A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay Example for Free

A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay In Flannery O’Connor’s story A Good Man is Hard to Find the title illustrates the changing times and how progressively from the grandmother’s perspective, the future is quite different from the past; in which the grandmother believes that the past presented people with a much simpler way of life and the future is not as decadent and is too complex. The title also refers to the interchange between the grandmother and the Misfit at the end of the story. The Misfit is a man who was has recently escaped from prison. When the grandmother and the Misfit meet up on a country road after the grandmother’s family has been in a car wreck the Misfit and his gang take care of the family, with the Misfit killing the grandmother last. The title of the book bears relevance to this in a foreshadowing manner in that the ideals that the grandmother tries to uphold and apply to the Misfit bear no relevance in reality; for her, the title connotes that the past is unattainable; a good man is hard to find means that the world is changing rapidly and her reference towards life is outdated. For the Misfit the reader can foreshadow how the title connotes his childhood and how he simply was borne bad and that the object of a good man being hard to find entails the psycho-socio-balance that cannot exist rightly in any man seemingly. Furthermore, the title foreshadows in a way how the world has lapsed in faith; both the grandmother and the Misfit have a lack of faith in anything, and as O’Connor has written the story she adds in her touch of personality, If you would pray, the old lady said, Jesus would help you. Thats right, The Misfit said. Well then, why dont you pray? she asked trembling with delight suddenly. I dont want no hep, he said. Im doing all right by myself. (O’Connor A Good Man is Hard to Find 11). Thus, when the Misfit admits that he likes who is, or at least does not want to go around changing who he is, it is O’Connor’s omission that there is no such thing as a saint, as a good man and thus the impetus for the title is found, and all of the foreshadowing can be found in this title for the reader. The theme of the book is progression; progress from a former state of being to a later state of being which is shown succinctly with the car trip, the drive down the country road to a house which does not exist in that state and finally with the family facing their death at the pistol end of the Misfit and his gang. It is through this theme of progression that the reader may also connote foreshadowing because with this progress, the family cannot expect to stay the same, and since the grandmother is a character so set in her ways, the only way for her to change in the story is through death. This theme of progress goes into detail with the characterization of the Misfit. The Misfit, like the grandmother denies the theme of progression, which is also a foreshadowing in the story as the reader knows the Misfit’s character will not change and thus, will kill the family, because if he doesn’t kill the family it’s a sign of progression and change. While the grandmother clings wholeheartedly to the past, the Misfit does this as well. The grandmother changes by dying and the Misfit stays the same by killing the grandmother and the family. I call myself The Misfit, he said, because I cant make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment. (O’Connor A Good Man is Hard to Find 11). Thus, the Misfit is stating that his future does not match his expectations, and his progression as a person has stalled and his stuck being the Misfit which incidentally is a name he designed and applied to himself to further exemplify that he is without development and surely, as represented in O’Connor’s story a man without hope of change. O’Connor’s story subsequently allows the reader to find out that what the grandmother and Misfit’s true crime is that they fear change and thus that is their sin. O’Connor’s story is a tale told about redemption; or rather the lack of redemption. Neither the grandmother nor the Misfit feel morally remiss about their actions or their attitude towards things, such as crime and killing for the Misfit and racism and prejudices for the grandmother. By allowing these characters to be recalcitrant toward the theme of progression she is making the characters human which is not often done in novels or short stories. O’Connor’s approach to characterization makes for the story to have a lot of gumption in its writing style and subject matter. By including the ‘dirtier’ side of life, such as biases and murdering O’Connor is allowing the story to shape within a paradigm of humanity which must by its nature be inclusive of both good and bad, and O’Connor is an expert in the writing of the yin and yang as it were. Work Cited O’Conner, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find. Harvest Books, New York. 1977.

