Essay on Language = Personality - 1037 Words

Since English is essential in getting by in America, people are more likely to judge a person by his/her English mastery. If you speak English well and fluently, you are quite respected. In other words, if you speak â€Å"Broken† English, they may subconsciously think of you as less intelligent than people who speak Standard English. However, does a person’s language mastery reflect complete personality? Since it has not been officially approved that language reveals complete personality, it is inaccurate to judge a person by his/her language mastery. The dangers of linking ones worth to his/her language mastery are obvious as it promotes racial discrimination and the loss of identity. Racial discrimination, which actions†¦show more content†¦Since America is a multinational society, the link between languages to personality may also promote the loss of identity. An example is Amy Tan, from her article â€Å"Mother Tongue†. In the beginning of her life, Tan was always ashamed of her mother’s â€Å"Broken† English. As an attempt to get away from this side of her heritage, she becomes a great writer. She writes with great English and diction, and uses plenty of vocabulary. However, she soon realizes that she is being someone she is not. Tan’s story is a revelation of what the majority people think today that no one wants to be misunderstood by their language mastery. Because of this thought, people are desperate to clear their accents, and try their best to speak English perfectly, and more perfectly. Soon, there would be no other identities in America except Americans. If that is the case, it would be a great loss to the country because no one would want to immigrate to a country that fulfilled with forced assimilation. For several times, I was being discriminated against not only because of my English mastery but also my Chinese accent. The most embarrassing one took place at the first day of my school. As a pe rson of Chinese decent, I was extremely nervous while I had reached the admission office. After waited for nearly an hour in the line, I eventually got the chance toShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Language On Personality Perception1452 Words   |  6 PagesLanguage is, according to Merriam Webster dictionary, â€Å"the system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other†. Language is important in that it is our main sources of communication between others. It allows us to express ideas, share experiences and create connections. For many of us, languages are also our main tool for communicating with ourselves. Our thoughts are encoded with languages before us even conscious of it, but every language is different. Do differentRead MoreHow Language Shapes Our Personality1538 Words   |  7 PagesLanguage Shapes Our Personality Can language shape our personality? Tongues we use are indispensible factors of us. If you think about it, human beings use the tool in form of language in every possible aspect of life. In school, at home, while watching TV, playing sports, reading books, at the store, even on the walk. It is also a part of one’s heritage, cultural belonging and ethnic identity. Language surrounds us from every possible direction. It would be â€Å"silly† to say it has no influenceRead MoreMeasuring Personality Through Language Is A Well Developed Area Of Psychological Research1749 Words   |  7 PagesMeasuring personality through language is a well-developed area of psychological research, dominated by the lexical approach of tracking word usage. However, a more meaning-based approach is emerging in current research, using Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) to assess personality traits. Personality is described as stable and enduring characteristics, similarly, semantic content has b een found to be consistent across changes in emotional well-being and situation (Campbell Pennebaker, 2003). TheRead MoreInfluence Of Language Over Personality Perception Essay974 Words   |  4 PagesThis journal focuses on the influence of language over personality perception. Through this study researchers were focused on finding an answer to this controversial issue by proving the Sapir-Whorf or Whorfian hypothesis. In order to succeed, they performed four different studies on a total of 532 Chinese-English bilingual participants. The information obtained showed interesting facts about a highest level of dialectical thinking and personality perception when participants speak in Cantonese thanRead MorePersonality, Gender, and Age in the Language of Social Media1136 Words   |  4 PagesPersonality, Gender, and Age in the Language of Social Media This article was published in the PLOS ONE journal volume 9 on September 25, 2013. It was received for publication on January 23, 2013 and accepted for publication on July 29, 2013. The study was conducted by a group of scientists in the University of Warwick which is located in the United Kingdom. These scientists were H. Andrew Schwartz mail, Johannes C. Eichstaedt, Margaret L. Kern, Lukasz Dziurzynski, Stephanie M. RamonesRead MoreThe Influential Difference Between Environment And Heredity1610 Words   |  7 PagesOur personalities have many traits, and these traits made us who we are. But that’s not the whole story about it. We are not just similar because we have the same traits, but we are also uniquely different from our environment and heredity causes, or maybe our freewill and other unknown factors. Our personalities are so unique that we are the only person in this whole universe. No one else is the same, and even identical twins are different. We are us, and only us. So how does that work out? WhyRead MoreHow Does The Author Use Language From Present Scrooge s Unpleasant Personality?1376 Words   |  6 PagesHow does the author use language to present Scrooge s unpleasant personality? Charles dickens uses insults to portray Scrooge s unpleasant personality. This can be alluded from Stave 1 in the novel where Scrooge can be seen snubbing the charity workers who came seeking for a donation. If they would rather