Essay about The Gaming Stereotype - 1039 Words

The term â€Å"gamer† tends to be synonymous with â€Å"geek† in many people’s minds. They see gaming as a device that absorbs the majority of the time of the user, leaving them as mindless empty, pale husks with no ambitions other than beating that next boss or shooting the enemy in the face. However, few gamers waste their life away. On the contrary, many of these so-called geeks tend to be more social than the average person, and farther down the technological curve than most. For the truth is that gaming is a rather useful and beneficial hobby. It gives people an outlet to focus on, and can connect them with many others worldwide. It can teach and entertain at the same time, and can be a useful distraction at other times. In this essay then,†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, this stereotype has not held an accurate view for years; while gaming has become a more mainstream activity, the stereotype has become much less prevalent. Speaking through perso nal experience, and the experience received by others in the community, few people play games on such a frequent basis to become pale. Most people, as social beings, cannot live a solitary, single layered life, staring at a bright screen. Yes, a few people exist who call themselves â€Å"gamers† also exhibit this stereotype, but that quantity constantly and consistently approached, and will approach, insignificance. Most lead multi-layered lives, using gaming as one form of entertainment and time-sync out of the many that make up the average day of the person who plays games Our society today has a very well established connection worldwide; a person only needs to pick up a cell phone, turn on the computer, or turn on the TV to communicate with many others around the world. Our world exists and operates as it currently does due to this vital and powerfully established connection. Furthermore, at its current state, gaming requires this all-encompassing connection. Gamers constantly stay connected to the internet and to the many other gamers in the world. They communicate often, both friendly and competitively. Yes, those other gamers they converse and interact with belong to the same community as themselves, yet the root of social networking, a major part of young adultShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Video Games On Children890 Words   |  4 Pages Barnhill can’t wait to get home to play his favorite video game that always made him feel better. He knows that he will be able to escape all the horrible thoughts about the day he had at school. Barnhill is not the only person that uses video gaming as an escape from life. Many people play video games for many different reasons. According to the Pew Internet American Life Project survey, in 2008, 44% of gamers report that they play video games because it helps to learn about a problem in societyRead MoreVideo Games : Video Game More Than Women1186 Words   |  5 Pageshobby to play. Not many video gamers would pay attention to characters such as their role or development because of the enjoyment of playing computerize gaming consoles like Nintendo and PlayStation. One offensive pattern that has been cycling through in gaming is how women characters are presented. Females in video gaming are sexualized across the gaming media and are used as a key factor of a selling success in the market. Women are objectified as objects, rewards and as sexual entertainment. ThatRead MoreVideo Games And Its Impact On The Global Media Market1655 Words   |  7 Pages A videogame is an electronic device which involves utilizing user interface to create optic feedback. They can be enacted on a multitude of platforms, such as computers, video gaming systems, and even cell phones. Having spread to all these electronics, playing video games has never been easier. The International gaming industry was valued at $45 billion in 2007 and $69 billion in 2012. Making it the fastest growing industry in the global media market.(Video Game Industry.) According to the EntertainmentRead MoreEssay on Video Games: Good or Bad?1112 Words   |  5 Pagescaffeine (almost three times more), which, in the case of our stereotype, would cause him to sacrifice sleep, a vital mental resource, in order to play games. Desai also found that female gamers tended to have a slightly higher than average body mass index (BMI), however, male gamers and their BMI seemed to be unrelated. Overall, male gamers tended to display a neutral correlation between video games and heath whereas â€Å"among the girls, gaming was associated with modestly lower risk of depression andRead MoreThe World Of E Sports1574 Words   |  7 Pagesfans, is part of the mainstream culture of gaming. Gaming started in 1972 when Pong was introduced on an arcade platform. A new form of entertainment was created and its popularity quickly evolved gaming into a new subculture. Further advancements in newer and better platforms lent to the beginning of consoles, which could be en joyed in one’s own home. As more computers became commonplace in homes, developers created a new form of gaming known as PC gaming. Since their introduction, PC and consoleRead MoreSexism in the Minds of the Youth Essay917 Words   |  4 Pagesracist and sexist with no appreciation for humanity or the things that make us human. Certain things can be done to prevent the rising trends among video games and their effect on peoples minds. New gaming companies are being established daily to further the cause of women as gamers Game Jam is the newest gaming festival to hit canada focused on making games equally exciting for all genders. Works Cited ANRED: Muscle Dysmorphia. ANRED: Muscle Dysmorphia. ANRED, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. http://wwwRead MoreAn Interview with a Video Gamer Essay558 Words   |  3 Pagesthose stereotypes. He knows it’s unpopular to be a nerd—described by Rachel Hartigan Shea of the Washington Post as, â€Å"Clad in too-short, too-tight pants, armed with a pocket protector, glasses firmly taped together and pimples unpopped† (1). Wong responds to these assumptions with proud confidence, â€Å"Everyone is different.