Contemporary Issues in Financial Services Essay

Contemporary Issues in Financial Services - Essay Example These factors can be consumed in the present time or utilized with an aim of producing in the future. Economic activity is taken as real because real resources are utilized to come up with new products that can be bought and used. On the other hand, the financial system mainly focuses on either circulating funds around to enable people buy goods and services or assist people exchange ownership of resources vital for production purposes. It is worth mentioning that activities of the real economy are vital for human survival. The real economy is responsible for the production of consumer goods, food, lighting, heating, and entertainment to mention but a few (Mankiw 2008, p.162). The role of the financial system is to facilitate the production of such goods by ensuring that funds are available when needed. Therefore, the structure of the financial system comes to the fore since it would offer alternative financing windows. These institutions provide an avenue through which large or smal l manufacturing sectors can access finance, which would boost production. The role undertaken by the financial system in coordinating economic activities, which includes the cost of finance, profitable investment outlets, and availability of investment funds, has a direct relationship with the structure of the financial system. ... However, it appears that most economists are in agreement that a link exists between the financial system and the real economy (Burton & Brown 2009, p317). The structure and role of the financial system The financial system is made of financial institutions and financial markets. Examples of the financial institutions include the banking system (banking institutions and the central bank), and non-bank financial institutions (insurance and pension funds). The financial markets are made of foreign exchange markets and money markets, capital markets, which include bond markets, private debt securities, public debt securities, and equity markets, and the derivatives markets. The current literature work has not fully addressed the issue of the role and structure of the financial system essential in facilitating and sustaining growth. There are two general agreements in relation to the role and structure of financial systems; first, countries with good working banks and financial markets c an increase their growth pace. Secondly, better functioning financial systems reduce the burden on external financing, which hinder firm and industrial expansion (Mordi 2010, p.8). Role played by the financial sector in the economy A crucial role that the financial sector plays within an economy in the facilitation of growth is the reduction of enforcement, information, and transaction costs. This function is achieved through a number of unique functions performed by the financial sector. Therefore, the financial sector has some basic functions that include provision of efficient modes of payment for the whole economy, and intermediary between lenders and borrowers. The

Internal and External Impacts on Child Development

Internal and External Impacts on Child Development The expected pattern of children’s development is as follows. The development of children should be viewed in a holistic way each child is unique and will develop in their own way. Physical Development 0 -3 years. This is a time of fast physical development . New born baby’s have little control of their bodies at first it is reflex movements eg. Sucking , grasping. In the first year they gradually learn to have more control over their bodies and most babies have stated to crawl or roll as they continue they will begin to walk and control their bodies, also they may climb and begin to feed and dress themselves. By about 3 most children will page turn and colour and explore toys like tricycles and cars. They will have developed their gross motor skills ,but have no sense of danger they require close monitoring. Also their vocabulary may be around 200 words but consistency in behaviour 3 -7 years. At this stage children will be more co-ordinated and will gain confidence as a result. Their fine motor skills will have developed and they can cut write and draw. Also their gross motor skills are developed running , kicking a ball and using large equipment are easier. 7 – 12 years. Children will continue to grow and develop, and refine many skills. They may start to have hobbies and interest which help their fine and gross motor skill for example dance, football, ,music or sewing. Girls may star to show signs of puberty from 10 or 11. In boys this is usually later. 12 – 16 years. At this stage young people will be growing stronger. Boys will begin puberty and many girls will have completed the process. Between these ages height and strength will vary most boys will be taller than girls on average. 16 – 19 years. This is the stage at which young people are adults, although most girls may have reached physical maturity, boys continue to grow into their mid -20s Intellectual and Cognitive development. It is important to know that children develop in a variety of ways depending on their own experiences and opportunities given from an early age. Children have their own strengths and abilities. Good point. 0 -3 years. Babies will start looking at the world around them and enjoy repetitive games. They begin to understand that when objects are hidden they are still they also they may point to objects. 3 – 7 years. At this stage children will be starting to learn to read and developing skills of number and writing. They will be looking for adult approval and learning about their world 7 – 11 years Children will start to decide what activities or subjects they enjoy. They will still be influenced by adults. They will transfer information and think In a more abstract way. They will be becoming fluent in reading and writing. 12 – 16 years. Young people by now will have a clear idea of subjects they like and be motivated in these areas. They will be choosing their learning pathways. They may lack confidence and avoid less popular subjects. It is very important that they feel good and want to belong. 