Cooley's Theory: "The Looking Glass Self"

You might have come across numerous people in life who will be of the view that the judgments of other people regarding them do not matter to them. Whatever people may say, their public image does affect their personalities. The reason is that people interact with each other every day and when they will come across something day in and day out; they will eventually accept it as reality. This reminds me of the Hitler’s saying which states that if you lie again and again, a time will come when people will start to believe in that lie.


Let’s compare two students: one is just an average student while other is really an extra ordinary genius. If the achievements of the average student are recognized by teachers and his peers, he will automatically develop self confident and eventually he may end up doing something extravagant for the world community. On the other hand, if the achievements of the genius students are constantly rejected, he may become dejected from life and may think of him as worthless and may end up as nothing but crap. You will come across such examples in your everyday life and its nothing but a proof that public image does matter to people.

To summarize this concept, I will mention three points.
1) One thinks how other people of him.
2) One makes judgments based on the judgments that other are people make of him
3) One develops a self image based on their judgements.

World Problems Today? Why is there Confusion? Reason?

Watch any news channel today and you will immediately know what am trying to point out here. Every day or perhaps every hour there is news coming in regarding nothing but violence such as blasts in Pakistan, blasts in Afghanistan and bla bla. Have you ever wondered that why we fail to understand the root causes of everything in today’s life?

If you ask an American, he will say Muslims are terrorists and they are causing all the disturbances in the world. If you ask a Muslim, he will be of the view that major democratic countries see Islam as a threat so they are trying to subdue it before it rises as a political system. The theories just go on and on.
So, who will guide us to the right reasons for the problems in life today? Politicians? Media? Internet? If you try to follow these very factions, you will end up in nothing but more and more confusion. Every politician has his or her own agenda which varies from country to country. Developed countries brag and boast about their free media but the fact is that the media might be free when it comes to their own countries but whenever it comes to any news regarding present wars or something, what we see is that they blame only one community that is Muslims. Muslim children being killed in wars, woman being raped and still the media says Muslims are the ones who are responsible for everything. If Muslims are responsible, why are woman and children being targeted? Who doesn’t know about the war crimes of the foreign forces in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Therefore, in the biased world of today, do not let these factions of community tame your minds. Just think with a cool mind and ask for reason and proof for everything. Once, you have the reason and proof, you will get the greater picture of what is happening in daily life today.

For example, Osama Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. What is the proof of it? Do you have any solid reason? If not, why did US invade Afghanistan? Just ask yourself questions with reason and that is it!

Corrupt Societies Deserve Corrupt Politicians

As I start to write this article, there is scorching heat outside with the sun shining above. There is no creature to be seen outside, be it a bird or some human being. There is silence and everybody is most probably locked up in their rooms.

This description shows the desperate situation for humans but nothing can be done, we cannot stop the sun from shinning. It is just the way nature is. One may argue that this desperate and painful experience of scorching heat just out of control of humans as I mentioned earlier.

But, have we done anything where we can stop the exploitation of human life? As I continue to write this letter, women and children are being killed and beaten up in Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq and Afghanistan; politicians are working on new schemes for plundering the wealth of their respective countries and etc etc.

A normal citizen of the world may argue with this as well, pointing out to the fact that politicians are powerful people and they can do what ever they want, it’s the public that suffers as always. One hears this argument day in and day out. Have our minds become so numb that we don’t see the crimes the general public commits such as students cheating in exams, a road side shopkeeper selling substandard goods, a milkman selling intoxicated milk and bla bla. The point here is that the general public commits crimes where it can. It does not matter to them if they are exploiting the rights of their lower class. All they know is that they are benefiting be it a milkman or a big business tycoon.

Therefore, be a it a big crime or a small crime, crime is a crime. Before, we abuse our politicians and the powerful people we need to look at ourselves as in what were are doing. Remember one rule in life, if majority of the general public ends up being honest, there is no way a corrupt politician could survive. Corrupt rulers are for a corrupt society. It is so simple!

Is Fashion Really Important?

