Q 1: The definition of ideology translates to being a set of ideas that almost entirely pertain to politics, policymaking, and economic aspects. An ideology’s goal is to progress the world for a better future. The word holds a theory that is self-explanatory which is to translate and elaborate politics through the integration of differing sides.

To me, ideology radiates a future and the hope of creating a brighter version of it when wanting to exceed expectations for political figures and striving for them to meet their set goals. The core is to execute the qualities that are guaranteed to make a community prosper. An example could be a democrat or a republican. Both of these groups have political freedom which aim to better their nation as a unified whole as well as their communities.

Q 2: Conservative ideology savers the application and use of repetitive and traditionally thought of ideas. This construct has a goal of encouraging change and celebrating progress while keeping and I am not hearing core values. Liberal ideology differences in the sense of its opened opportunity to respect somebody’s ideas as their own and then having a right to do so. It is insinuated that whichever leader that utilizes liberal ideology must advertise in individuals rights as well as exercising democracy.

Q 3: Althusser elaborates on how ideology continues having longevity and environment that is practical and logical. There is zero history as it is quite mysterious which encourages the content of modern ideologies to change if able while the foundation can stay the same.

Question 1

MLK in his letter to the clergymen asked the question: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” He answered stating there are two types of laws, just and unjust. “A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law”. He further explained stating, “An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority”.

Question 2

It is my strong view that the answer to the question of the difference between the two laws mentioned in MLK letter gave a clear understanding of both with distinct descriptions. Just is based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.

“a just and democratic society” Conversely, unjust is based on conduct that is wrong, immoral and unfair. Segregation was WRONG!! An unjust system perpetrated on the vulnerable and helpless by the powerful.

A society that is ruled by a set of unjust laws creates the temperature of the environment that existed in the MLK era. It demoralized, creates a perpetual tension between class, a sense of oppression by the hands of those who enact such laws that are unjust, unfair and simply wicked. Such laws limits individual freedom and stun any progress or opportunity to achieve a better way of life. It is a good thing in retrospect that our laws today for the most part, both federal and state are based on equal rights and justice for all.

Any laws enacted by our legislators that appeared to be unjust to society generally meets a backlash in some form either through protest, or one using the right to vote to remove and replaced such political parties that fail to meet the will of the people. Politics will forever be affected as the only channel and voice a citizen to demonstrate their approval or disapproval off the performance of their political leaders is to vote.

Question 3

In the U.S today Child Marriage is currently legal in 46 states. Whereas the minimum age of marriage in most states is 18 years old, there are exceptions to these laws, either through judicial approval or parental consent. In a 2017 research by The Denver Post it was noted, that approximately 248’000 child marriage of girls as young as 12 years old was performed between 2000 through 2010.

Federal law does not specify a minimum age to petition for a foreign spouse or to be the beneficiary of a spousal visa. A kindergartener must wait until she is 21 to petition for her parents to come to the US, but she can legally petition, during naptime, for her 80-year-old husband to get a visa and, in most states, permission to rape her without fear of prosecution.

MLK position of an unjust law states,  “An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law”. Child Marriage therefore is an unjust law as it forced a child into marriage or union with an adult violating the very human right of the child. This is also a violation of international law that prohibits this process, yet it continues to rob thousands of young girls in the US under 18 depriving them of their childhood.

Child marriage is a forced marriage that is a harmful practice that denies girls of their right to make essential life decisions regarding sexual health and their well being. Child Marriage law, forces a child out of education and into a life of poor projections, with an increased risk of violence, abuse, ill health or early death.

Just law: Family Medical Leave of Absence

The Family Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA) allows eligible employees of companies to which they are covered to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. This allows continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Here is some of the benefit the law dictates:

Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:

• The birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
• The placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;
• To care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;
• A serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
• Any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
• Twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the service member’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).

This law is a just law as it applies to all without prejudice. As MLK stated “A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God”.

