[YB] 7月17号作业 by weenbopper

weenbopperUID: 2423595

TOPIC: ISSUE203 - "The best way to understand the character of a society is to examine the character of the men and women that the society chooses as its heroes or its heroines."
WORDS: 501
TIME: 00:45:00
DATE: 2009-7-17 14:25:41

1、当个人的性格和价值观和整个社会相符合时，反映整个社会的特点 E：雷锋
2、但是，有的个人因为太强势而使得这个社会的特点在他的个性下黯然失色
3、其实大众才是体现社会特点的最好媒介

Heroes or heroines are most excellent and representative members of every society. In this sense, those individuals do reflect the morality or value of the society; however, there are some specious heroes emphasize its personality over the society. Actually, it is the mass, which create the hero, best represents the character of a society.

Admittedly, hero is the incarnation of a particular culture's Volksgeist, and thus of the general Zeitgeist. Usually, the mass would give pride to the individuals who accomplished a lot and, perhaps most importantly, who was consistent with their own culture and value. China, for instance, is a country boasts its hospitality and obliging disposition. And Lei Feng, the most famous soldier in modern Chinese history, is wildly accepted as a national hero and icon since he helped countless people and even lost his precious life in the process. When he, as a driver, tried to help an elder cross the river in a pouring rain, he was crushed down to death by the trees. His altruism just represents the culture of China, in which Confucius has claimed that helping the others is one of the most traditional and precious merit of China thousands years ago.

However, some individuals might be so self-centered and powerful that put his personality over the nation, and thus overshadows the authentic character of this society. As the example one need look no further than the devil in World War II--Hitler. He and his forces committed numerous atrocities during the war, including the systematic killing of as many as 17 million civilians including the genocide of an estimated six million Jews, known as the Holocaust. But could his atrocity represents the true character of the mass German and their society? When Hitler became the leader of Nazi party, he tended to deploy all national resources and energy serving for his own interests and party-- to undermine the individuals and nations that opposed him; to trigger his personal war against the world; to impose his governance and influence to elsewhere. In short, he emphasized his personality and interest over the culture and value of the society—to be peaceful and friendly with the others.

Subsequently, the genesis of the great man depends on the long series of complex influences which has produced the race in which he appears, and the social state into which that race has slowly grown. Before he can remake his society, his society must make him. Therefore, the heroes are just some common members who possess stunning abilities or personality. In the aforementioned example, Lei Feng is just a common soldier in 1960s of China, who is obliging to help people who need it. In the interview with Chairman Mao, he said (I paraphrase):" I am just a normal member of China’s Liberation Army, who committed my responsibility to help someone." Although it is humility, we can understand it from another side. It is the character of the society and the value of the public decides and creates this heroic figure.

In sum, the heroes or heroines, who are proposed by the mass, reflect the national character only when they follow the value and morality of the society. And it is more prudent and sagacious to understand the society from the populace rather than the heroes or heroines who sometimes overstate his own personality on the holistic value of the country.

weenbopperUID: 2423595

Grounding on a study, synthesizing a fact that North Americans eat soy contains isofalvones; and two inferences that chronic fatigue and depression is caused by food habit and that soy would be also effective in North America. The arguer accordingly makes a suggestion that North Americans should eat more soy to prevent fatigue and depression. This claim is unconvincing since the following critical flaws.

To being with, the arguer fails to consider climate and pressure that may also cause fatigue and depression, and unfairly attributes the reason to food habit. Perhaps the higher rate of fatigue and depression is majorly caused by the increasing pressure in work or study. We all know that with the technological development comes a high pressure, people have to think about the meetings, papers, deadlines, etc. Also, another common sense tells us that people are easier to get pressure and fatigue in cold day. In this sense, we can take more exercise; rather take soy, to figure out this problem.

Additionally, the effective soy in Asia may not necessarily work out in Asia since the different body structure, geographical terrain and eating habit. The human in Asia and North America is very different. The Asian is short, the North American is tall, the Asian is agile, the North American is strong subsequently, the eyes of Asian are blacker, and the North American has more hair, etc. Since these differences we can not simply import the same methods in Asia and expect the same effect. Subsequently, the geographical difference may also slightly change the composition of soy. And it is equally possible that this minor difference diminish the effectiveness of soy.
Also, some particular food in North America would counteract the isoflavones in soy which would inevitably diminish its effect.

Even we accept the effectiveness of isoflavones, we also have numerous other more efficient methods to gain it. For instance, soy may not compatible to the medicine which contains a lot of isoflavones. And, taking exercises or some particular methods would be more efficient to breed isoflavones than eating soy. In this sense, we better off suggest the North Americans take the medicine or some other methods rather eating soy.