Blog 4

-What is the establishment clause?

The establishment clause was used to protect religion from the state, not the state from religion (Carter pg 29). My understanding to the establishment clause is that the government trying not to interfere with religion. Carter felt that the establishment clause was unfair, and I think its unfair because we have to think about the minority in public school systems, that have certain rules involved about their religion. The government should take a major part in that because if a child goes to school and get free lunches by the government, and if their serving pizza or hamburgers they won’t be able to eat it because their fasting which is part of some people religion, so it like “what do you do”. Mrs. Welter gave an good example of when she was a child and receiving free lunches and they were serving pizza which she couldn’t eat because there was meat on it, which was part of her religion because they were fasting. So the lunch aid gave her peanut butter and jelly. My concern is do all minorities in public school systems who can’t carry bag lunches have to take a risk, or do minorities have rights that can’t be violated. I think that s what the government should consider.

- Does the first Amendment protect religion from the state or the state from religion?

I actually think it prevent religion from the state. The First Amendment has created a wall between the church and state (Carter pg 105). I agree because children (minorities) are banned from praying in schools, which I disagree because most children pray over their food. It’s kind of unfair to the child because as a child they don’t know what’s going on or what to expect, it’s like how do you suppose to explain to a child or how to tell them to be aware of such things that’s going on in our government.

Works Cited by S.Merchant

Works Cited
Lao-Tzu.” Thoughts From The Tao-te Ching” A World of Ideas: Essential Reading For College Writers
Lee A. Jacobus. Trans.Stephen Mitchell 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins,2006. (Lao-Tzu pgs 20 & 31).

Blog #1

Lao-Tzu Pre-Readings Question
1. What is the Master’s attitude toward action?
- While reading Thoughts From The Tao-Te Ching I found very interesting things about Lao-Tzu. Lao-Tzu has a great humble ambition, but his attitude toward action is basically he believes people should follow the Tao footsteps “to be able to accomplish good things for themselves“(Lao-Tzu pa 20). I think Lao-Tzu wants to get credit for what he has taught the people, not meaning that he’s arrogant but with all said he knew the message he was trying to put out wasn’t going to be put into action, but still believe he is a great leader to others.

Questions for Critical Reading

1. According to Lao-Tzu, what must the ruler provide the people with if they are to be happy.
-The ruler must provide the people to walk in their shoes to know what their going through, and to follow them to know where their going, and take them where they want to go. The ruler must know what the people want at all times and not put himself below them, because he wants to lead the people.

2. How would you describe Lao-Tzu attitude toward the people?
-I think Lao-Tzu attitude toward the people is very positive because he wants people to see the world the way he sees it. He also wants people to know where he’s coming from he mentioned that “what if he let go of the law, then more individuals will become honest, and letting go economics more people will become prosperous meaning advance to knowledge or success”(Lao-Tzu pg 31). Lao-Tzu just wants to be a great leader to the people so he wants them to understand the government and what he could do to change it.

3. Why does Lao-Tzu think the world cannot be improved?
-Lao-Tzu thinks the world cannot be improved because there is no improvement, meaning people (the government) has done enough damage. I personally agree because far as the war, poverty, the economics and there are many people who is unemployed and that’s why government in today’s society don’t really care about the people, and that’s why he mentioned in verse 66 that its now time to walk in other people shoes and help lead the people.

S.Merchant