1. The term ideology can be a set of rules, belief systems, philosophies, and ideas that we attribute to ourselves regarding how we view things in our society, culture, norms, and politics. When we talk about ideologies, we often referring to how people think, their ethics, manners, reasons for doing the things they do, how we think things are done from a different angle or lens, etc. For example, the ideology of equal opportunity is designed to eliminate discrimination of all forms in all aspects of workplaces. Ideology consists of a group of values that influences how we view, think, act, and perceive the world that evolves around us. An example of an ideology is; capitalist believing they. Everybody can have his/her ideological way of thinking about whether the universe, politics, environment, or philosophy. One of the simplest ideologies I have learned is the American individualism concept of thinking. It is not surprising that individualism is what the American culture rests upon, whereby every individual feels the right to self-sufficiency and freedom.

2. Liberals and conservatives are two set different types of people from a political standpoint. These two have different opinions on how the country should be run or govern.
Liberals are a set of ideologist who supports the capitalist system and all its fundamental values. They believe that the government should present equal opportunities to all citizens. They are in support of the free-trade market. Liberals believe in giving people second chances to live and that government has to be there for everyone. The people we refer to as leftist or left-center are known as liberals. Many liberals believe that, instead of cutting taxes for the riches, they should rather be taxing them more to help the poor and those in need. One of the fundamental beliefs and principles of liberals is the improvement of both public and social services. Social security for all, SNAP for all those in need, and many other acts of human services are backed and supported by liberals.
If Liberals are the far-left, then let’s label conservatives as the far-right. These are the other people on the other side of the aisle in American politics. Their ideologies are very different from liberals—conservatives are more of preserving and defending the free-market capitalism and defending gargantuan business. Conservatives are more concerned about gaining profits, self-reliance, preaching of virtues associated with private initiatives. In conservatives thinking, they believe the solution is not the government. Conservatives believe that government should sometimes act as an authoritarian to keep people in check. They support harsher policing methods, severe prison sentences, and more vigorous use of the death penalty (Wadsworth, 53, 2011). Conservatives are support anti-abortion laws and preach moral values. They believe there should be regulations to help keeps us under surveillance, bans should be put on gay marriages and our morals questioned.

3. To my understanding, Althusser’s concept of ideology means that people internalized ideologies in their everyday lives without even recognizing them when we believe in ideas without being aware that we have accepted these concepts. For example, law enforcement agencies exist to ensure safety within communities and maintain law and order. For these things to happen, people have to respect and obey the rules put in place as they are consequences that come with disobeying the laws.

Ideology is a set of ideas, believes, or practices that are set up, most of the time, by the people in power. We are talking about the construction of imaginations around what to believe as solid, what we deemed to be a priority, morally acceptable, and how society should look like and operate. 

In this lesson, we were able to approach different types of ideologies that have to do with politics, society and economy. Examples of different ideologies can be capitalism and socialism.  These are ideologies that revolts around economic, politics and society.  On one hand capitalism sustain free market, defend big business and have specific ideas on what a “good” society looks like.  Capitalism in my opinion, can also be very much tight to the ideology of White Supremacy that we saw previously in class. This economical ideology of capitalism has serve to the purpose of defending a system of wealth, power and privilege, key to keep the world white.  On the other hand socialism strive to “modify the corporate capitalist system with a system of public ownership”, cooperatives, factories own by the government, and so on.  A society that prioritize the common wealth and social services, much needed to give equal chances or opportunities.  I wonder within this type of ideological system, how would people build wealth or if there is a top where people can go? That can also be my capitalist mind speaking since all I have ever known is capitalism in all its different colors of oppression. 

1. Keeping in mind the material covered in this lesson, describe how you understand ideology in YOUR OWN WORDS. 

Ideology is a set of principles that encompass the overall experiences, standpoints, and opinions of an individual. It is something that is built across life and can take build and change over time. Teachers might have a set of experiences growing up, and after years of teaching they will have second hand experiences with all those students and it can influence the way they feel about certain aspects of life. After attaining a college degree, individuals will have gained a massive amount of knowledge to influence their standpoints. Ideology is more than political since we literally use it everyday as humans. We as humans are able to create plans and schemes that are based on personal ideologies. These are how we are able to establish ourselves in our arrears and make money. 