† According to him, passion for playing video games isn’t a typecast. Gamers are not how the stereotype says they are. In America, it’s a common thought that many gaming men andRead MoreWhat Society Think of Gamers1828 Words   |  7 Pagesas an amount of common stereotypes. These always come from somewhere, often stereotypes are born from the most noteworthy individuals or actions of a community, because the most negative things always have a greater impact it makes people have wrong impressions of gamers and weird stereotypes, giving an extremely twisted and warped idea of the community as a whole. What does society think about gamers? What do they know or think they know about gamers? Stereotypes People still cling toRead MoreGaming and its Benefits1482 Words   |  6 PagesGaming and its benefits â€Å"You are wasting our time in front of those computers, throwing away our life as we are not getting anything back.† I would hear this every time coming from my parents as I reach for the power button of my laptop. It seems like with the growing belief, â€Å"time is something priceless†, we need not to spend time on wasteful things such as video games. But, why video games receive such an outrage from the people in the first place? Probably because of its long history associatedRead MoreVideo Games : The Video Game Industry1574 Words   |  7 Pagesspending over $22 billion dollars on the gaming industry in 2014 (association, 2015). This popularity brings the opportunity to produce a stream of games that continue to expand in their nature and impact on their audience. Video games are now artistic, social and collaborative, with many allowing massive numbers of people to participate simultaneously (htt). The collaboration of the video gaming industry doesn’t stop at the multiplayer options, or online gaming forums, but has surpassed that and has

How to Remember All Ten Amendments of the Bill of Rights

Patriotism and Justice - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 545 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/02/20 Category Politics Essay Level High school Tags: Patriotism Essay Did you like this example? George W. Bush was the 43rd president of the United States, taking the reins of a nation at a time where the strength and foundation of America would be tested in a way never before experienced. Even prior to this, he had spent time in the political world. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Patriotism and Justice" essay for you Create order Philosophy editor Brian Duignan writes, â€Å"[Years before his election as president], Bush spent 18 months in Washington, D.C., working as an advisor and speechwriter in his father’s presidential campaign†¦[He] was a businessman and served as governor of Texas (1995-2000).† The next year, he would follow in his father’s footsteps as president—the first president in many years to deal with a foreign attack on U.S. soil. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Bush attends to the needs of the nation with a variety of methods. In George W. Bush’s 9/11 Address to the Nation, he speaks to the American people with the purpose of comforting the nation in a time of crisis and spurring action against the terrorists behind the attacks. He encompasses a tone of somber lament as he pursues the subject of recognizing the thousands of lost lives, â€Å"[stressing] the values of freedom and justice as qualities that [make] America great and [outlining] plans to address the crisis† (Milford). One of the main methods Bush employs to achieve his goal of providing comfort is appealing to the emotions of the people. He engraves pathos into his speech with words such as, â€Å"Terrorists attacks can attack the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.† To drive home the horrid nature of the attacks, Bush repeats words such as terrorists, shatter, and evil. He slowly transfers from supplying comfort to pledging vengeance against America’s enemies, repeating the words peace, security, and justice. He assures his audience of the actions to be taken and his resolve to carry them out. In the aftermath of 9/11, the nation desperately needed comfort. With the somber, grieving tone, Bush caringly supplies America with emotional consolation and physiological restoration. As he abruptly yet consciously addresses the attacks, he reminds his audience of American strength and steadfastness. He then further helps dissipate the feeling of helplessness left in the wake of the crashing planes by confirming the justice that would follow. Patriotic word choice cements this effect. Undoubtably, Bush’s 9/11 Address to the Nation is a true example of immortal American values and determination. There are some who say Bush was a weak, ineffective president, but he came through on the day of America’s darkest hour. Following the attacks, America needed to be assured that their nation would stand, that justice would be served. With his reminders of American strength, display of patriotism, and assurance of justice, Bush does just that. He accomplished his goal admirably. Works Cited 1. George W. Bush Address to the Nation on 9-11-01 The Rhetoric of 9/11, 11 Sept. 2017, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gwbush911addresstothenation.htm. 2. Duignan, Brian. â€Å"George W. Bush.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 15 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/George-W-Bush. 3. Milford, Mike. â€Å"National Identity, Crisis, and the Inaugural Genre: George W. Bush and 9/11.†Southern Communication Journal, vol. 81, no. 1, Jan. 2016, p. 18.

