Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Church in the Middle Ages Essay - 2025 Words

The Church in the Middle Ages By The Middle Ages, one understands a relatively long historical period extending from the end of the Roman Empire to the 1500s. The conquest of The Roman Empire by Germanic tribes, and synthesis of Germanic and Roman ways of life formed the civilization which we call medieval (medieval-from Latin words; medium (middle) and aevum (age)). Medieval civilization was greatly influenced by the Muslims in Spain and The Middle East, and by Byzantine Empire and Christians in Southeast Europe. The power of The Church, in The Middle Ages, was enormous. It touched almost everyones life in many important ways. The Church baptized a person at birth, performed the wedding ceremony at people marriages, and†¦show more content†¦As one of most valuable works on this topic one can name St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologiae, in which he states that existence of God, can be demonstrated in five different ways. Aquinas, Saint Thomas was born at approximately 1225 at Aquino castle in Roccasecca, Italy. As a philosopher-theologian he was arguably the most influential thinker of the medieval period. He produced a powerful synthesis that combined Aristotelian and Neoplatonic elements within a Christian context. He maintained the Christian theological traditions, inspired by Aristotles approach sought his own argument for Gods existence. Some people might say that proof of Gods existence empty of concept. Others, that Gods existence can not be rationally justified and acceptance of creator, no less than that of a Savior is a matter of Faith. But I agree with Anthony Kenny who wrote #8230; a valid philosophical proof of Gods existence would be sufficient, though not a necessary, condition for the possibility of a rational acceptance of theism#8230; That is why I would like to examine the five ways introduced by St. Thomas. St. Thomas combined, as I mentioned before, Aristotles teachings with Christian doctrine. For example, Thomas argued that no conflict exists between reason and faith. Philosophy is based on reason, he declared, and theology comes from faith in divine revelation, yet both come from God. So Thomas believed that any differences between divineShow MoreRelatedThe Church Of The Middle Ages3873 Words   |  16 PagesThe Church is a highly acclaimed power that is still in power to this day. The Pope is still in power and the Catholic Church has been in power for almost 2000 years. The Church has a huge following and many people follow it blindly. Though there is no feudal system to put the Church on top and there is now a separation of Church and State, it was not always like that. The Church’s history is anything but pure. It constantly used it’s power against those that relied on the Church for answers andRead MoreMedieval Church And The Middle Ages1435 Words   |  6 Page s The time period lasting from approximately 800-1500 A.D. was known as the Middle Ages. The most important component of the Middle Ages was feudalism, a system of social hierarchy. In the European feudal pyramid, the uppermost ranking was the king, followed by nobles and church officials, knights, and peasants. One’s social ranking determined their place in society as well as their amount of power. The manor system was the economic system associated with feudalism. In the manorial system, a landownerRead More The Church and the Middle Ages Essay596 Words   |  3 PagesThe Church and the Middle Ages The Middle Ages were a period in Europe dating from the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West, around the 5th century. However, the fixing of dates for the beginning and end of the Middle Ages is arbitrary. According to the Norton Anthology, Medieval social theory held that society was made up of three estates: the nobility, composed of a small hereditary aristocracy,...,the church, whose duty was to look after the spiritual welfare of that body, and everyoneRead MoreThe Catholic Church And The Middle Ages1283 Words   |  6 PagesTHE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES I wanted to do this research paper on the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages because the church has always fascinated me. I have always found the history and the corruption of the Catholic Church to be of great interest and when I read in Robinson Crusoe, when he stated something to the effect that he would rather be captured by cannibals than catholic priests , I decided to do this paper on the Catholic Church. I thought it was a very interesting statementRead MoreThe Church during the Middle Ages1613 Words   |  6 PagesThe Middle Ages were a time that revolved around Christianity and converting or killing off all those who were not Christian. As a result, strict laws were put in place that prohibited the practices that weren’t Christian. This also meant anything that was pagan was prohibited and punishable by death. There were many practices that would be considered pagan, but the main ones of concern were the things the Church did not approve. Of the things the Churc h did not approve magic, like witchcraft, andRead MoreEssay on Middle Ages- Catholic Church1744 Words   |  7 PagesThe Middle Ages was a time of rebirth for the Church. The Church had a growing amount of power, and used this power to get messages sent to its followers. One important message created an ever-growing distance between believes and nonbelievers of the Church. Throughout the Middle Ages there have been inconsistencies with the doctrines and actions of the Church. There is one constant within the Church, throughout the Middle Ages the Church has opposed outsiders and has mistreated those outsiders fromRead MoreThe Christian Church in the Middle Ages Essay1114 Words   |  5 PagesThe Christian Church in the Middle Ages The Christian Church in the Middle Ages played a significant role in society. Unfortunately though, the church is often regarded as the capital of corruption, evil, and worldliness. Today, so many people depict the medieval church as being led by materialistic popes, devouring tithes from poverty-stricken peasants, having various illegitimate children, and granting indulgences for money from wayward believers. Yes, circumstances like this may have beenRead MoreThe Church: The Guardian of Culture in the Middle Ages1135 Words   |  5 PagesThe Middle Ages were characterized by a rigidly hierarchical society, which was justified by the view that, like the branches of a tree, every level of society was preordained and important. While the nobility and the clergy stood at the top of the society hierarchy, Jews and those who pursued dishonorable professions were branded outsiders. The Church acted as guardian of culture, particularly within its monasteries and convents. They preserved the scholarship of antiquity, often through theRead MoreThe Decline of the Medieval Church at the End of the Middle Ages678 Words   |  3 PagesTowards the end of the Middle Ages and into the duration of the Renaissance, the Medieval Church’s social and political power dwindled. Centuries prior the Catholic Church gained a surplus of control, largely due to the stability it maintained during the chaotic breakdown of the Western Roman Empire . Yet toward the end of the Middle Ages the Church set in motion factors that would ultimately lead to its downfall as the definitive figure of authority. However, despite political and social controversyRead MoreThe Changes in the Catholic Church during the High Middle Ages972 Words   |  4 PagesRoman Catholic Church became divided when the King of France decided to replace the current Italian Pope with one that he elected. During the Great Schism, there were two popes claiming authority over the Catholic Church. Following the sp lit, the papal offices began to lose their authority. Ultimately, the cardinals of both popes decided that an ecumenical council of godly men could collectively possess more divine authority that just one pope. In 1409 at the council of Pisa, the church council was

Monday, December 9, 2019

American poem Essay Example For Students

American poem Essay No Idea is an American poem written in 2007 by an anonymous author. It tells of a girl named Roberta and how she has sadly taken her own life. It provides little if any background information of why she has resorted to this extremity. It is only seven lines long and separated into two stanzas and provides and could provide open-ended approach when used as a stimulus for a piece of drama. The second piece of stimulus Ants Speech is a monologue take from the play My England which was written in 1997. It tells the story of a racial encounter between two different cultured children which leads to a fight. Ant, the white boy comes off worse however appears to be showing off his injuries to his Mum and Dad as if they should be proud of him but they both seem displeased with his antics for two different reasons. We only hear Ants side of the story so there is still a considerable amount of information that we dont know. My initial thoughts to the first stimulus, No Idea were anger at the bullies who forced Roberta to feel like she had to take her own life however a certain degree of anger is shared with Roberta for killing herself as there are many other options she could have considered than such a drastic action. However a portion of sympathy should be shown for death as she must have been being bullied to a high degree to force such regrettable and selfish results. Her family, friend and parents that bear the consequence of Robertas decision and will probably feel regret in their selves for not helping or realizing until its too late so I also felt a considerable amount of sympathy for them as they will be more than likely take a long time to recover from such an event. In Ants speech I also had strong initial feelings, one of the key ones being embarrassment that I live in a country where things like racial attacks, verbal and physical, are a familiar event. This leads to me feeling anger and shock towards Ants parents who have brought him up to believe that being racist is an acceptable means of behavior. I got the impression from reading this monologue that this is more than likely taking place in low class areas where people dont have a broad spectrum of views and often echo their families beliefs so I feel a certain degree of sadness and also relief that I am more fortunate than Ant and have been brought up in more suitable means. Ants mother when he tells her of what happened does not feel sorry for him when he tells her of how he has just been in a fight neither does she worry about nursing his wounds but surprisingly seems more concerned about his blazer being torn and she tells of how it cost her Thirty quid this could be used to back up my previous thought about maybe money being an issue but it also allows me to feel sorry for Ant as his mother shows him no affection, even though the injuries are a result of his inappropriate actions. No Idea appears to be a good piece of stimulus to base a piece of drama around. It is a hard hitting piece which could be looked at in great depth from a variety of angles such as the build up to the suicide, the aftermath or maybe even the actual suicide itself. It would be good to perform as a solo actor, as a pair or even a group which offers versatility as well. On the other hand, it is quite open-ended and contain little more than the basic information so for some people it could prove quite a challenging piece to dramatize due to the fact that it may be hard to focus in on certain events contained within the actual poem itself but this may favor some actors. It may also be a difficult piece to use as a piece of drama due to the nature of the poem being about suicide and if someone knows of friends or family or even their selves that have been suicidal it may be an emotional piece to use and may offend a small portion of people. .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff , .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .postImageUrl , .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff , .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff:hover , .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff:visited , .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff:active { border:0!important; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff:active , .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u59564d9336c92d0138eb90b569caa7ff:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poetry English language EssayAnts speech again like No Idea may be both a good or bad piece of stimulus to base a drama performance on only this time because it contains a lot of information so requires less imagination to fill in the gaps which may favor some peoples style of drama. We also know nothing about Wassim who Ant gets into trouble with other than the fact that he is of Asian origin so people who prefer to make their own ideas by filling in missing information could favor this as that could prove to be a significant part of the final piece.

