The Reality of Homosexuality in Society free essay sample

In this research, I will discuss the claim that homosexuality is unnatural and the arguments we often hear from the moral traditionalists used to support the claim. I remember an article about John Corvino, from the Internet; he easily and deftly deals with the arguments about homosexuality. However his arguments have the potential to open up a can of worms with regards to incest and bestiality. Corvino’s arguments against libeling an activity as unnatural to gauge its moral value can be used to claim a slippery slope occurs. Thus creating a dilemma where the moral liberal must accept incest and bestiality if she accepts homosexuality as morally neutral. This is not really an argument but rather a challenge to show how this slippery slope does not occur. This is done first by providing some positive arguments for homosexuality. Incest and bestiality do not have these benefits and are more likely to result in negatives. We will write a custom essay sample on The Reality of Homosexuality in Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Second, the link between homosexuality, incest and bestiality will be questioned. The fact that heterosexuals and homosexuals can engage in incest and bestiality shows the traditionalists to be begging the question in their grouping of the three. This sets incest and bestiality up as separate arguments, and so creates a logical divide between homosexuality, incest and bestiality. No one knows exactly how homosexuality entered into human history. Still, that’s one of the big issues. Another, my curiosity is one of the factors why I want to research this topic. As a member of the homosexual community, I want to know more better how come a little boy when he grew up, his lifestyle change, like in the girls. No one would imagine that the practices associated with the erotic attraction of people to ones own gender have been around since the dawn of humanity. The earliest accounts of homosexual behavior seem to be found in ancient pagan religious practices. At least, the pagans included homosexuality in the worship of various gods. Whether the inclusion in worship was because the practice was already a part of the society-at-large or if the pagan worship introduced the practice is impossible to determine, although some understandings of Pauls writings argue for the latter. Human beings began to worship many gods very early in human history. These early gods were most often associated with fertility, agriculture, and war. One of the early gods of the Assyrians, which later spread into the area known as Canaan, was the goddess Asherah. She was worshipped as the goddess of fertility. Often worship of this goddess included orgies and sexual practices. The goddess of fertility was often worshipped in the form of a tree with many female breasts carved into the trunk. These trees were central in a grove where worship was conducted. One would invoke or appease the goddess in order to gain fertility for ones self, the tribe, or the clan. When polytheism, the worship of many gods, was dominant on the earth, gods could be both male and female. These gods were not considered to be infallible or all-powerful like the Christian concept of God. Often they were very much like people with desires and the ability to make mistakes. Gods were believed to have sex with one another and procreate. Those who practiced these religions often felt that the nature of these gods had to be appeased in order for the tribe to survive. Having sex with a god as a part of worship, or to seek help for fertile crops, animals, or selves, was a logical extension of the concept of polytheism.

Elvis by Albert Goldman essays

Elvis by Albert Goldman essays Elvis by Albert Goldman is a book about the life and times of the king of rock and roll. It shows how a country boy rose up and ruled the world of music, and also showed his downfall. It starts by telling about Elvis' childhood, and moving to his teenage years. Elvis was always a wholesome country boy no matter if people considered him leud, or outrageous. In fact, Elvis was discovered when he made a record for his mothers birthday, Elvis always respected his parents. Next it moves on to the first few records that Elvis cut at Sun Records with his first producer Sam Phillips. What made Elvis different from other singers was that he was "a white boy who could sing like a nigger." as Sam Phillips described his style. It then moves on to detail his breakthrough year of 1956 in which he had such hits as Heartbreak Hotel, and Hound Dog. 1956 was the year that Elvis took America by storm, and earned him the title "The King of Rock and Roll". After that, it states the hardships that Elvis faced over the next few years in the military. These few years were not very good for Elvis, for the first time he had to leave the US, and his beloved mother passed away before he left for his assignment in Germany. Moving on it tells us about his glorious return to the United States, reclaiming his title as "King", and moving on to something bigger and better the movies. Over the course of the next few years Elvis made a lot of movies, but none were liked by the critics, but they did make money. After his less than stellar movie career Elvis came back to music with a blast the 68' Comeback Special. Once again Elvis was on top of the music industry. After the 68' Comeback Special Elvis moved on to very successful shows at Las Vegas. Elvis played in Las Vegas until his death. He also started to tour again. It was during this time that he and his wife of only a few years, Pri...