Comparing The Teachings Of Jesus With Those Of Paul

1. Compare the teachings of Jesus with those of Paul. Why do you think some people consider Paul the second founder (or even the true founder) of Christianity? The gospel describes Jesus as a great teacher who astounded the crowds who gathered to hear him. Though he engaged in debates with Pharisees and Sadducees, he took great interest in ordinary people. He often taught them in parables, stories that used vivid images from everyday life to illustrate spiritual truths (Invitation to World Religions, pg.416). The central theme in Jesus’ teachings was the Kingdom of God. For Jesus, the kingdom of God was not an ordinary kingdom, but that exists when human beings recognize God’s sovereignty over the world and respond in love and in†¦show more content†¦Though Jesus was sinless and undeserving of death, he offered himself as a sacrifice in atonement for all sin (Invitation to World Religions, pg.418). Paul was always emphatic in maintaining that salvation cannot be earned by â€Å"works†, whether humans’ effort to obey the commandments in the Torah or excellent work in general. Instead, he taught that the s alvation made possible by Christ’s sacrifice is a gift, the ultimate expression of God’s love and grace. Salvation is given to those who respond to God’s grace in faith, the conviction that God has acted through Jesus Christ to amend for human sin. Although Paul was very clear in teaching that salvation depends on God’s grace and the individual’s turning to God in faith, he did not dismiss the importance of works (Invitation to World Religions, pg.419). For Paul, faith does more than bringing salvation; it unites the believers with Christ in a â€Å"newness of life†. He believed that the spirit lives in believers and brings them into union with God. As a divine presence within, the spirit encourages the growth of spiritual virtues, the greatest which is love and makes all Christians one in the church often called â€Å"the body of Christ†. Because Paul was the first to describe and teach about the role of Jesus in the salvation of humanity from sin, he’s known to be the second founder of Christianity. It was due in part to his influence thatShow MoreRelatedComparing the Teaching on the Resurrection in I Corinthians and the Thessalonian Letters1499 Words   |  6 PagesComparing the Teaching on the Resurrection in I Corinthians and the Thessalonian Letters The purpose of this paper is to compare the teaching on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as it is noted in Pauls letter to the Corinthians and Thessalonian letters. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the primary doctrines of study in the Bible because it reveals the victory that believers have over death, hell and the grave. However, the belief in a bodily resurrection has been the central focusRead MoreThe Hero and the Saint: Paul and Augustine656 Words   |  3 PagesThe Hero and the Saint: Paul and Augustine The idea of the hero in Greco-Roman culture was integrated into the idea of the saint (in the process of conversion and totalization) by way of Christianitys adoption of and ancestry in the Greco-Roman culture. As Professor Ambrosio indicates, The need and the search for meaning is shared by all human beings (Hero or Saint Saul of Tarsus). Thus, it is no surprise to find that a pagan Greco-Roman title is applicable to a Christian whose virtue is viewedRead MoreCompare And Contrast Christianity And Islam1031 Words   |  5 Pageshighly recognized by governments. Though Christianity is more widely known, they both pose the same challenges to each other. Considering the similarities and differences of Christianity and Islam, it can be said they are both very different. Comparing the two religions, is simpler due to the clear difference between the beliefs of the religions as well as practices in worship. The historic origin of the two religions was much easier especially that of Christianity which begun as a Jewish sectRead MoreSpirit Baptism Is About The Restoration Of God s Covenant Community Essay1121 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent things. Therefore, it is unwise to seek answers from Luke to something he did not address. To demonstrate this point, Lee brings out examples of spirit baptism in Luke’s writings. Supporting Evidence. He begins by comparing John the Baptist’s baptism in Luke 3:1 -22 to Jesus baptism of the spirit in Acts 2. He proposes that the baptism of John was symbolic while Christ s baptism ushered in a new era that would redeem humanity from their living damnation. In other words, John’s baptism wasRead MoreScriptures On The Same Sex Marriage1639 Words   |  7 Pagesor not it with religion affiliations. But many associate their opinion with the use of Scriptures in the bible. I will be analyzing evidence and reasoning from two different articles arguing against and for same-sex marriage by using Scriptures, Paul, and procreation to back up their claim. In 2004, the state of Vermont began the first steps towards legalizing gay marriage the same year Edith M. Humphrey published an article called â€Å"Recovering Christian Marriage† in a â€Å"ChristianityRead MoreWhy Revival Tarries By Leonard Ravenhill955 Words   |  4 PagesArt Tozer, the owner of two honorary doctoral degrees