Monday, December 2, 2019

War and Violence

Table of Contents Introduction Women and War Women are victimized Men are a Danger More Witnesses Conclusion Works Cited Introduction History shows that war comes with all kinds of violence to the people involved in it. This violence can be in the form of killings by guns, bombs and the many hardships that come with it. Wars do not involve only men but also women. Many of these women who have gone through war experiences have had to live with fears of such violence.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on War and Violence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To many of them, the greatest fear that has stayed with them is the fear of being harassed sexually where by those who resist risk being killed. In this paper we will discuss the fact that the greatest fear of women during times of war is not the killings and the hardships, but men. Women and War Women are the most affected victims during times of war. And i f you thought that women soldiers are safe, then you are wrong. Women soldiers who have participated in wars have recounted horrible stories of being harassed by their men counterparts. Many of the US female veterans of the war in Iraq when interviewed confirmed this allegation that rape by men soldiers was their greatest danger to the extent that they were routinely warned by their superiors about going out without an escort. Some soldiers resorted to carrying knives with them for protection. A case to prove this point was given by Spc. Mickiela aged 21; when asked why a knife was her accompaniment, she said â€Å"The knife wasn’t for the Iraqis; it was for the guys on my own side.† (Benedict 1). Although there are no comprehensive statistics on these issues, the US DoD acknowledged that this is a serious problem. Measures have been put in place, but as the number of female soldiers increases, the problems also seems to increase. Women are victimized A report by Col. Janis Karpinski showed that three female soldiers died of dehydration because they refused to drinks liquids during the day. All this was because they feared that could be raped if they visited the latrines in the dark. In the US, female soldiers are prohibited by the pentagon from serving in ground combat, but this is not the case for those who have took part in wars in the Middle East. Women soldiers are exposed to equal risks just like men, and as if this is not enough, the men treat them as inferior and sex toys. Many female soldiers have been sexually assaulted but did not report it for fear of being victimized or being punished if the assailant was their superior. In most cases, the superiors to whom the female soldiers report to are men. That is why most of the cases go unpunished. It is an issue of a woman’s word against the man’s, and the man’s word always prevails. It is all about covering up your comrade. Many atrocities are committed and go unpunishe d under the disguise of comradeship.Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Men will protect their fellow men, the same is expected from women, but female soldiers are very few meaning that they depend on men for protection, men who are not trustworthy. A man will not protect a woman who refuses his advances, these forces female soldiers to cope with these assaults or risk being left alone (Benedict 1). Men are a Danger The story of the little girl who died by Sushma Joshi also confirms that men are the biggest danger to women during wars. It brings out the rage felt by a female Maoist guerrilla fighter, Ambika, who was on a mission to kill Major Krishna Basnet, a soldier in the Royal Nepal Army. Major Basnet was on a mission to smoke out the guerrillas from a village where Ambika and her group stayed. These soldiers are known for raping women they come across. This is confirme d when the author says that â€Å"the three women were almost certain to face rapeâ€Å"(Joshi 1), this is in relation to the incidence where Ambika and her comrades had been captured and taken to the army barracks. That particular night, the major vents his disappointment of not finding the guerrillas on a helpless woman and her 7 year old daughter. He brutally murders the woman and the girl by shooting them. Ambika is confronted with the urge to shoot the Major and risk her life and those of her comrades. She decides on the latter, this just shows how women fear and hate men to the extent that they would be willing to kill them if the situation allows. Just as in the case of the US female soldiers, war has changed Ambika into a different person, a person who will do anything to counter the cruelty of men (Joshi 1). In the argument â€Å"the main purpose and outcome of war is injuring†, the author asserts that this fact has been ignored or omitted by many institutions espe cially the military. This omission has not helped but made it worse. The problem is not that it is hard to identify the issues on the ground, the path to disclosure and justice has always been met with resistance. The author has cited the case of rape and sexual assault in times of war. Finding a solution has remained a problem not just on the side of the assailant, but also the victim. For instance, the way women choose to report or keep quite about the trauma of sexual harassments challenges the understanding of silence and agency (Tabea 129). More Witnesses There are two stories which bring show women suffering clearly. In one we see a girl on a mission to revenge after witnessing an army general assault her mother. In the other story we see a woman who has after losing a child in a bombing, slapping a soldier in the face and crying out â€Å"That is it. You give us babies only to kill them later† (Linhard 1). This two incidences just show how ignoring or omitting the inju stices that happen to the society can transform people.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on War and Violence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The mother’ rape, the search for revenge, the killing of the child, and the slapping of the soldier by the woman are all acts of physical violence. They have occurred in the public domain, but the worst violence is the one that occurs in the public domain. The manifestations of domestic violence are often tolerated and even encouraged. The victims of this violence are mostly women and children and the culprits, who are mostly men, usually go unpunished† (Linhard 1). Conclusion All the authors have shown that physical violence usually goes hand in hand with other forms of less explicit violence. Soldiers raping their female counterparts in the barracks, women being assaulted by men at home, are all forms of violence that usually go without punishment becau se victims do not report the cases for fear of losing their jobs, and being forced out of homes. Therefore, to a woman, man will always be the enemy that she is forced to deal with in her daily life regardless of whether it is at home or at work. Works Cited Benedict, Helen. The Private War of Women Soldiers.  Salon.com. Middle East, 2007. Web. Joshi, Sushma. The Little Girl Who Died. World Literature Today, 2010. Web. Linhard, Alexa. A perpetual trace of violence: gendered narratives of revolution and war. Discourse [Detroit, MI], 2003. Web. Tabea, Linhard. Fearless women in the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish Civil War. Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 2005. Print. This research paper on War and Violence was written and submitted by user Doctor Faustus to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program (Summer 2019)

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program (Summer 2019) Updated for Barnes Noble Summer Reading Program 2019 The Barnes and Noble summer reading program for kids gives kids a free book when they read 8 books over the summer. Looking for more summer reading programs that will score your kids some freebies? Check out my list of the best summer reading program freebies  that includes rewards from Half Price Books, TD Bank, and more. How to Get Free Books From the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program Visit the Barnes and Noble summer reading program to select the age range that your child fits into. You can choose between Ages 0-7, Ages 8-12, Teens and Young Adults, and Adults. After youve chosen an age range, youll find a link to where you can download and print a reading journal. The journals are available in English and Spanish. Fill out the student information on the bottom of the first page of the journal. A parent must sign on this page in order for the child to get a free book. In the reading log, your child will need to record the title and author, along with their favorite part of eight books to get their free book. Bring the completed and signed reading journal into your local Barnes and Noble bookstore between August 1, 2019, and August 31, 2019. Present it to an employee and they will let your child choose a book from the free book list. The Free Books Available From the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program Theres a wide variety of free books available for kids from the Barnes and Noble summer reading program. Heres whats available in 2018: Children in grades 1 and 2 are eligible to receive one of the following books: Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls RightsThe Mount Rushmore Calamity (Flat Stanleys Worldwide Adventure Series #1)Amelia Bedelia Means Business (Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book Series #1)Pete the Cat and the Cool CaterpillarDisney Junior Fancy Nancy: Chez NancyThe Princess in BlackJorge el curioso: De basura a tesoro (Bilingual)Purmaids #1: The Scaredy CatSunbeams Shine (Unicorn Princess #1) Kids that are in grades 3 and 4 can pick out one of these books: Middle School: The Worst Years of My LifeCatStronauts: Mission MoonMistakes Were Made (Timmy Failure Series #1)My FANGtastically Evil Vampire PetThe Super Life of Ben BraverDrew Pendous and the Camp Color War (Drew Pendous #1)Drew Pendous Travels to Ancient Egypt (Drew Pendous #2)Classic Starts: The Swiss Family RobinsonJudy Moody (Judy Moody Series #1)Judy  Moody esta  de muy mal humor (Judy Moody) Those children that are in grades 5 and 6 can choose from this list of books: The Last (Endling Series #1)Friendship List #1: 11 Before 12James and the Giant PeachTreasure Hunters (Treasure Hunters Series #1)Because of Winn-DixieEllies Story: A Dogs Purpose Puppy TaleThe Race to Space: Countdown to Liftoff (Epic Fails #2)Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Series #1)Disney after Dark (Kingdom Keepers Series #1The Unicorn Quest Other Features of the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program The Barnes and Noble summer reading program website also has educator activity kits. These kits include fun activities about reading that can be completed with a child. Limits to Be Aware Of The Barnes and Noble summer reading program is only available to school-aged children in grades 1-6. Only one book is available for each child who completes a reading journal and choice must be made from the selected books available at the store.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Health Risks Associated With Chromium-6