16 – 19 years. School leavers will now be thinking about career or university choices. They will focus on their areas of strength and look forward to continuing development. Communication and language development. 0 -3 years. From birth onwards adults will talk to their baby even though they do not understand what is being said yet this is important for babies to be stimulated and have an interest shown in them if this does not happen they may struggle to communicate later in life. After early babbling babbies at about 12 months they will try to speak single words but not very clear. Between 1 and 2 they will start to put words together by about 2 years old they will have about 200 words .Between 2 and 3 they will start using plurals and negatives I their speech but may still make errors like â€Å"I drawed it. 3 – 7 years. Communication is very important at this age for friendships to develop they are very sociable and enjoy jokes and stories. They will also ask a lot of questions and be able to talk about things past and present with confidence. 7 – 12 years and upwards. By this stage most children will be fluent in their language. They will develop in reading and writing and be able to think and discuss their ideas in more abstract terms. Many young children will now use phones and technology to communicate with their friends. Social, emotional, and moral development. This area of development concerns how children and young people feel about themselves and relate to others. They need to learn how to grow in confidence and how to become independent adults. 0-3 years. Very young children will be finding out about themselves. They need strong attachments to parents/carers. In nursery children are usually given a key worker who will be the main contact. They may begin to have tantrums at this stage through frustration when wanting to do things for themselves. They will also begin to smile and show enjoyment and recognise certain routines or familiar sounds that make them smile. 3 – 7 years. Children In this age group will be more independent and make their own choices. They will start to play alongside their peers and socialise in imaginative play. It is now important for children to recognise boundaries . Friendships are important at this stage and many children will have close friends. Even though children are becoming independent they still need parents/carers to meet their emotional needs. They will respond well to responsibility for example class helpers, but still need adult approval. 7 – 12 years . Children’s friendships will be more settled and they may have best friends. They will now need the chance to solve problems and carry out activities which require independence. At around 12 years old children may be moving schools this transition may cause anxiety if they are to be separated from their friends. They will still need encouragement and praise, and will be very aware of what others may think of them. 12 -16 years . At this stage young people self-esteem can be very vulnerable, as their bodies look grown up they still need guidance. They will spend more time with their own friends, but may display some childish ways because they may be unsure how to behave in some situations. Children are more aware of actions and consequences and are thinking about other children’s feelings. 16 -19 years. Children now enter adulthood but will sometimes still need advice and guidance from adults. Some will still will lack emotional maturity and vary in interaction with others. Young people have a very good understanding of right and wrong. Influences on Development. How development is influenced by personal and external factors’. A child’s development begins at conception ,the genetic information for that child is determined .A healthy embryo is 46 chromosomes 23 form the egg and 23 from the sperm if any are missing and the baby survives this will have a dramatic effect on the development of the child. For example most children with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes the additional one is 21,also the older a mother is the risk is higher. A baby can also be affected due to smoking, taking drugs and alcohol consumption. According to the NHS choices your health your choice. The alcohol a mother drinks passes from her blood to the placenta and to the baby. A baby’s liver is the last organ to develop and does not mature until the last half of pregnancy .Too much exposure to alcohol can really affect the baby’s development. If you drink too much during pregnancy your baby may develop (FAS) foetal alcohol syndrome which presents as restricted growth, facial abnormalities and learning and behaviour disorders. Good. Illegal drugs use during in pregnancy including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin) can have serious effects on your unborn baby. However people who take drugs daily need to seek medical advice due to withdrawal problems when stopping any drugs. Also not all â€Å"natural† remedies are safe always seek medical advice. A child’s birth experience will have an influence on their development if a baby is premature or does not breathe straight away their brain may be starved of oxygen which can affect learning in later life. A child’s health can be determined by genetic factors for example NHS choices states the blood disorder Sickle cell anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms though not all people will experience all symptoms which are ,episodes of pain which is the most common and upsetting symptom. A crisis is triggered when the abnormal blood cells block the small blood vessels that supply the bodies tissues, this causes swelling and damage younger children may have swelling of the hands and feet. As a child gets older the most common areas of pain are ribs, spine, pelvis, abdomen, breastbone, long bones in the legs and arms A crisis can occur for no apparent reason but certain triggers are, changes in body temperature due to illness or environment, dehydration or a sudden lack of oxygen due to sudden exertion or stress. In older children potential triggers are alcohol , cigarettes and illegal drugs. Children with sickle cell anaemia are prone to infections under the age of 3 because of th e abnormal blood cells which disrupt the function of the spleen which filters harmful bacteria and viruses