Sociology Discussion Responses Response to Post #

Sociology Discussion Responses

Response to Post #

While I agree with all of your concerns, I would argue that education about racism in school is the most singularly deficient of the three issues you raised. That is simply because the only philosophy currently driving the response to racism is based on the notion that racial identity is meaningful in the positive sense. In my opinion, it is not possible to eliminate racism as long as race is promoted as being an appropriate component of personal identity. Instead of honoring all races and cultures equally, public education should promote the idea that race is both arbitrary and an artificial construct in the first place and that it is not an appropriate source of personal pride or identity.

Response to Post #

I agree with you completely that addressing poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa should be the most important focus of international aid to impoverished people worldwide. Beyond the ethical argument for addressing the plight of those worst off, it would also be the most efficient logistical use of international resources since the most significant changes (such as increased access to clean water) can be achieved through comparatively simple and cheap resolutions. Moreover, the types of interventions most needed in Africa are also if the type that could benefit the general health and welfare of the largest numbers of people in their populations.

Response to Post # 3

I was particularly interested in the issue you raised in connection with vicarious trauma suffered by social service providers. That would seem to be a tremendously important concern since every social worker whose effectiveness (or tenure length in the field) could potentially affect many program beneficiaries. More generally, establishing programs to prevent, identify, and address professional fatigue would correspond to optimal system-wide program administration. While it might be unrealistic to expect that such programs can eliminate the risk of vicarious trauma altogether, they could conceivably extend the length and improve the quality of many social work careers.

Response to Post # 4

To be perfectly honest, I would disagree that scholarly writing is an important professional skill for police officers and other law enforcement agents. Once in the field, a law enforcement professional must be able to communicate effectively in writing, but I would distinguish that skill from scholarly writing. On the other hand, I would agree that it is important for all law enforcement professionals to be familiar with the process of identifying credible scholarly information for the purpose of professional research and analyses.

Response to Post # 5

I admire your commitment but I might be concerned that your perspective might make you more susceptible to burnout that colleagues who accept the inherent futility of our effort but consider contributing to the cause to be worthwhile. In my opinion, both attitudes promote professional effectiveness but the "belief in the impossible" approach is susceptible to let down whereas the acceptance of our limitations may not be in the same way.