Islamic, Ancient Egyptian, and Ancient Greek Art Essay Example for Free

Islamic, Ancient Egyptian, and Ancient Greek Art Essay Elisabeth Siddiqui has written: â€Å"Art is the mirror of a culture and its world view. There is no case to which this statement more directly applies than to the art of the Islamic world. † Seeing that Muslims are believers in only one true God of the universe, they have been advised by Prophet Muhammad not to make pictures of human beings, for these pictures may often turn out to become idols for people, thereby turning them away from the Lord of the universe. Hence, Islamic art has focused on anything other than the human form. Muslims have used Arabic calligraphy to express their creativity in countless art works. â€Å"Arabic script lends itself wonderfully to decorative use,† writes Siddiqui. It is the language of the Qur’an, even if it is used to write something other than the Qur’anic verse. The choices are limitless. Thus we find a beautiful piece of calligraphic art as an inscription on a carved wood panel from a door that was made in the late medieval Islamic period (See Appendix). The inscription on the panel consists of the signature of its maker. The script is monumental, with large and rounded proportions. The seven words of the inscription are deeply carved in three horizontal registers. These are set against a scrolling leaf background (Late Medieval Period, 2004). Contrary to the believers in the unseen God, the ancient Egyptians were Pharaoh worshippers. The king of ancient Egypt was the Pharaoh, who appeared larger than life in the art works of the period. Ti Hunting the Hippopotamus is a wonderful depiction of the subject (See Appendix). Carved on a surface of a stone, this is a relief using the typical ancient Egyptian style of frontalism, in which the head is drawn in profile while the body is seen from the front. In this ISLAMIC, ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, AND ANCIENT GREEK ART Page # 2 picture, Ti is enormous as compared to his slaves as well as the animals. He is the god of both slaves and animals, and is therefore shown as a higher being as compared to the lesser beings. The slaves in the picture are relaxed. So are the animals. Moreover, the animals shown are more realistic than all humans, perhaps because of the ambivalence felt by the artist toward both the â€Å"higher† and the â€Å"lower beings† within humans (Kremen, 1996). Lastly, the ancient Greeks, who also had plenty of gods and goddesses, downplayed the divine aspects of their gods, unlike the Egyptians, by giving their gods a typically human form. There did not have to be higher or lower beings in ancient Greek art. Instead, the most perfect of figures created were recognized as gods naturally. The ancient Greek civilization enjoyed the beauty of the human form, including the naked human form which was admired for its harmonious proportions. The Torso of Apollo is one of the most perfect examples of this art (See Appendix). Made in 2nd century AD, the torso of marble shows young Apollo, the Greek god of light, music, archery, healing, atonement, prophecy and flocks and herds. The figure was popular with both Greeks and ancient Romans. It is an unclothed manifestation of splendor and courage, only expected to be shown of Apollo, who wears a belt over one shoulder to which a quiver of arrows were attached at his back (Torso of Apollo). By showing the god as distinctly human, the artist inspires into viewers the spirit to take Apollo for a courageous model and turn into heroes themselves. Thus all art appears as a mirror of its culture and the worldview. References 1. Kremen, Lisa. (1996, December). â€Å"Understanding Egyptian Art. † Egyptian Art. Retrieved from http://www. bergen. org/AAST/Projects/Egypt/egyptian_art. html. (10 February 2007). 2. â€Å"Late Medieval Period. † (2004). Islamic Art. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Retrieved from http://www. lacma. org/islamic_art/intro. htm. (10 February 2007). 3. Siddiqui, Elisabeth. â€Å"Islamic Art. † MSA. Retrieved from http://www.colostate. edu/orgs/MSA/index. html. (10 February 2007). 4. â€Å"Torso of Apollo. † DIA Galleries Ancient Art. Retrieved from http://www. dia. org/collections/Ancient/ancient. html. (10 February 2007). ISLAMIC, ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, AND ANCIENT GREEK ART Page # 4 Appendix Islamic Art Ancient Egyptian Art ISLAMIC, ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, AND ANCIENT GREEK ART Page # 5 Ancient Greek Art.

What Impact did the Conquest have on Aztec Society?

What Impact did the Conquest have on Aztec Society? The discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492 was the catalyst for change that had been long awaited in European society. After hundreds of years of living in Asias shadow, the sun was finally rising over Europe and their newly conquered land. But we mustnt forget that the New World was not necessarily new to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. By the time Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had already established a society that had been successfully functioning for many years, complete with a teeming capital that rivaled European cities. However, the Spanish were able to decapitate their society and permanently change it. Simultaneously, they were able change the way society functioned in their homeland in Europe. But how did the Spanish accomplish the conquest of the Aztec Empire and what happened after they did? The discovery and conquest of the Aztec empire, while beneficial to European society in both the New and Old World, leaves Aztec societ y decapitated and virtually unrecognizable The fall of the Aztec empire to Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s and his army was the necessary first step in controlling this area of the Americas. Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s, a Spaniard on an unsanctioned expedition landed on the coast of Mexico in early1519, was searching for the rumored gold and great cities of Mexico.  [1]  He arrived in the city of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, later that year.  [2]  At this time in the early 16th century, Tenochtitlan was one of the largest cities in the world, boasting a population of over 200,000 people.  [3]  According to records, the Spanish were dazzled by the city and had never seen anything like it before.  [4]  The Aztec empire as a whole, run by an emperor named Montezuma, had authority over 5 million people in the area that is now known as Mexico.  [5]  Cortà ©s first attempt to conquer the Aztecs failed miserably and he was quickly forced to retreat. However, he returned in 1521with indigenous allies from surroundi ng areas and was able to decapitate their society. He did this by exploiting cultural and political weaknesses of the empire. First of all, the Aztecs were not accustomed to traditional European warfare. Their fighting had always been ceremonial, not for bloodshed. The Europeans were merciless in their efforts to conquer the empire. Secondly, Cortà ©s disrupts the political structure of the empire very quickly by defeating Montezuma. The Aztecs were highly dependent upon their hierarchal structure, and without an emperor, they were unable to effectively organize resistance.  [6]  They were left in a state of chaos and were finally forced to surrender to the conquistadors after 3 months of warfare.  [7]  For the Aztecs, this surrender to the Spanish meant the permanent loss of their political and cultural society. The Spanish did not just deal a mortal blow to the political structure and culture of Tenochtitlan; they also wiped thousands of its residents off the face of the planet. This, however, was not intentional. The Aztecs had never been exposed to European diseases such as influenza and smallpox, and therefore were extremely susceptible to these illnesses. Smallpox was particularly contagious and deadly. Using the Spaniards as a vessel, it killed over 80 percent, which was approximately 11 million people, of the original population of Tenochtitlan.  [8]  It is difficult to fathom how the Aztecs felt as they watched millions of people die around them in an inexplicable manner. The psychological effect was inevitably devastating.  [9]  This demographic collapse further weakened the empire and left it more susceptible to European control and exploitation. If the destruction of the political structure had not been enough to conquer the Aztec Empire, such an overwhelming loss of the o riginal population did. The fall of the Aztec empire, while a devastation to its indigenous people, was a significant achievement for Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s and his army of conquistadors. After bringing Tenochtitlan to the ground, the Europeans assumed the responsibility of power in the area, which meant they needed to construct a new legal framework. Spains new viceroyalty was appropriately named New Spain and its capital was called Mexico City.  [10]  The Spanish crown appointed Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s governor and established a system much like feudalism that had been seen in earlier European society. In the encomienda system, conquistadors were given land and labor, and in return they had to house the indigenous people and provide them with a Christian education.  [11]  This system did not work as effectively as originally planned. Since the Spanish crown was across the ocean, it was not able to enforce the system. In many cases, the Spanish treated the Aztecs as slaves. In hopes of expanding European society into the area, the indigenous people ultimately lost their religion, their culture, their freedom, and their dignity under this system. Promoting religion in the New World was not only a way for Europeans to legitimize their conquests, but it was a way for them to spread their ideas and exert control in the New World.  [12]  Former religious institutions of the Aztec Empire were considered blasphemy to the Spanish Christians, and by 1521 the Spanish had destroyed 600 temples and 20,000 idols. Outnumbered, the indigenous peoples adopted Christianity without much hesitation.  [13]  The Spanish did make efforts to incorporate Aztecan aspects into the new religious society. They allowed indigenous peoples to be a part of the administrative structure of the church. They also replaced traditional church costumes with Spanish garments.  [14]  Just like in Europe, Christianity became an integral part of society in New Spain. Back in the old world, people heard stories of the magnificent conquest of Mexico and developed a desire to go to the New World. This was a good thing, especially following the depletion of 80% of the original population of Tenochtitlan (lecture).  [15]  This introduction of people from the old world created a society of new ethnic diversity. There were the two original groups of people: the Spanish and the indigenous Aztecs. From the earliest interactions between these groups, Spanish males and Aztecan women bred and created a new breed of people called the mestizo (Darwin 64). The Spanish eventually introduced African slaves into society as a source of labor, and they bred with the Spanish and the Aztecs to and developed the mulatto community (Darwin 64).  [16]  This interbreeding created a hierarchal society based upon race, with the Spanish whites, or criolles on top. The new creole society in New Spain was a direct consequence of the European conquest of Aztec society, f or it never would have transpired without them. The Spanish encountered a plethora of new resources in New Spain, but the one good they valued above all others was mineral wealth. The presence of gold and silver in the New World was one of the strongest factors that encouraged colonization (Darwin 63). The discovery of huge supplies of silver at Zacatecas in the Mexico area impacted the New World, the Old World, and beyond (Darwin 63).  [17]  Firstly, it allowed for the development of technologies. Silver has to be purified when it is mined, and the mercury required for purification came from Iberia and Croatia. The lighting in the silver mines is provided by candles made from the fat of cattle. Labor comes from the indigenous inhabitants. When the bullion is shipped over to Europe, it truly makes a huge impact on society. A radical increase in monetization is seen. (lecture)  [18]  . When Asians hear of this, they demand that they become a part of trade. It changed the way in which the Europeans interacted with the Asians . Prior to this, the Europeans tiptoed around the edges of the Asian continent and were seen as nothing but pests. (Darwin pg 59).  [19]  Silver becomes the first truly global commodity. The discovery of silver allows for European expansion into the east and the west, impacting the societies of Europe, Asia, and the Aztecs simultaneously. We mustnt forget how the conquest of the Aztec Empire influenced society across the Atlantic Ocean in the Old World. The discovery of the Americas as a whole challenged the worldviews of European society and exposed them to new natural history and geography. Maps played a major role in 16th century Europe. During this century we see the emergence of the Waldseemuller maps in 1507, which have become known as the birth certificate of America (exhibit).  [20]  Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s also creates a map, this one of his conquered city of Tetnochtitlan. He sends it to Europe and it becomes the first depiction Europeans see of their newly acquired land. And, according to scholar Barbara E. Mundy, the map assumed a symbolic function in supporting Cortà ©ss just conquest of the Amerindian empire. (article)  [21]  In addition to maps, books and art became popular ways of depicting the New World for those who lived thousands of miles away. Bernal Diaz del Castillo, an infantry man of Cort à ©s, wrote about his adventures in New Spain. He tells the story of myself and my comrades, all true conquerors, who served His Majesty in the discovery, conquest, pacification, and settlementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦of New Spain (exhibit).  [22]  This collection of anecdotes is a classic, even today. The maps, books, and paintings that came from the Old World painted a picture of the New World for European society, enriching their knowledge and enhancing their worldviews. In discussing the impact of the discovery and conquest of the Aztec empire on both American and European societies, one must understand that Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s and his conquistadors ultimately destroyed a once flourishing and dazzling Aztec Empire in hopes of expanding that of the Europeans. This was very clearly a win-lose situation that favored the Europeans. The once great Aztec society was quickly robbed of its culture, religion, and a large majority of its indigenous peoples, and was left with no hope of regaining it. Ultimately, there was no Aztec society left after 1521. It was merely a new European society founded upon the skeleton of the former empire. After the decapitation of the Aztecs, the conquistadors brought in their religion and new political structure and imposed it upon the few remaining indigenous peoples. Tecnotichlan became virtually unrecognizable, both by name and by the new creole society. Back in Europe, the continent was benefitting from the knowledge and goods brought back from the New World. As tragic as the situation may sound for the Aztecs, discoveries and conquests like this happened quite frequently during this time period. It should not be forgotten that Europeans, while an emerging dominant world power during this time period, did not necessarily get there by honest and diplomatic means.