Definition and Examples of Evaluation Essays

Definition and Examples of Evaluation Essays An  evaluation essay is a  composition that offers value judgments about a particular subject according to a set of criteria. Also called  evaluative writing, evaluative essay or report, and critical evaluation essay. An evaluation essay or report is a type of argument that provides evidence to justify a writers opinions about a subject. Any kind of review is essentially a piece of  evaluative writing, says Allen  S. Goose. This type of writing calls for the critical thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation (8 Kinds of Writing, 2001).   Observations Without good reasons for liking or disliking certain things, students can never get beyond being passive receivers of marketing, fickle consumers without a basis for their opinions. Writing evaluation papers asks them to question why they feel the way they do.(Allison D. Smith, et al., Teaching in the Pop Culture Zone: Using Popular Culture in the Composition Classroom. Wadsworth, 2009) How to Evaluate If you are evaluating a piece of writing, then you are going to need to thoroughly read the work. While you read the work, keep in mind the criteria you are using to evaluate. The evaluative aspects may be: grammar, sentence structure, spelling, content, usage of sources, style, or many other things. Other things to consider when evaluating a piece of writing is whether the writing appealed to its target audience. Was there an emotional appeal? Did the author engage the audience, or was the piece lacking something? ...If you are evaluating anything else, use your head. You need to try, use, or test whatever thing you are evaluating. That means you should not evaluate a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette unless you have the $45,000 (or more) to buy one, or the money to rent one. You also need the know-how of driving a car of that power and a base of knowledge of other cars that you have tested to compare it to.(Joe Torres, Rhetoric and Composition Study Guide. Global Media, 2007) Identifying Criteria for an Evaluation Make a list of prominent, widely recognized standards for judging your subject. If you do not know the standards usually used to evaluate your subject, you could do some research. For example, if you are reviewing a film, you could read a few recent film reviews online or in the library, noting the standards that reviewers typically use and the reasons that they assert for liking or disliking a film. If you are evaluating a soccer team or one winning (or losing) game, you could read a book on coaching soccer or talk to an experienced soccer coach to learn about what makes an excellent soccer team or winning game.(Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper, Axelrod Coopers Concise Guide to Writing, 4th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2006) Ways of Organizing an Evaluation Essay One way to organize an  evaluation essay is  point-by-point: describe one element of the subject and then evaluate it; present the next element and evaluate it; and so on. Comparison/contrast could be an organizing structure as well,  in which you evaluate something by  comparing (or contrasting) it to a known item. Culinary and music reviews often use this strategy.  Chronological organization can be used  for evaluating an event (either current or historical). Sequential organization can be used when describing how something works and evaluating the effectiveness of the process, procedure, or mechanism. Spatial organization can be used for evaluating art  or architecture in which you describe and evaluate one element of the artifact and then move spatially to the next major element to be described and evaluated.(David S. Hogsette,  Writing That Makes Sense: Critical Thinking in College Composition.  Wipf and Stock,  2009)

Out-of Control Interview Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Out-of Control Interview - Assignment Example By Maria being able to take a job as a waitress in a hotel yet she’s such an intelligent person just shows how non-selective she is when it comes to doing anything to survive. She’s therefore depicted as one who is driven by her goals and will do anything to achieve her goals. He can be useful to the organization in case Maria was employed there since she will ensure she does what it takes in order to achieve what they want. On the part of the carelessness of the firm’s management with their questions, it actually reflected a well-thought interview, most interviews are known for just touching on what they people expect out of the interview such as questions about one’s career, skills, and experience. A person is always prepared fully to even tell a lie when it comes to testing them on the usual aspect they expected out of an interview. Therefore, for the management to really realize your real character, thought and skills of critical thinking, it is very i mportant that they make the interview appear like they are not even serious with it or have careless questions in between. In this way, one will be taken out of their already thought answers that might not be true, to give exactly what you are to the panel. As you try to respond to the careless questions they throw at you, they also get the chance to study your reaction that gives them a chance to make their informed decision about you. Maria must have regarded the carelessness of the management seriously and decided to be herself in responding to such questions.

Human service paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human service paper - Essay Example The professionals further require understanding the individual’s knowledge, the society and relationship to family and culture of the client (p.13). In human services, the client and the helper establish a relationship that enables the client to focus on the problems early in the helping process. Abraham Maslow in the hierarchy of needs emphasized that in order for an individual to rise to the higher levels the lower level needs must be met. Most of the clients are usually overwhelmed by their problems such that they are clueless on where and how to start. Usually it is best to commence from the most basic needs (p. 17). These factors are just, but a few to be considered when dealing with human services and should be highly valued by all stakeholders of the human service to achieve results. In the 1500s, the Catholic Church was tasked with the responsibility of offering human services to individuals. Under the church’s guidance, institutions were founded to meet the needs of the poor, orphans, the elderly and the sick (p.31). The hospital also served as a pivotal point where people not only accessed medical facilities but also were fed, housed and rested. For instance, England under the Crown’s rights held that it was the responsibility of the king to protect people with needs, especially the mentally challenged and provide them with necessities of life. Feudal lords also assumed responsibility of people living with disabilities in their land. With the onset of the industrial revolution, the poor put a strain on the government in England. This prompted a policy that was meant to tackle poverty in large scale. The Elizabethan poor law of 1601 was passed (Woodside & McClam, 2011). This law offered a guideline to England and the United States on specifications on who could provide human services to the poor for the next 350 years. This law is part of the processes that recognized trends of poverty and a dire need for human