Health Risks Associated With Chromium-6 Chromium-6 is recognized as a human carcinogen when it is inhaled. Chronic inhalation of chromium-6 has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer and may also damage the small capillaries in kidneys and intestines. Other adverse health effects associated with chromium-6 exposure, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), include skin irritation or ulceration, allergic contact dermatitis, occupational asthma, nasal irritation and ulceration, perforated nasal septa, rhinitis, nosebleed, respiratory irritation, nasal cancer, sinus cancer, eye irritation and damage, perforated eardrums, kidney damage, liver damage, pulmonary congestion and edema, epigastric pain, and erosion and discoloration of ones teeth. An Occupational Hazard NIOSH considers all chromium-6 compounds to be potential occupational carcinogens. Many workers are exposed to chromium-6 during the production of stainless steel, chromate chemicals, and chromate pigments. Chromium-6 exposure also occurs during work activities such as stainless-steel welding, thermal cutting, and chrome plating. Chromium-6 in Drinking Water The potentially adverse health effects of chromium-6 in drinking water have become an issue of growing concern nationwide. In 2010, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested tap water in 35 U.S. cities and found chromium-6 in 31 of them (89 percent). Water samples in 25 of those cities contained chromium-6 at concentrations higher than the safe maximum (0.06 parts per billion) proposed by California regulators, but far below the safety standard of 100 ppb for all types of chromium combined that was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That doesnt mean the EPA was declaring drinking water with a chromium-6 safe for human consumption. Rather, it underscored the lack of confirmed knowledge and clear guidelines concerning the level at which chromium-6 in drinking water becomes a public health hazard. In September 2010, the EPA launched a reassessment of chromium-6 when it released a draft human health assessment that proposes classifying chromium-6 as a likely carcinogenic to humans who ingest it. The EPA expects to complete the health-risk assessment and make a final determination about the cancer-causing potential of chromium-6 through ingestion in 2011  and will use the results to determine whether a new safety standard is needed. As of December 2010, the EPA has not established a safety standard for chromium-6 in drinking water. Evidence of Adverse Health Effects From Chromium-6 in Tap Water There is very little evidence of chromium-6 in drinking water causing cancer or other adverse health effects in humans. Only a few animal studies have found a possible connection between chromium-6 in drinking water and cancer, and only when the laboratory animals were fed levels of chromium-6 that were hundreds of times greater than the current safety standards for human exposure. Concerning those studies, the National Toxicology Program has said that chromium-6 in drinking water shows clear evidence of carcinogenic activity† in laboratory animals and increases the risk of gastrointestinal tumors. The California Chromium-6 Lawsuit The most compelling case for human health problems caused by chromium-6 in drinking water is the lawsuit that inspired the film, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts. The lawsuit alleged that Pacific Gas Electric (PGE) had contaminated groundwater with chromium-6 in the California town of Hinkley, leading to a high number of cancer cases. PGE operates a compressor station for natural gas pipelines at Hinkley, and chromium-6 was used in cooling towers at the site to prevent corrosion. Wastewater from the cooling towers, containing chromium-6, was discharged into unlined ponds and seeped into the groundwater and contaminated the towns drinking water. Although there was some question whether the number of cancer cases in Hinkley was higher than normal, and how much of a danger the chromium-6 actually posed, the case was settled in 1996 for $333 million- the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history. PGE later paid nearly as much to settle additional chromium-6-related claims in other California communities.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 16

Abortion - Essay Example The focus in the essay "Abortion" is on this operation that allows a woman to put an end to a human life. Abortion gives a woman the right to terminate a pregnancy if she feels that she is not in a position to give birth to a child owing to emotional, psychological, social, medical or financial reasons. There are people who say that abortion is immoral and should be made illegal because it violates the rights of a fetus (Maguire 155). These people believe that actually speaking human life does not begin at birth, but it begins right from the time when two people conceive a fetus. Hence, a fetus is as much a human as any other individual. Thereby, by the virtue of being a human, a fetus does have the right to life and aborting a fetus deprives it of the right to life (Maguire 155). So women should not be allowed to have an abortion and if possible, abortion should be made illegal. However, on a closer analysis, one finds that this line of argument is also utterly wrong and faulty. Even if one assumes that a fetus is a human and has the right to life, the rights of an unborn fetus could not be given precedence over the rights of a woman who carries that fetus. No individual can be given a right over another individual’s body. Hence, it would be logical to say that a fetus does not have the right to occupy a woman’s body and to draw sustenance from her body, against her wishes and desires. Therefore, the right to life of a fetus is subject to the will and intentions of the woman that carries that fetus.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Results chapter (MICROBIOLOGY specialists only) Essay

Results chapter (MICROBIOLOGY specialists only) - Essay Example Each T-cell receptor has a specific unique peptide: Major Histocompatibility Complex with them. The Spleen contains lymphocytes and another type of white blood cells called Macrophages. Thus spleen is also the best source of lymphocytes. The T-cells are usually divided into two major Subsets- T Helper cells and T-Killer cells. The T-helper cells are called as CD4+ cells and T-killer cells are called as CD8+ cells. Early growth response gene – 2, a zinc finger transcription factor is expressed in the CD44 cells. It also controls their activation and proliferation. In the absence of this EGR gene -2 at CD44high + cells, and not CD44low + cells, the T cells were found to be hyper reactive and hyperproliferative in vivo. (Zhu et. al, 2008) In this experiment, two types of cells were used for FACS research, Wild type and EGR-2 Transgenic mice. The cells extracted from the spleen are separated for the lymphocytes and then mixed with 1 ÃŽ ¼l of the antibodies. The antibodies used are CD3 P (Phycoerythrin)+CD4 F(Fluorescein), CD3 P+CD8 F, CD4 F+CD8 P. (labtestsonline.org, 2009). The number of the positive cells were calculated for the two types and compared with each other. The wild type and the EGR-transgenic mice spleenocytes were stained with CD4 (FITC SL) + CD8 (PE SL). The results have shown that the wild type mice has the normal count. The CD4 positive cells are greater than the CD8 cells normally. In transgenic mice, the CD4 and CD8 cells counts are nearly the same. The EGR-Transgenic mice are found to have greater CD8 cells than the wild type. The wild type and the EGR-transgenic mice spleenocytes were stained with CD3 (PE SL) + CD4 (FITC SL). The results indicate that There was no characteristic difference in the CD3 positive cells in both wild type and EGR2. Whereas the CD4 positive cell count was nearly double in the wild type when compared to the EGR2 Tr. The staining of all the three type spleenocytes with CD4 FITC +CD3 PE, has showed that

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Locke vs Rousseau Essay Example for Free

Locke vs Rousseau Essay John Locke argued that a legitimate government would be validated through the consent of the people it governed and protected, specifically the protection of a citizens natural rights of life, liberty, and estate. He also believed that citizens had the right of rebellion in the event that a government was acting against the rights and interests of its citizens, ultimately allowing those governed to replace the government with another in the interests of the people. Locke believed that the state of nature was that of happiness due to reason and tolerance. He argued that all people are equal and had no right to harm anothers life, liberty, or possessions. The state was formed by social contract because in the state of nature each was his own judge. Jean-Jacques Rousseaus beliefs influenced the creation of the socialist theory, which stressed the notion of government control. Concerning the state of nature, Rousseau argued that human nature ultimately settles in to a brutish condition without law or morality. He believed that the human race adopted governing institutions and institutions of law to simply avoid perishing, arguing that in man is prone to competition in his natural state. By joining together in a social contract, individuals have the opportunity to preserve themselves and remain free. In terms of their views on the state of human nature, Locke clearly believes that humans are naturally content with one another due to tolerance of fellow man. Rousseau believed that the natural state of man was far more aggressive, and the social contract of man existed merely for survival.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Young Goodman Brown :: Literature Fiction Religion Essays

