F-Rk.com Articles

Articles Home
Is Racism a new Concept?

How did racism originate? Where did it begin? Where is it headed? The history of racism or rather the earliest examples of racism that still exist today is the caste system that is practiced in India. This form of racism dates back to 1500 BC and is embedded in the Hindu religion. The racism involves the fair-skinned Brahmins who rule over the dark-skinned population. The Brahmins are further divided into hierarchical classes with the lowest being the Dalits. The extremity of the caste system is shown by the fact that the very sight or touch of the ?untouchables? by those of the ?higher order? is regarded as pollution. Considered inferior, the Dalits or the untouchables are the lowest in the caste system. They were not even permeated to enter the Hindu temples for worship and in time they came to accept this way of thinking even perpetuating the Hindu Casteism and sexism in the community and in the family circles.

The history of racism is also seen in ancient Egypt. They were known to distinguish groups according to their ethnicities with the dark-skinned Nubians residing in the southern regions of the Nile. In fact, it is possible that the Egyptians may have been responsible for the death of the red-headed people whom they saw as symbols of evil of the Egyptian god Seth. After reading an inscription on one of the tombs, the 13th Century Jean-Francois Champollion the Younger wrote: “According to the legend…they wished to represent the inhabitants of Egypt and those of foreign lands.? Thus we have before our eyes the image of the various races of man known to the Egyptians… the last one is what we call flesh-colored, a white skin of the most delicate shade, a nose straight or slightly arched, blue eyes, blond or reddish beard, tall stature and very slender, clad in a hairy ox-skin, a veritable savage… he is called Tamhou…. I certainly did not expect, on arriving at Biban-el-Moluk, to find sculptures that could serve as vignettes of the history of the primitive Europeans, if ever one has the courage to attempt it.? Nevertheless, there is something flattering and consoling in seeing them, since they make us appreciate the progress we?have subsequently achieved.”

Another infamous people in the history of racism are that of the ancient Greece ad Rome. Ancient Greeks recognized differences in people just like the ancient Egyptians and even the historian Herodotus who lived in the years 484-425 B.C. seems to refer to black-skinned people as Aethiopian or ?burnt-faced? in Greek. He seems to have thought of the differences in human phenotypes as a result of adaptations due to the differing environments. The Greek seem to have had a very unfavorable view of their neighboring nations. The word ?barbarian? comes from the Greek word meaning ?non-Greek? and it referred to those not participating to the refinement and the enlightenment of Greek culture. According to the book, History of the Goths, by Herwig Wolfram, “Barbarians can neither think nor act rationally, theological controversies are Greek to them… Under the assault of their horrible songs the classic meter of the ancient poet goes to pieces…Barbarians are driven by evil spirits; “possessed by demons”, who force them to commit the most terrible acts…incapable of living according to written laws and only reluctantly tolerating kings…Their lust for gold is immense, their love of drink boundless. Barbarians are without restraint…Although generally they are considered good-looking, they are given to gross personal hygiene…They run dirty and barefoot, even in the winter…They grease their blond hair with butter and care not that it smells rancid…Their reproductive energy is inexhaustible; the Northern climate of their native land, with its long winter nights favors their fantastic urge to procreate…If a barbarian people is driven back or destroyed, another already emerges from the marshes and forests of Germany…Indeed, there are no new barbarian peoples–descendents of the same tribes keep appearing.”?Indeed, the history of racism should be a lesson to present-day nations and its effects should teach us that all have something to contribute to overall advancement of human societies.

Uncategorized Family, Home, Men, Religion

Articles Home
Psychic abilities and other centuries-old unexplained phenomena: real or quackery?

Many distinguished scholars hold that everyone has psychic abilities, in varying degrees, early in life, but that these abilities generally disappear by the time a child is six or seven. Skeptics tend to dismiss such contentions as so much quackery. Part of the problem is that this phenomena cannot be scientifically proven and that there are far more skeptics than psychics. Another obstacle consists in the fakes, people who advertise in tabloid magazines, ‘psychic guarantees return of your lost love in 24 hours’ or some other such ridiculous premise.

In fact, people who do have psychic abilities, tend to experience them outside of a clinical setting, which makes the experience and report purely anecdotal, that is, lacking in quantifiable, scientifically repeatable proof. However, this does not negate the phenomena. It simply remains unproven.

