“History Xtreme” deals in World History.
We study “events” from the past. I often joke this is also a “biology” class, the study of “life”.
Not just “nature” in humans (e.g. cells, organs), but human nature, or the “humanities”.
Our study goes beyond the material world into the “abstract” – e.g. psychology and/or sociology.
This course seeks to go “beyond” – seeking to explain “the world”.
It is a study in “REALITY”.
What is the “NATURE” of the “WORLD” and its “REALITY”?
In an ATTEMPT to BETTER understand “World History”, it is helpful to study and analyze “human nature” and “the world”.
Answers to these often depend on your view of the world, or “WORLD VIEW’.
World History deals with “IMPERIALISM”, the interaction and domination of some nations over other nations.
Western nations are viewed as un-justly dominating and EXPLOITING other nations to gain power and wealth.
Is this view of western “EXPLOITATION” entirely ACCURATE?
OR
is it a SIMPLISTIC and “SHALLOW” view of WORLD HISTORY, HUMAN NATURE and the WORLD?
The following is an ANALYSIS of “EXPLOITATION”.
To what extent is exploitation “wrong”, a violation of “ideals” that can and should be eliminated.
OR,
is exploitation a “fact” of life, an inherent, UNpreventable and “real” part of the human condition and history?
EXPLOITATION: USE of one or something for the BENEFIT of ANOTHER;
an “un-equal” relationship some (the “strong”) taking advantage of another (the “weak”)
AGREE? DISAGREE?
___ 1)Human beings have an innate sense of “JUSTICE”and “RIGHT” and “WRONG”.
People and nations exploiting each other is wrong, breeding in-justice and “un-fairness” in the world.
Exploitation can be prevented because of humanity’s moral nature.
Progress is possible – we have a capacity to make life “better”, to separate good from bad.
___2)Exploitation is a “fact” of life.
The “reality” of life is that we all USE each other on certain levels.
EXCHANGE in an UN-EQUAL WORLD … of “privilege” and “advantage” (utopia = nowhere)
Exploitation is BOTH NECESSARY and “NATURAL” on some levels.
the ‘REAL QUESTION” is WHAT TYPE of “EXCHANGE: -EXPLOITATION” – ALTRUISM vs ALIENATION
ALTRUISM – a rising tide lifts ALL boats – mutually beneficial
ALIENATION – ZERO SUM – I win, you lose
The “CURE” FOR “BAD” EXCHANGE is “GOOD” EXCHANGE …
rewards … NOT regrets
advantageous (reciprocal) … NOT adversarial (resentment)
principled, proper, profitable … NOT perverted, immoral, antagonistic
FREE and VOLUNTARY … NOT UNDER TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT COMMAND and CONTROL …
Life is TRAGIC-ally “ALL MIXED UP”– good and bad, love and hate, pleasure and pain.
A “utopian” view that we can stop exploitation is naïve, simplistic wishful thinking.
“Turn the Page”
___3)The woman had a legitimate desire to fulfill her “dream” to be an “entertainer”, using her “strengths” to make her life better.
Her pursuit of fame, wealth and “pursuit of happiness” is understandable.
Entertainers are “unique” people who benefit from their special talents. There is a reason entertainment programs like “American Idol” are hugely popular.
__4)The woman was a fool to follow a “dream” that inevitably became a “nightmare”.
She was in denial towards her self-destructive behavior.
She selfishly endangered her daughter’s well being.
Seeking “HEAVEN”, she ended up in “HELL”.
___5)Pornography is a social evil.
“Exotic dancing” and prostitution is clearly wrong and immoral.
The lives of many women and children are ruined as a result. Sex is a “natural” (pleasure) and necessary (reproduction) part of life. Sex is tragically “twisted” into inhumanity and exploitation.
“VIRTUE” becomes “VICE”, PLEASURE that brings PAIN.
AGREE? DISAGREE?
___6)The Greek word “porn” literally means to “export for sale” or SELL.
In a generic sense, “porn” is common to life.
We ALL “sell” ourselves at times.
For example, the television news exports information for sale. Musicians sell music.
“EXCHANGE” is an inherent part of nature (“the food chain) and human nature (“agendas“) and the world.
EVERYTHING and ANYTHING is “FOR SALE” in this world.
Since sex is a natural human instinct, pornography and prostitution (the world’s oldest profession, besides farming) will never end.
The reality of this “tragic” world is “sex [physical attraction] sells”.
___7)I feel bad for the woman and her child. What happened to her was not right.
She was a VICTIM of SOCIETY, fighting a losing battle in her “pursuit of happiness”.
___8)I do NOT feel bad for the woman. She was a VICTIM of HERSELF.
She sought to exploit her sex appeal for gain, only to become victim of violence and sexual exploitation.
She CREATED her OWN “monster”.
She is her OWN WORST ENEMY.
___9)Entertainers have a difficult life.
Their “UNIQUENESS” leads to “ALIENATION”.
The price for their “stardom” often leads to drug abuse and other self-destructive behavior.
They are exploited “products”, their talents “used” by a public that does not appreciate the difficulties they go through on their way to “stardom”.
A cruel and fickle public enjoys someone’s “stardom”, and throws them away when they get tired of them.
___10)It’s laughable when entertainers complain of “exploitation” and “alienation”.
They “BENEFIT” fit from the very thing that is a “BURDEN”.
They can’t “have their cake and eat it”, enjoying all the benefits of fame and wealth, yet “whinge” about their celebrity “problems” and their sense of being “victims” of society.
They enjoy the “benefits” of stardom. All progress has a price or cost that brings problems. We all deal with this.
That’s the price for being “different”.
Stars are just like all of us “regular” people – they need to deal with the “realities” of life.
“Welcome to the Jungle”
__11)The human condition and the world is like “The Jungle”.
People are “animals” in a state of nature.
The STRONG survive and the WEAK suffer.
That is “NATURAL”.
Life can be CRUEL, but that’s a “reality” of life.
__12)People are not just “animals”.
Humanity’s moral capacity for “COMPASSION” makes him recognize that there is something wrong with the exploitation and suffering of fellow human beings.
People have the CAPACITY to TRANSCEND (go over or beyond) conflict and suffering and live in HARMONY.
__13)Life is “ugly”, in a state of constant CONFLICT. (“We learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play”)
There is no real “progress” – things “get WORSE here every day”.
“Progress” is negated by its heavy price and unintended problems that result.
__14)Paradise or “utopia” is possible.
“Guns n Roses” singer Axl Rose got rich and famous from being a rock star. He’s probably sitting in his mansion in the hills right now, living the “good life”, while weare “stuck” living and struggling down here in “The Jungle”. Axl usedthe “tragic” nightmare of “The Jungle” to find his dream “utopia” in “Paradise City”.
IMPERIALISM and “EXPLOITATION”
___15)Exploitation of nations by other nations is wrong.
The “will to power” and greed, domination and empire is a source of evil in history.
Humanity and history has the capacity to end or at least limit it. People/nations should be IDEAListic and “get along”.
___16)Eliminating imperialism and exploitation is “WISHFUL THINKING”. The whole world is in a state of conflict and competition, where the strong survive and the weak suffer.
The whole world (individually and collectively) is engaged in “porn” – selling and “exchange” for one’s own benefit and advantage.
Those “realities” will never change.