Analysis Of Thomas Hardy?s The Darkling Thrush :: essays research papers

Thomas Hardy’s The Darkling Thrush, is a poem full of much sorrow. It is dark and bleak, just as it’s title is. Although it is so unhappy, it is also very deep. This poem is one of the many example’s of Hardy’s talent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The poem is a lyric, with a rhyme scheme of abab. It is written in iambic pentameter, and it consists of quatrains. It is talking about a lack of faith.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hardy begins his poem talking about his setting. It was winter, and it was cold and dark. It seemed lonely, and anyone would have rather been inside. It looked ugly out there, and even the sky and the frost was unattractive. It was a very depressing place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He continues talking about the setting, but begins to talk about with it makes him think of. He feels that everything around was dead, and the wind sounded like a moan. The world seemed like it used to be alive, but now it’s just small and old. He thought that everyone around him felt the same way. Even though he felt this, he still somehow felt alone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of a sudden, it heard a voice coming from above. At that instant, all that was ugly appeared beautiful. All whom he thought felt the world was dead, are now seeing it for a second time. All was good, and everyone was happy. Still, Hardy felt the same. Instead of thinking things were beautiful, he thought things had gotten worse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He felt there was no use in being happy. The things that seemed ugly didn’t really matter much to him. He felt even more scared and alone than before. The air seemed happy, and all were blessed with hope. Hardy still saw no hope. Analysis Of Thomas Hardy?s The Darkling Thrush :: essays research papers Thomas Hardy’s The Darkling Thrush, is a poem full of much sorrow. It is dark and bleak, just as it’s title is. Although it is so unhappy, it is also very deep. This poem is one of the many example’s of Hardy’s talent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The poem is a lyric, with a rhyme scheme of abab. It is written in iambic pentameter, and it consists of quatrains. It is talking about a lack of faith.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hardy begins his poem talking about his setting. It was winter, and it was cold and dark. It seemed lonely, and anyone would have rather been inside. It looked ugly out there, and even the sky and the frost was unattractive. It was a very depressing place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He continues talking about the setting, but begins to talk about with it makes him think of. He feels that everything around was dead, and the wind sounded like a moan. The world seemed like it used to be alive, but now it’s just small and old. He thought that everyone around him felt the same way. Even though he felt this, he still somehow felt alone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of a sudden, it heard a voice coming from above. At that instant, all that was ugly appeared beautiful. All whom he thought felt the world was dead, are now seeing it for a second time. All was good, and everyone was happy. Still, Hardy felt the same. Instead of thinking things were beautiful, he thought things had gotten worse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He felt there was no use in being happy. The things that seemed ugly didn’t really matter much to him. He felt even more scared and alone than before. The air seemed happy, and all were blessed with hope. Hardy still saw no hope.

I Have a Gambling Problem Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

I Have a Gambling Problem Professor’s comment: This student’s essay is well researched, strongly analytical, and seriously personal. But the essay did not begin as a personal essay—far from it— from major rewriting emerged this fascinating and very effective essay, in which social and personal analysis intertwine. Hi, my name is ______ and this is my first GamAnon meeting. I am nineteen years old, and I started gambling in junior high, $5 bets with friends. In high school, craps and deuces were the craze. The teachers had no idea. Then I started playing the lottery, hoping to hit the jackpot. Age never really mattered since the vendor never asked to see ID. In my first year of college, I started wagering on sporting events through an online sports book. It was completely legal, even though I was only 18 years old. I have always loved sports and having money on a game made it even more fun, more exciting. At first, it was only $25 or $50 a game, but then things got out of control: I was laying hundreds of dollars on single games. It wasn’t fun anymore. My bank account dwindled from four figures to two. My GPA was half my high school 4.0+. I knew I had a problem, but I just couldn’t stop, no matter how hard I tried. That’s why I’m here today. I need help. I never thought that a friendly wager could lead to such self-destructive behavior. Luckily, I recognized that I had a gambling problem and sought help, unlike the millions of other pathological gamblers who allow their problems to worsen, some eventually becoming involved with drugs, alcohol, and crime (Lesieur 43). Annually, Americans legally wager over five hundred billion dollars—more than they spend on groceries—and illegally bet hundreds of billions more (Ren... ...ychological Reports 67 (1990): 907-912. Griffiths, Mark. Adolescent Gambling. New York: Routledge, 1995. Koughan, Martin. â€Å"Easy Money.† Mother Jones. July 1997: 32-37. Layden, Tim. â€Å"Bettor Education.† Sports Illustrated. April 3, 1995: 68-83. Lesieur, Henry R. â€Å"Compulsive Gambling.† Society. May 1992: 43-50. McGowan, Richard. State Lotteries and Legalized Gambling. Westport: Quorum, 1994. McGraw, Dan. â€Å"The National Bet: Laying an Illegal Wager Has Never Been Easier.† U.S. News and World Report. April 7, 1997: 50-56. Reno, Paul. â€Å"The Diceman Cometh.† Policy Review 76 (1996): 40-46. Sandel, Michael J. â€Å"Bad Bet.† New Republic 216 (1997): 27. Simon, Paul. â€Å"The Destructive Side of Gambling Mania.† St. Louis Journalism Review 26 (1995): 8-11. Snyder, R.J. â€Å"Gambling Swindles and Victims.† Journal of Gambling Behavior 2 (1986): 50-57.

1970’s American Culture and the Impact on Dance Essay -- Sociology Ess

1970’s American Culture and the Impact on Dance The freedom of the American life and culture of the 1970’s overflowed to make a major impact on music and dance during this period. American culture flourished. The events of the times were reflected in and became the inspiration for much of the music, literature, entertainment, and even fashion of the decade. Choreographers wanted to motivate the dancers to leap into the unknown and experience the contact of dance in their own way. Free love and the idea surrounding it helped break down barriers from traditional dance movements. Men and women began using their bodies to portray physical acts, built on to each other creating unique and interesting positions. They were working with the physical forces of gravity, momentum, and inertia. They would use the force of one body hurling into another to find out what would happen. For the first time in history, it was not unusual for a man and woman to depict the act of making love on the dance floor. The term â€Å"bump and grind† did start during this era of free love. Another ...

