Nurtured to Hate?
Societal influences can make us act in hateful ways. Violent behavior is nurtured rather than instinctual. In an article published by USA Today, journalists were given an inside look at how North Korean children are being taught to hate America at an astonishingly young age.
As the kindergartner’s school day begins, “Toy pistols, rifles and tanks sit lined up in neat rows on shelves. The school principal pulls out a dummy of an American soldier with a beaked nose and straw-colored hair and explains that the students beat him with batons or pelt him with stones” (Jones). These children were not born with the idea to act violent towards America. North Korean children were not born with a gun in their hands aimed towards America– one of their elders raised them in that mindset.
Even in America, children are being taught to act violently in the Westboro Baptist Church. Member’s children stand beside them boycotting an array of peaceful functions while spitting slurs. Pictured below, two young members of the Westboro Baptist Church exhibit prime example of culture that they received from their parents.
Children Hold Up Signs While Smiling
Young children rarely grow up preaching hatred out of their own core beliefs, but growing up in a church with such strong hate can influence a child to do almost anything. Others may say that violence and hate is instinctual of humans, yet Nelson Mandela, a South African leader whose contributions to democracy, freedom, and peace revolutionized politics, emphasized “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate.”
Likewise, in an article published by Psychology Today, psychologists explained how violence by nature cannot be an option in today’s society. The researchers state that “There is no consistent system or pattern in the human body or mind that we can point out as the seat or the main actor in aggressive behavior” (Fuentes).
Therefore, the ability to act violent must be taught. Humans are taught to hate from the society they are surrounded in. From North Korea to here in America, nurtured violence sticks out like a sore thumb. We are born to love each other, yet our backgrounds teach us to hate.
You defended your position really well and used good examples. In order to strengthen your argument you could have used more studies, if there are more, done on how violence can only be taught and not have been part of being human.
-Carl Dumlao 6th
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Wow your essay is fascinating. You used logos (facts) and pathos (emotional appeal); however, you should add more emotional appeal to your essay to strengthen your argument. You should also add more counter-arguments, then “spank” them to prove your point. In your conclusion, include a call-to-action. Hopefully this improve and strengthen your essay!
– Khoamartin 5th
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Used as much evidence to back up your ideas in a well organized pattern and acknowledged the other side of the argument by disputing it, however I do feel that you could have a stronger hook to engage your audience better. Overall did a great job by defending your argument.
-Yelitza 3rd
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Overall you did a good job in writing your argument with a healthy mix of logos and pathos but in order to strengthen your argument, try using some statistics and some counterarguments or else it will be mistaken as a persuasive essay. In the end, your essay was good and with some tweaking it could be a better argumentative piece.
Sam M. 6th period
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Very simple and good, i like it. although Kids may be thought to hate but at the end of the day, is their choice to listen to the thoughts of others. You could have added more samples for this topic. Most of the older generation create hate between each other that later passes on to their kids, you could have added that.
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I liked it all there was studies and emotion there were no gaps in logic and also take the possible argument of we are to born to hate and crush it. Very well written essay I would’ve also brought up how hate can be nurtured not only at a young age but even older ages in advance sorry for the cliche example but Hitler did it with Nazi Germany there are plenty of other examples early city-state society and everyone who wasn’t them. ect. So that would be something to bring up as well. As nurturing a emotion does not depend solely on age.
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The topic you have chosen is very much debated, but I appreciate the face you decided to write about this topic. Your essay is very much engaging and persuading. I suggest mentioning the points of the other side. Acknowledged the other side and then bring in a stronger argument. This will bring the audience to your side and add more dimension to your paper.
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the essay was very well written,but the only problem in this essay is that you need add a counterargument. From the way it was written it could possibly be considered as a persuasive essay. with the counterarguments the essay you could make better assertion and better points in your argument.
Philip Thomas, 6th
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You need to make your thesis clear in the opening lines. I assumed the essay was going to be mostly about North Korean children until you shifted to the Westboro Baptist Church. Your examples are very supportive and well known, but there has to be a thesis or else it would just be a bunch of random facts and claims. The thesis holds the entire piece together.