Should Primary Education In Ethiopia Be Compulsory Education Essay

Should Primary Education In Ethiopia Be Compulsory Education Essay Most children living in main towns and cities in Ethiopia have more access than those living in the rural areas. (Link Ethiopia) These children have a chance to go to primary school, and are now being encouraged by their parents and guardians to attend school throughout. Ethiopia was at civil war for 16 years. After the war, in 1991, education has shown a massive development. In 1994-1995 three million people were in primary school; and by 2008-2009, 15.3 million children got enrolled in primary schools. (One living proof) This is an increase of over 500% (One living proof). Statistics have also shown that approximately 1 teacher teaches 59 students in primary classes. Elleni Muluneh, a founder member of the Ethiopian Youth Forum, said that without education, a country cannot develop. (UNICEF) The government and other NGOs have identified this problem. One of the Millennium development goals is to move on and make primary education free and compulsory by 2015. (UNICEF) However, one of the core problems facing Ethiopia on Education is that most people in Ethiopia think that work is more important than education, so they start at a very early age with little to no education. (Wikipedia) More and more teenage women today drop out from school to go and work in the Arab countries as servants. Men also drop out from school to work in Arab countries. The men usually go there for being janitors, drivers, or guards. I got a chance to talk to Aisha. She quit school at the age of 15 to go to Libya. She went there hoping for a better future. After 3 years of hard labor, she came back. I asked her, Why did you quit school at the first place? She responded by saying I wanted to get a better and happier life for me and my family. I was amazed by this response. This shows us that these children dont see the need for education. Their parents also dont encourage them to get the education. In fact, it was Aishas Mum that pushed her to go for work. I asked Aisha What does education mean to you? She replied by saying For me, education is knowledge. But it is also a waste of time and money, when you could just go to work and help your family survive! What a discouraging response. Now Aisha is planning to go to Dubai. Her parents are encouraging her to go and work. All they care is for the money their daughter brings. They dont plan for the future of their daughter. Now, this type of silliness could be abolished if primary education was compulsory. People like Aisha could be taught about the need for education. If Aisha continued in her 6th grade, she would have had more knowledge about the needs of education. Does everyone have the right to primary education? This is a really hard question to answer, but I would my answer would be no. This is because the gender inequality there is in most rural parts of Ethiopia. If a child has no access to primary education, then there is no change for him/her to enter into Secondary school. In the Ethiopian governments development plans, the right to womens education is a big issue that is currently being solved. If I could change the education system children in rural areas have, I would modify the disciplinary rule. Children get physically abused by the teachers in most government schools around Ethiopia. I went to Summer School this year and experienced the difficulty children in government school face each school day. The students are very quiet, and dont participate in class discussion because they fear the teacher. I asked my friend, Miki to explain to me why they fear the teacher. He said, We fear the teacher because it is fun for him/her giving us a bruise, even if we talk little. (Miki) Compulsory schooling in Ethiopia is for 6 years. (State University) These are, the 2 Kindergartens, and primary school up to 4 years. I dont believe this is true because I personally know some children that have never been to school. Most of the little boys you see on the street selling gum have never been to school. They just get taught indirectly on how to sell their sweets. Statistics also show that only 52% complete primary school through 5th grade. (SEEDS OF AFRICA FOUNDATION) I went to Abebech Gobena on Saturday. This is an orphanage and school in Addis Ababa. There are lots of orphans living there. They get free education 5 days a week. Although the quality of education these children get are poor, they also get free clothing, food, shelter, and some money to spend every month. There are some schools like this in Ethiopia. These schools are funded by worldwide organizations like, Children Aid, UNICEF, and the United Nations. Some people say, what can I do? I as an individual could help in making primary education in Ethiopia free and compulsory by donating at least an equivalent amount for orphanages and schools. However, we together can make big changes to a lot of orphans lives. If we donate together, the outcome will mean a lot to those who are in need of it. In my opinion a major issue that must be solved in primary schools is that few school supplies are available to each student. All the students in government schools are expected to buy books, paper, pens, and any other school utensils themselves. The school doesnt provide these facilities to its students. Another major problem is the sanitation facilities in most schools around Ethiopia. Most schools dont have clean and hygienic toilets. Water, soap, and toilet seats are a major issue in schools. I say that the government and some NGOs have to spend lots of money in order to resolve these two points I mentioned. Table 1 shows the Primary school enrolment trends in 11 cities in Ethiopia. As we can see, every year, the number of children enrolled in Primary schools has shown a fair rise in number. Table 1: Regional enrolment trends (Ethiopian Ministry Of Education) Graph 1 shows the difference between the percent of Male and Female students enrolled in Primary school. Graph 1: Net Enrollment Ratio and Gender for Primary school (Ethiopian Ministry Of Education) Graph 2 shows the average annual growth rate of primary enrollment in the year 2010/11. It is shocking to see that Addis Ababa and Harar had a downfall in 2010/11. Graph 2: Average annual growth rate