What Would Aristotle Say?

Scenario: Teacher has to present grade for high school senior on boarder line between failing and passing.

Fist of all, Aristotle made many arguments that all people seek happiness, of which can be obtain through intelligence, pleasure, honor, and"every excellence." Though these components aren't necessarily the ingredients to obtain happiness, they will aid people greatly in their search for happiness. He stated that people needs to live well, be "self-sufficient," (for others and self) be part of a society (not in isolation) to obtain happiness. In other words, happiness is the combination of these individual parts that is then greater than merely the sum.

Hence for this scenario, I believe that Aristotle will first examine the subject in which the student is failing, and weight its importance against if the student should enter the next stage without the intelligence. If he believes that the knowledge is crucial in the next steps, and thinks that by staying behind another year, the student is much more prepared than learning the hard way, then he shall remain. Yet, if the knowledge makes no difference in the journey that awaits the student, then might as well let him go. Since all is based off of how well intelligence can function as a tool to live well and seek happiness, the subject of the failing course will also go through the same examination. Furthermore, I believe Aristotle will also take into consideration that if the student will learn faster in the painful experience outside of school than staying "sheltered" for another year, then this may be a whole other logical algorithm that is follows the importance of the subject.

March 4th!!

I have always wanted to participate in the public education strikes on campus, however, I believe I do not know enough to take a stand, hence both in light of this class and for my knowledge, I decided to go out there and talk to people who are participating. At the end of the day, it was an amazing experience, and most people I have come in contact with supports the right to free speech, no matter which side they stand. I also really appreciated when I told people that I do not know the situation enough to take a stance, they usually were happy to talk about the situation or just share their opinions, no one tried to convince me to see the "right" side.

I stared the day at 7:30 (too early for 7) at the West Gate, and talked to an old gentlemen who works in the University Botanical Garden. He said that he is a Berkeley Alum and majored in Art Practice. (which was really exciting!) He told me that he was mainly there because he is part of the worker's union, however, he also strongly believe that the university is turning into a corporation where money is put in a higher priority than the students and workers, and is no longer a non-beneficial public institution as it should be. I also talked to another old lady who worked int he gardens too. She is a Berkeley local resident, and was here in the 60's and 70's participating in the civil strikes and marches. We talked for a long time about experience in her job, where she believes that her boss doesn't see her a valuable worker who takes care of the garden. She said she said her job title was garden laborer, which changed to horticulturists, though the environment remained the same, like in a office building, not for the love of the gardens.

I then talked to some students who were getting ready to board the bus to Sacramento. The majority of the students were from an history of art class, where the professor encourage people to participate and the department office even offered articles to help students understand the situation. (Which I thought was wonderful!) As I made my way to the Sather Gate and the North Gate, I met more students participating, even students not of our campus. Most surprisingly, I met a group of Japanese students, who flew out here for 8 days, just to participate in solidarity and will promptly return after the srtike is over. (Amazing!) They were mostly from the Hosei University, where 118 students were arrested for passing out fliers. I also came across a public observer, who was from an organization of lawyers to protect the participating citizens, in case something happened, they can defend them in court.

At the end, I found it really amazing how the community came together to protect each other, and voice their opinion on how the public education should change and is the jewel for our children's future.

Being Personal on a WW Blog

The notion of an online journal has always bugged me. For me, keeping a journal is very private, hence I usually write my deepest thoughts and feelings in my journals/sketchbooks rather than on a blog that is opened to anyone on the web. Somehow, the sense of having a private journal online just seemed to be in conflict with my ego. (going off the idea that I usually let my shadow out in my journals.) However, for the premise of this class, and to further my personal ethics development, (fufu) I will try to be more private in this blog.

