Mr. MacKnight's TOK Class

The world is a big place; even if we could live forever it would not be enough to write a detailed view of it because things keep on changing, and our view changes along. We ourselves change with time; therefore my view today is not going to be the same in 10 years time. So here I’m going to attempt to tell a story of my current view of the world, but let’s keep in mind that this will change and therefore it’s not granted that I will support it in the future.

Universities: Now here is something that I don’t mind talking about. This is a topic that affects all of us especially at this point in time, and it signifies a turning point in our lives. Choosing a university is not easy; there are so many things to consider and take into consideration. In addition, there is all the pressure of finding a place that is right for you and where we’ll be spending 3-4 years of our life. For everyone is different, by for me it began from choosing the course. It wasn’t easy. I started by eliminating all the things that seemed too hard for me (such as Engineering and Law) and all the ones I wasn’t interested in (such as Medicine and Zulu). At the end, there wasn’t much left. I then analyzed what I was really interested in; from that I knew I wanted to study something that involved the international community and working in an international environment. It was at this point that I became interested in “International Business Management”. Once I decided that I wanted to take this course, I had to decide which country I wanted to study in. Again I went by elimination. I wanted to go to an English speaking country and out of Asia, so Italy and other options were removed. What remained was the UK, the USA and Australia. At this point I came to the conclusion that the USA is overrated; everyone wants to (and is going) there and you have to take the SAT test (which to me is a stupid idea to measure one’s education and knowledge). So I looked in detail at the UK and Australia, and decided to stick with England since it had generally a better reputation in the quality of the universities. And that’s about it; I visited a few cities over the summer and came up with 5 universities I wished to apply to. Now is just a matter of time before they make offers and I decide where to go. A new path is ahead; a new chapter of this book called life will soon begin.

Trust: This is one of the key qualities a want a friend of mine to have. At the same time I do my best to make sure my friends can trust me (this can be achieved through small things one step at the time, such as keeping secrets etc.). I think is important pointing out how trust is difficult to be made, yet it can be so easily lost. It is definitely something worth paying attention to throughout our lives.

The past: The past is perhaps one of the most useful ways of learning; of adapting and making changes. The past is sometimes to be ignored and forgotten; yet most of the time it should be kept on the back of our heads as a reminder and advice for the future. The truth is that there is so much to learn from the past. History is the study of the past, and we have learned a lot of things from it. The first example that comes up to my mind is the League of Nations. It was a failure; so when the United Nations was created they made sure not to repeat the same mistakes. And that is why the UN still exists and is an important organization in ensuring peace and aid throughout the world.

The future: The future is scary because it is mysterious; it is unknown. Both good and bad things await us in the future, and it is this uncertainty that creates in me a feeling of fear for the future. I can’t help but to think of Peter Pan, and how it is impossible to stay young forever. It is nostalgic in a way, yet I don’t mind growing up and being faced with new things. The same uncertainty that creates fear also creates in me a feeling of wonder and a need to discover. “I’d love to go back to when we played as kids
but things changed, and that’s the way it is” (“Changes” by Tupac).

Technology: I’m fascinated by technology. It makes our world a better place (even though sometimes it can have quite the opposite effect) and allows us to do things we wouldn’t have even dreamt of. For example I recently saw on discovery channel a new technology that will allows us to control the TV and all its applications (i.e. videogames, etc) through the movement of our body. I believe technology is a key factor in our world and it is what allows us to move forward; at the same time if technology goes into the wrong hands it can be catastrophic.

Social Class: The most I know about this topic is from History class. Through time, difference in social classes has been the cause of much conflict. However, there is not much we can do about it; people are born in different social classes, so often it is not one’s fault.

Science: Closely linked to technology, science is also an interesting topic. I’m not much of a science guy but it fascinates me. Again I think is a key element to move forward and it allows us to reach new heights.

Rich People: Rich people are usually the ones that have the most power and have the most control over different aspects of our world. They don’t just appear out of nowhere, but are rather the creation of a mix made up of hard work and luck. Sometimes people become rich through illegal ways. I think having too much money is not a good thing, as it may end up being used in inappropriate ways.

