Republican vs. democratic views on a problem Essay

Republican vs. democratic views on a problem - Essay Example Democrats generally tend to take a more short-term approach to fixing the economy. When individuals in the nation are hurt by a weakened dollar or other negative environmental events, democrats begin looking toward ways to stabilize the lifestyles of the majority of citizens in the nation. Republicans support the efforts of corporate in the event of economic problems. This support would generally come in the form of business tax breaks and other economic incentives, designed to stabilize the health and wealth of the contemporary businessperson. Adam Smith, a renowned 18th Century economist, believed that strengthening the economic position of companies creates a trickle-down effect through jobs creation and social improvements. Smith further suggested that companies maintain no other responsibility other than to build a profit so that society can reap the benefits of better products. Republicans appear to believe strongly in the theories proposed by Adam Smith, as each time the nation faces an economic struggle, the Republican Party begins searching for new methods to boost the strength of the publicly-traded (Wall Street)

Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem - Essay Example As Lindeman (1942) stated, â€Å"Only 10% of the total chemical energy is retained at each trophic level.† This is known as the ten per cent law. The second law of thermodynamics says that at each progressive trophic level in the food chain, there is a gradual decrease in the available energy. The pyramid of energy is always upright or straight because out of the total amount of energy transferred from the lower trophic level, as much as 80-90% is lost in the form of heat. The net primary productivity (the resultant plant biomass) is the difference of the gross primary productivity (total plant biomass) and the amount used for plant respiration. Therefore, it is only the net photosynthesis that is presented to the next trophic level of the food chain or the herbivores. The carnivores receive the gross secondary productivity from the herbivores. Lakes, ponds, rivers and steams are representative of fresh water biomes. There are the shallow or eutrophic lakes and deep or olitrophic lakes. On the basis of the penetration of light, a deep lake has three zones. The transition zone or thermocline, the basal layer or the hypolimnion and the upper layer that is warmer in summer and cooler in winter called the