2. How do you understand the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics? What seem to be the big differences, the dividing line? Give an example to back up your arguments.

The basic understanding of the two ideologies is that there are two groups of individuals who have drastically different views. The more liberal people have an ideology based on the experiences they feel have wronged them. They believe that there should be support given to individuals who are in need. Often liberals are called left which has more policies towards policies like socialism.  The more convservative people, while they are more social demure, have an emphasis on personal values and empowering the individual to solve their problems. Often conservatives are called right – wing because they often believe in nationalism, which is towards the other side of the spectrum. Conservatives have unnecessary ideas that are inconsiderate to other parties. 

3. How do you understand Althusser’s definition of ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words. Given an example. Hint: you may have to watch the second video again, and find the few places where Althusser’s position is presented.

From my understanding, Althusser defines Ideology as a non self conscious status quo that needs not to be changed . The idea here is that ideology means people accept beliefs that they have believed without consciously knowing they believe them. Ideology can be reinforced through expectational and approved behaviors to deem you as “proof” and further on being an obedient citizen in a capitalist economy.

For example, school equals discipline, therefore the ideology prevents changes to the authority of the staffing in school. Students are taught through a strictly formulated daily routine, along with being restricted by force. They’re interactions are governed by behavior reinforcement, in which students must always be respectful, obedient, non rebellious, comply and learn from their mistakes through authority. Violence is along the lines of fear, but the promotion of fear will keep students regulated, which if they fail to do corporate, they’ll be sent to detention, or suspended and other forms of consequences. The ideology appears from students playing their role , accepting these lessons, which will be implicated in their futuristic habits as an adult. 

The term, ideology, can be described as a set of believes an individuals has and follows. This is created by the groups or individuals we surround ourselves with. More so, ideology refers to a persons political views, and which party their views supports. Ideology is influenced by society, which either changes or decides to stay the same, supporting for the original set of rules to be followed.

The way I can best define Ideology is by putting my thoughts together or what I learned from my parents, teachers, or books I’ve read. It is the customs we adopt and practice in our every day life, to which we may not be aware about it. In a sense it is the ideas, view or opinions we have towards different issues. It is also the way we decide to carry ourselves and what we decided is important or even how we will carry on traditions, if they will change or always stay the same. In my case ideology can be presented by the norms I still practice from my home country and the views I share with them but also how my outlook and what is important to me now is different than my parents, who had more time to live by those unspoken rules.

2) I associate conservatives with wanting to follow the original rules, not change them or adjust them based on the new era or the change that is taking place. Conservatives also want to have a say and dictate how a woman should go about their bodies, or whether or not certain school curriculums would damage their children’s educations and views. I also see conservatives as only having one way of seeing things, not wanting to be open minded, if something has “worked” or appeared to work for an extended period of time they don’t think it should be changed. These group of individuals may also blame those who have part of the lower income class or less educated than others, which then also falls under conservatives seeing them as lazy and wanting to live off the government assistance. While liberals want equality for all, in education, wages, housing, and job opportunity. This group of people are also supportive of the rights of LGTBQ+ community, and speak up for them, wanting them to have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Liberals also believe the government should be doing more to support their people, as they have to power to do so. Additionally, liberals believe in taxing the rich and big corporations in order to have a more fair system for all. Setting them aside from conservatives also points to their believes in environmental help or protection of the planet.

3) Althusser’s definition of ideology is, how we approach social “norms” and make them out own, although nothing is changing, we just have the choice of adopting them. Many of the traditions or behaviors are embedded early on in our lives, the biggest institution that still applies these are schools. Basically having students follow a schedule, following instruction and having discipline above all, is just an example of how ideology is sort of hidden in our society today.