Young Goodman Brown In the story of Young Goodman Brown the main character finds much more then he imagined by venturing into the forest. Leaving from the town of Salem, Massachusetts, Young Goodman Brown travels into the forest to confront and conquer the temptations of evil. However, the artistry of this story lies in what Goodman Brown finds, realizes, and becomes. In â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† the main character goes through a period of self-realization, and; ironically comes to harbor the evil he fears so much. The time period in which the story is set contributes heavily to the irony of the events. The group to which Young Goodman Brown belonged is the Puritans. This religious group had very strict Christian beliefs, morals, and ethics. Shortly before the story of Goodman Brown the Puritan peoples of Salem had condemned people believed to be witches. Obviously, in the time of the Puritans evil was by no means tolerated. It was more or less hunted out and destroyed. Being the wildly religious Puritan he is, Goodman Brown sets of into the forest on a quest to find evil and relinquish its temptations once and for all. Brown expresses that by doing so he will gain some unworldly benefit when he states â€Å" . . . after this one night I’ll cling to her [his wife, Faith] skirts and follow her to heaven† (444). Brown meets Satan during his journey throughout the forest and manages to resist his evil. However, Brown becomes discouraged when he finds his old religion teacher in the forest whom has already succumbed to Satan. Next, Brown reaches an altar of sorts in the forest, and finds the entire town worshiping Satan. At this instant Goodman Brown comes to a realization, and ultimately loses his faith. Goodman Brown wakes the next morning in the forest alone, with no sign of the devil worshiping citizens. Whether or not it was all just a dream, or reality, we will never know, but regardless it bestowed Goodman Brown with a sense of betrayal. The epiphany comes when Brown sees that there is evil in everyone and the Puritan beliefs cannot hold fast against it. Brown’s quest to denounce evil brought him to realize it was all for not. As a result of his findings, Brown becomes a hardened, distrusting soul. As stated by Hawthorne: â€Å"A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream† (453.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

All humans should be treated with respect Essay

In examining the religious teachings about the values of human life using religious teachings it is easy to see that God thinks all human life equal regardless of race, gender or disability and encourages all his ‘sheep’ (followers of his, who he regards not as servants but as friends) to do so as well. This is proven in 1st Corinthians 7 18- 20 where it is said, ‘Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.’, the passage suggests that God cares not about the outward appearance or position of his followers but their obedience to his command, regardless of what life they have lived or what they were before, it also supports the fact that God was willing to take converts and so did not make distinctions between the human race or bear prejudice to those who were previously not his followers and had converted. The belief of equality for all of mankind is further supported by the bible which (Genesis 1:27) proclaims that all were made ‘in the image of God’ and therefore bear a likeliness to him regardless of any differences we might show. This theory is known as imago dei and is one shared by the three Abrahamic religions – it is thought that our likeliness to God means all human life should be treated with respect and dignity. (Matthew 5:43-38) ‘Ye have heard it that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you’. This passage states that Christians should bear hate to no one even those who wish ‘harm’ unto them and instead pray for them and still show love to them regardless suggesting that Christians should have compassionate and fair attitudes towards all in dividuals. This belief of equality, understanding and acceptance no matter the past or social standing of the person is present in most other religions such as Islam, Judaism and Buddhism and now-days most religions are known to visit jails (where sinners lay) trying to convert the ‘evil’ and ‘lost’ (sinners)  so that they may repent and instead become children of God an example of important converts is Charles Colson who was part of the Watergate Seven, he was arrested and pleaded guilty to Watergate related charges and the obstruction of justice before being sentenced for 1-2 years in prison. While in prison Colson converted to Christianity and when released started Prison Fellowship – a national ministry that helps prisoners to convert to Christianity, it is said that this program ‘ has helped prisoners live a better life and strengthen their spirit’. Quakers a faction derived from Christianity believe ‘there is that of God in everybody’, meaning that no one is more important than anyone else as they are all made in God’s image by God, however even within this organisation – people still have to take charge and allocate certain responsibilities to others meaning they become leaders and therefore more important that everyone else, suggestion that they are not equal to everyone else as they are worth more. There are two main Christian views on the truth of other religions; The exclusive view (mainly fundamentalists) who like Christians in the past believe all ‘non-Christians’ are not doing what is ‘right’ and therefore will be condemned to Hell unless converted. Fundamentalist try to convert others to Christianity through the means of ‘evangelism’ etc. becoming ‘missionaries’. This is because of their literal interpretations of the bible, believing in John 3:18 which states, ‘whoever does not believe in him (Jesus) stands condemned already’, fundamentalists do not only just extend this view towards non-believers but also to Jews who do not believe in Jesus as the son of God citing John 14:6 in which Jesus said, ‘I am the way the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except though me’. This view contrasts with the Inclusive view where Christianity is believed to be superior to other religions (or bearing more truth) but doesn’t require conversion only adhering to the ‘right’ attitude to be saved from hell. While inclusive Christians might try forms of evangelism such as becoming missionaries, they are generally more understanding of others, this means many of them become involved with charities such as Tearfund or Christian Aid as a way to help others and also convince them (without words) that Christianity holds the ‘truth’ and the ‘right’ way. They use quotes like: ‘There are many rooms in my Father’s house’ as a way of suggesting that  there are different ways to get to heaven and different paths one can take, as long as one follows the ‘right’ way. It can be argued that inclusive Christians more than exclusive/fundamentalist really follow the teachings of the bible, they more than exclusive Christians can be argued to â€Å"love thy neighbour† and therefore treat others the way they’d like to be treated. The bible teaches that Jesus treated ‘foreigners’ very well, he healed a roman centurion’s son and later had dinner with Zaccheus, a hated tax collector for the Romans, suggesting that he did exactly what he preached, loved the ‘enemy’ and treated everyone well, this behaviour is also reflected in the parable of the good Samaritan where a man(a Jew) is robbed and lies naked, hurt and poor on the road – a priest and leaders of other religions pass him by and ignore him, the only person who stops and helps him, even paying for his treatment is a Samaritan, people who were hated by Jews and who in turn hated them. This parable, not only shows ‘foreigners’ in a good light but also promotes the teaching of ‘loving thy enemy’. In Galatians 3, the bible once again reinforces that God loves all of humanity unconditionally regardless of Gender or race, proclaiming ‘There is no difference between Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ supporting Acts 10 in declaring that God does not favour a specific group of humanity or ‘show favouritism’ but rather ‘accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right’. Some critics however argue that these teachings are presented as only favouring those who believe in Christ and therefore making an outsider of those who do not ‘fear him’ and do what God proclaims to be ‘right’ and almost exempting them from the ‘rules’ and teachings he lays down to his followers, presenting the argument of: does religion treat non-believers equally? The fact that there are many different sects of Christianity had led to many different views about the treat ment of others, with the term others representing black, non-‘whole bodied'(disabled), homosexuals etc. as well as extending to different cultures and religions not just non-believers. Walter Laqueur a man of Jewish faith, believes that sex is historically and culturally variable, with the modern idea of two separate sexes representing a shift away from the longer-established view that there is a ‘single male  sex, of which the female is an inferior manifestation’, he believes these developments have led to a society which believes that both men and women should occupy and negotiate a range of different positions within the world instead of living in a ‘patriarchy’ where women do not have a main role in religion.This view is opposed by many other religions, Catholics for example believe that women can have a role in church, but cannot be priests because of the ‘fact’ that Jesus was a man, and he chose all 12 of his disciples to be men. Catholics also interpret St Paul’s teachings in Timothy 2 which suggest that women should have no authority over men as being correct, â€Å"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.† Taking the view that ‘Adam was formed first, then Eve’ and ‘Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.’. Some fundamentalist believe that men and women are equal before God but still have different roles in life meaning women shouldn’t be offered equal opportunities in everything including religion claiming that the women’s main job should be as a home-maker – looking after the children not being in positions of leadership in the church. The Church of England however is against this interpretation and believes that women can be priests. They believe that we are all equal in God’s eyes, and also that Jesus had many women followers. Mary and others have been named in the Bible at significant points in Jesus’ life, and there are books in the Bible named after women. They use quotes such as: â €Å"There is neither male nor female, you are all one in Christ Jesus.† (Galatians 3) to support their reasoning. Some black theologians claim that religion has always been ‘bias’ to the white man and therefore racist and oppressing to black people. They argue that this has created a divide between ‘white God’ and ‘black God’. Only in 1985 did the Church of England announce the Church should ‘make space for and include black Christians fully’, this was almost a centuries after the freedom of Black people as slaves and many years after black liberation had occurred ( officially). However while many Christians like Pope John Paul, who condemned the fact that Christians had contributed to the slave trade, finally got Black people some equality some sects of Christianity such as the Southern Baptists in USA up until 1900, the Dutch Reformed Church in  South Africa until 1980 and many Christians in the 16th, 17th and 18th century believed that certain races were inferior and could be treated as either 2nd class citizens or slaves because of two Bible verses: Genesis 9:18-27 – which states that the descendants of Noah’s third son (Ham – who is thought to be black by many Christians) will be cursed and be the slaves of his second son Japheth(thought to be white by many) and Ephesians 6:5 – which states ‘Slaves obey your masters’ -a verse that some Christians thought meant that it was fine to have inferior races and slaves. There is also the question of disability in religion with old-age Christians and Buddhism believing it was a punishment for evil deeds/sin (or bad karma in past lives). This viewpoint however has changed in recent times whereas being disabled was once viewed as being an imperfect version of an able bodied person, a description that suggests that disabled people are of less value than an able bodied person, recent views believe in Aristotle interpretation, ‘that physical defects do not prevent a person from actualising their potential as a human being because the essence of being human does not rest on purely physical abilities’ a viewpoint which a charity called L’arche founded by a Christian recognises. Aristotle point further illustrates a verse of the bible which proclaims that we are ‘all born of sin’, which supports that no one is perfect- we’re all flawed one way or another and therefore are in one way or another – disabled. Islam is considered an egalitarian religion meaning one that is pro-equality. There is an argument made by several Muslim Women scholars such as Al-Hibri who argues that ‘the situation of women globally is too complex and contradictory for one comprehensive critique, saying that in some nations: Muslim women experience horrendous forms of violence and oppression, often under the label of Islam whereas in another nation Muslim women may occupy positions of power in significant social and political institution also due to Islam. Many argue that whilst there are many practices contrary to women’s rights which are done in the name of Islam, the reality is that there is no basis in Islam for them. Others make the important point that there are many factors at work which have allowed such oppressive practices to continue, such as the existence of patriarchal cultures that are often  confused with religious belief or the existence of authoritarian regimes that deny more than just women’s claiming ‘undemocratic regimes have denied human rights to their citizens, and attempted to lay the blame on the doorstep of religion’ suggesting that it is not religion that is unequal, but those who practise it. It can be argued that the term equality has different meanings in different situations – you can’t be equal to all people through one measure because everyone has different conditions that must be met etc. you can’t feed a Muslim the same way you’d choose a Hindu, you couldn’t offer a Muslim a pig as it would cause trouble due to the offer being interpreted as an insult, this however doesn’t mean you can’t treat persons of both religion the same; with kindness and compassion regardless of their religion. This has led to many arguing that the solution is not just treating everyone equally (as equality suggests same treatment) but rather introducing tolerance and acceptance. They believe that conversion in religions isn’t something that should occur forcefully but instead something that should be gently approached – through the means of missionaries (in religions such as Jehovah witnesses and Mormons) for example. However some religions have a zero tolerance on those they consider ‘outsiders’, this include Zionism and it’s treatment of the Palestinians and some Jewish sects which refused to assimilate into the societies they lived in (Ashkenazic Jews), preferring to stay ‘outsiders’ because they believe the Torah forbids mixing with ‘gentiles’ due to their interpretation of Avoda Zara 36b which states â€Å"You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughter to his son and you shall not take his daughter for your son; for he will cause your child to turn away from Me and they will worship the gods of others.† Many Christians (and some Jews) thoroughly disagree with this verse with Christians believing it is directed ad them and painting them as immoral idolaters and some Jews believing the passage to contradicting (with the rest of the Torah) and too brief to be fully understood. This raises the argument among theologians th at the bible and other ‘holy books’ are too contradicting, confusing and sometimes too lacking of Context to be fully interpreted and rather, the teachings should not be taken at face value but rather, used to regulate but not to set iron cast laws .   However there are many contradicting verses in the bible which suggest otherwise.   Islam states: ‘O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with God is the most pious.Verily, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.’ (49:13) about the difference within human beings, suggesting that they are deliberate and diversity is God’s gift to humankind.   Judaism, Christianity and Islam   The founder of Quakers, George Fox but instead of seeking primarily to convert, the upmost goal is to establish the principles of Christianity in others’ lives etc. love, humility and compassion.   And the Qur’an which states: ‘I shall not lose sight of the labour of any of you who labours in My way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other (3:195)’   The Qur’an states ‘For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in God’s praise,- for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward. (33:35)’ suggesting that everyone, not just Muslim men and women will get the reward as long as they are ‘humble’ and adhere to Muslim practises even if they do not adopt the religion†¦   The most beloved and respected historical Christian thinkers and theologicans are amongst those who believe the role of women in religion should be subdued with John Crysostom considering the female sex as â€Å"weak  and fickle† ,Augustine claims Satan’s reasoning for deceiving Eve was because he was â€Å"making his assault upon the weaker part of that human alliance eand Epiphanius declaring that the â€Å"female sex is easily mistaken, fallible, and poor in intelligence† even Martin Luther King supports this argument stating â€Å"it was not Adam who went astray† 265).  an idea that men systematically dominate, oppress and exploit women I many believe that a patriachical state doesn’t and didn’t ever exist and instead we have just been living in a world dominated by a complex set of differences; ethnic, racial, gendered, class hierarchy and not just gender.   In this generation, although there are many verses in the bible to suggest that women should have and did have a very important and immensely valuable role in founding and shaping Christianity.   For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man†¦In the Lord,  however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God† (New International Version, 1 Corinthians 11:1-3;8-9;11-12).   1 Corinthians 14 says, ‘Women should remain silent in churches’ which many interpret as saying- women shouldn’t be in positions of leadership in the church.   Proverbs 31 implies the place of a woman is at home – ‘She watches over the affairs of her household’   But women will be saved through childbearing-if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety†(New International Version, 1 Timothy 2:11-15).   This is known as Christian egalitarian. The opposing view is Complementarianism.   Although, when the decision was made to allow Women into the church in 1992, many people left the Church of England as a result and converted to Catholics. This shows that there still isn’t equality in Religions such as Christianity as while some may be ‘for’ the inclusion of women, the one who aren’t may simply join a different fraction and practise their ‘anti-feminist in religion’ perspectives there. This supports the view that freedom in religion is in conflict with notions of gender equality.   A prominent Muslim mother to an autistic child once wrote to a follower who also had an autistic child – ‘As with typically-developing children, every special-needs child has his or her own personality, temperament, strengths, and abilities. Every child has his or her God-given potential. This is from the mercy of Allah and one of the signs of His strength that He created such diversity among human beings. We should rejoice in the creative power of Allah and accept His qadr, or decree, for us. I believe that Allah created disabilities so those of us who are able-bodied would not become complacent and ungrateful. Taking care of a child with a disability brings out the best and most compassionate in all of us. So many of the things that parents of typically-developing children take for granted, we have to fight and struggle for. I think this helps us draw closer to the All-Merciful, the Forbearant, and the Loving.’ This supports the view that all human life is sacred and must be treated with the rights given to it in the Shari’a and that no one has the right to take the life of another except according to God’s command. It also gives way to an argument that could claim moral worth of a person does not depend on birth, gender, race or wealth or whether or not a person is disabled. â€Å"Class background, as well as the degree and severity of impairment, ethnicity, sex, sexuality and age can exacerbate or modify the experience of disability† (Vernon, 1999:394) Many may argue that this isn’t a religion; however most agree that it is a branch of Judaism – if a very distant branch. Different from Sephardim (who chose to assimilate into the nations they moved to and Mizrahi Jews who also assimilated into the nations they found themselves in.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Characters in Hamlet