and an American preacher forwards this book to the nature of Ravenhill being impossible to remain neutral, â€Å"His acquaintances are divided pretty neatly into two classes, those who love and admire him out of proportion and those who hate him with perfect hatred† (13). Leanard Ravenhill was born 1907 in the small town of Leeds, England. In mid-life he traveled aboard to America and fell asleep in 1994. He began publishing his works in 1959 and compiledRead MoreThe Teachings At The Sermon On The Mount1342 Words   |  6 Pageswith suffering. With Christianity, Jesus taught his followers that suffering is eliminated through salv ation, which is by repentance and dependence on God. While with Buddhism, Buddha taught suffering is universal and that the only way to deal with it is by forsaking oneself and following the Middle Path, thus achieving a worked out salvation. Though these teachings do resemble each other in meaning, they differ in their purpose. When looking at Jesus’ teachings at the Sermon on the Mount, he givesRead MoreDevotion Is A Major Theme1608 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity or cause.† In all religions, devotion is a very big reoccurring theme. In order for a person to commit himself or herself to a religion, they must devote their mind, body and soul to the true teachings of the religion. Devotion in the religions of Christianity and Buddhism is very important, but what they devote their lives to, and how they devote themselves is what makes the religions different. In the religion Christianity, devotion is a majorRead MoreThe Life And Times Of Jesus Of Nazareth1773 Words   |  8 PagesTwo thousand years ago, the birth of Jesus, arguably the most influential man the world has ever seen, altered history forever. Christians know him as the Messiah, the son of God who came to save all of mankind, and for others, he may just be a great teacher and person of history. It is the latter that Reza Aslan attempts to shed an unbiased light on by comparing the Jesus that modern Christians believe in to the Jesus that Aslan believes would have fit into first-century Palestine: a violet revolutionaryRead MoreThe Theological Theory Of Atonement1634 Words   |  7 PagesThe early church fathers took the story of Jesus and attempted to put it into a living theology that would give the story more meaning for their current day. They used their philosophy, culture, and personal style to form their ideas of what the atonement means. In the second century, Irenae us and Athanasius formed their beliefs into a model of atonement. They are usually regarded as being the first to outline the theory of atonement called the recapitulation theory. Their work set the tone for all

The Press And Vietnam War - 1976 Words

The Press and Vietnam When analyzing the Vietnam war it is clear that the press had a significant role in helping bring the conflict to an end. Largely, this was the result of the gruesome reports and images that the networks chose to air and the public’s corresponding opposition to the war. To understand this relationship, and hence helping to end the war, it is necessary to look at three distinct areas. These include the reason that the press chose to air gruesome reports, specific reports that outraged the public, and examples of the corresponding changes in public opinion. The gruesome reports that the networks chose to air to the American public appear to be the result of a competitive culture within journalism at the time. Specifically, a culture of competition amongst correspondents to obtain violent and gory reports. This is evident in the article, â€Å"Vietnam War: Bringing the Battlefield into the American Living Room.† It first shows this when speaking of a specific war correspondent. It states that, â€Å"Mike Wallace of CBS recalled that he and other correspondents, eager to get their stories on the air, did their best to find the gory combat footage their bosses in New York wanted† (191). This statement shows that due to the press executives’ desire for violent images, the journalists actively competed to get them. Therefore, there was likely a lack of other reports related to the war as these reports were not in demand and would likely not be released by the editors.Show MoreRelatedComparison Between War History And The Vietnam War1514 Words   |  7 PagesCONTRAST IN WAR HISTORY KHALED ALRASHIDI ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Date : 03/03/2016 ENG #107 KURT MYERS On March 29, 1973, the last combat of the US troops finally left southern Vietnam. Four years had elapsed since the start of withdrawing operation by the US battalion from Vietnam. Approximately 2.5 million Americans soldiers among them officers, counselors, nurses, physicians and other units of personnel s in the US served in the Vietnam warfare. It was time to return home though theRead MoreThe Problem With Vietnam Essays1660 Words   |  7 PagesThe Problem With Vietnam Wartime in the United States has always placed pressure on the government and the citizens of the country to provide support by whatever means to the situation. During World War II, that support was propagated by the government in the form of censorship and a strategic public relations plan to maintain the public opinion in favor of the cause. Glorification of Americas