Violence Essay Thesis Example For Students

Violence Essay Thesis The last five years have seen an increase in the stand on violence in movies. As actionmovies with their big stars are taken to new heights every year, more people seem toargue that the violence is influencing our countrys youth. Yet, each year, the amount ofviewers also increases. This summers smash hit Independence Day grossed more moneythan any other film in history, and it was full of violence. The other summer hits includedMission: Impossible, Courage Under Fire, and A Time to Kill. All of these moviescontained violence, and all were highly acclaimed. And all, with the exception ofIndependence Day, were aimed toward adults who understood the violence and couldseparate screen violence from real violence. There is nothing wrong with having violencein film. If an adult wants to spend an evening watching Arnold Schwartzenager Save theworld, then he should have that right. We will write a custom essay on Violence Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Film critic Hal Hinson enjoys watching movies. In fact, he fell in love withmovies at the same time that he remembers being afraid for the first time. He waswatching Frankenstein, and, as he described in his essay ?In Defense of Violence,? itplayed with his senses in such a way that he instantaneously fell in love with movies.. The danger was fake, but Hinson described that it played with his senses in such a waythat he almost instantly fell in love. Hinson feels that most movie lovers were incited bythe same hooks as himself. Movies were thrilling, dangerous, and mesmerizing (Hinson581-2). Hinson says that as a culture, we like violent art. Yet this is not something that isnew to todays culture. The ancient Greeks perfected the genre of tragedy with a use ofviolence. According to Hinson, they believed that while violence in life is destructive,violence in art need not be; that art provides a healthy channel for the natural aggressiveforces within us (Hinson 585). Today, the Greek tragedy is not often seen, but there areother shows movies that embody and use violence. Tom and Jerry, The Three Stooges,and popular prime time shows including the highly acclaimed NYPD Blue and ER are allviolent. There is a surplus of violent movies in Hollywood. Usually, the years highestmoneymakers are violent. Even Oscar winning movies, those movies that are the best ofthe year, have violence in them. Silence of the Lambs, Unforgiving, and In the Line ofFire are just a few. Even with all this violence on both the small and big screen, Hinson makes a clearstatement that real-life violence is the problem, not movie violence. He feels that peoplefear screen violence because they fear we might become what is depicted on screen. Hinson feels that to enjoy violence, one must be able to distinguish between what is realand what is not (Hinson 587). Another essay, this one entitled ?Popcorn Violence,? illustrates how the type ofviolence seen in film and television is completely different than real life violence. Theauthor, Roger Rosenblatt, describes how young children can be exposed to screenviolence early on in life, yet the type of violence is so fictional that the connection betweenwhat is seen on television and what goes on out in the streets is never made. The exampleRosenblatt uses to illustrate this point is wrestling. In professional wrestling there aregood guys, such as Hulk Hogan and Randy ?Macho Man? Savage, and bad guys, whichincludes the likes of The Undertaker and Rowdy Piper. Every Saturday morning they gointo the ring and fight. Its good versus bad. The show, of course, is humorous, as it ismeant to be. The characters are so strange that they are comical. They roam around thering, yelling and screaming, looking quite ridiculous. They play to the crowd, eithermaking them boo or cheer. Occasionally, for example, i f say Hulk Hogan is winning afight, the bad guys friends might join in and gang up on Hulk. All of this violence, andthe kids love it (Rosenblatt 589). .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d , .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .postImageUrl , .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d , .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d:hover , .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d:visited , .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d:active { border:0!important; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d:active , .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0773e2aef13fdd06a322b20bbef0239d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Technology Effect On Society EssayThe same occurs in ?action? movies. There is a good guy and a bad guy, but thebad guy usually has lots of friends, and they all gang up on the good guy. Rosenblattexplains that sometimes you root for the good guys, and other times for the bad guys. Hesays that we root for the bad because sometimes ?youre simply bored with the good guysand the bad are beautiful? (Rosenblatt 589-90). But when we do root for the good guy, itis because all odds are against him. In his essay, Rosenblatt explains that admiration for the either good or bad comesfrom the desire to achieve what ultimately the that person achieves: success. The winnerof the battle is the one who succeeds and does so with power and strength and the abilityto outwit an opponent (Rosenblatt 590). Sometimes, Rosenblatt explains, you really want the bad guy to succeed. He usestwo good examples to illustrate this point. First off is Terminator, the movie that startedArnold Schwartzenagers career. In the movie, his job as a cyborg was to kill SarahConnor(AKA Linda Hamilton). No matter what amount of destructive force was aimed atthe Terminator, as long as some part of him was functioning, he would still go after her. Rosenblatt also uses an example that is not particularly violent, but does show how wesometimes tend to root