Impact Of Scrooge In A Christmas Carol - 896 Words

Impacted can be defined as having a strong influence in a positive manor on someone or something. Scrooge was impacted most by the Ghost of Christmas present in the novella A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The Ghost of Christmas present taught him how to show kindness to others, and showed Scrooge how he affected those around him. Scrooge began his transformation into a good man when the Ghost of Christmas present shows him the Cratchit household. Scrooge throughout this scene is presented with the consequences of his actions and how they affect those who are less fortunate than he. â€Å"Think of that. Bob had but fifteen bob a-week himself; he pocketed on Saturdays but fifteen copies of his Christian name; and yet the Ghost of†¦show more content†¦One half-hour, Ghost, only one!† His excitement at the games is obvious, and although he is not technically included in them, his relish of the interaction is apparent. The Ghost of Christmas Present showed Scrooge many happenings from the people Scrooge knows, but the Ghost also showed him people he doesn’t know and probably never will, people who are suffering themselves. After the Ghost showed Scrooge the Cratchit’s household and his nephew’s house, he showed him people far from home, people in jails, people in hospitals, and people who were simply struggling. The Ghost blessed each of those people, the people that he had no relation to, the people whom he knew nothing about. Their struggles were relieved, the struggling more patient, the sick healed, and so on. In doing this, the Ghost showed Scrooge that although Scrooge was not magical, one person’s blessing can impact many people. He showed Scrooge that kindness and generosity can make the biggest difference, and caring about others, caring about all others, can create a big change and be beneficial to everyone. Although, asShow MoreRelatedA Christmas Carol Analysis707 Words   |  3 PagesA Christmas Carol Discussion By Kalana A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a story about a man who is stingy, rude and solitary. His name is Scrooge, and he gets taught many lessons. Scrooge comes out a changed man who is optimistic and happy. The lessons he gets taught is not only for him but also for Dickens readers. Throughout this text, there many situations where usual readers can relate to. In other parts of the text, there are moments that are rare and have a massive impact on ScroogesRead MoreChristmas Carol Analysis679 Words   |  3 PagesCesar Granda E.G 121 When reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens you realize that Scrooge’s childhood has a huge impact on his adult life, his adult self is a mirror image of his child self, both in his emotions and relationships. This becomes apparent when the ghost of Christmas past appears and takes Scrooge on a journey back into his childhood days. His childhood really molds Scrooge into the person he becomes later in life. Scrooge was a lonely and withdrawn child because heRead MoreCharles Dickens A Christmas Carol1316 Words   |  6 PagesIt can be easily depicted that Christmas is a time of the year to share joyfulness. In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is a character that is effortlessly described as a hardheaded cold man. It is simple to judge the character of Scrooge in this manner, but it is important to recognize the change in his personality throughout the story. Scrooge’s transformation happens very quickly, but he becomes generous and caring only when he is forced to see himself through a stranger’sRead MoreThe Life Of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol1062 Words   |  5 Pages1832 to 1901 under Queen Victoria’s reign. The culture revealed in this era was a time of rapid change, social inequality, industrialization, supernatural and religious beliefs, and was accurately reflected in the works of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Ro les of men and women were strictly defined, as were economic statuses. The hustle and bustle of the streets led to illnesses. Working conditions were destitute and unsanitary. Children often had little to no education, unless very fortunateRead MoreDickens Use of Symbolism in A Christmas Carol Essay example969 Words   |  4 PagesDickens Use of Symbolism in A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens wrote a large number of novels but this particular novella was very popular as it told the story of a typical Christmas in Victorian times. The word Scrooge derives from the character Scrooge in this novella, which proves that Dickens story really did make an impact on the reading public. In A Christmas Carol there are three main themes that would have been influenced by the times when Dickens wasRead More10 Christmas Movies that Wont Turn You into a Grinch or Scrooge861 Words   |  4 Pages10 Christmas Movies that Wont Turn you Into a Grinch or Scrooge Hundreds of Christmas movies have been made since the invention of motion pictures and are still being made to this day. There are only a few that are considered â€Å"Classics†. What I consider classics are the movies that families pull out every year to watch during the Christmas season. If you prefer more recently made movies, there are many great movies that made it onto my list from the 90s and 2000s. These are some of my favoriteRead MoreHow Dickens Conveys Moral Lessons in a Christmas Carol Essay1879 Words   |  8 PagesWhat are the moral lessons Dickens wished to convey in A Christmas Carol and how effectively does he convey them? Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a classic Christmas story which contains stern moral lessons, written in 1843. These lessons are designed to make the readers of that time, the Victorians, conscience of the injustices that were present in the rapidly expanding cities of Britain, due to the Industrial Revolution. The story includes three morals, demonstrated by the three GhostsRead MoreDickens Use of Language and Structure to Build Up a Picture of the Joy of Christmas Present1022 Words   |  5 PagesDickens Use of Language and Structure to Build Up a Picture of the Joy of Christmas Present I’m going to analyse stave 3 of a Christmas carol, Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812. In 1836 Dickens published the first part in a serialisation called The Posthumous papers of the Pickwick club better known as The Pickwick papers. In 1843 he wrote his first and most famous Christmas story, A Christmas Carol. Victorians in those times, a lot of them lived in poverty, and theyRead MoreA Christmas Carol Analysis1036 Words   |  5 PagesCharles Dickens’s main character in â€Å"A Christmas Carol†. This play is about the story of a man, Ebenezer Scrooge, who was greedy, loved money, and had a heart that was hardened toward Christmas. Charles Dickens wrote this story to help expose the suffering of the poor and to convince readers that conditions need to be corrected. Through the visitations of three spirits, Scrooge learned why he had become greedy, how much he had missed out on by avoiding Christmas, and that he was capable of becomingRead Moreâ€Å"He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Discuss Scrooge’s transformation in A Christmas Carol.873 Words   |  4 Pagesand as good a man, as the good old city knew†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Discuss Scrooge’s transformation in A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens, renowned social critic and celebrated author of the Victorian Era. In his most cherished yuletide novella, Dickens’ explores the idea of transformation and man’s ability to redeem himself. By observing Scrooge’s conversion from misanthrope to humanitarian, the reader can understand that Scrooge is only able to transform because of the ghost’s intervention. Each spirit’s visit secures

Ap Psychology - 2810 Words

C14 Practice Test Name: ___________________________________ Date: ______________ ____ 1. Low birth weight is a known risk factor for A) antisocial personality disorder. B) dissociative identity disorder. C) major depressive disorder. D) obsessive-compulsive disorder. E) schizophrenia. 2. A lack of conscience is most characteristic of those who have a(n) ________ disorder. A) dissociative B) antisocial personality C) dysthymic D) generalized anxiety E) obsessive-compulsive 3. A World Health Organization study of 20 countries estimated that ________ had the highest prevalence of mental disorders during the prior year. A) Japan B) Germany C) Mexico D) the United States E) the United Kingdom 4. Schizophrenia is most likely to be†¦show more content†¦He thinks his whole life has been a failure and blames himself for being a social misfit. Norby is most likely suffering from A) major depressive disorder. B) an antisocial personality disorder. C) a dissociative disorder. D) an obsessive-compulsive d isorder. E) agoraphobia. Page 3 AP Psychology C14 Practice Test ____ 16. Since the early 1990s, adolescents with strong mood swings have been increasingly likely to be diagnosed as suffering from A) panic disorder. B) hypochondriasis. C) bipolar disorder. D) agoraphobia. E) major depression. ____ 17. Cognitive changes that accompany depression include a(n) A) decrease in self-focused thinking. B) increased expectation of negative outcomes. C) increased externalization of blame. D) increased obsession with experiencing physical pleasure. E) decrease in pessimistic explanatory style. ____ 18. A disorder in which an individual is overexcited, hyperactive, and wildly optimistic is known as A) paranoia. B) mania. C) a panic attack. D) hypochondriasis. E) schizphrenia ____ 19. The vicious cycle of depression is often initiated by A) a breakdown in selective attention. B) unrealistic optimism. C) excessive levels of norepinephrine. D) stressful life experiences. E) external attributions of blame. ____ 20. Evidence that dissociative identity disorder is not simply a product of conscious roleplaying is most