Thursday, April 17, 2008
With the media being the standard for beauty and sex, many young people have trouble deciding on what or how they should view themselves. Many are not aware of how valuable they are therefore, many tend to rely on the media to define who they are. With scantitly clad women exposing themselves in video most, many young people view this as a guide for how they should live. Many young women don't want to appear out of touch so by talking about how sexually active they are; some beleive they will be more accpted among their peers. This way of thinking also promotes a certain way of dressing which leaves very little to the imagination. This lifestyle promotes risky behaviors that could cause many young people to become sexualy active at a younger age. Having sex is a criteria for many young women today; it shows how feminine they are based on the stadards of today's secular society.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Week 8 and 9 blogs, spring 2008
English 500
Patterson
Spring 08’ Week 8
Blog Assignments
1. In regards to the different spelling of the word “women” that is used not including the word “men.” I do not believe that this practice is right but on the other hand this is not a big issue. If women feel that they need to change the way the word is spelled then all power to them. If there are people out there that are offended by this practice then they really have a big problem. To me there are more important things to worry about than the spelling of the word “women.”
2. Attending graduate school has affected me in different ways. I regret not going to graduate school earlier because at this stage in my life it almost feels like a burden sometimes. Although I know that I have to do it with all the responsibilities that I now have it is much different. Graduate school has showed me how important it is for a person to further their education because in the end you will be benefitting from it the most. It has also taught me how to be a student again after being out of school for 7 years.
3. The way we dress is so important because society really places judgment on you just by your dress alone. I remember when friends and I decided to conduct our own research to see how people would perceive us for a day so we all put suits on went into the city. People were staring at us and wondering look at all these black men dressed up in their suits they must be very successful. We were given VIP passes to different events taking place that weekend and every high end store gave us the royal treatment. Even in the restaurant that we ate in that day we were given the best table in the house. So the way we dress does affect how people will perceive you.
4. Some of the long term effects of childhood experiences are: Whenever someone has doubted my abilities I have overcome them and proven those individuals wrong. As a child my mother always told me to tell the truth even if it may hurt others and I continue to exercise this practice today because being honest is the best policy in everything that we do not just in our personal lives but also on the job. Another one would be that my father was athletic so he would always have me playing sports with him all the time and this is something that I still do today.
5. Physical attractiveness should not be such an important issue just because a person is attractive does not mean that he/she are good. Society places a huge emphasis on physical attraction which causes people to do things to their bodies just because society says so. In the long run people end up destroying their lives because of trying to make themselves attractive and some of them even die as a result. As individuals we should not place so much attention on peoples’ looks but on the person on a whole. If society does did this we would be in better shape.
Week 9
Patterson
Spring 08’
1. Life is all about taking risks because this is the only way that a person is going to get anyway in life. Throughout my life I have experienced the results of taking risks whether the outcome has been good or bad. When my parents decided to migrate to Canada from Europe not knowing exactly how things would play out they took that risk and it paid off because as a result my siblings and I have turned out very well along with parents also being successful. When I decided to go back to grad school it was a risk because I have been out of school for a long time. I was going to leave a good job to pursue my master’s degree and so far that risk is also paying off.
2. If I was given the opportunity to speak to a group of high school seniors from my alma mater I would tell them that college life is what you make it. There is good and bad associated with college life but if they take the initiative to chose the good they will be successful. I would tell them that they have to manage their time wisely because although it may seem as though you have a lot of time you really don’t. Eventually your last year will arrive and you are not able to graduate because of your procrastination. A finally follow your handbook and course curriculum so that you are able to graduate on time having everything complete.
3. When looking at progress and what people may have to give up in the name of progress it is a big price. There are times when individuals have to put their own pride aside and give up things that they never thought they would have in order to progress in life. Sometimes it even goes as far as families being torn apart just for progress. One may ask them self, is it worth it all? Our forefathers made up in their minds that they were going to make progress if it meant them losing their lives. So we do pay a big price for progress I believe whenever it is for good it is worth it.
4. Some advice that I would share about the interview process are: Make sure that you do research on the company that you having the interview with. This will always benefit you because this shows how interested you are in working for the company. Dress for success and by this I mean that one should wear formal attire. When you are in the interview focus on the individual who is interviewing you using eye contact. Sometimes people can get intimidated by the eye conduct so you can also focus on the person’s nose which may seem weird but it works. At the end of interview ask the interviewer questions relevant to the job.
5. In society when we look at a person automatically we assume that this person must be making a lot of money and they are successful because they are wearing a suit and tie. If you are working in the corporate or medical arena you are considered successful. We place labels on certain jobs which then gives individuals status. Throughout the different generations this has always taken place where you have people. If you are working in a field that is not deemed desirable even though you may make a lot of money you job is not considered valuable. Society dictates exactly what is valuable and what is not and that goes for everything else. As long as society sees things in a positive light even though it may not be we just accept it.
Patterson
Spring 08’ Week 8
Blog Assignments
1. In regards to the different spelling of the word “women” that is used not including the word “men.” I do not believe that this practice is right but on the other hand this is not a big issue. If women feel that they need to change the way the word is spelled then all power to them. If there are people out there that are offended by this practice then they really have a big problem. To me there are more important things to worry about than the spelling of the word “women.”
2. Attending graduate school has affected me in different ways. I regret not going to graduate school earlier because at this stage in my life it almost feels like a burden sometimes. Although I know that I have to do it with all the responsibilities that I now have it is much different. Graduate school has showed me how important it is for a person to further their education because in the end you will be benefitting from it the most. It has also taught me how to be a student again after being out of school for 7 years.
3. The way we dress is so important because society really places judgment on you just by your dress alone. I remember when friends and I decided to conduct our own research to see how people would perceive us for a day so we all put suits on went into the city. People were staring at us and wondering look at all these black men dressed up in their suits they must be very successful. We were given VIP passes to different events taking place that weekend and every high end store gave us the royal treatment. Even in the restaurant that we ate in that day we were given the best table in the house. So the way we dress does affect how people will perceive you.
