System Examples

No one at Countrywide cared about the man with Parkinson’s because he was outside the system. He wasn’t familiar with the English language and had a debilitating disease that left hi largely unable to take care of business on his own. When he was at risk of losing his home (for not paying back on his $20,000 loan) the company didn’t call him or demand to meet with him about his property. They should never have auctioned his home away, but instead given him an extension on the loan he owed them. The reason Countrywide did this is because it wouldn’t have benefitted them. By auctioning off the home, they were able to keep money that he already paid on the loan and the profit from the sale of the home. Even if the man had the money to buy the home back, they still would’ve made a $350,000 profit. We should have a different response because if people see this continuing to happen, they may not want to do business with Countrywide, causing them to lose business, and thus profit. Morally, it is horrible to evict a man with Parkinson's from his home.


We learned from the Stanford jail experience that even in a short period of time systems can change people’s social ideology. The student’s who were given the role of a prison warden quickly became the wardens became ruthless and tyrannical in reaction to an oppressive system. They were given some power and abused it to the fullest extent to dehumanize another human being. The students who were given the role of prisoners took on a prison mentality, and didn’t feel like it was just an experiment. This shows us that systems, oppressive or otherwise, are extremely powerful in shaping people’s relationships with each other as a society. They also have a profound impact on people’s identity of themselves as a member of that society, and how they conform to fit the role that they’re placed in. Systems make people behave so badly either because they feel that they have almost unlimited power, and can do what they please, or because they are angry that they’re being oppressed and are powerless.

The System

Systems cause so much harm because often times the people that they're serving aren't the same people that they're set up for. If a person is outside the system (not a direct beneficiary) then they may be put at a disadvantage. The people who the system was set up for usually prosper in the system. The people outside the system usually want to change it to better serve them because they don't realize that the system was never really for them in the first place. They think that because the system isn't serving them that it is dysfunctional (they may or may not be correct). Then there becomes conflict between the system's beneficiaries (who want the system to stay in place) and those outside the system who want revolution. What we have been learning in class is that systems are often too large to benefit everyone. Though this is true, many systems (almost all the ones we see every day) portray and advertise themselves as institutions that are in place to serve everyone (i.e. the government, public and private education, insurance companies, etc.). We know that this is untrue, yet the systems keep saying it is so that they can take advantage of the people that conform to the rules and authority of those who run the system. This may be done at a conscious or unconscious level. Beneficiaries and creators of the systems often times know that the number of people involved in the system is too large for it to benefit each one individually, creating a type of systematic hypocrisy . This hypocrisy in hurting everyone outside the system and is benefiting everyone who’s “in”.

The Unmerciful Servant

The parable is about the high level servant. The King decided to forgive the servant because the man pleaded on behalf of his family. The King thought that the man was truly sorry from his heart. The servant doesn't forgive the debts of the man who owes him money because he didn't have a merciful heart,and when he begged the King for mercy, he didn't really mean it and was ungreatful. Since the Kingdom of God is like the parable, that tell us that God is willing to forgive our sins if we have a sincere heart and are willing to forgive others what they have done to us.

US Involvement

1)What does Israeli/Palestinian conflict have to do with the US war in Iraq?

The Israeli/Palestinian conflict affected the war in Iraq because of the cat's paw policy. The United States was interested in the area because in forming an alliance with Israel, and aiding them in combat against Palestinians, Israelis allowed US military operations to be based there. American weapons were also stored at bases in Israel. Keeping weapons much closer to Iraq than they would've been at home, better attacks were able to be launched against Iraqis in efforts to get oil. Because Israelis are also closer to Iraq it is easier for them to in turn aid Americas in their participation of engaged warfare.






2)What was Israel's "convergence plan" for the West Bank and why did President Bush endorse Israel's unilateral 2004 plans to annex much of the West Bank?

The convergence plan involved drawing up permanent borders for an Israeli state, giving Israel more territory and reducing the Palestinian population. It would take over half of the land in the West Bank and give the best agricultural land and resources to Jewish settlements. The Palestinians would be given land in 3 separate pockets of the territory. A wall would be built for a "separation wall" in Palestinian occupied territory. Americans supported this plan because of the overwhelming support for Israel in the United States and because of general Americans interest in the Israeli policy. American doesn't want to lose the deal struck with Israelis for military operations.