The Storm by Kate Chopin Essay Example for Free

The Storm by Kate Chopin Essay The short story The Storm by Kate Chopin revolves around a setting that is both exciting and enticing. Chopins portrayal of the storms setting reinforces the plots main thematic elements through descriptive imagery that coincides with the characters emotions throughout the story. The characters in this story, Alcee and Calixta in particular, each make their own best of the situation as the storm hits. The storm is described as a violent one, with thrashing winds and blinding rain. The cracking of the thunder is frightening to Calixta, and jump-starts an emotional reunion between her and Alcee. Alcee takes shelter in Calixta and her husband, Bobintots home before the storm begins. Alcee, hearing the rumble of the thunder and the uneasy voice of Calixta, tries to comfort her. While the rain beats against the door, he reminds her of a moment that they shared in Assumption. They then began to kiss one another as they did that night in Assumption. One thing led to another and they ended up engaging in a sexual encounter that was purely for the pleasure of each of them. In the late 1800s sex was not looked upon as an experience that was meant to be pleasurable for a woman, instead it was looked upon as an obligation of a wife to her husband. The setting of this story seems to act as a catalyst for these two individuals to look back at their past together and to relive it. While Calixta and Alcee are fornicating, her husband and son, Bibi, are taking cover in a cistern from the storm. They were out getting shrimp for Calixta to cook for dinner. Bibi had been splashed with mud on his good pants and the collar of his shirt, and his father commented My! Bibi, wat will yo mama say! (Chopin 117). They then freshened up a bit to appear more becoming when they returned home. It seems that Bobintot cares very much for his wife and always wants him and his son to look presentable when they are around Calixta. It also seems as though the two are not too worried about Calixtas welfare during the storm, although the story does make mention of whether she will be alright or not. When Alcee and Calixta are talking inside her house about their time in Assumption, Chopin writes: For in Assumption, he had kissed and kissed and kissed her; until his senses would well nigh fail, and to save her he would resort to a desperate flight. If she was not an immaculate dove in those days, she was still inviolate; a passionate creature whose very defenselessness had made her defense, against which his honor forbade him to prevail. (Chopin 116). This is telling the reader that they did not make love back in Assumption. Calixta was a virgin then and they were too afraid of being caught to give themselves to each other. If they had sex, Calixta would have probably become pregnant and their reputations would have been destroyed. She would have been labeled a harlot and Alcees honor would have been ruined. However; now in this moment of the storm, she is married, and if they have sex and she gets pregnant, everyone will assume that the baby belongs to Bobintot and she will not be caught. Then storm then ended and Alcee rode off on his horse. Bobintot and Bibi returned home with the shrimp and Calixta acted very excited to see them. She got excited and told her husband: Shrimps! Oh, Bobintot! You too good fo anything! (Chopin 117) and kissed him and Bibi excessively. The reader also learns that Alcee has a wife that is staying in Biloxi. Alcee wrote a loving letter to her that night telling her that he is doing well and that she should stay in Biloxi if she and the children are fairing well there. The setting often invokes emotional responses that force the characters to react accordingly, which, in turn develops the plot. The surrounding storm is a representation of Calixtas bound up inner emotions. She seems to feel like she has no pleasure in her life and cant do anything that she wants to do. This is why she so effortlessly acts out in the manner she does with Alcee. The story tells the reader that while Calixta is in Alcees arms, the thunder and wind do not faze her whatsoever when Chopin writes: They need not heed the crashing torrents, and the roar of the elements made  her laugh as she lay in his arms. She was a revelation in that dim, mysterious chamber; as white as the couch she lay upon. (Chopin 116). On any given afternoon, a storm of this magnitude would easily frighten Calixta, as she was frightened before Alcee took her into his arms, however; while romancing with Alcee, Calixta was at peace with the storm. The reader can infer that Calixta is overwhelmingly enthused by the situation that she is in. Furthermore, the storm actually acts as a sort of door that allows these actions to take place. The Storm was written and set in the late 1800s, when women had few purposes in life other than cleaning, cooking, bearing children, and pleasing their husbands. Kate Chopin seemed to contradict this in her writing. Writing a story about a womans extramarital affair with a man, who is also married, was something that few people wrote about or agreed with in her day. In fact, the majority of society strongly disagreed with her work. So much even that she was not allowed to publish anymore after her novel The Awakening. In conclusion, Chopins portrayal of the storms setting reinforces the plots main thematic elements through descriptive imagery that coincides with the characters emotions throughout the story. Chopins use of descriptive imagery in The Storm draws the reader into the setting and provides essential elements for plot development. Chopin utilizes the stormy setting to portray the characters participating in sinful acts that at the time were considered taboo. Also, the setting of The Storm provides for the reader an atmosphere capable for understanding and relating to the plots many themes. Not only does the setting provide essential elements for plot development, it also acts somewhat as a separate character in itself by affecting the mood and actions of the main characters. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The Storm. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Eds. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd. ed. New York: Longman, 2002. 114-118.

