EDHS Contemporary World Affairs

MrsCavalluzzi · Guru

This You Believe

Ayesha · Veteran Member

My This I Believe Essay - Humanism

Since I was a kid, Ive been saying that I want to dedicate my life to helping people. I have pursued many different careers throughout my life so far, but they all have one thing in common; they involve helping others. I believe it is the responsibility of each human being to help others to the best of their ability. This should not be restricted to family members or friends; it should stretch beyond that to help people all over the world, including those we are unacquainted with. Although God is the protector of all of us, we also have a responsibility toward one another to offer support and protection. We must coexist and make this world a great place for everyone, not just ourselves.

When I was very young, I wanted to be a doctor more than anything in the world because I knew doctors helped other people. This was the foundation of my humanist approach to life, which grew with age. As I made my way into middle school and high school, I paid more attention to events around the world. Unfortunately, most of these were stories of war and hatred between groups of people. I didnt, and still dont understand how people can have so much anger and hatred toward one another when we are all so alike. I was more concerned with helping victims of these horrible things, because I knew that was easier than preventing these things from occurring at all. Poverty, orphaned children, and other consequences resulted from these events. They would show these victims on the news and talk about them in all forms of media. Even as a child, I felt extremely helpless because I couldnt do anything to help those people who were suffering.

For the past few years, I have been trying harder to get involved in efforts to help those less fortunate than me. I do smaller scale things such as donating money to different causes to help people around the world, as well as larger scale such as volunteering my time at hospitals and homeless shelters. Although this will not change the world in an extreme way, it will make a small difference, even if its only in one persons life. I know that as I get older, I will continue to help others to the best of my ability physically and financially. Helping others gives me a feeling that is incomparable to any other feeling in the world, the feeling that I made a difference in one or many peoples lives. Humanism is one of my strongest beliefs, and I will continue to include it in my everyday life.

DaisyVo1212 · Senior Member

i believe in the proper raising of children. i'll elaborate on that and make it good in my essay. but i STRONGLY believe in that. and that news story jacob saw on fox, and the presentation on child labor make me so sad.

:)

i'll e mail you tonight.,

Ayesha, that was good.

Bonemail-(Christophe K) · Senior Member

I believe this might help all of you in some way. I am using it as a quote in mine because I agree 100% with all of it. I can't wait to read all of yours! :)

http://www.russpage.net/i-believe-john-d-rockefeller/

I Believe
I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.

I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.

I believe that thrift is essential to well ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs.

I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a mans word should be as good as his bond; that character not wealth or power or position is of supreme worth.

I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.

I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individuals highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.

I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might. - John D. Rockefeller

Ayesha · Veteran Member

wow Chris that's really good :) you just totally owned mine. haha.

:(

Bonemail-(Christophe K) · Senior Member

Ayesha wrote:

wow Chris that's really good :) you just totally owned mine. haha.

:(

It's a rockerfeller qutoe but I will be posting mine soo I hope. I love it so much that I am going to photoshop it all nice and make it a poster for me to have in my room. WHo knows if I become a politician I might use it in a speech :)

Sandy · Senior Member

I believe that everyone should have the right to exceed their expectations in life by having the opportunity to learn. Unfortunately not everyone has the right tools or the time to do so but, I believe that motivation in a persons life can drive them toward their success. When we addressed the fact that many women are prohibited to read or do not have the opportunity to learn, I felt that they are missing out on an opportunity to expand their education. Just the fact that there are many people who are illiterate and people who miss out on learning new things is an issue to me. William Butler Yeats said that Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. I strongly agree with this quote, by learning even the things that seems less useful, you expand your knowledge.