Religion: Is the different beliefs and faiths of people. We often use religion to cover what science can’t explain. Being born in Italy, I was raised Roman Catholic (as 90% of the Italian population) and that is what I believe in; however as I get older I find myself thinking more and more about religion. I have faith in my things related to the church, however I also question just as much. I still haven’t made up my mind on the subject, and as things are right now I’ll probably leave it for when I’m older and feel ready.

Race, Racism, Racial Differences: I think it is a horrible thing to judge someone from the color of their skin. We are all human beings and should be treated as equal; even though in the past and still today it is not the case. Just because someone is born with a different skin pigment, there is no reason to believe that that person is inferior. It really upsets me when I read such things in history, especially when we studied Civil Rights in the USA; I wished people were more open-minded. Nevertheless, it is reassuring to see that things have changed; as a result the USA now has a black president.

Progress: Progress is moving forward; making advances in technology and other aspects. I think it is very important that we move forward so that we can live a better life and take care of the environment.

Poor People: If there are rich people, there’ll inevitably be poor people. They are needed just as much as rich people; after all no rich person would do the jobs that are often assigned to poor people. Again luck and background play an important role; nonetheless I believe poor people should try their best to save up some money and live a decent life.

Politics: The world of politics is a difficult one. It is often made up of lies, yet it is what runs the government. Many times politicians place their own motives before the wellbeing of the country and its people. I’m quite interested in politics and they can have a great impact on our lives. I’m quite ashamed of the politics in my country for several reasons. For example nuclear power was banned because of stupid political party called “Federation of the Greens”. Only in the recent years Italy has been working on nuclear power as a source of energy; because of this we are several years behind other countries. Another reason is that politics in Italy has often been under the influence of Cosa Nostra. Anyways, I generally like politics and it is a fairly interesting subject as I feel that it can affect me directly.

Nations, Nationalism: There are many nations around the world, and they are all different in terms of culture, environment, society etc. By going to an international school I have had the chance to learn more about different nations and it has made me more open-minded.

Muslims/Islam: My knowledge in this field is not very fast; matter of fact I don’t much outside of the typical stereotypes. It seems to me that Muslims and the Islam is what is causing conflict around the world today. It’s not my right to judge, yet I can’t help but to feel hatred towards these people. I blame the media for putting this thought in my head, and I wish I understood more on this subject.

Money: It is the root of all evil. Yet it is what makes the world go around. Depending on how much of this stuff you have, you’ll either live a hard or easy life. It always strikes me how much power money really has, and I’m very curious to know what the world would be like if money did not exist.  Two quotations come up to mind when I think of money. The first I got it from Mr. Iacobucci’s history class: “When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.” (By Cree Prophecy). The second is from a song by 50 Cent: “Enemies stay enemies, but friends they change. People go crazy over money, my mayne”.

Men and Women: Similar yet so different. It’s always fun comparing the two and I’m often fascinated by the things that come up. I find that at times I really can’t understand women; yet there have been times when I could fully side with one. It is interesting how men and women so often seem to be total opposites, yet at times we share several things. I love women, but to be honest I’m happy to be a man (let’s leave it at that; I don’t wish to go into detail).

Liberal: All I know is that they are left-wing individuals/organizations, meaning that they tend to be towards change. I would consider myself Liberal on certain things (for example in sports) but I wouldn’t apply this to everything.

Lawyers: They are cool. At some point in time I really wanted to be a lawyer; but once I realized how much you have to study and all the things that need to be remembered, I thought that perhaps it does not suit me. My aunt is a lawyer, and so I got the chance to get a more detailed understanding of her job. Also in the movies and in the media lawyers always seem so cool. In addition, they are often well paid. I would like to defend people and truly understand the law.

Justice: To me this is a concept where the right action is taken towards someone that has done something wrong. I think justice should always be made, even though it is often not the case. When justice is not being given through the law, I believe people should consider taking the matter into their own hands.

