15Feb12 David Brooks' op-ed about society & the role of government. Note his picture of human nature.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/opinion/brooks-the-materialist-fallacy.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212
15Feb12 A long story, but well worth it, about a solider who was burned in Afghanistan and his recovery. The focus of the story is the man, but also a treatment for pain. You'll have a better sense of the experience of severe burns, the treatments, including many surgeries, and especially the mental fortitude necessary to survive. http://m.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/201202/burning-man-sam-brown-jay-kirk-gq-february-2012
15Feb12 "Army Studies Workout Supplements After Two Deaths"
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/business/army-studies-workout-supplements-after-2-deaths.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25
I found the article "Army Studies Workout Supplements After Two Deaths" very interesting. In the article it says that two soldiers died during physical activity after taking 2 supplements. The supplier’s claim that if taken as directed there should be no issues. I believe using supplements is very dangerous and not worth it. It is completely possible to reach your desired fitness goals without using any supplements. Although it might be the easy and quicker way to reach your goals, it is most certainly not the healthy way. As an athlete, I would never consider taking such supplements. Although they are legal, I believe it is cheating. Ultimately, anything that could be life-threatening is not worth it. It is a shame that these two soldiers may have died from these products. I am glad the Army is investigating the products.
ReplyDeleteThe New York Times article concerning the shift between social values over the course of two respective half-centuries presents interesting thoughts and data that incite deep pondering. Five decades before 1962, as the article outlines, there was social growth marked by high marriage rates and social cohesion. Five decades after 1962, more commonly known as the present day, social interaction's quality is weak, having declined horribly for whatever reason. The last five decades have overseen many children born out of wedlock and other social pains that occur on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteA common question, naturally, arises: why has the social sect in the United States declined so? Three separate theories attempt to answer such a question. First, the liberals' theory surrounds the economy, saying that the loss of working class jobs has led to declining social graces. The Neo-Conservatives, in their theory, have a theory that involves culture; they say that by abandonment of norms and neglecting family life, social activity has markedly declined. The final theory, posed by the Libertarians, concerns the government, saying that the lack of incentives causes social interaction to decline rampantly.
As stressed, these reasons for social destruction in the United States are outlined by theories--educated sets of beliefs used for explanation. The past 25 years and the witnessed declines have prompted philosophers and sociologists to devise new schools of thought on the social decline. Under the realization that social disorganization--once it starts--marches to the beat of its own drum at its own momentum, several points were examined, bringing about realistic observations. First, disorganized neighborhoods do not correspond with corrupting values. Then, there exists the observation that social contexts preview behavior. Third, disruption breeds disruption, meaning that tension leads to more tension socially.
Upon reading the aspects outlined by this relatively fresh theory, I began fostering the impression that the new ideas indicate that our PERCEPTION of social mishaps result from our PERCEPTIONS on commonly occurring topics. Therefore, we cannot blame social decline on lacking jobs, shifting workforce, lack of education, the economy, etc.
Social interaction, as it occurred in the early 1960's and before in America, requires deep, insightful sociological thought. It takes effort--something that many Americans can no longer wrap their heads around. Social losses are unfortunate; however, only we harness the power to recommence the return to the days of old.
The story I read was “Burning Man”, a story about a soldier who suffered from a burns as a result of an IED explosion on his tour of duty in Afghanistan. This story talks about his rehabilitation and how he managed the pain with the help of virtual relativity. This story touches on two topics we discussed that I can think of from class. The first is the comment his brother made to him about being invincible. Some people, especially young teens that join the military, don't think too much about their self dying because it won't happen to them. They only can look at death from a logical perspective where others die but not themselves. Today in the military, more often soldiers return from battle not dead but disabled from battle injuries, which makes it a lot harder to integrate back into society.
ReplyDeleteSuicides in the army at a high because of post traumatic stress disorder, many soldiers have trouble coping with what they have witness in war torn countries. Some turn to drugs and alcohol to escape from the world. Our culture used to condition men that to show weakness as a bad thing, so they have a hard time dealing with their problems. This can lead to an alienation of some soldiers returning from duty because the army desensitizes people do death.
The use of virtual reality video games soldiers can help cope with the pain of their wounds which is a great tool at their disposal. At the same time, video games can also be taken out of context and be used for desensitizes anyone who plays them if they don't understand what the game is meant for. I enjoy video games but see how if someone that doesn’t really understand the concept of war or murder can have harmful effects on that person growing up. Games that have re-spawns when you die encourage the belief that you are invincible and you will never really die; only other people around you will. Games like Call of Duty present wars that are beautified version of reality. they distances players from what really happens in the world, which could probably contribute to the belief of pushing the thought of death away from the individual until death is right in their face.
I agree with Allison the risk of taking suplaments is to great for anyone to risk. It is just as possible for someone be as fit through hard work. I am glad the army is looking into these things however I think the company should be as well army soldiers go through physicals all the time so they are likely at the peak of health and if they died from these supplements then it i possible that anyone could.
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