of primary enrollment (Ethiopian Ministry Of Education) The local people are also doing their best in order to educate their children. In Amhara Region, communities have contributed a total sum of 57.5 million birr. (Oumer) 17 million birr in cash, 28.7 million birr in form of labor, and 11.8 million birr in local materials. (Oumer) This funding also took place in Oromia, Jimma, and lots of other cities. There are 31 NGOs working with the government of Ethiopia today. (Dutch coalition on disability and development) All these NGOs help the community by improving the basic aspects that are needed for everyday life. Some of the most important necessities are water, shelter, and improved sanitation. Besides these necessities, education is one of the other important aspects that all of these NGOs are working on. 3 of the main NGOs working with the government to improve education are: UNICEF, UNESCO, and Save The Children. So, what I want to say by referring to all these NGOs is that primary education should be fully compulsory in all parts of Ethiopia. This is happening slowly by slowly. One of the millennium development goals in Ethiopia is to make primary education free and compulsory. If children do primary school, then they would have a bigger idea on the needs of education. As I mentioned earlier on, one of the core problems of education in Ethiopia is that the people dont see the need to education. Most farmers in rural places think that helping out the family work during the day is better than going to school. Free primary education could lead to compulsory primary education. The literacy rate of Ethiopia should increase to at least an 87% in the next 5 years. The government of Ethiopia is working hard, with other NGOs to improve the quality of education it is giving to the children. Statistics have proven that, people who earn higher education earn 93 % more than those with a secondary education, who in turn earn 47% more than those with a 5th 8th grade education. (SEEDS OF AFRICA FOUNDATION) This could be equalized if primary education is compulsory. I, as an individual have learnt that a lot is being done to achieve one of the millennium development goals. Lots of NGOs are working with the government to fulfill their goal for an Educated Ethiopia. But, this could be fully fulfilled with our help. We can make a change. We are lucky that we are learning in one of Ethiopians best schools, but we should also think of those poor little girls wasting those useful weekdays by doing hard work. Most females become mums at the age of 15. We, as educated students know the dangers of having babies at these ages, but these poor little girls dont. This is also getting abolished nowadays. So all in all, all that I can say is that Ethiopia is a developing country in terms of its GDP, and also education. Compulsory primary education could lead for a brighter future! And in the next five years, I hope to see a fully educated Ethiopia. Word Count (Excluding Works Cited List and Cover Page): 1,951

Determining factors of national advantage

Determining factors of national advantage Porter introduced a model that allows analyzing why some nations are more competitive than others are, and why some industries within nations are more competitive than others. Determining factors of national advantage has become known as Porters Diamond. Four determinants are distinguishes below:- 1. Factor Conditions Factors can be grouped into human resources like -skilled and qualified labor, labor cost, commitment etc., natural resources, knowledge resources, capital resources, and infrastructure. Porter points out that these factors are not necessarily nature-made or inherited. They may develop and change. Political initiatives, technological progress or socio-cultural changes, for instance, may shape national factor conditions. To established the retail industry in UK almost the same factor conditions work for ASDA and TESCO. Both have skilled workforce and sophisticated infrastructure, skilled human resources or a scientific base, speed of creation, speed of upgrade, and degree of specialisation in retail industry. (http://www.themanager.org/Models/diamond.htm, accessed: 22nd Feb, 2010 2. Related And Supporting Industries A set of strong related and supporting industries is important to the international competitiveness of firms. This includes supplier and related industries. If local supporting industries are competitive, firms enjoy more effective and innovative inputs. Internationally competitive home-based suppliers create advantage in downstream industries through superior inputs, co-ordination in the value chain and innovation and upgrading. The competitiveness of retail industry is benefit from the local industries, local producers and local farmers. ASDA and TESCO are both selling almost similar items like Grocery, Fresh, Wine, Clothing, Phone accessory, Electronic goods. We can see both retail company-ASDA and TESCO has a good supply chain with their local Industries, local Producers, local Farmers and foreign suppliers. 3. Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry The context of characteristics of firm strategy, structure and rivalry in different countries also helps explain bases of advantage. The conditions in nation governing how companies are created, organized, and managed, as well as the nature of domestic rivalry. TESCO implement a clear cost leadership strategy, as market leaders they benefit heavily from economies of scale. The introduction of their own brand allowed the company to cut their costs and increase their profit margins. Toscos current strategy is very much one of growth. Depend on the feature aimed at the high street consumer TESCO offering different categories shop and services- In Tescos Extra stores here are over 15,000 of their own brand products. Customer can buy any product in cheaper price. Tesco Extra stores, selling not just food, like other supermarkets. Tesco Metro was introduced. This was a feature aimed at the high street consumer while offering the benefits of a large supermarket. Tesco Express in essence a petrol station with a small Tesco store onsite. This offered customer convinces products i.e. bread, milk and essential grocery items. Tesco Direct The recent interim results show how Tescos non-food products have made good