Thought-Provokers Survey

Thought-Provokers Survey
Part 2

Instructions: Complete the second part of the Thought-Provokers Survey by choosing the three (3) propositions that provoked the strongest reaction in you…whether positive or negative. Identify each by putting its number, a couple of words describing the gist of the proposition, and repeating your uncensored response to it in Part 1. Finally, in the space provided compose a paragraph or two (minimum of 100 words) describing and explaining what it was about the statement that provoked your reaction. Note: For best results, complete this part of the survey by inputting your answers on your computer and then copying and pasting them in a post to the designated folder on the Forum.

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Thought-Provoker # 3 Gist: Environmental Pollution

Your reaction (from above): I was not shocked at all. I agree with the statement.

Explanation of your response: China has the largest population in the world. People would assume with such a large population, consumption of natural resources would be great as well. However, Americans consume far more than any other nation on the planet. Americans consume more than three times the global average of 80 pounds per person per year. Asians consume the least, at 13 pounds per person per year. Since the last century, the United States has been struggling immensely with air and water pollution, deforestation and overpopulation. These struggles are due to poor prevention planning and industrial demonstration. Unfortunately, it is not only the United States that needs to change. Many other countries are going through the same struggle. Prevention and preservation is up to every person, business, and government organization by changing the way we all reduce, reuse, and recycle products to change the bad habits humans have been senselessly doing in the past century. Taking care of our most precious resources and preserving them for our future generations to come should be one of the top priorities of our time. Preserving water and air, and using smart growth plans are the key to sustaining the needs of the human race.

Thought-Provoker # 18 Gist: Extremely Nationalistic

Your reaction (from above): Jingoistic nationalism does nothing for me. I don't want to compete with the world

Explanation of your response: I really do not care about being number one. All I want in this country is the undeniable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a reality for all citizens. We have been exceedingly blessed to live on this particular land mass, a geographical location of unparalleled bounty, spanning climate zones from semi-tropical to northern boreal. We can grow an enormous amount of food on this land, more than enough to never be subject to famine within our borders. We are blessed with just about every natural resource needed for the manufacture of all the tools and products helpful to providing a comfortable life for all our citizens. We could all have enough, enough to live much better than bare survival, enough to raise healthy children, enough to pursue our own individual paths toward happiness, if only those for whom there will never be enough weren't given free rein to control and dominate the rest of us. The extremely greedy among us are given every chance, every benefit in our current system. We, the ordinary citizens, don't need to compete with China and India. We could do fine if our government simply focused on making use of all the bounty of our land to take care of our own people. Competition is a destructive idea. I would far prefer economic power and self-sufficiency, and cooperation and community-building within our borders.

Thought-Provoker # 12 Gist: Blasphemy

Your reaction (from above): Did not take too kindly to what I had read, however, I am not one to judge

Explanation of your response: For many years, those of us who believe in God believe that He is the Almighty and that He created us in his image. When God created man in His own image The Bible means that man is similar to God in the sense that we have the same characteristics as He does. Such as love, compassion, kindness, anger, sadness, and hospitality. Man is definitely not God and God is definitely not man. For example, when you look in a mirror you see an image of yourself. But is it you? No, it's just a reflection, a likeness. This is the same thing with God creating man. We are not God, but we are similar to his likeness.