for the bad guy. The example he uses is The Great Gatsby. Gatsby, according to Rosenblatt, is so appealing because he not only was a self mademillionaire, but also because he was a criminal. On his way to the top, Gatsby murdered aman. He makes the ultimate sacrifice to achieve success (Rosenblatt 590). After readingthis novel, I can say I was quite upset when Gastby died. He was the bad guy, thecriminal, yet I wanted to see him succeed. There is another aspect of violent movies that Rosenblatt touches briefly on. Thisis the progression of weaponry in movies. The progression has been incredible, indeed. Inmany violent movies, it is the type of weapon and how it is used and depicted that makethe movie so violent. It has gone from the .357 Magnum that Clint Eastwood held to athugs face and said ?Go ahead, make my day,? to the magnetic pulse rifles seen ArnoldSchwartzenagers latest The Eraser. Men seem to have a fascination with gadgets andtechnology, and this is what Rosenblatt uses to defend this progression. Just as with anew cordless power super duper drill, a high tech weapon to even the odds is ?neat.?Rosenblatt uses a good example in the movie In the Line of Fire. There is a scene wheretwo duck hunters at a pond are approached by the assassin. They are fascinated by thedouble barrel pistol made by the assassin, as most guys probably would have been(Rosenblatt 591). Rosenblatt concludes by saying that mens fascination with violent movies stemsfrom our competitiveness and wanting to succeed. He says that we are not violent peoplefor watching these films. He claims that most of us would want to take all the guns off thestreet and burn them all. Rosenblatt also mentions one of his friends, a police officer, wholoves action movies but hates the violence that he has to deal with everyday. Rosenblattsays that men dont take violence in films seriously (Rosenblatt 592). We know thatSchwartzenager is fake, and that there is no Rambo. Unfortunately, there is some evidence that television and movies are schools forviolence. In the book Children in Front of the Small Screen by Grant Noble, results fromtests show that young children will imitate that which they see on screen. Severalexperiments were performed to prove this point, all involving children. In the tests, thechildren viewed different acts of violence. These violent acts included a man hitting abozo the clown self righting inflatable doll with a mallet, and two grown adults fightingover some toys. They were then left in rooms for observation. In the case of the childrenwho saw the man hit the doll with the mallet, in the room was the same mallet and doll,along with numerous other toys. In most cases, the children would imitate the exactaction they viewed. Some would even imitate the exact body stances and facial expressionthat the watched on screen. The experimenters did not, however, state for how long eachaggressive act took place. They concluded ?that f ilm models are as effective in teachingaggressive behavior as real-life models as parents and teachers? (Grant 127). .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c , .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .postImageUrl , .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c , .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c:hover , .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c:visited , .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c:active { border:0!important; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c:active , .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u84b7be9e98cd23af66e49cbed197228c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The League Of Nations And It's Impact On World Pea EssayAll right, so maybe there is some validity to the idea that violence on screenadversely affects children. The fact is, children like to mimic what the see and hear,whether its on the television or in real life. I wont deny the fact that this is a seriousproblem. The types of behavior in many violent films are not what most parents wouldwant there kids to imitate. Indeed, this is solid evidence that screen violence is veryimpressionable for children. Of course, what parent would allow they child to watchRambo or Terminator at a young age? These movies arent made for young children, andtherefore, should not be seen by t hem. Thats why there is a rating system for movies. Achild of six years old shouldnt be sitting in front of the television watching Die Hard orsimilar films. Its up to the parents to monitor their childs viewing. When I was growing up, my parents were very careful in monitoring what watchedand what I played with. In fact, I dont think I ever owned a toy gun. They hardly everlet me watch R rated movies. If, by chance, I did, I watched them under their supervision,and they usually explained to me that what was going on in the movie was wrong. Though I watched a few while growing up, I dont feel that they had any adverse effectson me. I am not a violent person or perform random, spontaneous acts of violence. Ibelieve this is because my parents told me that what I was watching was not an acceptableway to act. This is what parents have to do. It is their job to teach wrong from right. Lately, violence in film and television has been getting a bad reputation. Manyactivist groups have sprung up, demanding that the film industry and the Hollywoodexecutives stop making violent films. There main claim is that the violence is bad for thechildren. Yet these films are for the adults, not the children. It is the adults who are ableto distinguish the difference between what is real and what is fake. Personally, I lovethose action movies that have death counts close to the hundreds. I love the feeling ofleaving the theater in awe of what I just saw. Being an adult, this is a privilege that I have,and I want to keep that privilege. So, probably, does any other person who likes to watchthese same type of films.