Influence Of Foreign Films Media Essay

Influence Of Foreign Films Media Essay Media plays an important role in our lives. Swindler claims that the accumulated experience of media exposure contributes to the cultivation of a childs values, beliefs, dreams, and expectations. He further explains that these will in-turn shape the adult identity a child will carry and modify through his or her life. These influences can be negative or positive. (Santosh K, 2009) It also confines peoples thinking capability although it generates lot of ideas and thoughts. This contaminates the audiences who are lack in experience and sometimes believe in what they are being exposed to, in another word the passive audience. This research investigates on the influence of the media specifically; film, on its audience. The films in this study refer to the foreign films with LGBT elements and the audience are Malaysian youths. Background The Malaysian community is generally conservative and to talk about matters regarding sexuality is thought to be shameful (Sears, 2005). Malaysia is one of the countries that are actively persecuting people from the LGBT community. This is due to the British colonial-era sodomy law that lasts till today. The law, though theoretically also applies to heterosexual couples, has been used unequally to persecute the LGBT community or those suspected of being part of the community and has been repeatedly used as a political tool. This was seen in the case of then finance minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The legal persecutions on the LGBT community have seeped into the minds Malaysians and this has affected their perceptions of the community and their behaviour towards them and in general it is one that is negative. Social, cultural and legal factors play a role in moulding their perceptions and behaviour but so does the media. In the regards of this research, film specifically. Gomillion and Giuliano (2011) stated that films these days have much more depictions of gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) characters. Gommillion and Giuliano added that as the standing of GLB figures in the media has risen, it seems likely that the medias impact on the lives of GLB individuals has also grown. For example, with more LGBT-themed films like Brokeback Mountain, Milk and Victor Victoria. Though in Malaysia these films are blocked, they are accessible via the internet. This study hopes to understand the effects of LGBT films on the lifestyles of Malaysian youths, specifically their perceptions and behaviour about the LGBT community. Literature Review Generally, discussion on sexuality in Malaysia is viewed as inappropriate. This cultural value is governed by perception of religious teaching (Wong et al.2010). Malaysians do not discuss sexual development in detail and most of the parents will not discuss sex topics with their children (Low et al. 2007; Mohammadi et al. 2006). Culturally, gayness and lesbianism is considered by many Malaysians as a product of the Western world (Baba, 1995; Junet, 1991; Rahim, 1991). One of the most important sources in sex related knowledge for youths is mass media (Davis et al. 1998; Nonoyama et al. 2005). A one year old child can replicate materials based on their observation (Mumme 2003). By 18 years old, the child will have seen 20,000 acts of violence and 40,000 murders on television, based on average viewing time (Huston 1992). Obviously, media portrayals can influence childrens developing beliefs and values. Research shows that many stereotypes based on gender, race, age, and sexual orientation are portrayed in the media (Towbin et al. 2004). Portrayals of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people in mainstream media moulds the mentality of viewers on how the gays and lesbian community live their lifestyle which inevitably arrays the general population to think that gay people are soft and sensitive with no trace of masculinity. Gays and lesbians comprised 2% of characters in the 1999-2000 television season, and most were cast in minor roles (GLAAD 1999). Ellen DeGeneres, the lead actress on her popular primetime sitcom Ellen, made television history by coming out of the closet as a lesbian. Since then, gay and lesbian characters have become increasingly prominent in the media (Gross 1994). After Ellens bold move, television shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Will and Grace, and The L Word, movies like Brokeback Mountain and Milk, and musical artists such as The Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge have appeared, appealing to both homosexual and heterosexual audiences. The medias influence on the lives of LGBT individuals has also increased as the prominence of GLB figures in the media rise. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the impact of the media on LGBT identity (Gomillion Giuliano 2011). Role models in media can affect individuals personality, characteristics, and values through the process of identification. Feilitzen and Linne (1975) proposed two primary types of identification: similarity identification and wishful identification. Similarity identification is defined as finding similarities with or idealising a media figure and living vicariously through his or her activities. Where wishful identification is when an individual desires to be like a media figure due to the media figures appealing qualities such as attractiveness and fame. Matthews (2003), in an exploration of the role of the media in children and adolescents identity development, discovered that preschoolers identified intensely with television and movie characters and mimic them while playing. Adolescents peers become more influential in high school to their media-viewing choices and the media becomes an important component of their social lives. Matthews also discovered that the media provides positive role models for both children and adolescents and can be of beneficial influence on their social lives. The opposite is also true where the media can exert negative influence on children and adolescents by providing negative role models and by exposing children to traumatic material. Matthews concluded that media experiences contribute to individuals development of their sense of self and that these experiences remain significant into young adulthood and possibly beyond. Research Hypothesis This research proposes that foreign film regarding LGBT lifestyles do influence Malaysian youths lifestyles (perception and behaviour) and the type of influence is to be ascertained. Research Questions Do foreign films regarding LGBT lifestyles influence Malaysian youths? What are the influences of foreign films about the LGBT community on Malaysian youth? Does the presence of LGBT in the media encourage the Malaysian LGBT community publicly their homosexuality? How do foreign films influence the LGBT movement in Malaysia? Methodology In this research, qualitative research will be used in order to achieve the researchs objective which is to study in depth of the foreign films influence on LBGT lifestyles in Malaysia. Content analysis is a family of procedures for studying content and theme of written or transcribed text (Insch, Moore, Murphy, 1997). Content analysis will be conducted to study the foreign films, books, newspapers, laws and any form of text that relevant to the topic. Interviews will be conducted to obtain information that cannot be gain through observation and questionnaire. In this research, Bergers semi structured interview will be used in the focus group to maintain the casual and less tense environment for the interviewees. Based on Mark (2005), group dynamic in a focus group can stimulates conversation and reactions. Since LGBT issue is a taboo subject in Malaysia, focus group will be the best tool for this research. In addition, through focus group, group norms can be easily identified. As this research is limited in resources and time, focus group will be the most suitable tool to get relevant information in a short period of time. After the focus group, one to one interview will be conducted to follow up on the missing answers. Sample used will be Malaysian aged 15 to 24 as define by United Nation the age group of youth. The sample will be asked a few basic LGBT related questions to avoid the wrong sample. Summary As Malaysia develops, the support for LGBT rights among the citizen is increasing. This can be seen in an annual sexuality rights festival Seksualiti Merdeka (Sexuality Independence) since 2008. By the end of this research, besides finding the relation between foreign films and Malaysian youths lifestyle, we hope to uncover the influence source of the movement. In Malaysia, there are numbers of researches done on youth and sexuality but not specifically on LGBT, youth and the media. At the end of this research, we hope to determine the influence of foreign films regarding LGBT on the Malaysian youths lifestyles. To prospective researchers, this research can also provide a starting point in terms of the recent status of LGBT communities on Malaysian youths.

