Comments on specific social concerns

The students were presented with one of five different areas of social concerns to explore with their international peers who also selected the same concern. The students shared their own opinions and questions, and some conducted interviews with community members. Here are the social concern choices they were presented with: Dishonesty in their society Intolerance Teen Issues Family Concerns Community Challenges Click on one to read samples of their postings.

Dishonesty in their society
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From Niilante, Joshua, Babjide, Egypt, Delonte, and Quinton (USA)

We would like to say that we think a lot of things in our society are dishonest such as politicians, authority figures, corrupt companies, etc.

We think authority figures are dishonest because they take their power to another level they lie to us just so we can stop asking questions and things of that nature. Politics are dishonest because they tell you they will clean up neighborhoods and then they don't, at least not until another year or so. Corrupt companies are dishonest because they lie to consumers, us, just to sell their products to the people. For example cigarette companies say cigarettes will calm your nerves and so that makes people buy them, but what they really do is make you more fidgety.

From Kaisa, Ewa, Emilia, and Mariusz (Poland)

In Poland the most important exam is called Matura. We must study for 12 years to pass it. An article was written that said some teachers prepare answers for those students who are willing to pay for it. When we were reading this article we couldn't believe it. The author of this article made a simple test to check it. He phoned some teachers informing them that he was a student and wanted to buy the answer to the oral part of Matura 2005. The teachers said that they needed some time to prepare the speech which would be ready in two weeks' time. The only condition was that they wanted to be paid for their `professional help' beforehand. We were shocked.

One of our group members, Kaisa, made a similar test. She called to some teachers. Some of them offered help.

Intolerance
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From Rehmuddin (India)

Hi, I am Rehmuddin & I am very happy to read your letter. Recently I won the inter-school 400 meter run of my city they gave me big trophy & certificate. Since I come from lower middle class family I have to face lots of problems in school. Generally teachers and colleagues usually don't support me. People ignore one if somebody is coming from the lower class. Why this discrimination I don't understand. Tell me about discrimination in your side..
Bye...
Rehmu

From Dalaya (USA)

Hi, I am Dalaya Washington from United States. I am 15 years old and in the 10th grade. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. I live with my mother and stepfather. I love to read and talk and my favorite sport is basketball. In your letter the ethical problem you have is when people in Poland discriminate against people with different skin colors, religions and also people who are homosexuals. I think that people shouldn't discriminate because everyone is different in some way but we all need to stick together because you never know when you may need someone who is totally different from you.
Forever,
Dalaya

From Tejashree (India) and Irina (Poland)

Hi Irina,
I am Tejashree from India. I am studying in SNDT Women's college. I am 19 years old. I am studying in 14th grade. There is lots of Intolerance in Society. Here the girls are regarded as inferior than boys. This is the intolerance to the girls. There is also intolerance to people of other caste. The lower caste people tolerate a lot of dishonesty in society. Please do write your views towards intolerance in society.
Bye.

Dear Tejashree from India,
Me, I also disagree with the fact that the girls are considered inferior than boys, maybe in Poland it isn't an extended problem at the moment, but in a way it exists also. You wrote about the caste intolerance, I would like to hear more about it, for me it's a new thing. I would also like to know what do you think about the intolerance concerning people with another sexual orientation. In Poland that is an important problem. That is why our group will make researches on this subject. Mrs. Mirk wrote that every one of us is intolerant in a way. What do you think? Me? I agree, even if sometimes we don't want to do this, we are intolerant we have to recognize this.
Please write soon back,
sincerely, Irina

From Billie (USA) and Irina (Poland)

Dear Irina,
My name is Billie and me, you and Dalaya (and a few others) are in the same group. I received your letter and I wanted to respond to what you said about the drugs in your country. We also have a lot of drugs here so don't worry, you're not alone. My mommy is a police officer and part of her job is to get rid of drugs and drug dealers. sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.

Dear Billie from USA,
You wrote that your mom is a police officer. Is she sometimes confronting with intolerance? Because in Poland we do. And what do you think about the fact that everyone is intolerant in a way, even without knowing? Do you agree? Sometimes, if I totally disagree with someone, I don't accept his way of seeing the things. It happens rarely, but I realize that I am intolerant. How do you think we can combat this? Please write soon, Irina

Hi, Irina. I never realized that anyone could be intolerant but now I know that sometimes I am, especially when I get mad, I don't like to hear the other side of an argument. if I think something is wrong or right and the other person sees it differently, I refuse to hear them out. And yes, my mommy deals with intolerance but she doesn't let it interfere greatly with her work. She tries to see both points of view without being rude and then she makes a decision using that.