4. Some of the long term effects of childhood experiences are: Whenever someone has doubted my abilities I have overcome them and proven those individuals wrong. As a child my mother always told me to tell the truth even if it may hurt others and I continue to exercise this practice today because being honest is the best policy in everything that we do not just in our personal lives but also on the job. Another one would be that my father was athletic so he would always have me playing sports with him all the time and this is something that I still do today.
5. Physical attractiveness should not be such an important issue just because a person is attractive does not mean that he/she are good. Society places a huge emphasis on physical attraction which causes people to do things to their bodies just because society says so. In the long run people end up destroying their lives because of trying to make themselves attractive and some of them even die as a result. As individuals we should not place so much attention on peoples’ looks but on the person on a whole. If society does did this we would be in better shape.
Week 9
Patterson
Spring 08’
1. Life is all about taking risks because this is the only way that a person is going to get anyway in life. Throughout my life I have experienced the results of taking risks whether the outcome has been good or bad. When my parents decided to migrate to Canada from Europe not knowing exactly how things would play out they took that risk and it paid off because as a result my siblings and I have turned out very well along with parents also being successful. When I decided to go back to grad school it was a risk because I have been out of school for a long time. I was going to leave a good job to pursue my master’s degree and so far that risk is also paying off.
2. If I was given the opportunity to speak to a group of high school seniors from my alma mater I would tell them that college life is what you make it. There is good and bad associated with college life but if they take the initiative to chose the good they will be successful. I would tell them that they have to manage their time wisely because although it may seem as though you have a lot of time you really don’t. Eventually your last year will arrive and you are not able to graduate because of your procrastination. A finally follow your handbook and course curriculum so that you are able to graduate on time having everything complete.
3. When looking at progress and what people may have to give up in the name of progress it is a big price. There are times when individuals have to put their own pride aside and give up things that they never thought they would have in order to progress in life. Sometimes it even goes as far as families being torn apart just for progress. One may ask them self, is it worth it all? Our forefathers made up in their minds that they were going to make progress if it meant them losing their lives. So we do pay a big price for progress I believe whenever it is for good it is worth it.
4. Some advice that I would share about the interview process are: Make sure that you do research on the company that you having the interview with. This will always benefit you because this shows how interested you are in working for the company. Dress for success and by this I mean that one should wear formal attire. When you are in the interview focus on the individual who is interviewing you using eye contact. Sometimes people can get intimidated by the eye conduct so you can also focus on the person’s nose which may seem weird but it works. At the end of interview ask the interviewer questions relevant to the job.
5. In society when we look at a person automatically we assume that this person must be making a lot of money and they are successful because they are wearing a suit and tie. If you are working in the corporate or medical arena you are considered successful. We place labels on certain jobs which then gives individuals status. Throughout the different generations this has always taken place where you have people. If you are working in a field that is not deemed desirable even though you may make a lot of money you job is not considered valuable. Society dictates exactly what is valuable and what is not and that goes for everything else. As long as society sees things in a positive light even though it may not be we just accept it.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Spring 2008 English 500 Patterson
Spring 08 English 500
Jared Francis
Blog Topics-Week Three
1. Influence is a powerful thing that can be used both in a negative and positive way. I remember when I was in high school and a group of friends had come together for a social event. I promised them that I would be attending the event. Upon my arrival I could smell a strong aroma coming from inside the home. As I entered the home my friends saw me they quickly ceased from smoking. They knew that I was not a smoker and that I would probably tell them to stop smoking in front of me anyways so because of my stance on smoking my friends respected me. This incident showed me that I had a positive influence in that people would change their behavior because of me.
2. There are different things that can be done to alleviate racial tensions and stereotypes but I will suggest a view. Every nationality should be educated by way of mandatory classes that should be instituted by Board of Educations across the world. People also need to educate themselves and take the time to learn about other cultures. Cultural awareness programs need to be established to educate the minds of individuals and the
3. Society does help to create irresponsible sexuality in its members because if you take a look at society the media paints sexuality as something that is positive. Even T.V. commercials are filled with sexual esensitized. When society sees these things they see them as normal. Many children are having kids out of wedlock and I believe that the media is adding to this epidemic. Once the media is painting a negative picture and it is also seen as normal then sexual irresponsibility becomes esensitized. I believe that if people take action in regards to what the media is portraying then a change can come about.
4. Society should create legal and moral limits for scientific studies because if there are no parameters in place we would give scientist free reign to do just about anything. Just like the whole idea of cloning animals and humans is something that has already taken place and I believe that the government has not relayed to society all the information in regards to what they have actually done. This debate has also gone as far as congress which speaks volume in my eyes. In terms of setting limits on studies there should not be any limits in regards to this topic. Only if the study is within the parameters of science that is not going to be harmful then I would see it as acceptable.
5. When I was in high school there was a point that if you had not been involved in any sexual activities that you were considered a nobody. People would go as far as to say that if you had not done anything then you would be looked upon as a loser. If you look at society today the same thing still lives on but it is now taken to another level. One’s masculinity or femininity should not have to come at the cost of someone having to degrade themselves or lose their sense of dignity just because of having sex.
Spring 08 English 500
Jared Francis
Blog Topics- Week One
Writing is an exercise that everyone has to do throughout their lives. Growing up I always loved writing classes but as I got older my love for writing diminished. Now I write because of the profession that I am in which requires one to write a lot. In the field of social work everything has to be documented which means that you have to write making sure that the fundamentals of writing are being exercised. One of my strengths as a writer is that I am able to place my thoughts on paper easier than I would verbally and maybe that is how most men are. My weakness would probably be the use of the word “there” and “their” and the use of commas.
When it comes to the foundation of writing I think that I have a pretty good understanding.
A word that I consider to be negative is “nigger”. The history of the word "nigger" is often traced to the Latin word niger, meaning black. By the 1800’s the word was now looked upon as a degenerative nickname for African Americans. Then word was corrupted when it made its way to the south. Now in the African American culture you have those individuals who use the word without any regard for what controversy it caused in society’s history. The word is also embraced as something positive with the culture which I cannot understand. If you are not careful you will find yourself caught up in conversation using the word unconsciously. So people need to be aware of the meaning of the word and all that it entails.