Ever since I was a kid, my parents and family have always told me that I should grab a hold of life and all that can be learned. Most of my family have gone to college and have a profession. I will be going to college and getting a profession but I am not only talking about learning as in school studies, I am talking about learning as in learning things that can change your life. To tell the truth, I am really not into school. The only reason why I dont like school much is because I do not like being in one place all the time and especially to learn things. This past summer I had the experience to travel throughout Europe with a study group. If you know me, you know that I absolutely love to learn new things and to learn new cultures. On the trip I learned things that are important in life and things that have no use, but either way it was worthwhile. I mean when do you get the chance to learn more about the invasion of Normandy while you are sitting on Omaha beach envisioning what history was made there. Thats just the kind of person I am and that is how I like to learn. Music is also a great way to learn because when you play notes or chords, you are making something for everyone to hear. With music and art, you gather up what you have learned and can make a masterpiece.
The reason why I brought up education and expanding your knowledge is because I feel like it should be addressed more often throughout the world and especially in regions that need it most. I know that there are some regions in the world that need education and cannot afford it, but think about how much of an impact even just one person can make. Learning is contagious, no matter who you learn from. There is always opportunity to pass on what you have learned to someone else. You can learn through sight, sound, explanation, personal events, reading, history, or visually. As in for the people who do not care for further education or feel like they have learned enough, I have pity for them because there is never enough to be learned.

moniCA92870 · Senior Member

This I believe: Keeping Fortunes from Fortune Cookies

I believe that keeping fortunes from fortune cookies will make life fortunate. It is a great way to look positively on life. And for me, there is always something heartwarming about cracking open a cookie and finding a paper inside that will guarantee that something great is coming ahead. Even though it may not come true soon, its still great to know that it may come true when you least expect it. Looking towards the future is inevitable, but thats okay, looking ahead can be healthy once in awhile. Then again, it is way better when you realize that after every misfortune, there are great fortunes.

The little strip of paper contained in oddly shaped hollow cookie is a reminder to me to keep looking ahead and not to dwell on the past. Its always great to get a fortune that says Money- coming your way! But looking towards the future also helps me focus on my goals that I want to reach. Some say to always enjoy the present, but what I realized was that the future would always soon become the present. So its okay to anticipate the future, but thinking about the past makes me stuck. Living only in the past makes me go backwards and then I miss out on what more exciting things that lie ahead.

The fortunes from fortune cookies help me remember that life is not always bad. There may be bad moments, but in between those moments are good times. This reminder is great, especially during hard and stressful times. The day I came up with this idea was the day after my parents had gotten into a really big fight and it had turned out to be all a miscommunication. But it was really scary to see them yelling at each other that I really thought they were going to separate. But that night they made up and we went to P.F. Changs for lunch. The fortune from my fortune cookie said, From a past misfortune, good luck will come to you. That made me so happy, that I still keep it to this day, posted up on my bulletin board to remind me that life can get bad, but it never stays that way. tn?sid=1480464278&mid=AFRXv9EAAR10SicQ6wg5R0a0gsQ&partid=2&f=376&fid=Inbox

geriatric1991 · Senior Member

Watt Eye Bee Leaf

I believe that the point of life is to be happy. Happiness has been generally agreed upon as being a state of satisfaction rather than a temporary high. That being said I do not think it makes sense to try and fulfill a depression with material goods or brief physical pleasures like smoking, drugs, food, or sex. These things are dropped into a never-ending hole of desire, which is why it is important to find happiness in things with substance. What substance is depends on the individual and that is why there is not a set formula to discover happiness.

But that which causes unhappiness is something Im sure of. The cause is having attachments to things of impermanence. And since nothing in this universe is permanent, the way to avoid suffering is to let go of attachments. For many, this is easier said than done because things of permanence give people a sense of security, but in reality there is nothing of infinite existence so the answer is to not cling to anyone or anything which included clinging to happiness. I believe that if people cling to happiness, it forces them to try and fill their lives with those superficial pleasures anytime something doesnt go just right. And when you cling to temporary forms of pleasure, you are more easily susceptible to things like addiction, which begin an even worse vicious cycle of suffering.

Sometimes I tell people "Its so nice to not have a toothache," the general response is, "Oh, did you have a cavity or something?" And when I tell them, "No," I usually get a weird look from them in return. But I dont just say this to freak people out (although its part of the fun!) I say it because Im letting people know that I can enjoy my happiness without suffering. The saying, "You dont know what you have until its gone," doesnt apply to me because I dont wait to suffer before I appreciate my happiness.