Jews/Judaism: It seems to me Jews have been treated the worst, out of all the other religions. By having recently studied Hitler and Holocaust in history class, that’s all I can think of at the moment. Once again my knowledge on the subject is not great.

Human Nature: My understanding of human nature is the behavior displayed by humans, which distinguishes us from other creatures.

History: It is all the events that have occurred in the past and historiography is the study of those events. I like history because we can gain much knowledge from it; it allows us to develop a better future.

Government: The government is what runs the show. I believe that to different extents, the government is behind everything. I also believe that the government hides many things from the public, and some governments are more evil than others. I think that all governments should put the interest of the country and its’ people before their own interest. Nevertheless, I have more or less faith in governments around the world.

Freedom: To be free can mean a variety of things. At this point in time, freedom to me means leaving for university and start a new chapter in my life. To other people freedom could be political, religious or sexual.  I think freedom is something that everyone deserves and should fight for, independently on what it is.

Environment: Is everything around us, most often referred to nature. I believe as human being we have the responsibility to take care of our environment; unfortunately we are the main source of the earth’s major problems. I think we should try harder to coexist with our environment (and I can’t help but to think of Avatar).

Education: Education is one of the human rights, even though still in the 21^st century there are people who for various reasons can’t/don’t have an education. I feel very lucky regarding the education I have got so far; especially coming to an international school and studying the IB diploma. I believe this has given me an advantage (for example over my friends in Italy) and increased my chances for a prosperous and productive future. Education is a key element in ensuring success.

Doctors: They are the ones who help people with health concerns; they form a very necessary part of our society. To think that doctors often have the power to save a human life makes me look up to them and feel sympathy. I’m glad to know that there are people who can understand can take care of my body and health.

Culture: I know the most about Italian culture, for obvious reasons. But by coming to an international school I had the chance to learn a lot about other cultures; I have learned things that otherwise I would have never known. The diversity of our school has allowed me to become more open-minded. I believe that these 6 years got me closer to the Asian culture in particular, also through various trips and holidays.  I wish to live in an international environment all my life, is that I get to know more and more cultures.

Conservative: Is another political term. It is the opposite of liberal, and it represents a person who is right-winged and doesn’t like change. I guess I’m conservative on certain things; for example when it comes to food.

Christians/Christianity: Is another religion and religious beliefs. As mentioned in other TOK posts, I don’t have a complete opinion on religion, as it’s still developing. For now I’m just going to say that I believe Christianity is just as good as all other religions. Faith is the key behind all religions.

Business: I’m very interested in business, and it is what I will be studying at university. I think it is an important subject because it teaches you how to run things and take care of organizations. I believe studying business is a solid foundation for a prosperous future.

Buddhists/Buddhism: Another religion. I don’t know much about it, but I’m quite fascinated by Buddhist monks because they seem to have some strange spiritual powers, and they definitely have a lot of faith.

Agnostics/Atheists: Are people who lack of faith. Personally I would just feel empty if I didn’t believe in anything; I guess that is why I have difficulty understanding these people.

And finally this list is finished! I tried to write a little bit about everything, but nevertheless some subjects are more interesting than others. Time has also revealed to be a problem, so I rushed through the last ones. Again, I want to mention that this is only a temporary view of things, and I know almost for certain that this view will change in the near future and as I develop.

• agnostics and atheists—I’m one of them. I believe in the science behind our origins—that our ancestors are apes. I feel that I don’t need a God to help make me strong, or grant my wishes, or hear my prayers. Everything comes from who you are, and what you choose to do with it. (I also don’t believe in persuading others of what I believe about religion; it’s up to them to decide what they believe in, and that’s nowhere near wrong.)

• Buddhists / Buddhism—My mother’s a Buddhist, so to hear about the different Gods and Goddesses (not exactly the right term, but I’m not quite sure how else to put them—divine beings?) and what they represent, or what they do, has always been weaved into the background. It’s not something that affects my life greatly each day, but it is eye-opening.