My role model is my father. My father has always been someone that I looked up to growing up as a child because he is a man who loves his family and would do anything to protect us from any outside threats. He gave me good manly advice growing up as to how a man ought to be and he also exemplified this. Now, because of his character it has made me who I am today. I consider myself to be a good husband, provider, nurturer, good listener with a humble spirit. Everyone usually grows up having a role model whether it is a negative or positive one but I am glad that I had my father as a role model and I still do to this day.
Something that scares me is driving in wet road conditions especially if it is raining or snowing. The reason I feel this way is because about five years ago I was involved in a bad car accident that left the car completely damaged but I was lucky to escape the accident without any major injuries. It was snowing and I came to a four way intersection and the traffic signals were changing. I proceeded to apply my brakes but the car slide through the intersection because of the wet road conditions and this is how the accident took place. Now whenever I have to travel and I encounter wet road conditions I get nervous and experience flashbacks of the accident.
I am not sure if I understand the question correctly but I will answer it how I think it should be answered. In terms of twisting the truth growing up as child I can remember that there was an incident where my cousin had gone out with some friends I decided not to tell his father were he was going. It came to a point where cousin had lost track of time so my uncle call my house looking for him. He asked me whether or not I heard from my cousin and I told him that he was at my house but he was sleeping. Now in this case I was not telling the truth because my cousin ended up staying at his friends house so I basically lied for him.
Blog Topics- Week Two
My view of life when I began college was that I would finish college, attain my degree which would make me successful for the working world. I thought the transition would be a smooth one but in my case it did not work out that way. After graduating from undergrad I started working and it was a good job but it was not in my field of study. I traveled Europe and then settled down with marriage. There were different obstacles that I had to face but all that I experienced since first beginning college has made my life a rounded one in regards to all the experiences. I know now that life is full of surprises and you have to be ready to face them because they will come.
The last time that I had a moral dilemma was about four years ago when I was working for a company and they required me to work one Saturday in a month for the next three months. Now this would go against my religious beliefs. I expressed to them the importance of the religious beliefs and if they would be able to make an exception for me. Now I started to feel as though they would let me go because I plainly stated that I could not do this but they looked the situation and while others came in on Saturday my boss allowed for me to come in on Sunday’s instead.
A regret that I do have is that I was not able to attend my grandfather’s funeral. When I was born my parents were initially living with my grandparents. So there were many times were my grandparents would babysit me. I still remember those memories like it was yesterday. I spent a lot of time with my grandfather especially as he loved sports cars and he would always take me driving in his. Everywhere that my grandfather went I was right behind him so we received the news that he had died I was devastated. I really wanted to attend the funeral because it would have given me closer.
I have not used any defense mechanisms to get through college. I have just been myself like I always have. I see the need for a person to use defense mechanisms. I guess if there is a person out there who has low self-esteem then I can see where they would have to put up defense mechanisms in order for them to come across as strong. People need to look within themselves and see why they have to put up a wall of defense in order for others to not mess with them or take advantage of them in any way.
The following quote: “A man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” This is a quote that I agree with because everything in life is not always laid out for you. Sometimes we have to deal with the unexpected and give ourselves the opportunity to grow through it. Also if everyone where to see where the shore some people would become complacent and not necessarily want to strive because they already have seen what the outcome will be. In a situation like this it can go both ways. This is why everyone needs to be willing to not see the shore but to keep on striving.
Blog Topic-Week Seven
My “kiss of death” experience is a girl that I dated about five years ago. People around me would tell me that this person was not for me and that we not compatible but I did not pay people any attention. I guess I was being niave about the whole situation but I could not see what they were seeing. We dated for a long time and my mother eventually told me that she could see this relationship going down the wrong path. I would find out later on that this was actually this would end up being the worst mistake of my life. The relationship was so serious that we would talk about marriage but eventually we broke up. After we decided to go our separate ways I saw here for what she truly was and to this day I am happy with the decision that was made.
Ones family plays a major role in the shaping of one’s ethical views. I think that the family is where the foundation is set in terms of shaping their children’s outlook on life. I believe that as one begins to grow and mature he/she’s views will be challenged and may even change as a result. Speaking from experience there are ethics that were instilled in me as a child and today I still hold on to the majority of these ethical values. Through my own personal experiences some of my values have changed as a result and at times my parents may disagree with some of them but they are what have made me the man that I am today.
One word that has changed our consciousness about our government has been “war.” The United States has always through the later part of history have been involved in so many different wars’ to the point where in other countries people do not respect Americans because of how they seem to place their guns in places that they need not be. The current situation with the war in Iraq has claimed the lives of so many men and women and the government does not seem to see the need for them to be taken out of Iraq. War does not bring about any change it causes more pain than anything else. I hope that one day the government would realize that these wars are doing more harm than good for the country.
Discipline becomes child abuse when a child constantly experiences verbal, mental and physical abuse. Discipline for me growing up as a child consisted of verbal communication and the use of the belt. In my culture forms of physical discipline has always been the way to discipline a child. My parents would always tell me stories about how their parents would beat them with anything that they could place their hands on. If these same forms of discipline where being exercised today, many parents would be locked up in jail and their children given up for adoption. As long as the disciplining is done in love and not as a continuous method of excessive punishment it would not be characterized as child abuse.
A child who conforms to his or her parents should not emerge from adolescence immature, insecure, and easily manipulated especially if the parents instilled good values and morals in them. Now I can see if parents don’t instill good morals and values in their kids and children then maybe throughout their adolescent years they may become immature because the parents probably have not reared them up as they ought to. All the values that parents should instill in their children should cause them to be confident and mature and this should cause them to be children who are not easily swayed by the company that he/she may keep.
Jared Francis
Blog Topics-Week Three
1. Influence is a powerful thing that can be used both in a negative and positive way. I remember when I was in high school and a group of friends had come together for a social event. I promised them that I would be attending the event. Upon my arrival I could smell a strong aroma coming from inside the home. As I entered the home my friends saw me they quickly ceased from smoking. They knew that I was not a smoker and that I would probably tell them to stop smoking in front of me anyways so because of my stance on smoking my friends respected me. This incident showed me that I had a positive influence in that people would change their behavior because of me.
