|
Sample Student Comments Posted on Online Conference
Responses to Partner Letters
back to top
All of the 125 young participants exchanged introductory letters by mail in the first two months of the exchange. The students wrote about personal interests as well as a social problem that particularly concerned them.
Once the online conference opened, the students posted individual responses to those introductory letters.
Here are a few excerpts from the first two weeks of the online exchange:
From Bangladesh to Colombia
Hello Lynard,
This is Eti. I liked your letter very much. You said the food in your school is very good. Thats nice. We don't get any food in our school. While we are hungry, we get our Tiffin break and we open our Tiffin box which we carry from home. And we take whatever food my mom has given. You said you stay with your friends in a boarding room. Thats also very interesting,. I have not stayed with anybody outside my home. But in 3 years I will be going to universities and if i do not get any chance in any universities within Dhaka city, then i may have to go some where like Chittagong, Rajshahi or Khulna. These are names of the districts where we have some good universities run by the government and then i have to stay a the university. I found your paragraph on child abuse very interesting. I became very envious with your situation where child abuse is considered as illegal and parents can even go to jail for abusing their children. In many parts of the world including Bangladesh, child abuse is done by parents, teachers and siblings. They almost never miss a chance to abuse a child in the cause of disciplining us. As a girl, I am lucky that i have not been disciplined that much in my childhood. But I have watched a lot of boys in my class who used to be beaten seriously by our teachers. Also I heard and we also had seen that parents, particularly fathers are very strict on their sons, and they beat them mercilessly. If you do very good in controlling child abuse, may be we can learn something from your experience and we can apply your lessons to Bangladesh.
From Poland to Bangladesh
Hi, Ipsita,
I'm Tomek from Poland. I am 14. You wrote that your subject is commerce. Tell me more . Why commerce...? I think that the biggest problem is alcohol among young people. They drink and stop education. It's enough now. I want to write more about me and my family. I am a student in gymnasium "SPLOT" in Nowy S¹cz. That town is small but very nice. I have a brother and a sister. They are younger than me. It's all now. I'm waiting for your answer.
From South Africa to Colombia
Hi!!
This is Thembisile from South Africa.
Well, seeing that you re at the military School, do you see yourself sometime partaking in the military society in the future?
I am also friendly and very confident and talented in public speaking. That is why I intent to do Media Studies. I read in some local newspaper that Colombia produces a lot of drugs and sends them to Africa and they are being supplied to young people here. Is that true?
Since that you are friendly and kind, are you strong and courageous when you go to military school? But since you said that you want to be a music teacher, that makes you very hospitable and honest?
I would like to know more about you and your country and thins your social life and more.
By the way, I can speak six languages, English, French, Zulu, Sotho, Swati and Xhosa!
Nice hearing from you, would like to hear from you again soon.
Thembi
From USA to Poland
My name in Ronnisha and I am writing to Ben in Poland. I would first like to say hello . I was very interested in your concern with Child Abuse. I also think it is a topic that shouldn't be taken to lightly. However, I disagree with what you said about not doing anything about it. I believe that if we teach people about it, tell children that the abuse isn't their fault, and that they are not alone; then will change occur. People just need to learn more about it and teach them to understand that what they are doing is wrong. I would like to hear more about how you fell about the topic.
From South Africa to Poland
To Magda in Poland
Sawubona (hello).
My name is Lettie. I live in South Africa. My house is situated in a township called Dlamini Soweto. I live with both my parents, my two cousins and my grandmother.
I matriculated in the year 2002 and I did a course in Marketing Management. I will like to be an international marketer of a well-known or established company.
Thanks for the letter that you wrote for me, it was very interesting and I wish you can realise what you want to be in the future. Always remember to reach for your dreams.
I am very sorry to hear how people in your country treat the handicapped. I wish your community can change and treat them with respect. You can try to fundraise for them with the help of your friends and other members of the community who feel the way you feel. In our country we respect handicapped people and we treat them as normal people.
