Religious Beliefs Affecting American Life

Religion has censored the American culture on a daily basis for centuries. Everything from our nation’s constitution to what Americans define as the norm is based on religious values. Children and teenagers have been raised to pledge “One nation under God….” since 1954, and it was only recently removed (Geisert, 2004). Society has tried to differentiate between religion and daily life, but most American beliefs are based on religious principles that affect holidays, the banning of books, and the ongoing conflict with abortion.
Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are all religious holidays that are celebrated in America. Easter is a Judeo -Christian and Pagan belief: celebrating the resurrection of Christ (Robinson 2007). Catholics and Christians in the United States prepare for this holiday in many ways. For example, Lent is celebrated during the Easter holiday. Lent is when Catholics give up something for 40 days to represent Christ’s struggle for mankind for 40 days. Another religious holiday is Thanksgiving. This elaborate holiday was developed by the Puritans after learning to grow crops for survival. Once they were ready to have a feast, they gave grace to God for answering their prayers for good crops. Thanksgiving Day has become a tradition in America during which families still sit at dinner, eat turkey, and give grace to God for what He has given us. This holiday affects all Americans in the sense that all grocery stores close for this event and anyone who works during this holiday by law has to be paid time and a half. Christmas is one of the most popular holiday in America. It is known as Hanukkah in Jewish cultures. Christmas and Hanukkah shares the main focus of celebrating the nativity of Christ. During this time children don’t attend school for two weeks, and on Christmas Day all public places are closed. These holidays affect all Americans, including non believers, because their daily lifestyles are changed to convenience those who practice religion.
Religion has also played a large role in the banning of books in schools and public institutions. The book Of Mice and Men has been a challenged banned book in public schools because of racial slurs and the use of God’s name in vain (The New York Times Company, 2007). Believers want to shelter their children from anything that may cause them to question their beliefs. Of Mice and Men has won many awards and has been turned into a film, yet, remains one of the most frequently challenged books to ban. The Harry Potter Series is highly controversial as well, because one of the characters is portrayed as a homosexual. People don’t want their children to be introduced to fantasy and homosexuality to avoid confusion of both reality and sexual orientation. We live in a society that practices very diverse lifestyles, yet we still try to hide these facts from children.
“Should abortion be legal?” seems to be an ongoing question in the United States today; abortion is legal, yet it’s looked down upon by Christians. It is an issue that President George W. Bush, a well know Christian, is involved in. He has hired an anti -birth control activist by the name of Eric Keroack to lead family planning programs and “has waged a tireless war on women's reproductive rights” (NARAL Pro-Choice America, 2007). He has allowed his beliefs to lead his decisions on abortion rather than attempt to continue giving women the right to
choose over their own bodies. Bush, however, is not the only person against abortion; there are many fellow Christians who stand and protest outside of abortion clinics, and they protest frequently. Contrary to the United States, there are countries such as Sweden where abortion is already accepted. Women are allowed to perform abortions until their 20th week of pregnancy, and free abortions are provided upon request (Population Policy Data Bank). Our country has allowed religion to influence what is right and wrong, but has forgotten that not everyone believes in the same things.
The United States is known as a country that is extremely diverse, but we constantly act as a walking contradiction. We have based many of our rules and practices on religion, which engages us in conflicts. 87% percent of Americans have religion based views, and it shows in the way the United States is run: we have a Christian President and have never had an atheist for a President, and that in itself shows how crucial religion is. Holidays, banned books, and conflict about abortion are mainly derived from the religious values instilled in our society. Americans don’t all practice a religious belief, but because the majority of the country does religion impacts the whole nation.

The War on Terrorism

In The War on Terrorism, Joel Andreas demonstrates through a comic his political views. I understand that the writer's discontent for how the world we live in is run but sometimes we just have to stand by our government. It's a series of cause and effect, one country does damage to another and the next thing you know is a war has begun. Even though we all wish peace through out the world was possible the world is full of people with different views and beliefs that prohibit them from coming to any type of agreement.

All Actions Can Make an Impact

In the film Babel, we are able to witness how one action in one country can affect someone on the other side of the world. The film explores the Hispanic struggle in America, terrorist actions, and the Japanese culture. In Under the Sign of Mickey Mouse & Co. the American impact on the world is revealed. America has been a very powerful and culture mixed nation. Both of these publications have different purposes but show how humans are all alike and can influence each other, no matter how far the distance.