Effects of Internet on Child Development

180 to learn was reported in 65 cases, to play was reported in 57 cases, to browse in 35 cases, and to communicate in 27 cases. Thus, the five indices of child home Internet use in cluded: 1) the continuous variable years of home Internet access and the dichotomous (report ed-unreported) variables of child home In ternet use to 2) learn, 3) play, 4) browse, and 5) communicate. Family Socioeconomic Characteristics The parent questionnaire assessed five family characteris tics commonly used to determine socioeconomic status (Bradley & Corwyn, 2002; Sirin, 2005).Two items queried father’s and mother’s employment status. Approximately 70% of mothers and 96% of fathers were employed, full-time or part-time. Two questionnaire items requested father’s and mother’s level of education, coded as: elementa ry = 1, junior high school = 2, high school incomplete = 3, high school complete = 4, technical school/college (complete or incomplete) = 5 and university (complet e or incomplete) = 6. The mean educational level of mothers was 4. 79 (SD = 0. 95) suggesting that many mothers had post-secondary education; the mean educational level of fa thers was 4. 45 (SD = 1. 2) suggesting that some fathers had post-secondary education. The final socioeconomic item on the questionnaire asked parents to indicate annual family income by selecting one of the following options: < $20 000 = 1, $20 000 to $40 000 = 2, $40 000 to $60 000 = 3, $60 000 to $80 000 = 4, $80 000 to $100 000 = 5, > $100 000 = 6. Annual income for participating families was approximately $60,000 CD (M = 4. 07, SD = 1. 48). Table 2 presents a summary of measured constructs which includes: four tests of children’s cognitive development, five indices of children’s home Internet use, and five fa ily socioeconomic characteris tics. Which are the better predictors of cognitive development during childhood, — el ements of the microsystem or elements of the techno- subsystem? Two series of stepwise regression analysis we re conducted with the four c ognitive development scores as the dependant variables. In the first regression analyses , family socioeconomic characteristics (elements of the microsystem) were the independent variables. In the second analyses, indices of home Internet use (elements of the techno-subsystem) were the independent variables. Tab le 2 Description of Constructs and Measures Ecological System System Elements Specific Measures Bioecology Cognitive Development Expressive Language Metacognitive Planning Visual Perception Auditory Memory Techno-Subsystem Home Internet Use Years of Internet Access Online Learning Online Playing Online Browsing Online Communication Microsystem Family Characteristics Father Employment Mother Employment Father Education Mother Education Annual Family Income Results Results of analyses revealed that fa mily socioeconomic characteristics (eleme nts of the microsystem) explained a odest (but significant) amount of the variation in children’s cognitive deve lopment scores. As presented in Table 3, adjusted R 2 values indicated that father’s level of education accounted for approximately 7% of the variation in children’s level of expressive language (as measured by the WISC-IV vocabulary subtest), 5% of the variation in children’s visual perception and auditory memory (as measured by the CAS nonverbal matrices subtest and CAS 181 word series subtest, respectively). Whether or not moth ers were employed, part-tim e or full-time, accounted for pproximately 6% of the differences in children’s capacity to execute metacognitive functions such as planning (as measured by the CAS matching numbers subtest). While the other measures of familial socioeconomic status (e. g. , mother’s education and family income) explained some of the variance in children’s cognitive development, such measures did not improve upon the predictive utility of fa ther ’s education or maternal employment; variation is prerequisite to prediction. Almost all fathers were employed and almost all mothers had finished high school. For participating middle-class families, father’s education a d mother’s employment were more sensitive to children’s cognitive development scores than were family income, father’s employment, and mother’s education. Tab le 3 . Stepwise Regression Analysis: Family Characteristics Predicting Child Cognitive Development Cognitive Score Predictor Beta Weight t value R 2 (adj) F value Expressive Language Father Education . 292 2. 70** . 074 (1, 78) = 7. 29** Metacognitive Planning Mother Employed . 270 2. 46* . 061 (1, 77) = 6. 05* Visual Perception Father Education . 244 2. 22* . 047 (1, 78) = 4. 93* Auditory Memory Father Education . 258 2. 6* . 054 (1, 78) = 5. 55* *p < . 05; **p < . 01 Results of analyses further revealed th at indices of home Internet use (elements of the techno-subs ystem), in general, explained more of the variation in children’s cognitive de velopment than did family socioeconomic characteristics (elements of the microsystem). Summarized in Table 4, specific types on online behavior (i. e. , learning, communicating, and playing) and years of home In ternet access combined to predicted child cognitive developmental outcomes. Indicated by adjusted R 2 , children’s online communication, ears of home Internet access, and online learning (as reported by parents) accounted for ap proximately 29% of the varia tion in children’s level of expressive language as measured by the WISC-IV vocabulary subtest. Online learning and communicating (reported- unreported) combined to explain 13. 5% of the variation in children’s metacognitive planning. Online learning and playing (reported-unreported) combined to explain 10. 9% of the variation in children’s auditory memory. Years of home Internet access explained approximately 3% of the diffe rences in children’s visual perception scores. With the xception of visual perception, indices of home Internet use (elements of the techno-subsystem) were better predictors of children’s cognitive development than were family socioeconomic characteristics (elements of the microsystem). Tab le 4 . Stepwise Regression Analysis: Home Internet Use Predicting Child Cognitive Development Cognitive Score Predictor/s Beta Weight t value R 2 (adj) F value Expressive Language Online Communication . 344 4. 00*** Years of Internet Access . 263 3. 12 ** Online Learning . 256 2. 99** . 287 (3, 101) = 14. 97*** Metacognitive Planning Online Learning . 287 3. 03** Online Communication . 201 2. 12* . 35 (2, 101) = 9. 06*** Visual Perception Years of Internet A ccess . 192 1. 99* . 028 (1, 104) = 3. 98* Auditory Memory Online Learning . 242 2. 60* Online Playing . 228 2. 46* . 109 (3, 101) = 14. 97*** *p < . 05; **p < . 01; ***p < . 001 Discussion A variety of mechanism s linking family socioeconomic status to child cognitive development have been proposed including parenting (Petrill, Pike, Price, & Plomin, 2004 ; Mistry, Biesanz, Chien, Howes, & Benner, 2008) and 182 resources (Bradley & Corwyn, 2002). For the current samp le of middle class children, paternal education and maternal employment were associated with measures of hild cognitive development. More educated fathers tended to have offspring who scored high on three of the four cognitive measures (expressive language, visual perception, and auditory memory). Mothers who were employed tended to have children who scored high on the measure of metacognitive planning. Educated fathers and employed mothers may genetically transmit to their offspring some neurological processing advantage (bioecology). Simultaneously, educated fathers may provide enhanced language models and stimulating environments that facilitate the cognitive development of their children (microsystemic influence). Employed mother may provide models of organization and place increased demands on children to self- regulate thereby enhancing the metacognitive planning abilities of their offspring (microsystemic influence). Family socioeconomic status (as measur ed and for the current sample) accounted for 5% to 7% of differences in child cognitive development scores. In contrast, indices of home Internet use (as measured and for the current sample) accounted for 3% to 29% of differences in child cognitive development scores. Me ta-analysis confirms that the impact of socioeconomic status on academic achie vement is eroding over time (Sirin, 2005). Increasingly