Sociology Essay: Self and Community in Modern Society Analysis

This essay delves into the critical relationship between the self and community within the framework of modern society. It specifically addresses the escalating issue of youth criminal gangs, attributing their rise to factors such as unemployment and lack of opportunities, which consequently undermines the common good and human dignity. The author critiques the actions of youth involved in criminal activities, advocating for strict governmental and religious interventions coupled with moral education to rehabilitate them. Drawing upon Catholic Social Teaching, the essay emphasizes the importance of common good and the need for individuals to contribute to a safe and secure societal environment, ultimately promoting human dignity and urging a collective shift away from destructive behaviors towards fostering a positive and ethical community. The essay concludes by highlighting the significance of prioritizing common good and upholding human dignity as the primary objectives for all individuals in society.

Running head: SELF AND COMMUNITY IN MODERN SOCIETY
Self and Community in Modern Society
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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The dignity of the human persons and the common good are very important factors for the lives
of the human beings. The human beings should live their lives in a balanced way so they can use
the resources of the community and society in the positive ways. The problem that will be
discussed in this opinion editorial is that of the criminal youth gangs. It has been seen over the
last few years that the number of such gangs has increased in great numbers. So, it is becoming
very difficult for the common people of the society to live in such an ambience (Etzioni 603).
The poor and vulnerable people of the society have been deprived of the proper opportunities to
thrive in this society for long. However, it is my opinion that the number of such criminals is
largely increasing because of the lack of jobs and proper facilities to the people (Dhingra, Katie,
and Boduszek 248). As the young people are not getting the jobs on time they are not being able
to earn money. Thus they are becoming desperate to meet their needs in the society. However
this is completely against the values and ethics of the Catholic Social Teaching (Winright 67).
The values and ethics of CST call for the common good of the entire society and all the living
beings. Therefore, I believe it would be better to fight against this evil in the best ways so the
increase of the youth criminal gangs (Etzioni 603).
I have observed that the activities of the violence have been increasing lately and it has been one
of the biggest problems in the present day society indeed. The aggression of the present day
youth is not at all and it is not doing the common good for the people at all. However, some
people are quite afraid of these people in the society s it is affecting their human dignities
(Winright 67). The criminal offences have been outrageous and it has been the main reason for
the corruption and fall of the present day youth. They are even not aware of the etiquettes for
living in this society. For me it is definitely a despicable offence indeed. The criminal offences

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committed by them can be many. These things can be the killing of people, robbing them of their
possessions on the roads and even selling of the drugs.
These activities have been very harmful for the well-being of the society in numerous ways
indeed. The youth of these days commit those crimes either for their personal gain or for their
financial gain (Brady 459). This is why I would strongly recommend the Government and the
religious bodies of the countries to take strict actions against this and teach them the lessons of
morality. Perhaps these things would be good enough for them to come back to the proper life
(Dhingra, Katie, and Boduszek 248).
I have gone through some of these people who have been involved in such youth criminal gangs
and come back after some years by understanding their fault. They have told me that they could
not find the proper way to deal with their lives in the positive manner (Alabi and Alanana 378).
They were misguided by some people in the society who had completely led them to this
darkness. I think they had lost all hope and optimistic thinking power. They carried guns with
them, did harm to the common people of the society, sold the drugs and many more. According
to some critics, utter frustration in their lives had been the main cause for this kind of behavior
(Brady 459). In this context, they had been given the moral teaching that they should think about
the common good for the people. This should be the motivation for them to work for rescuing the
human dignity within the society and provide the people of the society with a safe and secure
environment to live (Alabi and Alanana 378).
Furthermore, I would like to add to conclude that doing common good and sustaining the dignity
of the human lives should be the sole motive of all the human beings. In this discourse, they

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should only focus on this matter and come way from the vil path they have henceforth taken to
celebrate the humanity with flying colors.

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References
Alabi, T., and O. Alanana. "Unemployment and Poverty: The Twin Fertilizer, Fertilizer for
Youth Criminality." Global Journal of Social Sciences 2.2 (2012).
Brady, Bernard V. Essential Catholic Social Thought 2nd edition. Orbis Books, 2017.
Dhingra, Katie, and Daniel Boduszek. "Psychopathy and criminal behaviour: A psychosocial
research perspective." Journal of Criminal Psychology 3.2 (2013): 83-107.
Etzioni, Amitai. "Common good." The encyclopedia of political thought (2014): 603-610.
Omboto, John Onyango, et al. "Factors influencing youth crime and juvenile
delinquency." International Journal 1.2 (2013): 2307-227X.
Winright, Tobias. "Catholic Social Thought." Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of
America 67 (2012).