Guide Your Hamlet final exam will be on Thursday of this week. You will need to study the of Lowing terms, Ideas, and themes. You will be expected to answer multiple choice questions, essay questions, a ND short answer questions. Shakespearian Drama What is the difference between a comedy, tragedy, and history? Define catharsis, hubris, and nemesis. What is the relationship between these words? What are the characteristics of a tragedy? Define dramatic irony and soliloquy. Discuss the importance of dialogue in the play. Act IWhat mood, or atmosphere, does Shakespeare establish in scene 1? Which details hell p create this mood? Analyze Hamlet's Interaction with Claudia In scene 2 and Aphelion's interaction with P loons In scene 3- How are these Interactions related and how are they dollars? Act II In the opening scene of Act II how does Polonium want Reynolds to check on Learner's conduct? What does this instruction suggest about Polonium's character. Aphelia tells Polonium what took place when Hamlet visited her. Explain why this pass age is an example of dramatic irony.In line 246 of scene 2, Hamlet says to Guilelessness, â€Å"Denmark a prison. † Explain that remark in the context of Hamlet's present situation, considering also the role of Restaurants and Gu Identities. The play discussed by Hamlet and the players tells the story of Papyrus seeking reeve GE on Pram. What are the parallels between this tale and Hamlet's own quest for revenge? At the end of Act II, Hamlet reveals his plan for testing Classis's guilt. Why might SSH Shakespeare have chosen to have him use a theatrical performance for this purpose? Act IllAnalyze Hamlet and Aphelion's relationship at the end of Act Ill Scene I – What conclusions can you draw from their interaction? Analyze the importance of Hamlet's soliloquy in Act Ill Scene 1 . What is Hamlet consist erring during this soliloquy? Consider the eloquence of his speech, the specific wording that he uses, hi s sufferin gs during his life, Hamlet's mental state, etc. How do the events In this act drive the plot forward? You will need to be able to put the major events of this Act In order. Act IV Hamlet sends two letters announcing his return to England. E to Horopito and one to Shakespeare have chosen to have him send the letter to Horopito even though it is not needed to advance the plot? Hamlet as already confided to his mother at the end of Act Ill that Restaurants and G elderliness have been assigned to lead him into a trap. What does it suggest about his character that he now appears eager to go with him? Claudia describes an elaborate scheme to kill Hamlet. What advantages does this SC hem have for both him and Alerter? Based on what has happened so far in the play, what disadvantage of the scheme? Act VWhy does Hamlet quarrel with Alerter at Aphelion's grave? What does this conflict Clara FYI about his feelings? As he is dying, Hamlet urges Horopito to stay alive and tells his story, why is this so imp rotator Hamlet? You will need to be able to put the major events of this Act in order. Miscellaneous Theme (idea that the author is trying to convey) – How are these themes shown in Hamlet? (Themes include: Revenge, Fate, and The Human Condition) You will need to look at specific quotations that we discussed in class – be able to discuss who said the quote and what the significance of the quote is. Characters in Hamlet Jose Cruz December 12, 2011 My English Research Paper Use general quote about betrayal (brainyquote. com) not from Hamlet. This quote from Shakespeares Hamlet includes two very important words; The words â€Å"Haste† and â€Å"revenge† not only deal with life but with many other literary works as well. In order to take revenge upon someone often means to get back at them or to inflict hurt or harm on them for an injury or wrong done to oneself.Such is the case in Hamlet where Betrayal (revenge) is the biggest and main conflict of the play because, King Hamlet was ruler of Denmark until his brother Claudius, murders him to become King and marry the Queen, Gertrude. That plot right there creates a whole lot of tension between Hamlet and the new King Claudius because Hamlet wishes to vengeance his fathers death. Therefore, In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare exemplifies the impact of betrayal on family dynamics throught the use of conflict, dialogue, and irony. Shakesp eare uses conflict to show how the betrayal affects family dynamics. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I’ll do’t. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be scann’d: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain sent To heaven† (3. 3. 1). One of the main conflicts of the play is that Hamlet feels betrayed on many levels by the King. (better explaination on this quote)King Claudius is the murderer of his father, King Hamlet. What Hamlet is saying in this quote is his father has died and he is asking for him to revenge him, so since a villain, (King Claudius) killed his father.Since he is King Hamlets only son, he feels he must take revenge upon his fathers death and kill King Claudius. â€Å"No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize; Revenge should have no bounds† (4. 7. 13). A quote said by King Claudius; Then Laertes and Claudius conspire to murder Hamlet. Laertes and Hamlet both have a father to revenge is this play, Laertes wishes to take revenge upon Hamlet for his father was murdered by King Hamlet during a war. When Claudius later asks Laertes how far he would go to avenge his father, Laertes replies that he would slit Hamlet’s throat in the church (4. 7. 98).Through out most of the play, there is a build up of tension between Hamlet, Claudius, and Laertes. There are critics all around the world who put there two sense in about all different books. There are plenty of critics who write about what they think about the play Hamlet, and most of them can have very interesting write ups. Acritic named William Hazlitt and from reading his page, some say they have personally found his work very observing. â€Å"He is the prince of philosophical speculators; and because he cannot have his revenge perfect, according to the most refined idea his wish can form, he declines it altogether† (William Hazlitt).Hazlitt says that Hamlet cannot have the rev enge he wishes and intends to on the King, so he then scruples to trust the suggestions of the ghost. In the play, it reveals that the ghost is the spirit of King Hamlet and he is reaching out to Hamlet personally to seek revenge for his death and kill Claudius. Summarize how conflict is used as a technique by Shakespeare to demonstrate effects of betrayal on family dynamics. Shakespeare uses dialogue as his secondary to show the impact of betrayal.The term dialogue means to have a conversation between two or more persons. In the play, Hamlet is approached by the ghost of King Hamlet multiple times, and what the ghost is asking of his is to avenge his death. â€Å"In the darkness, the ghost speaks to Hamlet, claiming to be his father’s spirit, come to rouse Hamlet to revenge his death, a foul and most unnatural murder† (1. 5. 25). The most common conclusion is that the dialogue used to create the impression of a significant time lapse between Hamlet’s encounter with the ghost and the subsequent action. The interchange of question and answer, as a basis of dialogue, is fundamental to dramatic technique whenever it serves a purpose, becomes dialectic† (Levin, 227). The dramatic technique in Hamlet is all based upon the dialogue used in the play. The conversations between all the characters in Hamlet discusses betrayal and family dynamics. For example, when Claudius and Hamlet have a conversation, Hamlet tries to play it cool but inside all this tension is building up at any moment, he could strike on Claudius but he chooses not to and waits for the best moment.Everyone knows that betrayal is the main conflict of the play Hamlet. â€Å"So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear† (1. 5. 7). Here is when the plot of revenge is established and continues until the end of the play. Shakespeare uses irony as another technique to illustrate how family dynamics ae affected by betrayal. Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect (Dictionary). After Hamlet’s first meeting with the ghost, he decides to put on an antic disposition (1. 5. 172).He pretends to be mad but really he’s just trying to hide the fact that this behavior is a kind of a shield or protection against Claudius and the others who may try to pry out his secret and foil his revenge. (Rosenblum 731). Hamlet shows irony at this part of the play because he acts and speaks as if he’s mad and angry but really he’s just trying to keep a low profile. Critic Harry Levin says that the interplay between these preoccupations is the source of innumerable ironies, both conscious and unconscious, some of them attached to the hero’s viewpoint, other detached in a reminiscent overview (231).What Levin is saying is that Hamlet has no plan on what he should do to avenge his fathers’ death and how and when he should strike Clau dius to his death. Claudius begins his speech saying, â€Å"’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your fatherâ€Å", but that he â€Å"must know your father lost a father, That father lost, lost his. †(1. 2. 87-89)   But he insults Hamlet, adding â€Å"’Tis unmanly grief. †(1. 2. 94). When Claudius says that it is â€Å"sweet and commendable† to give this duty, he’s praising Hamlet for something that will eventually kill him.Shakespeare is often considered on of the world’s greatest playwrights, and has a style to back it up. He writes with poetic diction using eloquent words and phrases. He uses irony to convey the impact of betrayal on family relationships The use of conflict, dialogue, and irony are used throughout the play Hamlet enabling Shakespeare to show the impact of revenge. Shakespeare uses conflict as his primary to express his characters’ reaction to betrayal. All t hroughout the play Shakespeare reates conflict between all the characters whether its between Hamlet and Claudius, or Laertes and Hamlet, etc.By doing so he shows betrayal and its results. As said in the second paragraph, the main conflict of the play is betrayal and this leads to the desire for revenge. Many characters are seeking revenge at someone, but the main character with this feeling is Hamlet, who wishes to avenge his father’s death caused by the new king, King Claudius. All of this conflict in the play is seen into the dialogue of the characters. Shakespeare uses dialogue as another method to show the impact of betrayal.He uses the conversations between those characters with vengeance on their minds to create moods throughout the play. Lastly, Shakespeare uses irony as his third to show the impact of betrayal. Take for example, when Claudius kneels to pray and Hamlet enters, this could’ve been Hamlets chance to kill Claudius, but he decides to spare him becau se then Claudius would not receive the tourturous afterlife Hamlet wishes upon him, instead he would go to heaven. That creates some sort of irony because Hamlet does the opposite of what he really wants to do. | |

