Belonging speech free essay sample

Good morning/Afternoon teachers and students today I will be showing you how a sense of belonging or not belonging greatly influences an individual’s identity. A change in identity occurs when belonging is found through meaningful, intimate relationships, with senses of place, community, safety and familiarity. The free verse novel, The Simple Gift, composed by Steven Herrick, the dramatic fairy tale film, Edward Scissor hands, directed and created by Tim Burton and the novel Matilda composed by Roald Dahl, all explore the concepts of belonging and relationships through the strong use of literary techniques; and focus on a changing Identity as a base for belonging. All texts have significantly different perspectives of belonging and identity. Edward yearns to belong and become part of society’s conformity and routine, whereas Billy aspires to a life of solitude and self-reliance and Matilda tries to belong somewhere in her life. Billy is a misfit in high school, having no significant relationships and a heartless abusive father, the ‘old bastard’. We will write a custom essay sample on Belonging speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Before he embarks on journey for belonging, it is evident that he lacks a sense of belonging at home and in his community. Billy describes his home house as ‘Deadbeat no hoper shithole lonely downtrodden house in Long lands road, Nowheresville’. This string of informal negative description emphasizes Billy’s emotional isolation and dislocation within his community. His missing sense of belonging gives him the identity of an outcast, which proves belonging or not belonging greatly influences an individuals’ identity. Billy’s escape from his town, Nowheresville to Bendarat coincides with his discovery of relationships, acceptance and nourishment from strangers. Herrick has used the characterization of Billy’s father figures to portray his desire to belong. When Billy first escapes his town, and we first see the weather motif, mirroring Billy’s belonging to place, the rain is personified as Billy describes it as ‘hitting you in the face with the force of a father’s punch’. This metaphor shows why Billy needed to escape from his abusive tyrant father, and his lack of intimate relationships and belonging. Herrick later utilizes the characterization of Ernie and Irene, total strangers who through altruism and kindness offer him refuge and simple gifts. Ernie starkly contrasts Billy’s father, and introduces the motif of gifts, which influences Billy’s selfless nature. Irene, the librarian, offers Billy empathy and doesn’t judge him. The two characters of Ernie and Irene have anagrammatic names, because they were both designed to serve the same purpose -offer the simple gift of kindness and altruism. Billy’s relationship with these characters fosters his change of identity to a much more caring person. Although Billy’s sense of not belonging is evident, he finds places of isolation, safety and familiarity throughout The Simple Gift. His makeshift home, a train carriage becomes his home and provides him with sense of belonging to place. Billy describes the train carriage as a ‘cave’ and ‘a hotel’. He classifies it as a cave because it protects him from the elements and furthermore as a hotel because it is not his permanent residence. His places of belonging and refuge greatly influence his identity. Further on in The Simple Gift, Billy discovers true belonging is found through meaningful, emotionally nourishing relationships. Billy’s relationship with Old Bill is one of the most important, as they give each other purpose, safety and nourishment. Billy explains â€Å"that’s why I help Old Bill, for no reason other than he needs it; this shows Billy’s altruism through the use of simple gift motif. Billy develops another significant relationship with Caitlin, a wealthy girl who is ‘smart enough to realise none of this means anything’, because like Billy, she values a lack of material possessions, and dislikes the identity associated with being wealthy. Billy’s relationship with Caitlin provides him with a sense of belonging to friendships. Edward scissor hands tells us a story about an artificial man, ‘Edward Scissor hands’, who was made by a lonely inventor who lived on top of a hill near a small town. Long after his inventor’s death, Edward is brought into society by Meg, a local resident and encounters many new and interesting things as he attempts to belong in civilisation. This film explores concepts of belonging to groups or communities and a sense of belonging in relationships shown by Edward’s endless struggle to find clarity and purpose. A sense of isolation can come from ones difference to others, whether it is physical mental or spiritual. Edward’s hands made out of sharp scissors are iconic of his separation from the rest of society. They create a physical barrier between him and others which greatly limit the amount of physical contact Edward can have with others and the rest of the world and in turn creates a sense of isolation. This is carefully and noticeably communicated by Burton by the use of colour and contrast, specifically Edward’s initial costume is completely black leather, decorated with metal studs and rings. His hair is jet black and very messy and his face is pale white. This along with Edward’s mansion, a dark place riddled with cobwebs and falling apart, so far away from society, juxtaposes fantastically with the bright and vibrant colours of the town, the houses and the clothes and outfits of the townspeople. He in fact only finds a sense of belonging when he is shown kindness and outreached by Meg. She gives him clothes to wear, which although do not seem to break his theme of darkness and dullness, do still symbolise his inclusion and belonging in their society. She also offers him purpose by letting him use his scissors to trim her garden hedges. The novel Matilda is a clear representation of the concept of belonging the ideas that are conveyed in the film are relevant to belonging by how they are displayed. From the start of the novel you come to realise that Matilda doesn’t relate or isn’t able to connect to her family. This is demonstrated in the quotes â€Å"Are you in this family? † â€Å"Mmmm†¦.. Hello are you in this family† â€Å"I’m fed up with all this reading! You’re a wormwood, you start acting like one! Now sit up and look at the TV† this quotes tells us that Matilda loves reading but her family love watching television so the father questions her belonging to the family. Matilda finds a sense of familial belonging with Miss Honey. When Matilda first enters her classroom she gets as strong sense of belonging with her teacher because she is drawn by her warm, kind hearted nature. These three texts have all shown a sense of belonging or not belonging greatly influences an individual’s identity. Throughout all these texts the use of literary techniques and all focus on changing identity. Thank you for listening. Belonging Speech free essay sample To me belonging is a sense of enlightenment felt when an individual gains an understanding of themselves in relation to others and the wider world. To actually feel as if we belong, we must first accept ourselves and be accepted by others. A real sense of belonging can be determined by self-acceptance and acceptance by a group. However, when difficult situations are experienced, an individual may gain a sense of belonging through self-acceptance alone. This is clearly represented in the novel, ‘The Passage’, written by Justin Cronin, the poem, ‘St. Patricks College’, composed by Peter Skrzynecki and the film, ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ directed by Stephen Chbosky. These three texts clearly reflect how one would belong through self-acceptance. ‘The Passage’ is a post-apocalyptic thriller about an ancient vampiric disease that destroys society and leaves only a handful of people alive including Amy, the protagonist, who incidentally holds the key to the survival of the human race. We will write a custom essay sample on Belonging Speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The main protagonist, Amy, with specific reference to chapter 23, is travelling the apocalyptic landscape of America where she gains a certain self-acceptance due to the difficult situation that she is dealing with. The difficult situation being that Amy is scientifically immortal and has kept to living on her own and ultimately, surviving on her own. Cronin reveals â€Å"It was summer again and she was alone. Alone with no one but the voices she heard, everywhere and all around. † To us, it reveals how alone Amy really is and ultimately how she has come to accept herself for what she is. This revelation of Amy’s has come from the situation she has had to deal with and in a way, grown up with. The situation being that the world has ended, she is immortal and she has no one to belong with. Due to the difficult situation that Amy is in she has had to draw her own sense of belonging from herself as opposed to feeling as if she belongs with other people. For Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ he has had to accept himself, like Amy, though a difficult situation is faced he has still been able to feel a sense of belonging with himself. Skrzynecki feels â€Å"Like a foreign tourist,† whenever he attends St. Patricks College or whenever he is among others who attend St. Patricks College. This highlights the feelings of Skrzynecki and how he as an individual feels as though he does not belong with them. Skrzynecki even reveals that he is â€Å"Uncertain of† his â€Å"destination†. This yet again implies how much Skrzynecki does not belong at St. Patricks College or in that case with any other student who attends St. Patricks College. Obviously, this situation has forced Skrzynecki to adapt to his surroundings of the College and learn to accept himself to feel the sense of belonging that isn’t really expressed within the text. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ is a film set in the early 1990’s and addresses the problems that Charlie, the main character, faces while attending high school after his best friend from middle school had committed suicide only months before hand. For anybody, being a semi-depressed teenager is a difficult situation to be in; Char lie faces this during the entire film all the way up to the very last moments. At the beginning of the film while we hear Charlie’s voice over of him writing his first letter to his â€Å"friend† he talks of alienation from his ex-middle school friends such as Susan. Charlie writes â€Å"I thought maybe my old friend Susan would want to have lunch with me† but because of Charlie’s extremely difficult situation that he is dealing with Susan â€Å"doesn’t like to say hi† to Charlie anymore. The use of voice over in this scene creates a connection between the audience and Charlie and provides sufficient evidence of how alienated Charlie is among his peers. Charlie even admits â€Å"If my English teacher is the only friend I make today, that would be sort of depressing. † This emphasises how alienated Charlie is and how much he doesn’t fit in. Due to this being a difficult circumstance for Charlie he has learnt to belong with himself even though he feels he does not belong with anyone else. In ‘The Passage’, Amy faces her situation head on which in Chapter 23 reveals that, in a way, Amy has been forced to see belonging as an unimportant aspect of her life. This has pushed Amy to accept herself and disregard the need for others. We learn this when Amy is thinking to herself when she thinks â€Å"Are we the all? For I have seen no one, no man or woman, in all the years and years. Is there no I but I? During this moment Amy is feeling a negative connection with the Virals, the vampires, she concludes her thoughts where Cronin writes â€Å"Go now, she thought, and closed her eyes; and when she opened them again she found she was alone. † Cronin pieces together Chapter 23 with finesse and understanding of Amy. He was able to show us two things: the first is that Amy did not want to belong with anyone as she feared for their safety and the second was that even though we must be accepted by others to belong, we are able to belong if we are to accept ourselves if we are involved with a difficult situation. For Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ he also finds belonging an unimportant aspect of his life while he attends the College. This might not be as bad as Amy’s situation but to Skrzynecki it is still daunting. Skrzynecki â€Å"†¦ stuck pine needles Into the motto On my breast. † This shows the lack of caring for the motto and in turn the College. As Skrzynecki doesn’t really care for the College belonging obviously does not matter as much as Charlie from ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ wants to belong. For Skrzynecki saying, â€Å"The Lord’s Prayer In Latin, all in one breath† was a feat clearly showing his disregard for the significance of The Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is clearly connected to the College for religious reasons and because Skrzynecki misses the significance of the prayer it proves that Skrzynecki didn’t want to necessarily belong. Due to Skrzynecki being alone and feeling excluded from the college he has had to rely on his own self-acceptance to feel his own sense of belonging. ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ is a film where the main theme is belonging. Charlie reflects just that and begins to accept the fact that he is a â€Å"wallflower† and feels a sense of belonging with himself. Aside from this, Charlie wants to feel included, he wants to belong and eventually he feels that with Sam and Patrick. At Charlie’s first party Patrick makes a toast to Charlie of which Charlie questions with â€Å"what did I do? † where Patrick responds â€Å"you didn’t do anything, we just wanted to toast our new friend† this conveys a sense of belonging among the audience as well as Charlie and the other characters. This is different from Amy in ‘The Passage’ and Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ because they do not want to belong or don’t feel the need to whereas Charlie wants to belong and wants to fit in. Accompanying this is the use of camera angles. When the camera is facing Charlie it is in a high angle position showing Charlies vulnerability and when it points at Patrick it’s a low angle position demonstrating the importance of Patrick. This is a clear representation of how one would feel a sense of belonging when they are accepted by others as well as how one would feel a sense of belonging when they accept themselves. To feel as if you belong, you must accept yourself and be accepted by others but when dealing with difficult situations you can rely on self-acceptance to feel as if you belong. This is without a doubt clearly represented in ‘The Passage’, ‘St. Patricks College’ and ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’. These three very similar texts all show how a sense of belonging can be determined by self-acceptance and acceptance by a group. However, when difficult situations are experienced, an individual may gain a sense of belonging through self-acceptance alone. Belonging speech free essay sample Belonging is the perceptions held by individuals, which enables them to be inherently connected and to develop an affinity with themselves as well as an intimate bond with place. I believe I have learnt that belonging is the most basic human desire, a part of the human condition. In order to achieve true belonging, however, many feel the need to belong to a particular place. In Peter Skrzynecki’s poem Migrant Hostel, and in a feature article in the Sydney Morning Herald titled All at sea in a leaky boat, the concept of belonging to self as a human desire is explored through displacement. Displacement is a fundamental aspect of not belonging but it is a human desire to try to belong and have a connection with place. The title of Migrant Hostel shows the context of Skrzynecki’s own experience in Parkes Migrant Hostel in NSW from 1949-51. Time and place are established in the poem expressing the values and attitudes in this contextual time period. We will write a custom essay sample on Belonging speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"Comings and goings/†¦newcomers/†¦busloads/†¦sudden departures/†¦who would be coming next. † This list of phrases is associated with the transitionary environments, which thousands of migrants experienced after WWII. This technique creates the sense of dislocation felt by the migrants through the use of words describing the uncertainty they felt in their lives. â€Å"Comings and goings† juxtaposing each other and creating a paradox that suggests there is no permanence or belonging to this place. All at sea in a leaky boat reinforces the displacement experienced by the lack of emotional connection to place. Published in 2008, the text allows for a continuity of a similar theme of displacement over time, therefore expressing the similar attitudes and supporting the thesis for the human condition to desire a sense of belonging to place. The text reads â€Å"†¦will remain imprinted forever†¦ the scent of hope and stench of despair. † This juxtaposition felt by displaced immigrants separates their â€Å"hope† for a sense of belonging and their â€Å"despair† as an effect of displacement. The audience understands that displacement creates the feeling of not belong and in doing so prevents the most common human desire to be at peace with Oneself and with ones surrounding, in fact, to belong. The article is backed up by statistics to further enhance the point. â€Å"20,000 people made the perilous attempt†¦spending weeks, months, years†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The high modality in this extract reflects the persuasive motive of the author. The use of emotive language in this highly subjective form enhances the effect, shown through repetitive connotations to provoke the senses: â€Å"†¦acrid smell/†¦urine and exhaustion/†¦sucked dry/†¦the deep drone of boat engines. † Both texts are highly emotive, creating a sense of displacement and describing the difficulty of individuals not being able to belong not only to place but to community and most importantly to themselves. As Simon Sinek explained â€Å"The most basic human desire is to feel like you belong. † Though these texts and the close area study of ‘belonging’ I have learnt that to be basically human is to have a desire to belong, to place and therefore to oneself.