progress. Tescos Direct will offer the vast range to anyone with computer access. Telecommunications Tesco launched an ISP service back in 1998, but have invested more heavily in this field since 2003. Tescos mobile is in an association with O2 and their ADSL package with NTL. Personal Finance Tesco Personal Finance displays to the extent the corporation is diversifying, now moving outside the retail sector. (http://www.tesco.com, accessed: 22nd Feb. 2010) When we look at the ASDA‘s main strategy is bit same as TESCO-is the ability to keep costs low and pass that on to customers in lower prices. All the ASDA stores have largely accommodated similar with TESCO EXTRA, have the ASDA Direct, George for clothing, Groceries and Financial services. But ASDA dont have the store like Tesco metro or Tesco Expess where Tescos current strategy is very much one of growth. UKs retail industry such Sainsburys, Marks Spencer, Morrisons, Waitrose and so on are the good example of domestic rivalry of Tesco and Asda. 4. Demand Conditions: The shaping of particular factor conditions is influence by demand condition. Porter state that home demand is determined by three major characteristics-the mix of customers needs and wants, their capacity and expansion rate, and the mechanisms that send out domestic preferences to foreign markets. He also states that if home demand provides clearer and earlier signals of demand trends to domestic suppliers than to foreign competitors ,a country can achieve national advantages in an industry or market segment, Enormous demand and high quality desires in retail industry in UK in resulted TESCO and ASDA to produce high quality products. Reference: Michael Porter,The Competitive Advantage of Nations, 1990. Prentice Hall, Exploring Corporate Strategy, 7th edition. http://www.asda.co.uk http://www.tesco.com http://www.themanager.org/models/diamond.htm

Fire Of Desire, Of The Movie Rudy Essay -- essays research papers

Fire of Desire Nearly everyone who has succeeded in some venture of life has at one point encountered critics and criticism. The events throughout the movie, Rudy, directed by David Anspaugh, are no different. The movie, based on a true story, is an inspiring tale of Daniel "Rudy" Rudiger’s fight against all odds to play football for Notre Dame. Rudy, through the course of his entire life, had been told by everyone that chasing his dream of playing Notre Dame football would only cause him heartache. Despite all hindrances, Rudy, played by Sean Astin, accomplished his dream, and is to this day the last Notre Dame football player to be carried off the field. The reoccurring them in the movie is to be persistent in chasing your dreams and overcome all obstacles and criticism you may encounter along the way. Evident throughout the entire movie is how the desire in Rudy’s heart helped him to overcome any physical abilities he lacked. This is clearly shown through Coach Parseghian’s having said to another player, "If you had only a tenth of the heart of Rudiger, you could have been All-American" (Coach Parseghian). Rudy was not blessed with the physical abilities of other players, but rather with the heart to continually persist in achieving his dream of playing Notre Dame football. Rudy’s heart and desire probably got him farther in the game of football than he would have got had he been more athletically gifted. Also lending sup...

lupus Essay -- essays research papers

What is happening in research?  ¨Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many doctors and scientists are investigating the cause and cure of lupus. At medical centres worldwide (including Canada), research has led to improved tests and techniques for diagnosis and better methods for predicting flares. These allow doctors to start treatment sooner, which improves chances for success. As part of research, many centres collect and store patient information and statistics. The results of this data can help doctors and patients make better decisions about treatment of an increasingly wide range of symptoms. This, along with today's advances in technology, the greater awareness about lupus, and the promise of a cure, gives hope to all whose lives are touched by lupus. Lupus Lupus: The disease with 1000 faces! What is lupus?  ¨Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lupus is a chronic disease with a variety of symptoms caused by inflammation in one or more parts of the body. It is estimated that it affects more than 50,000 Canadians. Lupus is not contagious and is not related to AIDS or cancer. It belongs in the family of diseases that includes rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes, and scleroderma. The most common type of lupus is SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus). It is a complex and baffling condition that can target any tissue or organ of the body, including skin, muscles, joints, blood and blood vessels, lungs, heart, kidneys, and the brain. There are other types of lupus which mainly affect the skin. A few individuals develop drug-induced lupus as a response to some medications used to treat other conditions. These symptoms disappear when the person stops taking the medication. Who gets lupus?  ¨Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anyone can: women, men, children. Between the ages 15 and 45, eight times more women than men get lupus. In those under 15 and over 45, both sexes are affected equally. What causes lupus?  ¨Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  No one knows for sure. What we do know is that, in lupus, the immune system (the body's defense against viruses and bacteria) is unable to tell the difference between intruders and the body's own tissues. Trying to do its job, it attacks parts of the body, causing inflammation and creating the symptoms of lupus.  ¨Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because it occurs most often in women of childbearing age, it seems ... ...ts. Sometimes, x-rays, ultrasound examination and biopsies of organ tissues are needed depending on the symptoms and the organs involved. The ANA test  ¨Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test is a critical test in the diagnosis of lupus. A normal immune system makes antibodies to fight infection, but in those with lupus, the immune system makes antibodies against its own tissues. If you have lupus, you make an antibody directed against the nucleus of a cell that contains important cellular functional components such as DNA. Almost all systemic lupus patients receive a positive ANA test, but not all ANA positive tests point to a lupus diagnosis. This is a very important point. If you get a positive test result, it could be pointing to one of a number of autoimmune problems, or to no autoimmune problem at all. It could be without any clinical consequences. Because the results could mean a number of things, it is critical that a rheumatologist evaluate the test. Visible Signs and Symptoms of Discoid Lupus Skin Lesions and Scabbing Swelling of Extremities and Joints Scabbing and skin irritation of the ears Irritation and swelling on the face The End