Lettie
Group Discussion #1 - "Tolerance"
back to top
Many of you mentioned the need for tolerance in your writing:
"…I'm irritated by the lack of tolerance in my country…we don't need to do much, just respect these people." Poland
"…I just can't see why people can't look eye to eye and say 'I respect you and you're a beautiful person'" USA
"…They really get unequal treatment in our society… somehow it has become so normal that nobody thinks of changing this awful situation." Bangladesh
"…People really lack tolerance and respect, due in many cases to misunderstanding…" Colombia
"…My hope is to see people living together respecting one another." South Africa
We notice that "tolerance" was overall the sixth most important value chosen. Why do you think it was not chosen as the #1, most important, value?
Now tell us, according to your knowledge of history (or current events), who do you think has addressed (or is addressing) this issue of tolerance effectively, and how was (or is) this done? Please share a little information about this person. Do you think this approach could be replicated, around the world?
From Poland
There is a man in the world who is full of tolerance. This man is the Pope. His name is Karol Wojty³a. He became the Pope in 1978. He loves people from all over the world. He travels to different countries to meet his followers and people who believe in other religions. He also prays for everybody. What is more he condemns inequality among people. We think that he is the most interesting and the best person in the world.
From Colombia
To talk about tolerance respect should first exist. Because all of us have differences and we must accept them to be able to tolerate each other not to mention that every person has values and we need them in our daily life. Another opinion is that "we can tolerate without respecting, but we cannot respect without tolerating." We chose humility as the most important value, because in the context that we live, frequently people lose this value when they succeed.
Example of Tolerance in Our Country:
Guillermo Gaviria, ex-governor of the Department of Antioquia died for his philosophy of non-violence, defending it and showing a great degree of tolerance even for fringe communities outside the boundaries of law (illegal). He had the value to walk with his followers, without protection, to carry his message of non-violence to these groups, but his intentions did not work because they kidnapped him and at the time of his rescue, they killed him. We are proud that he died for his philosophy and his department.
The sacrifice of the ex-governor was worthwhile as an example for everyone. But for the society it wasn't like that because they followed him when he was alive but when he died that spirit of peace that was in society, died as well.
From Bangladesh
We think tolerance is loosing its strength in our society. The day before yesterday, one of our best writers and novelists was attacked by some fundamentalists and now he is fighting in the death bed because he used to write against rightist politics who are religiously biased.
But in our country ( Indian sub-continent) we had a great leader like Gandhi, who was a champion of tolerance.
From the USA
From the American group of Ashley, Davon, Dacia, Valerie, Danielle, Jonathan, Lynard, Rashad, Damien, and Damond.
In our discussion, we first brainstormed what freedom means to us. here are some of the things we came up with:
- no dictatorship
- having a mind of your own
- freedom of speech
- being able to criticize the government
- having options, choices and opportunities in your life
- being free to choose your friends
- to be accepted
- freedom of religion
Is it possible for people to have too much freedom? We think yes, it is possible. For instance, many Americans take advantage of freedom and end up breaking laws and going to jail. Even some police do this. Cops have more freedom than average citizens, and, therefore, can abuse their freedom. They speed, run red lights, and carry guns. Sometimes they even beat up innocent people. Jonathan pointed out that some Americans don't realize how much freedom we do have, and that we can take it for granted.
We think that responsibility can be of many kinds. To our gov't, it is our duty to pay taxes, vote, and follow laws. We also think that Americans have the responsibility to use our freedom of speech and criticize the government when they are doing something wrong. We can protest, vote, and write letters to our representatives. Our responsibility at school is less to our community and more to ourselves. We get an education to better ourselves. We also have family responsibilities. We put our families first, protect them, and set good examples for the younger members. Finally, we have responsibilities in our social lives because we want to be good,honest,loyal and open minded friends to each other. We also want to be true to ourselves and not change who we are around different kinds of people.
Lastly, we discussed the way freedom and responsibility might balance in other countries or cultures. Other countries might have increased responsibility, but less freedoms. For instance, in very traditional cultures people might have many duties to the group but few freedoms as individuals.
From South Africa
Yes, Nelson Mandela is a very prominent figure both in SA and in the rest of the world for telling people to work together and not focus on the bad things but on the good things. It helped when we were becoming a democratic country, his advice. In our country we have many different people, different languages and its important for us to understand and listen to each other and treat each other with respect, otherwise the country will not work.