Essay --

Participation of hyperglycemia in triggering the multiple oxidative stress pathways in the course of diabetes. AngII: angiotensin II; eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase; Jac/STAT: janus kinase (Jac)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT); LDL: low density lipoprotein cholesterol; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MetS: metabolic syndrome; NF-ÃŽ ºb: nuclear transcription factor ÃŽ ºb; †¢NO: nitric oxide; NOS: nitric oxide synthase; †¢O2−: superoxide anion radical; †¢OH: hydroxyl radical; ONOO−: peroxynitrite; PCKÃŽ ´: protein kinase C ÃŽ ´. Adapted from Johansen et al., 2005 The increased oxidative stress in subjects with type 2 diabetes is therefore a magnitude of several abnormalities, including hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia, each of which contributes to mitochondrial superoxide overproduction in endothelial cells of large and small vessels as well as the myocardium[15] COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES Whether diabetes occurs as a result of type 1, the early-onset and predominantly insulin-dependent form, or type 2, the late-onset... Essay -- Participation of hyperglycemia in triggering the multiple oxidative stress pathways in the course of diabetes. AngII: angiotensin II; eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase; Jac/STAT: janus kinase (Jac)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT); LDL: low density lipoprotein cholesterol; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MetS: metabolic syndrome; NF-ÃŽ ºb: nuclear transcription factor ÃŽ ºb; †¢NO: nitric oxide; NOS: nitric oxide synthase; †¢O2−: superoxide anion radical; †¢OH: hydroxyl radical; ONOO−: peroxynitrite; PCKÃŽ ´: protein kinase C ÃŽ ´. Adapted from Johansen et al., 2005 The increased oxidative stress in subjects with type 2 diabetes is therefore a magnitude of several abnormalities, including hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia, each of which contributes to mitochondrial superoxide overproduction in endothelial cells of large and small vessels as well as the myocardium[15] COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES Whether diabetes occurs as a result of type 1, the early-onset and predominantly insulin-dependent form, or type 2, the late-onset...

Execute a Training Bond Essay

Knowledge is an immeasurable, unique and rich possession which when impacted cannot be retrieved. Knowledge doesn’t decrease when it is given, in fact, knowledge is power. Knowing I can be financially independent and comfortable if I’m given the opportunity to become part of Access bank and also with the knowledge that a training bond can be regarded as the first step to helping me achieve that, then yes, that is the major reason why I want to execute it. I want to execute the training bond program because the incentives associated with it are universal and include increasing one’s earning potential and acquiring additional skills and abilities that are attractive to any organization. Training and development are important factors that would help me develop talent, motivation, and leadership skills that will contribute to a successful personal and professional career. A training bond is an important factor to the success of any organization. As an employee I would like to be a valuable asset that will add to the success of the company and I want to execute the training bond because I believe it will help me achieve that. A training bond supports and makes possible the development of new skills and knowledge. I want to execute the training bond because I know it will polish my abilities at various levels within the organization and assist me in developing the necessary skills and proficiency to be successful in my career as well as prepare for new responsibilities. I support the reasonable implementation of training bonds or training agreements simply because I agree that companies must secure the recovery of their training investments. When they send people to training and the employees acquire important skills, they naturally increase their market value. Trained workers are far more attractive to competiting firms than regular run off the mill workers and companies who overlook the importance of tend to poach qualified employees from their competitors. The Access bank School of banking excellence is a well recognized training platform on the African continent that provides an extensive program which develops the competencies of prospective employees as well as harnesses their commitment to Access bank. In the process of becoming a bona fide and qualified staff of Access bank, I understand that I would be required to undergo a challenging and rigorous training in order to meet the bank standards, training which is second to none in the African and global banking industry and an experience I am looking forward too.