Teen Issues
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From Amber (USA) and Lucille (South Africa)

Hi Lucille Cloete, I am Amber Price from DC and like Upington, we also have a lot of gang, drug, and pregnancy issues. I think the main problem in DC is the drug usage in our teens. Around here some people consider smoking and using drugs cool, but that affects almost all DC teenagers because when people see us they stereotype because of what some of us do.

Hi Amber,
People should not judge you because of the problems other teenagers are causing, because it is not fair if someone does something and everybody should get the blame for what they did. You should tell people that they must not classify you as one of them. Show them that you can do better than what other teens are doing, set an example so that others can follow you.
Love Lucille from South Africa

From Milosh, Wojtek, Krzyshtof and Arek (Poland)

Hi,

we have chosen this problem because it is the biggest one in our city. To really feel what's teenage gang you must just enter some wrong street or you wear some expensive things like clothes or shoes. It's like a plague.

People which are in teenage gangs have mostly no parents or parents don't know what their children do. They also make this type of group because they need some acceptance and there they can find everything. We were trying to understand those people so we have made an interview with teenage a gangsta (Milosh has made it):

- Yo, could you introduce yourself and tell us something about you??
- So my name is Piotrek, I'm 18, I have been living in Lwowska street in Nowy Sacz since I was born. I like to listen Hip-Hop and spend time with my cronies.
- While you are saying "my cronies",do you have gangs on your mind ?
- Let's say...it's rather a group of people where everybody could die for everybody...unless this is a definition of word "gang".
- No I was thinking about a group which is engaged in stealing, riots and drug dealing.
- You know how it is.., youth doesn't have money so ... they deal. and sometimes when we haven't got anything to do we kick someone's...
- Could you tell me something about your parents?
- My father's an alcoholic, freeloader and my mother she provides for the whole family, she works as secretary. She earns 600 zl per month.
- Which school are you going in??
- Now vocational school, that's because they have dropped me out from the secondary school when I was in first class. You know, I was doing too many drugs. But now it's all right I'm fine.
- Haven't you think that this wasn't a place for you. What will you do in the future??
- Ey man I don't think about future, everything what is important to me, it is now and here.
- Ok I understand..Thanks.
- Ok, peace brother!!See ya!

If you ask another gangsta he will probably answer the same. I think that we can't rely on police. All we can do is learn, become a member of the government and try to change the law. Teenage gangs this is also a fashion, all this hip-hop and rap are about gangsta.

We still don't know what is the main reason. It may be intention of acceptance or the bad condition of Polish education. We can only do everything we can to make this city and country better.

From Luzelle (South Africa)

Hi Lashell from USA
I am Luzelle from SA. I am glad that we have something in common. A lot of girls are pregnant at our school this year. Teenagers and even smaller kids are sexually active and falling pregnant these days and I think that this should be against anybody's personal moral values.
Greeting from Luzelle.

From Mahesh (India)

Hello, My name is Mahesh Rathod. I live in India. I am 18 years old. I have also 4 brothers. I live with my family. My favourite subject is English. I like cricket, rugby, and football. My favourite food is chicken. I also like movies. My favourite movie is SHOLLAY. Due to family responsibilities I might have to leave my studies. So for teenagers this is the biggest challenge in my community, leaving studies. We have to start earning and there are lots of expectations for us. We are asked to behave like mature adults and not allowed to make mistakes due to which many teenagers get influenced to smoking and drinking alcohol and forming violent groups.

Can you write about u

Bye, Mahesh

Family Concerns
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Comment by Chaitelle (South Africa) during Ethics Dialogue phone conversation on family issues

.Single parenting is one of the most difficult issues in South Africa. The majority single parents are women because the father can't cope with the responsibility of having a child. Most of the single parents are so very young and unexperienced. We as a group have sympathy with single parents because they are financially unequipped to raise a child.. Most single parents still depend on their parents..

From Thomas (USA)

Dear Suzanne,

My name is Thomas Wash from the USA. I read your letter and I found the relation between you and your mother to be interesting that you and your mother had an open relationship. Where I come from the mother plays the role as your mother and the role as of your friend and demands a certain amount of respect, meaning you give your mother more respect than you would most other people, especially your friends. Here whatever your mother says goes with no ifs, ands or buts. Most of the mothers I know, including mine, tend to be very stern, but loving of their children.

How is your mother and others like where you come from?

