History of The World In 6 Glasses Summary Chapter 11

History of The World In 6 Glasses Summary Chapter 11

Image: Coca Cola

In 19 century America the production style allowed for unskilled labor to produce professional quality products on a mass scale

the first sodas were produced by an English scientist. He found out a way to carbonate drinks. These sparkling mineral waters were said to have medicinal properties. He invented a machine to make 12 gallons of soda at a time and he thought of combining it with fruit juice and sugar. This is now referred to as an “Italian soda” in America. Another man named Schweppes created another more mild sparkling water that the British really enjoyed. This boom in soda allowed for the rise of hand made syrups. Sodium bicarbonate was then used to make drinks fizzy, thus giving them the name of soda water. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as well as George Washington were highly interested in soda. In America soda moved from a scientific endeavor to a commercial one. This was done in part by a man named Benjamin Sillman. In America people were experimenting with making fizzy lemonade as well as making wine spritzers. People were starting to invent huge soda machines. The man who made Coca-Cola also was experienced in inventing quack remedies. The man decided to combine some of the leaf of the coca plant to add a little pep to people who drank Coca-Cola. He sold these to pharmacies. The man who made the iconic double C’s is Frank Robbinson, who suggested the idea to Pembleton. The competition that drove the soda market eventually led to rapid expansion of global markets.

Thoughts & Reflections - The Condition of the Working Class in England

Thoughts & Reflections - The Condition of the Working Class in England

Image: Merry Poppins Chimney Sweeps

Now I will first address my image. Even though Disney musicals may seem to be irrelevant, all of those happy chimney sweepers probably died of cancer and were children. Source: Here Since I am discussing the living and working conditions of industrial era England I thought it would be fitting to show just another view point on living conditions. This article is about the children who were used to clean chimneys. Kids as young as 6 were becoming disfigured as well as developing serious lung issues. Not only that but kids frequently died due to the risky nature of the job.

Article: Children as Chimney Sweeps

Engels also happens to share a very similar viewpoint. He starts by explaining how the city was built too dense and that made ventilation nearly impossible. With so many fires burning oxygen within the city was low because too many chemicals, as well as the cities' lack of sanitary control meant that all of the rot was just being added to the air. All of these mix with factory exhaust that creates a toxic air which means people who live in the city are often developing chronic diseases, and respiratory diseases. Another point Engels discusses the effect factories as well as the industrial revolution as a whole on the family. He states that since factories try to minimize time away from work fathers are sent to live in factory dorms that are choked by air pollution. Engels also points out the tragic effect of making mothers work. When women are forced to work and not raise their children, it makes the children disenfranchised and lost. He states the industrial revolution is causing a serious condition, "this condition which degrades, in the most shameful way, both sexes." This is done because people think that profit, and larger corporate agenda is more important.

I think this article is super fascinating for a few things. First, it raises an issue that can be seen through modern history. The beat movement comes to mind. In The Dharma Bums a beat movement book, contains a passage where the main characters lament about the way all of the houses look the same, and all have the same TV on and listening to whatever message was broadcasted. This issue of finding direction in a modern world is also explored by philosophers like Alan Watts. Another example of searching for meaning in a modern world can be found in the works of Charles Bukowski. Bukowski published many autobiographical stories of when he came back from a World War II draft and had to find work in Los Angeles. The issue Engels has found has not been addressed enough. We may think we have solved the issue, but instead, we are sold the solution. We have the mainstream media to thank in regards to setting social norms, and blaring advertisements designed to psychologically affect us. Even this blog you are viewing now is run by Google, who is harvesting your information. Go install an extension or plugin for your browser that tracks every time Google records your ad data. Engels is right when he says we need to stop degrading the human race.

The French Revolution - Present Perfect – Ideas from the French Revolution That Have a Place in Today's World

Human Rights in the 21st Century.

Image: Reign of Terror

News Article:
Current Genocide

End Genocide

ISIS Guilty of Genocide




Declaration of Human Rights

     The human right that I have chose to talk about is number 3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation. This was originally created during the French revolution to level the political playing field and helped make sure that any one man could not rise to power using force or money, however the French revolution failed. These human rights are still very relevant today. This was hypocritically shown during the reign of terror when the revolutionaries started executing way too many people. This constant blood bath was just one of the reasons the revolution failed. 

Image: BBC Death Toll

     In Syria the terrorist organization known as ISIS is violating human rights by killing, kidnapping, as well as starving prisoners and forcing children into combat. This violates this human right because ISIS is exerting authority and breaking laws that they do not have any right to break. They are also breaking several others, one being 4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law. Another human right that is violated is: 10. No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law. It also violates 16. A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all. All of these things are being violated in Syria right now.

     Human rights set an important benchmark in terms of where we should be heading to create a more safe and stable society. However, this is hard for a number of reasons. First we have to fix the rights that are currently being violated. In this case of genocide the most realistic solution for completely  stopping it would be to go to war. These rights are impressive and sound perfect but they are extremely hard to achieve.