from the blood so these children are vulnerable to pneumonia, osteomyelitis a bone infection and meningitis .Jaundice is another common symptom as are lower leg ulcers, delayed growth and priapism in teenage boys. Due to the life threatening conditions it is important to seek medical advice straight away if your child’s develops any of the above symptoms. Coeliac disease is a common digestive condition where the person has an adverse reaction to gluten eating foods that contain gluten can trigger a range of symptoms such as : diarrhoea, bloating and wind, abdominal pain, weight loss, and feeling tired all the time .This disease is known as an autoimmune condition, this is where the body’s defence system against infection mistakenly attacks healthy tissue due to substances found inside gluton. This damages the small bowel disrupting the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food .Why this happens is not clear although a combination of genetic make- up and the environment play a part. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, which is in pasta, cakes, breakfast cereal, most breads, certain sauces and some ready meals .There is no cure for coeliac disease but a gluten free diet may help control the symptoms and prevent long term consequences. Complications may occur if you continue to eat gluten which are osteop orosis and anaemia. The symptoms of Tuner syndrome vary upon the age of the girl or woman affected .Baby’s born with Turner syndrome often have swollen hands and feet which is caused by excess fluid around the tissues. Other symptoms that may develop before birth are thick neck tissue .swelling of the neck and being a small baby. The 2 most common symptoms are short height and ovaries that do not work properly. Baby’s with Tuner syndrome usually grow normally until the age of 3yrs, after this they will grow at a slower rate. At puberty there is not the normal growth spurt and on average a woman with this symptom is about 20cm smaller than other women .Ovaries may not function properly which may result in infertility. The appearance is also affected causing, a short wide neck, a broad chest and wide nipples, arms that turn slightly at the elbows, a low hairline ,mouth and teeth problems, a lot of moles, spoon shaped nails, a short fourth finger or toe. Eye symptoms are eyes that slant down, droopy eyelids, a squint, lazy eye, cataracts, short sightedness. Ear symptoms are low set ears, reoccurring middle ear infections, hearing loss which may occur in later life .Turner syndrome is associated with other conditions some are heart murmur , underactive thyroid, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, scoliosis, diabetes, lymphoedema, gastrointestinal bleeding, other digestive conditions, kidney and urinary tract problems. Most girls have good language and reading skills, however some social and behaviour difficulties are over looked by doctors and this can cause great anxiety for the family, they are problems with social intelligence, lack of spatial awareness problems with numeracy, attention and hyperactivity problems. About a third of girls will have social relationship problems due to the way the brain develops. More than 8 out of 10 females will have spatial awareness problems which may cause problems when driving of using a map. A similar number struggle with maths this is known as dyscalculia and if teachers are not aware of this it may cause problems. ADHD may be present in toddlers which may reduce about 12 years old. In some cases medical treatments may not work because of Turner syndrome. Any child who has any learning difficulties should be encouraged to develop to the best of their ability in all areas of learning and development. When working with SEN children you will have advice from other professionals regarding this. External factors. Pupils will come from a range of different background, family, culture, circumstances. Many families will go through a lot of changes in a child’s school years some of which the school may not be aware of. These may be divorce, bereavement, illness or moving house or country . Good overview of the external factors that may influence development. Any one of these may affect children’s emotion or intellectual development you may notice a change in the pupil. Poverty and deprivation will have a significant effect on pupil development. Statistics show that children who come from deprived background s are less likely to thrive in school. This could be relative poverty which is comparison of income compared to the average.. It is concerned with material possessions that society deems relevant to daily life. Absolute poverty is the lack of basic human needs such as food, shelter, warmth, sanitation, education and health care. This is quite rare in the UK. Poverty can have an effect on diet, housing and play opportunities A balanced diet Is important for children growth. Families on a low income have to buy cheaper foods which are mostly fast food or highly processed, these types of food contain little nutrition value. Eating this food can lead to becoming over weight and malnutrition in children which means they may become lethargic unsettled and hyperactive. Diets that lack certain vitamins may cause health conditions for example lack of Vitamin C may cause scurvy-easy bruising spontaneous bleeding, joint and muscle pain lack of Vitamin D may cause rickets –tiredness aches and pains as will lack of calcium, lack of Iron may cause anemia delays in infant motor functions and if present in pregnancy small or early births and fatigue. Poor housing conditions resulting in damp and crowded houses may results in child on set of asthma and no room to play or develop due to lack of exercise. These children need other clubs or groups but due to low income they cannot be provided, this may lead to obesity and delay in physical development. A child’s development is strongly influenced by the family around them and parents are the most important educators and source of information in the childcare setting. Most parents will do their best to stimulate and help their children to thrive and grow. But some parents are unable to do this because of ill health or drug abuse or depression .Also stress with in the family through