One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the major idea of the section:Why Study Morality?
The study of morality is important to the proper development of my character, spirituality, conscience, and relationships. First and foremost, morality helps me to become aware of what is moral and immoral, and what kind of decisions of make. Studying morality increases my awareness of what is moral and immoral, and in this awareness I can realize what actions and decisions are moral, and how these decisions affect the well-being of myself and others. Realizing what decisions and actions are moral or immoral helps me to base my life around moral decisions and avoiding the immoral, thus developing my character and conscience. Furthermore, studying morality will help me to recognize and understand the reasoning behind what is moral and immoral. Realization the reason behind morality will help me to understand both the moral and immoral more in depth, and will help me to differentiate between moral and immoral values that I may not quite understand. Realizing the roots of morality helps me understand morality more effectively and more intensely. After I have become aware of morality in my life and the reasons behind this morality, studying morality will help me to see moral dilemmas in pop-culture, like books, movies, music, and television that all shape society. Recognizing these dilemmas will help me avoid the many immoral influences in society so that I am not pressured to conform or be shaped according to the immoral values. Many of the negative aspects and problems in society are caused by immoral values, like sex and alcohol and drug abuse, which are spread and "supported" in media and entertainment. Seeing moral issues is the first step in helping me avoid the immoral. Studying morality also helps me to improve my moral character by separating the moral from immoral, and educating me to change for the better. Finally, studying morality will help me to understand why society is infested with immoral values and what problems are caused. Seeing why immorality is part of society is a step I can take in avoiding this immorality, and maybe even educating others on how to be moral and the immorality of culture.
Three paragraphs that show knowledge and understanding of morality, as well as personal reflection.
2a. Although one may not expect a rap song to be a moral song, I believe that the song "Thugz Mansion" by NaS breaks the mold of typical rap music by focusing on God, morals, and a change of lifestyle. I bough the NaS album "God's Son" several years ago, and the peaceful track "Thugz Mansion" became my favorite song on the album. The song was originally a Tupac Shakur song, but the NaS version had only an acoustic guitar as the background track and featured new lyrics from NaS as well as audio from the late Tupac from the original song. The following are the lyrics to the song:
[Intro: Nas]
I want you to close your eyes
And vision the most beautiful place in the world
If you in the hood on the ghetto street corner
Come on this journey
The best journey
Acres of land and swimming pools and all that
Check it out
[Verson One: Nas]
I'm capable of anything, my imagination can give me wings
To fly like doves over the streets watchin' many things
Kids walkin' home from school on drug block missionaries
Pass out papers that read: Love God
See faces, cases, judges, juries, masons, lawyers and cops
I watch because every thugs face is my mirror
But this was one in particular
This kid he was the vintage stick em up pro
16 years old, did his jail sentence, nowhere to go
Every mornin calls his comrad to come and get him to smoke
He insane, already gone mad
Blames himself for his setbacks
Dangerous street corners where his sets at
Slang from dust to dawn, detectives act like they maniacs
Chasin' him, his ass was flarin'
Smokin' like a chimney, on really, of course he not carin'
He need a place to go to keep his mind expandin'
I give him a helpin' hand, bring him out to Thugz Mansion
[Chorus: J. Phoenix]
Every corner, every city
There's a place where life's a little easy
Little Hennessy, laid back and cool
Every hour, cause it's all good
Leave all the stress from the world outside
Every wrong done will be alright
Nothin but peace, love
And street passion, every ghetto needs a thug mansion
[Verse Two: 2Pac]
Dear momma don't cry, your baby boy's doin good
Tell the homies I'm in heaven and they ain't got hoods
Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook
Drippin peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke
Then some lady named Billie Holiday
Sang sittin there kickin it with Malcolm, 'til the day came
Little LaTasha sho' grown
Tell the lady in the liquor store that she's forgiven, so come home
Maybe in time you'll understand only God can save us
When Miles Davis cuttin lose with the band
Just think of all the people that you knew in the past
that passed on, they in heaven, found peace at last
Picture a place that they exist, together
There has to be a place better than this, in heaven
So right before I sleep, dear God, what I'm askin
Remember this face, save me a place, in thug's mansion
[Chorus]
[Verse Three: Nas]
A place where death doesn't reside, just thugs who collide
Not to start beef but spark trees, no cops rollin by
No policemen, no homicide, no chalk on the streets
No reason, for nobody's momma to cry
See I'm a good guy, I'm tryin to stick around for my daughter
But if I should die, I know all of my albums support her
This whole year's been crazy, asked the Holy Spirit to save me