NPR section 3-7 synopsis

Section 3: Britain decided to withdraw from occupying the territory. They were pro-Zionist (Balfour Declaration)so they wanted to help Jews establish a homeland. Palestinians and Jews began to fight over the land.

Section 4:None of the Arab states were on good terms with Israel. Israel began a (allegedly defensive war) with Syria, Egypt, and Jordan in 1967 which became known as the 6day war. They annexed many popular landsd for Israelis, especially the West Bank and Gaza strip.

Section 5: In 1973, Egypt and Syria ensued the Yom Kippur War with Egypt to get back the land they lost in the 6day war which called for an assessment of the military strength of arabs states in the region although Israel recovered. During this time, the peace process began and the PLO was started under Arafat. The PLO determined that it would have to stand alone against Israelis but that peace was also necessary.

Section 6: In 1987, Palestinians grew tired of oppression and had a small scale rebellion. The Israelis countered with extremely excessive force. This became knonw as the first Intifada. In 1992, Rabin was made prime minister of Israel and organized secret peace meetings in Oslo, Sweden. The Oslo agreement was eventually signed at the White House in 1993.

Section 7: The Oslo agreement failed because Rabin was assassinated, Hamas started to bomb Jerusalem, and Netanyahu was elected prime minister. He drastically slowed peace agreements and increased Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Barak was then made prime minister and the Campa David Accords were signed between he and Arafat and mediated by Clinton (this also failed). The Second Intifada broke out and violence has escaladed ever since.

Parable of the Wicked Tenants

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants is one with a message more significant than just non-violence and ancient Jewish land rights. It's most significant meaning is addressing the conflict between the elite and oppressed of Jewish society. When Jesus gave his message, verse 12 says that they were upset and troubled by his words so they went away angry. The people didn't like to hear Jesus' words about patience (which is essentially what he says in verse 10 when he talks about the rejected being exalted). They wanted instant gratification, immediate social revolution. The poor farmers were tired of being poor and oppressed and sick of their land being taken from them (in other words they were in no mood for a pacifist leader. Jesus wasn't telling the people what they wanted to hear.

Letter to Senator

To whom it may concern:(Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Boxer and Rep. Miller)
Advocating for : The Education for All Act (S.1259/ H.R. 2092)
Global Child Survival Act (S.1418 /H.R. 2266)
GROWTH Act (H.R. 2965)
Jubilee Act (H.R. 2634)

Hello, my name is Kimberlee Cox and I am writing in support of the bills mentioned above. In regards to the Education for All Act, I urge you to support it to help children in other countries have an opportunity to a quality education, as I hope you advocate for American children to be secured the right to a quality education. Supporting this bill would directly lead to a more educated global community, and possibly the solution to many of international issues and advances in science and medicine. You have the power to promote this by supporting this bill. Secondly, I urge you to support the Global Child Survival Act. It’s a sad testimony to the state of out world when innocent children die from diseases so simply they're considered a non-issue in our privileged country. All I ask of you is that you endorse this bill to make sure our country is doing it's part to ensure adequate drinking water, vaccinations, maternal health, etc. (for relatively no cost to us). Next, I ask you to please support the GROWTH Act. Two of you that I write to are powerful women who enjoy the ability to exercise our natural born right to become important people in society. I ask you to help give women in societies who aren't given the ability that American women are to become empowered and have an education, better jobs in adequate conditions with adequate pay. By doing so you will also be aiding the families of these women in developing countries. And it will cost you nothing. Lastly, I beseech you to sponsor the Jubilee Act. With this bill the debt of poorer countries will be cancelled in order to help them obtain their Millennium Goals and also hold them accountable for their own progress. In the process it will also make poverty stricken countries less dependent on America in the future. Once they become more economically stable they can refocus their funds to primary education, improved healthcare, adequate nutrition, etc. This act will be one for the progression of foreign economies. With all these things in mind I hope you will make the right decision and support each of these bills.

Thankyou,
Kimberlee Cox