bereavement or divorce can cause anxiety within a child and lead to a major change in their behaviour. .As children grow older they will often decide for themselves which club to join and which friends to have. They will be in situations which require their own decisions to be made, they may find themselves under pressure to experiment with drugs or alcohol and the decisions they make will affect their behaviour if they choose to abuse drugs such as cannabis as this can affect brain development. Also they now decide what they eat and the wrong choice may result in obesity. A good quality of education from home and school is extremely important to a child’s overall development both social and moral. The reasons why children’s development may not follow the expected pattern are personal and external factors as stated above. There are also many other factors which are as follows Emotional, Children grow and learn when their emotional needs are fully met and their development will benefit. Physical reasons are if a child has difficulties with their growth their fine motor skills and hand eye co-ordination may be affected. Environmental factors are an external factor as stated above. Cultural reasons these are the different values and beliefs according to their country of origin and their religion in some cases boys are treated different from girls ,girls are often viewed as the homemaker and it is not essential for them to complete their education. This can affect their development as they do not receive their statutory education as recommended in the UK. Good point. Social influences and family structure as stated above family structure and lifestyle has an influence on children’s development, divorce or bereavement will cause a child to stress resulting In the child becoming anxious and withdrawn. If parents struggle with a particular area of learning this area may become delayed. Disability may affect development in many ways. Depending on the child’s need it may cause a delay in a certain aspect of their development for example a physical disability may affect their social skills and if they become withdrawn this may lead to becoming frustrated also the attitudes and expectation of others affect the child- if we assume that it is not possible for a disabled person to do something we restrict their opportunity to take part so we restrict their development in all areas. It is important that we look at the needs of the child no on the disability. In my role as TA2 in special needs school we always have to be realistic about the expectations of our children as all our children require extra support but are 100% encouraged to be as independent as is possible. There are no labels in our school only children and their needs. Early intervention is important when delays are suspected so a child may receive the help they require as soon as possible, as this may help the child live a full and successful life as adults. Early years settings play a crucial part in early identification of SEN in young children. When a young child attends an early years setting they will be assigned a key worker who will observe and assess the child’s development and can quickly identify any possible delays. For example if a child has a language delay which is crucial to learning, as it is linked to our thoughts, which enables us to store information an organised way, they will be at a disadvantage straight away as their thought process will be less able and they may struggle to express themselves .The earlier any delay is detected the sooner other professionals can be sought and advice and plans for support are given. This is important for the child as early years are a time of rapid growth and development.

Gary Sotos Like Mexicans: Personal Experiences :: essays research papers

Gary Soto's Like Mexicans: Personal Experiences My decision to write in response to Gary Soto's work, â€Å"Like Mexicans† was influenced for the most part because of the similarities between myself and Gary Soto, and our families included. Gary Soto is a Mexican American male, who grew up in the San Joaquin Valley in the industrial part of a town called Fresno. His grandparents came to this Great Valley in search of creating a better life for themselves and their families. I am also a Mexican American male who was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley in a small town called Porterville. My grandparents migrated with their children, my mother, father, and their brothers and sisters in hopes of creating a better life for themselves as well. At the time economic betterment meant working as a hired slave for minimal income and keeping your mouth shut. After all, you were nothing more than a wetback who came to America to reap her benefits.(This ludicrous ideology is still present today) Gary Soto's grandparents and my grandparents, although they ma y be a generation behind one another, I am sure were exposed to many of the same hardships and or social barriers. It was not uncommon back then as it is not uncommon today for Mexican families with minimal work skills to be forced into the fields to work with their children alongside in hopes of escaping poverty. For the most part such families remained poverty stricken due to unfair and illegal wages and work conditions. However irrelevant this all may sound, facing similar hardships or obstacles will often create a sense of unity among those who are affected by such conditions. In short, I feel that not only do Gary Soto and I share a common ethnic origin, but all that comes with our origin, be it pride, shame, or ideology. "Like Mexicans" is a short story in which Gary Soto is constantly being reminded that he should marry his own kind. His own kind being one of Mexican descent, and of poverty and refraining from others, especially â€Å"Okies† as his grandmother used to always say. Soto ends up marrying a Japanese woman, not a Mexican. But he still has to deal with his internal struggle and acceptance of this choice. One cannot be looked down upon for questioning oneself and the decisions one makes, especially when it comes to marrying after being raised in a household that reinforced the belief , â€Å"Marry Your Own†. My mother and my father never told me that I should marry one of my own.