2. There are different things that can be done to alleviate racial tensions and stereotypes but I will suggest a view. Every nationality should be educated by way of mandatory classes that should be instituted by Board of Educations across the world. People also need to educate themselves and take the time to learn about other cultures. Cultural awareness programs need to be established to educate the minds of individuals and the
3. Society does help to create irresponsible sexuality in its members because if you take a look at society the media paints sexuality as something that is positive. Even T.V. commercials are filled with sexual esensitized. When society sees these things they see them as normal. Many children are having kids out of wedlock and I believe that the media is adding to this epidemic. Once the media is painting a negative picture and it is also seen as normal then sexual irresponsibility becomes esensitized. I believe that if people take action in regards to what the media is portraying then a change can come about.
4. Society should create legal and moral limits for scientific studies because if there are no parameters in place we would give scientist free reign to do just about anything. Just like the whole idea of cloning animals and humans is something that has already taken place and I believe that the government has not relayed to society all the information in regards to what they have actually done. This debate has also gone as far as congress which speaks volume in my eyes. In terms of setting limits on studies there should not be any limits in regards to this topic. Only if the study is within the parameters of science that is not going to be harmful then I would see it as acceptable.
5. When I was in high school there was a point that if you had not been involved in any sexual activities that you were considered a nobody. People would go as far as to say that if you had not done anything then you would be looked upon as a loser. If you look at society today the same thing still lives on but it is now taken to another level. One’s masculinity or femininity should not have to come at the cost of someone having to degrade themselves or lose their sense of dignity just because of having sex.
Spring 08 English 500
Jared Francis
Blog Topics- Week One
Writing is an exercise that everyone has to do throughout their lives. Growing up I always loved writing classes but as I got older my love for writing diminished. Now I write because of the profession that I am in which requires one to write a lot. In the field of social work everything has to be documented which means that you have to write making sure that the fundamentals of writing are being exercised. One of my strengths as a writer is that I am able to place my thoughts on paper easier than I would verbally and maybe that is how most men are. My weakness would probably be the use of the word “there” and “their” and the use of commas.
When it comes to the foundation of writing I think that I have a pretty good understanding.
A word that I consider to be negative is “nigger”. The history of the word "nigger" is often traced to the Latin word niger, meaning black. By the 1800’s the word was now looked upon as a degenerative nickname for African Americans. Then word was corrupted when it made its way to the south. Now in the African American culture you have those individuals who use the word without any regard for what controversy it caused in society’s history. The word is also embraced as something positive with the culture which I cannot understand. If you are not careful you will find yourself caught up in conversation using the word unconsciously. So people need to be aware of the meaning of the word and all that it entails.
My role model is my father. My father has always been someone that I looked up to growing up as a child because he is a man who loves his family and would do anything to protect us from any outside threats. He gave me good manly advice growing up as to how a man ought to be and he also exemplified this. Now, because of his character it has made me who I am today. I consider myself to be a good husband, provider, nurturer, good listener with a humble spirit. Everyone usually grows up having a role model whether it is a negative or positive one but I am glad that I had my father as a role model and I still do to this day.
Something that scares me is driving in wet road conditions especially if it is raining or snowing. The reason I feel this way is because about five years ago I was involved in a bad car accident that left the car completely damaged but I was lucky to escape the accident without any major injuries. It was snowing and I came to a four way intersection and the traffic signals were changing. I proceeded to apply my brakes but the car slide through the intersection because of the wet road conditions and this is how the accident took place. Now whenever I have to travel and I encounter wet road conditions I get nervous and experience flashbacks of the accident.
I am not sure if I understand the question correctly but I will answer it how I think it should be answered. In terms of twisting the truth growing up as child I can remember that there was an incident where my cousin had gone out with some friends I decided not to tell his father were he was going. It came to a point where cousin had lost track of time so my uncle call my house looking for him. He asked me whether or not I heard from my cousin and I told him that he was at my house but he was sleeping. Now in this case I was not telling the truth because my cousin ended up staying at his friends house so I basically lied for him.
Blog Topics- Week Two
My view of life when I began college was that I would finish college, attain my degree which would make me successful for the working world. I thought the transition would be a smooth one but in my case it did not work out that way. After graduating from undergrad I started working and it was a good job but it was not in my field of study. I traveled Europe and then settled down with marriage. There were different obstacles that I had to face but all that I experienced since first beginning college has made my life a rounded one in regards to all the experiences. I know now that life is full of surprises and you have to be ready to face them because they will come.
The last time that I had a moral dilemma was about four years ago when I was working for a company and they required me to work one Saturday in a month for the next three months. Now this would go against my religious beliefs. I expressed to them the importance of the religious beliefs and if they would be able to make an exception for me. Now I started to feel as though they would let me go because I plainly stated that I could not do this but they looked the situation and while others came in on Saturday my boss allowed for me to come in on Sunday’s instead.
A regret that I do have is that I was not able to attend my grandfather’s funeral. When I was born my parents were initially living with my grandparents. So there were many times were my grandparents would babysit me. I still remember those memories like it was yesterday. I spent a lot of time with my grandfather especially as he loved sports cars and he would always take me driving in his. Everywhere that my grandfather went I was right behind him so we received the news that he had died I was devastated. I really wanted to attend the funeral because it would have given me closer.
I have not used any defense mechanisms to get through college. I have just been myself like I always have. I see the need for a person to use defense mechanisms. I guess if there is a person out there who has low self-esteem then I can see where they would have to put up defense mechanisms in order for them to come across as strong. People need to look within themselves and see why they have to put up a wall of defense in order for others to not mess with them or take advantage of them in any way.
The following quote: “A man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” This is a quote that I agree with because everything in life is not always laid out for you. Sometimes we have to deal with the unexpected and give ourselves the opportunity to grow through it. Also if everyone where to see where the shore some people would become complacent and not necessarily want to strive because they already have seen what the outcome will be. In a situation like this it can go both ways. This is why everyone needs to be willing to not see the shore but to keep on striving.
Blog Topic-Week Seven
My “kiss of death” experience is a girl that I dated about five years ago. People around me would tell me that this person was not for me and that we not compatible but I did not pay people any attention. I guess I was being niave about the whole situation but I could not see what they were seeing. We dated for a long time and my mother eventually told me that she could see this relationship going down the wrong path. I would find out later on that this was actually this would end up being the worst mistake of my life. The relationship was so serious that we would talk about marriage but eventually we broke up. After we decided to go our separate ways I saw here for what she truly was and to this day I am happy with the decision that was made.