'Fashion’ is a term used for creativity and art that shows. It could be something simple or elegant or a cluster of items and colors. People with no sense of fashion are considered dull and backward but everyone has a right to do it their own way.

There are various societies and groups for each type of fashion. Some of them include Hip-hop, Cultural, Rock, Elizabethan, Teenage, Free-style, etc.

Fashion is not necessarily about what one wears, but also one’s lifestyle. A person with an amazing house interior and impressive dressing is a way of fashion that’s portrays the personality. It is true that it hides the true of an individual making them feel inferior or superior according to their surrounding and social circle.

Fashion should be a part of life, not life itself. It could be used constructively or destructively depending on the negative and positive aspects.

One may lose their true identity and principles of life in the quest to top in fashion which should not be. People should not be rated for their beauty as pure beauty lies within. Everyone should be free to make fashion for themselves as best suited to them.

The Concept of Success in our Daily Life

After reading the topic of this article, you will be thinking what sort of boring topic this is. But have you ever thought about it in your daily life? How do you define a successful life? Before, moving on the next paragraph take a minute or two think as to what success actually is.

I am 200% sure that most of you would have defined success keeping your profession or your life in mind. For example, if you are scientist, then your aim will be to invent or discover something new OR if you are a farmer, your success will depend on your annual crop yield. The point here is that if you interview people from different professions, each of them will come up with their own version of success and we will fail to draw any absolute definition of success.

However, the discussion gives you one conclusion for sure i.e. success is relative phenomena. The vision of success for one may prove to be an ultimate failure for others.

In my view success is not a relative concept but rather it is has an absolute meaning. Whenever we try to define success, we always keep the time frame in mind.

What if I was to tell you that there is a definition of success which is independent of time and space? You will be thinking am crazy but I am not. Most of the people around the world believe in some religion or the other. I am not talking about atheists because they are a separate story altogether. If you analyze, every religion defines success which is independent of time and space. The concept of success given by each religion does not span over a period of time but rather it extends to eternity.

Think again about the question I asked you at the start of the article. Am sure, most of you would have thought of definitions which would have been for limited period of time. So, does it mean we are having the wrong concept of success in our daily life? YES! For sure we are wrong.

The question arises there are numerous religions out there and again, there will be confusion in defining success. Therefore, I urge every reader to study every major religion and choose the right one. If you are sincere, God will certainly guide you the right path.

Daily Life in Iraq

Life is definitely not the same as it was before. The wars have caused disaster and disturbance. Basic necessities in Iraq are still not provided to man. The ration food card is not a reliable source to get food anymore. The ministry only gives flour and oil to the people, other staples like tea and legumes were given previously but not anymore.

The situation here in Iraq is devastating. Many a times my children have to go to sleep hungry. There is no security of life, neither is there employment. The fight between these political parties will lead us nowhere. The politicians are simply fighting amongst themselves and have completely forgotten about us. They cannot feel our pain.

Since the fall of Saddam’s regime in 2003, nothing has been done for the people of Iraq. It is the summer season and in the scorching heat, we only have electricity for three to four hours a day and very scarce drinking water. We have lost all hope; our politicians will remain unsuccessful in forming a government. Politicians are only interested in their own profits and they can go to any extent for it, even kill us!

Daily life in the Arab World

Most of the Arab countries are Islamic states whereas some are secular states. The biggest dilemma in these Arab states is the deviation from their religion, Islam. The young generation of these states have adopted the American culture and completely forgotten about their true identity.

This can be proved by many examples. Here one can see the youngsters hanging out with their friends most of the time, forgetting about their family. They go for clubbing and are also indulged in illegitimate relationships like having boyfriends and girlfriends. Alcohol and drugs is also becoming common. The worst part is that they don’t realize they are doing something wrong. It’s like their conscience is dead.

The parents are also at fault here. They fail to communicate to their children the system of Islam and its way of life. Therefore, life in the Arab world is not so different from that of the western world.

Moreover, these states are costly and prices are increasing by the day. It might seem that life in the Arab world is peaceful and successful but it too has its flaws. From the surface it may appear as a better world, but once you go deep down, you can see the reality.

