Betrayal; Positive or Negative?

What comes to your mind when you hear the word betrayal? Some may think that it is unacceptable in all forms and some may think that it can be seen as honorable under certain circumstances. My ultimate definition of betrayal would be to have someone i have instilled my complete and utter trust in, deceive me. In my opinion i can see where betrayal can be used for good, but it should only be used to a certain extent; If you are lying to someone for their own sake as opposed to lying to someone with only malicious intent, there is good in that. We always see things about 'so and so cheating on her husband' when really it should say 'woman with standards cheats on her abusive husband who also happens to be an alcoholic' but people still say how the woman is such a bad person and that she betrayed her husband to a horrid extend. In instances like that, there will always be two sides because some people might not consider the actions of the husband provoking this woman's cheating and some might think she had every right to do that to her husband, so it really just depends on the person. Has American modern culture molded our perception of betrayal perhaps? Even though i think betrayal can be justified under certain circumstances, todays society has made the act of betrayal seem much less malicious then it actually is and are more lenient on people who betray others.

The Power of Travel

Literacy has been an extremely important aspect of my life ever since I was old enough to read. I was always fascinated by novels and I was constantly reading while many of my friends were entertained by technology. I credit my advanced level of literacy to the opportunities I took to engage my mind into stimulating books. I love reading books about places that I've never been before or about cultures I am not familiar with. Reading has influenced my traveling experiences, which in return have broadened my literacy. I believe that traveling and being introduced to a multitude of cultures unlike my own has made me a more intelligent person with a better understanding of the world around me. My parents always considered travel as the key to becoming a cultured, literate human being. I am confident in being able to communicate my thoughts and feelings to people from all kinds of backgrounds, simply because I am aware of the diversity that exists in the world around us. I believe literacy is something gained through life experiences that positively stimulate the mind and broaden our horizons. I plan on continuing to travel throughout my life to new parts of the world that I have yet to experience, in order to keep expanding my literacy and knowledge.

Body Image and The Media

It is no secret that the media plays a large role in the modern American society. The influence of models and entertainers on teenagers seems to be at an all time high. Unfortunately, the media has also created a world of unrealistic standards, and expectations for what "beauty" is considered to be. Body image is a major topic of controversy from the entertainment aspect of American culture. Media has become such a priority in life, that it is extremely common to witness the younger generations considering entertainers as role models, as opposed to humanitarians and scientists who have actually impacted the well being of this world. It is no surprise that people have developed an obsession with matching the measurements of what the their "idols" body image is. This obsession has led to the development of millions of teens suffering from eating disorders such as Bulimia and Anorexia, simply because Hollywood portrays an image of beauty that is unrealistic and extremely narrow minded. I personally find it disappointing that American culture has somewhat shifted from admiring the beauty of the mind to admiring the "beauty" of the body. Has the entertainment industry somewhat tainted modern American culture permanently? It seems that enough is never truly enough. This epidemic has been fatal for many innocent young Americans and it would be a shame to see this continue with increasing severity.