1. The Principle of Human Dignity- Every person throughout the world is deserving of respect and equal treatment. Things such as race, gender, religious beliefs, etc. should never determine how we act towards people, and out treatment of them. It is simply being human and having human qualities that establish our dignity, and being part of a community. I believe this is a fundamental ideal of Catholic teachings for if we discrimate against any other group of people it violates the idea that "every human being is created in the image of God" and therefore equal.
2. The Principle of respect for Human Life- Life throughout each stage in its development is perfect and deserves our respect. It is and will always be wrong to attack and or injury innocent life. I believe this also is very true and practical today as we engage ourselves in a fight against abortion in our modern world.
3. The Principle of Association- Family is the rock that holds society together, and without that stability we cannot salvage our values, and virtues. In social instituions we can acheive our human fulfilment, and grow up to continue this pattern. Again, I believe this is essential to the continuation of our society as a whole. The values of family passed on to their kids can keep children out of trouble and in schools.
4. The Principle of Participation- Every person has the right to participate in activities to achieve human fulfilment. This includes fair wages, unions, and econmic oppertunities. This is very true and real today in our government as companies are obliged by law to have minimum wages, etc. This is important to all humans because without the way of particapting in privlidges one cannot have hope to prosper in their own life.
5. The Principle of Preferential Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable- The poor and underpriviliedged in our world deserve, from those more fortunate, the help to create an equal balance in society. It is a way to make society as a whole prevail and keep them together as a whole. I believe giving to the poor is an important part of every adults life, and when everyone is working together equally more can get done. But I think this could be turned very fanatical, such as Communism, and people will lose there initiative to work.
6. The Principle of Solidarity- This centers around the idea that "we are one human family" and we should love our neighboor to promote an overall world good. I beleive this is important because in a way it reflects some of the ideas of the first building block, and the need for human cooperation throughout the world.
7. The Principle of Stewardship- Stewardship responsibilities include taking care of nature, the enviorment around us, and our use of our talents, and preservation of our health. I believe this is a very practical approach to not only making us better people but passing on the world to the next generation as good if not better than the way we got it.
8. The Principle of Subsidiarity- Oppresive governements- Tyrants, Dictators, etc- violate this simple principle of putting a proper limit on government powers. People who are involved in government need to be common people who are associated with the needs of the common man. This is also important for many of the other building blocks to have a chance of working, and it is important to allow people to live life to the fullist.
9. The Principle of Human Equality- This is the idea of fairness and justice to all human life. This is very important because I believe if all people believed this notion there would be no more prejudes and wars.
10. The Principle of Common Good- As a community it is imporatnce for all to seek the betterment of the common good. It can promote "peace and security," as it is the "social conditions that allow poeple to reach their full human potential." I believe this is important because is shows people how if you put all the 10 building blocks together one can achieve a common good for all people and nations.