The Great Depression in America Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Depression was a huge economic downfall in North America and involved many other industrialized countries of the world. The Depression began in 1929 and lasted for about ten years. Millions of people lost their jobs along with many businesses going bankrupt. The common misconception of the Great Depression is people think that the stock market crash was the main cause for it. There were many causes for the Depression; unequal distribution of money during the 1920’s was the main cause of the Depression. This unequal distribution happened on many different classes of people. The imbalance of money is what created such an unstable economy. The stock market was doing much worse than people thought during this period. This lead to the biggest stock market crash in our history. The misdistribution of wealth and the stock market crash caused the economy to plummet (Modern).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The stock market was bigger than ever in the 1920’s. Prices reached levels that people never dreamed of. At one point when the market was roaring in September 1929 forty percent of stock market values were pure air. This meant that investors thought that the stock market would go up because it had been going up. By 1928 and 1929 the Federal Reserve was worried about the high level that the stock market had reached (Galbraith 116). The Federal Reserve feared that the stock market might burst suddenly. If this did happen investment might fall, parts of the stock market might not be able to pay back debts, and even worse recession might result (Galbraith 118). The Federal Reserve in 1928 tried to make borrowing money for stock speculation more difficult and very costly by raising interest rates. All of the options that the Reserve tried had unfavorable risks associated with them. Many economists believed that the Federal Reserve was responsible for the recessi on. The stock market did crash on October 29 1929. The Federal Reserve tried to do to much to stop the recession and in return brought on the recession that they were trying to stop (America).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the stock market crashed in October this day was known as â€Å"Black Tuesday.† On this day Americans saw their stocks lose a tenth of their value. The exact reason for why the stock market busted on this day are unknown (Delong 1). The stock market cras... ...t of 1935, which raised personal income taxes on the highest income levels (America).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On December 8, 1941 the U.S. Senate issued a declaration of war on Japan. Germany declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. Industrial factories were at first slow to convert into making military machinery. By 1942, 33 percent of the economy was devoted to the war effort (Modern). This gave society a sense of patriotism and devotion to one’s country. Between 1941 and 1945 the United States spent about $250 million a day in order to defeat their enemies. Federal spending was more than $320 billion over that period. That was two times as much money as the federal government had spent in its entire history up until that point. This government spending stimulated an industrial boom and stopped unemployment. By the end of the war in 1945, the farmer’s income had more than doubled. Corporate profits rose by 70 percent and the wages of the employees increased by over 50 percent. The most interesting statistic was that the earnings of the botto m fifth of workers rose to 68 percent. The Great Depression soon came to an end being swept away by the war (America).