Globalization of the Media: A Bicultural Woman’s View Essay

Does globalization mean we’re being conditioned into thinking only of CNN or Al Jazeera when disaster strikes and we need detailed news of an event? Yes, very likely, because many media in the Arab world fall short of the task of providing good, accurate, news that’s to the point. Can we face globalization? Should we be part of it? What tools can we manipulate to our advantage? What role can women play in globalization of the media? Do they face obstacles? Doesn’t it hurt us when foreign journalists report wrong information about us? Shouldn’t we help them by making it easy to get the right information and not fall into the same trap of doing to them what they do to us? 1. NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING & BALANCED INFORMATION ON BOTH SIDES: We need more media that can understand our cultural backgrounds and societal needs on both sides of the cultural divide – i.e. those that strike a balance between accurate information and understanding of the story’s background. All too often reporters are parachuted into a country to cover a hot story without having solid grounding in the subject. This applies to Arabs as well as Americans and Europeans. I’ve seen it happen in many countries and we need to rectify that. U.S. and European correspondents often arrive on Arab shores with no notion of what’s happening in the country or the region, little or no knowledge of Arabic (or French) and expecting everyone to understand them in English, for example. Some don’t do their homework and don’t read about the background that led to recent conflicts, as if they exist in a vacuum. It’s a major failure on their part. An American reporter I know was too scared to enter Tripoli (Lebanon) during one of the major firefights of the Lebanese civil war, took a taxi to the edge of the city, saw some exchanges from a distance, ran back to Beirut, filed the story with a Tripoli dateline and proceeded to detail the raging battle which he never really saw. There are many such stories from all over the world. That’s a great disservice to the readers, viewers, listeners and browsers. 2. THE GENDER PROBLEM: On the gender front, an Arab woman journalist may be lucky to cover the same news as a man, but she can’t expect the same pay. Why? â€Å"There’s a ceiling women can’t penetrate in media and government,† says May Kahale, a veteran journalist and media adviser to former Lebanese president Elias Hrawi. Mona Ziade, news editor at The Daily Star in Lebanon, notes that women’s coverage of politics and other â€Å"serious issues† is fairly recent and continues to raise male suspicions. Which is why women have to strive harder to prove themselves and abide by very professional standards to be taken seriously, and be respected. According to Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim Ayesh of Sharjah University, the chances of Arab women in the media are still limited compared to men and the lack of opportunities for professional growth is a major depressant they face in media organizations. He attributed this to traditional stereotyping of women in the media as consumers only concerned with beauty and fashion and lacking the ability to think and make decisions. Another obstacle is that media work requires flexible hours and mobility, which often conflicts with the responsibilities of married women, who have children and homes, he added. Why don’t we have stories of women who have succeeded in this field highlighted in our own media? Why don’t we make them available to foreign media in their own languages? It doesn’t take genius, just a bit of effort. I spent many years covering the Pentagon (in addition to the White House, State Department and Congress) and enjoyed writing on defense and security issues, focusing on weapons, rapid deployment forces, low intensity warfare, terrorism and nuclear proliferation. Mastery of languages is very important. It’s helped me in many situations. Reading Farsi (with my command of Arabic) helped me cover stories in Tehran; knowing Greek enabled me to decipher the Cyrillic alphabet while on assignment in Moscow and while living in Cyprus; and being fluent in French has served me in many locations, like North Africa and elsewhere. Thinking and speaking in English’s many variations is my strength. If women are to prove themselves in the field – and many have excelled over the years – they should do their homework, and more. They should keep pushing that executive glass ceiling by being experts in areas not considered â€Å"women’s issues.† 3. HOW ARAB MEDIA SHOULD COUNTERATTACK: On November 26, the Arab League opened a two-day conference to discuss how to deal with the world’s eagerness to equate Islam with terrorism and started a fund with an initial $1 million donation to finance research and publications to promote dialogue among civilizations. That’s great, but we need to ensure the availability of satellite broadcasts (mostly in English), good use of the Internet, and an army of articulate communicators who can convey the ideas of peace, common humanity and fairness to all in non-rhetorical language, short sound bites and cyber kilobits. Arab media need to counter-attack, but I would argue that to do so, they must act decisively, promptly and credibly. The Detroit Free Press, published in the city with the United States’ most concentrated Arab-American population, is trying to better understand and explain issues concerning Arab-Americans and Muslims. It has a list called â€Å"100 Questions & Answers About Arab-Americans: A Journalistà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s Guide† to help with more accurate journalistic portrayals of Arab-Americans, their backgrounds, culture, religions. The Florida-based Poynter Institute, which specializes in media matters, ran an online article called â€Å"Understanding Ramadan† with links to various sites journalists could use as resources. Equally good were two features in the Seattle Times Online called â€Å"Understanding Turbans† and â€Å"Interpreting Veils† with illustrations and descriptions of headdresses worn by men and covers for women. We should have such information handy to provide our media contacts. Speaking on Arab-American perspectives on the anti-terrorism war, the president of the Arab-American Institute in Washington, James Zogby, delivered the Secretary of State’s Open Forum address in December, noting that his community can play a bridging role in the Middle East. â€Å"We understand the reality of the region,† he said. â€Å"We also want to have input in the discussions about how we approach the Middle East.† So what do readers in America, for example, really want? Pam Johnson writes on the Poynter Institute site that international news needs relevance. â€Å"For many Americans, what happens in the Middle East, Western Europe, Great Britain, Afghanistan, the Indian sub-continent, and the rest of North America now is a subject of great interest,† she said. â€Å"Similarly, events in the United States that are related to the U.S.-led ‘War on Terrorism’ take on greater importance.† The Columbia Journalism Review of November/December 1997 ran a story entitled â€Å"Reporting Foreign News: Who Gives a Damn?† Author James F. Hoge, Jr. wrote that except for the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989-90, the coverage of international news in American media had steadily declined since the late seventies, when the cold war lost its sense of imminent danger. The reason: A world less threatening to America is less newsy, he reported. Or as one TV executive said, â€Å"sunshine is a weather report, a raging storm is news.† Journalists have also ignored historians, wrote Charles Bowen in Editor & Publisher. He pointed to a new history-rich website called History News Network (www.historynewsnetwork.org) as a potentially powerful resource, providing linked headlines to its latest analyses. Shouldn’t the Arab World have something similar to serve its purposes? George Krimsky, a veteran foreign correspondent and editor with the Associated Press, who now has a consulting firm, co-authored a very useful book called â€Å"Bringing the World Home: Showing Readers Their Global Connections.† It’s an invaluable resource for Americans who don’t see a link between their own back yards and the universe at large. Arabs can help by finding links between what interests Americans and their own region. It just requires homework, research, and perseverance. Several organizations award journalists for the work they do and risks they take to inform us about what’s happening in the world, or even in our own neighborhoods. We should support these awards and create worthy prizes. I was heartened to learn that the conference of Arab news agencies’ federation which met in Doha in December recommended the establishment of the federation’s own internet site in English and Arabic and another site to counter the negative image portrayed in the perceived campaign against Arabs and Muslims. I would still like to see more references made to women’s participation in that effort and mention of how the image of women in the Arab world can be presented in a positive light, not via stereotypes. â€Å"Empowering Arab & Muslim women is the key to eradicating terrorism at its source† was the headline of an article by Lebanese journalist Saad Mehio in The Daily Star Dec. 12, 2001. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS: With all that in mind, here are my recommendations for positive change: Women journalists should have facts ready at their fingertips, ask intelligent questions, be persistent without being obnoxious, show inconsistencies in what’s being said and done, document everything, and be thorough. Arab women journalists need to learn American English fast and tune in to the nuances of official Washington before presuming to know how to cover the White House, State Department, Pentagon, Capitol Hill, etc. They also need to understand the intricacies of international finance and lending institutions if they’re to cover the World Bank and IMF. They should be well versed in the language of international relations, treaties, history, geography, etc., before tackling the U.N. and its agencies. There’s a lot of legwork involved. Have female economists available to speak on western business shows about their economic concerns and the common ground that exists between people from the Arab world and other parts of the world. It would strike a responsive chord. Have female engineers or physicists or doctors or lawyers available to appear on TV shows, radio programs, in print, etc., to explain how things work in Arab or Muslim countries. They would probably find more in common with their sisters in the west than differences. Above all, have articulate journalists and media experts available to answer questions about the media and other issues of concern across the cultural divide. Hollywood has enlisted former heavyweight boxing champ Mohammad Ali to help America’s campaign abroad to show that the war it’s launched isn’t against Islam or the Arabs, but against terrorism. Why can’t the Arabs enlist Omar Sharif and women stars who speak English well to do the same and address the western world to talk about the riches of the Arab world and Islam, and even Christianity in Arab countries? One thing we’ve failed to do well is addressing the hinterlands in America and Western Europe. It’s never too late to do that but definitely requires time, money and effort. How about mobilizing our women politicians to go out to De Moines, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Athens, Ohio; Columbia, Missouri? Set them up to talk to women’s clubs, get on women’s talk shows and programs, even religious programs and talk about how their beliefs are similar to those of the women in the small towns and cities. We need to have a handbook of Arab-American legislators, Arabs who’ve made it in business and science, the media, etc. Have biographies of them and summaries on how the political system in the US works at the city, state and federal levels. Some of these things are already available through Arab-American organizations, but need to be made available to us in simplified form. It’s not just a matter of buying our way into the media and politics. It’s more a matter of working our way through the system, by first understanding it. We can’t claim expertise in the field. There’s still much to learn. We should have media directories and handbooks of Arab experts available for correspondents who visit us or live in our countries. Make them clear, concise and user friendly. Update them regularly, make sure they’re properly edited and printed on good paper and are attractive online. It’s the details that count and lend to one’s credibility. No matter how powerful or rich a mass medium, it cannot succeed if it does not offer accurate and unbiased information. We may present glossy pictures but if the text is bad, the whole story goes out the window. How do we contact the media? How do we write a letter to the editor or an op-ed column? Here are a few suggestions from the Arab American Institute in Washington, which also provides links to media sources. We can follow the guidelines and create our own local/regional version: 1. Be timely. Respond while the issue is still fresh in the minds of journalists and their audiences. Send your letter no later than a week after the article appears in print or is broadcast. 2. Be direct. The opening paragraph should contain your main point. You want the reader to be able to quickly identify your message. 3. Be concise. Your letter’s length will affect its chances of being published. Most publications will not print more than three short paragraphs. 4. Use words that convey a firm and resolute stance. If you’re writing a letter critical of news coverage, use adjectives such as distorted, inaccurate, out-of-context, one-sided, skewed. If you are complementing an article or editorial, make sure you note its fairness, balance and/or thoroughness. 5. Stay cool. Hostile or overly emotional language in your letter will hurt your chances rather than help them. Stating your case in a convincing fashion is the most important criterion for getting published. 6. Spread the word. Don’t just send your letter to the editor. You can maximize its impact if you send a copy to other people responsible for the article, such as the reporter, foreign editor or syndicated columnist, as well as those mentioned in the article, such as a congress member or public official. 7. Claim credit. Before publishing a letter, most papers will call to verify that you wrote it. Make sure you include your full name, title, address and daytime phone number in the letter. 8. Follow up. Inquire about the status of your letter with a phone call or letter. If you submit a letter in the future, the editor may remember you and give you more immediate consideration. In December, CNN and MTV – two cable networks launched in the 1980s with different ownerships and audiences – teamed up to offer viewers of both networks a series of reports on young people in Afghanistan. What an interesting experiment! Why can’t we have something similar with young women from a youth-oriented Arab station reporting on the plight of Palestinian women under siege, young people in Iraq, students in Sudan, or women farmers in southern Lebanon? In fact, I would propose creating an online news service for children, run by children – let’s say ages 8-18 – under the guidance of adults. Its young reporters can reach out to others around the world and share their concerns and fears about the planet they all share. Another place I’ve loved to visit in the past few years has been something called the Newseum (or news museum) outside Washington. It’s a magnet for anyone interested in news. We could easily have something like that in Lebanon, for example, dedicated to the news business, with exhibits in at least three languages and user-friendly, computer-generated, interactive displays. We must learn to network more effectively and develop media literacy programs for children and adults. A specialized media group defines media literacy as a four-step â€Å"inquiry† process of Awareness†¦Analysis†¦Reflection†¦Action. There’s a lot that can be done online to reach a far greater audience than traditional media. One woman in New York called Amira Quraishi with a group of friends launched a non-profit organization called Muslims Against Terrorism and started a website. According to Wired News Online, they began with a spare website that tracked hate crimes and cited key passages from the Koran that call for peace, justice and tolerance. Within three weeks, the site had slick Flash graphics, a press kit, links to other good resources, links to the group’s listserv and contact information for members. One of our shortcomings has been that we’re always reactive, not proactive. We need to change that. We should provide speakers, information, access, courtesy, and much more, in real time. We should learn to make friends with reporters and editors – not with the idea of buying them, but with being good sources of reliable information to them. It’s an easy task that should be taken seriously. We should learn to respect time and deadlines. We need to have long-term vision. Our editorials should be rational discourses, not irrational outbursts. If we’re going to set up more satellite stations to address western public opinion, let them not be carbon copies of what we already have. We need original content to face today’s challenges. We need in-depth coverage of issues that concern our people and that have common threads with others worldwide. Let’s be creative about it. We’re catching up in the use of technology, but shouldn’t bar access to its various manifestations. Blocking websites won’t do it. It’ll only make people want to try harder to reach the unreachable. We have too many armchair analysts. In Beirut, dozens of famous writers sit in cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s and expound on matters about Lebanon and the world. They don’t travel extensively, they don’t mix with all manner of people, and they don’t even read English well enough to decipher American or British media. And yet they get paid for that. It’s a disgrace. They should be dethroned. Analysis and good writing aren’t done by remote control. They require involvement, getting down to the grassroots, digging for facts, and constantly communicating with people from all walks of life. We in the Arab world should also learn to handle bad news. In the West they create crisis centers to handle the flow of information in an emergency. We tend to cover up things. Why? We’d be more credible if we shared what we knew in a sober and rational way to help all those concerned, including ourselves. People will continue to stereotype Arabs and Muslims so long as Arabs and Muslims don’t present their case in an effective way, away from stuffy official statements that most people don’t believe anyway. We need substance. It’s our job to change the negative image we have abroad. We have to bridge the cultural and media divide. Provocation won’t get us anywhere. Communication will. To improve our image we need to clean up our own act, reform our methods, abide by media ethics, follow guidelines of good journalistic practice, promote transparency in our work, capitalize on our human assets, promote more women in the media to fill higher positions and provide balanced leadership. We need to coordinate better and should learn to share information among each other in a cooperative spirit. â€Å"Keep it simple and don’t assume anything† are two basic rules I used to teach my journalism students. They’re universal. Finally, always keep children in mind when creating a message. They’re the most impressionable and valuable audience we have and they’ll grow up to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Japanese Language and Culture 1 essays