1. Ideology is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons. It hits on our aspirations to have a collective consciousness, on our desire to have something in common with others, which gives us a feeling of belonging to something beyond ourselves and with that mindset ideology becomes a necessary tool to gain social control over our families, corporations, political parties and the citizen of a country. Ideology affects people political believes, take the Democrats for example, they believe that the government knows what’s best for the citizen and that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of all individuals

2. The difference between conservative and Liberal ideology in US politics.

Conservative preaches about virtues of the private initiative and self-reliance, they believes that rich and poor get what they deserves, that the reason that people are poor is because they are too lazy and incapable. They blame our troubles on arrogance, insularity and the government knows best mentality.  Liberals sees a need for improving public services and environmental protections, they also support minimum-wage law, unemployment insurance and other wage supports.  Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve people’s problems. Liberals support welfare because it provides for the poor without welfare life below the poverty line would be intolerable. While Conservative policies generally emphasize the empowerment of the individual to solve problems. An example could be the welfare system. Conservative oppose long-term welfare because they believe there should be opportunities to make it possible for poor and low-income workers to become self-reliant. 

3. Althusser defines Ideology as an important and useful tool that can be used in school, media campaigns, and politics. To my understanding he believes that ideology has very little to do with consciousness it is unconscious and also represents the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real condition of existence an example of that can be students. They live by a certain set of rules that they act and behave in the way that they believe is required

1. Keeping in mind the material covered in this lesson, describe how you understand ideology in YOUR OWN WORDS.

I believe that ideology is set of believes, ideas and convictions that are intended to make a better life in society. it is like indirect rules setting up in society believing that it is a better way to organize different infrastructures of the society at political, economic, and social levels. For example, political systems such as democrats and republican in America that set up believes and values which influences people to think about their choices based on what each system is referring to in terms of education, religion, economic and so on.

On my understanding ideology is a way in which people as individuals and groups think. It is different perspectives that people adopt to making decision in their life. It is the way of believing to determine people’s inclinations in terms of choosing their lifestyle. Ideology is the way we think about gender and race. For example, the way societies view women (female gender) over the time as weak creature under the patriarchal ideology. This example determines the believes that have been planted in the society about women status and rights and this ideology had been derived from religions, traditions and human believes and perspectives.

2. How do you understand the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics? What seem to be the big differences, the dividing line? Given an example to backup your arguments.

According to course materials is understandable that the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in the US politics bases on different components such as liberty, equality, economic and social systems, and government. While the primary political virtue is liberty for conservative. It is equality for liberals. Also, conservative believes that lower taxes come from lower spending by government, and they support free markets because they think that it has a huge benefit for many people. In the other hand liberals believe on integration and higher taxes and they think that government play a great role in solving problems. Moreover, family, social groups, gender gaps could determine people’s inclination whether they are liberals or conservatives for examples, and as it was mentioned in Craig’s video kids adopt their parents’ political ideology, and also race, ethnicity and religion could determine people’s believes such as African American are more likely to be liberals and white Catholics are mostly conservatives.  Additional examples of ideology, in conservative ideology, they are against abortion because of religion faith and for liberal ideology, they support legalization of marijuana.

3. How do you understand Althusser’s definition of ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words.

In my understanding, Althusser believes that ideology is rules that organizes the society and within it people are reinforced to have choices to deciding on their lives to make it better. For example, as it mentioned in the video education systems is hierarchy of obedience in which teacher, students and parents are immersed in what it calls the discipline ideology where they are reinforced to choose the believes that could make their life better and those believes are present in the rules that have been taught for them, rather than going to breaking those rules and end up in the punishments that could harden their lives. In other words Althusser’s ideology it is a behavior reinforcement through intended rules to having a better future in the capitalist society, it is like social contract between people and government to maintain the prosperity and the power of the country.

