not all the time original, their words are. Their logic is. Their thoughts are their own. Their feelings are Unique. Its different.

Entitlement :)

So obviously I am late little late writing about this, because I can easily get confused i.e. somehow writing about entitlement translated into write about whatever you want! Well better late than never! Entitlement can mean a lot of different things. The first thing I thought of when I heard "Entitlement" which was what the topic of our blog post was suppose to be, I thought of Entitlement programs. The largest Entitlement programs being that of Medicaid and Medicare. The reasons for why "Medicaid" and "Medicare" are considered Entitlement programs can be accounted for by knowing the definition of Entitlement. Entitlement is a right that is guaranteed through law or something that someones believes that they should have or is actually their own. Medicaid gives assistance financially for people that lack the money to receive medical care. Everyone is entitled to medical care or to receive help and benefit, thus that's why its appropriate to refer to Medicaid/Medicare as an "Entitlement program." Because they give aid to people who don't have the finances to pay for their medical care, a right that almost everyone is entitled to. You are probably wondering why I went on this long rant about how Medicaid is an Entitlement program and why it makes sense. Well I first had to define what an entitlement program is to define what entitlement means to me. In reality I think I am entitled to a lot of things, to be very honest with myself. I think I should be entitled to the respect from my parents without doing anything, I think I am entitled to do the bare minimum in school and get by, such as getting an A. Most of us have this shallow thinking sometimes, when we think about it long enough obviously we understand that its not logical that we should be entitled to certain selfish things like that. Obviously I know I am not entitled to receive an A in a class unless I work for it, same goes with my parents example. Which narrows it down to what I am actually entitled to, by definition. I am entitled to live a happy life, or a life I want without interference from anyone else, unless the actions that I choose violate those of the society I live in. With that I am entitled to life that guarantees protection and natural rights. What I am entitled to really stems from what we decide as a society is. Entitlement stems from community norms. Such as I could believe I am entitled to every bar of Dove chocolate, but due to community norms I am really not because that would probably be stealing because I cant afford every dove chocolate bar in the U.S. I realize that was kind of a long rant, but it made sense in my head.