Dream Psychology- Sigmund Freud Essays

Dream Psychology- Sigmund Freud Essays Dream Psychology- Sigmund Freud Essay Dream Psychology- Sigmund Freud Essay Dreams and the Sub-Conscious Mind The definition of a dream is a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a persons mind during sleep. It is believed that dreams have always existed in human society and have been shared among members of societies dating back to 3000-4000 BC. In various societies dreams held a number of meanings and significance. Throughout history dreams have been recognized as significant symbols or signs, warnings of the future, connections between living and the dead, capable of diagnosing illness and predicting onset of diseases, temptations of the devil, and numerous other possible things. Dream interpretations, or attempts made to understand a person’s dream, date back to 3000-4000 B. C. , where they were documented on clay tablets. For as long as man has been able to talk about dreams, humans have been fascinated with them and have strived to understand them, though this is challenging because dreams are often so easily forgotten. Throughout the history of the study of dreams, famous theorists have presented their own dream philosophies and theories, developed eight specific categories of dream types, and presented many dreams found commonly among people which represent common aspects of life, all of these things have been developed in trying to answer one question: Do dreams reflect, or relate to, a person’s sub-conscious state of mind? First, the most famous of all dream theorists is a man named Sigmund Freud, who lived from 1856-1939 and is considered to be â€Å"the father of psychoanalysis† (Dream Moods). evolutionizes the study of dreams with his work The Interpretation Of Dreams. Freud begins to analyze dreams in order to understand aspects of personality as they relate to pathology, or the science of causes and effects of diseases. He believes that nothing one does occurs by chance; every action and thought is motivated by the unconscious  at some level. In  order to live in a civiliz ed society, humans have a tendency to hold  back  urges and repress impulses. However, these urges and impulses must be released in some way; they have a way of coming to the surface in ambiguous forms. Freud believes that one way these urges and impulses are released is through dreams. Because the content of the unconscious may be extremely disturbing or harmful, Freud believes that the unconscious expresses itself in a symbolic language. To explain this symbolic language, Freud categorizes aspects of the mind into three parts. These parts include the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. Id, which is centered around primal impulses, pleasures, desires, unchecked urges and wish fulfillment. Ego, which is concerned with the conscious, the rational, the moral and the self-aware aspect of the mind. Superego, which is considered to be the sort of â€Å"censor† for the id, which is also responsible for enforcing the moral codes of the ego. When one is awake,   the impulses and desires of the id are suppressed by the superego. Through dreams, one is able to get a glimpse into the unconscious, or the id. Because one’s guards are down during the dream state, the unconscious has the opportunity to act out and express the hidden desires of the id. However, the desires of the id can, at times, can be so disturbing and even psychologically harmful that a censor comes into play and  translates the ids disturbing content into a more acceptable symbolic form. This helps to preserve sleep and prevent one from waking up shocked at the images. As a result, confusing and often cryptic dream images occur. According to Freud, the reason one struggles to remember their dreams, is because the superego is at work. It is doing its job by protecting the conscious mind from the disturbing images and desires conjured by the unconscious. According to Freud, dreams always have what he called a â€Å"manifest and latent content† (qtd. in moods). The manifest content is what the dream seems to be saying. It is often bizarre and seemingly nonsense. On the contrary, the latent content is what the dream is really trying to say. Dreams give one a look into the unconscious. Freud believes that it is possible to chip through the dreams manifest content to reveal the underlying significance and its latent by utilizing the technique of free association. Using this technique, one must start with one dream symbol and then follow with what automatically comes to the mind first. One must continue in this manner and essentially see where it leads. In order to interpret the cryptic images of dreams, Freud divided the images into five major categories, or processes. The first being displacement which occurs when the desire for one thing or person is symbolized by something or someone else. The second, projection which happens when the dreamer propels their own desires and wants onto another person. The third being symbolization which is characterized when the dreamers repressed urges or suppressed desires are acted out metaphorically. Fourth, condensation which is the process in which the dreamer hides their feelings or urges by contracting it or underplaying it into a brief dream image or event. Thus the meaning of this dream imagery may not be apparent or obvious. Lastly, rationalization which is regarded as the final stage of dreamwork. The dreaming mind organizes an incoherent dream into one that is far more understandable and logical. This is also known as secondary revision. Essentially this is Freud’s basic explanation of what dreams are and how one is to interpret them. Freud’s dream psychology is heavily based on psychoanalysis and is centered on the fact that dreams do in fact reflect the sub-conscious mind of the dreamer. Another dream theorist, who lived during the time of Freud, Alfred Adler (1870-1937), believed the importance of dreams to be a little different than Freud’s beliefs. Essentially, Adler believed that dreams are an important tool to mastering control over waking lives. They are problem-solving devices. Dreams need to be brought to the conscious and interpreted so that better understanding can be shed on one’s problems. Adler believes it is important to learn from dreams and incorporate them into waking life. Adler believes that there is a correlation between dreams and the problems in daily life. The more dreams one has, the more problems one is likely to have. Adler believes that dreams are an open pathway toward one’s true thoughts, emotions and actions. In dreams, one clearly sees one’s aggressive impulses and desires. Dreams are also a way of overcompensating for the shortcomings in waking life. For example, if one is unable to stand up to a boss in waking life, then one may find it easier to lash out at the boss within the comfort and safety of a dream. Dreams offer some sort of satisfaction that is more socially acceptable. So, though Adler does not entirely agree with Freud’s views of the subconscious controlling the dream, he does in fact believe that one’s subconscious desires and drive are released through a dream. A third dream theorist, Carl Jung, who was considered to be a mentor of Freud’s also believed in the existence of the unconscious. However, he did not see the unconscious as animalistic, instinctual, or  sexual; he saw it as more  spiritual. Eventually, Jung split with Freud due to their differing views on dreams. According to Jung, dreams are a way of communicating and acquainting oneself with the unconscious. Dreams are not attempts to conceal one’s true feelings from the waking mind, but rather they are a window to the unconscious. They serve to guide the waking self to achieve wholeness and offer a solution to a problem one is facing in waking life. Jung views the ego as one’s sense of self and how one portrays oneself to the world. Part of Jungs theory is that all   things can be viewed as paired opposites: good/evil, male/female, or love/hate. So working in opposition to the ego, is the counterego or what he refers to as the shadow. The shadow represents the rejected aspects of oneself that one does not wish to acknowledge. The shadow is more primitive, somewhat uncultured,   and a little awkward. As dreams are a way of communicating with the unconscious, Jung believed that dream images reveal something about oneself, one’s relationships with others, and situations in one’s waking life. Dreams guide one’s personal growth and  help in achieving full potential. Jung also believes that the dreams manifest content is just as significant  and revealing as the  latent content. By simply discussing what is currently going on in one’s life, it can help one interpret and unlock the cryptic images of one’s  dreams. Jungs method of dream interpretation is placed more confidently on the dreamer. He believes that all dreamers possess the necessary tools to interpret their own dreams. The meaning of one’s dreams is a personal judgment and is up to the dreamer on how to interpret them. Jung noted certain dream symbols that possess the same universal meaning for all men and women. He terms this phenomenon the collective unconscious. While dreams are personal, one’s personal experiences often touch on universal themes and symbols. These symbols are believed to occur in every