And with that, I believe that there is no happiness without unhappiness so rather than trying to use little pick-me-ups to feel content with life, you should face the cause of the suffering head on, which this is another thing that is easier said than done, but nobody said it would be easy, right? And once you have discovered the route of the problem, you can begin to accept and fix it, but one of the things I know for sure is that a quick fix is like running in place, it gets you nowhere!

Thank you everyone! i wish peace, love, and happiness to all of you :)

-- Edited by geriatric1991 on Thursday 4th of June 2009 02:17:04 AM

-- Edited by geriatric1991 on Thursday 4th of June 2009 02:18:08 AM

Bonemail-(Christophe K) · Senior Member

This I Believe

I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty. I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living. I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs. I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a mans word should be as good as his bond; that character not wealth or power or position is of supreme worth. I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.

I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individuals highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will. I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might. Rockefeller

I believe that those before me hold the answers to my future and to deny the knowledge that they pass on to me will mean my destruction. Those before me has spent their life times searching for the same answers we all ask ourselves today so the wisest decision is to listen to the answers and apply them to our lives but never give up our search. Love is hidden in many place from a baby being left in a dumpster to a wedding; all negative actions can lead to positive chain reaction so long as those suffering from them search for the benefits in them.

I believe I am no better then anyone else because of my race, creed, or beliefs but rather my actions make me the man I am and shall be in the future. Those who believe that their race is better then another are only allowing for the lines between race and culture to blur. Our cultures all have their own lessons to teach us so to deny another person of their teachings is the real racism in the world. I promise to try my hardest to see people by only their character and actions rather then their race or religious beliefs.

I promise to live my life to the fullest and try to change hearts and minds in a way to benefit all those in this world. I believe we can achieve almost everything as individuals but together we can do anything we put our minds and heart to. The search for truth and happiness is the journey we all go on through out our lives so to bond with one another and exchange our lessons is something we should all value.

I believe that love has no bounds and I know when I say I love you all no matter what our past or futures hold I can say it with an honest open heart. I believe all that I have been, am, and will be is solely because of my God and all the blessings he has given to me and those around me. I believe everyone will make a difference no matter how small and we should all thank each other each and everyday for the lessons we teach each other.

I believe... Ignorance is a false freedom. Knowledge is a burden. Only true love can save us now.

God bless you all and may your lives be filled with the riches of your labor.

watashiwa1293 · Veteran Member

It's almost 2:00 AM and I'm not asleep yet. That's what happens, I guess, when you come home and nap for 4 hours. Ha ha!!! Well... here's mine! It's not that great though.

I believe in providing accessible education for everyone is the most utmost important agenda, as it would solve the root of most of the problems in this world: ignorance.

In order to understand how much I firmly stand in this belief, I must go back to a time much before mine. My paternal and maternal ancestors were well-to-do back in China and thus they had many opportunities for education. But after the civil war between the Communists and the Nationalists, they fled to Chinatown in, what would later become, South Vietnam. There, my parents were born and began their lives with the same opportunities that their parents had. But, because of the Vietnam War, my parents' education was cut short and, upon reaching the United States, had to begin life all over again, knowing no English. Later, I was born. As I grew up, my parents were very strict when it came to my education, since they had their education robbed from them earlier. When I resisted (as most children would have), I would have heard stories of hardship and suffering from my parents. When I got older, I saw the truth in my parents' words and I realized that education itself should a very important factor in everyone's lives.

My parents have always instilled the belief that if I studied hard enough, then I can better my future. They have taught me many other lessons; but one lesson that they did not directly tell me, which I believe was intentional, was that the many problems in the world, such as wars, are due to ignorance. Throughout my schooling, hearing about wars in history classes was where I noticed the roots most clearly. Ignorance is the root of intolerance of others, which usually leads to persecution and ultimately to war. As I noted this, it strengthened my belief that providing education will eradicate, or at the very least alleviate, ignorance as it allows people to learn about themselves first. Once they gain a better understanding of themselves, then they can have a better perspective on others and the world around them. Wars, as much of a surprise to everyone, are still present in this world. Yet, the problem of ignorance is still the root of the many wars that are still present. Wars may never be completely erased from the human race, but at least they should only be waged under different reasons other than simple ignorance.

-- Edited by watashiwa1293 on Thursday 4th of June 2009 09:01:47 AM

coramarie:p · Veteran Member

This I Believe
Contributor: Cora Mavis
Location: Placentia, CA
Country: United States of America
Series: Contemporary

A Life Without Limitations
I believe in a society with no limitations. From medical care to education, I should be given as many opportunities as possible. Medicare for example is a huge issue in this world. Medical services today are very limited. I believe that everyone should be given medicate, no matter what the circumstance. Everyone should be given the chance of survival, with great medical coverage.
I also have a strong belief in education. Have you noticed the many teachers being laid off? Its absolutely horrible if you ask me! Among my personal believes, I can agree that teachers have one of the most important and beneficial jobs throughout all positions nation wide. Where would students be without these individuals? Nowhere! Thats right! I would be very limited in opportunities. My government needs to take a closer look on how these decisions will impact not only me but future students.
This recent economical recession has taken a major devastating toll on the world as a whole. There have been so many crucial budget cuts! My brain can only handle so much without getting a migraine just thinking about it. Its been said that there will be huge cuts in education starting this upcoming year. Also to add, by teachers and others loosing their jobs, theyre medial insurance will dissipate into nothing. What steps can be taken to solve this controversial dilemma? My utmost fear is not being able to have Medicare, and I know there are people out there who dont, which make me even more aggravated! I want assurance that Ill be given medical treatment in case I get sick.
In order to succeed in life, having a good and long education is required. By making school affordable, it will allow for more young and talented kids to succeed, reducing the unemployment rate tremendously and possibly decrease criminal activity, keeping people off the streets and into classrooms to better themselves. These are just a few views in which I strongly believe for todays society.

jacobcorbin · Senior Member

I Believe

I firmly believe in always making your bed before you go to school. Think to yourself for a second about your everyday routine of waking up later than you wanted to for school and rushing to get your clothes on, brushing your teeth, doing your hair, finding your car keys, and all the other struggles of the last minute preparations for school. Your day has started off on the wrong foot. Now your at school, where stress builds up and people's emotions run high. We become frustrated over bad test scores we recieve, our boy/girlfriends breaking up with us, or maybe even coming up a dollar short for lunch. Now your probably starving because like most of us late risers, you've skipped breakfast. Now your buttons are really starting to get pushed. At the end of your stressed filled and heart wrenched day, you go into your room to go to sleep early to escape the stress, take away the pain and possibly hold back the tears. To your surprise, your covers are all tangled up in each other. Now your struggling to unwrap all the covers and growing more and more angry with every twist and every knot you've created. You start to feel alone, angered, and even more frustrated. Now, you're breaking down and crying. Your bubble has officially burst.

No child deserves to go through this kind of agony day in and day out. If every person in this world would just simply make their bed every morning, nothing like this would turn into the common aftermath of a bad day. Just think of what could of happened if the story changed by having simply made your bed. You would go to sleep early and pull back the covers that are perfectly ready to carress your tired body. You could sleep the night away. The next day, you'd wake up with a new demeanor and mindset, determined to make the best of the new day. Now how many people do you think would rather end their long day like this? I know I do. Plus, think about the amount of sleep you save just because you don't have to tell your parents or close friend about your sob stories. You would have lost easily another two to three hours of precious sleep in those conversations. We all know how much those missed hours of sleep mean to us. They were the whole reason you woke up late in the first place! I believe we should not underestimate the power of the covers. They just may be the key to the success of your whole week or even your school year.

-- Edited by jacobcorbin on Tuesday 9th of June 2009 05:46:25 AM

-- Edited by jacobcorbin on Tuesday 9th of June 2009 05:50:22 AM