Ones family plays a major role in the shaping of one’s ethical views. I think that the family is where the foundation is set in terms of shaping their children’s outlook on life. I believe that as one begins to grow and mature he/she’s views will be challenged and may even change as a result. Speaking from experience there are ethics that were instilled in me as a child and today I still hold on to the majority of these ethical values. Through my own personal experiences some of my values have changed as a result and at times my parents may disagree with some of them but they are what have made me the man that I am today.
One word that has changed our consciousness about our government has been “war.” The United States has always through the later part of history have been involved in so many different wars’ to the point where in other countries people do not respect Americans because of how they seem to place their guns in places that they need not be. The current situation with the war in Iraq has claimed the lives of so many men and women and the government does not seem to see the need for them to be taken out of Iraq. War does not bring about any change it causes more pain than anything else. I hope that one day the government would realize that these wars are doing more harm than good for the country.
Discipline becomes child abuse when a child constantly experiences verbal, mental and physical abuse. Discipline for me growing up as a child consisted of verbal communication and the use of the belt. In my culture forms of physical discipline has always been the way to discipline a child. My parents would always tell me stories about how their parents would beat them with anything that they could place their hands on. If these same forms of discipline where being exercised today, many parents would be locked up in jail and their children given up for adoption. As long as the disciplining is done in love and not as a continuous method of excessive punishment it would not be characterized as child abuse.
A child who conforms to his or her parents should not emerge from adolescence immature, insecure, and easily manipulated especially if the parents instilled good values and morals in them. Now I can see if parents don’t instill good morals and values in their kids and children then maybe throughout their adolescent years they may become immature because the parents probably have not reared them up as they ought to. All the values that parents should instill in their children should cause them to be confident and mature and this should cause them to be children who are not easily swayed by the company that he/she may keep.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Week 8 Blogs Jared Francis
Professor Patterson Spring 08’
English 500
Jared Francis
Topic Blogs for Week Eight
1. The idea that “ugly” or unattractive men make better husbands because they are less likely to be unfaithful and are more generally supportive is not a valid conclusion. I know of some individuals whom are married to or have dated guys that were not that attractive who have been victims of unfaithfulness. I do not believe that being faithful has anything to do with being attractive. It all stems from your mindset as an individual. If you have been taught certain morals and values in regards to relationships I believe that there would be no need for you to be unfaithful.
2. Whether or not boys and girls come to an understanding about their gender roles from what they observe in their parents is true to a certain extent. I also think that the media also plays a strong role in shaping the way that boys and girls view themselves. If we look on the television everyday you will find that all the shows and even the commercials are now raising children in terms of how they ought to be. I know for myself that growing up in my home I was fortunate to have parents who exemplified the roles to the fullest. There are many things also that I picked up from the media which were not all good but because of the ground work that was laid by my parents I didn’t turn out to bad.
3. I thing that in the past you had colleges and universities that solely focused on academics so once those students would leave the academic environment they would be lost in the workforce because they were not prepared. Today schools are doing a better job in terms of educating students about what to look for upon entering the workforce. I do believe though that every academic major department should take the initiative on a whole preparing students for the workforce because this will make them better employees within their respected fields of study. Preparation is the key to being successful in whatever you do.
4. The simple ease and accessibility of watching television versus going out to a movie does contribute to making television so addictive because nowadays one is able to watch the latest movies before they even come out in the theatre giving you the opportunity to watch these movies in the comfort of your home. All the technology that now plays a part in how one is able to access these movies without going to the theatre. This would never have happened in the past because access to movies sooner than later was never a heard of. Technology has now changed the face of the movie business which has forced us to stay in the comfort of our homes making us lazy.
5. I believe that celebrities have the right to refuse to be role models but this does not stop kids and adults from looking up to them whether they are doing good or doing bad. Charles Barkley was the one who made the quote poplar “I am not a role model” which mad many people upset. I do agree with him instead of focusing your attention on him although he was playing a sport that everyone admired and still does today young and old alike you should not look to him as a role model. Kids should take a look within their immediate circle to find a role model. Not everyone is a Hollywood celebrity or a basketball star so kids should be realistic with whom they choose to be their role models.
English 500
Jared Francis
Topic Blogs for Week Eight
1. The idea that “ugly” or unattractive men make better husbands because they are less likely to be unfaithful and are more generally supportive is not a valid conclusion. I know of some individuals whom are married to or have dated guys that were not that attractive who have been victims of unfaithfulness. I do not believe that being faithful has anything to do with being attractive. It all stems from your mindset as an individual. If you have been taught certain morals and values in regards to relationships I believe that there would be no need for you to be unfaithful.
2. Whether or not boys and girls come to an understanding about their gender roles from what they observe in their parents is true to a certain extent. I also think that the media also plays a strong role in shaping the way that boys and girls view themselves. If we look on the television everyday you will find that all the shows and even the commercials are now raising children in terms of how they ought to be. I know for myself that growing up in my home I was fortunate to have parents who exemplified the roles to the fullest. There are many things also that I picked up from the media which were not all good but because of the ground work that was laid by my parents I didn’t turn out to bad.
3. I thing that in the past you had colleges and universities that solely focused on academics so once those students would leave the academic environment they would be lost in the workforce because they were not prepared. Today schools are doing a better job in terms of educating students about what to look for upon entering the workforce. I do believe though that every academic major department should take the initiative on a whole preparing students for the workforce because this will make them better employees within their respected fields of study. Preparation is the key to being successful in whatever you do.
4. The simple ease and accessibility of watching television versus going out to a movie does contribute to making television so addictive because nowadays one is able to watch the latest movies before they even come out in the theatre giving you the opportunity to watch these movies in the comfort of your home. All the technology that now plays a part in how one is able to access these movies without going to the theatre. This would never have happened in the past because access to movies sooner than later was never a heard of. Technology has now changed the face of the movie business which has forced us to stay in the comfort of our homes making us lazy.