Group Discussion #2 - "Freedom vs. Responsibility"
back to top
This week we are going back to the ethics survey you took and looking again at the "Most Important Value" question. After your number 1 choice, "respect", which you explored in last week, "freedom" and "responsibility" tied for second place. Let's explore these two values, and their relationship with one another, in a class discussion.
- What does freedom mean to you - in government, in school life, in family life, and in social life?
- Can one have too much freedom?
- What does "being responsible" mean to you - in government, in school life, in family life, in social life?
- Does "being responsible" limit one's freedom? If so, in what ways?
- What do you think of the balance between freedom and responsibility in your country as compared to what you perceive that balance to be in other countries?
From Colombia
el grupo conformado por franck,isabel,sebastian,david,camila opinamos que en nuestro pais la libertad es atacada constantemente porque existen grupos armados que secuestran a la ciudadania y siembran el temor en pueblos y ciudades.la comparacion que podemos hacer frente a este valor en otros paises es bastante similar ya que aunque el secuestro no es el mayor delito como en nuestro pais otros delitos como ataques suicidas lo son en paises como israel,estados unidos entre otros
Ahora hablemos de la responsabilidad creemos que este valor en nuestro pais es bastante importante y por eso nos exigen tanto de el y sobre todo a los jovenes que somos el futuro del pais.En comparacion con los otros paises podemos ver que no exigen tanto de este valor como en el nuestro esto se debe a que el circulo familiar es muy inestable es por eso que creemos que este valor no es tan importante porque en conclusion cada uno hace lo que quiere sin que nadie moleste tanto ni critique nuestros actos.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
The group conformed by Franck, Isabel, Sebastian, David, Camila think in Colombia Freedom is attacked constantly because armed groups kidnap citizens and sow the fear in towns and cities. The comparison that we can face in this value in other countries is quite similar because abduction is not the major crime as in Colombia; other worst crimes as suicide attacks are going on in countries as Israel, USA among others.
Now we speak of responsibility. We believe that this value is quite important in Colombia and that's why we are requiring so much of it, because we are the future of our country. In comparison with other countries we can see that they do not require so much of this value as we do, probably for the kind of family that is unstable. We believe that this value is not so important; because in conclusion each one does what it wants.
El espectacular grupo de músicos Yuliana, Mónica, juan pablo, elizabeth y carlos.
Responsabilidad: Todos tenemos un razón de ser en nuestra vida y eso implica que hagamos algo muy importante y hacer el esfuerzo por cumplir esa meta. Como ser social estamos comprometidos con el otro, todo lo que hagamos influye en los demás. No existe límite. Lo aplicamos al querrer desarrollar nuestros objetivos como personas, como un ser integral. Eso también implica que no sólo es cumplir por cumplir, además, tiene que ver con la actitud y las ganas de hacerlo bien.
Libertad: siempre implica un limite para vivirlo. El respeto del otro es el limite. Es relativo, porque depende del lugar y momento en que se está viviendo y lo que estamos buscando hacer.
"La libertad de uno termina donde empiezan los derechos del otro" (Anónimo - no nos acordamos).
Balance entre responsabilidad y libertad:
Libertad implica ser responsables frente al otro, cada vez que estoy tomando una decisión y la estoy ejecutando afecta al otro y debo ser responsable con ellos. La libertad nos abre la posibilidad de realizarnos como personas y la responsabilidad nos da la dirección.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
The spectacular group of musicians: Yuliana, Mónica, Juan Pablo, Elizabeth and Carlos.
Responsibility: All of us have a reason to be alive and this implies to do something very important and make the effort towards that goal. Society is comprised of individuals living with each other, everything that we do influences the others. There is no limit to responsibility. We apply it developing ours objectives as persons, as an integral part of society. This also implies not only complying for compliance sake, but it has to be done with the attitude and the desires of doing it well.
Freedom: it always implies a limit. The respect of the other is the limit. It is relative, because it depends on the place and moment in which you are living and what we are seeking to do.
"The liberty of one person, ends where the rights of the other begins" (Anonymous - we do not remember).
