Volunteerism in Jamaican Society
Feel free to download this sample term paper to view our writing style, or use it as a template for your own paper. If you need help writing your assignment, click here!
| Assignment Type | Term Paper |
|---|---|
| Subject | N/A |
| Academic Level | Undergraduate |
| Citation Style | MLA |
| Length | 2 pages |
| Word Count | 660 |
Need Some Help Writing your Paper?
We offer custom written papers starting at $32 / page. Your will get a completely custom-written paper tailored to your instructions, with zero chance of plagiarism.
Document Preview:
16. The four national goals are a holistic approach to improving life and the environment in society. By empowering Jamaicans (goal 1), the population learns to have more self-esteem and to stand up for itself (Chapter 2, p. 21). The society begins to stick together (be cohesive), be more secure, and have a greater sense of justice (goal 2). As people become more productive, the economy improves and prospers (goal 3). Keeping the quality of life that the population wants must also be a quantified goal. However, as residents learn to treat each other with respect, the environment will follow, especially if the government provides strict governance in the early stages.
17. a. Robotham suggests that as of 1997 there was the unanimous opinion that volunteerism was on the decline in Jamaica, but it was not dead. Certainly searching Google for ‘volunteerism Jamaica’ nets literally millions of results. Robotham suggests that the traditional conceptualization of volunteerism may have lived its natural lifespan. He suggested in his 1997 address that we must now consider actions of parents who help in PTA barbecues to be as important as those of the individual who decides to “give service” because their altruistic nature. Reality, he suggests, is that volunteerism is rarely pure and rarely purely altruistic. As he states, “The same action may be prompted by very different motives and good may often be done as an unintended by-product even of evil actions” (Robotham, p. 9).
It appears that Robotham has a very pragmatic attitude towards volunteerism, one that we would all do well to adopt.
17b. It is indeed possible to manufacture volunteerism, and its existence will most likely help national development. At any rate, volunteerism certainly will not hurt. Why am I so certain it is possible to manufacture volunteerism? Using the example of the United States, any crisis induces volunteers: Hurricane Katrina, 911, the recent storm Sandy. In addition, we must consider the commercial in answering this question: If a commercial agent can produce, and sell, thousands of cheap rocks for pets (the pet rock) or can develop and sell products that are bad for people and taste purely of chemicals (packaged foods) then it is possible to sell volunteerism.
17c. Robotham believes that Jamaican society as a whole is facing a crisis (p. 19). He describes the behavior of residents and citizens of being one of crisis, in which the residents think largely of self, while they bury their heads in the sand as to hide from the stress of the day and the deterioration (“unraveling”) every day of society as a whole. Merely talking about it, he believes, is pointless. Action must be taken. What is lacking, he posits, is a moral backbone.
17d. Volunteerism reflects the problems of the day, and opens the way for answers to the problems of real life and social injustice. Money and resources will not stop the decay of society; but rewards and recognition may stimulate people into volunteerism in the beginning. However, Robotham has pointed out, rightfully so, that in every nation in the world today, volunteers need paid stay to administer the details and set the “normal” working pattern.
17e. Volunteerism is still needed in a just and equal society. It is my belief that as a society becomes more just and equal, more people have time freed up to give back to the community. It is at this point that volunteerism seeks to be a necessity for survival and becomes a secret pleasure, a private indulgence, that can eventually develop into pure altruism.
17f. There is an old saying that if you give a man a fish, tomorrow he will need you to give him a fish. If you teach him to fish, however, he will be able to catch his own. In this sense, volunteerism can be utilized to promote a new independence. Approached with the right attitude and tone, volunteerism can help those who cannot do a task alone and can provide much needed pride and independence for these peoples.
17. a. Robotham suggests that as of 1997 there was the unanimous opinion that volunteerism was on the decline in Jamaica, but it was not dead. Certainly searching Google for ‘volunteerism Jamaica’ nets literally millions of results. Robotham suggests that the traditional conceptualization of volunteerism may have lived its natural lifespan. He suggested in his 1997 address that we must now consider actions of parents who help in PTA barbecues to be as important as those of the individual who decides to “give service” because their altruistic nature. Reality, he suggests, is that volunteerism is rarely pure and rarely purely altruistic. As he states, “The same action may be prompted by very different motives and good may often be done as an unintended by-product even of evil actions” (Robotham, p. 9).
It appears that Robotham has a very pragmatic attitude towards volunteerism, one that we would all do well to adopt.
17b. It is indeed possible to manufacture volunteerism, and its existence will most likely help national development. At any rate, volunteerism certainly will not hurt. Why am I so certain it is possible to manufacture volunteerism? Using the example of the United States, any crisis induces volunteers: Hurricane Katrina, 911, the recent storm Sandy. In addition, we must consider the commercial in answering this question: If a commercial agent can produce, and sell, thousands of cheap rocks for pets (the pet rock) or can develop and sell products that are bad for people and taste purely of chemicals (packaged foods) then it is possible to sell volunteerism.
17c. Robotham believes that Jamaican society as a whole is facing a crisis (p. 19). He describes the behavior of residents and citizens of being one of crisis, in which the residents think largely of self, while they bury their heads in the sand as to hide from the stress of the day and the deterioration (“unraveling”) every day of society as a whole. Merely talking about it, he believes, is pointless. Action must be taken. What is lacking, he posits, is a moral backbone.
17d. Volunteerism reflects the problems of the day, and opens the way for answers to the problems of real life and social injustice. Money and resources will not stop the decay of society; but rewards and recognition may stimulate people into volunteerism in the beginning. However, Robotham has pointed out, rightfully so, that in every nation in the world today, volunteers need paid stay to administer the details and set the “normal” working pattern.
17e. Volunteerism is still needed in a just and equal society. It is my belief that as a society becomes more just and equal, more people have time freed up to give back to the community. It is at this point that volunteerism seeks to be a necessity for survival and becomes a secret pleasure, a private indulgence, that can eventually develop into pure altruism.
17f. There is an old saying that if you give a man a fish, tomorrow he will need you to give him a fish. If you teach him to fish, however, he will be able to catch his own. In this sense, volunteerism can be utilized to promote a new independence. Approached with the right attitude and tone, volunteerism can help those who cannot do a task alone and can provide much needed pride and independence for these peoples.