Case Study Tod and Reggie Essay

After speaking with Mr. Todd and Mr. Reggie I have concluded that they would be great candidates for couples counseling. Taking away the fact that they are the same sex, I do not feel that it should affect the outcome of the services that will be provided for the couple listed above. I am very proud of Mr. Todd and Mr. Reggie for coming in to seek counseling as a couple. That within its self speaks volumes to the commitment of their relationship and love for one another. I advised both parties involved about the necessity for counseling. Letting them know that most couples come in to seek help when they feel that this is the last result before breaking up. It’s difficult to move forward in a relationship when anger and resentment have built up to such a degree that there are few conflict-free areas of discussion. Seeing a professional to help you talk to each other so you are not disagreeing on the smallest of things and arguing over the same situations with no resolutions, ca n be a very good idea. I assured them that we would do all in our power to make sure that we set some realistic goals at the ending of each session. We went on to talk and I gathered some information that I felt was interesting and important. I feel that I would like at some point to speak with each Mr. Todd and Mr. Reggie on an individual session. I will determine that as we move further into the sessions and gather if they would like to have a session where they are able to speak with me one on one. I have devised a plan that would help them with the extended family issues that they both are undergoing, also some information on anger and domestic violence, as well as some communication skill building exercises that they a can work on with each other as well as for their personal gain. Going over their family issues I felt held a lot more value in their lives and if could be addresses would help remove some of the stress and anxiety they both undergo on a day to day basis. We talked about the effect that they felt the roles of the absent extended families where causing in their relationship. I did ask questions such as â€Å"Are you families aware that you are an interracial couple?†, â€Å"Is that a reason that you have limited or no contact?†, â€Å"What was the reaction of your family when you told them that you were gay?†, â€Å"Where your families there for you while incarcerated?†, â€Å"How was your relationship with your family before telling you were gay?† , â€Å"Was you and your family closer before you went to prison?† They each answered honestly about the feelings they had incurred during the past few years of their lives. We talked about a support system outside of each other and their families. They both agre ed the lack of family support had a negative impact on their relationship, and have not been able to fully accept it. I informed that their families’ acceptance of their relation would take time, and should be viewed as a process. They would have to make some tough choices to whether or not to continue to try and have their family in their lives are work solely on their relationship. They will have to some type of understanding on their extended family situations. Not dealing with it can be unhealthy and they will need to ask which relationship is most important to them at this time. I did advise until their families where ready to come to terms with their relationship, they should look into starting a family of friends and others who understand their relationship. This could consist of friends who are straight and homosexual. I handed them some fliers to some local coming out groups that meet in there are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I felt it would be a great way to give them another outlet to network amongst individuals who have been through are going through what they are currently going through. I handed out pamphlets on domestic violence to each Mr. Todd and Mr. Reggie. I felt we needed to address the issues of anger and physical threats or actions toward one another. I did also advise them that they I would have to report any physical violence that I am made aware of. To help alive them of the stress they both made out contracts of good faith agreements that they would walk away and respect the others space if a conversation was turning violent and they felt it may result in a physical altercation. We all shook on it and dug deeper into why they felt they needed to result to physical or verbal violence. They were informed of the domestic violence statics in relationships that end in death. Both men agreed that that is not what they wanted for one another. They were encouraged to do some research on domestic violence which they both where highly surprised by what they had found. We also started anger management skills for the both of them. I had them make a rule poster to place in their homes to remind them of the session. We went over 10 steps that would help them both with managing their anger. I did inform them that it would not come over night and they would have to make conscious decisions to apply these skills once they leave the session. Taking time to cool off before addressing why you are angry would be the first stop. Then calmly once you have gathered all your thoughts letting the person or your partner know why you were angry. I noticed how in shape Reggie was and advised maybe exercising or doing something that brings joy and peace to them. Think before you speak was a very good one. That way they did not say things they truly did not mean. Once you say something you cannot take it back so you must watch what you say. Next try and come up with a solution to help you not from becoming so angered by an action or comment. That could be just walking away or making a joke to ease the tension. Use the â€Å"I† statement and not the â€Å"You† statements. Once you have talked about it, let it go. Do not keep it bottled up inside you and have resentment for the person. Again make a joke or say something off the wall when you feel that it may be heading towards you becoming angered. That could be let’s just get some ice cream and talk about this later, to you see that squirrel fly by on the balloon? Just something that will lighten the mood and redirect you both to important situation at hand. Maybe making a relaxation area or technique that you can do, that helps calm you down. That could be reading a book, going to see a movie, shopping, cleaning, or writing. Lastly when all else fails and you don’t know what to do. Seek help before something bad happens. After a few sessions I was to hear that they had implemented these practices and things had started looking better for them. Those anger management exercises lead into working on their communication with each other. Reggie may have been more physically dominating, but Todd was more verbally dominating. I noticed that Todd would over talk Reggie in sessions, and I didn’t think he meant to do it on purpose. Todd was unaware of it and did not fully understand that it would cause Reggie to feel in adequate therefore Reggie would lash out with violence because he felt his voice and opinions where not heard or valued. Todd was amazed that something so small could be so powerful. We began working on listening to each other. Really hearing what the other was saying and validating each other’s opinions and values. The way that had been raised played a large part in the way they communicated with each other. Being open and honest with each other would help them go along way as well with communicating. It would bring them closer with each other. Also paying attention to the nonverbal cues that they give off when feeling frustrated. Staying focused on what they are talking about at the time. Not talking about something that happened in the past or what could happen. Just stay focused on the subject at hand and make sure to settle that issue. Try to not get so emotional when talking about subjects that are important. Look at the whole picture and not just how you feel about the subject. Know when to just throw your hands up and walk away from the discussion if you feel that it is not going the way you want it to go. You do not always have to be right, and it gives your partner the comfort that you are willing to compromise in tough situations. Again make jokes or just go in for a big kiss. That always helps and lets your partner know they are more important to you. Again that brings down the tension in the conversation and gives you both a chance to rethink things over. Never know that kiss may just make them forget what was being said and you can go for some ice cream. Lastly remember communicating is more than talking, it is also actions. Maybe leaving notes or gifts, or just signs that you are thinking of each other always helps. It could be as small as taking out the trash with our being asked to as large as a vacation to a beach resort. No matter how big or small the gesture your partner will appreciate it. After these sessions with Mr. Todd and Mr. Reggie I have seen growth. I am happy to report that Reggie’s back home with Todd. They both have found jobs and are currently making their apartment cozier and entertainment friendly. They continue to go out and meet people in there are who accept them for them. They have a network of support and are also helping out with recently released inmates who are also gay and going through some of the same obstacles that faced. Todd’s mother has actually came and visited him and Reggie. Todd stated that it will take her some time to get used to but she is giving some more support. Unfortunately Reggie’s sisters had not come around but we were able to help Reggie get some closure of his mom’s death. He continues to seek therapy for the loss and he is doing a wonderful progress. He did admit dealing with his family issue and the death of his mom have helped his anger issues and he is able to calm himself down very easily now. Todd and Reggie are listening to each other and communicating with each other very well. They still have a ways to go, but in the short time they have started practicing the techniques they have made excellent strides towards approving. Todd listens more to Reggie rather than over talking him. It doesn’t matter who you are the same fundamentals of love are all the same. We start from our personal backgrounds and to the way we communicate with each other. Todd and Reggie are all of us in some sort of way. Being gay or straight we all have the same problems. With the correct education and help and support we can all over come any obstacle that is placed before us. References Grohol, J. (2009). 9 Steps to Better Communication Today. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/04/14/9-steps-to-better-communication-today/ Mayo Clinic.com (1998-2013). Anger Management: 10 tips to tame your Temper Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anger-management/MH00102