clearly provided by the A) periodicShow MoreRelatedAp Psychology1425 Words   |  6 PagesAP Psychology Free Response Questions Sample The following questions are samples of the free response questions from past AP Psychology exams. The free response sections are worth 33 1/3 percent of the total grade. Students have 50 minutes to answer two questions. The key to successfully answering these questions is to: completely define the terms using appropriate psychological terminology and then critically apply each term. Many students concentrate their efforts on the multiple-choiceRead MoreEssay on AP Psychology FRQ741 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿FRQ Practice #2 AP Psychology 2013-2014 1. In response to declining reading scores in local schools, John wrote an editorial suggesting that schools need to increase interest in reading books by providing students with incentives. Based on research showing a relation between use of incentives and student reading, he recommended providing a free Starbucks gift card for every ten books a student reads. A. Explain how each of the following psychological concepts could be used to refute JohnsRead MoreEssay on 2005 Ap Psychology Free-Response620 Words   |  3 Pages2005 AP PSYCHOLOGY FREE-RESPONSE Psychologists research for further knowledge, but sometimes there are controversial issues for one another. First, children ¡Ã‚ ¯s acquisition of language is an innate mechanism that enables a child to analyze language and extract the basic rules of grammar, granted by Chomsky. It basically states that humans are born with a language acquisition device that, the ability to learn a language rapidly as children. However, there is one important controversy in languageRead More400 Journal (Ap Psychology)2249 Words   |  9 Pagesprimary caregiver | infant and the primary caregiver | gender | the psychological aspects of being male or female | aspects of being male or female | developmental psychology | the branch of psychology that studies physical, economic, and social change of humans throughout the life cycle | the branch of psychology that studies physical | nature vs nurture | a debate over the explanation of individual differences in behaviors, thoughts, and traits | a debate over the explanationRead MoreAp Psychology Review Packet12425 Words   |  50 PagesBehaviorism:  the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental process. 34.Belief Perseverance:  clinging to ones initial conceptions after the basis has been discredited. 35.Binocular Cues:  depth cues such as retinal disparity that depend on using two eyes. 36.Bio-Feedback:  electronically recording, amplifying and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state. 37.Biological Psychology:  a branch of psychology concerned with the linksRead MoreAp Psychology Chapter 2 Worksheet Answer2761 Words   |  12 Pagesbrain organization of left-handed people and why left-handedness seems to dimin ish with age. 16. Discuss the functioning of the endocrine system. 17. Identify two important endocrine glands, and specify their functions.    Vocabulary: 1. biological psychology – 2. neuron – 3. dendrites – 4. axon – 5. myelin sheath – 6. action potential – 7. threshold – 8. synapse – 9. neurotransmitters – 10. acetylcholine (Ach) – 11. endorphins – 12. nervous system – 13. central nervous system (CNS) – 14. peripheralRead MoreThe Ethical Principles Of Psychologists And Code Of Conduct999 Words   |  4 PagesMany universities fail to provide appropriate education in their curriculum (e.g. practicum or internship) in forensic psychology. Therefore, as they obtain a career in this area they lack competency regarding the Code of Ethics, as well as other guidelines which can create ethical dilemmas in the future (Knapp VadeCreek, 2001). Additionally, these individuals lack competency regarding the roles of the forensic psychologist. The role of a forensic psychologist is to function as an expert witnessRead MorePsychology Unit Two Notes : Research Methods1263 Words   |  6 PagesValentina Hernandez Mrs.Long AP Psychology P.1 August 21, 2016 AP Psychology Unit Two Notes – Research Methods 1. Although intuition plays a role on what we believe to be true, it can not always be trusted. Hindsight bias and overconfidence are part of this intuition that is unreliable. Hindsight bias is when someone believes that they knew the outcome of something all along only after learning the outcome. Overconfidence is when someone thinks they know more than they really do. An example ofRead MoreComparing A Brief Self As Context Exercise Control Based And Attention Placebo Protocols For Coping With Induced Pain1005 Words   |  5 Pageswhat has come to be referred to as the â€Å"hexaflex model†: acceptance, defusion, mindfulness, self-as-context, valuing, and committed action (Hayes et al. 2006). Methodology This experiment included participants that were college students enrolled in psychology courses who received extra credit for participation. The participants were first pre screened with an Acceptance and Action Questionnaire. The total scores from the questionnaire ranged from 9- 63, with higher scores reflecting higher levels ofRead More Social Influence Research - Do the Ends Justify the Means? Essay865 Words   |  4 Pagesinfluence research, justify the methods used in its investigation? The debate about ethics in psychology focuses on two areas: protection of participants and benefiting society. This is a double obligation dilemma as if some psychologists are not allowed to do certain experiments because of ethical restraints; this can cause problems with validity. In social psychology, these psychologists have an obligation to use their research skills to advance our knowledge of