Thursday, November 7, 2019

truman essays

truman essays Our government is a complex system with many different branches of power and many different jobs for each section. The Truman Years 1945-1953 written by author Byrnes demonstrates how many government positions work together as well as separate. These political positions also are granted certain powers that are not granted to all the government branches. During president Trumans years as president which followed after president Roosevelt died he was faced with many important decisions. Many of these important decisions he was able to decide for himself while other important decisions he had to rely on support from other government officials. President Truman became president when president Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. President Truman became the official president of the United States without any election being held. This act is permitted because of the constitution. In the constitution it is stated that if the president dies or become unable to fulfill his duties he can and will be replaced by the vice president. Trumans presidency was a long and difficult road, however because of many situations that occurred during his presidency there are a lot of features that outline the powers that our government has. In 1947 President Truman vetoed the act known as the Taft-Hartley act. This bill he vetoed because he saw that the bill was discriminatory against labor. Because our government is set up with a checks and balance system congress was still able to pass the bill with a overwhelming number of votes( congress must have a 2/3rd vote to overrule the presidents veto) in the congress. Another bill that came to the President during 1947 was a four billion dollar income tax reduction. President Truman vetoed this bill as being unfair to small tax payers. Because the congress could not get enough votes to override the president this bill was rejected. This act is known as the pres...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