Balance among responsibility and liberty:
Liberty implies to be responsible to each other. Each time that I am making a decision and I am executing it this decision is affecting another person and I must be responsible for them. Liberty opens us to the possibility to carry out as humans and responsibility gives us the direction.
From the USA
From the American group of Ashley, Davon, Dacia, Valerie, Danielle, Jonathan, Lynard, Rashad, Damien, and Damond.
In our discussion, we first brainstormed what freedom means to us. Here are some of the things we came up with:
- no dictatorship
- having a mind of your own
- freedom of speech
- being able to criticize the government
- having options, choices and opportunities in your life
- being free to choose your friends
- to be accepted
- freedom of religion
Is it possible for people to have too much freedom? We think yes, it is possible. For instance, many Americans take advantage of freedom and end up breaking laws and going to jail. Even some police do this. Cops have more freedom than average citizens, and, therefore, can abuse their freedom. They speed, run red lights, and carry guns. Sometimes they even beat up innocent people. Jonathan pointed out that some Americans don't realize how much freedom we do have, and that we can take it for granted.
We think that responsibility can be of many kinds. To our gov't, it is our duty to pay taxes, vote, and follow laws. We also think that Americans have the responsibility to use our freedom of speech and criticize the government when they are doing something wrong. We can protest, vote, and write letters to our representatives. Our responsibility at school is less to our community and more to ourselves. We get an education to better ourselves. We also have family responsibilities. We put our families first, protect them, and set good examples for the younger members. Finally, we have responsibilities in our social lives because we want to be good, honest, loyal and open minded friends to each other. We also want to be true to ourselves and not change who we are around different kinds of people.
Lastly, we discussed the way freedom and responsibility might balance in other countries or cultures. Other countries might have increased responsibility, but less freedoms. For instance, in very traditional cultures people might have many duties to the group but few freedoms as individuals.
From Bangladesh
Tanveen, Wahid, Borhani, Farhan
Freedom means an atmosphere when you can do all kinds of works that are socially allowed. Also it means to go by your own ways, to be able to express yourself which is not bad for others.
One can not have unlimited freedom, even Allah has advised people to have limit to their acts, so one must not have unlimited freedom to do any or everything.
No, one does not loose freedom for being responsible. For example when a wild horse is tamed, it does not loose its speed, similarly a responsible person can exercise his freedom better!
To us being responsible means, one must follow the rules of the place, be it a school or an office.
Unless you are free at your will, you cannot act properly to perform your responsibility. In our country Bangladesh, we have limited freedom and hence we cannot act responsibly.
Rony, Antu, Rattan
to us freedom means the opportunities to do all those works which are good.
this freedom should be unlimitedly permitted to all
sense of responsibility means to do those works unless of which others will face inconvenience.
sense of responsibility actually enhances one's own freedom
Most people in our country do not know the meaning of freedom and they think freedom means also doing bad works. For them, both at personal or state level, abuse of freedom is rampant. because they do not have any sense of responsibility.
From Poland
Greg
Freedom is the thing for which our grandfathers fought for many years after losing the independence in 1795. Right now our government thinks there is too much freedom so they are trying to earn a lot of money. They use important information to manipulate and make money. Every human should respect freedom, but freedom has also has its own laws. Politicians have power, but they tend to neglect responsibility. Power and freedom need responsibility. If there is a freedom problem it has always two sides. People who are terrorists to some of us, (are) fight(ing) for their independence (to others.)
Magda
I think that freedom is the most important value for every man. It is especially important for our country because Poland was under the Russian rule for a long time, and now the freedom means a lot to us. But being free means also that we have to be responsible for what we do. I have to admit that our government sometimes has problems with it. Responsibility in our everyday life is very different. If we skip classes from school, we have to stay longer the next day or do extra work. We are very often responsible for our younger sister or brother when parents go out, so we have to take care of them. We are free but we need to learn how to be responsible for our actions.
Individual Responses #1 - "Respect"
back to top
Here is a sampling of the different ways the students answered the following prompt:
Amongst all of our dialogue partners completing the ethics survey, the top value chosen was 'respect'. In a sentence or two, describe ways that you or other students you know demonstrate 'respect' in your daily lives -- at home, in school, or in other places.