5. I believe that celebrities have the right to refuse to be role models but this does not stop kids and adults from looking up to them whether they are doing good or doing bad. Charles Barkley was the one who made the quote poplar “I am not a role model” which mad many people upset. I do agree with him instead of focusing your attention on him although he was playing a sport that everyone admired and still does today young and old alike you should not look to him as a role model. Kids should take a look within their immediate circle to find a role model. Not everyone is a Hollywood celebrity or a basketball star so kids should be realistic with whom they choose to be their role models.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Conforming to parents way.....
The goal of any parent is rear a well balanced child. A parent is a child’s first teacher and it is the responsibility of the parents to do there best. If the child is raised in a home where love in shown and the parents also have boundaries they are likely to raise a fairly normal child. There is no formula for parenting, Erickson talks about the stages of development and when parents are aware of these stages it gives them a general idea of what to look for at each stage. There are many parents who have done there best to raise there children the best they know how, however those child have become the opposite of who there parents raised them to be.
With the rise of MTV and BET children are exposed to violence on a daily basis. The internet is a source of information unfortunately, many parents have had predators come into there home through there computers. A child was once considered a model child may start to display behaviors unbecoming of his character because of the friends they have met online. A child who conforms to his or her parents can live a normal life where they are able to think for themselves. There is no guarantee how a child will turn out, this is why every good parent tries there best to raise a law abiding, well rounded individual. If there was a formula that worked for all parents it would be great however, it is up the parents to teach all they know and it the child’s responsibility to uphold the values and principles they taught to the best of their ability. Some children will choose to choose to do there best to be like there parent; while some may chose not practice any of the principles they were taught.
With the rise of MTV and BET children are exposed to violence on a daily basis. The internet is a source of information unfortunately, many parents have had predators come into there home through there computers. A child was once considered a model child may start to display behaviors unbecoming of his character because of the friends they have met online. A child who conforms to his or her parents can live a normal life where they are able to think for themselves. There is no guarantee how a child will turn out, this is why every good parent tries there best to raise a law abiding, well rounded individual. If there was a formula that worked for all parents it would be great however, it is up the parents to teach all they know and it the child’s responsibility to uphold the values and principles they taught to the best of their ability. Some children will choose to choose to do there best to be like there parent; while some may chose not practice any of the principles they were taught.
Discipline/ child abuse
We live in a culture that does not condone the hitting of children and those parents or guardians who do so could possible face time behind bars. When I was growing up the occasional spanking was acceptable and I knew if I disobeyed my parents time out was not an option. Although I was raised with this from of environment it was never considered abuse when I was growing up. My mother is a very private person and the moment I started to cry she would not spank we at all. This kind of corporal punishment kept me in check, because I didn’t like being spanked I tried my best to obey my parents. Never did I once hear the word abuse mentioned, the whole community practiced this form of discipline and we knew that if we disobeyed we would be spanked.
Spanking today in outlawed however, it appears today children lack respect for their parents and adults on a hold. It also appears there are more cases of child neglect and child abuse. I am not a supporter of beating children however; there is place for discipline of its kind. I do not believe parents should just grab the nearest thing they can find to hit a child that is in my opinion is abusive. A child should not be thrown and beaten like baseball, discipline in this format usually end in serious abuse. In today’s society there are many ways to discipline a child and spanking should be the last resort.
Spanking today in outlawed however, it appears today children lack respect for their parents and adults on a hold. It also appears there are more cases of child neglect and child abuse. I am not a supporter of beating children however; there is place for discipline of its kind. I do not believe parents should just grab the nearest thing they can find to hit a child that is in my opinion is abusive. A child should not be thrown and beaten like baseball, discipline in this format usually end in serious abuse. In today’s society there are many ways to discipline a child and spanking should be the last resort.
Word that has changed women
The word bitch refers to a female dog however, today many women answer to this name without hesitation and they even refer to each other that way. It appears that words that had a negative connotation are suddenly considered positive. The feminist movement fought for women right and many in roads have been made throughout the decades however, it appears we have also taken some steps backwards.
With the advanced of technology, we are bombarded with video vixens and scantily clad women who are willing to do anything to be on television. Television channels like VH1 and BET continues to play videos that exploit and degrade women. These women are often are referred to as bitches in the songs and videos and they are not in the least bothered.
One would think that a derogatory word like this would cause the feminists movement to be in uproar however, even they are silent. Whether or not silence means consent it appears as women we are not as vocal as in time past. More and younger women are referring to themselves as “bitches” and they seem to be no end in sight as to how much lower one can get. I think we are living world were more and more fathers are absent and girls are growing up without the male figure in the home. With single parents on the rise we are raising a society of young women who do not know there worth and they are more willing to stoup so slow without even understanding. With the absence of fathers, it has affected our young women the most and they are recipients of this dilemma.
With the advanced of technology, we are bombarded with video vixens and scantily clad women who are willing to do anything to be on television. Television channels like VH1 and BET continues to play videos that exploit and degrade women. These women are often are referred to as bitches in the songs and videos and they are not in the least bothered.
One would think that a derogatory word like this would cause the feminists movement to be in uproar however, even they are silent. Whether or not silence means consent it appears as women we are not as vocal as in time past. More and younger women are referring to themselves as “bitches” and they seem to be no end in sight as to how much lower one can get. I think we are living world were more and more fathers are absent and girls are growing up without the male figure in the home. With single parents on the rise we are raising a society of young women who do not know there worth and they are more willing to stoup so slow without even understanding. With the absence of fathers, it has affected our young women the most and they are recipients of this dilemma.
family and ethics
I was raised by a single mother who tried her very best to raise me in an atmosphere where the moral standing was very high. Even though she was a single parent, she was never alone. I remember my grandmother and grandfather making sure they had a influence on me in positive way. I knew at an early age that certain behaviors were not accepted and I tried my best to live up to those standards.
Now that I am older, I look back and I realize how blessed and privileged when I was growing up. There were certain things I had to know how to do, those things included cooking, doing house chores but most of all how to carry my self like a young woman. My grandmother and mother were seamstresses when I was growing up and just our last name meant that a certain behavior was expected of me. Even though I grew up in a home where we had hired help, I was still expected to do chores around the home. I was also taught to choose friends wisely because it reflected me as well as my family.