40 Different Ways to Define What Archaeologists Do

40 Different Ways to Define What Archaeologists Do Archaeology has been defined by many people in many different ways since the formal study began 150 years ago. Of course, some of the differences in those definitions reflect the dynamic nature of the field. If you look at the  history of archaeology, you will notice that the study has become more scientific over time, and more focused on human behavior. But mostly, these definitions are simply subjective, reflecting how individuals look at and feel about archaeology. Archaeologists speak from their varied experiences in the field and in the lab. Non-archaeologists speak from their vision of the archaeology, as filtered by what archaeologists say, and by how popular media presents the study. In my opinion, all of these definitions are valid expressions of what archaeology is. Defining Archaeology Archaeologists work at the excavation site of No. 1 pit of the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum in Lintong District of Xian, Shaanxi Province, China. (August 2009).   China Photos / Getty Images [Archaeology is] the discipline with the theory and practice for the recovery of unobservable hominid behavior patterns from indirect traces in bad samples. David Clarke. 1973. Archaeology: The Loss of Innocence. Antiquity 47:17. Archaeology is the scientific study of peoples of the past... their culture and their relationship with their environment. The purpose of archaeology is to understand how humans in the past interacted with their environment, and to preserve this history for present and future learning. Larry J. Zimmerman Archaeology is a term which can be interpreted in different ways, given the broad range of research methods, periods and activities that can constitute archaeology and its research. Suzie Thomas. Community archaeology. Key Concepts in Public Archaeology. Ed. Moshenska, Gabriel. London: UCL Press, 2017. 15. Historical archaeology is more than just a treasure hunt. It is a challenging search for clues to the people, events, and places of the past. Society for Historical Archaeology Archaeology is about adventure and discovery, it involves explorations in exotic places (near or far) and it is carried out by digging detectives. Arguably, in popular culture, the research process- archaeology in action- has actually been more important than the actual research results themselves.  Cornelius Holtorf. Archaeology Is a Brand! The Meaning of Archaeology in Contemporary Popular Culture. London: Routledge, 2016. 45 Archaeology is our way of reading that message and understanding how these peoples lived. Archaeologists take the clues left behind by the people of the past, and, like detectives, work to reconstruct how long ago they lived, what they ate, what their tools and homes were like, and what became of them. State Historical Society of South Dakota Archaeology is the scientific study of past cultures and the way people lived based on the things they left behind. Alabama Archaeology Archaeology is not a science because it does not apply any recognised model has no validity: each science studies a different subject and therefore uses, or could use, a different model. Merilee Salmon, quote suggested by Andrea Vianello. A Mind-Numbing Job Archaeologists have the most mind-numbing job on the planet. Bill Watterson. Calvin and Hobbes, 17 June 2009. After all, archeology is fun. Hell, I dont break the soil periodically to reaffirm my status. I do it because archeology is still the most fun you can have with your pants on. Kent V. Flannery. 1982. The golden Marshalltown: A parable for the archeology of the 1980s. American Anthropologist 84:265-278. [Archaeology] seeks to discover how we became human beings endowed with minds and souls before we had learned to write. Grahame Clarke. 1993. A Path to Prehistory. Cited in Brian Fagans Grahame Clark: An Intellectual Biography of an Archaeologist. 2001. Westview Press. Archaeology puts all human societies on an equal footing. Brian Fagan. 1996. Introduction to the Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Oxford University Press, New York. Archeology is the only branch of anthropology where we kill our informants in the process of studying them. Kent Flannery. 1982. The golden Marshalltown: A parable for the archeology of the 1980s. American Anthropologist 84:265-278. The fundamental problem of using statistics in archaeology is quantification, i.e., the reduction of collections of objects to datasets. Clive Orton. Data. A Dictionary of Archaeology. Eds. Shaw, Ian and Robert Jameson. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers, 2002. 194. Archaeology is like life: if youre going to accomplish anything you have to learn to live with regret, learn from mistakes, and get on with it.  Tom King. 2005. Doing Archaeology. Left Coast Press Partaking of the Past Throne Room, Palace of Knossos, Crete, Greece. Ed Freeman / Getty Images The archaeologist partakes of, contributes to, is validated by, and dutifully records present-day social and political structures in the identification of research problems and in the interpretation of findings. It remains for reflective, socio-political research in archaeology to decipher the present while we unearth the past, and to distinguish the two whenever possible. Joan Gero. 1985. Socio-politics and the woman-at-home ideology. American Antiquity 50(2):347 Archaeology is not simply the finite body of artefactual evidence uncovered in excavations. Rather, archaeology is what archaeologists say about that evidence. It is the ongoing process of discussing the past which is, in itself, an ongoing process. Only recently have we begun to realise the complexity of that discourse. ... [T]he discipline of archaeology is a site of disputationa dynamic, fluid, multidimensional engagement of voices bearing upon both past and present. John C. McEnroe. 2002. Cretan Questions: Politics and archaeology 1898-1913. In Labyrinth Revisited: Rethinking Minoan Archaeology, Yannis Hamilakis, editor. Oxbow Books, Oxford Public archaeology is not only a matter of working with communities or providing educational opportunities. It is about management and the construction of knowledge and the concept of heritage. Lorna-Jane Richardson, and Jaime Almansa-Snchez. Do You Even Know What Public Archaeology Is? Trends, Theory, Practice, Ethics. World Archaeology 47.2 (2015): 194-211. Print. [Archaeology] is not what you find, it’s what you find out. David Hurst Thomas. 1989. Archaeology. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 2nd edition, page 31. I can understand archaeology being attacked on the ground of its excessive realism, but to attack it as pedantic seems to be very much beside the mark. However, to attack it for any reason is foolish; one might just as well speak disrespectfully of the equator. For archaeology, being a science, is neither good nor bad, but a fact simply. Its value depends entirely on how it is used, and only an artist can use it. We look to the archaeologist for the materials, to the artist for the method. Indeed, archaeology is only really delightful when transfused into some form of art. Oscar Wilde. 1891. The Truth of Masks, Intentions (1891), and page 216 in The Works of Oscar Wilde. 1909. Edited by Jules Barbey dAurevilly, Lamb: London. The Search for Fact Tikal - the Rebel Base. Hector Garcia Archaeology is the search for fact, not truth. Indiana Jones. 1989. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Screenplay by Jeff Boam, story by George Lucas and Menno Meyjes. An aware, responsible and engaged global archaeology might be a relevant, positive force which recognizes and celebrates difference, diversity and real multivocality. Under common skies and before divided horizons, exposure to global difference and alterity prompts us all to seek responses and responsibility. Lynn Meskell. 1998. Introduction: Archaeology matters. In Archaeology Under Fire. Lynn Meskell (ed.), Routledge Press, London. p. 5. Archaeology is the study of humanity itself, and unless that attitude towards the subject is kept in mind archaeology will be overwhelmed by impossible theories or a welter of flint chips. Margaret Murray. 1961. First steps in archaeology. Antiquity 35:13 This has become the archaeologists grandiose task: to make dried-up wellsprings bubble forth again, to make the forgotten known again, the dead alive, and to cause to flow once more that historic stream in which we are all encompassed. C. W. Ceram. 1949. Gods, Graves and Scholars. Thanks to Marilyn Johnson for the suggestion. Archaeology is the only discipline that seeks to study human behavior and thought without having any direct contact with either. Bruce G. Trigger. 1991. Archaeology and epistemology: Dialoguing across the Darwinian chasm. American Journal of Archaeology 102:1-34. A Voyage to the Past Archaeology is our voyage to the past, where we discover who we were and therefore who we are. Camille Paglia. 1999. Mummy Dearest: Archaeology is Unfairly Maligned by Trendy Academics. Wall Street Journal, p. A26 [Archaeology is] a vast fiendish jigsaw puzzle invented by the devil as an instrument of tantalizing torture.  Paul Bahn. 1989 Bluff your way through archaeology. Egmont House: London The role of New World archaeology in providing material for the study of aesthetics is not inconsiderable, but is tangential to the main interest and non-significant from the point of view of theory. In short, paraphrasing [Frederic William] Maitlands famous dictum: New World archaeology is anthropology or it is nothing. Philip Phillips. 1955. American archaeology and general anthropological theory. Southwestern Journal of Archaeology 11:246. By and by, anthropology will have the choice between being history and being nothing. Frederic William Maitland. 1911. The Collected Papers of Frederic William Maitland, vol. 3. Edited by H.A.L. Fisher. This feature is part of the About.com Guide to Field Definitions of Archaeology and Related Disciplines. Geoff Carvers Collection of Archaeology Definitions Archaeology is that branch of science which is concerned with past phases of human culture; in practice it is concerned more, but not exclusively, with early and prehistoric phases than with those illustrated by written documents. O.G.S. Crawford, 1960. Archaeology in the Field. Phoenix House, London. [Archaeology] is the method of finding out about the past of the human race in its material aspects, and the study of the products of this past. Kathleen Kenyon, 1956. Beginning in Archaeology. Phoenix House, London. Archaeology Definition: A Few Thousand Years British archaeologist Leonard Woolley (right) and T E Lawrence with a Hittite bas-relief in basalt at the ancient city of Carchemish, Turkey, 1913.   Pierre Perrin / Sygma / Getty Images Archaeology... deals with a period limited to a few thousand years and its subject is not the universe, not even the human race, but modern man. C. Leonard Woolley, 1961. Digging up the Past. Penguin, Harmondsworth. Archaeology is what archaeologists do. David Clarke, 1973 Archaeology: the loss of innocence. Antiquity 47:6-18. Archaeology is, after all, one discipline. David Clarke, 1973 Archaeology: the loss of innocence. Antiquity 47:6-18. Defining Archaeology: The Value of an Object Field Archaeology is the application of scientific method to the excavation of ancient objects, and it is based on the theory that the historical value of an object depends not so much on the nature of the object itself as on its associations, which only scientific excavation can detect... digging consists very largely in observation, recording and interpretation. C. Leonard Woolley, 1961. Digging up the Past. Penguin, Harmondsworth. Archaeology – the knowledge of how man has acquired his present position and powers – is one of the widest studies, best fitted to open the mind, and to produce that type of wide interests and toleration which is the highest result of education. William Flinders Petrie, 1904 Methods and Aims in Archaeology. Macmillan and Co., London. Archaeology Definition: Not Things, But People If there be a connecting theme in the following pages, it is this: an insistence that the archaeologist is digging up, not things, but people. R.E. Mortimer Wheeler, 1954. Archaeology from the Earth. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Field archaeology is, not surprisingly, what archaeologists do in the field. However, it also has a considerable pre-field element and an even more considerable post-field element. Sometimes the term ‘field archaeology’ is used only to refer to techniques, other than excavation, used by archaeologists in the field. ‘Field archaeology’ used in this way refers essentially to the battery of non-destructive field techniques used to locate areas of archaeological interest (sites). Peter L. Drewett, 1999. Field Archaeology: An Introduction. UCL Press, London. We are concerned here with methodical digging for systematic information, not with the upturning of earth in a hunt for the bones of saints and giants or the armoury of heroes, or just plainly for treasure. R.E. Mortimer Wheeler, 1954. Archaeology from the Earth. Oxford University Press, Oxford. The Material Remains of the Human Past Classical Greek terracotta gorgoneion antefix (roof tile), 2nd half of 5th c BC. The Metropolitan Museum, New York The Greeks and Romans, though they were interested in the early development of man and in the status of their barbarian neighbours, did not develop the necessary prerequisites for writing prehistory, namely the collection, excavation, classification, description and analysis of the material remains of the human past. Glyn E. Daniel, 1975. A Hundred and Fifty Years of Archaeology. 2nd ed. Duckworth, London. [Archaeology] researches tending to illustrate the monuments and remains of antiquity. T. J. Pettigrew, 1848. Introductory address. Transactions of the British Archaeological Association 1-15. So lsst sich Archologie bestimmen als die Wissenschaft vom materiellen Erbe der antiken Kulturen des Mittelmeerraumes. German. August Herman Niemeyer, cited in C. Huber and F. X. Schà ¼tz, 2004. Einfà ¼hrung in Archologische Informationssysteme (AIS): Ein Methodenspektrum fà ¼r Schule, Studium und Beruf mit Beispielen auf CD. Philipp von Zabern, Mainz am Rhein.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Great South Bay of Long Ireland Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Great South Bay of Long Ireland - Case Study Example "According to statistics, the hard clam population in the Great South Bay has declined by 90% since 1976. The number of bushels harvested by baymen between the mid 1970's and the late 1990's declined more than 70%" ('Rep. Grucci (NY1) Secures', 2007). The clam population decline threatens biodiversity of the region and wildlife extinction. Thesis Many years of clam fishing and exploitation of resources results in water deterioration, extinction of hard-clam population and industry decline. Poor quality of water is the main cause of the clam population decline and overexploitation of these resources. Clams are be capable of tolerating extreme fluctuations in environmental conditions (salinity fluctuations are particularly stressful). Clams purify water and balance biodiversity in the region. "Degradation of water quality, especially by nonpoint source runoff, is of mounting concern. The Great South Bay is the receptacle for water from the more than a million people that live within the bay's drainage basin" (SIGNIFICANT HABITATS n.d.). Thus, water quality is the main concern in this region because of high rates of lead and zinc contamination caused by industrial pollution. Moreover, the quality of water has deteriorated because of the large amounts of pesticides, copper and other chemicals which have been used to increase production. The presence of clams is critical to many valued coastal fisheries resources. Small clam populations are unable to pump and purify waters of the basin. Substances such as oil, grease, petrol, heavy metals and leached salines have been added to the water. As a result of the changes in water quality and total control of water began to spread. Overclamming results in extinction of the hard-clam population and has a negative impact on regional biodiversity. Clams are the main food for small sharps and squid. Decline in clam populations leads to environmental imbalance and can cause extinction of sea fish. Both the rate of loss of biodiversity and the equilibrium level of diversity that survives will be influenced through actions taken now to protect species, genetic resources, and critical habitats, while using them sustainably to meet social and economic needs. To make collective action even less harmonious, some ecological disturbances can be viewed not only as inevitable, but as necessary to the health of an ecosystem. Scientists "question whether any preventable losses should be allowed at a time when tens of thousands of dollars per acre is being spent to restore grass beds" (Blankenship 1998). But even were the best of those measures in place, the pace of destruction would still be too fast. That is because there inhe res in the earth's biological assets an uneliminable public good dimension. Industry decline could have a great impact on regional economy and unemployment. The region depends upon this industry and, if nothing changes, in several years clamming population will disappear. "No where else in America is the relationship between a healthy environment and a healthy economy more evident and intertwined than right here on Long Island," added Rep. Grucci" (Rep. Grucci (NY1) Secures, 2001). Undoubtedly, production and trade of clams embody a definite amount of economic rents that accrue to the various market participants. The