Faith

As a child, I was raised with Christian beliefs, I loved going to church with my family and worshiping God. We would attend church three times a week and eventually as a teenager I stopped attending church. I have good faith, yet, I don't believe religion should determine a person. Faith should not have to classified and prevent people from integrating. There is right religion, Christianity, Catholicism, and Islam are good foundations and in the end they all have the same common goal to find salvation for the human soul.

Feather

Bill Wittliff's gallery of Lonesome Dove, there is a photograph with a native Indian chief. The sepia colored photo exposes the Native American spirit. The chief is looking sideways, wearing a long sleeve buffalo hyde shirt, and has enormous feather that gives him an authorities look. He has tanned skin with hair is more than 10 inches long in a braid. The chief appears solemn, calm, and pensive.

Television

Celebrities have all the materialistic things many wish they had but I doubt they are all happy. A person's wealth should not determine his or her level of happiness. Television engages society to watch a life not all can afford to show how a small part of the world lives. We all know that television doesn't portray the truth and can conclude that not everyone lives like Nicole Richie or Paris Hilton. They are just shows meant to entertain the public and should not be taken seriously.

The Beauty She Carries

“How Beautiful!” My fashion fanatic friend exclaimed to me after seeing my new pair of Armani jeans in my closet. Just like my friend Jane, everyone in this chaotic world is fascinated with beauty whether it is external or internal. Beauty is universal, has no language, and can be inspirational. Some people find beauty in the physical appearance, nature, art, music, vehicles, but my mother’s beauty is incomparable to all.
My mom is Irene Franco, a five feet tall, gorgeous Hispanic woman with features so intense they make her undeniably beautiful. Her silky brown, wavy hair goes perfect with her free spirit personality. Her hair is so soft it always reminds me of the smoothness of a peacock feather. Her glance is so powerful because of her almond shaped eyes. I can always look into her eyes and know who I am and where I come from. Her smile however, is her best feature. Every time my mother smiles, my dad drifts off talking about how that was what initially attracted him to her when her first met her. Along with her facial features, she is always dressed immaculately.
My mother’s beauty goes way further than just her external appearance. She is very understanding and has a greater drive for success than anyone I have met. She has taught me that life is full of greatness and that everything has a solution. When my father abandoned us, she definitely stepped up and became both mother and father to me. My mom left her country to give me a better life and has sacrificed herself continuously for me. At times, she would work to jobs to make sure I could have all the things I needed. My mom attended every school event from Head Start and throughout all of my high school years. She comforted me and wiped my tears every time I cried. She showed me that giving up should never be an option or solution, and to always carry on no matter what the situation is. Her perseverance is the most beautiful trait she possesses.
Throughout life, I have seen beauty in numerous things, but none of them compare to the beauty I see in my mother. She carries both physical and internal beauty, something that is very rare to discover in a human being in today’s society. She accepts who she is and is proud of the person she has become. My mother always tells me “love you appearance just as it is mija, and don’t try to blend in to satisfy others.” My mom may not realize it, but she is my role model. I hope one day I can become as beautiful as she is. She is a woman of good faith, strong, loving, and altogether the most beautiful creature I have met in this world.

Norman Rockwell

In painting The Problem We All Live With it illustrates the event of the first African American to attend an unsegregated school. It is a moment that represented change for the world. The reason it is called The Problem We All Live With I believe is because the child has to be escorted and still none the less someone threw a tomatoe at the child. It shows how people don't share the same perspective on racial equality. This was done in 1964 yet we are in the year 2007 and sometimes we are still victems of racism. We may not change the past but we can work to a future where is equality knows no race or gender.

Self Choice

Unjustice has existed since the begining of human kind and will continue to affect us. It is true some people are given a better education by the goverment but it does not go to say those people deserve it. Life won't always give us the greatest opportunities but what you make of what you have shows who you will become. If you sit there and complain about the school that you go to rather than decide to make a change, then you are condemning yourself. Race does not determine your intelligence, desire, or success but you do.

Mrs.Prestia

Life is full of experiences both great and horrible yet, they form who you will become as a person. My first couple of years in high school I was very caught in only having a good time and I set aside school. In my Junior year of school I met Mrs. Prestia. She was a sixty-two year old woman teaching English III. Mrs. Prestia had a severe case of osteoporosis but she never let it get in her way. She saw potential in me and one day stopped me after class and let me know that was I capable of becoming something better. Eventually I stopped skipping classes and managed to graduate in the top quarter of my senior class. It takes people not giving up on one another to make an impact. Mrs. Prestia never lost hope in me and helped me become a better student.