ffective structures of social equali zation (e. g. , public education, quality daycare, preschool intervention, and prenatal programs) and the expanding middle class create the need for more precise description of home environments. Current results suggest th at indices of home Internet use (i. e. , elements of the ecological techno- subsystem) pro vide more useful information regarding cognitive development than do family socioeconomic characteristics (elements of the microsystem). Only two of five family socioeconom ic characteristics added to the regres sion equation, suggesting that some measures (i. e. , family income father employment, and mother education) did not differ in relation to children’s cognitive development. In contrast, four of the five indices of home Internet use during childhood added to the regression equation, suggesting that these measures differe d in relation to children’s cognitive development. In the context of the current investigation, soci oeconomic status is a crude construct re lative to home Internet use. Internet use includes both organized (e. g. , search) and disorganized (e. g. , browse) interactions with both human (e. g. , chat) and nonhuman (e. g. , database) elements in online environments (Johnson & Kulpa, 2007).Internet use is a complex set of behaviors that vary widel y across individuals and th at is influenced by cognitive and personality characteristics (Joinson, 2003). For the current sample of children, patterns of home Internet use explained more of the variation in cognitive development than did family socioeconomic characteristics. In the context of middle class families, elements in the techno-subsystem (e. g. , Internet access) may not necessarily facilitate child cognitive development; effective use of those elements, highly dependent upon parent behavior, may promote development.For example, Cho and Cheon (2005) surveyed families and found that parents’ perceived control, obtained through shared web activities and family cohesion, reduced children’s exposure to negative Internet content. Lee and Chae (2007) reported a positive relations hip between parental mediation techniques (website recommendation and Internet co-use) and children’s educa tional attainment. In the current investigation, the cognitive experienc es provided to children by employed moth ers may include Internet skills instruction (e. g. , sending email) and models of information management (e. g. acc essing websites for informa tion). Such experiences, over time, may provide children with enhanced opportunities to direct their own cognitive development via increasingly sophisticated uses of the Internet. According to Livingston and Bober (2005), â€Å"a new divide is opening up between those for whom the internet is an increasingly rich, diverse, engaging and stimulating resource and those for whom it remains a narrow, unengaging, if occasionally useful , resource of rather less significance† (p. 2). Bruner (2005) recen tly reiterated that â€Å"our minds ap propriate ways of representing th world from using and relating to the codes or rules of available technology† (p. x). Cognitive abilities prerequisite to utilization of Internet applications constitute an implicit component of contemporary notions of intel ligence (Maynard, Subrahmanyam, & Greenfield, 2005). The ecological techno-s ubsystem furthers our understanding of environmental influences on child development by emphasizing the impact of digital technologies on cognitive growth during childhood. The techno- subsystem provides precise description of microsystemic mechanisms of developmental influence which lead to intervention strategies.According to Livingston and Bober ( 2005), many parents lack the skills to guide and support their children’s Internet use and Intern et-literate parents have Internet-litera te children. Subsequent research may evaluate the effectiveness of techno-subs ystem interventions for elementary school children at-risk, for example, the provision of home Internet access and pa rent Internet literacy training. As stated elsewhere, â€Å"current anxiety surrounding children’s Internet use should be for those whose cognitive processes are not influenced by the cultural tool† (Johnson, 2 006, p. 570).

Your Self’s Your Real Best Friend

In fact, a best friend is a person who is willing to be with you in times of your unwanted attitudes. From those statements above, a best friend is the one who is always with you through thick and thin. Who is your real best friend? Is he someone who leaves you in darkness? Is he someone who is with you because of your wealth? Is he someone who approaches you because he needs something from you? Think of those. Real best friend is not your shadow that leaves you when you're in darkness. He is the moon that lights your way in the night. He is the arrow that points you to the right way.He is the hand that guides you to righteousness. He is the umbrella that shields you against rain. Do you know who is he? He is your self. Your self is your real best friend. He is always there for you. He is the one who comforts you when you have problems. He is the one who always understands you. He is the one who really knows you. He is the one who cheers you up. He is the one who makes you strong. He is the one who shows you the true meaning of life. He is the one who deserves your love, your trust and your time. Treasure your self because he is the only one who won't turn his back for you when the whole world closes its door.To prove that your self is your real best friend sounds hard because I need to research or to put real stories of people on the paper. However, I have or have not altered their names and some details to protect them and to make the person's identities unrecognizable as what some authors have done. The most essential part of the stories is true. To be honest, I have found it difficult in choosing my topic for my first research paper in college. Perhaps, I Just don't know what, who, when, where, why and how to write. For the challenge, I extend my heartfelt thanks to my professor, Sir JEvangelists, in spite of the headache I got through the process. Without him, I won't realize my real best friend. I hope that your way of teaching will continue to encourage more students and to show them the importance of learning. Self acceptance is being happy with who you are now. It's an agreement with yourself to appreciate, validate, accept and support who you are at this moment. For example, think of acceptance of yourself like being okay with your house right now. One day you might want a bigger house or you have this dream house in your mind, but there are advantages to your smaller home now.So you can be happy with the house you have now and still dream of your bigger house as a reality later. Self acceptance leads to a new life with new possibilities that did not exist before because you were caught up in the struggle against reality. People have trouble accepting themselves because of a lack of motivation. Some have this misconception that if you are happy with yourself you won't change things about yourself. This isn't true, you don't have to be unhappy with yourself to know and actively change things you don't like. Acceptance could be ca lled the first step in change.Everyone is different, unique or special. He has his own talents, skills or images based on God. The environment is like a Judge. It easily observes what is lacking in a person but not the things that he has. All it sees is the negative things not the positive ones. Its criticism brings a point that the person will be weakened. Every thing it says leaves a painful mark in the mind of a person. What he'll soon think is to regret his own life. He'll think to be Just somebody else. If that happens, everybody will like him. The people around him will praise him. Everyone is naturally Judge- mental.Like a Judge or a Jury, he likes to figure out your mistake, your weakness and our lacking personality (Cohen, 1991). If you are ugly, people will continue to say that you are ugly. They will say worse thing against you or even hit you at your back. If you are not so smart, they will tease you and dislike you. If you are arrogant, people will leave you and you wil l have lesser friends. Everyone is not perfect. Not all is packed in each of us. What is present to one may not be present to someone. If you are perfect, you are the