Religion, Racism and Cultural Diversity
Dec 16, 2015 by in Public Policy
Religion, Racism and Cultural Diversity

 

When we look at history, it is typically the strongest of opinions that drive conflict, violence and social unrest. Strong opinions and people committed to their ideas, many of which were uniformly unpopular, are also the cause of our most significant advances. The impact of religion has had a mixed impact on society as a whole, at time beneficial, and at times violent. Racism falls in the same boat. Despite the popular notion that “multiculturalism” is good for society, has some limitations that we need to consider.

DNA

The concept that multiculturalism is good for society stems from scientific studies on genetics and the long-term survival of species. In general, non-specialized species tend to survive longer than highly specialized ones as they are most able to adapt to change. The more genetic diversity in an ecosystem, the better prepared it is for unforeseen shocks to the system. Further, it is … Read more »

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Terrorism, Violence, and the Ideology of Oppression
Dec 7, 2015 by in Terrorism
Terrorism, Violence, and the Ideology of Oppression

“We, God willing, will continue to fight you and will continue martyrdom operations inside and outside the United States until you abandon your oppression…”

                                                                                                                       ~ Osama Bin Laden

The Islamic Extremists who committed the mass murder in San Bernardino, which killed 14 and injured another 21 people, were a young married couple. They left a six-month-old child at home with one of the terrorist’s mothers. They had equipped themselves and planned for this type of action for an extended period before its execution. It was clearly not a spur of the moment “workplace violence” incident. Rather than blaming guns, terrorists, and the usual suspects, we are going to look at how these violent ideologies are enticing young people, across cultures, religions and social class at unprecedented rates.

The popular media like to present the unsupportable and inaccurate assertion that violence is a human aberration. Unfortunately, many in our society have … Read more »

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Violence: Riots, Crime, and Police
May 4, 2015 by in Violent Crime
Violence: Riots, Crime, and Police

Violence: Riots, Crime, and Police

Cases of potential use of force issues with police are being reported extensively at the moment. Most recently the riots in Baltimore have been the source of media focus. Blatimore riots - Aegis Academy - Racism

The six officers involved in arresting Freddie Gray have been arrested and charged with crimes ranging from misconduct to murder.

As we continue to manufacture a case of racism in the death of every black male to hit the news, we propagate the myth that black lives don’t matter to a younger generation, we provide them with excuses for failure, a scapegoat for their frustration, and perpetuate a cycle of long term dependence. Further, we reinforce a manufactured mistrust of the government. The incarceration rate of black men in America is astonishingly high, but blaming racism takes the personal accountability out of the equation.

A young black man has no ability to control whether or not … Read more »

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A Semester Abroad: Arrogance, Apathy, and Ignorance, Part 1
Mar 23, 2015 by in Personal Security
A Semester Abroad: Arrogance, Apathy, and Ignorance, Part 1

“Assumptions are dangerous things.”– Agatha Christie

st-basils-aegis-academyUniversity-aged students are more and more choosing to travel to foreign countries to participate in study abroad, direct exchange, and semester abroad programs. While these education and travel opportunities provide invaluable experience to young adults, they also come with hefty price tags and unique security concerns. If you are a student, or a parent of a student, who may be traveling abroad to study in the near future then this article series is for you. Your student’s life is far more valuable than any Ivy-League education — learn how to prepare for a semester abroad by reading through my own mistakes while traveling abroad in Russia, in this article series  “ Arrogance, Apathy, and Ignorance: What a Student Traveling Abroad Ought to Know.”

In the first article of the series covering ‘arrogance’, I will explore how an arrogant perspective can lead to false … Read more »

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