involvement in the war helped America maintain the image of a cause worth fighting for. TechnologyRead MoreThe Vietnam War And Its Horrors1130 Words   |  5 Pages The Vietnam War and its horrors came into the living rooms of people through from news reports through television. This war was the first war to issue full freedom to the press. There was a huge response to what people saw in a negative way. Many people thought the war should not have been televised. According to â€Å"U.S. at War: A History of Shame†, it was until 1965 that the Vietnam War became a big story on television. Journalism coverage o f this war using television had a huge effect on the peopleRead More imbedded journalists Essay900 Words   |  4 Pages The embedding of journalists in Iraq has opened up many doors for the profession of journalism and for the United States military. Not only could the general public view the war from inside the battle, they witnessed the dirt raining on the troops as a rocket propelled grenade hits close to a battalions position and the soldiers wince as they are stung by a violent sandstorm. During the conflict, the United States military permitted news organizations to have a reporter travel with the ground troopsRead MoreAmerica s Exit From Vietnam And Our Current Withdrawal From Afghanistan Essay1665 Words   |  7 PagesThe similarities that can be drawn if we were to compare America’s exit from Vietnam and our current withdrawal from Afghanistan will be: Resources, Politics and Public Opinion, and Role of the Press, Purpose of War and Military Campaigns, and lastly, Effective Counterinsurgency, and Vietnamization. Like Vietnam, the American involvement in Afghanistan became a long-term phenomenon transcending several presidential administrations. However, the Vietnamese conflict left a specific, some might sayRead More The Impact of the Media on the Vietnam War Essay1710 Words   |  7 PagesThe Impact of the Media on the Vietnam War This essay will discuss to what degree the media can be blamed for the United States’ loss in the Vietnam conflict ending 1975. It will be based predominantly on key written resources on the subject, but it will also contain - by means of an interview - certain first-hand observations from a Vietnam War veteran. For the sake of conciseness, and in order to focus the bulk of the content on the main topic, this essay will make certain assumptionsRead MoreInfluence of the Media in the Anti-War Movement of the 60s and 70s1600 Words   |  7 PagesDuring his testimony to the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations, John Kerry mentioned that in his opinion, â€Å"there is nothing in South Vietnam which could have happened that realistically threatens the United States of America.† In that same testimony, Kerry discussed that most people â€Å"did not even know the difference between communism and democracy. They only wanted to work in rice paddies without helicopters strafing them and bombs with napalm burning their villages and tearing their country apartRead MoreThe Untold Stories Through the Lenses of the ARVN Soldiers Essay890 Words   |  4 PagesThe Vietnam War began in December in 1956 and ended in April 1975. Initially the war was between North Vietnam and South Vietnam but they bo th formed allies. North Vietnam’s allies were the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies, while South Vietnam’s allies were anti-communist countries like the United States. The United States entered the war and sought the help of the South Vietnamese army (ARVN). Despite the US collaborating with the ARVNs, the ARVNs were constantly belittled and wereRead MoreRepresentations Of Disability During The 20th Century1727 Words   |  7 PagesAmita Wanar HSPB W3950 James Colgrove 10/22/15 Representations of Disability in Military Veterans During the 20th Century At the end of the Civil War, Andrew Johnson alleged our nation s supposed investment in our veterans by claiming that â€Å" a grateful people will not hesitate to sanction any measures having for their relief of soldiers mutilated...in an effort to preserve our national existence.† Since then, our changing perception of disabled veterans of military service has affected the successRead MoreThe War Of Vietnam And The Vietnam War1525 Words   |  7 PagesThe war in Vietnam is The United States and other capitalist bloc countries supported South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) against the support by the Soviet Union and other socialist bloc countries of North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and the Vietcong of war. Which occurred during the Cold War of Vietnam (main battlefield), Laos, and Cambodia. This is the biggest and longtime war in American history during the 1960s (Best 2008). It is also the most significant war after World War II

Japanese in America Essay Example For Students