Agrippina Family Background free essay sample

Agrippina was related to the Claudian ‘gens’, one of the oldest and most illustrious patrician families with imperial connections. Her father Germanicus had risen through the cursus honoroum to two consulships and the proconsulships of Germany and Gaul. Germanicus’s brother was the brother was the future Claudian emperor, Claudius. Agrippina’s family lineage was therefore immensely prestigious. Her mother is quoted twice by Tacitus asserting her descent from the blood of the divine Augustus. According to revisionist Barret, Agrippina would have learnt from her mother in her formative years a powerful sense of her important place in the scheme of things. Agrippina’s marriages illustrate particular well the importance of family background in dynastic politics, although this could be dangerous. Because of Agrippina’s ancestry the emperor Tiberius, who was also her guardian, arranged Agrippina’s first marriage to Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus in 28 AD. Ahenobarbus was a descendent of famous, noble famiy, Domitii and descendent of Mark Antony. We will write a custom essay sample on Agrippina Family Background or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ahenobarbus was seen as a potential princeps if other plans failed. This marriage also secured the Julian princeps from rival contenders and produced a Julian heir with the birth of Nero. This marriage was not illustrious in terms of rank, but protected Agrippina from Claudius’s wife Messalina, who saw Agrippina as a threat due to her direct bloodline to ancestry. Agrippina’s third marriage to emperor Claudius shows the significance of family background and its relevance to revisionist historiography. Traditionally claimed by Tacitus and Cassius Dio that Agrippina seduced her uncle Claudius as a stepping-stone to power. Whilst ancient sources are informative there is some question as to how much is fact and how much is innuendo. An alterative explanation is that it was Agrippina’s family connections that made her marriage to Claudius attractive. Babara Levick argued that it was politically expident for Claudius to marry Agrippina. As a descendant of Augustus she also reinforced his position in the senate. Aristocratic women in her family had great influence in forming her ersonality and actions. Livia was the wife of the emperor Augustus. She was a model for Agrippina as well as her mother concerning maternal drive and political involvements. According to archaeologists evidence, the SCPP, whilst Livia highly and deservedly should have the greatest influence in the senate she used it sparingly. Champlin comments that SCPP confirms the truly astonishing power of Livia which has often been abused, even though the evidence is problematic because of some uncertainties with translation over punctuation. Although she had no constitutional power, Livia’s considerable associative power, derived from her husband and son enabled her to be a significant force in political life. Livia’s associative political power and the promotion of her son provided models for other imperial women to evaluate. Agrippina the Elder taught her daughter not to control imperial power directly. Agrippina the Elder was very active in political and military events, she has been said to have formed a ‘party’ under Tiberius. In addition she was insubordinate and used imperative language when arguing with the emperor. Her subsequent treatment by Tiberius resulted in imprisonment and suicide and the destruction of her two elder sons in the struggle for succession. Agrippina the Elder modeled for her daughter how not to behave in negotiating the perils of the imperial court. She was regarded as the single most important influence on Agrippina the Younger. The received traditional present Agrippina as women motivated by the dictorial feminine excess of ambition a masculine despotism. However this judgment cannot be trusted fully as he was incredibly hostile towards the senate. Barret however understood Agrippina ambitions and actions attempt to give formal definition to the political role open to imperial women. She represents an essential stage in the evolution of the imperial system building on Livia’s precedents and that of her mother.