die, [...] they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population., such insult allows the reader to comprehend that Scrooge is nothing more than a greedy man who solely believes that theRead MoreDutch commando corps Essay1194 Words   |  5 Pagesexample), (4) personality traits or characteristics (such as decisiveness, emotional stability, confidence and extraversion), and last but not least, (5) integrity or trustworthiness. In order to join the Dutch corps commando troops it is required to have a special skill set. By using different selection methods we can assess the different competencies. From a broad list, we would use CV, self-assessment, physical ability test, references, medical test, criminal records, personality inventories,Read MoreNeo Personality Inventory Revised ( Neo Pi R )4227 Words   |  17 Pages NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R) Linda Laiton Dominguez Salem College Psych 220, Spring 2017 Dr. Mary Jacobsen April 18, 2017 Psychological tests or psychological assessments are an important asset in the field of psychology. These tests are designed toRead MoreLanguage As An Important Part Of Human Development1419 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction The Oxford dictionary defines language as â€Å"the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way†, however this statement is not completely correct. Language is the ability to use and understand complex forms of communication, through symbols, sounds and gestures. According to the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association, language goes beyond just being able to speak. It is an important part of human

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American Public Education Essay - 1785 Words

The American public educational system is filled with an assortment of problems. Most students are graduating with less knowledge and capability than similar students in other industrialized countries. Classroom disruptions are surprisingly common, and in some classrooms, nearly continuous. The public education system is having difficulty adjusting to the no child left behind act. The No Child Left Behind(NCLB) is a landmark in education reform designed to improve student achievement and change the culture of American’s schools. The primary sponsors of NCLB were President George W. Bush and Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, a decades-long advocate for raising the quality of public education. This law was signed in 2001.†¦show more content†¦NCLB is a federal law that mandates a number of programs aimed at improving U.S. education in elementary, middle and high schools by increasing accountability standards. In 2002 there was a revision that, states must test more often to close the gap between minority students and those with disabilities. Opponents of NCLB, which includes all major teachers unions, allege that the act hasnt been effective in improving education in public education, especially high schools, as evidenced by mixed results in standardized tests. Opponents also claim that standardized testing, which is the heart of NCLB accountability, is deeply flawed and biased for many reasons. That stricter teacher qualifications have exacerbated the nationwide teacher shortage, not provided a stronger teaching force. The NCLB law has set a 2014 deadline for states to make public school students proficient in math and reading, but each state decides how to meet that goal. are from achieving proficiency. In January 2007, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. Claims that 90% of teachers have met NCLBs highly qualified teacher requirements. At-risk students are getting help earlier children with disabilities are receiving more classroom tim e and attention. â€Å" Spelling† report admitted problems that NCLB has identified and not cured, including: Between 1999 and 2004, reading scores for 17-year-olds fell 3 points, and math scores fell 1 point. U.S. 15-year-olds ranked 24th out of 29Show MoreRelatedThe History of American Public Education Essay examples2412 Words   |  10 PagesAfter the American Revolutionary war, the people of the United States were responsible for determining the best course of action within the new republic. The Articles of Confederation were replaced by the new Constitution, which provided a general set of principles the government was to be guided by. This new system was a new and improved integration of historical warnings, hoping to prevent tyranny by individual or the masses and injustice. However, it quickly became apparent that a certain educationRead MoreThe American Public Education System913 Words   |  4 PagesIn American two out of three eighth-graders can’t read pr oficiently and for African American and Hispanic students across the country dropout rates are close to 40 percent and those were just two of the many ways the American Education System has failed its members. Education in the United States is provided by public schools and private schools. Public education is universally required at the kindergarten through twelfth grade level. Budgets and policies are set through locally elected school boardsRead MoreAmerican Public Education Essay676 Words   |  3 Pages Public schools in America were regarded as the best public schools in the world up to the 1970s. Today, compared to the development of Asian and European schools, American schools are ranked as some of the lowest schools. Some students are graduating from high school with little or more knowledge about the core classes. For instance, I started school in the US at age twelve, eighth grade, and was placed in college prep classes, even though English was my second language. Fortunately, I had theRead MoreAmerican Public Education Essays1553 Words   |  7 PagesCollege Writing 24-102 Dr. Boggs American Public Education Today, education enables us to enlarge our knowledge and open doors for opportunities to the path of having a good future. In the five readings, each written by a different author, there was a lesson learned and something to take away from each one. Reading through the passages by Mann, Moore, Malcolm