Our Multicultural World

Our Multicultural World.

         Nowadays, there is an increasing number of ethnic group which have different customs and ways of thinking; In general, people who have alternative ways of living their lives. It is an interesting fact that you have the opportunity to interact with people from all around the world thanks to the industrialization process that all the countries are experiencing. In this sense, it is crucial to have a correct education in general knowledge that helps us to understand better and to have a more accurate concept about how to identify foreign cultures and what is more important how to understand them to avoid difficult situations while interacting with a foreigner.

          Firstly, there exists differences between two cultures in a variety of ways such as the language, the perspective that people have about different facts, the way of dressing and the manners. People have to be careful while having contact with a foreigner as the differences listed above are paramount in some countries. For instance, in North America a short handshake can show self-confidence and masculinity, while a limp and soft handshake could be interpreted as a sign for homosexuality. Furthermore, in Africa a long and warm handshake is the ideal to show kindness. Another important aspect is the way you give hugs to people. For example, in Latin America we tend to be very warm and friendly and hugs are very common. On the other hand, if you are in the US it is very important to be aware that Americans do not hug very often unless you are very close to the people you will give a hug.

          In essence, it is crucial for a person who has the experience to interact with a foreigner to know the basis rules about the differences that societies could have. It is in order to avoid problems caused by cultural differences regarding to customs and manners. Furthermore, it is vital to be respectful to lay aside everything that you think you know about a foreign country because it that knowledge is likely to be just a group of stereotypes which are really inaccurate and can cause misunderstandings. The differences within societies are good since it shows how communities are culturally rich and how the human being can develop different codes for the same fact that definitely need to be studied in order to get a correct idea about manners and multicultural aspects about the world where we live in.

Critical Analysis about "Tal cuál" video.

Critical Analysis of the video "Tal cual".

Nowadays, consumers are dealing with many issues related to the products are offered in our daily life. Some of those problems most of the times are caused by the selling companies which main aim is to sell regardless the consumers opinions. Companies do not think to keep their customers satisfied with the service they are using and just think on generate outcomes. In the case of the video I saw related to the contracts that some companies make customers to enter into, It is noticeable the lack of respect for the customers opinions and desires. It does not make sense that a natural person who is using a mobile service has to remain with the same company for a predetermined amount of time regardless if they are satisfied or not with the service.

In the video, the cartoon is showing people their rights regarding to the service contracts. He explains people that it is not fair that users of a service have to keep paying their bills with a company that they are not happy with. A couple of years before, it was accepted that international mobile carriers make people to sign a contract which made people to stay a certain period of time in the company using their services and paying for them regardless it was useful or not. It is benefitial for customers that governamental organzations regulate the policies some companies implement in order for them to generate outcomes.

It is crucial for customers to have a critical position rearding to the services that we use from multinationals and companies in general since many of them aim to generate outcomes regardless providing satisfaction to the people who use their services such as television, mobile network, internet conection and electronical supplies that people use in their daily life. Having critical thinking skills is paramount since companies develop certain techniques to persuade customers to convinve them to use services that in some cases are unuseful.

Link of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m_TlHrNPUQ

How the education can contributes to improve the standard of life of the people who belonged to the guerrilla group “FARC”?

1^st Draft.

How the education can contributes to improve the standard of life of the people who belonged to the guerrilla group “FARC”?

               The FARC is the largest and oldest opposition armed group in Colombia and is one of the richest all over the world according to Forbes magazine. This leftwing armed group has a big influence in the development Colombia has experienced. This Colombian guerrilla is conformed by more than 7.000 people who are currently being part of a peace process with the Colombian government. In this sense, More than 7.000 people who have not had a good standard of life since they have lived in the forest and had not had any sort of formal education, will have the need to settle back within our society after de disarmament. At this point, education has to play a main role and support as much as ex-combatants need in order to get at least their basic needs and to make their reintegration process easier. Through education people can exploit untapped potential which can be crucial for ex-guerrilla fighters to improve their standard of life.

               According to Felipe Fonseca, “The post conflict is a great opportunity to think of a country side again”. Colombia is an amazing country which has a great potential regarding of soils and different weathers that are suitable to produce a huge diversification of export products. The previous fact encourages farmers and people to create micro enterprises that give the country a stake in peace. At this point, the Colombian government is expected to play a crucial and active role providing continued economical and moral support to the ex-combatants. Most of them, just want to start a new life and take into account new alternative activities in order for them to see education as the new path to achieve a normal life as natural citizens.

