My Silence Has A Voice Too

“ Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. ” —Groucho Marx

" Of Atheism " by Sir Francis Bacon Sir Francis Bacon's Central Argument:  Atheists are hypocrites. They  say  they don't believe in God but in their heart, everyone believes in a God.       I disagree with Sir Francis Bacon's view on atheism; or should I say, view against atheism? He seems to have a mindset that atheism is, in fact, a myth or a lie. His essay "Of Atheism" seems to portray that everyone believes in a God, whether they know it or not. I believe that atheists do exist. I believe one can live without a God because of the situations we are dealt, the kind of beliefs we have, and because we just may not know any better.      It's not just a matter of choice. One could easily counter that with statements like people often like to act rebellious or they may say one thing, but believe another. It's more a matter of life, the situations you are put in, and the way you deal with it. Take the life of a poor, uneducated child. A...

" Why Good Advertising Works (Even When You Think It Doesn't) " by Nigel Hollis ( The Atlantic ) Central Argument: Good advertising “ creates positive memories and feelings that influence our behavior over time to encourage us to buy something at a later date.” This is because the advertisement industry understands that no one likes to think they’re gullible. The goal of a good advertisement isn’t directly to sell their product. It is to leave a lasting impression. The said impression keeps you thinking about the product, even though you may or may not realize it. And this may make you think you need or want the product. You also don’t feel as though your decision was influenced by the advert, because you genuinely feel you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it. In retrospect, it explains why I think of Cadbury Bournville Dark Chocolate as expensive and to be bought only for special occasions; their famous catch phrase being, “You don’t just buy a Bournville, you ...

“ TV Is Good For You ” By Joel Waldfogel ( Slate ) Central Argument: TV is helping women in rural India by making them aware of their freedoms, rights, and by bringing them out of a backward mindset. I have lived in rural India and witnessed, as well as experienced women being mistreated not just by their husbands, but their families as well. Seeing other women – on TV shows, in movies, or on shows like Oprah – who have faced the same issues and overcome them empowers these rural women to act on protecting themselves. These women learn small things like having a voice in the household, to bigger things like being able to work, to more serious issues like standing up against Domestic Violence. In many households in India, even all over the world, men claim the title of the “Head of the Family.” Though that aspect of women’s rights and equality is a different ball-game altogether. However, in many Indian households, including mine, the men believe the women are their property and ...