X, Gatto, Rose, and Anyon, each author contributed his or her point of view on general public education. This topic can be very argumentativeRead MoreThe Story Of American Public Education780 Words   |  4 PagesKerrigan Cesar School: The Story of American Public Education 1 During early schooling the religion was taught in the teachings, there was a certain level of fear was instilled in all children that if they disobeyed to follow authority they would fail (Joel Spring). Now a days public school and religion are usually separate but disobeying authority and not being a good student gives students a fear of failing out of school or not being good enough for colleges to notice. The video also said thatRead MoreThe American Public Education System Essay1515 Words   |  7 PagesThink Outside The Box Tired of the same old routine? Too much pressure is being put on high school students; some students do not even know how to cope with it. The way that the American public education system has planned to make these individuals succeed is really not how it should be. Students are being taught information that will not be as useful once they become adults. Students should be able to receive the knowledge they need in order to succeed in life. Students need an opportunity to beRead MoreThe American Public Education System2331 Words   |  10 Pagesproblems in the American public education system today. Some of those include the quality of teachers, who have no real passion for the job, and are only allowed to remain in the position because of tenure privileges. Another issue is the state budgets that are allowed for public schools, with some states investing billions of dollars, and others prioritizing it lower on the list. In hot debate today is standardized testing, and the negat ive effect that it has on high school education, with the limitsRead MoreUnderstanding the purpose of american public education Essay1062 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding the Purpose of American Public Education American public education has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past several hundred years. This transformation not only includes technology and appearance, but diversity and policies as well. However, an age-old question is still being pondered today. What is the purpose of American public education? Although you may have your own answer for this question; not everyone may agree with you. This is where the problem resides. How canRead MoreCareer Education in American Public Schools Essay1389 Words   |  6 PagesProblem Statement How should the United States government revitalize career and technical education (CTE) to meet 21st century needs, including collaboration and partnership between K-12 public education and the workforce? Background The need for a national career education program is driven by a few principles. Firstly, CTE can help to keep students in school. In 2011, seven percent of American students dropped out of high school (â€Å"Dropout rates†, n.d.). CTE programs help to keep students inRead More American Public Education - Obsessed with Being Average Essay625 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican Public Education - Obsessed with Being Average A countrys educational system is typically influenced by a variety of factors. Racial and ethnic attitudes, for example, can play an important role in policy formation and school administration. Language is a significant factor as well. Political and religious ideologies also are potent influences on the educational system. An average student’s registration into the educational system may be affected by such factors. What is the definition

Intellectual Property ( Ip ) Essay - 919 Words

Intellectual Property (IP) can be broadly described as using human intellect to create something new or original, and it is collectively comprised of four categories: Trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Intellectual property is a valuable asset that must be protected and strategically managed. To fully foster innovation, intellectual property protection is crucial. If protection is lacking, than businesses and individual would not fully benefit from their inventions and could possibly refrain from research and development. Intellectual property drives economic growth and competitiveness. â€Å"The direct and indirect economic impacts of innovation are overwhelming, accounting for more than 40% of U.S. economic growth and employment† (GIPC, 2015, para. 3). Intellectual property contributes tremendously to our national and state economies. IP accounts for 74% of all US exports, which amounts to nearly $1 trillion. It is also important for consumers. Solid IP ri ghts assist consumers in making choices about the safety, effectiveness and reliability in their purchases. Many industries count on sufficient enforcement of their IP, by means of trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and patents. According to the USPTO (2015) â€Å"In the United States patents are available to any person who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof† (para.6). There are three types of patentsShow MoreRelatedIntellectual Property And Ip For Short816 Words   |  4 PagesIP Write Up Name: Alexander Tuma Intellectual property or IP for short refers to the creations of the mind. For example inventions, artistic work, designs, logos and more. (Wipo.int) IP is also protected by the law. For example it protects the users work by putting copyrights, trademarks and patents on his or hers work. This grants the users to get recognition or money from they want they made. (Wipo.int) Copyright: A copyright is a legal term that is used to define the rights that creatorsRead MoreIntellectual Property ( Ip ) Is Everywhere1550 Words   |  7 PagesIntellectual Property (IP) is everywhere. IP is inventions. IP is literary and artistic works. IP is designs or symbols. IP is names and images used in commerce. Almost everything is IP. These things can be protected by patent, copyright, service mark, or trademark. These topics are very complicated; the consolidated version of US patent