culture throughout history. Jung identifies seven such symbols in what is referred to as the major archetypal characters: 1. The Persona is the image one presents to the world in  waking life. It is similar to a public mask. In the dream world, the persona is represented by the Self. 2. The Shadow is the rejected and repressed aspects of oneself. It is the part of oneself that one does not want the world to see because it is ugly or unappealing. It symbolizes weakness, fear, or anger. In dreams, this figure is represented by a stalker, murderer, a bully, or pursuer. It can be a frightening figure or even a close friend or relative. Their appearance often makes one angry or leaves one scared. They force one to confront things that one doesnt want to see or hear. 3. The Anima / Animus is the female and male aspects of oneself. Everyone possess both feminine and masculine qualities. In dreams, the anima appears as a highly feminized figure, while the animus appears as a hyper masculine form. These dream imageries appear depending on how well one is able to integrate the feminine and masculine qualities within oneself. They serve as a reminder that one must learn to acknowledge or express a masculine (be more assertive) or feminine side (be more emotional). . The Divine Child is one’s true self in its purest form. It not only symbolizes innocence, vulnerability, and helplessness, but it represents one’s aspirations and full potential. One is open to all possibilities. In the dreamscape, this figure is represented by a baby or young child. 5. The Wise Old Man /Woman is the helper in dreams. Represented by a teacher, father, doctor, priest or some other unknown a uthority figure, they serve to offer guidance and words of wisdom. They appear in the dream to steer and guide the dreamer into the right direction. 6. The Great Mother is the nurturer. The Great Mother appears in dreams as ones own mother, grandmother, or other nurturing figure. She provides one with positive reassurance. Negatively, they may be depicted as a witch or old bag lady in which case they can be associated with seduction, dominance and death. This juxtaposition is rooted in the belief by some experts that the real mother who is the giver of life is also at the same time jealous of ones growth away from her. 7. The Trickster, as the name implies, plays jokes to keep one from taking oneself too seriously. The trickster may appear in ones dream when one has overreached or misjudged a situation. Or he could find himself in the dream when one is uncertain about a decision or about where to go in life. The trickster often makes one feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, sometimes mocking or exposing  one to personal vulnerabilities. He may take on subtle forms, sometimes even changing its shape. Overall, Jund seemed to be influenced by both Freud and Adler in his belief of the dream yet he presented common dreams symbols which further explained the manifestation of one’s sub-conscious mind within the dream. Next, research and records of dreams further progressed it was discovered that there are essentially eight major categories which all dreams fall into. These categories being: daydreams, lucid dreams, nightmares, recurring dreams, healing dreams, signal dreams, and epic dreams. Daydreams are often viewed as light-hearted in nature. They are silly fantasies and wishful thinking. Actually, even worrying over things can be classified as a form of daydreaming. When one worries, one is visualizing an unwanted or negative outcome to a situation. By repeating these negative images in one’s mind, one is more likely to make them happen. Daydreaming is believed to occur when one is only semi-awake and it is essentially running away with ones imagination, or the take over one’s thoughts by wandering sub-conscious mind. Next is the Lucid dream. Lucid dreams give the ability to control one’s own dreams and steer them toward the direction the dreamer wants. In the lucid state, one is more willing to confront threats and as a result, become more self confident. When one achieves lucidity, one can use it as a tool to improve one’s sports game, to rehearse for a speech, to fulfill your fantasies, or to solve a problem in your waking life. Though lucid dreams often give one the power to face the things in the forefronts of one’s mind, it is believed that the unconscious is what triggers a lucid dream and encourages one to assume this power. Third, is nightmares which are a subcategory of dreams. The distinction of a nightmare is its frightening and/or emotional content. One tends to wake up in fear in the midst of a nightmare. Because of its frightening nature, one is more likely to remember nightmares and the vivid details. Nightmares are almost always believed to be caused by the sub-conscious mind as it the sub-conscious’ way to get your attention about a situation or problem that one has been avoiding, warning of a health issue, or nightmares may stem from a deeper level indicating that something is troubling you from within your subconscious. Next, is recurring dreams, which are quite common and are often triggered by a certain life situation, transitional phase in life or a problem that keeps coming back again and again. These dreams may recur daily, once a week, or once a month. Whatever the frequency, there is little variation in the dream content itself. Such dreams are often a message from the subconscious highlighting a personal weakness, fear, or inability to cope with something in one’s life. Fourth, is Healing dreams are often dreams which tell the dreamer that he or she needs to go to the dentist or doctor. These dreams are often communication between mind and body that something is not quite right. Prophetic dreams, also referred to as precognitive or psychic dreams, are dreams that seemingly foretell the future. One rational theory to explain this phenomenon is that one’s dreaming mind is able to piece together bits of information and observation that one may normally overlook or that one does not seriously consider. In other words, one’s sub-conscious mind knows what is coming before one consciously pieces together the same information. Signal dreams, are similar to healing dreams, in that they are essentially a warning. Signal dreams are considered to be a sub-conscious warning or problem solving method to help the dreamer deal with situations in life. Lastly, Epic dreams are so huge, so compelling, and so vivid that one cannot ignore them. The details of such dreams often remain with one for years. These dreams possess much beauty and contain many archetypal symbology. When one wakes up from such a dream, one feels that they have discovered something profound or amazing about oneself or about the world. These dreams are also often future telling or even present revealing messages from the subconscious mind. Overall, each of these categories or types of dreams are the development which has resulted from the theories of the above dream theorists. Each type of dream is related to an archetype or belief of one, two, or even all three of the above theorists which reveals the large influence of the subconscious mind on dreams. Overall, it can be concluded that dreams are quite often reflecting of, or related to, the subconscious mind of the dreamer. This can be seen in all three of the major theories presented and through the eight major types of dreams which have been determined through said theories. For example, In Freud’s theory, he states his belief that dreams are the subconscious mind’s release of suppressed desires and ambitions of the dreamer. Freud believes these suppressed desires must be released, so the mind releases them in the form of a dream, which can often be incredibly disturbing. That is, until the subconscious mind intervenes, turning these disturbing dreams into cryptic and symbolic images which can really only be understood through psychoanalysis of the mind of the dreamer. Adler’s theory, similar to Freudian theory, but not entirely the same claims that dreams are essentially problem solving devices. Adler believes that through dreams the subconscious mind of the dreamer brings forward waking life desires the dreamer may not even realizes exist yet. Adler states that the dream is used to make the conscious mind aware of what to do in waking life as it presents lessons to be learned from. Freud and Adler differ in that Freud believes the dream comes from the conscious mind and is edited and controlled by the subconscious, whereas Adler believes the dream comes from the subconscious and is to teach the conscious, and make it more aware. Lastly is Jung who believes all dreams share in a number of specific archetypes and are a way of communicating and acquainting oneself with the subconscious. Jung’s theory differs the greatest from Freudian theory and Adler’s theory as Jung believes the conscious and subconscious mind come together in a dream, and work together to create images which express the psychological state, and views of the dreamer. Overall, each of these three theorists and the eight categories of dreams which resulted from their studies have revealed that the subconscious mind of the dreamer has great influence on dreams and that the subconscious, no matter what the dream, plays a major role in some aspect of the creation or portrayal of the dream.