Various studies have shown that psychic ability seems to run in families. In retrospect, anecdotal reports of ‘knowing’ future events does tend to repeat down through generations. Sometimes, the knowledge is fairly insignificant and not traumatic. In other instances, people have knowledge of traumatic events prior to the occurrence. One such famous case is that of Jeanne Dixon, who predicted the circumstances and time of President Kennedy’s assassination. Ms. Dixon went to great lengths to try to warn the Kennedy’s, with details that so closely matched the actual event, it was truly inexplicable. Her desperate pleas went unheeded and history records the outcome. In this instance, it’s certainly hard to explain how she could have known about this disastrous event.

It’s interesting to note that most religions acknowledge visions as a legitimate extension of psychic ability. There is a definite correlation between these two unexplained phenomena. In some senses, what’s currently termed ‘psychic ability’, was, centuries ago, deemed ‘visions’. In the Catholic church, well known visionaries, such as Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and Catherine of Siena, experienced visions of both future and revelatory events which have survived the centuries. The church decided that it could not discount these contemplative, meditative souls, but neither could they endorse this psychic phenomena as truth for the ordinary believer. The church instead deemed these people, with what we now call psychic abilities, or visions, to be ‘Doctors of the Church’. This provided a special, separate category, into which the ordinary person could not and should not, enter.

If you were to ask a person who claimed psychic abilities just how they apprehended this knowledge, chances are that they might not be able to tell you if they were dreaming or awake! The knowledge is understood and irrefutable. It might come in the form of a thought, a dream, or a visual representation while awake. This reportage is not credible to most people. It’s simply too difficult to understand. For example, if you’d never seen snow, how could you believe a description of it? However, this obviously does not mean snow does not exist.

Perhaps psychic ability will forever remain a mystery. It’s possible that some people are able to apprehend a different plane of reality than most of us are capable of seeing.

The fascinating aspect of the psychic phenomena is that countless scholars have verified, in clinical settings, that almost all children have psychic ability, to a degree and up to a certain age. The fact that this ability almost always fades as a child matures may be only a result of anchoring in the world most of us see as reality. Who can say?

Uncategorized Home, Men, Religion

Articles Home
Single Dating Tips

You may find that you have not found the right person as of yet, or that you are newly divorced and you want someone new to share the adventure of life with as you move on. What can be frustrating is that single dating can be very hard, especially with a lot of people out there on the market that might be less than honest, or that may not have the same values or goals as you do. This is why you should ask some smart questions when you date anyone new. There is no sense in wasting your time with the wrong man or woman.

One of the first questions to ask while single dating is if someone is in fact single. This might seem like a silly question, but there are more cheaters out there than you may realize. You don?t want to get involved with someone like this for two very good reasons. The first is that they are never going to be able to give you the attention and energy that you deserve, and the other is that they are untrustworthy. If they are cheating with you, they are going to cheat on you. This also goes with the fact that somewhere, someone else could be hurt by your actions. Say no and find someone else for single dating that can really be into you and your world.

When you know someone is free to be with you for single dating, you can feel optimistic that you may have found someone great. Though you should never pin your marriage or long term relationship hopes on someone based on the first date, you can get a good feeling about someone in your early day of single dating. Go with your gut instincts about a person. They will rarely steer you in the wrong direction. If your intuition tells you they are not hiding anything, you can then make sure you are compatible in areas of life directions, goals, and even religion if that is important to you.

There are many great ways to go about single dating today, and some are choosing to go on the Internet to see if they can find someone there. Single dating can be hard within your own community, as it can be hard to run into the right person at the right time. Just remember to use the same cautions when dating online. Be sure someone is single, be sure they are a good fit, and listen to any warning bells that may go off. Have fun with dating online, but be safe first and foremost.

Uncategorized Home, Religion

Articles Home
Christian Crafts

Nearly every Christian I know puts a big emphasis on teaching their children the gospel, but the vast majority of them do not fully realize that this teaching doesn’t necessarily have to end when Sunday school gets out at the end of the day. Christian crafts are a great way to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the everyday life of your kids. Children love making crafts, so by incorporating crafts with Christian themes into their after school activities, you can continue the Bible lessons while giving them something fun to do. The kids will love it, and it will deepen their relationship with God.

There are all sorts of Christian childrens crafts out there, and there are many that you can make yourself. One of the easiest ones is to simply have your children write a poem about Jesus. From a very young age, children start understanding the basics of religion and, even if they can’t grasp all the subtleties, they can grasp that a personal relationship is possible between a believer and Christ. Christian crafts give them a way to express this relationship and turn it into an artful decoration. First, have them each write a short passage or poem about what Jesus means to them. Then allow them to decorate the page with drawings, sparkles, are anything else they want. Hang up their poems on the wall and praise their creativity.