Only difference from me and Ossie Davis, gray hair maybe
Cause I feel like my eyes saw too much sufferin
I'm just twenty-some-odd years, I done lost my mother
And I cried tears of joy, I know she smiles on her boy
I dream of you more, my love goes to Afeni Shakur
Cause like Ann Jones, she raised a ghetto king in a war
And just for that alone she shouldn't feel no pain no more
Cause one day we'll all be together, sippin heavnly champagne
What angels saw, with golden wings in thug's mansion
This song is not a stereotypical rap song glorifying drugs, sex, or materialism. The song suggests that we need to close our eyes, and think of paradise, or Heaven, which is a place which is better and more beautiful than the world full of suffering and sin. The first verse mentions kids who walk home on drug blocks, missionaries, and the justice system. This suggests that even the innocent are surrounded by immorality, but God is present to save us from immoral evils. A 16 year old boy si mentioned whose life is full of crime, drugs, and gangs who is completely overwhelmed. The song says that this unfortunate kid needs a place to expand his mind and get help; a place outside from the immoral life he lives. The chorus sings that everywhere there is a place where we can leave the stressful world, be forgiven for our wrongdoings, and exist in peace and love. This chorus hints that in even rough areas, there are love and morals which we need to seek. The third verse says that only God can save us and that all who we love have found peace in Heaven, which in verse three is a place without death, violence, crime, and suffering. I find the music itself beautiful, and the lyrics to be intellectual and moving. The song points to a better place in Heaven and a loving God. Furthermore, the song suggests that even though the world is very immoral, we can find what is moral to achieve love and peace. I like to remember this song because it makes me feel better about myself and the world, relieves my stress, and gives me peace. The moral message of the song reminds me that I should not be overwhelmed by immorality and suffering, and I should seek peace and morality to cure myself and the world of morality.
3. People do wrong in the world for because their conscience has been incorrectly formed, it is part of human nature, society has taught people to accept the immoral, and people attempt to please themselves. People with uninformed consciences, either caused from upbringing, society, or experience, have trouble seeing what is truly wrong or right. Also, it is a part of human nature to sin and do wrong. Sin and suffering are a part of the human condition, and both are caused by people doing wrong. Immoral influences from society cause people to do wrong, because society has taught that it is acceptable or cool to act or do immoral things, particualr in matters of sex, drugs, and alcohol. These influences in turn cause peer pressure with further pressures people to do wrong to be accepted. People also want to please themselves quickly, and often do so immorally. This includes but is not limited to sex, drugs, materialism, money, and alcohol. In attempt to please themselves, people often cast their morals aside, for often morals conflict with instant gratification. Personaly, I do wrong because of pressure to be funny or fit in, avoiding trouble or a bad reputation, and instant gratification. I sometimes do things that I know to be immoral, but I see it as a way to be funny and fit in with friends. Also, I sometimes lie or act differently to prevent getting in trouble, which is doing wrong caused by doing a wrong. Also, I do wrong in an attempt to make myself happy or have instant gratification. This can occur in my relationships with lying, sexuality, laziness, and selfishness.
5.Presently, I think that I have a strong set of moral values, but I am negatively affected by concupiscence, emotion, peer pressure, and cultural values. I feel that my parents did an excellent job raising me in terms of morals, for they have helped me to establish between whats right and whats wrong and why since I was a young child. Presently, I feel I make good moral choices because I relate my decisions to how my parents would feel. For example, I do not drink or do any drugs, I do not drive recklessly, and I work hard and diligently in school. I arely lie to my parents, and have established a firm trust with them for when I go out. I try to limit my lies as much as possibly, but I do emit a white lie here and there to cover for myself, someone else, or avoid conversation. I do fall victim to concupiscence ever now and then, and do things that I know I shouldn't do in terms of lying, selfishness, laziness, and sexuality. My emotions sometimes take superiority over my morals, and I do as I feel or do something to make me feel better, even if it is immoral. Although I take pride in not being too influenced by peer pressure, every now and then I feel like I need to do or say something to appease others, even if it is wrong. Culturally, I find it hard to retain my somewhat strong morals because I am constantly bombarded by sex, drugs, materialism, and alochol in the media and entertainment world. Every now and then I do accept what society thinks, and do something wrong to fit in society. I am pleased with the morals I possess and utilize presently, but I do feel there is much room for improvement, which I should strive for everyday.
One or two good images that remind you of "why study morality?".
