#2

     I was in the midst of writing a blog on what we’d discussed in class and try to some how conjugate our dialogue with the readings. Interestingly enough, our class was very expressive about Wednesday’s discussion; so instead of you guys having to read one more opinion about what happened I decided to take a look at the article Professor G sent out. 

Having lived in the US my entire life, I find myself taking democracy for granted. I have been blessed with this idea of freedom and liberation that many only dream of having.  To roam around my country and do what I please seems as if it would be a “right”, but apparently it is a privilege. Now, I’m all for being democratic, but completely against lying to people about  what’s going on in their country.  
According to Ewing, the article Deep Crisis of Confidence Afflicts, Elsewhere Unease mentioned that the Prime Minster Viktor Orban has been accused of editing the constitution in his favor to deter negative media attention away from him.  Apparently, lying to the people has also been a requirement for being a part of a democracy.  
I am definitely one who holds true to the belief that everyone should have a voice of their own, a way of life that they agree on, and beliefs to back them up. I think I’ll forever be confused about why, if having the choice to be a part of a democracy, why wouldn’t you? Now, I’m not trying to push my beliefs on anyone, but I would love to be able to hear from someone about why they wouldn’t want to live where there was a democracy. I understand that peoples’ beliefs are their own to have and by no means am I trying to change that. It’s just a question of why not choose this lifestyle. The article also talked about the lack of confidence that we now have in our governments (US and France) because of the economic turn of events that we are currently having. It’s a tug=a-war because democracy now, and democracy never.  


I haven’t lost confidence, I’ve gained it because of our resiliency!  

Here we go! Post number 1:)!! Social Justice


     First off I'll just start with a simple WOW. With being a social work major of course you will read a countless number of articles pertaining to the needs of others and what can be done to help them, but when the help seems to be desperately needed within the social work system, what do we do? When did the Aide's become the ones that needed the assistance the most?   

     Assuming that we all read the article "Social Justice and Social Work", I'm not going to summarize it. Hopefully I can explain my thoughts well enough for everyone to understand my views. Reading Pelton's article on Social Justice was extremely eye opening for me. Call me oblivious, but I for one never thought that the practice of social work could in some ways be considered unjust because of the way that it is conducted (of course until Pelton so blatantly put it out there). The most definitive part of practicing social work is the idea of nondiscrimination, in all aspects, but for the better part of this article Pelton argues that what we are practicing today is the epitome of we are trying not to be, discriminatory. It's the idea that we have taken discrimination to a level of what kind is acceptable and what kind isn't(p.433)which in no shape or form should be the way that social workers operate.

Drifting somewhat off topic (note: that will happen quite often)I  remember a film entitled Claudine that somewhat shows a slight form of social workers discrimination and adds too Pelton's ideas about what happens within the families that receives welfare. If you don't want to watch the clip it basically entails a social worker coming in and evaluating what items Claudine has that are basically too valuable for someone receiving welfare. In the clip it shows her children running around hiding items that the welfare system wouldn't approve of, and the social worker questioning every "extra" item in the household (just thought that this was an interesting clip). 


I guess I'm done rambling, but this topic is definitely one that should be addressed more seriously. It deserves more than a couple articles and blog posts. People need to hear about the lack of "just" in the social work community. 


That's all for now folks:)!