I used to keep a more personal blog in high school, however I realized as I become older, it becomes increasingly harder to share personal feelings with people. I don't know because I am just more busy, or society often requires us to put on an independent and strong character. I remember there was even a point in my life when lookign at the old high school posts made me feel weak and even immature because I have silly, unresolved emotional fixations. Yet, looking back at them now, I realized that was exactly who I was, not weak or immature, just me growing up and coping with life. I have also realized it is also a part of me that I love, yet somehow is lost right now. This thought scares me. It has always scared me immensely to grow up. Sort of like a Peter Pan syndrome, I don't want to grow up. Growing up means more responsibility, more reality to face, and things can seem so lackluster, easily be taken for granted, and hopeless at times. I longed to keep the care-free self, the one with my head stuck in the clouds all day, enjoying life as it is.... Now really growing up, I am trying to find a balance between the two, trying to still have the curiosity and appreciation of a child and the maturity and firmness of an adult. I think some part of me must of hated adults when I was young... :}

All in all, I will be trying to utilize these exercises to help me reflect more personally, since this is the whole premise of keeping a journal for this class...There will still be a couple layers between ego and shadow...but just less layers I suppose? haha

Emotional Hijacking?!

Okay, so, how do I deal with emotional hijacking? Well, it used to be taking it out on my younger brother....just kidding, though I did get into some pretty nasty fights with him when I was in high school. I have to say whenever I have an enormous amounts of anger and anguish, it is usually related to the situation my family is in. Since my father works in Taiwan, it has been hard for my mother to raise my brother and I in the States. Yet, this also means growing up for my brother, most of the time without a father near by, resulted in some unbalanced anguish. (which may have also unconsciously infested itself within me. ) As one role of a family is not fulfilled, each of the member must take on different responsibilities to fill in on the gap and also learn to accept the way things are, often with minimal complaint and opposition, in order to keep a family running. That was how everything has been for the last ten years of my life. I don't have particular anger or hatred for the situation, however, an overwhelming sorrow always arise when I look back at my life. It's a sorrow of seeing my family members bearing the pain and frustration for the love of each other and themselves. It's seeing my mother stressing to for her job and trying to fulfill her role as a caring other, seeing my brother growing without a male role model in the family, knowing the loneliness of my father who is thousands miles away, and seeing myself burying all these emotions to keep my chin up and striving for tomorrow.

As we are already walking on tight rope, when one of us begin to falter it often makes the others even more strained. My brother being the youngest, tends to be the one most readily exudes emotional anguish and often at my mother. At this point, all the emotion suppressed begins to rise at an alarming rate and boils within my veins. I will soon be filled with enormous amounts of rage, which was justified by telling myself why can't my brother be more considerate of my mother. Does he know how hard mom is working? We always had to take care of him, what has he contributed? What does he understand? Why is he yelling at my mom when he is the one who should be doing his homework?! (it is often simple things that arouse these family feuds) Questions as such begins to rush into my brain, even though I know things are tough for him and I, as his older sibling, should consider his situation instead of comparing him to me.

I remember such an instance happening just the past summer when I was at home. My brother, now entering puberty, has been in constant fight with my mother, almost everyday. I remember sitting in my room trying to ground myself and listening to them yelling at each other. Luckily, it's summer break, I was not under any stress and was able to avoid the emotional hijacking. I told myself, going over and yelling at my brother is not going to make the situation any better, in fact will only worsen it. I tried to pull myself out from the situation and look on as a bystander. I had to keep telling myself, right now both of them are heated and me being angry will not help anyone, I should wait till things are over then try to sort things out. Truthfully, this conflict has nothing to do with me, I should not let my emotions be involved. I may disapprove the way my brother is treating my mom, however the rage must be also composed of my own anger since my reaction is too strong. With these strategies, i was able to calm down and proceed to my own deeds as I wait for things to calm down to talk to them.

I think for many people, emotional hijacking often happens in family situations where we are so accustomed to doing extra for each other, yet also easily take each other for granted; that is until someone blows up. Using these strategies really helps me calm down, espacially when I don't want to hurt my family members due to my own emotions erupting.