Media influence on homosexuals

Those who are interested in how media has influenced the LGBT community. Essay Question: How has the media influenced the LGBT community and society's view on the LGBT community? Thesis: One main contributing factor that has impacted our societys view on gay marriage is how they have been portrayed on the screen, by celebrities and in the media. Rationale: My original paper was supposed to be about weddings and social media but I found that to be too broad and extremely difficult to research.After a couple days of thinking I decided to narrow that topic even more. I decided on how the media has effected society's opinion on homosexuality because I thought it was interesting to see how much the mass media can affect our views on something so controversial. Strengths and Problems: Argument: Some may argue that the media's influence is not a good thing because a lot of people are still against homosexuals but I believe it is something that we cannot avoid. My argument is stronger in thi s final draft, but may still be confusing.Evidence: I spent a lot of time trying to research this topic because this is something IVe never thought about before this paper so it is very unfamiliar to me. Once I started researching though it was apparent how much TV has influenced me and my views on homosexuality, which can be seen in my introductory paragraph. I was so surprised to find out about the term, contact hypothesis. Before this paper, I knew the definition but wasn't sure if there was a term for it. Organizational: I definitely tried to make this paper flow more smoothly. Writing the transition were a little difficult though.I still feel like my conclusion is very weak, I struggled for a long time but could not come up with something that would wrap up the essay better. Style: I'm ot sure what to describe my style as. I Just hope the readers will be able to relate. Revisions and Discoveries: I added more about Ellen DeGeneres, and I also added a paragraph about the film, V alentine's Day. I took out the paragraph about adopting children because I realized that there wasn't much correlation with what the media has done. Questions: Am I using the terms of gays, lesbians, homosexuals and LGBT correctly?Which evidence stood out the most? Yvonne English MiddelJans Media and Homosexuality Autumn 2013 What do we typical think of when we hear the word gay or lesbian? Is it a flamboyant male or a tomboy female? Many years ago this may have been the case and to some it still may be. But when I hear the word gay or lesbian I automatically think about my favorite show, Greys Anatomy and the lesbian couple who are attractive and nothing like tomboys. Homosexuality is one of the most controversial topics in our society but in the past t years our opinions and dispositions nave change d.One main contributing factor that has impacted our society's view on gay marriage is how they have been portrayed on the screen, by celebrities and in the media. On January 1 lth, 97 3 PBS released its first broadcast of, An American Family. The show was a twelve hour documentary series that followed the Loud family of Santa Barbra, California. An American family spanned out into a twelve week show following Bill and Pat Loud and their five children, Lance, Kevin, Grant, Delilah and Michele. This documentary challenged the traditional views of an American middle class family.Unlike shows such as, The Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver, which depicted a happy and perfect family, The American Family showed a family going through a divorce and their oldest on, Lance's decision to tell his parents about his homosexuality (An American Family). Lance is widely believed to be the first gay person in American reality television and because of this it has made him a well-known, â€Å"gay icon† to the LGBT community. Lance went on to be a part of a popular band, â€Å"The Mumps† and died at the age of 50 in 2001 due to Hepatitis C and HIV.Lance was an inspir ation and paved the way for homosexuals in the media. Since Lance Longs premier on television many popular shows and movies have aired that have a lead or supporting actor/ actress that is a homosexual or portrays a homosexual. Most of these portrayals have had a positive influence on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. As more LGBT celebrities came out about their sexual orientation the more acceptable it became for LGBT characters to appear on television. This is a great example of the Contact Hypothesis and the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis.The Contact Hypothesis can be accredited to Gordon W. Allport and states that â€Å"under appropriate conditions, interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members. The Parasocial Contact Hypothesis is similar but focuses on one sided relationships. For example, how an individual may know about a celebrity through mass medias but that celebrity does not know about the individual (Schiappa) In 2008 it was briefly legal for homosexuals to become married.Ellen DeGeneres and her partner of then four years, Portia de Rossi took this window of opportunity to become married. DeGeneres lied about her sexual orientation for many years. She made her television debut on The Tonight Show in 1986 and that same year the AIDS epidemic was at its high so a ot of homosexuals were not ready to reveal their sexual orientation due to the fear of being Judged or out casted by society. Ten years later Ellen DeGeneres had the opportunity to have her own