Of course, for older children, Christian crafts can get much more complex. A lot of Christian families out there like to make ornamental crosses with their kids. There are dozens of different ways to do this. One of the easiest ones is to use Fimo dough. By rolling this material into different patterns, you can come up with very beautiful combinations of colors and textures. You can make crosses out of these patterned chunks of clay and then bake them in the toaster oven. Then you have decorative crosses to turn into necklaces or just hang on the wall in the house.

Then again, sometimes it is nice to have more professionally made crafts for Christians. There are many Christian craft catalogs Out there selling a wide variety of decorations. Some of them incorporate Christian artifacts such as water from the holy land taken out of the Jordan River by pilgrims. Others use more locally made materials. No matter what sort of decorative craft you are looking for, you can find one with a Christian theme.

Uncategorized Home, Kids, Men, Religion

Articles Home
Humorous T Shirts

The type of humor portrayed on humorous T shirts can vary widely, ranging from witty remarks to funny graphics. There?s also a diverse range of attitudes regarding what?s humorous and what?s not, and humorous T shirts are no exception to public opinion. Apparently people disagree about what makes a t shirt amusing?humorous T shirts and their manufacturers have faced their share of controversy by striking nerves with their perceived offensiveness and insensitivity.

One famous example was an incident involving Abercrombie and Fitch a few years back. A&F released several T shirts that made use of Asian caricatures. One of them was a T shirt portraying two Asian men and their laundry company. The slogan read, ?Two Wongs Can Make It White.? Another was a T shirt advertising a ?Buddha Bash? and another featured ?Wok ?n? Bowl.? Many took offense at what they saw as an offensive portrayal of Asians that mocked their culture, a perpetuation of Asian stereotypes, a disrespect of religion and a flashback to times when Asians were subjected to forced labor. Another well publicized example of humorous T shirts falling flat was a T shirt from David and Goliath suggesting, ?Boys Are Stupid, Throw Rocks At Them!? Protesters saw this as sexism and discrimination, comparing it to the offensiveness of replacing the sentiment with girls or with other identities like race or sexual orientation. Still, these T shirts have found a supportive audience with others who disagree and find these ?offending? articles of clothing amusing?some Asian customers laughed at Abercrombie?s shirts, and others suggested that males remember the historical oppression of women. Since their controversies, Abercrombie has pulled the offending t shirts from their stores, and ?Boys Are Stupid? t shirts continue to sell.

The issue of offensive humorous T shirts is part of a larger issue dealing with humor in general. At what point does humor cross the line? Humor often relies on stereotypes that people admittedly find funny because they?re based in truth, but it doesn?t have to stray too far away to stimulate prejudice and hurt people. It?s a fine line, and society still struggles with walking along it. Stereotypes are impossible to eradicate because we want and simultaneously don?t want them to disappear. But while we can?t stop stereotypes from being perpetuated, we can refrain from perpetuating them ourselves if we deem a perpetuation inappropriate, and one way of doing that is to not endorse clothing that you think might offend other consumers.

Uncategorized Home, Men, Religion, Women

Articles Home
So Few Christmas Songs, and so much Confusion

Some people would say it was just as well, but when Christmas songs always manage to easily uplift people so effortlessly, why do people not play them year around. The reason could be that the Christmas song repertoire is not a particularly voluminous one. Any major star releasing an album of Christmas material, like, say, Mariah Carey or Elvis or Willie Nelson, is bound to pick a bunch of familiar Christmas material in there, and only use a few original numbers to round it out with. You can always count on being treated to the singer’s reinterpretation of Deck the Halls, or Silent Night. Elvis does his familiar, clipped, devil-may-care attitude, Mariah coos those carols in a way that makes you just want to dissolve, and Willie Nelson has the careless Southern drawl that is just irresistible. Should one complain that Christmas songs are just repeated over and over no matter how many years pass? Or that there seem to be no new classics?

The problem isn?t so abstract when you happen to be put in charge of the Christmas songs to play at a party at home or at work. The prognosis isn?t good if you are in that situation and you need to please all who show up; but with good taste and restraint, it can still be done. Perhaps the trouble is the way people spend freely around Christmas and the shops are flooded with cheap productions rushed out to market. Avoiding novelty Christmas songs is a certain way to keep a reveling group happy. The evergreens by Elvis, songs like Charlie Brown Christmas and the Drummer Boy are must-haves, but so are Christmas releases by major artists.

