Michel Massabni

Dania Adra

English 203

11 Oct 2015

Through the picture I wanted to show that anyone, even a teenage girl, has the power to change things, that we should be more free. That even without knowing it, every single one of us can make a difference and that we are meant to be free.
In my opinion, Rousseau saw some society problems before they were taken as a real problem by people. Saying that the people is the true leader and the leaders are just where they are because of the people is, for me, a very accurate vision of a democratic society.
In this text, Rousseau is trying to show the relation between the people and the government. He means that the government is misusing the power people give to it, because people have the real power. He says that people are not free and this without any real reason. Just because of where they were born. They are categorized by society. But this isn't only a bad thing, as we can see, people do gain a lot thanks to the civil state.
This picture represents the power of the people but can also represent democracy in the way that in the democratic system it is supposed to be the people who are in power. A risen closed hand is THE symbol of power and giving it to a woman is a way of showing that power can be hold by anyone.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques “The Social Contract” Shifting Narratives.  Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najla Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward.  Mazraa, Beirut:  Center for educational consultation and Research, Educart,  2015.  Print.

Difficulty

In the social contract, Jean-Jacques Rousseau says “With men as they are and with laws as they could be, can there be in the civil order any sure and legitimate rule of administration.” This quote demonstrates the political system that has and is governing our nations. Looking over the past, we see the major corruption existing in today’s society and the reason this corruption is prevalent is because of dictatorship. We realize that these dictators are ruling, dominating, and eventually killing their people. Take for example, Mohamad Morsi, the former president of Egypt, who was charged with deadly violence. He was sentenced to 20 years of prison. Under such circumstances Mohamad Morsi “thinks he is the masters of others, yet he is more enslaved than they are” (Rousseau 113) and this exactly why he’s behind bars while his people, who were once slaves of his, are at liberty. Just like Rousseau stated “once the people realize that they can get back their liberty the same way it was taken they do not hesitate to do so” and the people of Egypt clearly haven’t failed to do so. My picture represents the overall scenario by showing Mohamad Morsi behind the black metal bars which represents the lack of freedom his people were exposed to. In Rousseau’s text, he tries to vision the ideal ways of life by stating that the people from the civil society should work together to achieve the democratic justice they were denied. Politicians most acknowledge that they will always fail if they deny their public true freedom.

 

Work Cited

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. “The social contract”. Shifting narratives. Ed. Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najla Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward. Beirut: Center for educational consultation and Research, Educart, 2015. 113-115. Print

The Social Contract

             What Rousseau is trying to say in his work called “The Social Contract” is that people have the right to do whatever they want as long as they respect what is called the social order. They might lose their natural liberty (which is basically the freedom to do whatever they want) "Man is born free, and everywhere else he is in chains." (Rousseau, 114) -- but gain civil liberty which makes them free to do whatever they want with respect to the society that they are living in. As well, they have control over their possessions, in contrary to when social order is not respected and everyone can do whatever he wants without being punished, inevitably leading to chaos.

             I think social contract has limits when it comes to dictatorship for example, because the people will have much less freedom than other people (such as people that live in countries based on democracy) and will be under the unfair control of the dictator, which can basically do whatever he wants.

             In the picture that is attached (picture of the White House), it is clear that there are barriers that prevent people from going inside the White House. It prevents people from entering a private residence (President’s residence) and at the same time it prevents people from attacking the “country”. It is part of the social contract that makes people be private and have the right to live peacefully, and the social contract that makes people live under a certain set of rules that makes the society an organized and peaceful one.  

Works Cited:

Sinno Z., R., Bioghlu-Karkanawi L., Fleszar D., N. Jarkas, Moughabghab E., Nish J. M., RantisiR., Ward A. (Eds.). Shifting Narratives: A Reader for Academic Writing. Educart (MiddleEast)

Publishing: Beirut, 2015.

Dificulty

    There came a point a while ago, when the citizens of Armenia spoke up, and just said “NO”. “No to the Tyrant” they chanted as they marched towards Freedom Square under a movement called “Electric Yerevan” (Yerevan is the capital of Armenia), demanding their rights from the government, who had declared an increase in electricity fees overnight and with no just reason. However; the government did not comply with its peoples demands, thus showing resilience in the most brutal of ways. In his first book, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, referring to the people, says: “it gets its liberty back by the same ‘right’_ namely, force_ that took it away in the first place.”(Rousseau 114) previously stating that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”(Rousseau 114). Rousseau, by confidently and controversially confronting the “System”, he points out the deficiency he observes in some governments, which will eventually and indirectly enslave its people in more ways than one. Moreover; Rousseau to some extent thinks that the people should take back their rights with “force” (Rousseau 114), and in the picture above, we see the exact same practice! Armenian citizens of all age and gender, risking their health and well-being, demanding justice and concession from an absurd Armenian government. Lastly; as Rousseau speaks of the defaults he sees in some governments and how the people should resolute and demand their rights. Abiding by Rousseau’s guidelines, the Armenians get blasted with water whilst doing so, yet are not too shy about showing the government how they truly feel (Check picture again). Power to the people! (source unknown)

Works Cited

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract. Shifting Narratives. Ed. Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najila Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward. Beirut: Center for Educational Consultation and Research, 2015. 113,114,115 Print

Difficulty

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Daou 1

David Daou

Professor Adra

English 203

11 October 2015

Difficulty.