My grandmother was the matriarch of the family and she made her business to teach how to be refined not just in speech but in but in conduct. I remember going to elementary school (primary school) and I could hear her in my head as I would conduct my self on the play ground, “don’t speak so loud”.
The person I am today is a result of the training I got, even though I did not realize today I am so much like my mother and grandmother. Even though I am an adult thee are so things I will not do because without realizing it these moral values have been ingrained deeply within. One’s upbringing has a lot to do the person we are today and I will say even though my family wasn’t perfect the principles I hold dear to today are a result of what they have poured into throughout the years.
Now that I am older, I look back and I realize how blessed and privileged when I was growing up. There were certain things I had to know how to do, those things included cooking, doing house chores but most of all how to carry my self like a young woman. My grandmother and mother were seamstresses when I was growing up and just our last name meant that a certain behavior was expected of me. Even though I grew up in a home where we had hired help, I was still expected to do chores around the home. I was also taught to choose friends wisely because it reflected me as well as my family.
My grandmother was the matriarch of the family and she made her business to teach how to be refined not just in speech but in but in conduct. I remember going to elementary school (primary school) and I could hear her in my head as I would conduct my self on the play ground, “don’t speak so loud”.
The person I am today is a result of the training I got, even though I did not realize today I am so much like my mother and grandmother. Even though I am an adult thee are so things I will not do because without realizing it these moral values have been ingrained deeply within. One’s upbringing has a lot to do the person we are today and I will say even though my family wasn’t perfect the principles I hold dear to today are a result of what they have poured into throughout the years.
Trip to Nashville
It was a normal day at work and I was looking forward to going home at the end of my shift. My friend came to me in desperation, he continued to lament about how he had to go home to Canada and there was no one available to take to the airport. It was around eleven thirty and I was getting ready to go home. I was in no mood to drive any where else but home to my Sparkman Drive apartment. He was desperate and convincing I offered to take him to the airport. Before he left my work place that night I told him he would have to get another person to accompany us on the trip so I would not be driving back by myself.
The next morning I picked him up along with a friend and we headed for Nashville, there was a sense of trepidation as I headed to Nashville. Driving my sport utility vehicle felt strange in the rain and a part of me wanted to back out but, it was too late. As we continued on our way to Nashville the rain started to pour even harder and it made it very uncomfortable to drive. We about a mile from the airport and the exit sign said “to airport “however, I was in the left lane and I needed to be in the right lane. As I proceeded to change lane several vehicles were approaching and this made it unsafe to lane change, when I finally decided to change late it was too late. Within minutes we had hydroplaned and the vehicle lost control; we braced ourselves for the worst. Within minutes, what seemed like nightmare was over. The vehicle hit the side of a bridge and then it stopped. Miraculously, we were not hurt and the vehicle was only slightly damaged. We managed to drive to the airport and my passenger caught his flight to Canada on time.
After reaching the airport my vehicle died, it was towed to a garage and we had to ask for donation to return to Huntsville. It almost seems like a dream today but, it could have turned out worst, we could have been dead. What seemed like a good idea to help a desperate friend could have been fatal
The next morning I picked him up along with a friend and we headed for Nashville, there was a sense of trepidation as I headed to Nashville. Driving my sport utility vehicle felt strange in the rain and a part of me wanted to back out but, it was too late. As we continued on our way to Nashville the rain started to pour even harder and it made it very uncomfortable to drive. We about a mile from the airport and the exit sign said “to airport “however, I was in the left lane and I needed to be in the right lane. As I proceeded to change lane several vehicles were approaching and this made it unsafe to lane change, when I finally decided to change late it was too late. Within minutes we had hydroplaned and the vehicle lost control; we braced ourselves for the worst. Within minutes, what seemed like nightmare was over. The vehicle hit the side of a bridge and then it stopped. Miraculously, we were not hurt and the vehicle was only slightly damaged. We managed to drive to the airport and my passenger caught his flight to Canada on time.
After reaching the airport my vehicle died, it was towed to a garage and we had to ask for donation to return to Huntsville. It almost seems like a dream today but, it could have turned out worst, we could have been dead. What seemed like a good idea to help a desperate friend could have been fatal
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Blog Topics-Week Seven
1. The Kiss of Death-'Water fights at Tempe High' The one thing that I avoided was death while I was an infant. As a child in the summer while in Australia we use to gather friends around the community and choose teams. Once we chose the teams we ransacked the store and stocked up on water balloons and head in groups to the High school down the road. It was down the road where the angel death awaited me at the peak of the hill. So we waited at the hill on one side of the two way street and try to predict a pattern before we dashed across the street just under the peak of the hill. One of my friends Raymond had false jump start that tricked me to dash across the road where I collided with a station wagon who had baby in the back seat. Not only did the car hit me twice but the lady drove off. Leaving somewhat conscious with my body in severe pain and my skull cracked open. We later found out that the lady was speeding ultimately wrong for driving from the scene. The doctor said I was very lucky that I had a thick skull cause I would be brain damaged while he gave me stitches in my head.
2. The role family plays in shaping one ethics is pretty much everything. Individuals in a family are raised on principle, respect, religion and loyalty, which are all derived from ethics. Families are generated from different cultures where ethics is branded on the individuals in that family, making people different but able to be distinguish through ethics and cultures.
3. A hybrid car is combination of two or more distinct power sources to propel the vehicle. Common power sources are rechargeable energy storage system/internal combustion engine or fuel cell.
4. Discipline becomes child abuse when the child doesn't know what he is being discipline for. Also excessive discipline where the adult who is the guardian has a very aggressive nature and may to tend to over do the punishment. This would also be considered as child abuse.
5. Yes, any child can break the pattern their parents tend to follow. Even though the child may show characteristics of there parents but there is very few people who do break the pattern. Most individual tend to do follow on the similar path of there parents.
Blog Topics-Week Six
1. It means live your life to the fullest. Don't hold your head down cause you feel like you handed a cup that was half empty but live your life like it was half full after you just took as sip.
2. Black History Month is still relevant in 2008 because it is a month within a year just like independent day is still relevant in 2008.
