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-1Tashara Turpin

Amy Dibello

English 1A

06/22/2009

The Golden Rule

Upon exploring the definitions of ethics, morals and values; I learned that these

three words are more real and meaningful than I thought. After reading the three essays

that I picked from Open Questions, it was very clear that ethics, morals and values play

a very important role in every aspect of life and should be thought of as much more

than just a vocabulary word. In the first essay, Exile: El Paso, Texas; the author tells us

how he was made to feel like he was not valued in a country he was born and raised in.

Next, in Profile of an Arab Daughter, I caught myself ignoring the morals I was brought

up with by profiling against families like Elmaz Abinader's. Last, Michael Levin really

made me question my ethics in his essay The Case for Torture.

Value is the principles or standards of a person or group. In Exile: El Paso,

Texas; it was clear to the author that the Border Patrol in his city did not value anyone

that fit the profile of an illegal immigrant. Several times the author mentioned that he

witnessed people of Hispanic decent be treated unfairly because of the standards law

enforcement set amongst themselves. Benjamin Saenz had several negative

experiences with the Border Patrol even though he was a U.S. Citizen and it was due to
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a profile that he was put in. Saenz spoke of a particular incident when he was stopped

to be questioned about his citizenship, before he even spoke a word to the patrol agent,

she spoke to him in Spanish assuming that was the language he spoke. When the

agent asked Saenz where he was from Saenz went on to say "She was browner than I

was. I might have asked her the same question" (Saenz 20).

To have morals is to be good or virtuous in behavior. I was brought up to see the

United States as a melting pot of different races and religions. In Profile of an Arab

Daughter the author writes of the discrimination her and her family went through

because of 9-11. She recalls watching the news a week after the events of 9-11 and

hearing "one news station took a poll and discovered that most Americans think that

Americans of Arab decent should carry identification cards"(Abinader 40). I have to

admit I was one of those Americans that felt anyone of Arab decent should be a suspect

or could be involved with 9-11. I am very disappointed in myself for feeling like that

especially after reading how much Elmaz's family loves our country.

When you have ethics you have the standards to judge between right and wrong.

The Case for Torture had me on both sides of the fence as to what my ethics are when

it comes to deciding if torture is justified. Levin explains the difference between torture

and punishment, "I am not an advocate of torture as punishment. Punishment is

addressed to deeds irrevocably past. Rather, I am advocating torture as an acceptable

measure for preventing future evils" (Levin 202).

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In closing, society as a whole is letting the meaning of ethics, morals and values

dissenagrate. We are too quick to judge and dishonor each other. If we all went back to

the "Golden Rule: Do un to others as you would like them to do un to you" we would not

have to feel the sting of discrimination or decide if torture is a justifiable way to save

others in danger.
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Works Cited List:

Abinader, Elmaz “Profile of an Arab Daughter.” Open Questions Jan. 2005 (40)

Levin, Michael “The Case for Torture.” Open Questions Jan. 2005 (202)

Saenz, Benjamin “Exile: El Paso, Texas.” Open Questions Jan. 2005 (21)