Daily Life in China

I am a fifty year old and had a very happy family once. My husband and I used to work to run the house which became very difficult when my son was born. I did not regret having a child, I always dreamed of the day I would become a mother and I wanted more children but could not have any because of China’s one-child policy to control over population.

Anyway I did not lose heart because I was blessed with a wonderful child who meant the entire world to me. Time went by fast; my son was all grown up and turned out to be a handsome young man who was soon to be married.

One day we were going to the supermarket to get some groceries. My son dropped me at the store and went to park the car when a truck crashed into him. My whole world was destroyed right there in front of my eyes.

My husband also died a few years after my son. Now I am an old lady with no family and nowhere to go. My life is a living hell. If only I had more children, things would have been a lot different.

Daily Life in Pakistan

The situation in Pakistan is getting worse day by day. The bombings and terrorist activities have increased instead of decreasing. People mostly try to avoid public places now and areas which are very crowded. Educational institutions are attacked which has made the parents extremely worried.

Businesses are greatly suffering and recession has made living conditions a bit harsh. The law enforcement agencies are failing to do their job. Especially in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) were the situation is completely out of control.

The country’s resources have reduced. Load-shedding is done up to twelve hours a day. There is lack of pure drinking water. Generators used for producing electricity, run on petrol and diesel, add to the air-pollution and global warming.

Suicide bombings have become a regular thing. The most devastating was the blast at Lal Masjid where many innocent children were torn to pieces. Then there were many others in markets and hotels. These blasts have made people really scared.

The newspapers hardly contain news that is good to the ears. It is mostly just about theft, murders, killings, protests, increased prices, actions that the government will take to make life better (but they are never implemented).

Daily life in the Western World/ Europe/ America

Many people in today’s world, especially the youth, consider the life of the western world as ‘utopia’. The ones, who are not part of the life in the western world, strive day and night for it. The biggest advantage of the western lifestyle is the freedom. Freedom to do anything that comes to your mind or what your heart desires.

This freedom that you get becomes dangerous. They destroy their own lives as well as lives of the people they are associated with.

A girl in my neighborhood regrets some of the decisions she has taken in her life. She left her family for a guy she loved and eloped with him in the hope that they would get married. The guy of course, like many others, did not marry her and left her stranded. She could not return to her family as she was pregnant and so started to work as a waitress in a club.

Her daughter is now seven years old and she is still single. She has met many men but most of them were not ready to accept her child. She misses her family greatly but cannot return to them because she is now suffering from AIDS.

Daily Life in Palestine

Have you ever wondered what life in Palestine is like? Consider your worst nightmare coming true. Palestine has now become a land with no human rights. It is a country where man is treated worse than an animal.

One is not free to do anything and the people are always in a constant state of fear. The wretched conditions in which the people of Palestine are living are beyond one’s wildest imaginations. Life has no meaning there. How can it? There is no power of citizenship and no control over daily life. Checkpoints, electric fences, closed borders, road blocks and regular curfews only make life much more difficult. Missile firing is common, troops and tanks are sent to destroy any area, soldiers are allowed to harass or kill any man, woman or child. The ones fighting for their rights are imprisoned and tortured. Houses are bulldozed with people inside them if they are unable to escape in time. Crops that have been cultivated after going through a lot of hardships are destroyed at will without any reason.

People are deprived of basic necessities like health care, employment and education. Punitive taxes are imposed and no facilities are provided.

Daily Life in Afghanistan

The war going on for many years in Afghanistan has left the country and its people in a very shabby condition. Development and reconstruction in the state is greatly needed to prevent chaos all over again.

The warlords that fled during the period of war are now working with the foreigners to make the lives of the Afghanistan more miserable. Damaged buildings are not bulldozed but instead a few floors are added to it which has led to the collapse of the buildings, killing many women and children.

The people of Kabul get electricity for only a few hours a day. The Afghanistan still do not get clean water, electricity or gas whereas the foreigners, living in their country, enjoy all these facilities.

Schools and universities are closing down due to lack of teachers and resources. No one is found on the streets after sunset. Houses are over-crowded and there is lack of space.