                        In the social contract, Rousseau has established a fact that would later become one of the most important notions of the Human Rights: freedom, which is the main subject of this text. This picture I have chosen, to my opinion, reflects this subject. Both my grandmother and her maid, depend on each other, both are born free and equal, however their natural powers come from their social background and their parents’ wealth, and put them in this position, who knows, in different circumstances maybe they would have switched places. However they are both trapped, my grandmother may seem rich compared to her maid, that doesn’t make her a happy person, as can be seen with her general hypochondriac mood and her temporary slaver moments. Rousseau states in the text:” Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains. Here’s one who thinks he is the mater of others, yet he is more enslaved than they are.”(Rousseau 114) What Rousseau stated, in my opinion, is true. This picture demonstrates well this concept. The social order decided the present fate of these 2 individuals, one is constantly worried about matters that would be trivial for the other, who stays hopeful and who has problems much more important. Yet Amana, the maid, is happier than her “mistress”, and freer in many aspects. This shows the superiority of civil liberty over natural liberty, driven by force and the need to acquire violently anything wanted. 

Works cited

Shifting Narratives p111

From :Rousseau , Jean Jacques ."The Social Contract" published in 1762.

Rayyan's post on Difficulty (11/10/15)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, "With men as they are and with laws as they could be, can there be in the civil order any sure and legitimate rule of administration?" (Rousseau 114). Looking over the timeline of political history, we always find a tyrant enslaving, starving, and in some extreme cases massacring their nation's people. Most recent examples range from Libya's dictator Mummer Gaddafi to Egypt's own Hosni Mubarak. Each one of these leaders "thinks he is the master of others, yet he is more enslaved than they are" (Rousseau 114). Once the people realise that they can get back their liberty the same way it was taken away, they do not hesitate to do so (Rousseau 114). In tyranny lies only failure, and this is what led to the downfall of these dictators. In order to build a strong and prosperous nation, political leaders must start with a solid foundation. The only way for any leader to gain in strength is to empower each and everyone of their own people like granting ownership to everything one possesses (Rousseau 115), and civil liberty (Rousseau 115). 

Work Cited:

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques “The Social Contract” Shifting Narratives.  Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najla Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward.  Mazraa, Beirut:  Center for educational consultation and Research, Educart,  2015.  Print.

     People walking past this guy usually laugh and throw him a 250 LL or a 500 LL coin. They actually think he's there for their entertainment. It is really shocking to see something like this. A guy his age should be in a university and not on the streets begging for your shitty money. "Man is born free, and everywhere else he is chains"(The Social Contract 114). This sentence from the text perfectly describes this situation . This guy was born free indeed but later on he was enchained by poverty, poverty that the government has caused. Moreover, the tag he's wearing is very ironic. He's clearly stating that only prostitutes are the ones capable of living in such a bizarre world and if he had the chance to be a prostitute to beat poverty's ass he would have but he doesn't have the looks for it. Rousseau in his text is tackling the issue of civil liberty and individual freedom. The power comes from the people the citizens. There's no social freedom if there's no society and if you want social freedom you have political responsibilities. They come together dear. So is it really freedom ? Is it really fair that some people get everything like a house in the middle of Hamra or Down Town and others have literally nothing ? Isn't there in-between in this country ? People should be united and not divided into classes of rich and poor and this is the government's responsibility. Why ? Because they created these classes, their corruption and their selfishness. Lebanon 10 years ago or more was very different from the Lebanon of today. There was no high class and low class they were all in medium class i.e. EQUAL !! Everyone had money to eat at least. How can one take part in the civil society if he doesn't have a job that provides him with money to buy a piece of bread ? It is the government's duty to look upon these people, to embrace them and give them a home and a job most importantly. They deserve to live a life full of dignity and respect without begging for help and mercy ! Once their lives are improved they will definitely take part in politics, and civil freedom. Is that so much to ask for ?

The Social Contract

Diab 1 

        Aya Diab

             Prof. Dania Adra

             ENG 203

             October 11,2015

The Rich Feed on the Poor

         Human rights. Freedom of will. A world of equality and justice. This is a world where we’re supposed to live in and to help create. While the rich live their fancy lives, the poor are trying to earn their cash to feed themselves.  

Unfortunately, the poor are the ones who end up paying for the needs of the rich with their own lives. The rich always seem to be in control of the world, but whatever your social status is everyone should be in control of his/her own needs and desires. “As I was born a citizen of a free state, … my right to vote … my duty …, however little influence my voice can have on them.” (Rousseau 114)

“Men are born free, yet everywhere are in chains.” (Rousseau 114) He describes the numerous ways in which the “chains” suppress the people from their own rights. Life has made us change in countless undescribed ways, and according to Rousseau, “The man who has until now considered only himself finds himself to act on different principles.” We say that we live in a “civilized” world, but the strong always seem to control the weak.

The purpose of the picture is to emphasize the unending truth of inequality and injustice. Everyone knows that a strong force is in control of the world, and the weak force is, unfortunately, is blinded by the façade. People go out and enjoy life, but they tend to realize the next day that they’re suppressed from the civil rights as humans. Because God gave us free will, he does not override our power of choice. Then if god gave us free will, why do his people want to take that right from us?

Works Cited

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract. Shifting Narratives. Ed. Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najila Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward. Beirut: Center for Educational Consultation and Research, 2015. 113,114,115 Print