laws and rules is over 200 pages long. While there are many good things about IP protection, there are also many unnecessary problems with it that should be changedRead MoreIntellectual Properties And How Can You Protect It?1004 Words   |  5 Pagesis Intellectual Properties and How Can You Protect It? What is Intellectual Property? Intellectual Property or IP is a representation of creations of the mind, or something that can be legally owned, Intellectual Property allows protection through patents, trademarks, copyright, designs, circuit layouts and plant breeder’s rights. Almost any business can have some form of intellectual property that they need to protect. What are your rights and how can you protect your intellectual property? ExploreRead MoreQuestions On Intellectual Property Rights1475 Words   |  6 PagesDebate Paper: Intellectual Property Rights The world that exists today was built on two things: innovation and the pursuit of one’s self interest. Our founding founders believed intellectual property to be a way to encourage innovation. Intellectual property (IP) is what ties these two building blocks together. IP is a property right that is granted by some form of government. The government strictly enforces individual property rights, which some believe tends to attract more investment, grows fasterRead MoreProtection of Intellectual Property Essay1030 Words   |  5 PagesProtection of Intellectual Property Introduction There is a lot of controversy about intellectual property and its application to software. There are many difficult, fundamental questions that arise, such as exactly what aspects of a piece of software should be protected under copyright or patent. [5] Despite the fact that applying existing laws to software is not very straight-forward, some sort of legal protection for intellectual property is necessary, as it provides a significant amount ofRead MoreThe Fair Use Doctrine?1137 Words   |  5 Pagesgave works to HathiTrust for digital conversion, tension from the owners of the work began to rise. The Authors Guild, an organization that has been supporting writers and their rights since 1912, filed a case against HathiTrust to protect intellectual property. Google formed HathiTrust, an organization that the libraries loaned books to for the purpose of digital scanning and creating metadata files (Ford, 2011). Converting books to a digital format allows the libraries to circulate digital copiesRead MoreThe Protection Of Copyright : An Indispensable Part Of The Domestic And International Protection Essay974 Words   |  4 PagesPosition Paper As one of the three most important aspects of intellectual property, copyright is an indispensable part of the domestic and international protection. As one of the earliest countries to be aware of the importance of the protection of intellectual property, the United States paid great attention to the protection of copyright. All the treaties and legislation are aiming at reaching the balance between the creators’ interests and the competitors’ rights. 1.Domestic protection 1.1. ItRead MoreThe Purpose Of Copyright Laws1130 Words   |  5 Pageslivelihoods depend upon the recognition of rights† (p. 1, par. 1) for their intellectual properties. In the contemporary business world, most companies that sell products of some kind depend on other firms for the design, production, and distribution of the product to make it available for selling. Such sales are often either wholesale to retailers or retail to consumers. Violations of the copyrights of intellectual property (IP), destroys the chain of commerce reflected in these different industries;Read MoreThe Importance Of IP-Protection In China752 Words   |  4 Pageslongstanding intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement problems in China. About 86-90% of all IP protected goods sold in China have been illegally copied. As a result, U.S. industries lose billions of dollars in revenue and, consequently, thousands of jobs per year. Local Chinese businesses currently have a vested interest in the co unterfeiting industry, so China is unlikely to support IP-protection until it has economic incentives to do so. Because China is a net importer of IP-protected goodsRead MoreThe And The Industrial Revolutions1305 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is intellectual property? Intellectual property or IP for short is creations of the mind, such as; inventions, literary and artistic works, designs and symbols, names and images used in commerce. Among these IP also includes trade secrets, patents, copyrights, and trademarks. IP and its protection are detrimental to the success of the economy. IPs are the innovations that drive the market forward and they are what created eras like the renaissance and the industrial revolutions. But nowadays

A Man Ahead of His Time free essay sample

This paper looks at the philosopher Plato, and his beliefs regarding morality and its link with knowledge. This paper presents an overview of Plato?s philosophical dialogues. The author examines of some of Plato?s main philosophical beliefs on human nature, the importance of morality in a society, and that gaining knowledge for the sake of having knowledge would help people lead more truth filled and moral lives. Since the beginning of our history, we have had many great philosophers guide us along the path of our societal evolution. Some were religiously based while others were secularly based but they all had something to contribute. Few of them though could compare to Plato when it came to understanding human nature and the ways of society more than Plato did. Plato is considered one of the greatest philosophers of all time. He had knowledge of the workings of the human mind and heart that kept him light years ahead of his time. We will write a custom essay sample on A Man Ahead of His Time or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Plato taught many things that can still be applied to todays society. As one of the heavyweights in the field of philosophy Plato covered more ground in his teachings than many others have ever done since.