Japanese in America Essay Pocky, Anime, manga, kanji. Have you heard of any of these? If not where have you been? All around us teenagers, children, and even adults are being drawn into Japanese culture through TV, books, and even food. Japanese comics, called manga, take up more and more space on American bookshelves, and theyve infused new life into the publishing industry. Japanese animation, anime, is on more and more movies and TV screens and influencing popular toys and games. Before the 80s when people thought of Japanese imports, they thought of cars, TVs, walkmans, and other electronics. Japanese pop culture is becoming increasingly popular and shows no signs of stopping. Now children are trying to learn Japanese and martial arts to be like their favorite anime character. Teens are learning to speak Japanese and adopting Japanese clothes, food, and even traditions. Adults are enthralled by the colorful and vast world of anime and manga and are amazed they can have such a lasting effect on their kids. Some people may wonder why Japanese anime and manga are so popular with kids and the answer is simple. Theyre so different and captivating, everyone can find one they enjoy. You have action, comedy, romance, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and tons more. Some even mix and match, making a truly wonderful and breathtaking experience. And its not just the movie and book industry either. Music, known as J-pop or J- rock, is taking up more and more room on the Internet. The Japanese bands are not only making popular music, theyre also very interesting and different to look at. These bands are known as Visual Kei and are indeed unique in their own ways. Americans are drawn to them because, quite frankly theyve never seen or heard anything like it. The closet thing we have to that is Marylin Manson but hes just creepy and not that fun to look at. The largest Japanese import, undisputedly, is video games. Nintendo, Sega, and the Sony Playstation have made the biggest impact on this nation. Just about every game you pick up in from Japan. Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario, even Pac-man. Video games have come farther than anyone could have imagined. With new crazes like Dance Dance Revolution, a game in which you literately dance on a pad to popular J-pop songs, and new technology Americans will keep buying Japanese games. Some people may think this is a bad thing. Theyre children are embracing another culture instead of their own. And what is so wrong about that? Would you rather they hated every other culture except their own? The Japanese Boom is a way to open minds, expand imaginations, and open doors to new cultures. One child may grow up on anime and go on to learn other cultures. S/He may grow up to be a democratic negotiator, or something of the like because s/he embraced other cultures at an early age. So theres nothing to be alarmed about when a kid comes up to you with Japanese words on their shirt and says Konichiwa to you then walks away singing I think Im turning Japanese. Or when you see a strange food called Pocky or Ramen in general stores. Americans are just being invaded by Japan. No big.

Understanding Islam free essay sample

Introduction The literal meaning of Islam is peace. Because of many current world events, Islam is a highly controversial and sensitive issue that has many misconceptions that need to be more fully addressed and understood. It is true that the events of 9/11 have separated the history of American relations with the Muslim world into before and after phases, negatively affecting the patterns of assimilation of immigrant Muslims into American culture and society (Simmons, 2008). This essay will begin to give factual details regarding the Islam faith, compare Islam with other Abrahamic religions and discuss common misconceptions and current events that have changed the way the world looks at Muslims and the Islam faith. Body It will be useful to begin with attempting to scratch the surface and try to understand the teachings of Islam. Islam is a monotheistic religion based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. These revelations were recorded in the faith’s text, the Qur’an. The Islam faith has â€Å"Six Articles of Beliefs†. People of the Muslim faith must have great conviction in these most important six areas. They are: 1. Belief in God. 2. Belief in the Angels. 3. Belief in the Prophets and Messengers. 4. Belief in the Sacred Texts. 5. Belief in Life After Death. 6. Belief in the Divine Decree (Abdulsalam, 2006). The believers worship God directly without the intercession of priests or clergy. They also have five duties that are given as rules to follow. Those are the Five Pillars of Islam; Belief, Worship, Fasting, Almsgiving and Pilgrimage (Grupper, Prentice, Roughton, 2000). The country with the most Muslims is Indonesia, with 120 million. In addition there are millions more in parts of Eastern and Western Europe and in the Americas. The Islam religion claims nearly 1 billion followers in countries throughout the world. Islam is also the youngest among major world religions but is still one of the largest (Ridenour, 2001). Islam belongs in a group of three religions called the â€Å"Abrahamic† religions. Those three religions are Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They are three sister religions that are monotheistic and that claim the prophet Abraham as their common forefather. To compare Islam and Christianity, in relation to God, Muslims believe there is no God but Allah; Christians believe that God is revealed in scripture as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons who are coeternally God (Ridenour, 2001). This sometimes causes Jews and Muslims to criticize