Final Decision: Arts Censorship

What have we been studying in class this year?
In class this year, I have been studying short stories, chemistry, and stocks.
Which subjects appeal to me?
Chemistry and English are the classes that appeal to me most in school, but if this included outside of school too, the subject that appeals to me the most is art, specifically illustration.
What are people writing about?
People are writing about what is currently going on in the news, like about police brutality.
What's most interesting to me?
Art is most interesting to me. I find this topic the most interesting to me because I enjoy creating art and viewing art in galleries, which is why I would like to write about the topic of arts censorship. 
Can I find information about that?
Yes, I can find information about art and arts censorship on the internet and in art magazines. 

I am most interested in the topic of arts censorship because I am very passionate about art myself. I am planning on going to college to get my BFA in illustration, so I would be extremely unhappy if my artwork became censored because it could possibly offend someone. I would like to write about this topic so that I could raise awareness of why censoring works of art is something that shouldn't be done. Art is created to display a message and if this message is being censored, then the artist is losing their freedom. 

Access to Contraception: Critical Thinking

Should high schools provide free condoms and birth control pills to its students? Why or why not?

Yes they should, because this would allow more students to practice safe sex, like if they were unable to afford condoms or birth control themselves. Doing this would help greatly to prevent unwanted pregnancies from occurring. 

Do parents have the right to know when their children are using contraceptives? Explain your answer.

I feel that parents do have the right to know when their children are using contraceptives that alter the hormones such as birth control pills, because it is something that could possibly have negative side effects. I don't think that parents need to know if their children are using any other type of contraceptives though unless they ask, but I think that the parents would be glad that their child is practicing safe sex if they are going to at all. 

Arts Censorship: Critical Thinking

Where do you think the line should be drawn on arts censorship? Explain your reasoning.

I don't think that art should be censored unless it is causing danger towards a certain person or group of people. If a piece of artwork is considered to be offensive but is not threatening a person, then it should not be censored. What one person considers to be offensive may not offend another person, and art is meant to cause a reaction by its audience. 

Should the government deny funding to works of art some people might find offensive? Why or why not?

No; just because some people might find a work of art offensive, doesn't mean that everyone does. It would be unfair for the government to fund some works of art and to deny funding to other works, especially if these pieces display an important message. Plus, how could it even be officially determined that a specific work of art is generally offensive?

Provide an example of a government censoring political artwork. Why was it censored? Do you agree or disagree with the government’s decision to censor the art?

An example of a government censoring political artwork is with Ai Weiwei, who had been censored and punished for creating artwork that criticized his Chinese government. I disagree with the government's decision to censor the art because the art had to have been created for some reason, and it should be every person's right to be able to share their opinion on a certain topic, whether it's by speaking or by creating art. 

Should artwork that is not politically correct be censored? Why or why not?

Artwork that is not politically correct shouldn't be censored because what is shown in the artwork will probably be a symbol of a larger concept. Even though it is politically incorrect, the artwork should still be free for anyone to look at, if they choose to. 

Vaccines: Critical Thinking

Are vaccines safe?

Yes, vaccines are generally very safe. Although there may be some health risks involved, these risks have very low chances of occurring. Vaccines are also very safe since they aid in the prevention of serious diseases that could threaten one's life if caught. 

Should parents face penalties for choosing not to vaccinate their children? Why or why not?

Yes, parents should face penalties for choosing to not vaccinate their children because then they are endangering the child's life by making it more likely for them to catch certain diseases, that would otherwise be preventable if the child had gotten a vaccination. Refusing to give your child a vaccine should be considered to be child abuse since the child's life is being endangered in this way. 

Should more studies be conducted on a potential link between vaccines and autism?

Yes, I think that more studies should be conducted on vaccines and autism because many parents are refusing to give their children vaccines because of the risk of autism, but there really isn't enough evidence to prove the fact that vaccines can cause autism in children. 

Do the benefits of vaccines outweigh the potential risks?

Yes, the benefits of vaccines definitely outweigh the potential risks. The benefits outweigh the risks because the risks are very slim compared to the guarantee that a child will not get a specific disease after getting the vaccination. Vaccines are able to increase the life expectancy of a child because it would allow them to be immune to many dangerous diseases, and the actual risks that come with vaccinations are very unlikely to occur. 

Abortion: Critical Thinking

Should abortion continue to be legal as stipulated by Roe v. Wade? Why or why not?

Yes, abortion should continue to be legal. This case was able to show that a woman's body is her own property, and that people should have the right to their own property. 

What are the medical implications of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act?

The U.S. Supreme Court decided to uphold the constitutionality of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act because a woman should have the right to her own body. It would be unconstitutional to disallow a woman to have control over her body. Also, there are times when a woman's pregnancy may cause harm to her, so that an abortion would be the best option for the sake of the woman's health. 

Are there any situations in which abortions should be declared illegal or be severely restricted?

Yes, I believe that abortion should only be restricted to allow a woman to have the procedure only for a certain amount of time. I think that after a certain amount of months that the baby is being developed, abortion should not be allowed, unless the fetus is endangering the life of the mother, or if it shows serious abnormalities. 

Which side in the debate has been more successful in making their case on the issue of abortion and why?

I think the side that is more in favor of allowing woman to have abortions was more successful in making their case because they were able to show how a woman's body deserves to be her own property and she should be able to make her own decisions when regarding her body. 

Based upon your understanding of the core beliefs and principles of the major camps in this discussion, is compromise possible? Why or why not?

I do not believe that compromise is possible because no matter what decision is made, there will still be some people that do not approve of the decision. If abortion is legalized to a certain extent, there will still be some people that disapprove and will want it to be completely illegal. 

Animal Cruelty: Critical Thinking

Should animal welfare laws include provisions for animals being used for entertainment purposes?

-Yes, animal welfare laws should include provisions for animals being used for entertainment. Whether the animals are being mistreated at home or for entertainment, it is still cruelty either way and there should be actions taken against it. Forms of entertainment such as circuses, should be watched carefully to make sure that what the company is doing to these animals is ethical. 

Explain why some animal rights activists view horse racing and circuses as cruel to animals.

-Some animal rights activists see horse racing and circuses as cruel because these things put animals into situations that they would not naturally face. Horses probably don't naturally run as much as they do at horse racing tracks, and lions and elephants don't naturally interact with humans and do tricks for people. The animals that are in circuses probably also face harsh living conditions, being unable to ever roam freely in the wild. 

Who should regulate the animal entertainment industry?

-Animal rights organizations should be able to regulate the animal entertainment industry. They should be able to regulate this industry because they know best about how animals need to be treated. They should be able to monitor how these industries are treating animals and should be able to determine whether or not these actions should be legal.