From Luzelle (South Africa)

Hi this is Luzelle from South Africa,
I interviewed a Social Worker, her name is Wilma Bezuidenhout. Here's her ideas on our SA ethics:

"SA is a land of possibilities. Democracy came in 1994. Thereafter came children's rights, women's rights, gay rights etc. Democracy came to all of us, young and old. I remember a time when you wanted to buy a car you would consult your elderly and even when you wanted to get married, you had to consult your elders. Today we tend to forget about our elderly people. We see them as useless and even refer to them as oxygen thieves. Society put our elderly in a class of their own. A class of used items that has no value. Today young folks have countless opportunities to make South Africa the best country in the world. We are heading for the Soccer 2010 world cup, which will be hosted here! Young people tend to forget their roots, they only focus on their rights. The reality is that with all these rights and opportunities, there is responsibility. And this the youth tend to forget. With this responsibility comes respect. Today we don't show respect for the right things."

This is my findings when interviewed a SA Social worker.
Thanx, Luzelle (South African Vibrant girl!)

Community Challenges
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From Tytus (Poland) and Hussain (India)

Hi Hussain Shaikh from India,

My name is Tytus Mystkowski. I Live in N.S, Poland. I've chosen your letter because we're interested in same things :-). I also like watching TV, reading book and makin' new friends :). How old are you and where in India do you live? I'm 15.

Now i'd like to tell you something about problem of mine :-) It is not so easy and funny but it's very important. It's abortion. I think that the choice of stoping pregnancy should be only parents decision and everybody should decide about his/her own child.
best regards,
Tytus Mystkowski

dear Tytus Mystkowski,

I am Hussain from India. I live in Mumbai. I'm 16yrs old. I also like your ideas about abortion. Our India is a multi religious country. Mumbai is famous for trade.

This is my first letter. The population in Mumbai is very high but Mumbai is a good tourist place. I like India because different cultures. I want to know your gender.

There are many poor peoples and orphans living on footpath. Some peoples avoid others because of their standard and caste. Here most of the disease spread because of pollution. Most of people are married by seeing their caste and class. Some educated people don't get job often. Women are not allowed to go out late night. Write back.

From Shilpa (India) and Ewa (Poland)

Hello Ewa from Poland,

My name is Shilpa. I'm from India. I stay in a small town of Mumbai. My family consists of five members - mom, dad, big brother, sister in-law & me, myself. My dad is retired from job. My brother works in a telecom company. I'm in 12th grade. Well the (problem) in society in India is in the rich and the poor. The poor guy does not get admission in good schools because of lack of money. Due to (lack of) education the guy does not gets a job. There is partiality in jobs. There r other many problems which I would be discussing with u later on.

Bye,
Warm Regards.

Dear Shilpa!
Your problem is very interesting and it is important in Poland too, but in our community it is also another problem connected with poor and rich students in school. Some students are pushed away because of their clothes or if they are rich or poor. I think it is more important in our community than the problem you chose.

Your friend, Ewa

From Angela (USA)

Hi Milosz the gang problem doesn't just happen were you live. it happens here in America as well. Were most of the people in our school live is in the hood. SE is where it's the most dangerous. Every morning and every night I look out the window to see if anything has changed but it hasn't. Guys are still on the corner in front of my house dealing drugs out of ice-cream trucks and gang shoot-outs and fights and the police are nowhere to be found. People in the hood are scared that if one of the gang members see you talking to the police. the next thing you know you come home and your house is burned down or they have kidnapped your child or worse have killed your child. Everybody just goes back into their house and don't say anything. I don't have any older brothers or sisters but everyday I pray that my little sister who is 8 years old doesn't get caught up in what happens around our house and I pray that her classmates don't bring her into it either.

Ethics Dialogue phone conversation between Liden (South Africa), JaQuea (USA), Cordiero (USA), and Hussain (India)

Liden: The youth in our community drink alcohol and soft drinks. On the weekends they spend all their pocket money on alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana and they don't give a damn about tomorrow They only live for today. What do you think we, the leaders of tomorrow, can do to stop the abuse of alcohol and drugs to make our society a better place for the upcoming and growing youth?

JaQuea: I think that what we can do as young people now today we can be better role models for our siblings, for our little cousins or the children around our neighborhood, our peers.

Cordiero: To be a good role model is to stay in school, don't do drugs, have no criminal background, go to college, finish college, get a well-paying job.

Hussain: We can tell them about the value of life, the value of money, think of our families and also we can be a good role model for them, ask them to be busy with their work and their study.

Liden: I think that you should start with yourself and then you can try to help change somebody else's life because if your life is not in (inaudible) how can you deal with other people's problems if you cannot sort out your own? And so you have to commit yourself to a higher standard and be a role model to others. My morals in life are to abstain, be faithful and Christian-like.