The Anthropology of Terrorism free essay sample

It has been eleven years since these attacks, and our country is still at war, and we use terms like â€Å"acts of terror† to justify our invasion of their civilian space. Personally, I do not care much for conspiracy theories, but I was interested to know a little bit more about the Islamic culture that these â€Å"terrorists† stem from. While the majority of the population of Iraq and Afghanistan are practicing Muslims, they can not all be defined as â€Å"terrorists. In all actuality, a lot of them may define Americans and other westernized countries with seemingly unlimited war powers as â€Å"terrorist† groups. There are many differences from the American view of acts of terror, the Iraqi view of acts of terror, and the view of how those who commit crimes of terror see their own actions. I think it very important that American civilians, especially those who are not well educated on our foreign policies and the current war situation, take time to see how Ir aqi civilians and the Muslim population view the September 11 acts of terror, and the subsequent war compared to those who chose to commit these acts. We will write a custom essay sample on The Anthropology of Terrorism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I think that most would be surprised when they find that the Islamic religion does not actually promote those extensive â€Å"acts of terror† that they do not support the extremist groups like Al Quaeda, and that our presence in their civilian areas, like market places may not be necessary or productive for their day-to-day routines. In order for many people to understand these differing viewpoints on terrorism, I think it is important to focus on how different people may define an act of terror. In December of 1994, the Unite Nations General Assembly Resolution 49/60, Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, describes terrorism as: â€Å"Criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstance unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or any other nature that may be invoked to justify them. Later, in 2004 at UN Security Council Resolution 1566 a definition is given, stating acts of terror are: Criminal acts, including against civilians, committed with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose to provoke a state of terror in the general public or in a group of persons or particular persons, intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act. The United Nations adds to the definition again in 2005 at a panel, stating the definition of terrorism as: Any act intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non- combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act. (â€Å"Various Definitions of Terrorism†) The United Nations has no official definition of terrorism, because some would argue that there is no real distinction between a â€Å"terrorist† and a â€Å"freedom fighter. Therefore, the United Nation’s descriptions of the term are vague and always include that terrorism is â€Å"intimidating† or that it â€Å"provokes terror† on a group of people. The first description listed comments on the justification of these acts, which most others do not. Now, I would like to point out the differences in he definitions that are released by the Arabic Community and the united States . In 1998, the Arab Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism was implemented by the Council of Arab Ministers of the Interior and the Council of Arab Ministers of Justice in Cairo, Egypt. They defined terrorism at this convention as: Any act or threat of violence, whatever its motives or purposes, that occurs in the advancement of an individual or collective criminal agenda and seeking to sow panic among people, causing fear by harming them, or placing their lives liberty or security in danger, or seeking to cause damage to the environment or to public or private installations or property or to occupying or seizing them, or seeking to jeopardize national resources. â€Å"Various Definitions of Terrorism†) The United States has many different definitions of terrorism in almost every government organization’s code. In Federal Criminal Code Title 18 of the United States defines terrorism and lists the crimes associated with terrorism. In Section 2331 of Chapter 113(B), defines terrorism as: †¦activities that involve violent†¦ or life-threatening acts†¦ that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State and†¦ appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and†¦(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States†¦Ã¢â‚¬  FBI definition of terrorism: The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. The definition of terrorism used in the United States Army Field Manual FM 3-0, form 2001 is: The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear. It is intended to coerce or intimidate governments or societies [to attain] political, religious, or ideological goals. The Dictionary of Military Terms used by the Department of Defense defines terrorism as: The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological. (â€Å"Various Definitions of Terrorism†) I think the difference in the way our governments define a term that the United Nations finds so debatable shows a huge cultural difference in where the priorities for our countries lie. Obviously, since the September 11 attacks, the United