the Christians as polytheistic. In all three religions, there is an ethical orientation. All three religions speak of a choice between good and evil, which is depended upon obedience or disobedience to God (Unkown, 2007). The three also have a linear concept of history with creation as the beginning and that God works through history. The believers of Islam are called Muslims which means â€Å"one who lives his life according to God’s will† (Langley, 1993). It would seem that this particular people and religion would be a people of peace, sincerity and love. Since 9/11, the world of the faithful in Muslim societies has been in turmoil because the living Islam, dominated by its traditional interpreters, the learned ulema, has not been able to guide the community at the most critical period of its existence (Sachedina, 2010). This current critical period of Islam existence has created many misconceptions. Only if it is assumed that the goal of Islam is to establish peace without resorting to aggression can one claim that that militant Islamists have hijacked their religion (van der Krogt, 2010). Islam is practiced all over the world and the way it is practiced is different in different locations. Islam does claim to be brotherhoods of â€Å"one religion†, but the Islam practiced in Indonesia is very different than the Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, which is also different from that in Kazakhstan, or Iran, or Morocco. In researching for this essay, the author found many different â€Å"types† of Islamic groups all over the world. There are over 73 sub-sects that have emerged within Islam today (Venkatraman, 2007). Some peaceful and some more aggressive. A group called Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (The Party of Islamic Liberation) began working in Central Asia in the mid-1990s and has developed a committed following inside Uzbekistan, and to a lesser extent in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Estimates of its strength vary widely, but a rough figure is probably 15-20,000 throughout Central Asia. Its influence should not be exaggerated – it has little public support in a region where there is limited appetite for political Islam – but it has become by far the largest radical Islamist movement in the area (Unkown, Radical Islam in Central Asia: Responding to Hizb ut-Tahrir, 2003). The common misconceptions regarding Muslims did not begin with the terrorist attacks of 9/11, but that seems to be the current event that hits closest to home. Islamic terrorism is a movement in which the violence caused by terrorism is derived from and used to preserve extreme interpretations of the Quran in an Islamic community. Participants of this movement call for an unquestioned devotion and blind obedience or a Quaranic tenet has been broken. A few of the Islamic terrorist groups are Al-jihad, AlQaeda (Afganistan), Hamas (Palestine), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Kashmir), and the Lashkar e-Toiba (Kashmir) (Venkatraman, 2007). The 9/11 terrorist attacks were performed by AlQaeda under the direction of Osama bin Laden, the founder of AlQaeda. The death of Osama bin Laden has also certainly not stopped Islamic violence, but according to the president of the Muslim Public Affairs Counsel, Salam Al-Marayati, the death of Osama bin Laden â€Å"represents the beginning of the end of a dark era in U. S. -Muslim relations. † He goes on to say that â€Å"hopefully this ushers a new era of hope and democracy in dealing with the grievances of Muslim people throughout the world without resorting to political violence. † (Lozano, 2011). The media and these current world events are a definite misconception of all Muslim people. To gratuitously insult law-abiding Muslims by conflating them with terrorists is not only wrong, it is dangerous to U. S. national security (Stern, 2011). An article written in the New York Times in October of 2010, spoke about local New York Islamics having open houses to invite non-Muslims in to attend prayers, discussions and tours of Islamic centers as a way to defuse hostility toward the Muslim population. The idea for the program, â€Å"A Week of Dialogue,† emerged from a summit of Islamic leaders as a response to the furor surrounding a plan to open a Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero (Semple, 2010). Muslims in America and around the world are trying to bring back the truth to the original Islamic meaning of peace. We now must look at how Muslims and non-Muslims communicate and live together in harmony. Historically, in countries where Islam has gained political power, people of all rival religions are either wiped out, or in the interest of â€Å"tolerance† or â€Å"open mindedness†, permitted to exist as second-class citizens. Christians and Jews are looked down upon and may not practice their religion openly or freely without serious consequence. But, Islam in the West is completely different from Islam in Muslim dominated countries. Muslims who live in the Western democratic countries enjoy all the benefits and privileges of freedom and democracy. They have secure civil liberties and may practice their religion freely and openly. The Qur’an specifically states that Islam is a religion of mercy, tolerance and moderation. Moderation being the key to Muslim