Lord or you are over Him (Whitman, 2002).Have you ever tried to talk to someone who has personality opposite to you? Perhaps, he had told you about himself, about what he wants and about his expectations or he had even praised you for being the person he wished to be. Everyone feels those things. He wants to change side with other. If you think the same, you're not Just the one because there are still more. My teacher in high school had once told us that Filipinos admire Americans because they are beautiful, but Americans admire Filipinos because they are beautiful. Both of them admire each other. It sounds funny but it's true.As what I said, not all will be given to a person. There must be a gap. To adjust from the situation depends on a person. It's he who can carry himself to the place he fits in. Thinking about the missing in your life will just make you confused (Cohen, 1991). Each men and women is born special in the eyes of God, our Creator. Generally, everyone is blind to figure out how special he is. He feels something is missing in his life. Sometimes, questioning Him makes him disappointed or frustrated. Not all is given attractive appearance, retentive memory or any skills that can help him stand on his own.These missing personalities make him regret his own life. These also steal his hope to win the battle of mankind (â€Å"Self-esteem† 3). Like the majority, I have also wished to be someone. I have imagined that I was Polloi Paschal. I thought that many girls will like me if I were him. If I had given a concert, I would have sung my fans songs that rob every lady heart. All of those were Just a dream. I had once thought to personally meet Drag. Vicky Bell and to ask her change me as a star (â€Å"Self- esteem† 3). When I was awoken, I saw myself like a fool. What I dre amt was a big foolishness.God has given me my life and all He does was planned. He turns me to be a good person following His commands. The person I am is special like the person you are. Perhaps, we are different in many aspects, but those differences show what ally we are. For God, we are equal despite the things we may or may not see within ourselves (â€Å"Self-esteem† 3). If you accept yourself, you are accepting God. Everyone must be thankful for the gifts He has given no matter how painful the reality is. The beauty of the heart weighs greater than the temporary beauty of appearance.God won't give a problem to a person if that problem is hard to solve or can't be solved. Life has a purpose to discover with Him. Just put Him on the center and He'll serve as a guide toward righteousness (Cohen, 1991). Everyone was born for a reason. He is here to serve God with all his heart and with al his spirit. Having shame in ourselves walls us to do our purpose. Don't feel that you 're a mistake because it lowers your courage. Just think that all the things happening to you now are not a mistake. Don't even think that you're making no sense although you have done everything to make others happy. Just believe on Him (Whitman, 2002).Like Whitman, author of Be Your Own Best Friend, I made a good relationship to my friends in SIT College Sat. Rosa, Laguna when I began to accept who really I am. In high school, I used to be unapproachable because I was too smart. I was a constant achiever and the Valedictorian of my batch. I realized that I need to put God in my heart. According to Muhammad All, â€Å"It's hard to be humble when you're so great! â€Å", yet it's not like that because humility is hard to have when God is out your heart. Allowing God to reign in me makes me not so proud; instead, I am now open-hearted to listen to people because of Him (Whitman, 2002).Lowering your pride doesn't mean lowering your self-esteem. Achieving fame doesn't mean degrading others to be successful. When we achieve honors or awards we must be thankful and never forget those people behind our success. Success is to measured through the number of medals or the number of people we beat, yet it is measured through the people we make happy and through our constant relationship with the Lord. The more we make good are the more we have friends that love us. By seeing our boundaries, we can learn to stop, to move, to go and continue our Journey.By accepting ourselves, we can learn to accept a fix relationship with God, with friends and with others including our enemies (Cohen, 1991). Help means to furnish with strength or means for the successful performance of any action or the attainment of any object. It also means to aid, to assist or to help a man n his work. Another, it means to help one to remember. My sister and my classmate, ate Alma, were both alumnae of The Sisters of Mary School (SOME) in Cavity. Ate Aka has clearly narrated me her experience there. I could remember her story and I myself could say that it was really a heart-warming one.Reading the A Heart for the Poor about the servant of God, Megs. Allusions Schwartz has revealed me a person who really dedicated his life for the Lord Father AAA was a real hero and he used his heart serving the poor. He loved the poor by giving them the opportunity to study and to experience the life with God. Here and in other countries, he built schools for Boston and girlhoods. He has served not Just the poor but also God (Rwanda, 2006). Father AAA was a model of a true hero. He has saved lives in the darkness, he has guided the spiritual growth of children.With him, the blurred future of the poor has turned colorful. He was not rich but he has used his heart to share for those in need. Because of his acts, many individuals have risen out of poverty (Rwanda, 2006). Helping others even we're not rich but with all of our hearts makes us come closer to God. We can help others through small de eds as long as we don't step anybody. We must Just be true to ourselves, to Him, to our loved ones and to our enemies. Small or big things that we share to others are the same in the eyes of God as long as we remember to help.By dedicating ourselves in service, the life of comfortless waits us above (Rwanda, 2006). When you turn yourself as your real best friend, don't think that you put walls for others. You must learn to know who you are so that you'll know others. Making yourself as your real best friend means accepting your strengths and weaknesses. Your self knows who you are, what you want, when to go, where to stop, why to live ND how to accept responsibilities, affirmation, criticism and realities. Sometimes we are deaf, we are mute, we are blind, we are paralyzed and we are unfair but we must learn to change.Changing ourselves is Just correcting our unconsciousness Trust can be naturally attributed to relationships between people. It can be demonstrated that humans have a n atural disposition to trust and to Judge trustworthiness that can be traced to the neurological trust on another person or entity, structure and activity of a human brain, and can be altered by the application of extinction. Conceptually, trust is also attributable to relationships within and between social groups (families, friends, communities, organizations, companies, nations etc. ).It is a popular approach to frame the dynamics of inter-group and intra- group interactions in terms of trust. When it comes to the relationship between people and technology, the attribution of trust is a matter of dispute. The intentional stance demonstrates that trust can be validly attributed to human relationships with complex technologies. However, rational reflection leads to the rejection of an ability to trust technological artifacts. What lessens man's courage to do things is the lack of trust. He often thinks that he can't do one even without making a try and Just Jumping into a worse conc lusion.Self-trust calls for your trust to God. When you trust yourself, you believe that He will guide you, that He will protect you and that He will give you the strength you need. Trusting to your capacities makes you a better and stronger person. It is your password toward the horizon to meet the sun. It is the line that will connect you to the place of the Lord, to the place that everyone dreams and to the place that you don't expect to go. Just keep on believing on yourself (Cohen, 1991). Jessica was Just 19 when she was abused by group of guys who were famous for being rich while she was only a middle class one.She was raped by those men and was left alive. All she wanted was