show, Ellen. Yet she still decided to keep her orientation a secret.In 1997 during the fourth season of her show, DeGeneres decided to come out about her sexual orientation in a sitcom where she is in the waiting room of an airport trying to tell a woman that she is attracted to her, instead she announces it to the whole audience by accidentally leaning over a microphone Ellen DeGeneres is undoubtedl y a charming person. DeGeneres has won 49 out of 51 award nominations and won the hearts of many Americans. Just some of the great roles she has been a part of include hosting the Emmy Awards, Judging season nine of American Idol and using her popularity to bring awareness to many humanitarian efforts.DeGeneres has supported over 35 different charities including Susan G. Komen for the Cure and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Neary). Ellen DeGeneres is another perfect example ot the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis. We know everything about ner because of the media, and by seeing her positive influence on the world we have an nclination to like her. In 2008 the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) did a survey of more than 2,000 U. S. adults 18 and older and found that two out of ten changed their views of homosexuals to a more positive view point in the past five years.Thirty four percent said their views were influenced by seeing a gay or lesbian character on tel evision and twenty nine percent said it was by a gay or lesbian character on film (Watercutter). It's amazing how societys view of homosexuals can be changed from a negative to a positive understanding by the power of mass medias. Before the LGBT community was represented on television or films, society did not have an accurately representation of what gays and lesbians were like.Probably thinking that being a homosexual is unnatural and even a mental illness! Some people may still believe that but since being exposed to LGBT characters from shows like Friends (Carol and Susan), Greys Anatomy (Calliope and Arizona) and Will & Grace it has enabled society to be more welcoming or sympathetic towards the LGBT community and resulting in LGBT individuals feeling less like an outcast. The media has also helped promote the realization that omosexuality is very much a part of todays culture in the United States.One of the longest running television shows with gay characters is Will & Grace. Over the eight year span on this television show (1998-2006) Will & Grace has earned sixteen Emmy Awards and eight-three nominations with an average of 17. 3 million viewers a week at its peak in 2001. Will & Grace is a show that positively portrays two gay men with completely different personalities. Will Truman is a gay attorney whose orientation is not necessarily made clear at first to a viewer but his co-star Jack McFarland fits the tereotypical homosexual male.Jack is â€Å"flamboyantly gay, continually unemployed and a self-described actor/dancer/choreographer. † (Schiappa). By showing two different personalities of gay men it can help us better understand that yes, there are homosexual men that are flamboyant but a homosexual man can also take form in a charming and handsome man such as Will Truman. Another idea that was promoted or bought up in Will & Grace is when Will married his long time on-again off-again love affair, Vince and then two of them went on to raise a son together.This brings up he idea of same-sex marriage and how two homosexuals can raise a child together which many people still think is not appropriate but Will & Grace have brought attention to issues like these that the LGBT community have to face daily. Although there aren't as many films that help bring awareness to the LGBT community there are usually small supporting actors that will portray a homosexual. One movie that comes to mind is, Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day follows intertwining couples and single people in Los Angeles and what they expect on this day of love. There is Holden Wilson who is portrayed by Bradly Cooper.Wilson is on the plane chatting up a character played by Julia Roberts. They start to talk about their lives and how Wilson is recently single. Up until the end of the movie not much is told about Wilson's personal life. Then there is Sean Jackson, played by Eric Dane who is a top NFL player who is contemplating retiring from his career. During a press conference Jackson says that typically someone retires because they want to spend more time with their families but Jackson has not been able to do that because he is gay and nas nad to hide his sexual orientation tor the sake ot his career.The reporters are confused on whether or not Jackson will continue to play. He makes it clear that he is going to continue playing in the NLF but he did not want his goals of having a family postponed due to his previous fear of coming out. One of the ending scenes is Wilson surprising Jackson at his home. Throughout the entire movie I had no idea that either characters were homosexuals. Jackson and Wilson are both very handsome and their characters in the movies showed no signs of the stereotypical gay man. This shows that anyone can be gay and that the â€Å"stereotypical† homosexual individual is a tereotype that is slowly dying.By making the characters Wilson and Jackson relatable it helps us as a society have a more accurate r epresentation that anyone around us can be a homosexual and not Just the old stereotype of flamboyant men and tomboy females. The LGBT community has come a long way since the 1970's and they are still fighting for equal rights. Because of the portrayals of gays and lesbians in the media and also the uprising of homosexual celebrities it has helped our society become more open minded and welcoming of the LGBT community when ompared to the mindset of the society fifty years ago.Without the media's influence, where would society be in regards to how much more open minded the world has become of homosexuals? Thanks to the media, it is almost like an approval for individuals that it really is okay to a homosexual and that there is no need to be ashamed. Because if so many people love Ellen, who seems like a normal individual other than the fact that she is a lesbian then there is no need to Judge others on their sexual orientation.

