Zomg English Essay?

[ShastaTwist]

Re: Zomg English Essay?

I still haven't gotten a response to this analogy yet. Is it because both of you are scared to discard the African or so called close family member? or is it that hard of a decision?

I actually already answered this:

When would I ever be in a situation where I would have to choose? This doesn't even relate to the issue at hand. We, as a country, are capable of helping our country and other countries because we are seen as one of the strongest countries on the planet. Therefore, this isn't a matter of, "Should I help the African children or the American children?" but, rather, a matter of, "How can we best manage our resources to obtain a favorable outcome towards both?"

[devonin]

Re: Zomg English Essay?

both of you use too much emotion in your arguments. What's the deal with you guys and bringing in a close family member into analogies? both are strangers and are judged solely on the information given...So in this case, devonin, a death is a death? I imagine that you would choose niether and let both die? If that's the case, then, YOU are terrible.

For one: I'm not being emotional, I was pointing out the flaw in your logic by demonstrating that your basis for deciding was emotional. You would pick the one in front of you, ostensibly because "The one here matters more than the one there" but I feel you are truly making this decision based on "out of sight out of mind" and that -you- would -feel- worse letting something in front of you die instead of some total stranger thousands of miles away.

My response to your question then is: You didn't provide enough information for me to make a decision. Asking "So...there's a person in front of you, and a person in Africa, both will die, you can save one, which do you pick" is a worthless question because in order to make an informed choice, much more information is needed.

Oh noes...Africans are dying left and right...yes yes!! help them because they are dying more...=

Um...If for the same amount of resources we can help a larger number of people instead of a smaller number of people, we should help the larger number of people. Their ethnicity is completely irellevant. You use the resources you have to do the most help for the most people.

excuse me? what about your family member?

What about my family member? If I'd choose to save a family member over a stranger it is because, like all humans, I am weak when it comes to making choices that cause me personal discomfort. If I'd choose to save a family member over 10 strangers, then I am simply being too emotional in my decision making. That's not to say I consider myself personally strong enough to consign someone to death that I love and care about, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't potentially regret not doing so down the road.

Sharing your attention towards the African child: you will get a picture of a dying child in Africa.
Sharing your attention towards the American child: you will get to share actual MEMORIES and MOMENTS, two VERY tangible things, with this person.

So you pick who to help based on which choice creates the most benefit for -you- instead of for the people in question...that's not selfish at all.

devonin - you think America is admirable because it's "big brother"?

Not at all. I said that cleaning up your own mess is not admirable, and helping people because you have the ability to help them, and do so because it is the right thing is admirable.

as much as you'd like you argue...People are in fact objects.

Sure are. And yet you pick where you want to do your work based on your subjective preference giving good benefits to you personally instead of looking at it objectively and seeing where the most good can be done with the smallest amount of resources.

Oh because there are more of the African ones means that money should be invested there.

No. Volume of the problem isn't relevant. What is relevant is where a limited supply of resources will do the most good. My point abut the numbers in Africa was solely in response to your question "Why do people pick Africa" The answer is "Because so many people there need help" with the corollary that more of them can be helped more for a smaller amount of resources.

Would a farmer plant ten seeds in infertile soil, or one seed in fertile? THE FARMER WOULD CHOOSE THE LATTER.

I'm trying to think of more racist thought I've heard lately, and really not thinking of any. Africa is infertile soil? How ignorant can you be? You're saying here, whether you realise it or not, that Africans are -inferior- to Americans. You're suggesting that given equal opportunities, Americans will yield -better- results than Africans will. I think you'll find throughout history that generally speaking most people given equal opportunities will perform roughly as well as most other people also given equal opportunities. To suggest otherwise is a most slippery slope.

Put your money and time into something that will yield results..

Statistically you get better results investing a million dollars into international relief programs than you have from investing a million dollars into American relief programs.

Give one thousand dollars to an American and you've increased their average income by about 5% Give one thousand dollars to a Ugandan and you've increased their average income by 100%. Who do you think will see a greater result opon their standard of living?

devonin says that america is doing good in africa because he thinks that it is good for america's reputation.

No I'm not. I said it was admirable when a nation gives aid to another because it can afford to, wants to, and wants to for -the right reasons- (IE. Because it is the right thing to do. Doing it "to look good" is -not- "for the right reasons" at all. You've complete misrepresented my position.

well Americans can look just as good if they are economically better than everyone else...

Actually, if they are economically stronger than everyone else and -not- helping people in need, they do not look just as good, they look like greedy selfish bastards.

look at Japan, what countries are they helping?

Japan emerged as one of the largest foreign aid donors in the world during the 1980s.

In 1991 Japan was the second largest foreign aid donor worldwide, behind the United States. Japan's ratio of foreign aid to GNP in this year was 0.32 %, behind the 0.35 % average for the OECD's Development Assistance Committee member countries, but ahead of the United States ratio of 0.20 %.

I hope this closes -that- particular line of reasoning.

yet, Japan is rivaling America in "good image" How is Japan's education compared with the US?

Generally assumed to be better, more effective, and highly useful in the international community.

Just as a reminder, This essay is a highschool paper demonstrating my view on America.

And several people seemed to think that your views were perhaps misguided. You can take that as you will.

when i stated that the purpose of this essay, it was not meant to be ridiculed...only to restate the topic of this discussion.

I don't think anybody here is ridiculing you. I think instead that you're finding your opinions coming up against reasoned supported criticism, and frankly given the state of the north american education system these days, acquitting yourself quite well.

[Chrissi]

Re: Zomg English Essay?

A) ever heard of a super market?...I used the word "toast" as another word for starches, bread, grains..don't take "toast" too literally.

I'm sorry, but this boggles me. "Toast" as another word for "starches"? Please simply admit that you used the wrong word, and correct your paper with the word that you obviously intended to use, which was "bread", not "toast".

If the teacher who marks your work is at all qualified to do their job, they will call you out on this for the same reason ShastaTwist mentioned: "Homeless people don't have toasters."

[zhul4nder]

Re: Zomg English Essay?

FINALLY THE PAPER IS DONE

*note to the people that helped me on this agonizing journing*

This paper does not reflect my true views on America
This was merely a measure of what i could produce.

thanks

i will be posting a final shortly...