1. List two of the Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching you see apparent at SLUH; explain each choice. List which two you see missing and explain each:
Present at SLUH:
In the Principle of Association, how we organize ouselves helps to determine how we grow as humans. At SLUH, there is much opportunity for us to grow with intramurals, sports teams, CSP, Fine Arts, and many other activities. With our individual class, the four years at SLUH helps us to bond and become something of a family to each other. We cry, cheer, and celebrate together. Our class motto helps to show it all, "We Followed as Many, We Lead as One." Our growth as a class has helped us to grow as individuals and as followers of Christ.
In the Principle of Participation, we see that many SLUH Students are active outside of the classroom. I think SLUH is very different from other high schools in the diversity of our cocurriculars and the importance we stress of them. There are so many things that a SLUH student can participate in, they are able to nurture and develop their talents.
Not Present at SLUH:
In the Principle of Human Dignity, I often see SLUH Students putting each other down or saying something derrogatory about someone else. What hurts the most is when a person is made fun of for their talents, which is something GOd has blessed them with. As students of Christ, how can we look at ourselves in the mirror when we make fun of people who try their hardest? Many students at show a severe lack for one another and it hurts me, as a SLUH Student, to walk the halls with those people who scandalize and spread fith about others.
In the Principle of Stewardship, I see a lack of respect for the SLUH environment and people's belongings. When thieves started stealing from the locker room and people's book lockers, it made the school seem more like a sespool of crime than an institution of learning. When stealing occurs at SLUH, it totally breaks away from the ideas of Christ and Ignatius. I hope that stealing stops around SLUH, so people can feel more at ease about their belongings and are able to focus on their education.
2. Two major ideas I want to remember and why I want to remember them:
One idea that I want to remember from this chapter is where Social Justice is taught. The parents should be the essential pieces in order to help develop a person's view of others and what is right or wrong. In our society today, we see other medians such as television and the internet, brainwash and deter the youth from their correceted form of social justice. The parents' role in the youth's development is essential for their proper form of social justice.
Another idea that I want to remember from this chapter is the idea of "loving our neighbors has global dimensions in an interdependent world." As Christians, we are bound together through our love of Christ. Ideas such as oppression and racism should be irrelevant because we are supposed to all be brothers and sisters. Studying diversity for the past three years, this seems to be a core belief of equality and diversity. Even though we are different, we still need to show love and respect for one another, no matter what religion you are.
3. One Picture that Captures Chapter for You:
4. 4. One significant question I have from this chapter, whether intellectual or personal, with a possible answer:
How does oppression and discrimination work into Catholc Social Teaching?
As an African-American and a Catholic, I believe the Church is friendly towards minorities. As a religion itself, the Catholic Church was persecuted for hundreds of years for its radicalism. I believe Catholics are more understanding of the oppression of others because the religion has gone through it itself and grown.