Overpopulation of Animals

Millions of companion animals are being euthanized by animal shelters each year nationwide. One might ask why this is. Is there any one person or persons that is responsible for the over population of animals going to our local shelters? These are all questions that need to be answered. If we as the general public want to start tackling these problems, we need to gain further understanding of how and why these problems are created in the first place. As with every topic there are always two sides to every story. This topic is no different. The different voices and opinions vary as much as the different types of breeds of animals. First you have the authority group, like that of your local animal shelters and humane societies. These groups agree primarily on the idea that yes, animal over population is a huge problem, and that spaying and neutering is the number one way to stop domesticated animals from creating more and more offspring. The second solution that many of the authority groups share is the fact that pet owners are not always as informed as they should be about the amount of time, attention, and money it actually takes to properly care for an animal. While speaking with Dr. Joseph Hoelzle, a local veterinarian of 32 years in Cave Junction, OR, he definitely agrees that animal over population is a HUGE problem. He is presented daily with animals that have been lost or abandoned. Dr. Joe and his staff only have a small facility, so when they do receive dogs and cats at their door step, they are very limited in the options they have. If an animal is very sick or injured they have the legal right to euthanize. Otherwise if the animal in question is a dog they have to call the local animal shelter, as they do not have the facilities to facilitate dogs. Cats on the other hand, they can do more with. Dr. Joe and his staff can house them longer and try and find homes for them. When asked his opinion on whether or not he thought the public is lacking in education on the actual amount of responsibility it takes to take care of animals, his response was yes, definitely. Take horses for example, people see horses and how pretty they are and decided to bring one home. If you have never owned a horse before, or have never even been exposed to horses and how to take care of them, then you have no clue how much work it actually takes to maintain one. † Dr. Joe went on to say that the average size dog that is in good health takes approximately $10,000 a year to properly care for them. The first step when making any decis ions on obtaining an animal, no matter what type or breed, is always research. Research how big they will be, what types of health problems are prone to those specific animals, do they require a lot of maintenance, are they high in energy, and so forth. Another interview that was conducted was with Marci, from the Josephine County Animal Shelter in Grants Pass, OR. Not knowing how far out the animal shelter was from my location, I made sure to leave with plenty of time to find the shelter as well as be early for the actual interview its self. As I was sitting out front of the animal shelter waiting for my interview to be had, I can hear all the barking and howling of all the dogs. Through their sad cries you can hear the yearning in their voices to just be loved. This is just one of the many reasons I absolutely love dogs. Although they are locked in â€Å"jail† not know what their final destination might be, they still greet everyone with a smile, and a wagging tail, faithful to the end. The first question to break the ice that I asked Marci was, do you like your job. Marci says she absolutely loves her job and would not change anything she does daily that she is somewhat of an adrenalin junkie. This job is a very rewarding job, frustrating at times but very rewarding. You get the chance to make a difference, a difference with not only the animals that you receive or rescue, but also with the community. † Life as an officer of the animal shelter can be very challenging at times. Some of the challenges they face on a regular basis is a lack of support, a huge lack in funding, lack of man power, and a lack of the proper equipment. They do not have all the fancy equipment that is seen in magazines, or on the popular TV. show on Animal Planet, Animal Police. Marci goes on to state, â€Å"We do not even have the proper funding right now to obtain something as simple as ramps for our trucks. † According to Brad Tally, the animal control supervisor for the Josephine County Animal Shelter, there Annual budget is $400,000. The shelter only receives a total of $75,000 from general funding. The shelter themselves are responsible for raising the remaining balance of $325,000 themselves. They do this through fundraising, donations and the funds they receive from pet owners licensing their pets. Marci explains that it is an Oregon state law that a dog is licensed. Oregon does not recognize cats. If an animal control officer is called out to a residence for something like a disturbance call, and they realize that the dog is not licensed, the owner can be fined for the cost of the original license plus an added thirty dollar penalty fee. If the owner is still not compliant within 30 days of the citation, they can be fined again with a $360 dollar citation. â€Å"We would rather not issue citations; we would rather try and cut the owners a break by giving them a verbal warning. Marci’s thoughts on animal overpopulation and a productive method of reducing the number of animals producing offspring’s that potentially have no homes to go to, are similar to those of Dr. Joe. She says that the overpopulation of domesticated animals can be stopped by spaying and neutering. That there are a lot of programs out there that can and will help with the cost of the procedures. â€Å"If every pet owner decided to get their animals spayed or neutered, the number of animals being picked up and dropped off would decrease significantly. One incentive that is already in place statewide is that, if a pet owner does get there dogs fixed