Coming of Age essays

Coming of Age essays Both Araby by James Joyce, and As Araby and John Updikes A The main character of Araby is a young boy just coming into his middle teens. He comes from a religious upbringing, lives in a quiet neighborhood and is extremely respectful of his elders. He loves to read, as is evident by his liking The Memoirs of Vidocq (Joyce 728) and enjoys cherished, passed down literature as its leaves (have become) yellow (pg. 728) over time. He is also a good student, except when his thoughts are occupied by his best friends sister who also lives in his neighborhood. He is infatuated with her Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance (pg. 729) but he is clearly shy because he makes it known that he did not know whether I would ever speak to her (pg. 729) Instead of approaching her, he watched her from our shadow peer up and down the street. Every morning I lay on the front parlous watching her door. The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that I could not be seen (pg. 729). He is also very u! ncertain of his feelings and his confused adoration (pg. 729). Yet, he is very clear in his actions of being polite. He withstands the gossip of the tea-table (pg. 731). instead of leaving for the fair. He nicely asks his uncle to give him money to go to the bazaar and patiently waits until he is excuse...

Me, Myself, and I - Business Grammar Rules Explained

Me, Myself, and I - Business Grammar Rules Explained Me, Myself, and I is one of the most common business grammar errors we see in business writing training sessions. What is the Difference between Me, Myself, and I? I recently found this illustrative error reading one of my favorite blogs (unnamed now, since I don't want to link the error to this otherwise wonderful blog): Can you find the error? My sister-in-law and brother surprised Eric and I with some personalized cards along with a rubber, address stamp this week from Nameless Print. The text on the cards are coral - one of my favorite colors and also the color of the bridesmaid dresses along with the rubber stamp ink. I was semi-dreading writing out all the thank you cards from the wedding (my handwriting leaves a lot to be desired), but after receiving these, I think I may enjoy it a little. The error is here: My sister-in-law and brother surprised Eric and I with some personalized cards along with a rubber, address stamp this week from Nameless Print. The text on the cards are coral - one of my favorite colors and also the color of the bridesmaid dresses along with the rubber stamp ink. I was semi-dreading writing out all the thank you cards from the wedding (my handwriting leaves a lot to be desired), but after receiving these, I think I may enjoy it a little. It should read: My sister-in-law and brother surprised Eric and me with... hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(41482, 'bf4ee473-8e6b-46bf-b9e3-368d74d60b44', {}); Grammar Rules According to The Gregg Reference Manual and AP Style Guide: Use I, we, you, he, she, it, they (nominative/subject form personal pronoun): When the pronoun is the subject of a verb.I wrote to Eileen McIntyre. Use me, us, you, him, her, it, them (objective form personal pronoun): When the pronoun is the direct or indirect object of a verb. Larry gave Maris and us tickets for the opening.My sister-in-law and brother surprised Eric and me with... The reflexive personal pronoun myself gets tricky but just remember that myself is always used as the object of a sentence and/or as an intensive pronoun to add intensity to a sentence. Myself is never used as a subject pronoun. All personal pronouns have a matching reflexive pronoun: me - myself you - yourself you - yourselves her - herself it - itself he - himself one - oneself our - ourselves they - themselves An easy rule to remember is that the reflexive pronoun myself is always used as the object of a sentence, never the subject. I (subject) see (verb) myself (reflexive objective pronoun) eating a big chocolate cookie. You'd never write "Myself ate a big chocolate cookie." Use myself to direct the action expressed by the verb back to the subject.She found herself the only one in favor of the move. Use myself as an intensive pronoun to highlight a noun or pronoun already expressed.I will contact her myself."I will contact her" has the same meaning, but adding "myself" adds intensity. Me, Myself, and I Grammar