Religious Journey Essay

The religion that I was raised is Baptist. I have heard that southern Baptists are very strict but I did not ever have to do anything strict. My parents took me to church when I was younger but after about the age of 10 I rarely went again. They got divorced and it was really hard for my mom to raise us and work all the time, so I guess church went out the window. However I have always believed in God and I try to always do the right thing. I pray at night, but I still do not attend church even though I would like to. For a while I did analyze religion too much and I questioned if he was real, but after the stories I’ve heard of people dying and being revived they say they went to heaven. This made me a strong believer and that is why I pray for my family and everything else. If I had not gone to church during my parents’ divorce it would have been a lot harder for me to understand and get through it. It was a very nasty divorce and the custody battle lasted two long years. Going to church not only helped me understand but it gave me something stronger to believe in. The divorce was very hard on me. The religion that I practice now is just being a Christian. I do not really know the difference between Baptist and Christianity. I just know that I believe in God and try to live my life the right way so that one day I can go to heaven hopefully. I always admit my sins and ask for forgiveness. I pray for my family and friends sometimes the whole world. It makes me feel better because it is something bigger than me. I really feel like sometimes God will test us, but he always seems to make it better. I would definitely say that religion and believing in God has made me a stronger and happier person. I couldn’t imagine not believing in anything I know that life would be a lot harder. The reason I decided to be a Christian instead of Baptist is because I do not know the difference for one, but I also want the freedom to believe in God the way I want to. I feel like Christianity gives you more freedom to believe in God your own way. I do not go to church, but that’s not the point. Being a Christian just felt like the right way to go in life.