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Friends and Big Bang Theorys Interior Design

Monica’s apartment is used as the setting for many of the scenes depicted in Friends. There are several aspects of the interior design that make viewers feel comfortable when they watch this movie. For example, the living room is adorned with upholstered furniture, and it looks rather cozy. The walls are painted in purple, and this color produces a very soothing impression on the audience.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Friends’ and Big Bang Theory’s Interior Design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is another detail which also attracts attention. In particular, various objects are scattered in a haphazard way, and the room looks rather disorderly. Nevertheless, this apartment does not seem untidy. This is one of the main features that should not be overlooked. On the whole, this interior design reflects the character of people depicted in this television series. For instance, one can say that these people can be absent-minded, awkward, eccentric, illogical, and even childlike. Yet, these are the qualities that make these characters very engaging and unpredictable. Furthermore, these interior design indicates that this apartment will be a gathering place for place for the main characters. Moreover, their day-to-day conversations will be the basis for the plot of this television series. So, the audience may expect the actors to talk about such issues as their personal relations, employment, family, and so forth. These are some of the details that should be considered. It is possible to say that the design of setting often depends on the genre of a movie or a television series. Such differences can be illustrated if one looks at a comedy series and a dramatic series. For example, in comedies, many living rooms are portrayed as extremely disorganized places. Moreover, the viewers can say that such living rooms are not supposed to impress possible guests with the wealth of an owner (Bonner, 2003). Such movies as Friends and Big Bang Theory are the most eloquent examples of this approach to design. In contrast, dramatic television series may present images. For example, one can refer to the television series called House of Cards. The apartment in which the main character lives differs significantly from settings featured in sitcoms. At first glance, the living room looks very austere and minimalistic. Nevertheless, the design is supposed to highlight the high social status of a person. For example, the articles of furniture suggest that the main character is a very affluent person and he can afford the most expensive products. So, one can argue that this interior design reflects the values of an individual. This is one of the arguments that can be put forward.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Very often, film-makers rely on i nterior design in order to give viewers some clues about the socio-economic status of the main characters. For example, if it is necessary to describe a well-to-do person, they decide to include expensive articles of furniture. It should be mentioned that the furniture does not necessarily look extremely luxurious and expensive. In many cases, the interior design is rather minimalistic. Nevertheless, there are some details to which the film-makers attract attention of audience, for example, the furniture can be made of very expensive materials such as mahogany. So, one can argue that a certain character is rather wealthy. To understand this trend, one can look at the television series named Suits which depicts the everyday life of lawyers. In contrast, the film-makers can also show that a certain character is much less affluent. For example, the viewers can see that interior dà ©cor of a room looks shabby. Apart from that, the film-makers can show that furniture is made of inexpens ive materials. Such details are very informative, and they are useful for identifying the social and economic status of a person. These are some of the details that can be distinguished. Overall, characters in different programs can use language in distinct ways. Much attention should be paid to the genre of a particular program or a show. Moreover, it is important to consider the effect that the authors try to produce. If their goal is to make the audience laugh, the characters can discuss interpersonal relations in a casual and comic way. Friends can be viewed as a good illustration of this approach. There are many situations when the actors discuss such issues as marriage or divorce as though such events are commonplace. They can rely on wordplay, intonation and body language in order to demonstrate their attitudes (Richardson Burridge 2014). In dramatic series, the actors try to emphasize their emotions and feelings such as joy, distress, excitement, sadness, or anxiety. This i s one of the differences that should not be disregarded. Much attention should be paid to the way in which the issues of gender and race are addressed. In both dramatic and comedy series, the film-makers try to refute common stereotypes about femininity or masculinity, especially gender norms. For example, the show Friends demonstrates that close friendship between men can be associated with homosexuality. For example, Joey and Chandler are often thought to be gay only because they are not afraid of expressing their emotions in front of one another (Feasey, 2008, p. 26). Overall, comedy and dramatic series show that in many cases, widespread views on gender are too rigid.