A deeper understanding of the meaning of charity Essay Example for Free

A deeper understanding of the meaning of charity Essay At the beginning of the semester, I was asked to come up with a project for New Testament class that would put what I was learning into a direct application to my life. I asked myself, â€Å"what would make the most positive difference in my life at this moment†? One of the things I struggle with the most is that I think I can generally be too cynical, judgmental, and selfish in my interactions with other people. So, I decided I wanted to learn more about the topic of charity as I studied the New Testament this semester. To know about charity first requires a serious study of it. As I read the assigned passages in the New Testament, I studied them with an emphasis on charity. I would think about each verse I read and try to relate it to charity in some way. Reading the scriptures in this fashion helped me gain insights on charity in every chapter that I studied. I especially enjoyed the â€Å"Becoming QA† assignments because it helped me to ask specifically what I could learn about charity from a given chapter. I continued this pattern for the rest of my scripture study by asking myself inspired questions about how the people in each chapter showed charity (or lack of charity) for one another. For example, reading about Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s unexplained pregnancy in the first chapters of Matthew made me ask myself how he could have had that much charity for his fiancà ©e – Joseph would have naturally concluded that Mary had committed adultery, as what another way could she have gotten pregnant? How did he not freak out? This would have been such a difficult trial for him. After reading a few quotes from Elder James E Talmage, I learned that he loved his fiancà ©e so much, and his faith was so strong, that he immediately believed the angel that came to him explaining the truth. His faith in God led him to have charity for Mary. As I studied charity throughout the semester, I started to understand it better. Understanding bridges the gap between a belief (and action) and simple knowledge. My study of charity helped me know what charity is and how people express it, but I lacked something that would help me truly believe in it. This stepping stone came through prayer and pondering. The Spirit taught me why charity is important for me to obtain as I prayed about what I studied and thought deeply about what specific changes I needed to make in my life. The understanding that I gained from charity led me to a belief. Belief came for me when I took what I had learned and acted upon it. Putting my plans for service and kindness (that I had decided on through pondering and prayer) into action led me to believe that charity is one of the most important principles of the gospel, that Jesus Christ has charity for every one of us, and that I can have charity for my brothers and sisters too. This was the most fundamentally important step in the process for me. When I met the missionaries’ investigator Clarence, I felt genuine sympathy for his family’s problems. I helped them pay for groceries on one occasion when they didn’t have the means, and I had no expectation of them paying me back for it. Although Clarence had every intention of doing so, he wasn’t able to reimburse me before he moved away, and I was surprised to find that I wasn’t disappointed at all. A basic knowledge and understanding of charity would mean that I knew intellectually that I shouldn’t expect anything in return, but because I believed the principle of charity, I felt in my heart that doing the right thing means doing it solely for the benefit of others and nothing else. I felt the Spirit strongly as I served Clarence and his family – and that was all the confirmation that I needed. Change has come into my life this semester as I have come to know, understand, and believe in the principles of charity. Where previously I would look the other way or ignore someone who needs my help, now I am actively on the lookout for people that I can assist I have started looking forward to finding opportunities to show charity to others.   The studying, question asking, and application of my understanding and belief has changed me as an individual and brought me closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have a coworker who can get on my nerves at times. Our personalities clash more than most, and the frequent jokes or comments that he makes towards me or things that I like can be hard for me to deal with. Due to this becoming project, my patience and my empathy for him have increased quite a bit. I find myself brushing off comments that would have bothered me a few months ago. I ask him questions about his interests and they lead to normal conversations. These changes came naturally out of the application of my studies, and they were totally unexpected. It’s a big deal for me to be on good terms with my coworker! I really enjoyed working on this project this semester. I have felt a change in my interactions with others – both in my thoughts and in my external actions such as conversations and service. I believe so strongly that it is possible for every person to develop for others a measure of the love that Christ feels for each of us.   I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be, but I am excited about the changes that I’ve felt so far as I have tried to follow the example of my Savior.

