The All American Lifestyle

It was very interesting today when we discussed the differences and habits we possess in America as compared with other cultures and social groups in the world.  American's ways of living can be seen as profitable, best impacted, and well rounded in the lense of western sociologists that understand and study our societies habits for a living.  However, in the article we read listing our traditions and norms in our culture, other cultures viewed our beliefs and routines as ridiculous and in some cases an insult.  The don't understand the "American norm" regarding our high paced, materialistic, over achieving self images that robotically live passing up some basic morals and values that pertain to a fulfilled life.  Seeing the differences in our norms and other cultures habits really got me thinking about what I am truly thankful for in life and what I desire to attain before my life ends.  Our families, careers, wealth, financial success, and religion shape many of our lives and it represents who we are as people living on the city upon the shining hill.

Materialistc Based Culture

One of the articles that was assigned to us called Affluenza described all of the patterns and consequences our actions have placed on our culture and our dear planet that may be unable to survive at the pace we strive at.  I have contemplated greatly over the Affluenza article and it really described the truth in a way us consumers never realize because the ugliness rarely stands out in a national market economy where more and faster is all we strive for.  It also shows how pathetic and ridiculous parts of society have declared enjoyment and satisfaction spending money that certain people flat out don't have.  One who thinks in a scholar approach realizes the impacts our choices make and how they effect the rest of society.  We need to examine other cultures behaviors and conclude that the rest of the world lives in a more appropriate state where the planet is thought of and the citizens adapt to the challenges that face them.  We need to also define our true values and morals in life in order to understand the purposes for our existence on God's green earth.  Our culture is a lesson that we all can learn from.  We just need to recognize our true meaning on Earth.

A Bronx Tale

In the movie, A Bronx Tale, there are many different ethnic groups seperated based on races, ethnicities and power that individuals express.  Much of this power has been inherited from families that pass down the authority and status to their children that continue the development of power.  This grotesque behavior was ridiculous when a clan of different races attempted to interact and communicate.  The fact that a different race tried to interact in an out of place zone caused massive altercations and diplorable behavior which suggests that our minds train us to act in certain ways based on what we've been taught.  Similarly today in many large urban communities of ethnic groups, people stay commited in their little clans and they have much difficulty changing the "norm" and routine of everyday living.  This causes any alterations attempted great conflict and anger if actions occur that certain groups don't agree on.  It's unbelievable regarding the endless amounts of socially constructed groups we all belong to without thinking about it and to a large extent it controls the actions and choices we make in every day life.  This movie has been a wake up call to me and has allowed me to explore my sociological imagination regarding how I want my life to be guided.  People need to take control and concideration in order to eliminate main stream society from controlling every choice and path they take in order to attain the scholarly well-rounded role that humans desire. This will also lead to constructing a better rounded world during ones short existence on God's green Earth.  The power rests in each one of our priceless hands.

Gang Leader For A Day

In the Story Gang Leader For A Day, it was so interesting and dramatic how much one kid could learn and teach the rest of society based on one study attempted.  The Indian young college student was on a mission to see how different backgrounds and living conditions could alter ones future and success in "the city upon a shining hill".  His first tactic was to go around asking different groups of people what it was like to be living how they are and what has led them to these paths they're taking in life.  He realized that to be accepted and taken seriously, he had to blend in more and be apart of his study in order to feel what lives they live in the shoes that they wear.  The story was a very interesting piece for me to read because it gave a perception on different groups of people and how they view different parts of society.  Students are taught to think one way about certain groups of people when in reality, their lives are much more complex and complicated.  It was also very interesting to me how society as a whole is seperated to some point into different social groups that we cluster into.  An example is the different sections in cities where people of different cultures live and converse with similar people that share their beliefs and religious paths.  Every individual is apart of some sort of group that represents them in society and we just need to identify what these groups mean regarding what our lives are shaped from.

social construction of reality

It was a very interesting lesson during class regarding the saliva and spit experiment.  Our minds are trained as to conform with whatever everyone else is doing and so when an action comes up that's out of the ordinary, we feel that it's weird and out of character.  It's so interesting to me to see how our minds are trained to think based on the influences around us.  That is just one of many reasons why community service is such a great opportunity to explore outside our comfort zones and to stretch a helping hand where one is needed.  The people we interact with around us every day construct how we view and experience the world and it's just important that people realize that they can go off on their on paths in life and start new adventures for society to follow.  People need varieties of ways to live their lives.  It's so interesting with the response from the blog Sal put up about how changing someone's ethnicity, race, or sex could change a situation of interaction dramatically.  We are so trained like robots to think certain ways about certain types of people based on these categories.  The question is why?  Society is the major influence in our lives and people express what is considered normal and what is wrong and unhealthy.