It could be a sign of the times, but there are Chrismas carol troubles brewing at schools around the country over a choice of secular Christmas songs to have children sing at school this year. California is offering a vote on a proposal that the law be repealed that religion not be brought into schools in the form of Christmas carols during the holidays. People who support the measure feel that having children sing Christmas songs during the holidays is an American tradition that children must not be deprived of. Opponents see this as a step onto a slippery slope of compromised separation of religion and education.

Bringing Christmas songs into the schools could be quite a way away. The petitions need to pile up to about a half million before the motion is taken up. Keeping the church out of the schoolhouse has never really caught on elsewhere in the developed world. There’s just been a lawsuit launched in the European Parliament against the practice in Italy of displaying a cross in classrooms. And the local population does not seem to understand what could possibly be wrong with a little love for God brought in as part of a well-rounded education.

Uncategorized Home, Men, Religion

Articles Home
First Amendment

What?s the First Amendment? The freedom of speech, the press and religion, you?ll easily reply. The answer to that question might be an easy one, and so is the concept itself, but it?s a difficult question of providing these equal rights to all citizens without eliminating the very diversity that these rights are supposed to allow. Much, much easier said than done.

Take any of these First Amendment concepts of freedom and you can come up with a situation that makes your head spin as you try to rectify or justify the morality of it. Freedom of speech?so everyone can say whatever they want to, including insulting or verbally abusing others. Freedom of the press?so everyone can say whatever they want to in print, including publishing slander. Freedom of religion?so everyone can practice whatever religion they want to or not, including religions that decree human sacrifice. These are more or less extreme examples, and in many cases they would be illegal?abuse, libel and murder are all crimes punishable by law. If none of these freedoms were granted, none of these crimes would be allowed to occur, but we would we robbed of well, freedom. Censorship is equally, if not even more, undesirable than absolute freedom. Absolute freedom doesn?t work, and no freedom doesn?t work either.

So we try to find a balance when it comes to the First Amendment, but placing boundaries is difficult because everyone disagrees over where they should be drawn. At what point is speech, press or religion harmful and detrimental to others? Rights are difficult to grant because people have different interpretations of what rights are. One person might consider their rights violated if they aren?t allowed to sacrifice humans in accordance with their beliefs, but many other people wouldn?t want freedom granted as that person views it. But that one person, as deviant as they might seem, is still part of our society and freedoms are granted to everyone, ?all men.?

It?s no wonder that the First Amendment has often come under fire, being subject to hot debate over the nature of rights and freedom. It?s paradoxical?people have the right to be different, but being different threatens that right. What makes America so great is also what makes it so tumultuous and frustrating at times. But if you asked around, chances are that you would find that many of us wouldn?t have it any different way.

Uncategorized Home, Men, Religion

Articles Home
Questions To Ask a Guy When Dating

No matter what age you are, dating is a bit scary. It should always be fun, but there is always something awkward about going out with someone for the very first time. Not everyone is looking for a serious relationship, but those that are need to learn to make the most of their dates. It?s heartbreaking when you go out with someone for six months before you realize that they are just not on the same path as you might be. This means you should have some good questions to ask a guy during your first few dates so you are sure you are not wasting your time with the wrong person.

You obviously don?t want to start with questions for a guy that might scare them off. You may think about someone being marriage material, but you certainly aren?t ready to marry someone you just met. You do, however, want to know that they are not opposed to the idea if things work out. Coming right out and asking them how they feel about marriage is going to send them running, so leave that off your list of questions to ask a guy. However, you can ask them where they see themselves in five years, or what goals they have in that time period. That can tell you a lot about them, and you should be prepared to answer the same question.

Other questions for a guy that you might ask should revolve around the things that mean the most to you. You may feel awkward asking some questions, but it is in your best interest to do so. The right moment will come up. You may want to find out about religion, and how they feel about children. You should also find out what they do at work, and how they love to spend their spare time. You can ask about their favorite color or their favorite television show, but that information is not very useful in the long run. Think about the things that can make or break a relationship, and those are the questions to ask a guy that you should ask first.

When asking a guy questions, don?t overwhelm them by asking them all at once as if you have a check list. Work them into conversation. If you are out on a date with someone who is compatible with you, the conversation should flow rather easily, and you will have no trouble finding good spots to insert questions to ask a guy so you find out what you need to know. Keep it light, and try not to make the date seem like an interview, even though that is sort of what it is. Also remember to answer any questions they may have about you. It?s only fair.