Japanese Language and Culture 1 essays This essay will explain how the Japanese family structure has been changing since the early years of last century and in particular in the period since World War Two. It will cover the main differences between the traditional Japanese attitude towards family and the current, more modern attitude towards family, child rearing and education. In pre-modern Japan, before the Second World War the traditional concept of a family was the ie (this is now the word for house or home). This concept is very different from the modern western idea of immediate family. The traditional ie did not simply consist of the living members of the immediate family, it also included their dead ancestors and unborn descendants. The ie was very spiritual as the living members of the family were expected to put the interests of the family before their own, to please the dead ancestors and bring fortune upon the living and unborn family members. The structure of the family was very hierarchical and authoritarian. The head of the house, usually the father, enjoyed special privileges made the rules and everyone elses had to obey them. When the head of the family passed away the eldest son would usually inherit all of the property and the position of head. The eldest son also received privileges much like those of the head of the house did. Youn ger sons would inherit nothing and would be expected to either marry and establish branch-houses of the ie or marry into other families that had no male heir. Young men still marry into other families and adopt the family name in modern Japan. Daughters on the other hand did not receive as much respect as sons, they were often treated as little more than servants. They were almost always married off and would become part of the ie that they married into. In contrast with Western tradition there was often much more tension between daughters who married into families than sons. With each passing generation the...