Tip Here are two tips that will help you avoid this common me/myself/I business grammar error: Simply omit all words between the subject/verb and pronoun:My sister-in-law and brother surprised Eric and I.My sister-in-law surprised I... sounds odd to the ear. You'll know immediately that My sister-in-law surprised me... is correct. Omit the injected words for a quick check. If you were, for some odd reason, rarely allowed to include myself in business documents, you wouldn't miss it much.So, if you are confused, just don't use myself unless you are certain the usage is correct. This way, you will never write the common error:Please send the report to Karen and myself.You will know that the correct sentence is:Please send the report to Karen and me.

Common Myths of Black Americans and the historical reality Research Paper

Common Myths of Black Americans and the historical reality - Research Paper Example During the 1800’s, there was a high threat of slavery that existed in America. Many black Americans were brought and sold and were forced to work as a slave property. Even the families of the black people were broken and were sold as slaves in various parts of the nation, which certainly imposed a grave challenge to the existence of the race during the then period. However, the Black community also had an advantage to migrate back to their homeland, Africa, escaping from the colonization practices, with the help of the then activists. To be precise, the then American society witnessed a polarization effect within the thoughts and actions of philanthropists, abolition lists and clergy.In the year 1890, following the 11th Census of the US, with the end of the frontier, the miners of the west began recruiting African immigrants or the Black Americans, which attracted the population at large percentages towards the West. As a consequence, the farmlands of the west also began to be filled, witnessing massive reconstructions in the legal framework, simultaneously with the changing social norms and perceptions. Overall, the closing of the frontier had immense effects on the perceptions of the African Americans as well as the Whites in the community, forming myths to shape its history (Turner). Majority of the myths identified in this period of the American Frontier were argued to deprive the Black Americans from their fundamental rights to be free and rather made them subjected to racial discriminations.

Case assignment cultural Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case assignment cultural Identity - Essay Example 2. To what extent do you think cultural beliefs, values, and traditions may impact health education efforts? Please provide examples of negative and positive impacts that apply to the case studies from the video. Cultural beliefs, values and traditions play a crucial role in the health-care setting. As emphasized in the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC) (n.d.), â€Å"health care professionals increasingly recognize the crucial role that culture plays in the healthcare of a client or patient and the need to deliver services in a culturally competent manner† (p. 1). Therefore, the ability of health care professionals to educate the patients on the most effective intervention would depend on the ability to communicate messages that accommodate understanding cultural beliefs, values, and traditions. In the case studies from the video, the good cross-cultural patient communication scenario clearly depicts that the following elements assist in effective efforts for health education: (1) eliciting information on the cultural remedies; (2) demonstration of acceptance of patient’s views; (3) accommodating the health beliefs of patients; (4) explores understanding of the cultural impact; and (5) empathizes and supports the patient’s perspectives and cultural views (University of Michigan: Lesson 1, 2010). On the other hand, the bad cross-cultural patient communication scenario exemplified negative impacts on health education and cultural competence: (1) not demonstrating acceptance of patient’s view; (2) not eliciting information on cultural remedies; (3) not accommodating health beliefs; and (4) not empathizing and supporting the patient’s perspectives and cultural views (University of Michican: Lecture 2, 2010). Based on the video, one would suggest to health professionals who want to improve their cross-cultural communications

