Pakistan Article

I think it is important that we are keeping an eye on Pakistan, but we shouldn't declare ourselves the main enforcer. Pakistan's policies (which have religious roots) are not ideal for trying to stay on the same level with Pakistan. "Husain Yllaqqani, a Pakistani politician and commentator" who has had problems with his government says, "By using jihad as an instrument of policy in Kashmir and Afghanistan, Pakistan may think it has been using the jihadis, but the jihadis have been using Pakistan." (p. 122) This quote explains how the country of Pakistan gets the blame for things that its citizens do. However, it is our goal that their government take charge, but with their nuclear possibilities, it is not wise to jump into things without knowing what to do next.

Summary and Thoughts on the Crito (by Plato)

Socrates is visited by a friend (Crito) who tells him to let them bail him out of jail because the reason for his being in jail was absurd. Socrates responds with the excuse that the laws that he is held against are those that he has been brought up under, and he doesn't have that authority to crumble a foundation which has built him up.

I really liked reading this part. It was an interesting look at how one should be loyal to their government in the sense that they usually have the best interest for you. He makes a comment about them having many good people that will consider things when looking at his case, and he feels that in their hands, true justice will be done, because they are mainly good people. Even though people want him to rebel and be angry with the government, he can't because this is the government that has guided him and he has become used to living by their laws.

Dialogues of Plato--Apology Summary and Reflections

The Apology part in the Dialogues of Plato was Socrates' "confession" saying he really didn't do anything wrong, except try to better humanity with the men he conversed with. He is accused of "intentionally corrupting" his students and being an atheist, while on the contrary, he believes in demigods, saying that one cannot simply "believe in horsemanship but not horses". He also makes the point that he is the wisest around, after searching far and wide for someone else to break the fortune that the oracle at Delphi told him. After defending his teachings, showing his uncertainties of whether being sentenced to death is good or evil, and letting the judges' consciousness pull the guilty heart-strings at sentencing such a gift to the community (Socrates himself), he gives a final statement that says if they rule in favor of his death, may they also teach his sons this corrupt way of ruling, because he has taught them to live with more value given to "virtue", rather than "riches" and yet, he is still seen as doing something wrong, then his children will "receive justice in your hands", hands if he is convicted, deemed filthy with corruption.

For the most part, I liked this section of the book. At first, Socrates seemed really pompous and arrogant. Then, as I read further, the realization set in that this man was on his deathbed not because of his age (which was "up there" too) but the accusation of being "impious" and corrupting the youth from what he was teaching. He had to speak this way to get his point across that he was qualified to be teaching what he was and that his beliefs weren't all that different from the community's. However, I wonder if some of his conclusions regarding his intelligence and virtue really helped his case or made them worse. He kept talking about going to other people throughout the communities (artisans, poets, etc.) of the surrounding area and conversing with them to measure their intelligence. Even those men who were highly "ranked" in their community were deemed unworthy of the title given to Socrates (the wisest). When talking with someone with this attitude, I don't feel compelled to forgive them for what they have done, because their attitude gives me no feeling of remorse for the charge they have been charged of. Since he tells the judges he is no great orator this flaw is smoothed over, but still, as someone that is basically begging for their life, he could've been a little more humble to his fellow community members.

Law and Justice

This article explains that the laws don't always provide justice. Some exercising their rights to protest have been restrained, while it goes against a person's rights to "freedom and prosperity". Also, one cannot simply live by laws alone, "...stability and order are not the only desirable conditions of social life...there is also justice." laws without justice are not what America was built on. For every American to have an equal chance in life, justice must be also present with laws.

The founding of our country had a firm belief that things about our government should be changed and new laws have been made to try and keep those principals in mind. No, however, when it might be a time for change, we are penalized for wanting the change. I also think that the law doesn't fit all cases, and to simply folllow the law for everything will eventually create a "rebellion". Certain laws, especially the draft, if reenacted, should be reconsidered, especially the ability of men to avoid the war by paying their way out.