From Poland:
Greg Lach
I think nowadays it is very hard to have respect. Today's main problem is that respect is the same as possessing money. I think people should gain respect with friendship.
Ana Lucia Páez
I see respect in my life when I fulfill the things I say or when I promise somebody. [It is important] to respect the opinion of the other people because we all have different ways to think. My friends show respect when although they are not in agreement with my opinion, they respect it.
Rafal Zarzeka
I think respect died with middle-age era. In today's world, nobody respects each other. Respect is very important for me but I think it is extinct in our society. You can't be respectful enough if you don't act like a honourable knight. That is all. :-)
From Colombia
Jaider Alonso. (English translation)
I am respectful, through dialogue and mutual contact among my friends and my family, because they are the reason of my life. Also I am respectful with my companions, listen to their opinions without discriminating against them, even though sometimes I do not share their ideas. … Respect… is the main value (according to my criteria) that should be cultivated in order to have good relations with people. I believe that others practice respect when they listen to ideas from others. When they keep these ideas in mind without criticizing them, pondering them, and thinking of how they can use the ideas in their life. In conclusion, we should all respect each other; therefore we will achieve a better world. "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you". ( Proverb).
Franck Erick Higuita Garcia (English translation)
Respect can be shown accepting other people as they are, without discrimination. Helping when people are in trouble as well. Also don't make people laugh with lies but cry with truths.
Xiomara Londoño Muñoz (English translation)
To give an example from life when I show respect, in case an elder shouts at me, scolds me, or says something, I remain quiet, I do not respond in the same way. This is what I do most of the time.
From Bangladesh
Saiful
In Bangladesh, one way young ones show respect to elderly ones, is by never smoking in front of them. What is the situation in other places?
Runa
We are taught to show respect outwardly but never taught how to bring respect within your mind; to me, respect is inner thing, not something to show, but to do.
Kakoli
Children are not allowed to talk in front of their parents or adults. That is how we need to show our respect, but I don't like this.
From the USA
Hi I'm Valerie Jones.
Some ways that I show respect in my daily life is attending school and calling my teachers, Mr. and Ms. or Mrs. I also show respect by paying attention to my teachers and classmates and acknowledging everyone's opinion as I would want them to do mine. As the famous quote here in America goes,"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Hi, my name is Ikeya.
My peers and I show respect in our daily lives by respecting ourselves. For example, we respect ourselves by doing what we suppose to do in school and in our lives. By respecting ourselves we can respect each other.
What's up? I'm Durrell.
I show respect by giving it first. If you give, then you'll receive. Respect can make you end up in deep situations sometimes, but at the end of the day, I'll be able to look back and ask "How did I show respect today?" Also at home and school, I show respect by behaving myself in a peaceful manner.
Individual Responses #2 - "Personal Experiences in Choosing between Freedom and Responsibility"
back to top
After your class has held the discussion on the relationship between freedom and responsibility (See Group Discussion question #2), we ask as many of you as possible to reply to this prompt:
In your personal life, describe a time you had to make a choice between freedom and responsibility.
From the USA
Ashley Milton
I am always put into the position where I have to choose between freedom and responsibility because of the job I have at school. I work with 7th graders but I am in the 10th grade. I never get to spend free time with my peers because I have a responsibility. Sometimes it can be rough but I know what I have to do.
Ronnisha
There were many times when I had to choose responsibility over freedom. For instance I am person who believes that if there is a problem it needs to be addressed. In one situation, I believed that my sister was treated unjust, and felt obligated to voice my opinion. However, I had to understand that even though I was protected under the 1st Amendment, in that situation, I had to hold my tongue. I was forced to choose between the freedom to say what I want; however possibly get my sister fired, or suppress the furry inside me.
Jerika
One time I had to chose responsibility over having fun is when. I wanted to go to a party and I had to clean up my room. So I at first I was mad but then I said if I want to be successfull in the working world Then I need to do the right thing. So I chose to do my homework.
