Module 6 Ethics in the News

This week I will be writing a blog on the article 'Apple boss 'disappointed' by new Indiana religious law' found on the BBC's website. Here's the link http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32096052

Upon reading the article it sounded as though many celebrities and others were outraged by the passing of this bill. The article made me dig a little deeper into the bill and according to an article by The Weekly Standard, "Indiana's RFRA does not grant a license to discriminate. First of all, the state of Indiana, like 28 other states, has never prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation at public accommodations. Even without such laws in most states, discrimination doesn't commonly occur because the United States is a nation that is tolerant of gay people and intolerant of bigots."(Mccormack, Pg. 2) The whole situation to me brings about the issue of equality, which as stated from the text, "Fundamental Equality is the concept that people should be treated equally by their governments and their legal systems: No special privileges; just an entitlement to respect and consideration as human beings." (Rosenstand, Pg. 338) The article by The Weekly Standard shows that this may be an issue of the media making a mountain out of a mole hill, but if it is as advertised by the BBC article it can be seen as an injustice.

References:
Mccormack, J. (2015, March 27). Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Explained. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/indianas-religious-freedom-restoration-act-explained_900641.html?page=2

Miller, J. (2015, March 27). Apple boss 'disappointed' by new Indiana religious law. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32096052

Rosenstand, N. (2013). The moral of the story: An introduction to ethics (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Module 5 Ethics in The News

Here is the link to the article I will be blogging about this week.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31976567

The article discusses Monica Lewinsky and how she was the first to ever be cyber-bullied. We all remember her infamous scandal with President Clinton. What led me to choose this article was my wondering of why after so many years she was making headlines again. She tells us the reasoning within the article and it's a good reason. With cyber bullying ever growing, I doubt that it will ever go away. It is compelling though to see that Monica Lewinsky is in turn finally speaking out against the people who were lobbing the insults at her all those years ago in the first ever case of cyber bullying. Although one may try to argue that it is their freedom of speech to conduct this cyber bullying John Stuart Mill would argue against it I feel. Mill stated in regards to personal rights, "if you are not harming anyone else, you have the right to be left alone."(Rosenstand, pg 338) The act of these people providing written insults and bullying for the world to see on websites is causing the victim harm, and an act that should not be 'left alone'. 

References:

Wakefield, J. (2015, March 19). End online humiliation says Lewinsky. Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31976567

Rosenstand, N. (2013). The moral of the story: An introduction to ethics (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Module 4 Ehtics in the News blog

Here is the link to the article I will be blogging about for this week. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-30948179

Lizzie Valesquez has had a tough life, being born with Marfan and lipodystrophy diseases. The posting on youtube by somebody intentionally bullying her by labeling her "The World's Ugliest Woman" did not make her life any better. The video had been watched over 4 million times.  Rosenstand (2013) states "According to the utilitarian calculation, a great number of people may be hugely entertained by the immense suffering of one or a few."(pg. 244) Over 4 million people watched the video and made crude jokes and comments about this poor girl at her expense. The entertainment they received at her expense is and example of the utilitarian view. I commend her parents though for raising her to look positively and not giving into to the comments she viewed from the youtube video as she has shown great resiliency. With this, in turn the negative views and comments she's received have empowered her to pressure congress into passing an anti-bullying bill as well as provide inspiration for over 7 million people with her speech from the popular Ted talk. Applying the utilitarian approach again it could be argued that with her suffering it has also led to the many being also inspired through her resiliency.

References:

Rosenstand, N. (2013). The moral of the story: An introduction to ethics (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Hawkins, K. (2015, March 14). 'Online bullies called me the world's ugliest woman' Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-30948179