Trading & Dealing in Security Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trading & Dealing in Security Markets - Essay Example Investigations showed that the crash occurred due to a single mutual firm fund that sold a large number of contracts worth 4.1 billion USD and this triggered a reaction from HFT machines that quickly dumped their positions thus pulling the Dow index down. The HFT machines then quickly bought stock at the lower prices and this made the stocks rise then dumped the stock and this ‘hot potato’ trading continued until equilibrium was brought in. All this happened in a few minutes due to the fragile and interconnected nature of the market (SEC, 30 September 2010). There are fears that since algorithms used in the software decision making are hidden, it is difficult to asses if HFT amplifies or dampens the market equilibrium prices. HFT also encourages Flash Trading where certain traders can see incoming buy or sell orders for securities about 30 milliseconds before others do. This lead called 'front running' allows HFT traders to execute their trading strategy ahead of others (NYT, 8 October 2012). HFT traders also have the advantage that they can turn their machines off when the risks and trends are against them and thus they can cut their losses. Overall, trading is thus reduced to a war of technology and speed of connectivity and the financial software and hardware market was worth 25.4 billion USD in 2011. Terms such as scalping, shorting have become common and HFT run transactions in less than 10 milliseconds (Gsell, 2009). 2.2. Advantages of HFT HFT brings equality in the market and a small trader with a single terminal running powerful HFT software can overcome billion dollar traders. HFT is also credited with bringing liquidity in the market, reducing risk of frauds perpetrated by large... The author of the essay "Trading and Dealing in Security Markets" begins with that High Frequency Trading – HFT makes use of powerful computers that automate the trading process and where trading software takes the decisions to buy, sell or hold stock. The practice is also called as Algorithmic trading, Algo trading, automated trading or black box trading. Since the commands are executed by software systems, positions on various stocks are held for durations that vary from a few seconds to a few minutes. HFT has been blamed for ‘flash’ price variations where the prices changes very rapidly for no apparent reason. With high profits almost assured and reduction of losses to a minimum, many traders have started using HFT. In a way, HFT represents the inevitable move to high technology. Like many other areas of business processes such as procurement, automatic ordering in supply change management, ERP systems, humans are removed from decision-making and power is veste d in machines. At the end of the essay the author concludes that since HFT yields high profits, many more firms will take up this practice. HFT certainly has some ill effects on the stock movement and these needs to be constrained and regulated. The regulations must not place HFT under disadvantage and new technology must not be punished. The author also gives his recommendations. Thus, traders should not be allowed to switch off their machines when stocks are falling. This will ensure HFTs remain operational even when they stand to make a loss, just as any day trader.

Will come Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Will come - Essay Example Dean Black wood represented Revenant Records and was relevant in deriving fundamental information about phantoms project (Sullivan 274). Moreover, John Jeremiah Sullivan conducted various interviews on the dynamics of music and artists. Indeed, Sullivan interviewed Gayle Dean Wardlow about Booker Miller. Apparently, the interview helped Sullivan to understand prewar. Notably, Booker Miller derived fundamental authority since he was a prewar player (Sullivan 276). Moreover, the interview helped Sullivan to connect with Charley Patton since Booker Miller had an apprenticeship with Charley Patton (Sullivan 276). John Jeremiah Sullivan also used readings to research about music, artists, and music scholars. He quoted the works of Robert Palmer who referred to rock n’ roll music as deep blues. The research helped Sullivan to establish how rock n’ roll music became dominant among the youth across the globe (Sullivan 275). John Jeremiah Sullivan also referred to the works of Wald who helped the author to analyze Robert Johnson and his music. Through Wald, Sullivan derives how, when, and the types of songs played by Robert Johnson in different occasions (Sullivan 269). The research methods and sources used by Sullivan were fundamental in understanding the origin of different genres of music. Apparently, the essay was relevant as a story ab out

Portrayal Of American Upper Middle Class Teenagers Film Studies Essay

Portrayal Of American Upper Middle Class Teenagers Film Studies Essay I decided to write my mini extended essay on the issue of the portrayal of American upper middle class teenagers in cinema, because it is personally relevant to me, it provides insights about teens lives and how teens deal with issues, and I enjoy watching teen movies. Recently, I watched a film from a series of very popular teen movies that portrayed teens as vampires and wolves and I wondered to myself if the way teens are portrayed on the silver screen has been the same over the past few decades, the 80s, the 90s and the 00s. And if the way teens are portrayed in the movies is an accurate portrayal of upper middle class teens actual lives in America. The number of teen movies, a key demographic for movie makers, is very large, so I first had to narrow my choices. I decided to focus on three movies from each decade, but I also recognized that I could not just select any three teen movies. I wanted to select teen movies that in some way portrayed teen life in those years. I used a list of the 50 most popular teen movies of all time to select some of the most popular teen movies of these decades with the thought that the popularity of these movies, primarily with the teen audiences, would indicate that the movies actually spoke to teens. I chose the following movies: 1980s: The Breakfast Club (1985), Risky Business (1983), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) 1990s: Never Been Kissed (1999), American Pie (1999) and Clueless (1995) 2000s: Mean Girls (2004), Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Superbad (2007) The areas I will examine in terms of teen lifestyle are: parent-teen relationships, peer relationships, romantic relationships (sexuality and romantic love), and coming of age (issues of identity and overall maturity). The analysis focuses on the continuity and change in the depiction of these issues over the three decades of movies. The Portrayal of Parent- Teen relationships across the decades Parents play a vital role in a teenagers life and should be portrayed in teen films. The 80s through the three films showed uninvolved or uninterested parents in regards to their teenager, in matters outside of school. In the Breakfast Club all of the five teenagers had parents that only cared about grades, sports, money or didnt care at all. Teenagers in the 80s also put an effort to separate from his/her parents. In Risky Business (1983) a teenage boy has a weekend free from his overbearing parents. When his parents go out of town we see Tom Cruises character, Joel, partying, smoking, driving his dads Porsche, courting a hooker named Lana and fighting with her pimp. In this movie both of Joels parents are presented as the overly demanding type. In the five minute encounter between Joel and his parents at the beginning of the movie we hear his mother tell him to retake the SATs over again because his scores werent high enough. Then his father scolds him for touching his stereo but n ot putting it back exactly as it was before, followed by the familiar phrase, My house, my rules. In the end, Joel triumphs and gets into Princeton but through his own ingenuity and not by following the path imposed by his parents. He did it by taking control of his own life, rejecting their values, and taking some risks The 90s portrayed observant parents that were willing to help, but awkward in their interactions. American Pie (1999), the most successful teen movie of the 90s portrayed parents as either very lenient or completely unaware of their son Jims activities (he has sex in his bedroom while they are downstairs). His father understands that his son is interested in sex, but is very awkward in his ways to advise him. In the 00s movies portrayed mixed parenting styles such as, the caring and involved parents or the laissez affaire