The Best Years of my Life Essay example -- essays research papers

Looking back now, I can see that people were right when they said that my high school years would be the best years of my life. Most teenagers complain that their lives are unfair and that high school is the worst part. I know this to be true because I have done my share of complaining. Even though I have many responsibilities, probably more than most people my age, my teenage high school years have been very carefree and enjoyable compared to future years as an adult and I have learned many life lessons through out my years in high school that will prepare me for many of life’s challenges. I know that even though I have complained and have looked forward to graduating, I will miss being in school. So, I have to say that my high school years are the best years of my life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If an individual really thinks about it, their high school years are some of the best years of their life. While teenagers are still in high school and living at home, they do not have to worry about having money to by lunch, clothes, gas, or anything else, unlike when one graduates and moves out on their own. As a rule, teenagers do not have to worry about whether a certain bill has to be paid on this day and another bill on that day. They do not have to worry about not getting their electric bill paid by a certain day of the month so that their lights are not turned off or they do not have house payments or medical bills or many of the responsibilities that occur later in lif...

How does the mass media reinforce sterotypes? Essay

Stereotyping is a mental activity that is neither natural or necessary; however, due to laziness, upbringing or coincidental experiences (Lester, 1996, p.1), the stereotyping of individuals results in harmful generalisations that ultimately deny an individual’s ‘unique contribution to humanity’ (Lester, 1996, p.1). When the mass media engage in stereotyping, misleading representations concerning members from diverse cultural groups are confirmed. In this essay, a broad range of texts will be used to examine the ways in which the mass media construct and reinforce social stereotypes around gender, ethnicity and age, as well as how the media shape one’s imagination though direct images. It cannot be doubted that the media profoundly influence people’s attitudes and outlooks. They convey a whole variety of information which individuals would not otherwise acquire. Newspapers, books, television, radio, films, recorded music and popular magazines (Giddens, 1989, p.79) bring individuals into close contact with experiences of which we ‘would otherwise have little awareness’ (Giddens, 1989, p. 79). There are very few societies, in current times, even among the more traditional cultures, which remain completely untouched by the mass media. Electronic communication is accessible even to those who are completely illiterate, or in isolated areas of the world. According to Juredini and Poole, gender usually refers to the ‘behavioural and attitudinal characteristics’ as well as roles that are learned and derived from a ‘particular cultural milieu’ (2000, p.171). An important source of gender information in a consumer society is television. Despite some notable exceptions, for example ‘Sesame Street’, most television shows continue to portray males and females in stereotypical gender roles (Sigorelli, 1990, citied in Newman, 2000, p. 136). In a recent study of television programs, male characters are more likely than female characters to occupy leadership roles and achieve them, as well as being portrayed as inquisitive. In addition, they are more likely to be portrayed in a recognisable  occupation, demonstrating to audiences that males are more career orientated and dedicated to work, and emphasising stereotypes that they are the traditional ‘bread winners’ of the household. Alternatively, females are cast into the role of the caregiver (Thompson and Zerbinos, 1995, cited in Newman, 2000, p. 136). Despite the fact that women make up a majority of the population, most prime time characters on  television are male (Smith, 1997, cited in Newman, 2000, p. 136), and are still portrayed as powerful and rational. Women express emotions more easily and are more likely to be flirtatious in order to get their own way. Similarly, in print advertising, women were seen to be in the home, being dependent upon men, and not making ‘independent and important decisions’ (Creedon, 1989, p. 249), and are often viewed by themselves and by others as sex objects. In addition, the symbols involved in advertising often have a more profound influence on social behaviour than the stated messages the advertising wishes to put forward. Thus, gender divisions are often symbolised in ‘what goes on in the setting or the background of a commercial’  (Giddens, 1989, p. 446), rather than what it is explicitly selling. In many advertisements, men appear mentally and physically alert, while women are shown gazing into the distance in a dreamy way (Goffman, 1979, cited in Giddens, 1989, p.446). A central gender concern is that advertising is a ‘shorthand form of communication’ (Creedon, 1989, p. 249) that must make contact with the consumer immediately, in order to establish a shared experience or identification, and is most popularly undertaken through stereotypical imagery. In turn, these images form the ‘cores of [one’s] personal tradition, the defenses of [one’s] position in society’ (Creedon, 1989, p. 249), thus reinforcing the social stereotype. Children also receive gender lessons. Understandably, most research about the  influence of television and the media has concerned children, given the sheer volume of their viewing and the ‘possible implications