Psychology Of Television Essay -- essays research papers

Psychology of Television   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today many people think that television is the cause of violence in today’s youth. Many have pondered that television disturbs traditions as well as interferes with the minds of adolecened children who can not yet comprehend the truth of fiction and reality. Thus television has become a widely talked about controversy, mainly because of the fatal incidents that have been occurring during the past couple of years. Questions are being raised and people want answers. What kind of effects does the television have on human beings?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s society the public is interested in the detailed information about the content of television. Persons who work in the media are often concerned with what the television portrays and why it portrays the way it does. Even though they know that their shows are representative to their viewers tastes and not that of the “real world.'; Although this information is not acknowledged as fiction or non-fiction it is still portrayed and processed information by the viewer. One must be able to realize, “How this information is different from everyday life?'; By mocking a family, situation, or community, distortions and biases occur on the television when these subjects are compared to “real life.'; Still unsure of these problems the majority of humans watch even when they don’t understand – why?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Television is a medium of novelty, with each new season bringing new shows with dreamier characters and more enticing situations. These shows are successful because they challenge one’s wisdom if he or she were in the same situation. This is the reason why people are starting to question and be afraid of the pushed boundaries of television. With the dramatic increase of violence in today’s world the programmers are filling ones mind of not wisdom, but the dark escape of violence which makes up the viewers mind for them. The definition of physical violence is stated as these two presented:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Any overt depiction of a credible threat of physical force or the actual use of such force intended to physically harm an animated being or group of beings. (National... ... which audience members are said to be “recruited';. Thus, the individual “learns to recognize itself in a series of subject positions...which are the positions from which discourse is intelligible to itself and others (Academic Press, 103). The viewer is not compelled to take a position even though there are different ones offered by the program. In either case it would seem that the logical effect remains within the discourse and does not translate directly to the viewer. The simple answer to the objection is that the reader will not be able to make sense of what he or she sees other than identifying with.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now that you know some of the ways that television programs can cloud your mind, try and be more observant when you or your little one is sitting in front of the television. You are watching more than “just some thing on TV.'; Television today is getting more violent and graphic, and that is not the worst of it. Programmers are playing with a young child’s mind – with my mind, and even with yours. People just don’t realize it, or they choose to ignore it, until something drastic happens.