1. Ideology is neither inborn, nor is it inherent in the human brain, but derived from personal experience, daily observation and thinking, and gradually formed self-insights about society, politics, culture, and religion. Also Human ideology is affected by factors such as thinking ability, family influence, environment, educational level, living condition, and value orientation. For example, working class or minority groups favor equality rights and opportunities, but mainstream upper class strive to consolidate their power and advantages. That’s why different advantages groups have different types of ideologies

Ideology is related to the social environment, for instance, due to the spread of covid-19, people have to follow social forms to adjust their behavior,  daily routine and social interaction as individual ideology is restricted by social ideology. Also different ideologies have different understandings and cognitions of the same thing. In my point of view, a good ideology represents an individual, group, and community to chase for a better life.  Whether it is the Republican or the Democratic, as long as they can determine to speak out for justice, serve the people, and help minority groups obtain more equal opportunities, moreover, individuals have confidence in the ability to improve life through positive actions.

2. The concept of conservative ideology traditionally refers to the social system that focuses on the maintenance of a particular group. Usually it is categorized as rightist, and advocates free market, the virtues of private initiative and self – reliance. On the other hand, conservative ideology blames people for being poor because of their laziness because they want to cut human services to lower-income groups, and the minorities shouldn’t rely on the government but need to be responsible for themselves. A limited government is what Conservative people want, but they support government subsidies and rescues for large enterprises. Conservative ideology tends to defend social norms and reject inconsistent behaviors and ideas to maintain social structure and stability.

On the contrary, Liberal ideology traditionally refers to leftist which believes all human beings deserve to have equal opportunities and represents the working class, middle class and the poor. The main supporters are social marginalized forces such as immigrants, minorities, gay groups, etc. Politically, the liberal values ​​internal affairs and the environment Protection, health insurance and social welfare, education and other fields. According to the author, “liberal support minimum-wage laws, unemployment insurance, and other wage supports, along with Social Security, nutritional aid for needy children, occupational safety, and the like.”(pg.54) No matter what kind of form that liberal ideology emphasizes their concept to the society, they most likely want to support the minority community to live a better life.

3. Althusser terminology of ideology is the theory and representative system that administrate a person or a social group. It depends on social formation and doesn’t have history, but in it’s eternity that this concept contain positive impact. Moreover, it affect all kind of relationship in all aspect individuals perceive and the real world, it allow the working class works.

1. Keeping in mind the material covered in this lesson, describe how you understand ideology in YOUR OWN WORDS.

Hint: One way to approach this is as follows

a) Describe what ideology is in a brief paragraph (in your own words).

b) Give an example illustrating what you wrote in (a).

c) Write another paragraph (or two), explaining to your reader with additional details, how you understand ideology.

I think ideology is a belief that a group of people’s thoughts, ideas, and values that they express in their life, like racism and sexism, also Capitalism and communism. Ideology is also around us, for example, I like sweets and hate bitter, and you have the same opinion as me, so does some of the other people, then now we had formed “sweet-ism”. Religions are a kind of ideology that might be a better example. While a king of ideology exists, there are usually or more forms of ideologies that are against that idea, back to my example, there might have “bitter-ism”, “sour-ism” or “spicy-ism” happening and create conflict.

2. How do you understand the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics? What seems to be a big difference, the dividing line? Given an example to back up your arguments.

Hint: try to identify keywords (concepts) that play a big role in making someone consider themselves to be liberal or conservative. Then, explain in your own words what those keywords (concepts) mean.

Liberal tend to increase government control of trade and commerce, but don’t support restrictions on freedom of speech, sexual issues, beliefs, and other personal freedoms, while Conservative tend to increase restrictions on personal behavior, but don’t support restrictions on trade, business, wealth and property appreciation. Their opinion on government control and personal freedom are mostly opposite, Liberal is more close to Democratic and Conservative for Republican.

3. How do you understand Althusser’s definition of ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words. Given an example. Hint: you may have to watch the second video again, and find the few places where Althusser’s position is presented.

Althusser’s definition of ideology is that it’s an important and useful tool that can be used in school, media campaigns, and politics. Which are the places and sources that we people usually get the information from, people can be “brain-washed” to have whatever the idea that the government wants us to have. For example, if the government united with the media and changed the teaching materials to tell people that we’re living inside a TV where outside they have Gods that are watching us, of course, at first people wouldn’t believe it, but as time passes through, they will start to take this as fact.