States has spent an extensive amount of time coming up with more and more to add to the definition of terrorism and have worked to almost make ourselves seem like more of the victim. Our Federal Code includes mass destruction and assassination, but states that it primarily occurs within the United Stated jurisdiction. This is open to interpretation, as is all code, but it basically means that we are always the victim of acts of terror and can hardly ever be accused of committing the crime. However, in the FBI definition, it says that terrorism is using violence and force to coerce a government and its civilians of political and social objectives. Are we not using force and asserting ourselves on the Iraqi government, and every other government that we have been at war with? Has it not all been for a political gain? Then the military definitions add that actions can only be defined in that way if they are being committed for political, religious, or ideological reasons. However, I think that most Americans, if asked would only include religion in the definition. We have been trained to think that way, to only see terrorism as acts of Jihad, extremist Muslims. Americans, since I can remember have always been extremely proud. We are all truly blessed to come from a country that has a strong military backbone, free, accessible education, a comparably thriving economy, and the opportunity for social mobility. That being said, the majority of Americans are very ignorant and one-sided on a lot of political issues. Most are content with obtaining the easily accessible information from the news or internet and word of mouth. Most do not take the time to educate themselves on social issues that they comment on daily. This is why people are so opposed to those who practice Islam using their first amendment right to freedom of religion, especially in the south where most are extremely prejudiced. The news and the coverage of the September 11 attacks and the war are to blame for this phenomenon of fearing those who are different. In Packaging Terrorism: Co-opting the News for Politics and Profit, Susan Miller criticizes the way the media chooses which stories to run. â€Å"Threats, danger, fear. These words grab the attention of the readers and that’s what the media want. Your attention. Be afraid. Be very afraid. † She shows that there are many more options of global stories that our local news stations could run, but those that involve Americans or anything involving conflict in the Middle East, or even stories of al-Qaeda action in other countries, will get higher ratings as â€Å"Big Stories† over stories like the huge crisis of bombings in Mumbai in 2006, which is a place and event that Americans, in general, have no solid connection to. However, our society is also very vain, and there are even international events that are very important to us and the action in the Middle East that constantly get trumped by â€Å"larger† domestic stories. A 2006 suicide bombing of the Golden Mosque, which was close to triggering an Iraqi civil war was overshadowed by the Winter Olympics that year. A 2005 bombing was completely overshadowed by the kidnapping of Natalee Holloway in Aruba. The American people are more likely to be interested in our domestic actions than the stories of foreign events, especially when these events seem to run together and are so similar every time they are covered. One thing that is extremely controversial in covering those true acts of terror is the fact that most terrorists really want the attention on them. If someone is taken hostage and taped, or there is a huge event, like the 9/11 attacks, those who commit these actions are doing so for the attention, and for the media to show these events to the public, some can argue that those who share the news are just giving them what they most desire: to have all eyes on them. There is also an opinion, however, that if this footage is shown, it will show Americans the true brutality of the people who our military is fighting against, and that it will show that there truly is a threat, encouraging Americans to further support our military and create a unifying experience that promotes patriotism. This was shown in the case of the kidnapping of reporter, Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in 2002 by al-Qaeda operative Khalid Shiekh Mohammad. The video of his execution was made available to news networks, and a portion of Pearl speaking was shown on CBS. The full video shows his throat being slit and his severed head held up with a voiceover speaking out against the â€Å"enemies of Islam. † After much debate of whether or not the video should be seen by the public, whether it would violate the rights of Pearl’s grieving family, and whether the American people should be allowed to be exposed to witnessing a person’s murder, Peter Kadizis and Stephen Mindich of the Boston Phoenix posted a link to the video with a note above stating, â€Å"This is the single most gruesome, horrible, despicable, and horrifying thing I’ve ever seen. . That our government and others throughout the world, who have had this tape for some time have remained silent is nothing less than an act of shame†( Moeller). While our media is the largest source of information for Americans and is the largest reason that Americans have an instilled fear of anyone of the Islamic religion, the USA Patriot Act passed