From Colombia
Monica
En nuestras vidas siempre estamos tomando decisiones entre nuetra responsabilidad y nuestra libertad. A diario nos topamos con actividades por asi decirlo qwe nos parecerían mejor que irnos a estudiar ir a cine,salir con un amigo o simplemente ponerse a dormir.
ero sabemos que debemos estudiar y esto pesa sobre el saber poder estar haciendo algo mejor. Un caso en particular es un día que tenía ensasayon en la escuela de música hasta las nueve de la noche y es día era el cumpleaños de una amiguita y todas las otras iban a ir desde por la tarde,para ir a cine y comer helado; y me toco escoger entre ir mas tarde o no ir a ensayo .Pero sabiendo que mi ausencia perjudicaria a los de la orquesta, fui al ensayo y despues fui al cumpleaños de mi amiga; auque al llegar ya toda la emoción había terminado por que era un martes y al otro día había que madrugar.
ENGLISH TRNASLATION
In our lives we always are making decisions between responsibility and freedom. Daily we run into activities instead of going to study, going to movies, going out with a friend, or simply sleeping.
But we know that we should study and this is important to be doing something better.
A particular situation was a day that I had to practice at the school of music until 9:00 P.M. That same day was the birthday of one of my best friends and all the rest of my friends were meeting together. They went to the cinema and ate ice cream; I had to decide between being with them or going do my responsibility. I knew that my absence would be something bad for all the orchestra so I went to rehearsal and after I went to meet my friends; When I got there the party was over because it was Tuesday and everybody had to work the next day.
Frank
la decision de libertad la tome cuando en mi casa me dajaron ir por primera vez a una fiesta pero me dieron una hora limitada para volver a casa, claro que aunque me dieron esa pequeña libertad tenia la responsabilidad de no beber, ni fumar y menos de consumir drogas y claro de cumplir con lo hora de llegada.
Despues de esto mis padres confiaron en mi.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
I took my own decision of liberty when my parents allowed me to go out for the first time in my life. It was a party and they gave me an exact hour to return home, also they gave the responsibility of not drinking, not smoking, and not consuming drugs. I came home early and after this, my parents trusted in me.
Camila
Bueno, en mi vida diaria siento que a veces mi libertad no es tan grande como yo quisiera, ya que aunque de vez en cuando salgo con mis amigos y me divierto mi trabajo y estudios me absorben mas de lo que aveces creo y esto a hecho que aveces me sienta bastante cansada.
Mi trabajo es en un restaurante y es algo bastante agotador como pueden pensar, ya que las comidas es algo que se debe manejar muy bien y las preparaciones requieren mucho tiempo. La musica es mi pasion mas grande y aunque me mantiene igualmente muy ocupada me da bastantes gratificaciones y triunfos entonces creo que por eso es que el cansancio es bien rencompensado cuando veo que la gente se alegra despues de un concierto bueno esta es mi propia nivelacion o comparacion entre libertad y responsabilidad.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Well, in my daily life I feel that my freedom is not as large as I wanted it. Occasionally I go out with my friends and I enjoy being with them, but my work and my studies absorb me and make me feel quite tired.
I work in a restaurant which quite exhausting, because the foods need to be handled very well and the preparations require a lot of time. Music is my passion although it keeps me very occupied; it gives to me enough gratifications and triumphs. Then I believe when you are a hard worker there is a reward. When I see all these people clapping after a good concert, this is my own happiness and my comparison between liberty and responsibility.
From Poland
Wojciech
For me freedom is more important than responsibility. I was brought up in the family where there wasn't any freedom. Everyone taught me only responsibility. I think that our lives will be better when there will be responsibility in freedom.
Ben
The time when I had to make a choice was when I got in trouble in school. My Dad told me to stay home and to study for my test. At the same time a friend called me and asked me if I could come to his birthday party. I could not tell my Dad because he would not let me go. So I waited until he left and then I went there. Now I think that it was a bad choice because I got in even bigger trouble. The party was not so good for me because I thought about what I did all the time.
Tomek
Responsibility is something when someone needs something. You can give it to him when you are responsible. Freedom is something you can do without need. You can do this when you want.
I made a choice between freedom and responsibility when my friend wanted a game. I liked this game and I didn't want to give it to him. This is freedom. But this game was his. I didn't want to lie that I didn't have this game. I had to be responsible. After the next day I give him the game. I was a bit sad but later I felt very honest.