Uncategorized Home, Men, Religion, Television

Articles Home
Do you have psychic abilities? You might be surprised to learn the answer

We?ve all seen the television psychics, TV programs about psychic detectives and ads in magazines placed by people who ?guarantee? to restore a lost love and the like. Although the concept of physic ability is viewed with considerable skepticism by the majority of people, many legitimate studies in clinical studies have established that psychic abilities should not be dismissed out of hand.

Before you decide one way or another on this controversial topic, take a look at some of the evidence. We often tend to not believe ideas that cannot be irrefutably proven or seen with our own eyes. Here are some examples, along with a few experiments you can do yourself, that may change your mind.

Scientists in the fields of psychology and psychiatry, as well as Pascal, the famed mathematician and philosopher, determined that almost every child possesses a degree of physic abilities, usually up until about the age of six.

Any parent knows that kids have a way of ?knowing? certain things that can?t be readily explained. For example, a child may take an immediate dislike to a certain person, sizing them up in a child?s manner and without apparent reason. The same child may gravitate towards another individual without explanation. They simply sense something which creates a ?thumbs up? or ?thumbs down? impression. What?s interesting is that children?s impressions usually prove to be correct in the long run.

Studies of children who demonstrate psychic ability also show that such abilities tend to disappear, gradually. By the time a child is ten years old, very few retain these psychic characteristics and experiences. It?s theorized that as a child is absorbed into the mainstream of culture, the very idea of physic ability meets with disapproval. ?Use it or lose it? comes into play, and peer pressure and the desire to belong soon brings about a general dissipation of this talent.

How about religion? People of every faith believe the doctrines of their faith, with absolutely no proof. If you believe in a creator, can you prove it? You can?t. However, just because you cannot see your creator doesn?t mean He doesn?t exist.

One of the common denominators in the nature of people shown to have physic ability is that they tend to be highly spiritual. This does not mean that they are necessarily religious, although they often are. Such spiritually inclined persons feel a connection to life that goes beyond what can be quantified and seen by everyone.

Here?s one interesting way you can test your own psychic ability: go online and look up some of the many psychic tests, which you can take for free. You might be shocked to discover that you, the skeptic, possess psychic abilities.

There are techniques which anyone can practice, to develop lost psychic abilities. At the very least, it?s an entertaining endeavor. Who knows?

Uncategorized Home, Kids, Men, Religion, Television

Articles Home
Asia Travel Book

Going to a strange continent, especially for the first time, can be a daunting prospect. Asia is a beautiful and exciting place to go and a good Asia travel book is recommended. There is a wide variety to choose from, and several from well established publishers in the travel field.

Asia is a continent of vibrant cities, historic buildings, hill villages, temples, mountains and waterfalls. It can be a great culture shock for many people and it’s a good idea to have a companion guide for company. Most people embrace the sights, sounds and food and want to go back for more.

The Lonely Planet Shoestring Guide series includes Southeast Asia on a Shoestring. Countries covered include Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The latest book is a revised edition from March 2008. This part of the world is a very popular destination with young backpackers from the US, UK and Australia and this is the perfect budget travel companion.

The Rough Guide to First-Time Asia claims that “everything you need to know before you go is here”. Twenty-one different countries are discussed and there is lots of advice on going there on a budget, health issues and careful planning if traveling alone. This travel guide to Asia has tips on accommodation, eating places, what to take, and transport. The culture of the area is also explored and insurance and visa requirements are explained.

The Asia Book is in the Lonely Planet Pictorial series and is a coffee table hardback. The beauty of the area is captured in color photographs and there is detailed information on every country. Articles feature the terrain, culture, religion and the hippie trail from the 1960s. The Asia travel guide also contains useful maps and journey suggestions.

The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia includes nine countries with Hong Kong and Macau. Advice is given on moving around the region and on borders, ferry crossings and local flight details. There are also lists on the best places to stay and restaurants and bars. There are detailed maps and plans to cover every region with hotels and restaurants highlighted.

Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos and the Greater Mekong is a Lonely Planet Multi Country Guide, which takes the reader on an exciting journey down the Mekong River. This Asia travel book also covers Thailand. Maps show border crossings and ancient landmarks. There is also a section on which borders are open.

Southeast Asia (Globetrotter Travel Map) is designed to help first time tourists to the region. There are color photographs, information on where to stay and charts for climate and distance between towns. In addition to the general map of Southeast Asia, there are detailed town plans of major centers, such as Mandalay, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore City, and Ho Chi Minh City. Other plans cover Bali, Penang and Phuket Town, all with places of interest and key attractions shown on the maps.

Uncategorized Beauty, Design, Food, Health, Home, Men, Religion