Market for Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks and Vitamin-Enhanced Drinks Essay

3. How is the market for energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin-enhanced beverages changing? What are the underlying drivers of change and how might those forces individually or collectively make the industry more or less attractive? The market for energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin-enhanced beverages kept on changing through differentiation from other brands to have a better brand image and also to meet the demands of the consumers as it is said that USA has helped greatly in the growth of the industry. Because of the significance of brand recognition, the sellers kept on building the product and how it to be most familiar. Product innovation, one of the market’s drivers of change, is said to be the most important competitive features of the alternative beverage industry. Alternative beverages competed on the basis of differentiation from traditional drinks (carbonated soft drinks or fruit juices) so for energy drinks, they often changed the taste, the energy boosting of their ingredients, and image. It is also through marketing innovation and efficient distribution systems that the industry kept on changing by always having varied its packaging, clever ads, endorsements from celebrities/athletes and sponsorships. Alternative beverage sellers also need to have efficient distribution systems to be successful in the industry. These forces only made the industry attractive because it can attract first time buyers through product and marketing innovation and offer responsive customer service to large customers which may then lead to an increase in market demand, make competition more intense and lead to a higher industry profitability.

Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence

Music Lyrics being NON-VIOLENT Rap music can be considered a style of art, and a way for the artists to express feelings through their words on paper. However, there are quite a few rap artists that get criticized for their lyrics. In my essay, I want to discuss why rappers use certain lyrics in their music and why people shouldn’t believe that it causes violence among the younger generations. People shouldn’t censor the music just because of violent, vulgar and abusive messages it promotes to the world. I believe in my own mind, that there is a reason for these types of lyrics that rap artists use and I will simply explain those reasons in this essay. Rap has been called one of the most important music forces to emerge in two decades. It’s pounding beats and staccato rhymes exploded on the streets of the urban America in the early 1980s and since have become the theme music and lyrical heart of the vibrant youth culture called hip-hop ( SIRS 1993). There are many different types of rap artist. There are some that talk about money, some talk about righteousness, and the list goes on and on. Every rap artist had their own way of expressing themselves. There are those that talk about sex, drugs, and violence who receive the negative attention( SIRS 1993). People, think this so- called gangster rap is a bad influence on children in the world and that it promotes violence and that it also is abusive to women. Delores Tucker, head of national congress of black women has been among those pressuring different record companies to stop distributing gangster rap music. There were other significant names that participated in this action. Names like Senate Majority leader Bob dole, and former education Secretary William J. Bennett(Surveys, pg. 1). There are some rap artists that have been openly criticized for their lyrics. Rappers like Lil Kim, Too Short, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and a member from â€Å"Too Live Crew,† named Luke Skywalker. These rap artists in the past have been appointed for the things they say in their music. Lil Kim talks about sex in her music, Too Short talks about drugs, sex, and how much of a pimp he is, and Luke Skywalker talks about girls and sex. The lyrics that these rap artist use in their music might not be suitable for everybody to listen to but I don’t think their music should be banned or criticized because you don’t have to listen to it if you don’t choose to. Rap music, how much influence does it really have on it’s youthful listeners? Many, from record company executives to high school students agree that it plays a critical role in the lives of many tans, affecting the way they dance, dress and speak(SIRS 1993). Personally, I feel that rap music is a form of art. I think it takes a great deal of talent to write lyrics that rap artists write, because you have to use metaphors and similes, and at the same time get your point across so the listeners can understand. I give rappers a great deal of credit because I know it took them a long time to get where their at today, and I know it takes a tremendous amount of time to write a song. It’s also true and I strongly agree with that rap artists use lyrics that reflect on their childhood and the way they grew up. That could be the reason why gangster rappers and rappers talk about sex, drugs, and violence in their music because that was what they were exposed to through out their life. Rap artists generally write about what they know because it is easier to write about things and situations that you know, and if sex, drugs and violence is what you know about, then you are going to write about situations that involve those subjects. Not just write about them in hopes to cause more violence