parents. In Mean Girls Cadys parents were caring and involved in her life, but Reginas mom was more hip and let the girls do what they pleased. In Superbad (2007) and Napoleon Dynamite(2004) parents were not existent and uninvolved. So from the 80s to 00s all three decades showed that teenagers have attitudes and values different from their parents. However, the parental traits that they despised have changed from rigid, conservative, authoritarianism, to ignorant, irresponsible and awkward. In addition, the nature of the struggle has evolved from an external struggle for power to a more internal intellectual journey for the adolescent to accept their parents flaws, to offer forgiveness and to realize that they are not destined to follow in their footsteps. Peer Relationships The teenagers concern with their peers is a theme in found in most teen movies. Regularly presented is the adolescents desire to expose the flawed nature of the high school clique system and to discover the meaning of true friendship. In some movies the basis for popularity is never explicitly presented, it is just noted that some youth are popular, others are not, and that cruelty, and conflict accompany these differences in status. In the Breakfast Club (1985) we see that status divisions are superficial and painful, not only to the unpopular but to the popular kids as well. They resolve in the end to see each other as more than their one dimensional profiles (princess, criminal, basket case, jock and brain). In Never Been Kissed (1999) we see how an undercover reporter rejects her initial friends for popularity but then later realize that popularity is unimportant and that it is better off to be friends that accept her for who she is. The same theme is found in Mean Girls (2004) ( with Cadys character) and in Napoleon Dynamite (2004). In Napoleon Dynamite (2004), the antagonist Napoleon is uninterested in popularity but instead lives by doing what he wants to do. He befriends a Mexican immigrant named Pedro and helps him run for Class president, in doing so he becomes popular. So in the 00s friendship will beat popularity any day. Romantic Relationships and Sexual Activity An interesting theme in teen films is the preoccupation with sex (losing ones virginity in particular) and the presentation of romantic relationships as being much more than sex. Youth in the films watched appear to simultaneously obsess about sex and yet reject it as being all important. Losing ones virginity is perhaps one of the most consistent ideas in teen movies, one that clearly transcends time. One of the central themes in American Pie (1999) is the drive for teenage boys to have sex. However, it isnt always the boys that work so hard to lose their virginity. In Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Stacy the young and inexperienced teenage girl becomes so preoccupied with losing her virginity that she dates several guys and ends up getting an abortion. While sex did not play a major role in some movies such as The Breakfast Club (1985), Never Been Kissed (1999) and Napoleon Dynamite (2004) most movies repeatedly emphasized the importance of sex and the appropriateness of sex for teenagers: You are 15 years old, What are you waiting for? (Fast Times at Ridgemont High 1982) You are a woman, you are ready for sex! (American Pie 1999) While many movies offered shallow or even silly stereotypes of hormone ridden teenagers, most displayed the more substantive, tender side of teenage love. It appears that American Pie (1999), is known for its crude and immature portrayal of adolescent sexuality (e.g. a teenage boy has sex with an apple pie because his friends described female genitalia as being like warm apple pie). However, even this movie has a few reasonable moments where the boys, who were in a race to lose their virginity, realize that sex isnt as important as they made it out to be. They also come to understand the importance of honesty, discretion, and true feelings in not only a relationship but sexual activity as well. In general, whether sex is presented or not, characters repeatedly emphasize the importance of finding a love interest that is based on real compatibility and commitment. This theme is also found in Clueless (1995) and Never Been Kissed (1999) Coming of Age (issues of identity and overall maturity) In all movies teens struggle with challenges that often symbolize the leap to maturity. However, the most notable change in the coming of age theme is the sense of accomplishment. In earlier films the challenge presented is usually met with the implication that an important step toward adulthood had been taken. However, in more recent films there is considerably less clarity in whether the teenager made a transition from adolescent to adult. In some cases it was made clear that the transition to adulthood had not occurred but rather concludes with the question, Whats the hurry? In these instances the realization is that adulthood shouldnt be forced at such a young age. Here we see indications of the extension of adolescence and social acceptance of delayed maturity. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) displays a mixture of the pursuit of adult status combined with the message that it is perhaps an unrealistic and hard to achieve goal for teenagers. In Fast Times, the teenagers repeatedly try to be adults and engage in what they consider to be adult behaviors. Brad works hard to have responsibility at a fast food restaurant because he wants to feel grown up. Stacy wants to have sex so she can be a woman. Throughout the film we see youth struggling to be adults even though their efforts are presented as misguided and in some cases silly. In the end they come to some decisions about themselves. Most become successful (e.g. Brad becomes assistant manager when he foils a stick up). In addition, Stacy proclaims in the end, I finally figured it out! as she relays that she doesnt want just sex but a more meaningful romantic relationship. While the youth display a sense of accomplishment the way their efforts are presented, and even the title, Fast Times suggest that maybe these teens are trying to grow up too fast. This perspective becomes the normal view of adolescence presented in the movies from the 1990s on. In American Pie (1999) two youth agonize over how to answer the college entrance exam question What is your most emotionally significant moment? The girl says How am I supposed to know what my most emotionally significant moment is? I have no idea what I want to doà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Thank God, I thought I was the only one. In another scene in American Pie the boys acknowledge their confusion about what they want and where they are going. One boy says, I dont know what Im doing, but the movie ends happily as they all agree they arent supposed to know. They say, You cant plan everything and then they toast to right now and the next step. Plots regularly talked about how you cant control things, cant plan, things never work out the way you expect so why bother? The youth try to embrace this venture into the unknown and tie it into their decision to pass on identity closure. They dont know who they are but that is all right. On a Side Note: The portrayal of drug usage such as alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. In the 80s there seemed to be common casual use of alcohol and tobacco in every type of setting but marijuana use was uncommon or experimental. In the Breakfast Club (1985) the teens smoked the weed that the criminal had brought, for the other teens, this was their first time. They used weed as a way to relax and bond but it was obvious that they dont usually encounter weed. The use of tobacco could really be noted as common in these films also. In Risky Business (1983) almost all characters smoked cigarettes occasionally. In the 90s the use of alcohol and tobacco stayed casual but marijuana transformed from a experimental drug to a more widely used recreational drug. This can be seen in Clueless (1995) during one of the house party scenes where the main character Cher casually smokes a marijuana cigarette offered by a classmate. The 00s portrayed many changes in drug use, alcohol became much harder to obtain and tob acco use turned unpopular, however marijuana use is still prevalent. In Superbad (2007) the antagonists have to resort to using fake identification and stealing to acquire alcohol for a friends party. Another commonality that I noted in these teen movies across the decades, are topics that they did not deal with. These include topics such as violence, suicide and death, teen pregnancy and parenthood, drug addiction, financial difficulties and other serious situations. These films deal with well-off upper middle class teens with plenty of opportunities, limited by their own insecurities. Conclusion

