A634.8.3.RB_DiazBrian

Gun rights in this country is a hotly debated issue.  Our constitution affords citizens the right to bear arms.  “The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: ‘A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed’” (“Second Amendment” n.d.).  I support the right of people to own guns but there should be restrictions on the types of weapons we are allowed to possess.  There have been some high profile mass shootings in the last past years such as Sandy Hook Elementary and the Aurora movie theatre shooting  that have questioned the right to own automatic guns as well as some of the ammunition these weapons use (e.g. bullet piercing bullets).  “Adam Lanza brought three weapons inside Sandy Hook Elementary school on December 14 and left a fourth in his car, police said. Those weapons were a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle and two handguns -- a Glock 10 mm and a Sig Sauer 9 mm” (Almasy, 2012).  Gun rights advocates will argue that limiting certain types of weapons and ammunition would begin a slippery slope and would infringe upon their constitutional rights.  At what point do we weigh the benefits versus the costs of allowing these type of weapons to be available to the public?  When will logic be applied to this issue? 

 

I agree that we should be able to own guns however, I do not believe that homeowners need AK-47’s or an M16’s to protect their homes or property.  LaFollette (2007) wrote “our choice is not merely to support or oppose gun control, but to decide who can own guns, under what conditions” (Location 2775).  This argument has come under a microscope because of recent shootings where the perpetrator was determined to suffer from mental illness.  Those with mental deficiencies do not have the capacity to distinguish between right or wrong and cannot be held to the same standard as a person with normal mental competency.  

Guns kill people.  Point blank.  Yes, there are many uses for guns such as hunting, target practice, competitive shooting competitions, and personal safety.  However the fact remains that if you point a gun at another human being and you pull the trigger, you have the ability to take that person’s life.  You make the decision to place your finger on that trigger and whether or not to pull it.  While the majority of gun owners are responsible, there are those that use guns for violent acts such as robbery, car jackings, and sexual assaults.  There needs to be stricter processes in place in order for people to own guns.  The laws need to change to reflect society today, not society in 1776.  Austin (2014) wrote “there is a correlation between restrictive laws and lower homicide rates with and without firearms, both within the United States and internationally. Moreover, a recent study published in the Southern Medical Journal found that the presence of a gun in a home is twelve times more likely to lead to the death of a member of the household or a visitor than an intruder” (para. 5).   

Gun rights advocates will argue that guns don’t kill people, people kill people.  It can be said that someone can kill another person with a pair of scissors.  Does that mean we should outlaw scissors?  Advocates also propose that if citizens do not have the right to carry guns then what if someone tries to rob a store or a shooting incident takes place in public?  An armed civilian could help neutralize the situation.  Advocates will argue that criminals will always find a way to get a hold of guns and we should be armed to protect ourselves from these people.

 

 In 2013 there were a total of 11, 208 firearm homicides (CDC, 2015).  With tougher laws and gun restrictions I think as a society we have an opportunity to decrease this number.  Unfortunately guns are an issue of politics.  They make money and gun manufacturers have lots of it.  With money comes influence.  How many more Sandy Hook’s do there need to be before common sense is applied to gun rights.  I think it’s time that we really take a look at how guns affect us as a society.  While they serve a purpose that purpose needs to be redefined.

Almasy, S. (2012). Newtown shooter's guns: What we know - CNN.com. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/us/connecticut-lanza-guns/

Assault or Homicide. (2015). Retrieved May from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm

Austin, M. (2014). We Need Stricter Gun Laws. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ethics-everyone/201402/we-need-stricter-gun-laws

LaFollette, H. (2007). The Practice of Ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.  

Second Amendment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/second_amendment

A634.7.4.RB_DiazBrian

My favorite time of the year as a graduate advisor is graduation.  I get the opportunity to meet my students face to face, many for the first time.  Seldomly do I get to meet my students prior to graduation since we are an online distance learning institution.  Graduation is held on the Daytona Beach campus.  My office is located just off of the campus.  Several departments within the Worldwide campus are located on the main campus while a few such as online advising, financial aid, and veteran’s affairs are located off-site.  We are all considered “one campus” however we are not treated as such by our leadership.

