Analyze a current or past relationship and create a strategy for Essay

Analyze a current or past relationship and create a strategy for managing it - Essay Example Losing contact with each other, we both had strings of relationships until both of us had our families. Both of us had only one child out of our own marriages and both of us got divorced from our spouses. Twenty years later, Andy came back to visit me at my mom’s house. He just took a chance if I was there, and was surprised when I was, as I was also visiting her. It was a pleasant surprise for both of us. At first, it was awkward seeing your first love two decades later when a whole lifetime has passed in between. We caught up with each other’s lives, but did not have enough time, since he was flying back to Australia the following day. A week later, I found a friend request on Facebook from Andy which I happily accepted. Since that time, we have spent much time chatting with each other, and even tried video-chatting a few times. Over time, we realized we were still in love with each other after all these years. Although we did not officially declare that we are once a gain a couple, we treat each other as if we are. I cannot fully commit to him because I did not really believe in long distance relationships, and somehow, had doubts as to his relationship history, since he has shared that he’s been into several relationships after his divorce. I, myself, have not gone dating after my divorce, so I had several qualms about getting into a serious relationship at this point in my life. Meanwhile, I decided to enjoy what Andy and I currently have, without the complications of commitment. It is what is known in social networking sites as a relationship status of â€Å"It’s Complicated†. Attraction Our initial attraction to each other was physical. Andy was a very handsome teenager, and was quite popular with the girls. On the other hand, I did not look bad myself, being a cheerleader and a prom queen contender. Knowing each other well as we dated exclusively in our teens, the attraction went beyond the surface. I discovered that he had a kind heart which was compassionate to others in need. He was a very good son and brother and to top it all, he had a sense of humor that complemented mine. I admired his drive and ambition to be successful, and envied his focus and persistence in his studies. I was sure that he was a great catch and would be an ideal husband and father as well as a successful professional in the future. Andy admitted that he fell in love with my feminine ways and the way I treated my family and friends. He felt very protective over me because I was so naive. He liked the fact that I was very down-to-earth and did not waste my time on shallow things such as fashion, make-up and boys. He loved my simplicity and the fact that I was a homebody, very skilled in cooking and home design and organization. He also thought I would make the perfect wife and mother someday. Our short term and long-term attraction factors for each other may be explained theoretically. Matlin (2008) explains gender differe nces in attraction partner as based on an evolutionary psychology approach. According to this approach, people’s preferences have roots in evolution where men prefer young, attractive, healthy-looking women who are likely to pass on men’s genes to the next generation. On the other hand, women are drawn to men who are economically stable to ensure that their future children are well provided for (Matlin, 2008). Women were also found to value a partner’s ambition, industriousness and social dominance as well as emotional

National Advocacy Paper (political science) 2 Research

National Advocacy (political science) 2 - Research Paper Example Viral videos of anti-Muslim demonstrations race across social networks daily. Islamophobia started in earnest on September 11, 2001 for reasons that are all too clear. This condition is a reactionary response instigated and perpetuated by fear of the unknown and unfamiliar. The level of outwardly expressed hatred ebbs and flows with the day’s newscast but the underlying causes and effects remain constant. It is a shameful and unnecessary circumstance reminiscent of racial segregation battles of the South and anti-immigrant rhetoric that has persisted throughout the nation’s history. Fortunately, technology is working in favor of reasonable thought and rational behavior. Social networking has enabled the world’s neighborhood to grow smaller and more familiar. We are entering an era of understanding between cultures therefore a lessening of ignorance and its byproduct, angry hate-filled speech aimed at disrespecting those of a different personal history. The argume nt for the critics of anything Islamic usually centers around terrorist actions, that Muslims commit more acts of terrorism than any other religious group therefore Islam is a war-like religion that does not respect life. In addition, many countries with a large Muslim population are theocracies, Islamic States, such as Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Pakistan and Iran. This is unacceptable to many Americans who could not imagine living under a theocratic regime, who consider this way of life medieval in nature, backward and harsh. Of course if many of these same people had their way, the U.S. would officially become a Christian nation. Most, 55 percent, (Stone, 2007) still cannot admit the U.S. is a secular nation with a comparatively liberal democratic government and would argue, erroneously, that the Founding Fathers meant for the country to be a Christian nation. It’s likely that those who are not aware of the Founder’s intent do not bother to investigate anything pertainin g to the Islamic religion or Muslim culture so as to understand rather than fear it. The controversy surrounding the mosque near ‘ground zero’ was and is baseless. The plans were to expand the existing Islamic community center (Park 51) that already housed a mosque. Another mosque is located just down the street. The area is dotted with porn shops, bars and ‘gentlemen’s clubs’ but no one claimed any of these potentially offensive business establishments would tarnish the memory of those Americans who died in the twin tower attack. The controversy was contrived and born purely out of fear, hatred and willful misunderstanding. â€Å"The site has been the scene of frequent demonstrations in which protesters carry signs saying such things as ‘All I Need to Know about Islam, I Learned on 9/11’" (Nachtwey, 2010). The community center is located in a building not unlike the others that surround it, plain and with no visible markings to indicat e is a religious institution. It is not an imposing edifice complete with colorful, spiraling towers one might picture when imagining a traditional Middle Eastern mosque. The outrage is disingenuous and not about the mosque itself or the pain it might cause the families of people who died on 9-11, which included Muslims as well. This false outrage is a by-product of ignorance, fear and bigotry. â€Å"