Racism

Prompt #1 Define and describe your topic as an ethical issue and identify the controversies and dilemmas within the issue. Seek to do general background reading to understand the main issues inherent in your topic.Identify at least two opposing positions often taken on your ethical issue, and explain two to three main arguments for each side.

Racial discrimination is the the act of excluding a group of people as a result of similar traits. People will consider a person's race and/or ethnicity first before personality traits and abilities. Defining someone or a group of people based on similarities are to be considered a stereotype. Some groups of people may find it difficult finding employment, promotions, certain rights, better treatment, etc. Recently, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Arizona Immigration Law. The law allows and/or calls for 'racial profiling.' Due to the high border violence/crime, Arizona is making it a priority to minimize it. The act of doing that is understandable. The means to achieve those goals are questionable. A person now has to narrow down choices of what the 'immigrant' may look like. To some of Arizona, it may be brown skin, dark hair, with an accent. The general image is a racial profile of a typical immigrant. There were a few incidents where Arizona had previous issues regarding racial discrimination/inequality. The state of Arizona denied Martin Luther King's birthday as a holiday. No one is sure of there means of doing so. But a few had to wonder if it was because of the color of his skin. Many tourists have boycotted the 1993 Superbowl as well as the 2011 All Star game.

Prompt #2 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Judaism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

There are three different sects to Judaism; Orthodox, Hasidim, Conservative, and Reform. Depending on which sect, the topic of racism may vary. Specifically, Jewish and blacks had a negative history. Jews were very avid about discrimination, segregation, etc. during the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is believed to be directed to Christians as well as Jewish people. Jews can also be divided up by race. There are some articles suggesting White Jews wanted to attain supremacy over all other Jews. 'Be kind to thy neighbor' is one of the things followed by Jews. Acts against that, would be illegal while immoral also. The legal aspect would be disobeying a written rule. A case could be made about the immoral aspect. If one was being racist while practicing Judaism could be prosecuted for denying their religion. It all depends on the sects and how strong their beliefs are.

Prompt #3 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Hinduism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Hinduism is revolved around the Vedas, sacred scriptures. India had a caste system based on social classes. The Brahmans were known as the priestly class or highest on earth. The top three social classes were allowed to study the Vedas, whereas the bottom two social classes were not. Many religions have just one God, where as in Hinduism the follower has a choice in one of the Gods they want to believe in. The laws of karma are applied. It refers to the acts in present life to the next (afterlife). Dharma is religious duties in which the person must follow to attain "good" karma. An important principle to Hinduism is animsa; non violence.

India has had a a history of inequality. Their traditional caste system depended on heredity. The elite will always be elite, and the poor will always be poor. They allowed for no opportunities to move up in the system. Inability to let a person move within their society is unjust. Based on that, I would think inequality is a public matter. Hinduism differs from my ethical issue because they are the ones who are discriminating. There are consequences for the people who attempt to achieve higher social status. For example, a lower class male cannot marry a woman in the higher class.

http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/beliefs.htm

Prompt #4

11-22-10 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Buddhism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Buddhism is based off of the Four Noble Truths. 1. There is suffering. 2. There is a cause of suffering. 3. There is the cessation of suffering. 4. There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering. Discrimination will occur because we are human, and humans make mistakes. The best way to deal with discrimination/inequality that you have done is to be truly honest with yourself. Everyone is different in their own unique way. It's more of a personal issue because it's a person's thoughts and feelings towards another human being. They believe everyone needs to come together and live in peace. Discrimination should not be accounted by the person doing it, but instead at the 'root' of the cause whatever that may be. Buddhism is a religion that believes in pacifism.

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma6/peace.html

Prompt #5

12/06/10 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **The Chinese Philosophies: Confucianism and Taoism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Taoism and Confucianism are considered to be very 'peaceful' religions. The word //Tao// translates in English meaning 'the way of life.' It stresses the importance of harmony. Yin Yang is a famous symbol recognized throughout the world. The black and white symbol represents balance in the world. If one is just a little off balance, the world is not at peace. Yin is considered to be the feminine aspect, while yang is the masculine part. The black swirl represents the earth, whereas the white section is heaven. Confucianism is focused more on authority. People follow rules without reasoning. There are Five Bonds to Confucianism. Ruler to Subject. Father to son. Husband to wife. Elder brother to younger brother. Friend to friend. It is important to obtain social harmony. Every person knows their 'place.' There was no actual information on race and inequality within Chinese philosophies. From the the research above, I concluded inequality would be condemned. It would disrupt the social harmony and balance in a person's life. Although Confucianism wants social order, there is an inequality present. There is a distinct division between the rule and everyday people of society.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism2.htm []

Prompt #6 The Script. Discrimination and inequality are controversial topics. Many different viewpoints on the issues are based on personal reasons vary. Most religions are vague in their teachings of discrimination and inequaility. It's difficult to say what every religion's viewpoint is. It depends more upon the person and their interpretations of their religion or other religions. For that reason, the following information is based on research gathered and based on each religion's general beliefs and teachings. Both topics date back from the beginning of creation. Antisemitism is the hatred for Jews. This movement dated all the way back to biblical times. The hatred for Jews continued when Adolf Hilter was the dictator in Germany. He was very public about his belief in Antisemitism. The Holocaust was the systematic mass murdering of over six million Jews. There is a long history of ethnic tension between Judaism and Islam. The Zionist movement began in order to find the people of Judaism a home. There was a terroritorial dispute over Palestine between the two groups. Islam is often labeled as an 'extreme' religion. Their followers believe in Jihad. It is a religious duty in order to unite with Allah. After the 9/11 terrorists attacks, there was a dramatic increase for Islamaphobia; the fear of Islam or Muslims. Osama Bin Laden claimed he did the acts for religious means. People are mistaken by that, when in fact that is the extremist viewpoint on the Jihad. The adherents of Islam officially reject racism according to a few resources. There are many different ways to interepret the last statement. Like I mention before, it depends more so on the individual. But within Islam, the discrimination and inequality are apparent within the society. Women are treated beneath men. They have to ask their husband if they can leave to go anywhere. Women are employed doing 'feminine' jobs such as teaching, health care, and domestic work. Christianity is the world's largest religion. They believe in treating thy neighbor the way you want to be treated. To reiterate, we are only human. The intentions are meant to be good, but we still make mistakes. Christianity has a lengthy record of different accounts relating to discrimination and inequality. American slavery in the 1800's is very controversial. Northerns condemned slavery. Southern political and religious leaders praised slavery. One religious leader went as far as writing a book. In his own words, he claims Jesus Christ has not abolished slavery by a prohibitory command. Eastern religions have a different take on the views of discrimination and inequality. They are more 'peaceful' religions. Buddhism sees everyone coming from the same place, therefore they are equal. We are human and will make mistakes. The person must come to terms with their own mistake. Taoism emphasizes on harmony with everything. January 4th, is a Taoist holiday dedicated to 'end all manifestation of racism.' The whole month of Febuary is Ethnic Equality Month. They pay respects to everyone. Meditation is done to focus on the equality of all races coming together. Based on the teachings, discrimination would disrupt their harmony. Confucianism is based more on authority. That could be viewed as an inequality because there is Hinduism was based on the traditional caste system. There were five distinct social classes. The set up allows for no social movement, only within their class. There is no formal punishment from each religion for discrimination and inequality from the gathered information. Each religion has different accounts about discrimination. For most of the religions, discrimination is looked down upon. To reiterate, my ethical issue is more of a personal morals. In the end it is how the person feels and if they view the ethical issue as right or wrong. [] []