Islam, Christianity, Judaism: Compared Essay

In the past decade, Muslims have been in the front pages of newspapers for militancy, from Palestinian intifadah (uprising) in the West Bank to Hezbollah’s armed warfare against the Israeli military forces. The most dramatic being the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by the Al Qaeda. This attack later on spawned â€Å"suicide† bombings in London, Indonesia and elsewhere around the globe. To date, the Al Qaeda remains active albeit possibly weakened and its leaders on the run. Its alleged associate groups such as the Jemaah Islamiya (in Indonesia) and Abu Sayyaf (in the Philippines) also remains active and continue to battle government forces in their respective countries. The Taliban continue their armed resistance in Afghanistan where they once held the reins of government. Undoubtedly, it is their faith that fuels the militancy of these groups. Whatever political motivations they may have in their struggle is underpinned and premised on their religious beliefs. Islam, Christianity, Judaism: Compared Judaism, Christianity and Islam claim to be monotheistic and worship one God. They claim a common ancestry through Abraham and share the prophetic tradition through Moses and the prophets. They all believe in angels and angelic activity in behalf of man. They believe in divine revelation and the last judgment. All adopt laces of worship and teaching, Judaism the Synagogue, Christianity the Church and Islam the Mosque. They place a heavy emphasis on prayer and hold special weekly days of worship, Judaism the Sabbath, Christians the Lord’s Day (or Sunday) and Islam the day of Salat (or Friday). (A Christian Comparison With and Evaluation of Islam, 2007). With these similarities, where lies the source of militancy and steadfastness of the Muslim mujahideen and jihadists? Why would a devout Muslim sacrifice himself in bombing military and civilian targets? The main area of theological difference pertains to the Christians’ (particularly the Catholics) concept of Holy Trinity. Christians see God has having three persons – God the Father, God the Son (or Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, Muslims and Jews are simple monotheists and believe in one God, called Allah and Yahweh respectively. Both the Jews and Muslims see Jesus as man and not God but they differ in perceiving the significance of Jesus’ life. To the Jews, Jesus was an ordinary Jew (not divine) who crucified for claiming to be the Messiah. Muslims also see Jesus as a human (not divine) but that he was a prophet, a messenger of God (Qur’an, 5:17; as cited in Comparison Table between Christianity, Islam and Judaism, 2007). Furthermore, Muslims say that Jesus was not crucified, but was raised to Heaven by Allah (Qur’an, 4:157 – 158; as cited in Comparison Table between Christianity, Islam and Judaism, 2007). In addition, the Holy Spirit is also seen differently. It is a divine power given to the prophets according to the Jews. Muslims view the Holy Spirit identical with the Angel Gabriel who came to give God’s message to Muhammad. Comparison Table between Christianity, Islam and Judaism, 2007) Islam: An Overview Islam is a monotheistic religion that originated from the teachings of Muhammad. The word Islam means totally surrendering oneself to Allah (God). The word Islam is derived from the Arabic aslama which means to accept, surrender or submit. Its fundamental theological concept is that there is only one God (Allah). (Islam, 2007) An adherent or believer of Islam is known as a Muslim. Islam originated in Arabia in the early seventh century. At around this time, Muhammad had begun to proselytize. As of today, there are two major denominations of Islam, namely the Sunni and the Shi’a (or Shiite). The schism took place in the seventh century on the issue of rightful succession in the religious and political leadership of the Muslim community. Islam instructs that all faiths essentially have one common message: the existence of a Supreme Being, the one and only God. It teaches that God’s Sovereignty must acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching and commandments. These teachings and commandments are conveyed through His messengers and prophets who were sent at various times and in many places throughout history. (Zahid, 2004) In this regard, Muslim’s believe that God delivered his final message for humanity to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. Muhammad is a prophet. He is man and not a god although being a prophet, he is closest to perfection of man. (Islam, 2007) Muslims believe that some prophets, even though human, are able to perform miracles to prove their claim of being messengers of God. In this light, Muslims consider Jesus as just one in the long line of prophets since Adam. The central religious text of Islam is the Qur’an that was written down by Muhammad’s companions while he was still alive. Nevertheless, the Muslims believe that the Qur’an is not simply holy scripture; it is the holy word of God. Hence, the words and meaning of God’s message can best be understood in Arabic, the language of Muhammad. Also, Muslims all over learn to recite portions of the Qur’an in its original language. (Islam: A Worldwide Religion and Its Impact in Southeast Asia, 2007) Qur’an literally means â€Å"recitation†. While the Christian Bible has been translated into as many languages as possible, the Muslims see differently. Any translation is simply considered as a commentary or interpretation of the Qur’an due to language differences and fallibility of the translators. It is also impossible to preserve the original’s inspired (by God) style. A supplement to the Qur’an is the Hadith (meaning â€Å"reports†). The Hadith is a complete and authentic record of the life of Muhammad. It recounts his words, actions and personal characteristics. (Zahid, 2004) Muslims are encouraged to emulate Muhammad in their daily life. They are to follow the Sunnah (literally, â€Å"trodden path†), Muhammad’s normative example. Five Pillar of Islam Obligatory actions are required of Muslims and these are collectively called the Five Pillars of Islam. Cline (2007) wrote, â€Å"Unlike Christianity, Islam is founded on orthopraxy (right action) rather than orthodoxy (right belief)†. The Five Pillars are ritual acts of worship. These were ordained in the Qur’an as a means to discipline humanity to remember God constantly. (Zahid, 2004) First is the declaration of faith or shahadah. This is expressed in the statement â€Å"Ash-hadu anla ilaha illal-Lahu Wahdahu la Sharika Lahu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu†. The English translation is â€Å"I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One, without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger†. (Shahadah: Declaration of Faith, 2007) Second is prayer or salat. This is offered five times a day because the prayers cannot be said all at the same time. As a result, they create a rhythm that structures a Muslim’s day. Prayers are to be recited at fajr (after dawn but before sunrise), duhr (early afternoon till late afternoon), ‘asr (later afternoon till sunset), maghrib (just after sunset), isha (late evening till late at night). The prayers are recited in the Arabic language. They consist of verses from the Qur’an. The third pillar is alms-giving or zakat. In Islam, man holds wealth as a trust from God. As trustee, possessions must be used wisely including sharing with the unfortunate. In practice, Muslims are required to annually give a fixed amount of excess personal assets for the benefit of the poor, the sick and the welfare of the community. Zahid (2004) calls this â€Å"purification of wealth†. Sharing, through zakat, becomes an act of purifying not just the wealth but also the giver for having disciplined oneself against greed through selflessness. Fourth is fasting or sawm. The fourth pillar actually refers to self-purification through fasting. Every Muslim fasts from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. It involves abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking and marital intercourse. Sawm is a reminder of the believers’ dependence on God as well as their kinship with others who involuntarily fast due to lack of food or its unjust distribution. (Zahid, 2004) The last pillar is piligrimage or hajj. All Muslim should undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life. The hajj is a ritual to create a single community out of the diversity of the believers. Hence, ten kilometers away from Mecca, all pilgrims are required to wear the same clothing, which consists of two white seamless sheets.