Violence, drugs and kidnapping of women and children are fairly common. In addition to this, there is a fear of being run down by fast cars of the security forces or being shot by them. Many Afghanistan try to emigrate to Pakistan and Iran in search of food, shelter and protection.

Daily Life in China

I am a fifty year old and had a very happy family once. My husband and I used to work to run the house which became very difficult when my son was born. I did not regret having a child, I always dreamed of the day I would become a mother and I wanted more children but could not have any because of China’s one-child policy to control over population.

Anyway I did not lose heart because I was blessed with a wonderful child who meant the entire world to me. Time went by fast; my son was all grown up and turned out to be a handsome young man who was soon to be married.

One day we were going to the supermarket to get some groceries. My son dropped me at the store and went to park the car when a truck crashed into him. My whole world was destroyed right there in front of my eyes.

My husband also died a few years after my son. Now I am an old lady with no family and nowhere to go. My life is a living hell. If only I had more children, things would have been a lot different.

Indian Occupation of Kashmir: Daily Life in Kashmir

I was on my way to my khala’s (aunt) house one day. She was very old and used to stay ill most of the time. I collected all the things that I thought she would require, along with some money in my pocket and headed towards her house.

The streets were quiet as it was almost night fall. Most people had winded up their work and returned home. I had finished my work early that day.

I was walking down the street, lost in my thoughts when all of a sudden I heard a voice calling out to me. I stopped and turned around. Two military soldiers were leaning against a fence. They called out to me again but in an abusive manner. I got aggravated at this but simply turned back and started to walk again. The soldiers ran towards me and pushed me to the floor. They started to beat me up and searched through my things. Then they went through my pockets and took all my money. I wanted to fight back but I was scared that they would only do worse to me.

After having their fun they just left me there on the street, bleeding.

Internet in Daily Life and its Affects on the Society

The internet, in today’s world, has become a necessity of life. Every house has a computer and an internet connection. This has led to a lot of negative effects in daily life.

The biggest problem with the internet is the children’s access to such sites which contain pornography, violent video games, online gambling, etc. Exposure to these kinds of web sites is extremely harmful.

There is no doubt that internet has made life easier as research is easily done and there is a lot of information available but we must also take into account that massive problems that it has created which has spoilt many youngsters.

Internet has also created a gap between parents and children. They hardly communicate or spend quality time with parents or siblings. Children are mostly surfing the internet and playing games online and are rarely involved in any physical activity, which greatly affects their health.

Many believe that the internet helps one socialize. This may be partially true as it also takes you away from the people you live with as more time is wasted on chatting with the ones who are away.

To sum it all up, it can be easily said that internet has made man take many things for granted.

Significance of Vuvuzela in the African culture

The Vuvuzela, also called Lepatata (the Tswana name), is a plastic horn which is two feet long and bears a lot of resemblance with the Corneta, which is a South American horn that is often found in Brazil.

The Vuvuzela has become a popular symbol of the South African daily life football matches and recently it is commonly seen at the FIFA 2010 World Cup. It produces a loud and deafening sound that is described as a “swarm of angry bees”.

There are many who greatly dislike this instrument and have called it “an instrument form hell” due to the noise it produces. It has caused a great deal of disturbance to the spectators, commentators and football teams. The massive use of the vuvu, by so many supporters, have attracted controversy.

Vuvuzela has been inspired from a kudu horn that was originally used to call local villagers for meetings, who lived at a distance. It is also believed that a Baboon can be killed with a lot of noise made by the vuvu which means that it was also used for hunting.

The Vuvuzela is a very important and unique factor of the football matches of South Africa.

Hunza Valley: The Recent Flooding

The Hunza Valley is one of the most beautiful areas of Pakistan, with a rich historical background and plenty of sightseeing marvels. The Hunza River is perhaps one of the more astonishing sights within the region, mainly due to the Attabad Lake that was created at the start of the year 2010 due to landslides. The landslide has, however, caused concern among the natives of the region as being dangerous.