3. The action that you make is under your control but you can not control things outside of your control.
4. Society suffer from hero inflation cause there are a lot more people coming out through publicity which allows individuals to idolize these individuals. Which society needs to be careful about idolizing people because there might be contradiction or conflict in the individual religion.
5. Yes. Women in general have not changed but a lot of movements and sexual revolution have altered the younger generation mind frames, but as society lifestyle advances and becomes more expensive, numerous factors in the setup of how women should be treated varies. Well I feel like women have killed chivalry and women need to raise these young ladies the way there mothers were raised so it would be less strain on modern marriages.
Blog Topics-Week Three
1. When i enter any specific space i hope that i don't influence anybody behavior, because people should be stronger than that to let anyone influence you especially if your a man. Now there is one specific place which is home where my younger brother lives and i found to see that he tends to look up to me a bit more than his sisters. He would come to me and tell everything about what going on in his life and then ask for advice etc. But yeah I believe my actions influence my brother actions to in the future.
2. Nothing but time can be done about alleviate racial tension and stereotypes that lead to minor and major problems in society. One thing can be helpful is to educate your children and teach them the ways of life and tell them to close there your eyes to situations that appear racial, but keep a broad mind to certain situation to take it on as learning experience.
3. Society creates many forms of sexual preferences upon members and it comes in many characteristics, it just depends on which society the individual is brought on.
4. The basis of scientific limitation is to advance and help human life not to make humans lazy or dependent on technology. The fear of technology is based on movies such as 'The Matrix' and 'Artificial Intelligence'.
5. The extent varies upon each individual but it is human to be sexually active if your hormones are fully functioning.
Blog Topics-Week Two
1. Life on campus when i first began was an eye opener since America was still fresh to me. I was amazed about the infrastructure in Alabama and it is very country since I was from the city (Sydney, Australia) Life without a car is quite critical as a freshman-young open to new relationship and now the view I have about life on campus is the opposite because the things I used to do back then wouldn't be a question now. Basically as you get older your view on life becomes the opposite to the view on life as undergraduate freshman.
2. I regret not being able to live on campus in the dooms as a freshman with my peers and getting the full experience of the college life.
3. I had moral dilemma at a funeral when I felt like blaming God for taking an individual that meant a lot to me. It was only when the pastor approach me and help me handle the situation morally.
4. Defense mechanisms I may of used in school was to block the negativity other students may try to use to distract you and bring you down to there level where they feel like they are not learning nobody else can.
5. To me it is trying to say that you need to crawl before you walk.
Blog Topics-Week One
1.Hi my name is Oludoye Oluwoye and I'm an Australian who was told since the 3rd Grade that English was never a strong point in my eduction. So I've struggled through out high school in English to get a B grade. Lucky for me I'm very strong in numbers which allowed me to advance in mathematics, technical drawing, electronics, engineering and physics.
2. A word that I consider negative is "CAN'T". Many individuals tend to say can't which i feel under estimate people in there ability do what ever they need to do as an adult. The word didn't necessary get corrupted but as I was growing up to mention can't in a sentence in a negative fashion teaches individual to give up instead of trying to elevate your thought process to do what is necessary to accomplish the task.
3. My role model name is Mr. Pinto he a man that passed away while I still present at the high school from lung cancer. He taught me many great values such as 'everyday you should learn something otherwise knowledge and time is being wasted.
4. I am scared of my self because sometimes i learn something about myself that i wasn't aware i capable of.
5. Evasive language is used daily in politics and in a couple relationships i know tend to each other certain parts of the full truth to avoid and prevent dramatic situation.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Whose the Tyger
In his poem "The Tyger," William Blake deals with some very interesting ideas. Previously, he has written a poem that deals with the idea of a lamb and makes reference to Jesus as "The Lamb." Later in "The Tyger," he wonders if the same person that made the lamb has something to do with the creation of the tyger (tiger). Why would he ask this question? A tiger is beautiful to view. If you have ever gone to the zoo, the lion and tiger display is one of the most popular ones there. Look at the tiger. It's physical form is impressive, even beautiful. The colors in its coat, the texture of its coat, it's paws, its teeth, it's overall look-all beautiful. But the very thing that is beautiful to look at is also one of the most violent. In a sense, its beauty can also be violent. Its paws teeth, and power, when used in tandum, are fatal. Just ask the teenager in San Francisco who tased the tiger at the zoo. The tiger jumped over its barrier and killed him. The tyger (tiger) is a representation of the dueling natures of mankind. Man is "beautiful" but can be a morally destructive force, all at the same time. How? Just look around. Beautiful in thought and deed, evil in action.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Change, change, change
How appropriate it is for my first blog this semester be about "Change." I have never been as excited about an election before than I am right now. When I turned 18in high school, I didn't vote for the first time until my first quarter in college. And at that time, I voted for Bill Clinton. You could imagine the excitement. Ever since then, I have voted for people who ended up losing. Now the tables have turned and the political winds have shifted. A few years ago, I was under the belief that our political system as we know it would have been dominated by the conservative movement spurred by the election of George W. Bush twice. After September 11th, that feeling was even stronger. But the war in Iraq, extremely high gas prices, a shaky housing market, unbelievable political scandals, and the like have changed everything.
Unlike a lot of people who are jumping on the Obama-train now, I first learned about him even before he began running for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. Because my wife is from Chicago, I was able to get some more info on him when we were there visiting. I knew that there was something unique about him, even then. When I heard him speak at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, I was really impressed. He became my role model. Why? He is a "new" kind of politician. One not interested in the status quo. He is willing to look beyond the dividing issues of our day. I never believed that an African American could and would run for the Presidency of the United States, at least not in my lifetime. But before I turn 40, we are on the cusp of this event happening.
I was so inspired by his speech in Birmingham last week that I decided to volunteer on his campaign. If I didn't have a wife, job, and mortgage, I would pack up and go all over the US on his behalf. But my contribution will be either making phone calls or doing some data entry for them. In my old neighborhood, I was the first to have a "Kerry-Edwards" sign on my street. Then a "Bush=Cheny" showed up. Then the neighbor across the street put a Kerry-Edwards sigh in his yard. In my neighborhood now, I am the first and the only to have an Obama sign. Hopefully, it won't be the last.
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