Eid vs Christmas Essay

In the building with the blue windows and the diamond shaped roof tops, children dressed in red and green with rosy cheeks, were gaily singing: â€Å"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride in a one more hoppin’ slay! Hey! †¦ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! † In the building across the street, with the pink windows and the mosque behind it, families were visiting each other in their newly bought clothes and shining shoes, wishing each other: Eid Mubarak, Dear Brother, Dear Sister May Allah’s blessings be bestowed upon you and your family! † The year 2008 is host to Christmas and Eid al Adha during the same month, only a few days apart. One would notice that decorations and celebrations favour one of the Religious Holidays over the other. Why have we chosen to commercialise Christmas and not the Islamic event of Eid? How is it that worldwide Christmas is rejoiced at an extreme point of merriment, whereas Eid al Ad ha is commemorated only within its Islamic communities? The historical references of the birth of Christ (As) and the sacrifice of Ibrahim(As) and his son are known within both religions and are testimonies of social gatherings. Actually, in our Islamic religion we learn that Ibrahim (As) would sacrifice his son Ismael (As) in Makah, while among the Christians, they believe that Ibrahim (As) would sacrifice his son Isaac (As), not Ismael (As), in Palestine. Artists painted the scenes, poets rhymed the stories, authors researched the history, all in tribute to the religious aspect of the culture of their upbringings. So, why is Christmas the prize of the globalization of the market, and not Eid al Adha? Why is Christmas more widely accepted as a commercial Holiday and not Eid? Throughout history, religion has been a battleground for the survival of cultures and traditions. Territory was fought for based on religion, international communications broke down because of different convictions. Yet, the holidays seem to unite even people who are the farthest apart. Thanksgiving, Easter, Ramadan, Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha and Christmas are celebrations that should be known worldwide; and for the most part they are. In the United States and Canada they honour Thanksgiving, also most westren countries have Easter and Christmas holidays; the Orient celebrate with some of these holidays. However, come Ramadan or Eid, and only the immediate Islamic based countries, like the Middle East and the South-Asian countries, know the details of the holiday. Abu Dhabi is an example of a multi-tradition and multi-cultural city. Every year, Ramadan is noticed and felt all over the city, even its peripheries. Usually, both Eids are just as important as Ramadan is. Nonetheless, this year, because Christmas and Eid al Adha are so close to each other, the shopping malls, hotels and other retail outlets are decorated with the spirit of Christmas and not the joy of Eid al Adha. The controversy is that this is an Islamic country, yet the atmosphere feels very occidental. There are Islamic countries that allow a one-day or two-day holiday scheme for Christmas, whereas Western countries don’t instigate the notion of respecting the religion of others in their society. This demonstrates the respect Islamic based governments have towards their inhabitants, what does it say about the Occident? The Islamic goverments does no justice to the foundation of its roots. It is quite disappointing when the nation’s leaders are not intervening and stating that Eid is as important as Christmas; maybe even more so! This is a country whose laws and government regulations are born from the Quran itself. True, Jesus’ (As) birth is a belief amongst Muslims, but so is the sacrificial symbol of the Adha a belief amongst the Christians and other religions in the world. Why can’t all cultures adopt the Islamic tradition of gifting children with new clothes and taking them out to restaurants and amusement parks? The government does not encourage Eid as much as it allows public places to be enveloped in Christmas decorations. In France, the Arab communities hold visitations and share in Islamic customs within their brotherhood, whilst around them Christmas carols are sung and the city is embellished in tinsel and goblins, awaiting the arrival of â€Å"Santa Claus†, or in their terms â€Å"Pere Noel. In Dubai, much like Abu Dhabi, hotels and restaurants have special Christmas luncheons. Shops and Malls give away special offers during the ‘Festive Season’. There is yet to be established an Eid theme blanketing the cities where Islam is the religion of base, like that of Christmas. What is even more upsetting is that Christmas is in itself less religious and more commercial than it was 500 years ago. Christmas has a face, a fi gure one can imagine when thinking of the Holiday: a jolly man, with a red suit and a white beard. He did not always look like this. â€Å"Santa Claus† acquired his red suit and the big belly through a Coca Cola advertisement in 1931. His image changed, distorted almost, into what we know now as â€Å"Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! † by many cartoonists. â€Å"Through the centuries, Santa Claus has been depicted as everything from a tall gaunt man to an elf. He has worn a bishop’s robe and a Norse huntsman’s animal skin. The modern-day Santa Claus is a combination of a number of the stories from a variety of countries†*. (Coca-cola. om) Children stop believing in him at a very early age, whereas before, they would reach the age of maturity and only then learn that â€Å"Santa Claus† is a spirit of St. Nicholas. Eid al Adha, was, is and always will be the same. The story never changes. The facts are facts, not subject to individual interpretation. Families pass on the same heritage that remains untouched, untainted, unpenetrated by social ref orm. In conclusion, I strongly believe that the injustice the Islamic governors does, the discrimination between religions should be educated to a halt. Eid al Adha is my upbringing. Within my family, an uncle has a Christian wife, their house is always decorated with Christmas twinkles during the season; this year, they waited with the decorations until after Eid al Adha. As a Muslim in an Islamic society, I have been brought up to respect all religions and beliefs by our Islamic governments; so why now can’t the Islamic governments respect their religion that they take oath to respect, protect, and maintain it?