How does religion get in the way of equality for women?

The roles of women in biblical times came in many forms including birthing and raising the children, cooking, cleaning, and overall servant to the husband.  These roles were taught, understood, and followed through the teachings of religion in the holy books of each religion including the Bible, the Torah, and the Quran.  Throughout the previous centuries religion has magnified the traditional roles of women and thus a patriarchal rule was adapted for each religion.  Although, now a days women's rights over equality have been fought for in all aspects of life, nevertheless, the same words are still written in each holy book.  Indeed, each holy book can be interpreted differently, but I feel the reason why religion may come in the way of equality for women could stem from the way in which each individual religion interprets what womens roles are in society.  I feel strongly that the rights of women should be equal to those of men because in order to produce human life it takes an equal portion of chromosomes from both the woman and the man.  Thus religion should not get in the way of equality, but support it with full intentions of improvement.

My prediction of the 2012 presidential elections

It's diificult to predict a winning candidate for the presidential elections anymore.  Now a days it seems like if you want to run for president all you need is a lot of money and thick publicity.  I think that we should look back upon the early days of our democracy and remind ourselves how the founding fathers elected a president.  The people that became president back then were military leaders, intellectual in their leading, but also vocal with their voice.  The presidents were battle heroes, comrades to the soldiers, as well as an instrument to the people's needs.  Now, the we have has people like Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, and Sarah Palin who feel as though they would make good candidates as president of the United States.  I disagree with how and who can run for president and cast my vote for 2012's president to be General David Petraeus.

A reflection on my own writing progress

As I reflect on my writing I can see that the writing templates that I have learned in my writing class have been used and applied to some of my previous blogs, papers, and essays.  By using these templates for my class assignments, I have been able to make my writing much more bolder and fuller.  The papers I can see have had a voice instead of a whisper.  As I read over the papers after they are competed I don't feel bored with the content.  Although, one thing that can be improved is the time of personal procrastination when it comes to starting the papers.  I think in order for me to be a more well-rounded writer, I must start with an outline.  Then from the outline I should begin a rough draft, maybe a couple, and then finally end with an overall well-written paper.

New Research Sites

In order to conduct good research one must not only search for validity and truthfulness, but also check to see if the source is reliable.  The sources that I have used in the past have included internet websites, journal articles, and cable news media.  Once I have collected all the information that pertains to my research topic, I then compile all of the data and compare the info to each another in order to achieve reliable and valid information.  Although, sometimes the information that is gathered can be biased in the publisher's writings.  Therefore, I have had to seek other research sites that have unbiased information. One of the sites I have started to use more often to do research is on my very own university's library website, http://library.neiu.edu/.  On my school's library website I can search for history books, peer reviewed journals, and other forms of reliable texts and media that can be in turn very useful to any particular research assignment.  Then if I want to check out a book, article, or journal, I can easily access it from the book shelves at the university's library.  If the school happens not to have the book or article I can easily have it transferred from another university to my university within a couple of days.  By using my school's library website I have obtained more reliable information in which I can apply to present and future research topics.

Decolonization

The ultimate effects of globalization in dealing with colonialism may have an effect not just on the advantacious economic level but at the lowest extremes of how it effects the lower level of people who live and survive in the particular country. The effects are in the form of decolonization. As a country builds up it's economy, the country starts to build gaps between the wealthy, who deal and maintain the money flow, or power, and the poor who see no advantages to global colonization, dealing with racism, slavery, and other psychological effects. The people on the wealthy end stay within the small circle of partnership only dealing with each other. The higher levels of the country's wealthiest incorporate themselves into politics, therefore having easier access to more money and more global business. Meanwhile the country's poorest can't afford to survive within the same levels of living as the country raises prices on life's necessecites and materials. The poor become poorer, losing homes, not being able to afford food, and loss of most health benefits. This effect on the poor starts to build up a psychological mentality of either dealing with being oppressed or revolting and trying to change the effects. The accumulating poor start to come together and form their own close nit network. They build small political parties within their own circles, collaborating ideas, and becoming brothers in arms against the wealthy oppressors of unfair powers. Then by using the ideology of oppression as motivation, they try to overturn the effect of colonization. Sometimes, decolonization can be violent, but at other times can be non-violent. Most recently proving this point occured in Egypt where the country's poorest came together in Tahrir square otherwise known as Independence square, in order to push out the political party and 30 year rule of Mubarak. The end result has yet to be determined in Egypt, but does remain a positive way of decolonization through non-violent revolution.

The IMF and its influences

According to www.imf.org, "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. The IMF's fundamental mission is to help ensure stability in the international system. It does so in three ways: keeping track of the global economy and the economies of member countries; lending to countries with balance of payments difficulties; and giving practical help to members."

The IMF has many influences throughout the world by providing such supports outlined above.  Countries with poorer economies can request assistance from the organization which may be applied to the country's economy in need.  With such support channels from the IMF, the country can start to mobilize a starting boost to help with growing economic challenges.  The support given by the IMF, influences the face of the organization, which in turn has a positive look for both the stability and positive regrowth of the assisted country.

Is America Falling Behind?

America has alway been the pioneer in innovation, entrepreneurship, and education through our space programs, internet creators, and the wide range of upper level universities.  Although, people have become worrisome that America is on a downward slope implying that America's economy is slowly falling behind with automobile factories being forced into bankruptcy and the steady incline in job loss.  While at the same time other countries' economies, innovation, and job positions are rising.  For example, according to article from the US News, " Japan's Toyota Motor Co., meanwhile, is likely to overtake GM as the world's largest carmaker as early as this year."  Meanwhile, American still strives to stay at the top of the world's superpower with its military force, with its current campaigns in almost every country around the world.
In the sense that America is falling behind, maybe, but in a race when runners are on a track and one person starts to fall behind, the reason they may be falling back is only to catch their breath.  It's a long path for a country to stay a float in the competing world, but America must endure the race in order to remain at the top.