Conflict and Order Paradigms
pgs. 53-77

1. I find the Order Paradigm more insightful because I agree with the Order Paradigm's evolutionary process of humanity, rather than the revolutionary process of humanity of the conflict paradigm. I agree with the Order Paradigm goals of: cooperation, harmony, and solidarity.

2. The Strengths of the Order Paradigm-
- People working together and cooperating so things can get done more efficiently and effectively.
- The strength of the idea that a problem is what one makes of it. This idea puts the responsibility on each individual to interpret one's life in a good way, find solutions, and work together in a structure to make it better because, even if one unlikable structure is destroyed, another undesirable structure could be built that an individual will again have problems with. So, rather than blaming the system and trying to destroy it, I think people ought to focus their attention and energy on making the best of the system, rather than constantly blaming the system and using the system as an excuse for one's problems. Individuals in the order paradigm recognize the many troubles of the system but chose to focus to work to change social problems from within the system on a person to person basis with restraint, thoughtfulness, peaceful means and endurance.

a. Theoretical Support of this Paradigm-
Basically, I support the order paradigm because without the order paradigm, nothing would ever get done as I see it, and people would always be debating and opposing each other, locked into warring factions constantly, supporting revolutions & the continual uprisings of violence, destruction, negativity and dissension. Who wants to live this way? Not me. People need to mature and work towards greater integrity, negotiations, and diplomacy. We need to support consensus and true democratic striving. If we don't we simply have reoccurring unrest & instability.

b. Empirical support of this Paradigm-
The support of the order paradigm is empirically evident in the WTO meeting which happened recently in Seattle. Here I saw an incredible event, which was: previously opposing sides of the coin finally putting aside their age old grievances towards eachother in support of a common goal they could all agree on, this goal is: the protection of our labor and human rights and economic sanctions on world trade. When steelworkers and environmentalist protestors to WTO came together at WTO in Seattle in support of common goals, I experienced a monumental event. These people of opposing sides necessarily started talking openly & frankly about preventing Free Trade, and about coming together to protect the progress we've made in human & labor rights and economic sanctions.
I didn't see these disparate groups coming together because they had to or to appease a group to get their way, but instead to work together to maintain a liveable America for Americans and a liveable world for all world peoples. Also, I'm seeing environmentalists and developers, for instance, working together now to protect our resources and the environment at large when building new structures say, in an attempt to make good use of our sparse remaining resources. I've seen people growing towards or reaffirming this Order Paradigm in order to survive and thrive. This evolutionary process of working together to effect positive change is the only way we as a society are can stay stable and progress well.
Each person has to orderly & peaceably do their part from within the existing structure to effect positive change of the existing structure esp. in regards to fair, righteous, and good distribution of money and all resources.

3. The Weaknesses of the Conflict Paradigm-
The weaknesses of the Conflict Paradigm are outcomes of separation and strife regardless of any given goal, at any given time. The Conflict Paradigm is not reflective of unity and cohesion but, rather on messing things up all the time. I liken the Conflict Paradigm to two schoolkids settling an argument by fighting it out with their fists. I think the Conflict Paradigm is breed and perpetuated by ego, aggressive passions gone awry, and by the instinct, it seems, to battle. I think a mature society doesn't tolerate this delinquent behavior.
The Conflict Paradigm will always fail since conflict will always beget itself poorly, and will always backfire on itself, for if one is coming from a place of war and conflict, one will perpetuate war and war will come back to one who has this motivation of war and conflict.
This conflict motivation is a psychological, physical, and mental disposition to and errant spiritual justification to war instead of peace.
Even if conflicts bring about what seems to be a good peace, conflict in itself is ultimately going to fail, what goes around comes around, and payback's a b*t*h!
I resist conflict and war & competition which is so grossly out of control now, unhealthy, and corrupt. I'm cleaving to peace. Since my goal and motivation is peace, and I support the Order Paradigm, I know I'm doing the right thing. Conflict and war is a temporary solution to permanent problems. Whereas, order & peace is an everlasting victory. Conflict may win a battle or two, but peace wins the war always, ironically speaking-to be at peace; at-one-ment is the answer- not conflict.

a. Theoretical weaknesses of the Conflict Paradigm-
The Conflict Paradigm is theoretically weak because the Conflict Paradigm is focused on the problem of problems always. The Conflict Paradigm is constantly breaking apart what otherwise is a harmonious whole. Because the Conflict Paradigm is always focused on impending doom, victimization, and breaking or tearing down, how can it ever be functional or operational.
Conflict is like a loose cannon always ready to go off.
If conflicts or disagreements are treated with respect, acknowledgement of each person's view on a problem, and agreement to reach common, mutual, acceptable, equal agreements to settle issues & even agree to disagree while in the process of settling conflicts by peaceful, non-violent ways, we would be meeting the Order Paradigm, which would be reflective of what our society deems itself to be: a civilized, decent, upright, and orderly society, thus the Order Paradigm prevails in our society.

b. The Empirical evidence in opposition of the Conflict Paradigm is shown by our societies blood lust, gung ho, shoot up the bad guys, jump on the bandwagon, snuff out the bad guys mentality.
I think oppression or victimization and aggressive & conflict are 2 sides of the same coin. In our society, most people just don't think enough about the ramifications of war esp. now with 13 countries having nuclear weapons. Isn't it terrible that war is even considered & perpetuated as an option in solving disputes? Isn't it odd that men will rally & get support for, and fight for their rights even to the death, to martyrdom?
Isn't it strange that white men still dress in KKK attire and obliterate black men in the night?
Isn't this whole violent unreasonable over amped adrenaline, endorphine, hormonal thrust to kill in the name of God or justice insane?
How do you solve one problem by creating another. How is killing someone because someone else was killed solving anything? Who wins if everyone's dead?
Where is the idea that love conquers all? Two wrongs don't make a right? Turn the other cheek? Love your enemies? Love your neighbor as yourself? Treat others as you'd like to be treated? Forgive?
The Conflict Paradigm is inevitably flawed because conflict misses the point of peace and listening to one another, and of truly solving problems well together.
If people are constantly in conflict, they're never in order! & people need order, structure, and organization, to be free!
In a state of conflict and chaos, nothing gets accomplished. The only people that falsely benefit from chaos are crooks, and liars who want people to constantly be in conflict, so people don't have time, clarity or peace of mind to realize what's really going on. People who are out of conflict, realize what's going on and find good solutions to problems, and progress well.

4. I don't want war, I want peace. I don't know how our world can have peace now anywhere on Earth without the military protection we've created. I respect the soldiers fighting for the protection and security of the U.S.
I don't want to fight and if I was called into the military, I would want to be a medic or someone who didn't have to fight and kill people. I except what God has in store for me.
I think that the only way I might fight even to kill is in pure self-defense of myself, my child, my husband, and anyone close to me who's lives are directly under attack from a perpetrator and I am there to help prevent an attack and save my dear one's lives, in self-defense.
I wouldn't want Bush's jobs or any other politicians jobs now. They are having to make such incredibly hard choices and decisions esp. now.


I think the point of living on this planet is to peacefully coexist today & make good use of all our world's resources well. We have a lot of work to do to reach this goal. Faith is my mainstay!

I've always thought it to be very interesting that the universe is thought by Mathematicians and Scientists to be completely mathematically correct and has thorough rhyme and reason & is orderly totally, to infinity. This definitely attests to Order being the M.O. of this universe, for me.