Special Topics

Journal 5: Special Topics

1) The key idea of this section is that there are numerous areas in our lives where we will have to make difficult moral decisions. It is a good idea to begin to think about these potential problems now so that they are easier to handle if they should ever arise. We can also gather more sources to help make the decision with a greater amount of time. Dealing with these problems can also come up as we turn 18 and begin to vote, possibly on similar moral dilemmas to those we have heard about in this section. The topics we covered will probably be the most difficult moral problems we could face.

2) A) Whenever I think of war, I want to remember My Lai, the war that took us across the Pacific to fight against the spread of communism. At the time many believed it to be an unjust war, and now even more feel it was a stupid war. My Lai was the small village in South Vietnam thought to have Viet-Kong sympathizers that was attacked by US soldiers. First of all, the fact that it took the country over a year and a half to find out about it is unsettling (to think of what could be going on in Iraq right now that we may not find out about until next year). Much worse, however, were the horrible deeds that �good�, well-trained American soldiers took place in during the raid of the town full of innocent people. It is hard to believe that so many soldiers killed children and raped and killed women with no idea why they were under attack. Hundreds of innocent people died that day in March, 1968.

B) I also would like to remember the difficult decisions that had to be made in Dateline special we watched. I never knew that hospitals have special groups formed to make the ethical decisions involved in hospital life. It�s good to know that they try their best to make the best decision for people and their families and not just doing whatever they feel like at the spur of the moment. Never had I thought of the difficult situations I could have to make some day regarding the lives of my parents or kids. It will help me to form my beliefs on the subject before I have to deal with it. The story of Heather Wilson helped to open my eyes to why I should be an organ donor, I had immediately decided not to when I got my license, but I can now see the difference it can make.�

C) The segment of 60 Minutes about Jim Goodnight, the cofounder/CEO of SAS was really incredible. It is hard to believe that a company that spends so much money simply helping their employers could be profitable. SAS sounds like it would be a dream job to work about 7 hours a day, and have an awesome opportunity to keep in shape with the fitness center and activities they offer. I�m glad that this place exists and that it can make a good profit, because that�s what makes it so appealing to big corporations, the money. Maybe some day other companies will realize that happy employers perform much better than troubled employees, and are therefore more profitable.

This site has many pictures depicting the brutalities of war.

4) How is it possible to make a decision to let a loved one die with strong arguments on either side?

�� The only way someone could make such a difficult decision without any regrets would be if they were to choose the chance of life, and the loved one fully recovers. The chance of this is very slim, though possible. Every other possibility leaves doubts in one�s mind as to maybe they would�ve survived, or that they should�ve ended this suffering that can hardly be called life. But a decision has to be made, and it is difficult, but I guess sometimes you just might have to live with regrets.

5) I can be a more moral person by facing these decisions as best as I possibly can if I ever have to. I can�t run away from the crisis, and so I must do what is best for the world, my loved ones, and me.

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