               Nowadays, our country is believed to be wasting great opportunities to explore new international markets because of many facts that have obstructed a great opportunity to reach real development. Problems such as the intense war that the Colombian government fought against the armed group FARC through many years, affect the way our country has managed the agricultural field. In this sense, one of the main characteristics of our agricultural system is the low levels of technology implemented in the different processes that involve an optimal agricultural system. The guerrilla presence in many farms which are isolated had been one of the main problems that impedes people micro enterprises to invest money and to do their best efforts to increase the quality of the agriculture in Colombia.

               It is noticeable that it is a difficult process for ex-combatants to come back and to recover their normal lives as citizens since they have experienced many situations and have not had any kind of education. A reintegration process might include much more than just participate in a governmental program which aims to help fighters to achieve their goals as new members of our society. Moreover, a reintegration process involves that the society makes an effort to accept ex guerrillas members within all their structures avoiding any kind of discrimination to achieve better result in the reintegration process. All those factors that interfere greatly can be overcame through the crucial help that education provides. If we are aware that our society is correctly educated, we can ensure ex-combatants that there will be an acceptance within our society and we will ensure them that there will be a new safe beginning for their families.

 In essence, our country is dealing with a controversial issue which has to be carefully handled. Our govern has to be wise and take advantage of the resources our country has to make the reinsertion process easier. The education of people from our country and of all the ex-members of the guerrilla is paramount since it is noticeable that every single actor of this situation needs to know all the aspects we need to work on to achieve better results. Education is the clue to change the difficult situation we are living through. As Nelson Mandela affirms, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. 

              

Outline of the Final Essay

How the education can contributes to improve the standard of life of the people who belonged to the guerrilla group “FARC”?

Introductory paragraph

-The FARC is the largest and oldest armed opposition group in Colombia

-It has a big influence in the development of the country.

-This armed band is currently being part of a peace process with the Colombian government.

-Ex-combatants need a way to improve their standard of life.

-Since education is a powerful tool, it can help FARC ex-members to increase their quality of life.

Arguments

-Even if the peace process has a successful end, it does not mean the ex-combatants will have a happy living after disarmament.

-Education is the key to success.

-Colombia is naturally a rich country and has plenty of healthy lands where education can build a new agricultural powerhouse.

-A suitable education in the field of new proposals on agriculture can definitely help ex-combatants to improve their life quality.

Counter-argument

-Even if some think people who conformed armed groups cannot settle back in mainstream society, they manifest they are full of expectations and hopes.

-Most of ex-combatants do not want to reintegrate onto our society just to get a formal job but to start studying something they dream of.

Conclusion

-Summarizing, Education is a powerful tool can help to ex-combatants to achieve success in life.

-Education is the way to overcome the repercussions after war.

Nelson Mandela´s quote.

The Frankfurt School

How do you think Frankfurt School thoughts can be applied to today in our own culture?

Although Frankfurt School critical theory was proposed long time ago, it still has a strong infuence in our society. Though Frankfurt proposals definitively can be used in a better way where people take advantage of this interesting theory, it seems critical thinking skills are not seen as crucial and societies are not giving the importance it really needs. 

It is not necessary to have a certaing status within our society or to have studied a specific field to have a critical attitud against ideas which run counter our own ideals and thoughts. In this sense, if common people become aware of the power that critical theories and proposals have, we will have a powerful tool to offer enough ressistence against oppressive ideals which run counter our beliefs and thoughts.

It is paramount that schools pay close attention and start encouraging on students alternative proposals which they can use the develop new skills that they may need to face our changing society. Nowadays, students have to deal with plenty of new challenging situations. In order for students to be readier, they need to have strong critical attitudes to withstand issues such as persuasive techniques and methods that our globalized world try to impose upon the young minds.

The Importance of having Critical Skills

             Since the art of persuading people is becoming everyday more powerful, getting high and strong critical thinking skills is paramount. Althought it is crucial for everyone to learn how to resist to globalization and persuation, the vast majority of people do not care a lot about it. Personaly, I consider I have not worked on acquiring efficiently critical thinking skills. I am not good at things such as presenting strong arguments when I need, even If I have background knowledge about a certain topic. I consider I do not know a lot about the structures of an argument, and descriptive writing.