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“People are learned to hate.” As much as it sounds terrible, it is a true fact that animosity against others is taught; it is an trait that is developed by the people around them; not a born-instinct. A strong argument with strong evince from statics, and quotes from a famous and admired individual. Good use of emotional appeal by stating young children in both Korea and America are being taught to hate, instead we should be taught to love one another.
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The topic you acquired is a very popular one. Your essay overall was very entertaining and kept me wanting to read more haha. I though suggest that you talk about the other side of the argument to really bring out the intensity of the argument. By doing this, your essay will truly come out as a argumentative one. Overall, really enjoyed reading it.
Dynn Beronque, 6th Period
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Great use of facts, but do not be afraid to add your own voice to your essay. The beautiful concept about argumentative essays is that they are mostly opinionated. The facts should represent and prove YOUR opinion on the subject not vice-versa. It was a great essay, however I would have loved to hear more of what you believed about this topic.
Shardae Douglas
7th Period
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I really like your argument. Overall, it was really well developed to the extent of using examples and quotes from well known people. I believe to make it stronger you could use some studies inclusive if you research about the human emotions all of out emotions come from instinct except dislike or discust is the only emotion we are taught. If you could bring in scientific research to back it up it would be great.
Brenda Loredo- 7th period
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Really well done essay. I liked how you used North Korea as a prime example of this occurrence in society. I was impressed about the facts you used (logos). I think you should have elaborated more on the psychologists point of view to make it even better. Very nice overall.
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your essay was well put together and your statements were on topic to the subject that was being discussed. you had a good thesis statement that helped the readers understand what the essay would be about. You also provided good examples that helped back up your comments to the acquired subject. (michelle phung 1st period)
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Your essay was good. I like how you used the Westboro Baptist Church because they truly represent how easy it is to manipulate the way people view each other. I would suggest that you use another well known example that does not include children so that your essay has variety. I loved the Nelson Mandela quote! Your emotional appeals are great. I noticed that you barely had any logic appeals. You should discuss John Locke’s Tabula rasa idea. Explain how people are born without hate and how our backgrounds influence us to hate others based on the way society is constructed. If you follow those two previous sentences, then you should have a pretty solid logical appeal.
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Your essay was very descriptive. There were multiple situations where you gave supportive example to defend your statement that was stated before it. Your paragraphs of your essay were well put together and you got your point across without having to be so repetitive. Overall the essay was very informational. (Michelle Phung 1st period)
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Oooh nice essay! Not only did you explain both your sides, you did so with a parallel between US and North Korea; cool touch! I personally believe that when it came to powerful examples, you had one good one for both, However, stronger arguments are made by adding stronger evidence Thus, I just suggest adding more evidenece! Religion as a core center of the argument is also good!
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This is a very strong piece! You portrayed the evils of North Korea well while still staying on topic. What you explained in your essay about children growing up with specific influences, can be applied to just about everything. Therefore, it is easy for me (and others I am sure) to relate and connect to your writing. You did a great job incorporating good facts and mixing them with your opinion.
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You chose an interesting topic. Your word choice,and examples of how children are taught to hate. I stayed interested from the beginning to the end.
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Interestingly enough, violent acts such as punching your pillow or even just being grumpy leads to longer term effects. Studies show that punching your pillow causes you to feel even more violent towards whoever your anger is directed, and the same is true of being angry for a long time. I think this relates a lot to your post. In addition, your post was interesting, and the picture was definitely controversial. Who’d think that religion could affect young minds so much?
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What an interesing topic to blog about. I thoroughly enjoyed how it was written and how you incorporated pictures as well.
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This blog was really deep and I enjoyed reading it, I have never really thought about this topic and it really made me think of how parents and circumstances teach us how to act.
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This is a very influencial blog psot. You don’t offend while you state your position clearly. Your facts were specific and I liked how you gave where you got your facts.
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This was a really good piece. I got to learn more about how kids, and people from north korea are raised to hate what they are thought. Those are very strong examples for this topic.
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This was a great blod piece. You gave your opinion while also stating facts. I learned a lot.
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