Attendance at graduation is mandatory for the advising teams.  All academic advisors are mandated to volunteer graduation morning.  Some duties include handing out cap and gowns, manning information tables, or assisting in the ceremony itself.  As advisors, we are exempt employees so there is no compensation for working on our own personal time (graduation is held on a Saturday).  This has caused a dilemma with employees because some departments that reside on the Daytona Beach campus give their employees a flex day (or extra personal leave day) for participating in the graduation ceremony.  This sends a mixed message.  Is it ethical or moral for one group to be incentivized while another is not?  In this year’s ceremony there were a large number of advisors who did not either have students graduating or had a specific task to perform.   They basically came to graduation, sat through the event, and left once it was over just because it was mandatory.    

It is unfair for one group to be treated differently from another at a university that states “We accept responsibility for our actions. When we see a problem, we do not pass it off, we do not complain, we act. We involve others as appropriate to achieve our goals. We prize dedicated, committed, caring, conscientious, and creative individuals who strive for excellence in the performance of their duties and responsibilities” (“Culture” 2015).  As staff members it is unfortunate that there is not a system in place that rewards all of the individuals that make graduation memorable.  When brought up to our leadership department we are told that “it’s only one day out of the year” and “we cannot control how other departments operate”.  To me, this seems to be a way to brush off the fact that this practice is unfair.  LaFollette (2007) wrote “Considerable practical distance remains between those who think more acts, in more circumstances, fall outside the purview of morality and those who think there are few such actions.  Those who hold the latter position are more inclined to think morality legitimately expects a great deal of us” (Location 3962).  For an organization whose culture is based on integrity, honesty, and trust, I would think that someone in a position of leadership would look to right this wrong.

I take great pride in my organization and the work that I accomplish.  For me, there is no greater reward than serving others.  Aside from the fact that we do not receive compensation for participating in the graduation ceremonies, I enjoy graduation.  It is the day we honor and respect those who have sacrificed, dedicated themselves, and persevered to accomplish a great feat.  However, not everyone who serves in my position espouses the same values.  For example, there is one individual that has not participated in any of the graduation ceremonies since I have worked at ERAU.  Since the day is so hectic, to be honest I had not noticed until this year (when it was mentioned to me) that this individual is exempt from having to attend graduation ceremonies.  I was told this person (whom I am friends with on FB) has a doctor’s note which excuses her from attending because she has a medical condition which does not permit her to be around large crowds.  Sounds legit right?  I mean if you cannot be around large groups of people due to severe anxiety then that is understandable.  Here is the kicker.  This person is an annual ticket holder at Disney.  Not only does she attend Disney World with no issue (several times a month), she constantly posts pictures of her and her family at theme parks across central Florida on a regular basis.  I wish I was that sick...

Knowing this has made me question this employee’s morality.  LaFollette (2007) wrote “Morality’s aim is to guide people’s behavior.  If someone cannot guide her behavior by moral considerations, then it is senseless to require her to do so” (Location 4033-4039).  It is frustrating to know that some people will take advantage of the system.  It is equally frustrating when leadership will not hear what you have to say and fight for their employees.  It diminishes the hard work being done by others and fuels resentment.  If our culture truly intends to do what it says, this organization should take a hard look at its processes for graduation.  An event that should be joyous and celebrated is causing its staff to become bitter and unhappy. 

Culture - Embry-Riddle Human Resources. (2015). Retrieved from http://careers.erau.edu/culture/

LaFollette, H. (2007). The Practice of Ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.  

A634.6.3.RB_DiazBrian

Benjamin Franklin tried to live his life by 13 virtues.  I took an online test to determine how my own virtues match up with Franklin’s.  I will be reflect on the following virtues: temperance, resolution, and tranquility.  These are the areas the quiz suggested I focus on improving.  http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/exp_virtue_results.html?a=144143344424