and non-Muslim communication. It allows Muslims to have a good relationship with non-Muslims, but to a certain limit. One quote from the Qur’an says this: â€Å"Let not the believers (Muslims) take for friends Unbelievers (non-Muslims) rather than believers. And whoever does that has no relation with Allah whatsoever, except by way of precaution that you may guard yourselves from them. † (Surah Ali Imran, V: 28). Conclusion In summation, some of the misconceptions that people around the world have regarding Islam, are backed up by some current and past events. We must first begin to understand the Islamic faith, it’s diversity in people, areas of the world and political stances. This author does not begin to understand the depth of the Islam faith. After researching for this essay, the realization of the diversity of this faith as compared to Christianity or Judaism, is overwhelming. The peaceful people of Islam must not be judged by the terrorists and the acts they commit. We learned that Islam has political side and a religious side as well. The editor of the journal, American Libraries, Leonard Kniffel wrote an editorial about how libraries jumped at the chance to begin educating communities on the Islam faith shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Kniffel states that, â€Å"Knowing that an anti-Muslim backlash was inevitable, they created programs to help the patrons of their libraries understand the teachings of Islam, the history of American policy related to the conflict we now find ourselves in, and what it means to be Muslim in America† (Kniffel, 2002). The Muslim American Society (www. muslimamericansociety. org) has a campaign called â€Å"The Straight Path Initiative†. It’s goals are to equip and focus on Muslims in America ages 15-30. This initiative has a goal to initiate an honest open ialog about radicalization and extremism in Muslim American communities. They are targeting high schools and college campuses to provide programs and activities to involve young Muslim Americans in a proactive way that limits opportunities for radicalization (Unkown, The Straight Path Initiative, 2011). Much like any religion or people group, Islam has a group of terrorists and non-peaceful people amongst them . The misconceptions are actually very real and have information and current events to back them up. It would also be fair to say, that most religions and people groups have those kinds of people. Understanding one another is the most important thing we can do. By educating each other on beliefs, understandings and ways of life, we can only then begin to have peaceful dialog to bring us together. September 11, 2001 became a day for American’s to see the true colors of the terrorist sect of the Islam religion. As this is a day we will never forget, we must begin to heal by understanding and not judging the entire Islam faith for these terrible acts of terrorism. References Abdulsalam, M. (2006, January 30). The Religion of Islam. Retrieved June 12, 2011, from www. islamreligion. com: http://www. islamreligion. com/articles/6/. Grupper, J. , Prentice, P. , Roughton, R. (2000). Islam: Empire of Faith. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from www. pbs. org: http://www. pbs. org/empires/islam/film. html. Kniffel, L. (2002, January). Getting to know Islam. American Libraries , 48. Langley, M. (1993). World Religions. Oxford: Lion Publishing. Lozano, C. (2011, May 1). Osama bin Laden Dead: End of a dark era in U. S. Muslim relations. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from L. A. Times: http://latimesblogs. latimes. com/lanow/2011/05/osama-bin-laden-dead-end-dark-era-us- muslim-relations. html. Ridenour, F. (2001). So Whats the Difference? Ventura, CA: Regal Books. Sachedina, A. (2010, September). Religion, Order and Peace: A Muslim Perspective. Cross Currents , 332-338. Semple, K. (2010, October 22). At Mosques, Inviting Non-Muslims Inside to Ease Hostility Toward Is lam. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from New York Times: http://www. nytimes. com/2010/10/23/nyregion/23mosques. html? ef=reconstruction. Simmons, G. Z. (2008). From Muslims in America to American Muslims. Journal of Islamic Law and Culture , 10 (3), 254-280. Stern, J. (2011, May/June). Muslims in America. The National Interest (113), pp. 38-46. Unkown. (2007, September 16). Abrahamic Religion. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from New World Encyclopedia: http://www. newworldencyclopedia. org/entry/Abrahamic_religions. References (continued) Unkown. (2003, June 30). Radical Islam in Central Asia: Responding to Hizb ut-Tahrir. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from International Crisis Group: ttp://www. crisisgroup. org/en/regions/asia/central-asia/058-radical-islam-in-central-asia- responding-to-hizb-ut-tahrir. aspx. Unkown. (2011). The Straight Path Initiative. Retrieved June 17, 2011, from Muslim American Society: http://muslimamericansociety. org/main/content/straight-path-initiative. van der Krogt, C. (2010). Jihad without apologetics. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations , 21 (2), 127-142. Venkatraman, A. (2007). Religious Basis for Islamic Terrorism: The Quran and its Interpretations. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism , 30 (3), 229-248.