in our world. Young rap fans caution it is wrong and simplistic to believe music can dictate their actions. Upbringing and circumstance steer a child’s behavior, they say, not a record on a turntable or a performer posturing on stage(Newsweek, 1998). There are other reasons why gangster rappers should not be criticized for their lyrics. One reason is that I would rather hear gangster rappers talk about violence on the streets than them actually going out on the streets and participate in the violence. Another reason why rappers shouldn’t be criticized is because the world was violent long before rap was invented, and it is not rap music that is making the world more violent then it is already. I strongly believe that people have the freedom of choice to listen to rap music and if you don’t like what rap artists talk about, then you do not have to listen to the music. If people didn’t have a choice that would be one thing, but as long as people have a choice to do or not to do something then they shouldn’t try to criticize it. To me, rap music is more than a strain. It is the reflection of horrible suffering, struggle and pain of the ghetto life. I feel that art reflects life, so I ask myself why aren’t the National Black leaders like Delores Tucker, more concerned about where the source of rap music exists than the work denuding these types of harsh conditions(SIRS 1993). â€Å" I think that kids know the difference between right and wrong, music and reality. They know it’s not right to go kill somebody and if there driven to that, that’s not the fault of the music,† says Jon Shecter, editor of The Source, a rap magazine(SIRS 1993). If the people throughout the world that criticize gangster rap music would begin to really care then they would try to find and fix the conditions that this art of music comes from and stop criticizing the artist. In other words, the abusive language and rise of violence found in most gangster rap songs are the reality of our present day society. Americans should be mature enough to realize that not talking about something won’t cause it to go away. People talk about the violence of gangster rap music, but look at the violence we see on television everyday, on almost every channel you turn to. Violence is everywhere, you might see or hear something violent every day of your life, whether it is on television, radio or in real life. Violence has been existing for hundreds and hundreds of years, gangster rap music hasn’t remotely made violence more intense or worse than it already is( Surveys, pg. 1). So is it then fair to pin point rap music and blame it’s lyrics on the violence happening around the world? Teen-agers, both black and Latino, say it is the driving beat that attracts them and many other young people to rap. That, and the music’s honesty(SIRS 1993). It’s not the guns and drugs that make them like the music. The rappers aren’t saying to solve a problem you must kill, they are just stating what they know. In which, ever since they were young, that violence around them always ends in a shooting or stabbing, so is it right to blame them for singing about it when really they learned it from television? Sex in rap music shouldn’t be criticized either because look at all the pornography that is in the world today. There are magazines that are being sold nearly everywhere. They have triple X rated movies that could be purchase and you could rent these kind of movies at your nearest video store(Showbiz, pg. 1). So, lyrics that talk about sex can’t hardly be no worse than the movies and magazines being sold all over the world today. When rappers talk about drugs in their songs, they could be talking about how drugs were used in their neighborhoods growing up, and maybe they had to sell drugs for a while to put food on their table( Newsweek 1998). I feel, people get confused about what the rap artist is trying to say to people. They are missing the whole point. Just because rap artists talk about drugs in their songs doesn’t mean they are actually selling the drugs or using the drugs. These rap artists are making thousands of dollars just by making records, why would they go out and sell drugs? That doesn’t make any sense. There are plenty of artists that are positive, and speak positive aspects in their music about life, like A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, De La Soul, and many others. So for those that think that rap music has a negative effect on children, and people in the world, there are a lot of rappers that speak unity, and things that are positive about life(Showbiz, pg2). If a person could listen to some of these positive rap artists, they could learn about life. There have been plenty of times where I was in a terrible mood or I was upset about something, and I popped in a CD of a rapper, and after I was finished listening to the CD I felt much better. The words and phrases used, are words of actual life events and the positive things or outcomes of them. In conclusion, I speak in favor of gangster rap, and I don’t think people should criticize these rap artists because they are speaking the truth. Situations they’ve been in are shown through their lyrics and we need to try to find the source of the problem instead of criticizing the person speaking about the problem. Drugs, Sex, and Violence are what gangster rappers are considered to be glorifying, but drugs, sex, and violence was in effect long before rap music was even thought of and so we shouldn’t use the type of music against the type of behavior caused by teens around the world. Word Count: 1667