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Friends’ and Big Bang Theory’s Interior Design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Various questions related to race can also be explored in television series. In many cases, the main message is that race must never be used as the criterion for assessing the actions of an individual. So, various film-makers attempt to show that people should be free from prejudices against other individuals. Furthermore, while assessing different TV series, one should focus on the way in which, viewers form their attitude toward the characters. In comedies, it is rather difficult to find a character who can be immediately disliked. There are people whose qualities do not seem very appealing. Very often, they can be arrogant or bossy. However, these shortcomings are usually mitigated by other character traits like compassion. As a rule, a character, who is disliked by the audience, is guilty of such ethical crimes as hypocrisy, betrayal, or callousness. This argument is particularly relevant if one speaks about melodramatic series. These are the main points that can be made. Finally, it is important to discuss reality shows because they are an important part of the modern media industry. In my opinion, such shows often lack authenticity, because in many cases, it is evident that the actors follow a specific script which has been developed beforehand. Moreover, the characters are distinctly aware of being observed by other people. Therefore, one cannot say that such programs reflect real-life behavior of people. This is the major limitations of such shows. Reference List Bonner, F. (2003). Ordinary Television: Analyzing Popular TV. New York, NY: SAGE. Feasey, R. (2008). Masculinity and Popular Television. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Richardson, J., Burridge, J. (2014). Analysing Media Discourses. New York, NY: Routledge. This research paper on Friends’ and Big Bang Theory’s Interior Design was written and submitted by user Katherine Y. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Religion and the Syrian Civil War

Religion and the Syrian Civil War Religion played a minor but important role in the conflict in Syria. A United Nations report released in late 2012 said that the conflict was becoming â€Å"overtly sectarian† in some parts of the country, with Syria’s various religious communities finding themselves on the opposite sides of the fight between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and Syria’s fractured opposition. Growing Religious Divide At its core, the civil war in Syria is not a religious conflict. The dividing line is one’s loyalty to Assad’s government. However, some religious communities tend to be more supportive of the regime than others, fueling mutual suspicion and religious intolerance in many parts of the country. Syria is an Arab country with a Kurdish and Armenian minority. In term of religious identity, most of the Arab majority belong to the Sunni branch of Islam, with several Muslim minority groups associated with Shiite Islam. Christians from different denominations represent a smaller percentage of the population. The emergence among anti-government rebels of hard-line Sunni Islamist militias fighting for an Islamic state has alienated the minorities. Outside interference from  Shiite Iran, Islamic State militants who seek to include  Syria as part of their widespread caliphate and Sunni Saudi Arabia  makes matters worse, feeding into the wider Sunni-Shiite tension in the Middle East. Alawites   President Assad belongs to the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that is specific to Syria (with small population pockets in Lebanon). The Assad family has been in power since 1970 (Bashar al-Assads father, Hafez al-Assad, served as president from 1971 until his death in 2000), and although it presided over a secular regime, many Syrians think Alawites have enjoyed privileged access to top government jobs and business opportunities. After the outbreak of the anti-government uprising in 2011, the vast majority of Alawites rallied behind the Assad regime, fearful of discrimination if the Sunni majority came to power. Most of the top rank in Assads army and intelligence services are Alawites, making the Alawite community as a whole closely identified with the government camp in the civil war. However, a group of religious Alawite leaders claimed independence from Assad recently, begging the question of whether the Alawite community is itself splintering in its support of Assad. Sunni Muslim Arabs A majority of Syrians are Sunni Arabs, but they are politically divided. True, most of the fighters in rebel