From Bangladesh
Tanveen
We have a game period every week when all the students of our class spend time either playing in the field or chatting with friends in the field. It's a fun time. But last year some of my classmates and I decided to utilize that time tutoring junior students who have also the game break. They needed the help for the math subject and we decided to help them instead of playing or chatting with friends.
Antu
My mother gave me a lot of her old Sarees for me to wear. Just then one of our neighbors had a baby born who needed a lot of Katha ( thin soft blanket ). I decided to gave up my mom's nice Sarees and stitched them together to make nearly 5 Katha and gave to the mother for her baby.
Kakoli
I love to sleep in the morning, but i give up that comfortable sleep everyday for my morning prayer ( Fazar Namaz)
Some Ethical Dilemmas We Have Faced
back to top
Have you ever been caught in any ethical dilemma, a "right vs. right" situation, which appeared difficult to resolve because of two ethical values that seemed to be in conflict? Please share your "real-life" story. How did you make your decision in this case?
From the USA
Valerie
A dilemma that I am facing is with my best friend Chantelle. She is 6 months pregnant at the age of 15. Chantelle has not told anyone who the father is but me, and her mother is pressuring her to tell. Chantelle has made me promise not to tell anyone. I know that I should tell because in the future Chantelle might need help with the baby financially and emotionally. I know that if I tell that maybe she could get help from the father and it would be in her best interest. But if I do tell I might lose her trust and she will be very upset with me for a very long time. I don't know what to do. (Valerie's friend's name has been changed for privacy reasons.)
Ronnisha
I too have experienced a dilemma. In my situation, I was confronted with deciding whether to tell my friend of his father leaving him as a child, or respecting his mother's wishes to conceal the truth and make up something to fill in the blanks. This was a hard choice I had to make. If I told him of the news he would know his father didn't die, and possibly feel relieved, however sad to know that he had been lied to so long. Or I could have kept my mouth shut, but would feel disloyal to my friend in the end.
From Columbia
Juan pablo Valencia Heredia
uno de los casos que me representa a mí la situación correcta vs correcta, se me presentó cuando tuve que decidir entre ir a un concierto de la orquesta sinfónica juvenil de medellín y la orquesta de cámara de mi universidad (Eafit). yo para resolver este dilema tuve que tomar la refencia de la importancia de cada uno: la orquesta sinfónica juvenil me ha brindado desde un principio todo, es decir, la posibilidad de estudio, el préstamo de instrumento y lo más importante, la amistad y el cariño de una familia. La orquesta de cámara de Eafit es también muy importante para mí, pero en ésta llevo muy poco tiempo y mi proceso esta en desarrollo.
Ahora la decisión que tome fue la de asistir con la orquesta sinfónica juvenil.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
One of the cases that represented to me a right vs. right situation was when I had to decide between going to a concert with the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Medellín or the chamber orchestra of my University. To resolve this dilemma I had to see the importance of each one: the Youthful Symphonic Orchestra had offered to me many things - the possibility of study, the loan of an instrument, and the most important thing - the friendship and the affection of a family. The chamber orchestra of my University was also very important for me because I had only been with them for a couple months and my work with them was just beginning.
The decision that I made was to be with the Youth Symphonic Orchestra.
From Poland
Maciek
I saw a boy who stole some bread from the shop that I was in. I didn't tell it to the shop assistant because I felt I should let him take that bread.
Tomek
I had a dilemma when a poor boy stole bread. He looked very hungry. I had no idea what I should do. I thought about this all night. The next day I gave him some money and I told him that he had to go to that shop and pay for the bread. I think that I chose correctly. I don't know what he did with my money but the choice was in his hand.
From Bangladesh
Farhan
Once I saw a classmate of mine came with a huge collection of papers for cheating in his exam. When I saw it, I felt bad and wanted to tell the teachers. But I knew that would ruin his student life as he could be expelled. I thought a lot about it during the exam as I saw him cheating. But I decided not to tell any one. Later as the exam was over, I spoke to him. I requested him not to do it again because it is unethical. He liked my words and he promised never to do it again.
| 