for socialisation’ (Giddens, 1989, p. 444). In their literary pursuits, books have the capabilities to teach children what other children do in their culture and what is expected of them. In a study undertaken in America analysing preschool books, boys played a ‘more significant role’ in the stories by a ‘ratio of 11 to 1’ (cited in Newman, 2000, p. 135). Together, boys were portrayed in adventurous roles or undertook activities that required independence and strength, whereas girls were likely to be confined to indoor activities and portrayed as ‘passive and dependent’ (Newman, 2000, p.135). Similarly, the mass media construct and reinforce social stereotypes around ethnicity, particularly through their stereotypical images and portrayal of ethnic groups performing certain roles in society. Sociological approaches which attach particular importance to racism emphasise the limitations imposed on ethnic minorities by such hostility and discrimination (Haralambos and Holborn, 1995, p.688). The attention is  not placed upon the ethnic minority itself, however on the wider society which is the minority group. Negative stereotypes of African Americans in particular have been deeply ingrained in Anglo American cultures since Africans were brought into the country in chains (Lester, 1996, p. 21). The stereotypes served an essential purpose – they justified Anglo enslavement of Africans. Today however, the Anglos in America have been influenced by media images frequently seen on television and in newspapers of  African Americans who are ‘violent, criminal, drug-addicted and on welfare’ (Lester, 1996, p. 21). As in Australia, Aborigines have been given similar treatment, however they have ‘expressed deep concern’ (Ericksen, 1996, p. 45) about the way they have been represented in the Australian media. Through this, there has been considerably more Aboriginal presence in prime time television, particularly with programs outlining Aboriginal issues such  as ‘Black Out.’ Despite such advancements, regular direct and indirect means of associating Aboriginal persons with criminality, irrational destructiveness and disorder frequently occurs in today’s media. Through words such as ‘riot’ (Ericksen, 1996, p. 46) in Aboriginal headlines and disturbing footage on television, audiences are influenced into constructing ethnic stereotypes of all  persons belonging to that culture or group. Corresponding with gender and ethnicity, the media construct and reinforce social stereotypes around age. According to Golman (cited in Lester, 1996, p.113), all too many television commercials fall back on stereotypes, showing the aged as feeble, foolish or inept, passing their time aimlessly in rocking chairs.’ Because seniors are a large and increasingly affluent market, one destined to grow larger as the 1950s baby boomers mature (Lester, 1996, p.114), advertisers should be sensitive to this group. If no sensitivity is used, some seniors may take out their anger and frustration towards images and advertising by ignoring or actively boycotting the product. The mass media reinforce images of the aged through stereotyping, which inevitably engender fear among the elderly, labelling them as ‘sick’ or ‘too old’ for certain things. In many cases, older men are seen to have power, whereas older women as seen as weak. Such an example can be seen in the instance where an older chairman in an American television commercial was shown preparing to give a speech to his  stockholders in a commercial for Coopers and Lybrand in 1993 (Lester, 2996, p. 90). Being an older woman is not so glamorous and well respected. If an older woman is not portrayed as loving grandmother, there is a good chance she will be portrayed as senile. Despite the media’s reinforcement of social stereotypes among the aged, awareness could assist a better understanding of the elderly in particular. Advertising agencies and advertisers employ young people to write and  prepare commercials. Most recent writers on this subject could conclude that ‘the age of the advertising producers is an important factor’ (Lester, 1996, p. 116) in creating the stereotypical images of age. Young creators working on senior accounts can be a problem, as they do not have the senior’s perspective, thus, engaging typically in stereotyping. Such hurdles can be overcome by consulting the large amount of research readily available on seniors, and by focusing on a group composed of seniors, which in turn will reinforce alternative views on age and aging. It is also arguable that the media, instead of being seen as a ‘neutral umpire’ between competing interests and an efficient way of disseminating information, critical theorists argue that the media are ‘very much implicated in power relations’ (Juredini and Poole, 2000, p. 313) in society. The most critical view of the media’s operations represents the reading, listening and viewing public as victims of a ‘giant con trick’  (Juredini and Poole, 2000, p. 313), believing in a truth convenient for the powerful groups who describe and interpret the world around us, thus, reinforcing the social stereotypes. The modern media of communication are similarly central to an individual’s life, providing many necessary information services as well as offering possibilities for self-enlightenment and entertainment. The media constructs and reinforces social stereotypes around gender, ethnicity and age around the images that are produced, and by the way they are capable of shaping the individual’s attitudes and beliefs. Despite such interpretations, it is the choice of the individual what they decide to consume from the diverse amount of information that is served openly to the public, and to eliminate misleading representations concerning members from diverse cultural groups.

