Who Am I? Ethical Re-re-REMIX!!

Before answering this question again, I had gone back to read about the me before the course and the me throughout the course. One thing that bothered me immensely is my usage of commas in the earlier posts. I apologize for all the bad punctuation and spelling, will improve on that. (though later posts did show signs of improvement.)

After this course, I feel like a different but still the same person. I am still who I am, yet perhaps more tapped into some unconscious pasts of myself, society, and the cosmos as a whole. In fact this course has shed more light unto who I am. It has pried open more layers of me buried deep within by my unconscious self-protection efforts. I have come in contact with my shadow side, and a side of me that is struggling against some of my biggest fears, which were hard for me to explain, but is now a little clearer and has stepped into the conscious.

I have gone through a journey opening many doors in psychology, religions, philosophy, and how each is connect to my inner core. This semester has been definitely a spiritual deepening experience, as more things are opened for more understanding and exploration. It is hard to put into words the things I have learned and the experienced gone through except a joyous feeling of excitement and achievement.

Many thanks to my wonderful GSI and classmates going through the wonderful journey with me. It has been great sharing thoughts and opinions with all of you, and has made me realize many different points of view that I have never thought about. I hope to continue to be in touch as we continue on our lives to further explore and connect to the cosmos and our essence! XD

Business Ethics

"How could firms derive the full advantage of low cost labor and the benefits of flexile contractor relationships, while also respecting the rights of workers in developing countries" (pg 316).
"How can we pull together as a team to make this merger work if some of our key players have to run home every time their kid has a cold" (pg. 290)?

I think companies should rethink the definition of "taking full advantage of low cost labors" by factoring the bottom rule that respecting the rights of workers IS part of "low cost labors." I believe out sourcing jobs to developing countries is already cutting the cost down compared to hiring workers in the states. However, because of he competitive market, companiess are lured into cutting the cost even lower by fringing upon human rights. Yet, similar to Levi, from "Ethics in the Trenches," the company can be also competitive with a positive value for the right of their workers. After reading about Levi's creative response to underage workers, I felt a responsibility as a consumer to support that. Though Levi jeans are more expensive than other companies, yet it's qualities are also better than most. I also believe that companies such as Levi can also put pressure on other companies for their unjust ethics and inform the public of their choices and power in consumerism. Similar to Nike's turn around, I think it is possible to affect the overall ethical awareness if in the long run, the benefits will out weigh the sacrifices taken in the initial stages. (reminds me of the three malaises...)

As for McNeil's case, it seems to me that the problem started right at the beginning, at the interview. I thought McNeil was absolutely clear about her responsibility as a parent and what her priorities are. It was unfair that during the interview Walters and Foyd did not tell her the truth, perhaps lied, to her about the working environment and that they are practically looking for a single and young person {similar to Walter} for the job. Thus right at the begining, they are already trying to force a round peg into a square hole.

That aside,every employee will need to attend to their family members once in a while, it is inevitable. However having a fellow co-worker to help back up the work or holding a conference call from home can help ease the situation greatly. Today, many people work at home and do not even set foot in the office because technologies allow us to communicate with each other through the internet, and even monitor or exchange work loads. In McNeil's case, she could be virtually at the meeting through the internet or on the phone, though not ideal, yet perhaps will help the situation.

SGI Buddhism

After reading about Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity, I felt I was most connected with Islam outside of my own religion. That may mainly because that I am a Catholic, hence the Islamic values seem more of something I felt akin to. However, I have not yet the chance to read Judaism, which I think will also offer a more interesting variety of religion to choose, since it is also embedded in similar beliefs. Naturally, I want to visit a Islamic service, however only to find out that I missed it just by a couple hrs after a phone call to a Muslim friend. In need of a religious service to attend (originally, I thought about Jewish services, yet since I didn't read the chapter, I may not understand it enough to appreciate the service from a different perspective.) I attended a Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhism service.

One of my room mate is a member of the SGI group and invited me to go to one of their youth events. Though she was unable to go, I was accompanied by a really nice member of the group. The religion follows Buddhist Shakyamuni's teachings as if was taught by the Buddhist Reformer, Nichiren Daishonin, in Japan.

At first, I always thought Buddhism is something contrasting to Christianity. My understanding of Buddhism, through the text and personal experiences, is that the religion calls for a self-fostering and self-challenging. It calls for achieving spirituality through the individual work and meditation, not so much community orientated. While, Christianity is much more community oriented religion, where everyone is encouraged to help each other and obtain spirituality together. However this visit to the SGI changed my whole conception. Buddhism can be very community oriented too, especially at SGI.

The event was in preparation for a convention coming in the summer, where distinguish youth leaders are chosen to participate. What shock me the most in the visit, was how diverse the members are and how everyone cheered each other one, with a strong community atmosphere. The members were quick to react to the person leading the event, performing, or giving speech. Going to the service made realize that Buddhism can also foster a strong community, not necessarily only focusing on the individual.

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.