Justice. Hiring an attorney and fighting those high class people sounded hard. Her dedication and trust to herself made her strong. Her family and relatives were all supported her. Despite the lack of budget to pursue the case and despite the risk she would be facing, she never gave up. The hearing took l ong but she won the case at the end even though she had opposed famous ones Jessica story was Just like Nicole, victim of Cubic Rape Case, who also fought for her rights despite the similar reason.If the two could fight those big enemies, we would also make our moves to surpass different kinds of hardship, big or small one. Fighting involves our self-trust. We are fighting because we believe we will win, we know we can make it and we feel God will guide us, God will protect us and God will show us what is right (Whitman, 2002). Ernest is my friend, maybe my closest friend. Last semester, we had our College Algebra I Just noticed that he was naturally good in Mathematics because he was also DOD in answering equations, but he was nervous in front of our classmates and in front of our teacher, Sir Florence.I observed that his skills could lift his group, L. V. After our midterm, our teacher made a program entitled Young Mathematician Of the Year (YMMV). I talked to Ernest and asked him to Join. He Joined the said completion and I was really amazed because he was hailed the over-all champion. He defeated the different courses handled by Sir Florence. Like him, we can also be a winner as long as we have faith in ourselves (Cohen, 1991). I was really captured by Cone's story about an â€Å"underdog Cincinnati Reds† who on over the reigning and weakening â€Å"World Champion Oakland As†.Both the media and fans were predicting that the â€Å"1990 World Series† would be the soul-sleeping â€Å"championship†. On or before the actual showdown of the two teams it was announced by ‘radio† that â€Å"Charlie Hostler†, loyal Reds fan, had bet $ 50,000 on his admired team to spring as winner within the first four games straight. The risk against him was to win tripled amount through the bet or he will get $ 1. 5 million if his favorite team has four win straight. The first two battles were plucked by Reds in its home court. The s econd two fights were in the place of As.Despite the nerve- wrecking fans of As and the fearing noise, Reds built edge and returned victorious while Hostler got rich (Cohen, 1991). From that story while almost everybody believes that Reds will be humbled easily by As Hostler stand that Reds will win. He made a metal belief not Just to his team but also in his self. Believing while everyone around you is contradicting requires a man of spirit. Sometimes, we feel that a thing is right but others say it is wrong. In ourselves, we can see the faith even we're against all odds. Not all that majority lives is factual. Everyone is a human.The truth lies on how strong we believe. Never say â€Å"l quit because they're too many. I have no fight against them. † That was wrong. Believing in ourselves can show us the courage to surpass every hindrance that clogs on the way. There's hope as long as there's faith (Cohen, 1991). Fear is a distressing emotion induced by a perceived threat. I t is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. In short, fear is the ability to recognize danger and flee from it or confront it, also known as the Fight or Flight response.Some psychologists such as John B. Watson, Robert Plutarch, and Paul Seaman have suggested that fear belongs to a small set of basic or innate emotions. This set also includes such emotions as Joy, sadness, and anger. Fear should be distinguished from the related emotional state of anxiety, which typically occurs without any external threat. Additionally, fear is related to the specific behaviors of escape and avoidance, whereas anxiety is the result of threats which are perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable.Worth noting is that fear almost always relates to future events, such as worsening of a situation or antiquation of a situation that is unacceptable. Fear could also be an instant reaction to something presently happening. In our li ves, we're filled with questions that talk about the fear we have for the future. We don't know what store waits us miles away. We can't see even a clue of what we're going to be whether good or bad. We appear hopeless. We need answers to make us calm down, to make us satisfied and to make us happy. However, we get no response every time we ask.There are no voices, there are no clues and there are no reactions. We are left unanswered, we are left blurred and we are left frustrated. We don't know what step to take, we don't know what place to go, we don't know what place to go and we don't know when to stop. We're not heard or we Just don't make ways to be heard (Cohen, 1991). Open your ears widen your eyes and let your other senses function. There's hope. There's light in darkness. There's God. God is hope. He knows the answers to our problems. Jesus said, â€Å"Only people who don't know God worry about future†.Let Him drive our destiny and let Him stay in your heart. If you let Him, you won't worry like that, you won't frown so hard and you won't keep on finding answers. He is the real answer. Never think it's always the end of the world nor it's non-sense to live; instead, think that He's always willing to hear, He's always ready to guide and He's always here to support. The real hope is He (â€Å"Future Hope† 58). Problems brought about by our indifference and other factors have grown in our environment. Oftentimes, we miss many things because we close ourselves or we're not willing to be a part.We ignore the situation and allow it to become severe. We're afraid and we continue to let things go wrong. We never take a move to settle down those problems until the impact comes bigger. We'll Just move after we see that damage occurred. We have no strength, we have no will and we have no desires to help address the problems. We are wondering that things will be unsolved, that life will be unfair and that we may be victimized by our own foolishness . We are weakened. We are down. All we think is everything goes wrong, everything has no answer and everything is complicated (Cohen, 1991).Fear is not an enemy. What we are afraid of tends to shallow ourselves. It's like a data programmed on our mind that's why we seem to shake when we are faced to it. Our mind says no because it knows that things will go wrong. We are expecting worse wing may happen next, we are feeling hurt will follow afterwards, we are hiding reality can go away and we are saying negative aura against our heart. The truth, it hurts us, occupies our body (Cohen, 1991). Imagine that you're hunting a rooster that has grown free throughout his life.Hunting him is hard because he runs anywhere he flies a distance and he hides in one place which is hard to find. He does those things because he feels afraid on the hunter. When he is caught, he still wants to get free away from the rope on his foot. He continues to run until he accepts the fact that he can't. Being a p rison becomes a part of his life. Observe that he never goes away like what he did before when you untie him after a few months. He can be easily caught from a distance (Cohen, 1991), The rooster runs, flies and hides when someone tries to get him because he's afraid.Like him, we also run and hide but not fly when we feel we are not secured. When we hide, we build walls to others. We miss our lives, we miss many opportunities, we miss experiences and we miss the real happiness because we don't take a try, we isolate ourselves and we are shy to face our fear. We also run away from the problems packed in our environment until we are exhausted or tired. We moieties think to end our lives. See what Just happened to the APP Officer, Angelo Rexes recently. He committed suicide in front of the tomb of his mother because of the allegation or accusation against him about the military budget.He was afraid to face his own problem and he left the case unsolved. What he did was a mortal sin beca use he had no right to claim his own life except God (Cohen, 1991). Last February, I was part of NEST tour to Blind. There I learned a lot. It was a great experience and a good memory to remember. I loved being there. My heart was hit by an inmate, Kayak Alex, when he started to narrate his story. It was true that he