Why Preschool Matters My Life - 1650 Words

Why Preschool Matters My older daughter started preschool when she was two years old. It was a memorable day because she had a hard time being separated from me. She was crying when I left her at school. She was a little bit shy and feared playing with other children. I also had a hard time, and I felt very bad too because she had never separated from me since she was born. I started to think about whether it was necessary to put her in the preschool, and was the preschool suitable for her? I thought she might be happier if she stayed home with me until she was old enough. I had been confusing for quite a long time. Two years after her first day of preschool, now I have the answer. Now she is four years old and is not crying anymore and makes lots of friends at school. She always tells me that she loves to go to school, and school is her favorite place because she has lots of fun with her friends. Obviously, she grows a lot in school. Unfortunately, there are still a number of children who do not go to p reschool because of various reasons; for example, some parents believe that preschool is not necessary for their children, and home is much better than preschool. Furthermore, some people complain that public preschools provide poor quality for children, and the private preschools are so expensive and not affordable. Preschool truly matters for young children. Going to preschool is good for children because it helps with brain development, learning, and it assists low-Show MoreRelatedEarly Childhood Education Is The Potential For Many Significant Outcomes1460 Words   |  6 Pagessignificant outcomes if universal preschools were put into place. Early childhood education has many benefits and there is the potential for many significant outcomes if universal preschools were put into place. Some feel that children who start kindergarten without previously attended preschool sometimes lack certain skills such as social and communication skills and an inability to follow routines. There were also studies done that found attending preschool could help to close the achievementRead MoreShould the Government Fund Public Preschools?1739 Words   |  7 Pagesnation. What happens though when this is not the future for all children? The problem at hand is not all children are receiving the same educational opportunities. Not all children graduate from high school and not all lead successful careers as adults. Why is this the outcome for some and not others? One main reason behind students not being successful later in school is related to the readiness of the child when they enter school. â€Å"Evidence suggests that children’s academic skills at school entry areRead MorePreschool and the Role and Value of Play Essay820 Words   |  4 PagesIn today’s preschool culture, the role and value of play is very important for children; a rich environment filled with playmates, opportunities to learn how to share, take turns, self-regulate, and make life-long friends only scratches the surface of why play is central for children’s development. Parents aren’t seeing what is happening: what they see as random play is actually being utilized to help the child grow socially, emotionally, and physically. Parents believe that children should be spendingRead MoreWriting : The Development Of Writing1329 Words   |  6 PagesThe development of writing begins as early as we learn how to write letters in preschool or kinderga rten. 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It’s the overall structure of communication, and communication is something that dominates our lifestyle today. Literacy can be met through other things besides reading and authorship. It can be found in newspapers, books, television sources and so much more. It is vital to understand literacyRead MoreMy First Language Is A Treasure That Will Follow Its Owner Everywhere Essay1056 Words   |  5 Pagesisn t my first language; my first language is Spanish. I had that fire in my heart to learn to read and write in English so I can succeed in this amazing country I and my family immigrated too. My Journey to become literate in reading and writing was tough, and there were times I wanted to give up and go back to Mexico. It challenged me from preschool all the way to the fourth grade. To this day i am still advancing in my skills of literacy. 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According to Piaget, such symbol use is also evident in the emergence of language and in the preschoolers primitive ability to understand scale models or simple maps. Dramatic play gives the children the chance to role-play. If they work through situations in their classroom, they ll be better prepared for real-life scenarios. Through role-playing