Democratic Trends Essay

It is inevitable for things to change. The trends in American change daily. There are various factors that influence change. There are many political and economic events and trends that effect the human services field. One of the events that have affected the U.S. is the recession. The recession has caused a trickle down affect. There has also issue with financial budgets. The deficits are attached to various resources that help countless communities throughout the U.S. A few of the demographic trends that have cause change are the aging and healthcare act. There are both good and bad changes that happens in life, and the human service field adapts to that change. We have seem dramatic changes in our government. The political events that effect human services have an outcome that may not be what’s best for the people that are effect. This change in politics have affected millions of Americans that depend on the government system. Minority groups that are recipients of programs that are funded by the government are the ones that are most affected when the government faces distress. The future of human services is always at the edge when crisis arise. The way politicians run their itinerary is by making decisions to what seems convenient for them at the time. Politics is about taking care of one thing at a time and what does not seem important are often left undone. The future of human services faces crisis daily. Budgets are always slash to fix other areas of need. Human services providers are the ones that are in charge of being the voice of the less fortunate pleading to the government to change laws in favor of those in need. If the government does not budget the finances available there is a risk of bankruptcy. Bankruptcy will terminates food stamps, medical, section 8, and many other programs that assist families in need. The future of human services is in limbo it will take for our government to prioritize and put families first. Political Trends that Effect Human Services There are various political event that effect the human services field. One particular event that stands out was the U.S. government shut down due to the recession. The shutdown of government agencies which fund the countless resources and organizations was detrimental to the citizens. There was a boost in varying agencies for those seeking assistance. Some of the organization only assist one specific need. But the consumers requires various aid for needs that may or may not overlap. Some of those needs are general public assistance, unemployment, food stamps, and homelessness. According to â€Å"Human Services in a time of Crisis† studies have shown that food stamp caseloads have a strong correlation to the unemployment rate. It also states a poor economy with high unemployment typically spurs an increase in demand for public assistance (HSTC p. 4). Food stamps are usually the first part of government assistance sought after. Food Stamps are the first part of security for fam ilies in the program for which most applicants are eligible. Government Cuts and Its Consequences The significant cuts made to human services program operating budgets do not promise well for the vulnerable families who are seeking assistance or for their communities. There were various cuts made by government officials to help Americans, but some will cause more damage. The budget cuts to unemployment for instance, means millions of Americans could be left without their sole source of income while they look for work according to U.S.A. Today. About 3.6 million Americans would have become eligible for the program in 2014, in addition to those facing an immediate end to the assistance. The millions that have to survive without unemployment will seek aid through human services agencies throughout the United States. Although homelessness have decreased slightly, there is still an extraordinary need for homes for those experiencing homelessness. According to The State of Homelessness in America (2013), â€Å"The national rate of homelessness was 20 homeless people per 10,000 people in the general population and the rate for veterans was 29 homeless veterans per 10,000 veterans in the general population† (para. 1). Society Facing Economic and Demographic Insecurities As changes are growing, so is the instability of clients that are coping with  depression, anxiety, mental disabilities, and the elderly population. As the country continues in an era of economic insecurity, Americans living close or lower than the poverty line are more at risk. Nonetheless, the assistance they need to acquire jobs, housing, healthcare, or provide for their children is less likely as agencies face impending financial problems of their own. The economic decline began at the end of 2007 subsequently resulting in increased lay-offs, unemployment and underemployment, foreclosures, retirement income and savings loss, and a drop in the value of real estates, placing a larger demand for services on federal, state, and local human service systems. These service delivery systems faced shortages and budget complications of their own. Human service professionals must learn to efficiently and effectively negotiate and bridge this economic gap while meeting their agency’s potentials and needs, respecting their clients and assisting them towards betterment. Economic trend also relating to the production, development, and management of material wealth. Trends will involve jobs, housing, children, and health care. Economic impacts the human services department dealing with the wellbeing of children in many ways, mainly because of all the budget cuts. For example, school is one of the many trends. Teachers are around there students at least 30 hours they’re considered the third parent, good teachers help to mentor their children to become more productive and motivates them to become lifelong learners. Teachers have the training and incite to notice incidence of child sexually, mental and physical abuse. It is the teacher’s responsibility to warn human service of the danger that the child might encou nter. The use of managed care by human service is defined as a set of tools to manage resources and the delivery of human services in the areas of health and mental health care (Woodside, 2011). The impact of managed care organization does not only position a risk to human service values and practice, but also generate an ethical dilemma. Managed care allows the human service profession to develop its professional field increasing from advocating and aftercare for the indigent, severe and chronic mentally ill to providing private non-medical psychotherapy. One challenge of the human service profession is how to sustain improvements within a profession that is characterized by an overlying of roles and functions, and the challenge to meeting the demands of managed care organizations as well as the preservation of values and  ethical practices which make the profession distinctive. The human service profession would need to develop tools to maintaining stability between the needs of clients and the demands of the managed care organizations. Aging in American, which is another demographic trend has taken a toll on society in dealing with housing, confronting death, dying and depression. As the number of elderly people increase, the more help from human services will be required in dealing with their health and living situations. Most elderly men and women will not be financial stable and unable to provide for themselves. The demographic trends targets a diverse population that is in need of strategies and intervention plans to be able to succeed daily. The more communities grow there will be fewer opportunities for the majority of the people to get jobs to support their families. People rely on human services for a boost dealing with unemployment, food, or even help finding better jobs. Human service professionals can also provide assistance to those who are cop ing with trauma from terrorism, disasters, and other traumatic events. Accounts of trauma and violence are characteristically entwined with histories of substance abuse and/or mental health disorders. A few examples are the 9/11 bombing which killed a lot of people and also left many hurt emotional and physical. The effects that terrorism has on people could either be long term (installs fear) or short term (traumatization). Hurricane Katrina, which left everybody in destruction and homelessness. A traumatic event could even include a serious car crash. Societal changes can only begin when an extensive network of service providers integrate their knowledge, resources, and services to the economic and demographic trends within their communities. Conclusion Demographic trends reveal developments and changes in human population (Melva Wilson, 2014). As America is aging we are able to see the changes in human services. Technology has taken over and providers are able to service clients in a more effective and quicker way than a decade ago. As the population grows, the problems in America are also growing. The delivery of services through human services have change and more changes will be implemented in the future. Human services does not only focus on delivering services to the less fortunate, they also have to assure that funds are available to service clients. There will always be changes that will benefit  society and changes that will make their life more complicated. References County Welfare Directors Association of California. (2009). Retrieved from www.cwda.org Grovum, J., (2013). Stateline Unemployment Benefits. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com National Alliance to End Homelessness (2013). Retrieved from http://www.endhomelessness.org National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from www.socialworkers.org National Organization for Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhumanservices.org Stein, S., (2013). Government Shutdown’s Impact Detailed in Report. Retrieved from TheHuffingtonPost.com Woodside, M. & McClam, T. (2011). An Introduction to human services. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole