Marriage Between The Prophet Hosea And Gomer Religion Essay

Marriage Between The Prophet Hosea And Gomer Religion Essay At the centre of the Hebrew Bible in the book of Hosea chapters one and three, lays a controversy about the marriage between the prophet Hosea and Gomer the harlot. But Hosea 3:1 seems to be an interpretation of Hosea 1: 2. Taking these passages as historically true may defeat the nature of the righteousness of God. Moreover, the name, Gomer, also seems to be not historically true because of its being both a masculine and feminine. Therefore the narratives may not be a real historical reflection of the marital unfaithfulness but it may have meant to convey the message of Yahweh. The discussion of this subject will therefore, include; who was Hosea, who was Gomer, the metaphor for the unfaithful marriage and then conclusion. HOSEA: Hosea (Hoshea-saviour) was an eighth century prophet -a mouthpiece of Yahweh. He prophesied in the Northern Kingdom, which was under King Jeroboam II (Hosea 1: 1). The reign of Jeroboam was characterized by material prosperity but it was morally reeking and rotten due to idolatry as attested in Hosae 4:2 and 2 Kings 14: 23-29 (Halley, 1957: 321). Israel had committed great harlotry by forsaking the Lord (Hosea1: 2). The great sin that Israel had committed, compelled God to command Hosea to demonstrate it through his personal life. Hosea, a prophet and a staunch patriot of Yahwhism, received the message from Yahweh. The prophet was commanded to go and marry Gomer, a prostitute (Hosea 1:2). The marriage between the prophet and a prostitute is surrounded by controversies as recorded in Hosea chapters One and Three. The controversies include the doubtful possibility of Yahweh to expose Yahwehs prophet to a prostitute. However, scholars have said that the drama between Hosea and Gomer is a metaphor that demonstrates the unconditional love of God for Israel and humanity at large. The message was complex as Hosea spoke both of disaster and hope for restoration. By disaster he warned that the Assyrians would come to invade them. The demonstration involves the unfaithful marital drama between Hosea and Gomer his wife. This is seen in Hosea 1:2 and 3:1-2 where God commands Hosea to marry a prostitute and he repeated the command saying go again and love a prostitute. From these two texts, Gomer is seen as a prostitute before marrying Hosea. And she continued being unfaithful to her husband to the extent of defecting him for other men. Speculatively, the harlot in chapter three whom God commanded Hosea to marry again may be Gomer though the Bible does not mention the name Gomer. GOMER: The name seems to be masculine (Genesis 10: 2), but Hosea depicts it as a feminine name. Gomer was the wife of Hosea. She had three children and only the first-born is portrayed as a legitimate child of Hosea. The other two children were born out of wed log. The scripture records that Gomer left her husband-Hosea for other men. Therefore, the Bible depicts Gomer as a prostitute. Therefore, it is vital that the type of prostitution she indulged in is stressed precisely from scholarly point of view. Scholars have interpreted the first three chapters of Hosea in different ways (Hinson, 1992: 168). However, James Hastings suggests that Gomer was a temple prostitute (Hastings 1963: 398). This type of prostitution was common in Canaan as Werner Keller puts it; In Canaan in those days the cult of sensuality was regarded as the worship of the gods, temple took the place of brothels, men and women prostitutes ranked as sacred to the followers of the religion, their rewards for their services went into the temple treasuries as an offering for the god (Keller, 1956: 262). From this understanding, it is possible to conclude that Gomer could have been a temple prostitutes as Hastings puts it, Gomer was, before marriage, a temple prostitute (Hastings, 1963: 398). Further, it is uncertain that Yahweh, who is worthy, could allow his prophet to marry a prostitute. Prostitutes or adulterous women were deserved to be stoned to death and not to be take back to their marital homes (Psalm 85; Deuteronomy 22:20). Nevertheless, it has been the nature of God to reveal His plan in both words and actions as seen in Isaiah 20:1-6 and in Jeremiah 28:10f. Therefore, the metaphor could mean that Yahweh was transmitting his message through this drama. THE METAPHOR FOR THE UNFAITHFUL MARRIAGE: In this drama, Hosea is the representation of God who loves both the righteous and the sinner but hates sin. Gomer represent the Israelites who became broke the covenant made between them and God. The names of their children signify the attitude that God had developed against Israel due to idolatry (Hosea 1:4, 6, 9). Meanings of the names; The names of the children born in this unfaithful marriage show that the time of God (kairos) to punish Israel had come (Jezreel). Lo-ruhamah meant that God had no longer mercy for Israelites and Lo-ammi meant that Israel had rejected God. But later, Yahweh changed His mind and decided to forgive Israel (Halley, 1957: 317) as demonstrated by Hosea who redeemed his wife from playing harlotry. Hosea also is depicted as having accepted to keep the two illegitimate children. This shows how inclusive the love of God is. Hoseas attitude towards Gomer; Though with great pain and love of losing her in such a dramatic way, Hosea followed, called and redeemed his wife to himself. This is the exactly picture of God who is constantly mindful of human kind as portrayed in Psalm 8: 4. This is also depicted in the incarnation of Christ in the dispensation of salvation for humanity. As Hosea redeemed his wife, so is God ready to redeem humanity from any apostasy life as well as the bondage of sin despite being sinful (Romans 5: 8). In this view, the marital unfaithfulness represents how Israel became unfaithful to God by broking the Sinai covenant that was made between them and God as seen below. Defection and restoration of the covenant; The drama was the reminder to the Israelites that they were a holy nation. They were unique by having entered a relationship with God through a Sinai covenant. John Miller states that God, in the wilderness, initiated the covenant after the Israelites escape from Egypt. God showed the tender love for Israel. And this love is likened to the love for an infant who is dearly loved by the parent (Miller, 1987: 80). In this exclusive covenant, Israel is seen as a wife while Yahweh is the husband (Hastings, 1963:506). But Israel broke this covenant and became unfaithful to God by indulging in idolatry. This departure from worshipping Yahweh to other gods is likened to prostitution, which was rampant in temples (Miller, 1987:82). And of course sexual activity is a natural pattern of humanity. From this explanation, sacred prostitution implanted a belief of increasing prosperity and fertility, for example, agricultural product, as Israelites were an agrarian people. They depended on agriculture. Therefore they could not avoid adopting worshipping of Baal; a fertility god as Israel pursued material goods from other gods (Hastings, 1963:506). Attached to this worship was the belief concerning the cycle of growth and decay, birth and death and success in war. But in Canaan, they were openly shameless such that mother goddesses were branded as whores. (Keller, 1956: 262-263). This worship was connected to everyday life to ensure that by having sex in the temple; success was certain. As sex was performed in the temple, the god of fertility was impregnating the earth for farms to have good produce and success in trade. This is seen in how trade was conducted as goods probably food was sold by the rich to foreigners like Tyre; neglecting the fellow poor Israelites who could have worked for it. The seller-buyer relationship is also viewed as prostitution. These were the activities that penetrated Yahwism. And it was at this that the prophets were raged with patriotism zeal to fight the survival of Yahwism. The metaphor also refers to alliances with other nations on political basis. These alliances are likened to lovers whom Isaiah condemned. These foreign alliances brought idolatry into Israelites faith. Thus the depiction of Israels unfaithfulness to God (Jeremiah 2:18, 36-37; Hosea 5:13; 7:11-12). That is the breaking of covenant or the seal of salvation. As seen in this way, Israel committed adultery by being idolatry. Israel also followed the gods of violence, assassination and injustice. They totally rejected the precepts of Yahweh as stipulated in the Decalogue- Ten commandments (Hosea 4:2). Miller also points out thatWhen the austere worshippers of Yahweh entered Canaan from the wilderness of Sinai and first encountered such practices at Baal Peor, they were both shocked and intriguedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. numbers 25: Hosea 9:10 (Miller, 1987:82). Miller clearly states that Israel was a monotheistic nation. But the influence of the Canaanites swayed her away from Yahweh like a woman who leaves her only husband for other men. Iam therefore contend with the drama itself that demonstrates how loving Yahweh is. Yet even the changing of the names of Hoseas children from abandonment to embracing from not being my people to being my people is also a good honour to show that God cares. (Halley 1957:317). This shows that there is no slave or free person in the sight of God (Galatians 3). Though the children had no paternal inheritance because they were born out of wed log, they were also given access to inheritance in the house of Hosea. This is how Gods nature is (Hastings, 1963: 506 ). God wants a relationship between Godself and human beings. That is why God instituted the covenantal law to be the cord of bondage in this relationship. But this bondage has been weakened due to sin (Isaiah 59: 2). The sending of Hosea to remarry his wife demonstrates the concern of God for liberation of humanity. On the other hand God is reminding the people to return to God as Revelation 2:4-5a attests. This was the desire of Hose to see the salvation of Israel. He wished that Israel would be reconnected to the covenant. CONCLUSSION: The unfaithful marriage between Gomer and Hosea represents the broken Sinai covenantal relationship between Israel and God. The Sinai covenant was meant to be a practical, functional and a permanent-self definition and self-understanding of Israel as a chosen nation. But they forgot that God had entered into a covenant with them in the wilderness, which was their guide in political, social and religious spheres. Israel lost the morals. This resulted into idolatry, oppression and injustices. They forgot that they were a chosen nation that was required to live an exemplary life to the surrounding nations. It was the neglection of this covenant that God was displeased with the Israelites that his wrath raged against them. Yet, he brings word of compassionate hope for restoration and encouraged Israel to uphold the covenantal law, as Israel was a chosen nation who should have lived exemplary life.

Biomedical and Social Models of Health

Biomedical and Social Models of Health The bio-medical and social models of health offer different views of health and disease. Outline the main characteristics of each model and assess their strengths and weakness in explaining health and disease. Health can be viewed as the state of being fit and well, as well as a state of mental sanity (WHO 2005). According to Blaxter (2004), if a person can perform daily functions such as going to work, taking care of the household, etc he/she is healthy. Many studies have found that lay people define health as the absence of illness (Williams 1983, Calnan 1987, Hughner Kleine 2004). However being healthy means different things to different people as much have been said and written about peoples varying concepts of health. Some lay perceptions are based on pragmatism where health is regarded as a relative phenomenon, experienced and evaluated according to what an individual finds reasonable to expect, given their age, medical condition and social status. For them being healthy, may just mean not having a health problem, which interferes with their everyday lives (Bury 2005). Some taxonomies have evolved in attempt to define health. In this work, health has been considered from the perspective of biomedical and social models. According to Baggott (2004) the biomedical model of health looks at individual physical functioning and describes bad health as the presence of disease and illness symptoms as a result of physical cause such as injury or infections and attempts to ignore social and psychological factors. Baggott (2004) states that the features of biomedical model rest mainly on biomedical changes, which can be defined, measured and isolated. In effect this is directed towards the dysfunction of the organs and tissues of the body rather than the overall condition of the patient. Biomedical treatments often involve the removal of the cause, for instance the virus or bacteria. The biomedical model is based on the belief that there is always a cure and the idea that illness is temporary, episodic and a physical condition. The basic values of the biomedical model of health consist of the theory called doctrine of specific aetiology, which is the idea that all disease is caused by theoretically identifiable agents such as germs, bacteria or parasites (Naidoo Wills 2004). The advantage of biomedical model shows disease as representing a major public health problem facing our society. This model sees disease state as an issue that needs to be treated, and that disease can be readily diagnosed and quantified (Ewles Simnett 2003 2010). This approach appears narrow, negative and reductionist. In an extreme case, it implies that people with disabilities are unhealthy and that health is only about the absence of morbidity. Further, this model is limited in its approach by its omission of a time dimension. Modern biomedicine rests upon two major developments, both of which remain influential to this day. It is first important to consider the Cartesian revolution after the seventh century French philosophy Rene Descarts. The Cartesian revolution encouraged the idea that the body and mind are independent or not closely related (NRC 1985). In this mechanistic view, the body is perceived to function like a machine with its various parts individually treatable, and those that treat them considered engineers (Naidoo Wills 2004). Biomedical also concentrates on the individual unlike the social model. Biological model adopts a negative perspective on health as it views health more in terms of the absence of disease than the possession of healthy attributes (Baggott 2004). This model stresses the importance of advancing technology both in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, an approach that has undoubtedly improved both the knowledge and understanding of numerous diseases. Biomedical model has led to the improvements in the treatment of patients, which has favoured gains both in the length and quality of life of people. Despite the aforementioned feats, the biomedical model has received considerable criticism, as many writers have argued that it was inappropriate to modern, complex health problems (Inglis 1981). The medical model, in terms of specific health risks, does not encompass all of what health means to an individual. For instance, a physician speculating on what, based on current knowledge at the time, would be the composite picture of an individual with a low risk of developing coronary artery disease. Further criticisms of this theory focused principally on the suggestion that it over simplified biological processes now known to be very intricate. For many diseases there are multiple and interacting causes. Moreover, such a theory looks only to the agent of disease, and ignores the host, and the possibilities of biological adaptation. The theory is much more easily applicable to acute conditions than to chronic ill-health and is difficult to apply to mental disorders. The second theory of the biomedical model is called the assumption of generic disease. This is when each disease has its own distinguishing features that are universal, at least within the human species. These will be the same in different cultures and at different times, unless the disease-producing agent itself changes. Criticisms of this focus on the rather obvious point that diseases are differently defined in different cultures and that medical definitions of disease have clearly changed over time. Each new advance in knowledge of physiology and each new wave of technology have added new definitions of ill health to the accepted canon. Despite the doctrine of specific aetiology many conditions, which are still only symptoms or syndromes, are recognized within medicine as diseases. Generally, it can be seen that what is viewed as illness in any particular society and at any historical time depends on cultural norms and social values (Naidoo Wills 2004). Thus new diagnoses such as alcohol, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue syndromes are born through an interaction of new knowledge about both their possible causes and how they might possibly be helped. As a definition of disease what doctors treat has obvious problems, however, it implies that no one can be ill until recognised as such and leaves the concept at the mercy of idiosyncratic individual medical decisions. The third theory is the scientific biomedicine, which accepts the model of all ill-health as deviation from the normal especially the normal range of measurable biological variables. There is an association with the definition of health as equilibrium and disease as a disturbance of the bodys function, with the purpose of medical technology the restoration to equilibrium. The immune or endocrine, or neuropsychological systems attempt to restore the normal and the purpose of medicine is to instigate or assist this process. But medical science now realizes that the human organism has no set pattern for structure and function, and it is often unclear where normal variation ends and abnormality begins. The fourth theory of medical model is based on the principles of scientific neutrality. Medicine adopts not only the rational method of science but also its values objectivity and neutrality on the part of the observer, and the view of the human organism as simply the product of biological processes over which the individuals themselves have little control. The reply to this is that the practice of medicine, whatever its theory, is always deeply embedded in the larger society. It cannot be neutral, for there are wider social, political and cultural forces dictating how it does its work and how the unhealthy are dealt with. Biomedicine now admits multiple and interactive causes, and that the whole may be more than simply the sum of the parts. Social and psychological causes of ill health- stress, unhappiness, life events- are admitted as agents of disease or contributing factors, but they are not themselves defined as ill health. Modern medicine has moved on, to incorporate elaborate ideas about the various and interrelated causes of ill health. Studies of the way in which doctors make diagnoses demonstrate this, while at the same time lip service is paid to the importance of the social. Moreover, even when social and psychological influences are admitted this is still a very negatively oriented approach to health. The social model came about in mid twentieth century when there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominant model of health offered by biomedicine. The preoccupation with disease and illness made it less able to deal with any positive concept of health. The ideology, which viewed the individual in mechanistic ways justified ever-increasing use of medical technologies, precluding the exercise of other therapies and diminishing the importance attached to positive health or preventive medicine. Since the last decade medical professional practice has become a major threat to health. Depression, infection, disability and other specific estrogenic disease now cause more suffering than all accidents from traffic or industry by transforming pain, illness and death from a personal challenge into a technical problem, medical practice expropriates the potential of people to deal with their human condition in an autonomous way and becomes the sources of a new kind of un-health. The emphasis on health as simply the absence of disease encouraged thinking about only two categories the health and the disease. As we are meant to believe that science can produce a utopia of disease free and lengthy life meaning scientists only look for their magic bullet. There is a feeling that the most angry critiques of the biomedical model was wilfully ignoring the contributions of modern science to human welfare. But claims to the unique truth of biomedicine were weakened by some loss of faith in sci entific objectivity and a distrust of a Frankenstein technology that could run out of control, and this was part of the modern movement towards a new model usually called social health. Social model of health imbibes social constructs and relativity in its approach to health. It tends to define and redefine health in a continuous manner, and views health differently between individuals, groups, times and cultures. Some supporters of Social model have written extensively about sickness having a role to play in various societies (Parsons 1951) as this helps to determine the structure of and functionality of the society. The concept of social health incorporates many differences of emphasis though it has to be noted that it is more than simply the recognition that social factors such as poverty have to be included in a model of the causes of ill health. The social model is a different construction, locating biological processes within their social contexts and considering the person as a whole rather than a series of distinct bodily systems. The social model is organic and holistic rather than reductionist mechanical method. A mechanical system acts according to its programming, its instructions, or natural laws. The social model allows for mental as well as physical health and wider sphere of taking part in active life. This model also allows for more subtle discrimination of individuals who succeed in leading productive lives in spite of a physical impairment. Another disadvantage of this model is that the conception runs the risk of excessive breadth and of incorporating all of life. Thus they do not distinguish clearly between the state of being healthy the consequences of being healthy nor do they distinguish between health and the determinants of health (Ewles Simnett 2010). The medical profession is a social institution, which cannot be separated from the values, pressures and influences of the society in which it practices. As health has been defined in various ways, most part rests on the ideas of the normal and of seeing health as opposed to disease or illness. In practice, the definition of health has always been the territory of those who define its opposite: healers, or practitioners of medicine as a science or a body of practical knowledge. Since medicine is one of societys major systems, it is obvious that it is these definitions which will be institutionalised and embodied in law and administration, though the extent to which lay models adds to or diverge from this body of ideas is significant to the individual in respect of their perception of health. Whilst the medical model built on the Cartesian theory of the body as a machine disorders can be corrected by repairing or replacing parts of the organism, holism describes the view that the whole cannot be explained simply by the sum of the parts, just as healthiness cannot be explained by a list of risk factors. Every disturbance in a system involves the whole system. Human beings are living networks formed by cognitive processes, values, and purposive intentions, not simply interacting components (Blaxter 2004). The development of this social model has been accompanied among the public, by a growing enthusiasm for alternative therapies, which tend to rest on holistic theories. Gradually, these too have been integrated to some extent into the mainstream model. In order to have a comprehensive understanding of health, one has to look at the phenomenon from various premise of health definition, as just one aspect may not provide complete answer to the enquiry about our health at a particular given time. It is therefore important to consider the various aspects of health when making judgement and decision about the health status of an individual. In summary, the biomedical model of health is obviously most easily defined by the absence of disease, though the model is also compatible with more positive definitions in terms of equilibrium of normal functioning. In the social model health is a positive state of wholeness and well being associated with but not entirely explained by the absence of disease, illness or physical and mental impairment. The concepts of health and ill-health are unbalanced. The absence of disease may be part of health but health is more than the absence of disease.

NASCAR: Not Just for Rednecks Essay -- Racing Entertainment Sports Ess

NASCAR: Not Just for Rednecks Generally when someone mentions NASCAR, one perceives a stereotypical image of mullets, beer bellies, or in easier terms a â€Å"redneck.† Societies’ general perception of a redneck is low income, rowdy, no civic interest, and someone who is not very intelligent. Little do they know this image is not exactly what you see at a NASCAR race. NASCAR includes a very wide variety of people. This is not fair for NASCAR fans to be put in this banal category. NASCAR has several non-redneck attributes. NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) was born in 1948. Bill France, the creator, had a dream. His dream was to create such a race that people for all over would come to see. In the beginning, they would have races on Daytona Beach and on other small tracks located throughout the south. Eventually, people became interested and the audience grew. Now, there are over twenty racetracks located all across the United States NASCAR fans are unlike any other enthusiast you will see. On average, a ticket to the Bristol Motor Speedway will cost you well over eighty dollars. Then you must consider the added expenses such as gas, lodging, food, souvenirs, and for some a few alcoholic beverages. Also, for your avid race buff you may invest in a scanner. This will cost you on average about one hundred and fifty dollars. With this scanner you can listen to the drivers and crewmembers communicate throughout the race. Personally, for a one day or weekend event this can get extremely expensive. Not, just anyone can afford a weekend at the races. Most people do not realize that NASCAR is a family oriented event. The pre-race activities are generally directed towards children. Se... ...ns, there always needs to be a villain. This is what keeps your audience satisfied. We have our good guys and bad guys in just about every organization such as professional sports teams or even our own government. I want people to realize it is not fair to bash something before you try it. Yes, NASCAR has their rednecks but there is also a non-redneck category. Lets think about our other professional sporting events, do we not have rednecks here too? Yes, I believe we do. So next time you hear about a NASCAR event check it out, it just may be worth your time. Works Cited Camncho, Ron, and Helton, Max.†Earnhardt’s the Man.† From the Heart of Racing. Walnut grove Press, 2000. Smith, Marty. Earnhardt Jr. Radio Spot Supports Jeb Bush.† Turner Sports Interactive.5 Nov. 2002 http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/11/05/dearnhardtjr_jeb/

Napoleanic reign :: Napoleon Bonaparte

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jason fish Napoleon Bonaparte was a genius, but above that he was a ruthless tyrant, who sought global conquest through waging wars against all of Europe, starting with the smaller European countries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Born in 1769 to a family of nobles, he was in a position of power since birth. Perhaps one of the deciding factors in his thirst for military conquest was the fact that his father placed him in a military academy at the ripe age of 10, and received his officer’s commission. At roughly the age of 20 he was an officer in the French revolution. As the revolution came to a close, he was an acknowledged officer, and held much authority over the population of France. By giving the church more power he gained much prestige with the people of France.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once he attained enough power he appointed himself the emperor. Under his rule all authority would be placed in the hands of paid officials. He also implemented a merit based payment system for the people. His rule of the Napoleon Code is well known for the many changes that it implemented. The Napoleon Code brought the recognition of marriages that were not preformed in the church, as well as divorces. It removed political rights of women that they had worked for over the last few centuries. Finally the code set a policy for the judicial system that convicts were guilty until proven innocent, which is the contrary of the stance in our current government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Up until this point he had the general public’s approval and was embraced by the majority of its citizens. His popularity fell as he began waging war after war on Frances neighboring countries. At the battle of Cape Trafalgar he attacked Britain with the aide of the Spanish forces. This was the first major loss for Napoleon as both the French and Spanish militaries were defeated by Heratio Nelson, the commander of the British army. This did not stop Napoleon from continuing his ongoing war with the rest of Europe. After his defeat at Cape Trafalgar, he began winning several wars against such European countries as Sweden, Germany, and Russia. While continuing to move his army throughout the eastern continent, he imposed his beliefs amongst all those he conquered, by abolishing serfdom in all areas which he had defeated. After years of war, even his faithful followers were becoming tired of the constant battles which he waged.

Roles in the Society

Essay Title: Roles In The Society In modern society, everyone has different roles to play; with each role we play there is a different of characteristic, sometimes we have to perform against our wills to meet a criterion of the roles. I had an experience of role distancing in last year’s summer camp which to be one of the instructor, the expression I had given to the children is very serious, but it doesn’t mean I am a serious person, it’s because I need to go into my role.As the instructor, it’s a job of education, the experience I got from the camp refers to â€Å"Functionalism† view of education; it provides pathways into the structure of society. Last summer I participate in Taylor Statten over night Camp as the instructor, the campers are ages from 10-14. The camp was mainly outdoor activities, which leading the kids to experience the nature of forest, and only one-hour indoor activities daily. It was my first time to be the instructor. Basical ly we spent all day with the kids, and distributed different tasks to them and particulate within the tasks.The outdoor activities included hiking, canoeing and campfires; indoor activities include performing arts and handwork. The instructors need to consider kids’ safety and train them the ability of strain capacity, in order to strengthen their mind and body. During the time I had spent as the instructor, I experienced role distancing. As Brym and Lie mentioned in the textbook, â€Å"role distancing involves giving the impression of just going through the motions and that we lack serious commitment to a role† (Brym and Lie 2012: 83).People want to make good impression of the role they are playing, but if individual happens to disagree with the expectations of the role they are playing, the individual want to give others an impression of the role they are playing are not who they really are. When people interact with others, according to Brym and Lie â€Å"onstage, people typically try to place themselves in the best possible light† (Brym and Lie 2012: 83). Role distancing is the distance from the role you are being required to play and the act of presenting yourself.There is one particular example of role distancing during my experience in the hike activity in the camp. Being as the instructor we cannot helping kids to finish their tasks, but we need to ensure kids always stay in the safety environment. When we hike toward our camping station, everyone has to carry his or her own baggage, which includes your camp equipment and daily supplies. The baggage was heavy to carry on; some kids told me that they felt the baggage is the same weight as them.When we hike through the forest, lots of kids fell on the ground because it’s difficult to walk in the forest with a heavy backpack, some of them asked for our help, as the â€Å"true† me I would definitely help them out, because few kids seemed not strong enough to carry the bag gage, but as the instructor I couldn’t help, its against the policy. During the last few days of the camp, I explained to the kid’s that I require you to finish all the difficult tasks by yourselves because I performed my duty, however, I’m not a mean person.It is the role I’m playing distanced from my true self. The conclusion I had after experienced of role distancing according to functionalism. First, the group solidarity is extremely important, in the hiking activity, we all need to have shared beliefs of arrive at camp station before sunset because we still have to set tents when we arrived, I need to be serious with kids so they could understand more of the circumstance.Besides I felt being the role of instructor, I need to maintain group stability, because during hiking two girls cried, they asked to go back home because they are tired and scared, as the instructor I have to comfort them and persuade them to keep going. However, overcome the moody emotion is the most important issue of stability. At the same time re-establish equilibrium of physical and mentally are extremely important, take several breaks during hiking, I share some funny stories to the kids during the break, in order to help kids to re-establish equilibrium.How functionalism helps me understand this experience of role distancing is being the instructor of the camp are part of this camp structure, I played an important role as part of the hiking activity, mainly to maintain group solidarity, stability with same belief and value shared and re-establish equilibrium kids’ minds and bodies to achieve our goal. We play different roles everyday, the roles we play that we want to perform the best possible light of ourselves in front of others.The discipline of these rule sometime distance ourselves from the rule, being the instructor in the summer camp I have to perform a different person against my own will of handling situations, but the character I played was importantly within the camp organization. The instructor help the camp accomplished the function they perform in the society, help children improve themselves meanwhile to improve the future of society.

Assignment – the Sexual Response Cycle

The sexual response cycle is the term used to describe the changes that occur in the body when men and women become sexually aroused. There are four stages or phases. The sexual response cycle consists of vasocongestion and myotonia. Vasocongestion causes erection in the male and swelling of the area surrounding the vaginal opening. As blood vessels dilate the testes, nipples and earlobes swell. Muscle tension is called myotonia. It consists of facial grimaces, spasms in the hands and feet, and spasms of orgasm. During the excitement phase vasocongestion can cause an erection in young men in as little as 3 to 8 seconds after sexual stimulation starts. The testes become larger and elevated, and the scrotal skin also thickens making it less baggy. For the female during the excitement phase vaginal lubrication can start 10 to 30 seconds after sexual stimulation begins. Vasocongestion causes the clitoris to swell and flattens and spreads the vaginal lips. The breast become bigger and blood vessels nearer the surface are more visible. The inner two-thirds of the vagina expands. The vaginal walls thicken and turn a deeper color. The woman’s skin can take on a rosy sex flush. The commonalities for both men and women during the excitement phase are that their nipples can become erect. Their heart rate and blood pressure increase. Muscle tension also increases. Although the skin can take on a rosy flush for both it is more common for women. In the plateau phase sexual arousal remains somewhat stable. Men show some increase in the circumference of the head of the penis and it takes on a purplish hue due to vasocongestion. The testes become elevated and positioned for ejaculation. The penis may become one and a half times its arousal size. The penis may release drops of semen from the opening before ejaculation. During the plateau phase for women the outer part of their vagina swells due to vasocongestion. This contracts the vaginal opening in preparation for grasping the penis. Then inner part of the vagina expands more as well. The clitoris withdraws beneath the clitoral hood and shortens. The uterus increases in size and elevates. For both men and women during the plateau phase their breath becomes more rapid, like panting. Their heart rate can increase up to 100 to 160 beats per minute. Their blood pressure rises continually. Vasocongestion continues to increase. For men during the orgasmic phase there are two stages of muscular contractions. During the first stage semen collects at the base of the penis. Urine is prevented from mixing with the semen by the internal sphincter of the urinary bladder. There are sensations of impending ejaculation that occur 2 to 3 seconds before the ejaculatory reflex. During the second stage semen is propelled out of the body by muscle contractions. The most intense contractions are normally the first 3 to 4 and come in 0. 8- second intervals. This equates to roughly 5 contractions every 4 seconds. There can be 3 to 4 more contractions that come much slower. This varies from one man to another. For the women during this phase the orgasm is manifested by 3 to 15 contractions of the pelvic muscles that surround the vaginal barrel. The first contractions occur at 0. 8- second intervals. Weaker and slower contractions follow. Both men and women experience the release of sexual tension during the orgasmic phase. These things happen automatically in response to sufficient sexual stimulation. This produces intense feelings of pleasure. The man’s erection, the woman’s vaginal lubrication and their respective orgasm are all reflexes. Their heart rate and blood pressure reach its peak. The heart may beat up to 180 times per minute. Their respirations may increase to 40 breaths per minute. In men the resolution phase consist of blood being released from the engorged areas after ejaculation. This causes the erection to go away. The testes become their normal size again. During the resolution phase women also release blood from engorged areas. The nipples become their normal size. The clitoris and vaginal barrel eventually shrink to their unaroused size. Both men and women experience decreased blood pressure and heart rates. Their breathing becomes more normal as before arousal. They may both feel more relaxed and satisfied. After ejaculation men experience a refractory period where they cannot have another orgasm or ejaculate. In adolescent males the refractory period may last only minutes. For men aged 50 and above this period may last from several minutes to a day. Women do not experience a refractory period. They can become aroused again quickly. They may experience multiple orgasm if continued sexual stimulation is provided. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a sexual dysfunction characterized by lack of interest in sexual activity. Female sexual arousal disorder is characterized by difficulty in becoming sexually aroused. The may not be sufficient vaginal lubrication or sustainable arousal to engage in satisfying sexual relations. Male erectile disorder is characterized by repeated difficulty becoming sexually aroused therefore resulting in failure to achieve or sustain and erection Orgasmic disorder is when one has difficulty reaching orgasm even though they have become adequately aroused. Premature ejaculation is rapid ejaculation that occurs with minimal sexual stimulation. Sexual dysfunctions are often treated with sex therapy. This treatment refers to a relatively brief and direct form of psychological treatment that incorporates cognitive and behavioral components. There are several methods that are used. Reducing performance anxiety. Clients engage in activities like massage or petting under â€Å"nondemand† circumstance for a time to reduce performance anxiety. There is to be no sexual arousal or intercourse at first. Decreased anxiety allows natural reflexes such as erection, lubrication and orgasm to occur. Changing Self-defeating attitudes and expectations. Clients are shown that anxiety levels are raised when expectations of failure are raised thus become reality. Teaching sexual skills. If premature ejaculation is present the client may be shown how to delay ejaculation with the stop-and-go-method. This allows the man to better gauge the level of stimulation that triggers ejaculatory reflex. Enhancing sexual knowledge. Some clients are misinformed or have no knowledge about biological and sexual functioning. Improving sexual communication. Couples are taught ways of showing their partner what they do and do not like. Biological treatments are sometimes used for specific sexual dysfunctions. The drug Viagra helps men attain erection by relaxing the muscles surrounding the blood vessels in the penis. This allows more blood to flow in and the erection to harden. Viagra does not seem to be effective in treating female sexual dysfunction. There are continued efforts to find a pill that will assist females as well.

Pass or Fail Poem Essay

There are many perceptions on the poem Pass/Fail and what it really means. I However, see this poem relating in life in general. There are many quotes in this poem that remind me of the obsticals in life. The way people expect us to fail, and even we dont want to fail it will happen. I like this poem because it is very true and up to date. The tone of this poem mite be very discourging but in my eyes it is also very encourgeing. Some people also relate this poem to test anxiety , I can also relate this to life’s anxiety. There are always obtiscals in life that we face. In this poem it says â€Å"No matter how you succed awake, asleep there is a test waiting to be failed† (1252). Yes this can be realted to school but I see that in life no matter what you do there is always a test that you can either fail or pass. We mite not relize that they are tests but each and eveyday god gives us test that we can either pass or fail. They are almost the same as test in school becaus e if you fail you can be punished for them with bad grades, and in life you can be punished with consequences. The author said † The dream beckons with two dull pencils, but you havent even taken the course†(1252). I can relate this to life because with a dream all you have at first is a dream starteing from sctract not knoowing what can happen. Two dull pencils can relate to this because you do not know what your getting yourself into and the trails that come along the way can be very dull . Of course you dont know what can happen because you havent lived your future and thats a course itself. Many people expect us to fail. â€Å"When you reach for a book it closes its door in your face† (1252). I can relate this to life because everytime you try to do something productive or good , there is always something that will hold you down from doin this. Every time you think you got something right its wrong in somebody elses eyes. â€Å"When you conjugte a verb it is in the wrong language† (1252). I believe that whenever your even holding a conversation with someone they mite think that your grammer is wrong. No matter what you do , basically your wrong in some type of way in anybodys eyes. â€Å"You willl never graduate from this dream of blue books† (1252). Yes this qoute is talking about school , but agian I percieve this as a statement saying that success is not in your path. However this is what other people can say upon you, but its only you who can determine your path.I Iike to think of this poem as a very inspirational poem, because its so discourging it kinda gives you motivation to prove you can pass and succed. Even though we might fail we still learn from our mistakes. I like how in this whole poem the author is very discourging but at the end she says † Turn to the cool side† (1252). So even though there mite be all of these obtisals and faliures awaiting for you thre is still a cool side. She says † You will still smother in all the feathers that have to be learned by heart† (1252). I believe this statement is very true, beacuse no matter what you do or say in someones eyes you are wrong. However , along the road you will learn all about your mistakes along the way ,leading you to know what not to do or say. So whenever you do have an anxiety about a test, trial of life or anything you will always know in the back of your mind you will at least know what not to do or say. I like how she says they will be learned from the heart , beacuse when people do say you fail or your wrong it always hits you in your heart because maybe you tried so hard and you still were told you were wrong. I just love how this whole poem can be percieved. The tone is very discourging but is very true, because in this world you almost have to be perfect and no matter how hrd you try in anything there is always something wrong in what you do. There is always a new test awaiting for you tommrow, it doesnt nessicarly have to be in school it can be in life and that can give you anxiety itself. When you asleep you dont know what test is awaiting for you tommrow. Even though you may think your right your not always going to be perfect in anybodys eyes. Everythime you think your a step ahead life itself brings you ten steps behind, always giving you something to work for . The road itself in life can be very hard and dull , but either way you look at it your either passing or failing. Which should always give you the motivation to pass because of the many faliures and embarrasements in the past that have been learned from your heart.