in 2001 as a response to the terrorist attacks is one of the triggers that set off this fear, and is a constant reminder of the attack. This Act was instated based on the theory that if there is a threat to national security, the public is more willing to allow for harsher policies and increased restrictions of civil liberties. The Act includes reduced restrictions in law enforcement agencies gathering of intelligence within the United States; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. Even though support for the Patriot Act has decreased, though not dramatically (from 60% classifying it as â€Å"necessary† in 2001, to a 39% in 2006), President Barack Obama signed a four-year extension of the act to include, searches of business records that would assist in an investigation undertaken to protect against international terrorism, and surveillance of lone wolves,† individuals suspected of terrorist-related activities not linked to terrorist groups. (Borgeson, Valeri). This, eleven years later is an act that is still perfectly in tact, and is still restricting our rights. It isn’t the most invasive law, but it does hang over the heads of those who do business internationally and those who immigrated form other countries, because they are constantly under the threat of being watched and studied by the government. Since Americans have media coverage and restrictions that help to shape the idea of terrorism and the way we perceive terrorism and acts of violence, it is only logical to realize that the Iraqi people, have their own way of defining Terrorism in their country. It is important to realize, when analyzing their views, that the United States have been seen as a threatening force to them for the past eleven years by imposing on their land and declaring warfare on their former leader and having our military staying within their civilian quarters. Though Iraq has been liberated for the past five years, American troops were just recently sent home, and they are suffering from terrorist attacks against them from other outside forces as well. Most of those who practice the Islamic religion believe that warfare should only be used to suppress rebellion or to defend against imposing armies. They do not believe in starting wars, because the punishment is not in their hands, violence should only be used for protection. Yousuf Baadarani, a popular writer defending the Islamic culture, states in an interview with Asia Times states, â€Å"Since Islam forbids terrorism, than no terrorist could be labeled Islamic. He would have had to abandon the Islamic path to become a terrorist† (Abedin). Jihad is only supposed to be used to protect the Islamic religion against those who attack it, not to create terror in those who do not practice Islam. This counters a popular theory Americans have that all Muslims are destined to commit acts of terror and that they are instilling values that promote suicide bombings and murder of those who do not practice Islam. Al-Qaeda was born out of Osama Bin Laden’s leftover defense force he gathered together for the Saudi Kingdom, but it was rejected after they allowed US troops to use Saudi Arabia after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Al-Qaeda means â€Å"the basis† or â€Å"the base. † It is extremely difficult to find out the members of this organization and to figure out who is behind certain attacks. The chain of command is extremely difficult to follow. It has one goal: â€Å"to hit the West wherever and whenever it can, in order to further polarize the Muslim and Western worlds and effect an eventual victory of the Islamists, who claim leadership over the Muslim world†(Reuter). This terrorist group- and there is no debate from anyone as to whether or not they are a terrorist group- has committed too many suicide bombings and killings of innocent westerners to name. They are the group behind the infamous September 11 attacks, and are the ones who created all of the fear of terrorism in the United States. This group of people is founded on a basic principle: hate for all Westerners, and the desire to completely sever ties between those who practice Islam and Westerners. This is not a group based on jihad; the exception to the Islamic law against violence, which should only be allowed when defending the Islamic religion. It is simply a hate group against Westerners that wears a mask of religion. In conclusion, there is a lot that is not perceived correctly when it comes to the idea of terrorism. Every citizen of Iraq is not a terrorist, and neither is every member of the Muslim community. A select few extremists have ruined the reputation of a religion in the United States, with the help of the media and politics. I hope that every American citizen at some point realizes the difference between the terrorist attacks of September 11, and the Iraqi family that walks down the street. It is important to me and our country that people see that most Muslims do not support al-Qaeda and that the group of extremists is not practicing their religion properly. I hope that people will start to realize the importance of getting information from other sources than the popular media and that some will start to look up more information on important domestic and international events. Most of all, I hope that I have been able to properly compare viewpoints on terrorism in different parts of the world accurately.