I really enjoyed the movie, powerful performance of will smith. The movie is very depressing in a way that when I finished watching it, I thanked god for what I have.
There two conflicting main issues that the movie points. The first point is “ how to find happiness?” The movie shows that true happiness of achieving anything can’t happen except by working hard for that. This is a fact that runs on us on daily basis. Life was never easy, if there is anything that one might grave for, working hard for it is only way to make it happen. For example, as a student, I only enjoy getting goods grades if really worked or studied hard for that subject. The pain of the amount of work dedicated to a subject suddenly disappears and transforms to true happiness, and the pursuit of happiness becomes worth it.
On the other hand, the movie shows that the true happiness is by having money, purchasing a fancy car, setting in the first raw of a football game and owing a mansion. I think that director of the movie missed out on the true meaning of happiness. Chris Gardener is gifted man, he is talented when it comes to numbers, and that for me is the true happiness. Yes, you need money in order to survive, but money is something that comes and goes, it is a limited resource, but when someone is gifted from god with a talent that is rare, I think we to be happy for ourselves and hold on to it as the pursuit of happiness is already given.
For me, the true meaning of happiness is by achieving something, making difference in the real word, and by having a family, someone that can take care of me, who supports me and help me with my decisions and struggles, whether at university or at work.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Media: Morality and Ethics
Media plays a vital role in our life. From the invention of the radio to the World Wide Web, it has been the source that connects us to other parts of the world. It also gives us a great opportunity to get closer to each other, and by that I mean, having similar thoughts, our awareness to what is happening to the mankind became shared and therefore strengthen the ties between different cultures and races. However, in order to accomplish the goals of the media, there are certain rules that have to be followed, and the key word here is credibility. A spoken or written massage has to have some sort of accuracy in the writhen contents.
As students of media and journalism we have been taught for many generations about the ethics of our career and responsibility we carry towards the societies. Many ethical codes have been applied by “a high reputation academic schools and by a well known experts in the field”. Yet the question that we should as ourselves as journalists is “Do we really follow what we have been taught?” “ Do our cameras captures what we see or what someone else sees?” when I think about media in the present day I would relate it to the government and how the media is actually manipulated according to what the government wants. Yet, there is much more that I didn’t realize until last class. In the case of hala sarhan, the blame wasn’t on the government or another kind of a powerful system; the blame was on her and her credibility and integrity as famous T.V reporter. To be honest, I never watched any of her shows but I have heard about her great work and her daring attitudes toward different unique social issues.
I realize that it is still an investigation and no one is to blame but let’s assume that what is said is the true. Hala Sarhan is considered an investigative journalist, which deals mainly in creating a social awareness to a certain issue or proves a point of view that is misunderstood by most people. These journalists have been exposed to certain rules and codes that deal with morality and have taken an oath that the message should be delivered in its most accurate level no matter what it takes. Therefore, a fabricated story is considered unethical and disgraces the essence of the media. I don’t know what reasons make a reporter pays create a fake massage including fake characters and fake information. Is it just to be become famous, or is it always about the money. If Hala Sarhan wanted to tell us something about prostitutes, she could have taken many different “legal” ways to tell us that and I agree that there are certain issues that are sensitive especially in the Arab world but yet it is still illegal to bring fake actors to act as prostitutes as well as failing in keeping them anonyms.
I just hope that Hala Sarhan is innocent, not because I am a fan of her, but because I want to know that if there is an area where journalism is practiced in a professional manner, it would be the Arab world
As students of media and journalism we have been taught for many generations about the ethics of our career and responsibility we carry towards the societies. Many ethical codes have been applied by “a high reputation academic schools and by a well known experts in the field”. Yet the question that we should as ourselves as journalists is “Do we really follow what we have been taught?” “ Do our cameras captures what we see or what someone else sees?” when I think about media in the present day I would relate it to the government and how the media is actually manipulated according to what the government wants. Yet, there is much more that I didn’t realize until last class. In the case of hala sarhan, the blame wasn’t on the government or another kind of a powerful system; the blame was on her and her credibility and integrity as famous T.V reporter. To be honest, I never watched any of her shows but I have heard about her great work and her daring attitudes toward different unique social issues.
I realize that it is still an investigation and no one is to blame but let’s assume that what is said is the true. Hala Sarhan is considered an investigative journalist, which deals mainly in creating a social awareness to a certain issue or proves a point of view that is misunderstood by most people. These journalists have been exposed to certain rules and codes that deal with morality and have taken an oath that the message should be delivered in its most accurate level no matter what it takes. Therefore, a fabricated story is considered unethical and disgraces the essence of the media. I don’t know what reasons make a reporter pays create a fake massage including fake characters and fake information. Is it just to be become famous, or is it always about the money. If Hala Sarhan wanted to tell us something about prostitutes, she could have taken many different “legal” ways to tell us that and I agree that there are certain issues that are sensitive especially in the Arab world but yet it is still illegal to bring fake actors to act as prostitutes as well as failing in keeping them anonyms.
I just hope that Hala Sarhan is innocent, not because I am a fan of her, but because I want to know that if there is an area where journalism is practiced in a professional manner, it would be the Arab world
Friday, February 16, 2007
Oprah Winfrey
The “Oprah Winfrey Show” is basically a talk-show which was first released back in 1986. It is Chicago based and its scheme revolves around the presenter, Oprah having a guest (a famous one) invited and talked to in front of a large audience.
The topics that the show deals with are usually somewhat controversial and tend to bring out a lot of emotions in the viewers.
I think that what is particularly good about the show is the fact that its topics are varied, so that the same topic isn’t getting covered again and again (as it tends to happen on many other talk-shows that I have watched). The celebrities that Oprah tends to invite add an interesting invigorating glimpse to the program as well.
I’ve been watching the show on and off for a few years now, but I must admit that it’s a good time-pass especially when one is bored and just wants to sit down and relax in front of the tv, munching on some snacks.
The topics that the show deals with are usually somewhat controversial and tend to bring out a lot of emotions in the viewers.
I think that what is particularly good about the show is the fact that its topics are varied, so that the same topic isn’t getting covered again and again (as it tends to happen on many other talk-shows that I have watched). The celebrities that Oprah tends to invite add an interesting invigorating glimpse to the program as well.
I’ve been watching the show on and off for a few years now, but I must admit that it’s a good time-pass especially when one is bored and just wants to sit down and relax in front of the tv, munching on some snacks.
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