opposition groups under the  Free Syrian Army  umbrella come from the Sunni provincial heartlands, and many Sunni Islamists don’t consider Alawites to be real Muslims. The armed confrontation between largely Sunni rebels and the Alawite-led government troops at one point led some observers to see Syria’s civil war as a conflict between Sunnis and Alawites. But, it’s not that simple. Most of the regular government soldiers fighting the rebels are Sunni recruits (though thousands have defected to various opposition groups), and Sunnis hold leading positions in the government, the bureaucracy, the ruling Baath Party and the business community. Some businessmen and middle-class Sunnis support the regime because they want to protect their material interests. Many others are simply scared by Islamist groups within the rebel movements and don’t trust the opposition. In any case, the bedrock of support from sections of the Sunni community has been key to Assad’s survival. Christians The Arab Christian minority in Syria at one time enjoyed relative security under Assad, integrated by the regime’s secular nationalist ideology. Many Christians fear that this politically repressive but religiously tolerant dictatorship will be replaced by a Sunni Islamist regime that will discriminate against minorities, pointing to the prosecution of Iraqi Christians by Islamist extremists after the fall of Saddam Hussein. This led to the Christian establishment: the merchants, top bureaucrats, and religious leaders, to support the government or at least distance themselves from what they saw as a Sunni uprising in 2011. And although there are many Christians in the ranks of the political opposition, such as the Syrian National Coalition, and among the pro-democracy youth activists, some rebel groups now consider all Christians to be collaborators with the regime. Christian leaders, meanwhile, are now faced with the moral obligation to speak out against Assads extreme violence and atrocities against all Syrian citizens regardless of their faith. The Druze Ismailis The Druze and the Ismailis are two distinct Muslim minorities believed to have developed out of the Shiite branch of Islam. Not unlike other minorities, The Druze and Ismailis fear that the regime’s potential downfall will give way to chaos and religious persecution. The reluctance of their leaders to join the opposition has often been interpreted as tacit support for Assad, but that isnt the case. These minorities are caught between extremist groups like the Islamic State, Assads military and opposition forces in what one Middle East analyst, Karim Bitar, from the think tank IRIS calls the tragic dilemma of religious minorities. Twelver Shiites While most Shiites in Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon belong to the mainstream Twelver branch, this principal form of Shiite Islam is only a tiny minority in Syria, concentrated in parts of the capital city of Damascus. However, their numbers swelled after 2003 with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees during the Sunni-Shiite civil war in that country. Twelver Shiites fear a radical Islamist takeover of Syria and largely support the Assad regime. With Syria’s ongoing descent into conflict, some Shiites moved back to Iraq. Others organized militias to defend their neighborhoods from Sunni rebels, adding yet another layer to the fragmentation of Syria’s religious society.

How the media communications impacted public perception on marijuana Research Paper

How the media communications impacted public perception on marijuana - Research Paper Example Marijuana in most nations around the world is categorized as an illegal drug and its use is outlawed. However, there are alternative uses of marijuana ranging from the production of animal feeds, plastic products among other use. In the U.S.A, the use of marijuana has been prohibited to both the living and those who are dying. The most tragic of the prohibition of its use has been the denial of medicinal cannabis to millions of patients who could benefit from its therapeutic use. The use of Marijuana for medical purposes has numerous examples that cannabis is invaluable in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. It has numerous clinical applications as well. The most important of these is perhaps being used as a pain reliever especially pain suffered because of nerve damage otherwise known as neuropathic pain. It is also known to deal with movement disorders, glaucoma and nausea. Apart from medical use, there are a number of reasons given for the legalization of marijuana. One of them is that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol or cigarettes, which are legal and widely use in the US already. The other argument is that decriminalization will result in reduced criminal and gang activities that are related to the sale of Marijuana. The process of legalizing marijuana for medicinal use and other purposes has been a long one and the role played by the media cannot be ignored. It served an important role in the education of the masses as to this alternativ e method of treatment.