the cost of the licensing is also reduced. The cost goes from thirty five dollars down to eighteen dollars. Another issue Marci raised that contributes to the overpopulation problem was the fact that there are â€Å"back yard† breeders that breed dogs for money. â€Å"They are not breeding their pure bred with another type of pure bred to better the breed; they are breeding these dogs just to gain money. They have no actual intention on ever doing anything with these dogs; they merely do this out of pure greed. An opposing view point to this statement taken from CQ Researcher: America’s Pampered Pets, By Mary H. Cooper Volume 6, issue 48, Para. 29 states that: AKC breeders argue that because their dogs are healthy a nd properly groomed, their rights to bred animals should not be taken away. When Marci was asked about the disturbing fact that millions of animals are being euthanized each year in American shelters and whether or not this was true, her response was actually rather positive. She was able to leave a since of hope, in my now saddened realities. Marci stated that their rates of euthanasia have dropped considerably. That the shelter has started looking for other means of dealing with their animals other than turning directly to euthanizing. Each year animal shelters nationwide receive what is known as â€Å"throw away pets†. What exactly are throw away pets? Picture this; you’re out one day driving around with the family, and all of a sudden you see one of those handmade signs that read â€Å"Free Puppies†. So you decided to pull over†¦ you walk up to see all the adorable puppies, wagging their tails and looking at you with those big innocent eyes. You and the family take one home, not really knowing much about the puppy, let alone its breed. And before you know it, this cute little adorable puppy has turned out to be way more work than you or your family had initially anticipated. So with not wanting to continue to keep up with the daily responsibilities of owning the dog, you decided to take it to the local animal shelter in hopes that it will find a â€Å"better home†. This is where the term â€Å"throw away† dogs comes from. Sadly enough, this is what Marci and the others at the Animal shelter see on a daily basis. The general procedure that is followed when a new animal is received differs from cats to dogs. The first step is the initial paperwork that is involved, getting them â€Å"logged into jail†. After they have done the paper work one of the first things they do is scan the animal in hopes to find a microchip. (Microchips are tiny chips surgically implanted into a dog or cats skin that contains all of the owners contact information. ) If there is not a microchip present and the dog does not have any type of licensing information on them, then the dog is held for seventy two hours. During the holding period the dog is kept in the back kennels away from potential adoptees. A lost and found book is gone through to make sure that the dog in question has not already been called in as lost. If in the seventy two hour period the dog is still not claimed, they perform a temperament test. If the dog passes the temperament test, then they are eligible for adoption. The other means of handling stray dogs other than euthanasia, mentioned earlier in the paper, that the shelter turns to are working with other programs as well as other counties. Some of the programs they work with are PAWS and Dogs for the Deaf. The other county they work with to place dogs into forever homes is Jackson County. PAWS is a non-profit animal shelter located in West Linn, Oregon. According to their website located at www. pawsanimalshelter. org, Since we opened our doors on June 6, 1999, we have found homes for over 1,000 cats, 45 dogs, 1 rabbit, 2 turtles, 1 pigeon, and a miniature horse. According to the website www. dogsforthedeaf. org, Dogs for the Deaf rescue dogs from animal shelters throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. We choose dogs that are people friendly, confident, and motivated by toys, treats, and affection. We rescue, train, and place 30-40 dogs annually. The dogs are trained with positive reinforcement and lots of love. When asked Marci’s opinion on the lack of public information, and whether or not this could be one of the factors that is contributing to the overpopulation of animals in animal shelters, her response was, â€Å"As far as public information, that is something we do, but with the lack of man power and time we have, this is something that we cannot do enough of. There are only two actual officers working out of the Josephine County Animal Shelter, Marci and her partner Bill. Between the two of them they are expected to answer to every single call placed out of Josephine County. This area is roughly from the California border, to the Glendale off ramp, out to the Applegate area. This is where the lack of man power comes into play. An article in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, (Beyond Overpopulation: A comment on Zawistowski et al. and Salman et al. By: Fehell, Lee Anne, 1999 Vol. , Issue 3. Para. 24) Brings up yet another reason as to why animals start to stack up in animal shelters. â€Å"The general public more times than not are detoured away from their local animal shelters due to the common knowledge that pets is killed at the site. They do not want to be made feel guilty or responsible for that animal’s life if they do not pick that certain one to bring home. † Getting a new animal is and welcoming that animal into your home is supposed to be an exciting joyous event, not something that is associated with death or defeat. Although there is a majority of people who would rather obtain a dog or cat from someone they know rather than going to a shelter and possibly taking home an animal that they were not a hundred percent set on, there is also a large majority of people who feel the complete opposite. They would rather go to the local animal shelter and possibly save that cat or dogs life. This in my opinion gives these individuals a sense of accomplishment. Here is a poem about just that.