• business—Can be both wonderful and horrible. The innovation and pure brilliance of some of the businessmen and women out there in the world is striking; I admire them deeply for it. The fact that we humans can build an empire out of managing resources and exchanging things with one another is incredible. Also, there’s the collision between people, places, and cultures that you find stemming from business (after all—why are we all here right now?) However what can be constructed, or built upon, can always fall down. As they say, money makes the world go round. It’s depressing to see how business can grow so important as to enter areas of moral and ethical conflict.

• Christians / Christianity—Yes, I may not agree with them, but I can’t say that they’re wrong either.

• competition—Is a good motivator. It’s hard not to get sucked into it, so moderation is key. I am a competitive person, but I wouldn’t say that it takes control over my emotions. I suppose that I use it as a method of keeping myself in check, and as a measure of my confidence and self-esteem.

• culture—Is inescapable. It’s part of our identities as individuals, part of our identities as a group, and one of the few things (besides our personalities) that distinguishes us from another. We all come from someplace with some sort of family or childhood, with some sort of schooling or education, and with all sorts of influence. It’s impossible not to have culture; it’s IN you.

• doctors—Funny that this is here. It’s ironic how much faith we have in them. I used to always think that it was a doctor’s job to care; to take the time and attention to treat his patient in the best way possible. They hold such a high status in our eyes (as normal people; non-doctors) that they become, for lack of a better metaphor, God. I may be biased from experience, but I’ve come to realize that medicine is a business. Having said this, I still suppose that most doctors do take that extra time and TLC (tender loving care) with their patients. Those that don’t though—the ones that fail to rise to their responsibilities; the ones that take shortcuts and tick their patients of a checklist one-by-one, don’t deserve squat. I know that they’re only human, but anyone that can toy with those who are desperate should turn around, go back to college, and find a new profession.

• education—Isn’t only school. No one can teach you how to live life, it’s something you’ve got to learn for yourself.

• environment—Is vital to the individual’s development, to the development of a community, and the rest of the world. It takes care of us, so we should be returning the favor. According to the media, this isn’t going so well.

• freedom—Should be earned in small doses. I know I’m a hypocrite in saying this now, but when I’m 40 years old and have a teen-aged son or daughter…

• government—Doesn’t cross my mind all that often, to be honest.

• history—Is somewhat like culture in the fact that it’s everywhere. On the other hand, it’s something that you can choose to accept, or hide.

• homosexuality—Maybe not the most natural of things, but hey, if the birds want the bees, who’s to tell them “no”?

• human nature—I find it pretty strange how thinking about it can make us seem more base, like animals, while also more sophisticated at the same time. In one sense, we have our needs; our desires and appetites. Whether it be an appetite for hunger, for security, or even for sex—it’s still that animalistic drive that keeps this side of our human nature going. On the other hand, you have the more “we-are-human-beings-and-therefore-sophisticated-thinkers-and-superior” image, where our appetite for knowledge drives us farther up the evolutionary chain. The side that asks questions and finds answers; that categorizes and reflects, separates us from that animal side. I find it funny how so many people end up skipping over analyzing themselves first, before going off to understand the rest of the world.

• Jews / Judaism—Another prime example of the majority squashing the minority. This seems to happen too often.

• justice—Is defined differently by each individual. I know I’ve got strong principles. This can be a good thing—providing the confidence to stand up for what’s right, pointing out when you or someone else is being wronged—or bad.

• men and women—Aren’t meant to understand each other.

• money—Shouldn’t be as important as it is, but there doesn’t seem to be any alternative.

• nations, nationalism—HAVE SOME PRIDE.

• politics—(See “government”.)

• progress—A little is still some. How for one has progressed, and whether that progression is substantial, is completely subjective.

• religion—Should be something that you decide yourself, and shouldn’t have to be ridiculed for.

• the future—Can be something that’s hard to even think about sometimes, and at others, something you can’t stop obsessing about. It all depends on your beliefs of what that day, that night, or that certain event will bring. The “unknowing” part becomes annoying sometimes though.

• the past—Is something to learn from, but definitely not to obsess over.

• trust—Is crucial, but hard to come by. And involves a little faith in the person you’re dealing with.

• universities—Scary. But there’s some hope hidden in there too.