On January 4, 2010, a massive landslide at Attabad village killed twenty people and blocked the Hunza River and the Karakoram Highway. This resulted in the creation of a natural dam known as the Hunza Lake or the Attabad Lake. The lake began flooding and displaced nearly 6000 villagers and had further stranded another 25,000 with no viable land transportation routes. By June, the flooding had covered most of the neighboring subdivision of Gojal, Shishkat and Gilmat, flooding over 170 houses and 120 shops within Gojal alone. The landslide also caused the Karakoram Highway to be blocked, thereby producing a shortage of food and other necessary items to be transported into the area affected.

Initially slow in its response, the Government of Pakistan took action and pledged millions of rupees for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure in the area. Many people were evacuated to over 195 different relief camps and were treated for injuries and given a place to stay.

Mount Everest and Climate Change: Global Warming

Famous for being the highest mountain in the world, as well as one of the most difficult and dangerous to climb, Mount Everest has recently undergone climate changes that are making the mountain more dangerous for climbers than ever. One of the major causes of this climate change is global warming.

It has recently been observed that Mount Everest is experiencing climate change that is making the mountain more formidable than ever. An increase in the melting of snow and ice, presumably because of global warming, has been shown according to the latest findings. This has resulted in less snow and more rock on the surface of the mountain, making it harder to scale. It has also been speculated that the reason for this rapid change in climate is due to an increase in the amount of rubbish atop the summit, which was discarded during previous ascensions to the peak. Plans for an environmental clean-up at the summit are underway.

Climbing Mount Everest remains, to this day, an enormously impressive achievement. Situated at over 29,000 feet above sea level, the peak is still to this day considered the highest point on Earth. Reaching the top of the mountain is no small feat and requires much deliberation and survival training, the obtaining of necessary permits and expensive equipment that can climb up to $70,000 and may even increase in the face of the recent climate changes.

Therefore, we need to rise up for this heaven on earth and we should take appropriate measures to protect it!

More Tips: Planning a Green Wedding

Weddings are considered the most special day in almost every person’s life. And while they want it to be as memorable and extravagant as ever, it’s better to keep things safe for everyone, especially the environment. Hence, more and more people are opting to go for a green wedding without causing any harm to the environment.

When planning a green wedding, many things need to be kept into consideration to make the experience both enjoyable and ecologically safe. For starters, it is a better idea to make use of a local alternative in terms of food, entertainment, furniture, arrangement and all the resources needed. This helps reduce transportation over long distances, which brings down pollution. Using green materials that are organic in nature and do not harm the environment is another wise move. Ask your caterers to provide organic meals and make sure you tell people that you’re having a green wedding. Instead of hiring a limo for the reception, try using an energy-efficient alternative, and angle for giving out invites made from recycled material. Try cutting your overall energy emissions as much as possible, and opt for green gifts to give out at the wedding.

Overall, with a few adjustments to the classical fashion, weddings can prove to be green and energy-efficient, making it both memorable and safe for the environment.

Issues with Facebook Privacy Policy

The world’s largest social networking service, Facebook, is extremely popular amongst individuals, young and old alike. However, the revolutionary Internet service does have its fare share of privacy issues that its obscenely-large user base is not all too happy with.

The main issue with Facebook that most people feel is that all their activities are basically put on display for everyone to witness. Facebook users wish to enjoy a certain amount of privacy with regards to their actions online. However, Facebook’s privacy policy has made it difficult for them to actively filter what can be shown to everyone and what should be restricted. Another major issue that most users feel is more of a hindrance is the managing of applications from third-parties that can potentially be used to spy on an individual. Usually, third-party applications need to be granted access to retrieve information about the user for certain functionalities. However, it is always unsure whether the integrity of an individual’s profile is intact or if it has been compromised. Issues regarding data mining and the inability to completely delete their accounts online have seen rising concerns amongst individuals today.

Facebook strives to update its privacy policy on a regular basis so that users may be assured of security and can connect with other people with as little hassle as possible. However, try as they might, the good folks at Facebook will certainly find an issue or two with the mechanisms that they draw up in terms of privacy.