Danton Reflection Questions

Image: French Court
In the movie Danton, when the little kid recites the doctrine of the revolution, Robespierre realizes that the blood shed, and terror is now being imprinted into the children. This scene shows us the ultimate failure of the revolution. Danton shows us the underside of a revolution that tries to right the wrongs of the current reign, however their extreme violence eventually led to an unstoppable downward spiral which eventually ended with the members who were responsible dead. This shows the idealized rights of the revolution failing when the revolution violates the rights that it tries to enforce.   

John Locke Twitter Salon

Thoughts & Reflections on: Human Rights

Thoughts & Reflections on: The Preamble to Human Rights


Picture: logo of human rights

      The Declaration the Rights of humans give a foundation both legally and philosophically to the concept of “basic rights.” This declaration of rights helps define a new era of human history. With the creation of these standards we give ourselves a guide that if implemented correctly, will improve the quality of living all across the world. These rights helped pave the way for large, civic change. These allow us to set a moral compass for how countries, and governments, and everybody should adhire to. This is a summary of the basic human rights:

Men:
1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good. 2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation. 4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law. 5. Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society. Nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law. 6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents. 7. No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law. Any one soliciting, transmitting, executing, or causing to be executed, any arbitrary order, shall be punished. But any citizen summoned or arrested in virtue of the law shall submit without delay, as resistance constitutes an offense. 8. The law shall provide for such punishments only as are strictly and obviously necessary, and no one shall suffer punishment except it be legally inflicted in virtue of a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offense. 9. As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty, if arrest shall be deemed indispensable, all harshness not essential to the securing of the prisoner's person shall be severely repressed by law. 10. No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law. 11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law. 12. The security of the rights of man and of the citizen requires public military forces. These forces are, therefore, established for the good of all and not for the personal advantage of those to whom they shall be intrusted. 13. A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means.
14. All the citizens have a right to decide, either personally or by their representatives, as to the necessity of the public contribution; to grant this freely; to know to what uses it is put; and to fix the proportion, the mode of assessment and of collection and the duration of the taxes. 15. Society has the right to require of every public agent an account of his administration. 16. A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all. 17. Since property is an inviolable and sacred right, no one shall be deprived thereof except where public necessity, legally determined, shall clearly demand it, and then only on condition that the owner shall have been previously and equitably indemnified.


Woman:

   1. Woman is born free and lives equal to man in her rights. Social distinctions can be based only on the common utility.
      2. The purpose of any political association is the conservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of woman and man; these rights are liberty property, security, and especially resistance to oppression.
      3. The principle of all sovereignty rests essentially with the nation, which is nothing but the union of woman and man; no body and no individual can exercise any authority which does not come expressly from it (the nation).
      4. Liberty and justice consist of restoring all that belongs to others; thus, the only limits on the exercise of the natural rights of woman are perpetual male tyranny; these limits are to be reformed by the laws of nature and reason.
      5. Laws of nature and reason proscribe all acts harmful to society; everything which is not prohibited by these wise and divine laws cannot be prevented, and no one can be constrained to do what they do not command.
      6. The law must be the expression of the general will; all female and male citizens must contribute either personally or through their representatives to its formation; it must be the same for all: male and female citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, must be equally admitted to all honors, positions, and public employment according to their capacity and without other distinctions besides those of their virtues and talents.
      7. No woman is an exception; she is accused, arrested, and detained in cases determined by law. Women, like men, obey this rigorous law.
      8. The law must establish only those penalties that are strictly and obviously necessary...
      9. Once any woman is declared guilty, complete rigor is exercised by law.
      10. No one is to be disquieted for his very basic opinions; woman has the right to mount the scaffold; she must equally have the right to mount the
rostrum, provided that her demonstrations do not disturb the legally established public order.
      11. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the most precious rights of woman, since that liberty assures recognition of children by their fathers. Any female citizen thus may say freely, I am the mother of a child who belongs to you, without being forced by a barbarous prejudice to hide the truth; (an exception may be made) to respond to the abuse of this liberty in cases determined by law.
      12. The guarantee of the rights of woman and the female citizen implies a major benefit; this guarantee must be instituted for the advantage of all, and not for the particular benefit of those to whom it is entrusted.
     13. For the support of the public force and the expenses of administration, the contributions of woman and man are equal; she shares all the duties and all the painful tasks; therefore, when must have the same share in the distribution of positions, employment, offices, honors, and jobs.
      14. Female and male citizens have the right to verify, either by themselves of through their representatives, the necessity of the public contribution. This can only apply to women if they are granted an equal share, not only of wealth, but also of public administration, and in the determination of the proportion, the base, the collection, and the duration of the tax.
      15. The collectivity of women, joined for tax purposes to the aggregate of men, has the right to demand an accounting of his administration from any public agent.
      16. No society has a constitution without the guarantee of rights and the separation of powers; the constitution is null if the majority of individuals comprising the nation have not cooperated in drafting it.
      17. Property belongs to both sexes whether united or separate; for each it is an inviolable and sacred right' no one can be deprived of it, since it is the true patrimony of nature, unless the legally determined public need obviously dictates it, and then only with a just and prior indemnity.