The first virtue is temperance or self-restraint.  The scenario was based on the over indulgence of alcohol.  These days I seldomly drink but when I do, I have been known to have a good time.  I can go out and have one or two beers and be responsible.  For me this is not a choice rather a responsibility I own as a parent and a husband.  I will admit, in my younger days I was pretty wild.  I lived the bachelor lifestyle to the fullest.  I lived in downtown Orlando and I could be found in a local club, bar, or pub at least 4-5 nights a week.  Why?  Did I mention I was single at the time?  I was having the time of my life surrounded by friends and strangers.  I would not change that time in my life for anything.  I was living life to the fullest.  I was living my life.  The person I was ten years ago is not the same person I am today.  Today’s Brian is concerned with saving for his son’s college tuition, paying his mortgage, and planning for retirement.  Now I think about the future but not just mine.  I have a family now that depends on me for support.  Not just financial but emotional as well.  I still have the same values and beliefs today that I had a decade ago however I am more in tune with them now than at any other time in my life.  A study was conducted to determine if self-disciplined people were happier.  Szalavitz (2013) wrote “Through a series of tests — including one that assessed 414 middle-aged participants on self-control and asked them about their life satisfaction both currently and in the past — and another that randomly queried volunteers on their smartphones about their mood and any desires they might be experiencing, the researchers found a strong connection between higher levels of self-control and life satisfaction” (para. 3).  

The second virtue I “scored” low on is resolution.  I really had no best way to answer this question which I’m sure is why it came up as a virtue to improve.  The reason is because I do not make resolutions.  In the past I did but then I became that person that made resolutions and never followed through with them.  What I do now is constantly set goals for myself.  I do this all through the year.  So instead of focusing on just one thing which I may or may not dedicate myself to at one time of the year, I set many goals and spread them out in order to achieve them.  For me personally, I have found this to be a more successful method.  For example.  We just purchased our first home.  To do this I had to accomplish many different goals and it took five years to accomplish them all!  First I took a look at my financial situation and came up with a plan for debt reduction (my wife and I that is).  We took every single credit card and one by one systematically paid them off.  We also established a saving plan to have money for a down payment.  On the weekends I would drive to different neighborhoods to look at houses and talk with home owners about the neighborhoods.  I would ask about their experience with the builder, how they liked their homes, and if they had a good experience through the building process.  I never told my wife but for inspiration when I went on my bike rides I would go to neighborhoods that were well out of our price range and look at all of these beautiful homes and dream about the day I could move my family into one (not as fancy as the ones I would ride by).  Goodman (2014) wrote “When we set goals, it’s easy to fixate on that magical ending when we’ve reached the goal and everything is better. But we can’t control outcomes, and we certainly can’t will them into existence (though this writer has tried, many times). We have to inch toward them, one choice at a time” (para. 5).  Goal setting has become an integral part of my success and is a practice I am glad to have begun.  It has helped me accomplish many things.

The final virtue is one I struggle with.  Tranquility.  I am the complete opposite of my wife in this aspect.  I can be considered a little OCD.  If a dish is left in the sink it drives me crazy.  My closet is always immaculate and I am take great pride in the things I own.  I am beginning to learn that it is okay if dishes are left in the sink.  It is okay for my son not to pick up every single one of his toys to put away.  And when he strips down to his undies (he is 3 of course) to run around the house, I don’t have to chase him down to pick up his clothes behind him.  It’s okay.  For me this has been a real struggle because of how my mind is wired.  Why wait to do something tomorrow that can be done today?  I am having to retrain my thought process and tell myself that I really should not let these small things worry me.  I should be focusing my energy on other things.  Sasson (n.d.) wrote “True inner peace is independent of external conditions and circumstances. It confers tranquility, inner harmony and balance, and the ability to remain calm, undisturbed, and in control of yourself, even in difficult and unpleasant situations. It is important not only while things move smoothly, but especially, in times of trouble, difficulties or danger. Then it counts most” (para. 3).  While it has been a struggle for me to find inner peace with certain things, I am finally in a place where I can be honest with myself and say “Why are you letting that bother you?”  I have the ability to change and become more at peace with the things I cannot control.  In retrospect this issue for me is more about control and the things I can and can’t command.  I must be more willing to accept that I can’t have everything my way and it is unrealistic for others to think the same way as I do.  By doing this, finding that inner peace, I think I can become more successful not just in my work but overall in my life.  

Goodman, N. (2014). The science of setting goals. Retrieved from http://ideas.ted.com/the-science-of-setting-goals/

Sasson, R. (n.d.). 20 Reasons Why You Need Inner Peace and Tranquility. Retrieved from http://www.successconsciousness.com/inner_peace.htm

Szalavitz, M. (2013). Self-Disciplined People Are Happier (and Not as Deprived as You Think) | TIME.com. Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2013/06/24/self-disciplined-people-are-happier-and-not-as-deprived-as-you-think/