News Awareness

I first learn about world events from the news on TV or from the newspaper. If the event is a big world or national issue I usually see it on TV first. The stations use the bigger stories to draw in their audience and try to get viewers. Most of the time their reports are not as informational unless you are watching CNN, MSNBC or Fox News. Even those stations maybe one-sided on a story and have biased opinions. What I do is watch all the stations and see what the main purpose of the reports are. Once they start debating on the story I usually change the channel. I don't want to know and don't really care what the so-called "analyst" has to say unless it is from a relevant person. TV news is really what is the hot topic of the day or week. I prefer reading the newspaper or the news on the internet. The newspaper or news websites are more in depth and report on a number of events. I find that if the event has a significant impact on or to the United States the the story will be reported everywhere. If the story is not then we do not ever know about events that happen in other countries. National disasters will always be reported on TV and the newspaper but some things that happen in the current wars may not. Even when their are soldiers that have died the TV news just tells us the number of people that died and why. But we have to read the newspaper or go online to find out who has died and their will be a more in dept about the deceased soldiers.

I determine what is reliable by all of the media reporting on the event and if the information is consistent with them all. Most of the time I have to reassure myself by reading about the event in the paper or on a reliable news website. I usually see hype when the analysts start debating on a topic that is not relevant or has no significant impact on our lives. The analysts just talk about a subject to keep an idea going around or to attract the gullible people. I like to take in and watch multiple news sources and read different reports and articles because they all may have a different take on the subject and I like to have an open mind on how things are reported.

Happiness or Self-Respect

Happiness is something that we all want. We are able to live peacefully and are able to enjoy life when we are happy. But I think personal self-respect is more of what I want in life. If I am able to have self-respect than I will have the courage to do what I want. Having self-respect leads to confidence which helps people grow in a demanding society. I believe that happiness can come from self-respect. If we are not happy with ourselves and respect ourselves than people are usually miserable and hate their life. Having self-respect can lift a person out of a whole they are in. It can help them renew their lives because they will have the confidence to do so. As a person learns to respect themselves they will learn to respect others.
Happiness will come due to personal satisfaction. If we are able to live confidently in work and personal environments, than we are able to be more happy. Self-respect seems to always be a struggle for people. Many people seem to struggle, give up, and aren't happy with their lives. Self-respect will help eliminate the negatives in a person's life and hopefully help a person with their confidence. As confidence builds in a person they are more able to do things and are more able to live happily.
Personally I have a tremendous amount of self-respect and confidence. My confidence gives me the will to go out and do what I want. I am able to pursue things that I thought I would never be in. My confidence and self-respect has helped me live a happy life so far and I am pretty sure I will be happy for the rest of my life. I hope everyone can live a happy life. If you don't than I hope you can develop or gain some self-respect and go out and change your life. We all deserve a chance to be happy but we have to be happy with ourselves before we are happy with the world and our surroundings.