One’s Responsibility Affects Her Community

by Banesha Wood

Each and every one of us has a responsibililty. The most important of all responsibilities is personal responsibility. We are all in charge of our own lives. We, as human beings, think what we want to think, say what we want to say, feel what we want to feel, and most definitely do what we want to do. But that doesn’t mean that what we do, say, hear, think, or feel is always right, according to society. However, whatever we do (say, think etc.), we are still responsible for our own actions, whether right or wrong. We must improve the quality of life in our communities. We can increase the percentage of stable, but sane relationships within families. This day in age, the parent-child relationships seem to be getting worse. In some cases the roles are reversed. The parent becomes the child and the child becomes the parent. It is okay for children to help their parents, such as in my case. Every time I get my paycheck, I give a small percentage of my check to my parents. That teaches you responsibility in that you can put money away for something. It doesn’t hurt to help every once in a while, especially if the money is needed. But some kids in my age group, living in the Joliet area are forced to have jobs. They have no social lives and not a lot of time on their hands to have fun. Their days off are usually spent resting. Their lives are already stressful as it is with school and the pressures of being a teenager. But in their cases, their parents are trying to teach them ‘responsibility.’ As long as that child is under the age of eighteen, you are still his or her caretaker of their basic needs until he or she turns eighteen. However, if your child wants, let’s say, a $120 pair of shoes when they already have mint condition shoes, then they have to get a job to pay for them or earn them in a reasonable manner. That brings me to another point.

One issue that really gets to me is the high rate of teen pregnancy in the state that we live in. If you’re not prepared to be a mother or a father, please either remain abstinent or use some sort of contraceptive. But remember, when you use contraceptives, you are still at the risk of getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant. And if you or your partner gets pregnant, you shouldn’t even have the right to have an abortion. You and your partner laid down together and made a baby. You should have thought about the consequences before hand. That baby should not have to suffer because of your mistakes. That baby is now yours and your partner’s personal responsibility for the rest of that child’s life. You and your partner must both deal with the consequences of your actions. In order for children to grow up healthy, obedient, and mentally sane, they need to develop relationships with both parents. Whether the parents are divorced, separated, or not married, that child still needs to have a stable relationship with his or her parents. The majority of kids who have good, stable relationships with both parents, tend to have good, a lasting relationship with kids their own age as well as older people. The majority of kids who have a good, stable relationship with only one parent tend to have rougher relationships than kids who have good relationships with both parents. When people take on their responsibilities, such as child care, that takes considerable stress off the government which makes taxes go down at least a little. If people, the ones that sit around, don’t apply any effort towards getting a job, would get off of their lazy behinds and find a job, life would be so much easier for everyone else. Taxes would go down, the pregnancy rate would go down all because employment rates would go up. Some people that are on welfare seem to think, ‘why should I work and struggle for money, when I can get money and food for my family for free?’ Sure, take the easy way out! But what are you going to amount to by always taking the easy route? How do you expect your kids to make something of his or herself? What kind of life can you give your kids?

Come on, people! Quit being so lazy. Work hard, take on responsibility headfirst! Do something to make yourself proud! The way we take on responsibility and how we deal with it, reflects what kind of person we are. And the same effort we put into making it through the day, combined, we could improve our communities, our children’s lives, and each other’s lives.

Answers To Questions (Incomplete)

Q1-How does society invest in marriage in the USA and in Manus?

In the USA, marriage isn’t seen as being a necessity. So, therefore, society doesn’t really invest that much in marriages. There are more people living together and getting split up rather than people getting married and getting a divorce. In Manus, however, they invest much more than in American society. They invest on enduring marriages rather than divorce. The less divorce rates, the higher the investment rates.

Q2- Interview 10 married people. (no names.) State the length of each one’s marriages and a line or two of advice from each on how to maintain a long, happy relationship.

Couple #1: 17 years, be honest with each other and share your feelings.

Couple #2: 7 years, open communication, Christ at the center of the relationship, love a multitude of faults, and openness.

Couple #3: couple #4: couple #5: couple #6: couple #7: couple #8: couple #9: couple #10:

Q3- According to Richard Eckersley, what should our collective goal be?

Our collective goal is to determine what we want from life, what its purpose is, what makes a better life, how do we get the best of what we want, and to promote what we want. He thinks that we should determine, for ourselves, what real progress is.

Q4- Write a worthy goal for your local community.

Q5- Comment on the excerpts from “tomorrow’s child.”

I both agree and disagree on these excerpts. I don’t believe that dolls are replacing mothers or even fathers. I see toys as something to keep a child occupied. It shows the child at an early age how to care for and how to treat others. But I do agree on the economic issue. Minorities are slowly catching up with the majority. Minorities are tired of living as second-class citizens. Society is slowly getting a makeover.

Q6- How does the fact that the USA is a democracy make lawyers particularly helpful, according to Kathleen Sullivan? How does our diversity, wealth and size make lawyers particularly helpful?

Q7- Ms. Sullivan claims bad practices are changed either by regulations or punitive damages. Which do you prefer and why? Can you think of an alternative?

Q8- Briefly describe three ways society would benefit from the coming retirement of baby boomers, according to the required reading.

Q9- Evaluate the likelihood of President Clinton’s anti-poverty program making a real impact. Give at least three reasons to back up your conclusions.

Q10- Name three things Truett Cathy and Tom Lewis have in common.