June 2, 2004

I'm Back!
Ashleigh

Sorry it took so long to respond, but I am back to try to correct my mistakes!
Everett, Edmund Burke certainly does fit you very well. I am rather partial to some aspects of Diderot and some aspects of Voltaire's philosphies.
I think I really misunderstood you about the whole male jobs/women jobs. Sorry about that, it was late when I read your article, so I think I will drop that part of the debate because you do have a point. Women are better suited to some jobs and men are better suited to other jobs. However, what I was trying to say was that when we try to draw such rigid borders between the two genders, we lose the favorable aspects that each can bring to a job that is not typically a "man job" or a "woman job." I believe that the boundaries should be open to alow mobility, but I see what you meant now, and I agree to a point.
However, men more rational? I don't know about rational, but I would think it would be more general and basic, while women are inclined to be detailed to the point of being anal, I guess some whould call it perfectionist. I have noticed that guys will tend to do what is asked, while women search for the best deal or try to get things perfect. I am sure you probably know more than I do, so I shall leave the topic there.
Gender division had to have occured in times when humans were closer to animals than the advanced being we place ourselves as, when the biological differences really mattered. It has lasted so long only because we are stuck into the system of women as the gatherers and men the hunters. Would the system still be in place today? Who knows! We have never seen the system the other way around, so how can we know? However, I don't believe in turning the system around, just keeping oppurtunities open and equal to both genders, so that there is mobility in society.
Isn't it possible, that when a system is set in place, such as women caring for children and men fighting, that when it is taught to the children, it will stick? The children will teach the system to their children and so forth. And maybe the system was beneficial in the first place, but when the system goes through so many generations, it likely to become distorted. And ideals change too. Soon, you have one gender seeing themself superior and the other subservient, in a time when such a system is no longer as important? Sure, women are more suited to some jobs more than men and visa versa, but we must allow the mobility, ah-hah, that's the word-----equilibrium! An equilibrium would be best, a mix of two materials. We must try to shake off the pyramid system for a balnce, oh but there I go, contrasting with what I have said before. Pah.
Now, I don't believe I have ever said that I approved of the system in Brave New World. I don't approve of it because the people forfeited their most precious gift-thought- for ignorance and comfort. Your ability to think and question keeps you unique.
And...onward. isn't discrimination chosing between two alternatives out of ignorance? I doubt many whites discriminated against blacks because they knew them personally and just did not like them. It was probably more like a band-wagon and "white-superiority" issue. Discrimination tends to ignore the whole truth, so criteria has to change to realize the unfairness of the choice being made. The idea of equality is challenged by discrimination which sets up a "I'm-better-than-you" system. How can discrimination be right when its very basis goes against the idea of equality?
Thank you Everett, for pointing out my mistake about change. But, we must realize that all revolutions were done with the best intentions and the support of the people. They were all part of the 'struggle for good" even if they did not result in a fair system of government or society.
When I said "religion should be a light blanket," I meant that we should not use our religion to make others feel bad...we should not use religion to discriminate. We need to accept everyone else's religions (if they do not harm others) no matter their beliefs in order to keep close to our morals.
To the Church...i think what I meant was that when someone disagrees with the Church, that means the Church is wrong to them, but not neccesarily wrong to all the other followers. You also talk about guiding souls to Heaven and giving them support for the journey as the role of the Church, and how this system works. I am not saying anything bad about the Church now, but would you call the Inquisition something that works? Was the burning of Protestants and Jews and any other so called heretics an effective way of salvaging souls? Now,I know the Church is not that way now, but I am not quite clear as to if this was a case of corruption in the Church, because I don't recall it being, but it has been a long time since I have looked at any of my books on history recently.
And, I see your point of the whole Church corruption with the priests who molested children, et cetera. If they ( including the officials who tried to hide the crimes) had followed the rules of the religon, no harm would have came. And, if they were not able to keep to the doctrines of the faith, were they really that suited to be priests in the first place? Where they faithful if they coul not keep to the faith?
And the sites you suggested, Everett, opened my eyes, but I have one problem with them---I find the author extremely biased. It seems as if his whole life purpose was to show women are the "weaker" gender. If women really concentrated on the military, if they were intent on doing well, they could perform well for their capabilities. Women can't be compared to men because the fact is that men do have much more muscle than women.
Another thing point that is not really figured into the equation in the mental capabilities. You find both extremely bright men And women.
And to Elendur...thank you for pointing out my mistake! I did not even think about the viewpoint of Catholics to the Catholic Church. However, I want to remind that truth is relative to the person you are speaking to.
I noticed that my article differs greatly from the other debates. If anyone wants to respond to me, make sure that you specify who you are in the subject and that you are from Tolkien-movies.com and email me at Aldalith17@aol.com. Or you could post it here. Whatever.

Ashleigh