made a mistake but that transformed him to a person he is now. He was approachable and he answered all my questions thrown to him. His case was robbery and homicide.He said they were five friends who did the said crime. He was already 33 yr. Old and he stayed there for 15 years to pay a 20-40 yr. Sentence. He changed when he met God (Cohen, 1991). What made me carried away was when he said that he admitted that he made a sin not Just in the eyes of the people around him but also in the eyes of the Lord and he was willing to pay for that with all his heart. I could not look directly at his eyes cause all I see was sorrow. I saluted him because he stayed strong despite th at problem and he was not like Angelo who ran from his problems (Cohen, 1991).Going back from the chicken, Kayak Alex looked like there was a rope on his foot. Of course from the start, he wanted to escape. He also tried to run until he Just accepted the fact that he couldn't. The rope was the Jail. In Blind, inmates follow rules. He also does. In our talk, he never missed to give me pieces of advice like I must listen to my parents, I must choose my friends, I must know God and I must think first before I make a step (Cohen,1991). The main lesson that I got through our short conversation was everyone has a second chance but it doesn't mean he must waste the first one.When we sin, we have another chance to correct it, but it doesn't mean we must do a sin to correct. It is better that we do what we think is right in our lives with the guidance of the Lord above and never try to make a sin intentionally (Cohen, 1991). Purpose is a result, end, mean, aim, or goal of an action intention ally undertaken, or of an object being brought into use or existence, whether or not the purpose was a primary or secondary effect. It is possible that an intentional act may have multiple reposes, only one of which is a primary intention while the remainders are secondary intentions.For example, the introduction of a gene into a species of rice may have the primary intention of providing resistance to disease and a secondary intention of reducing nutritional value. The diminished nutritional value, though perhaps regrettable, would be a secondary intention in that it is a known effect willingly accepted. The world is equipped by challenges. These are according to God's purpose. He has plan for every one of us. Perhaps, we are afraid for the future but let Him drive us. Never fear because. He is always there for us. Everything happening to you right now whether good or bad is a gift of Him.When we let Him be the driver of our life, we accept Him whole-heartedly. With Him, we'll know ourselves, we'll have a peace of mind and we'll receive an open heart (Whitman, 2002) A purpose of our life is still unanswered, still vague, still controversial and still hard to visualize. Only God knows that purpose. If you still don't know what is your purpose now, it's okay. However, one of our purposes in life is to have a relationship with Jesus, the son of God. Actually, we are challenged. Like us, Jesus was also Halloween when he lived with humans as one of them. Many temptations arose to him.One of these was to turn his back to his father but that failed to happen until he breathed his last on the cross. Jesus is forever loyal to Him and we must do the same also as long as we have faith (â€Å"Preparing for His Purpose† 8). Temptation is everywhere. It will repeatedly test us. Life without it is boring. The best way to fight it is to be prepared. It won't matter how many times we are tempted, but what counts is how many times we allow God to reign us against it. An gels and demons will continue to battle in influencing individuals. We have the choice and that depends to us. The choice is God's test.We have the right to choose whether to follow Him or to ignore Him. Judas and Jesus were both tested by Him. Judas failed his test when he sold Jesus for a little amount of money while Jesus never failed his test against the evil spirit because his faith to Him was strong (Cohen, 1991). Like them, we are tested. The test is to prove how strong we believe on Him. We are given options and it depends to us what to pick up. The Lord wants you find the right way. He wants you to pick up the right decision and to be with Him in heaven. On the other hand, Satan will try you to disobey Him.He'll do everything to invade your heart and to put there all the anger, all the hatred and all the fear in order to win you. Those are the reality happening to everyone right now. Satan becomes stronger in influencing people. God doesn't want that. What he wants is for u s to realize we are wrong and we need to be in line with righteousness. Remember that judgment comes nearer. Sooner, we are going to pay our foolishness, we are going to suffer because of our acts and we are going to have a hardship after death (Cohen, 1991). Peaceful life with Satan is temporary while the one with God is eternal.Sometimes, we know we're wrong but we continue to do wrong. God says stop but we don't listen. When we are trapped to extreme situation, we begin to blame Him, we begin to question Him and we begin to Judge Him. Is it His fault? No, it's our fault. We close our ears and we refuse to listen. He guides but we don't follow, He teaches us but we are not willing to learn, He shows us the right way but we continue to pass on the other way and He calls us but we are deaf to response. It's not yet the end. God is willing to forgive. He will continue to open His door but we need to knock at it with all our heart.God is Just waiting you inside (Cohen, 1991). Your sel f is your real best friend but it doesn't mean you erase God, you ignore your family and you refuse friends. When you turn yourself as your best friend, it's the time when you an accept them. In your self, you need to build all the positive things so that there's a balance. Everything begins in your self like acceptance, trust, sharing, awareness and forgiveness. It all starts with you. Live your life with love because it will serve as your visa to listen to others. Loving yourself will show you the sight way (Whitman, 2002).Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, â€Å"God is love† or Agape in the Canonical gospels. Love may also be described as actions towards others based on compassion or as actions towards others based on affection. I Just noticed in myself that I feel happy when pe ople are also happy. What makes me feel that are they. The people around me give me a kind of feeling either that or the opposite.Maybe, you are experiencing the same also. That sounds like you love others more thank your self. Like l, you rather hurt yourself to make someone happy even deep inside you're sad. That is also good but better if you will also make yourself happy first before others. Love yourself first before loving others. If you can love others, you can love yourself or vice versa. Loving yourself is loving others. You must take the balance. Love yourself so that you can give the right love for others and you won't feel the guilt inside (Cohen, 1991). As I said, loving yourself doesn't mean you'll be self-centered.You need to give eve to yourself so that you won't feel that something is missing within you. If you don't love yourself, who do you think will love you? That is a rhetorical question. The answer is close to you. Every one's need is to love and be loved. If all is Just to love, is the one complete? Everyone needs to be loved aside from to love. One of the commandments of God is â€Å"Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself. † It says that as much as you love yourself so you must give the same love you have in yourself to others. How come you can give more love to others if you have a little love in yourself?Where's the balance? Of course, the main point is to have an equal love to yourself and to others. That is what the commandment wants you to know In General, my research paper talks about you. It wants you to know your real best friend. In life, you are faced into different challenges and these make you a person who you are now. In these, God must always present so that you can make the right decision. You must learn to accept yourself, help others, trust or believe yourself, remove your fear, know your purpose and love yourself. To know more about your real best friend, go at a mirror and smile because you'll see hi m smiling too.