Are_You_Listening_

Everyone has their opinions on public power, especially the government. There are many political and social views on how the government should be run. With democracy, it is the people who decide who has the power. Power is defined as the position of authority. It is then questionable whether the people holding this authority is using it properly. What is the proper use of power in authority' It is a matter of personal opinion, but wholly, who ever is in charge has to listen to these opinions. Religion is one of the things that often conflicts with the government and where power is often questioned in. In Antigone, her views are that God’s laws are served first before man’s laws. Creon’s view is that whatever the ruler decides is right. There is confliction involved in these two arguments because they both feel strongly on where they stand, neither willing to back down. In the story it is left for the reader to figure out his or her own views, from the other characters’ arguments. Haimon and Teiresias have their own views on Creon’s judgment, upon his punishment for Antigone. Haimon believes Creon needs to listen and obey God, while Teiresias splits sides with Creon and Antigone. He sides with his father, but in ruling, feels he should pursue wisdom through flexibility, following traditions, and avoiding pride. In the story, it is portrayed that Creon was wrong, from the plot along with these characters‘ views. The logic of both views is while Creon is the king, he needs to know when to back down and listen. In the Ten Commandments article by the editorial board of Los Angeles Times, it was yet another struggle for power between religion and government. It was argued whether official prayers in public schools violated the First Amendment. It is questionable on who’s right because everyone can be biased. Recently, it was ruled that in Pleasant Grove, Utah, with a Ten Commandments Monument at a city park “must also make room for the Seven Aphorisms of Summum”. With this, Charlton Heston argues that this should not be because the “Ten Commandments are familiar to most Americans; not so the Seven Aphorisms”. The ruling is still undecided and it is up to the court to decide. In this case, it is up to the members of the court to decide. Whatever they rule, there’s going to be a side unhappy, and that’s where it is up to the individual to justify if the government was right or not. The government has the choice to listen to the complaints, and represent the people in doing so. Listening is one of the key points for proper power. In the case for macroscopic humans, there is controversy with President Bush’s first veto against stem cell research. Jonathan Turley discusses this topic, along with Robert J. Inlow and Craig Beitzel following to comment and further discuss about it. Turley mentions how “most Americans oppose the president’s restrictions on research”. While proper power is determined through listening, it is not always determined through majority. However, it should factor in there somewhere. With so many Americans for stem cell research, why is Bush so opposed to it' The answer is in the title of Inlow’s article- “Faith getting in the way of ‘good government’”. Furthermore, Beitzel is adding to this when he mentions, “our political readers continue to lag behind for ‘religious reasons’”. It is important to set aside one’s religious views when one is running the country. Not everyone is religious and there are benefits with stem cell research. It makes it possible to “relieve the pain and suffering of millions of lives“, but because of Bush’s religious views, it does not enable him to consider it to its fullest. While people can agree or disagree with Bush’s idea, it is important for authority to listen. The decisions are vital and so it should be collective to the views of the people. Public power should be depended on the public. Because there are kings, rulers, and presidents that speak for the people, it is important that they speak on behalf of the people, not themselves. It is a matter of opinion on proper public power because everyone may be biased, but as a whole the government needs to listen!