3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers

3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers 3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers 3 More Cases of Dangling Modifiers By Mark Nichol In each of the sentences below, the subject of the main clause is not logically associated with the subordinate clause, so the former must be recast to begin with the noun or pronoun in the sentence that the latter applies to, or the sentence must be revised so that a subject that pertains to the additional information provided at the head of the sentence replaces the inapt noun or pronoun. Discussion following each example explains the unsuitably of the existing subject, and revisions demonstrate how the sentences can be repaired. 1. Broken by unresolved trauma, the apocalypse is slowly wearing her down. The person referred to, not the apocalypse, is broken by unresolved trauma, so she must be the subject of the main clause: â€Å"Broken by unresolved trauma, she is slowly being worn down by the apocalypse.† 2. As a valued customer of World Wide Wickets, we would like to extend an invitation to you to view some exclusive deals on our products. Because we is the first word that follows the subordinate clause, the erroneous implication is that the entity self-described as â€Å"we† is a valued customer of the company, so the sentence must be recast to place the entity â€Å"you† in that role; the â€Å"we† can safely be omitted: â€Å"As a valued customer of World Wide Wickets, you are cordially invited to view some exclusive deals on our products.† 3. Appearing on the cover of Time magazine in 1994, tales of his exploits on the job turned him into a local legend. This sentence implies that tales of a person’s exploits appeared on the cover of the magazine, but it was he himself who appeared on the cover, and the role of the tales in turning him into a local legend is a separate matter: â€Å"He appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1994, and tales of his exploits on the job turned him into a local legend.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Synonyms for â€Å"Angry†The Parts of a Word7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing

Communication Challenges to Managers in Global Virtual Teams Research Paper

Communication Challenges to Managers in Global Virtual Teams - Research Paper Example It is therefore important to study and understand the connection between communication and performance of virtual teams. Jointly, trust and communication vastly influence performance of members of virtual teams. In any kind of team, members are likely to differ in ideologies as well as ambitions, which can be challenging to managers managing such teams. In global virtue teams, the challenges are severe since the teams comprise of members from different nationalities characterized by cultural as well as technological differences. Being a leader of a global virtual team is challenging and it requires excellent management skills. This paper focuses on communication as one of the crucial challenges for managers in global virtual teams, because of differences in their national culture and technology structure. Challenges posed by geographical separation include lack of synergy. Another challenge that managers of global virtual teams face is inability to identify the talents of their employees thus might end up employing a less diverse team. Virtual teams permit organizations to expand their territories thus employ individuals from different backgrounds. However, challenges may arise in the management of virtual teams resulting in ineffectiveness (Mirjaliisa, 2007; Sarker, Ajuja, Sarker, & Kirkeby, 2011). The challenges could be related to several factors. Leadership style is the major challenge. Managers should thus ensure that their leading strategies are in line with the team members’ anticipation. This can be made possible by switching between the different leadership styles depending on the situation at hand (Johri, 2010; Shachaf, & Hara, 2007; Shachaf, 2008; Dorothy, Kayworth, & Mora-Tavarez, 2010; Karen, 2008). The other challenge is the building of trust. The geographical separation often results in a feeling of alienation, which makes it hard to develop strong relationships amongst team members. The lack