The Quest for Clarity

      There are many ways we can disagree with each other whether it is with words, violence, or action.  But sometimes, our arguments can get out of hand, and compromise has been a legitimate solution to some of humanity's gravest conflicts.  However, compromise may not be as simple as it looks. While compromise can often be a valuable and necessary tool in resolving conflicts and making decisions, there are also potential disadvantages to consider.     Henry David Thoreau was a staunch advocate for following moral principles and individual conscience, as expressed in his essay  "Civil Disobedience"   There is an underlying principle of compromising that Thoreau would most likely disagree with.  Thoreau clearly conveyed his idea of individual conscience as the ultimate moral authority.  He believed that individuals should stick to what they think is moral, even if it meant disobeying unjust laws or government actions.  Comprom...

    One of my lifelong fears has always been bugs, not the ones outside but those sneaky intruders that somehow make it in the house.  An encounter with a small ant in my room recently not only spiked my fear of bugs, but also challenged my natural, hard-wired default-setting of my perception of ants.     When I was about to turn off the light switch on a Friday night, an ant that seemed to appear out of thin air crawled across the light switch.  I must admit, it really got me there with that jump scare.  It took me some time to finally gather my nerves and grab the ant with a tissue paper and put it in the trash bin.  I was so spooked I could not close my eyes for some time.  But I asked this question to myself: Why are you so fixated on the ant? It’s not like it's going to reappear again.  But of course, there is always a plot twist coming.  I glanced at the trash bin, and I saw an ant crawl out of the opening and down the ...

      Memorials play an important role in commemorating individuals, events, or movements that have shaped our history.  However, there seems to be uncertainty and controversy where to place these monuments.  Deciding where to place a monument is an incredibly important decision.  For instance, an article about the movement of the San Gabriel Valley pioneers buried at Savannah Memorial Park details the struggle of this task due to the lack of resources and finances.  Had there been no complaints about the placement of the memorial, there would be no such problem.  Therefore, choosing a site must consider the long-term maintenance and preservation of the memorial.       Communities often have deeply rooted sentiments attached to certain locations.  Placing a memorial in a certain location can spark intense debates. The controversy about the National Holocaust Memorial Museum being placed in The Mall in Washington D.C i...