Friday, November 1, 2019

Democratic Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Democratic Society - Essay Example Even people, that belong to one family and share the same genes frequently disagree with one another over petty matters and often fight. Thus, if people can have such a hilarious argument on the level of a family, what would happen if everybody stood up and started uttering rubbish without even having complete sense and understanding of the underlying factors that caused the government to move in a certain direction? Besides, the fact that the single most significant driving factor of democracy is majority encapsulates many threats for the society as a whole. This means that any community or group can expand by making its representatives grow in number and can thus, decide for all of the other communities that are in minorities. There is no doubt in the fact that in a democratic setup, the opposition also assumes a lot of power but definitely not as much as the people representing the majority do. Aristotle explains the problems resulting from excessive democracy in these words: For while it is possible for one or a few to be outstandingly virtuous, it is difficult for a larger number to be accomplished in every virtue, but it can be so in military virtue in particular †¦ tyranny is rule by one person for the benefit of the monarch, oligarchy is for the benefit of the rich, and democracy is for the benefit of the poor. But none is for their common profit. (Aristotle cited in Nef 3). Too much democracy is extremely harmful for liberty. Liberty signifies the degree to which an individual can take independent decision without much interference of the society or the government. In such a society, businesses are not quite accountable for their actions to the people or to the state because liberalism provides them with the right to do their job without external influence. When democracy becomes strong beyond limits, it challenges liberalism because every individual in the society has to respect the decision of the majority. Too

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Urbanization in ancient Greece Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Urbanization in ancient Greece - Essay Example One key characteristic of these settlements was lack of governmental authority beyond the boundaries of the village (Chant et al, 2000). In addition, these villages did not have any workshops or public buildings. Such egalitarian societies persevered on even after the introduction of agriculture. The egalitarian societies were stratified and turned into functionally specialized units by the formation of states and urbanization (Chant et al, 1999). This process took place independently in numerous regions of the world, probably starting from the Southwest Asian region, which was very fertile. The formative era referred to the period between the years 7000 to 5000 BC, which was characterised by urbanization and state development, which complemented each other. Upon the stratification of the egalitarian society, there emerged craftspeople, farmers, soldiers, administrators, merchants and priests, with the cities becoming the civilization focus (Chant, 1999). In the development of Greece cities, the natural environment as well as the existing technologies played a key role. These cities were built in around the eighth century by the Greeks. Distinguishing how the shape of the buildings in the cities was influenced by the natural environment or the available technologies is not easy. This is because there exists a very dynamic relationship between the natural environment and technology, with each shaping or being shaped by the other. Military technologies and needs were very important determinants in the layout and growth of Greek cities. Some of the initial cities in Greece grew as a result of pressure since the people needed to defend themselves form their enemies. As a result they were generally located on rocky positions, which were regarded as defensible. They were also positioned some distance from the harbour, with heavy fortification (Chant et al, 2000). Wall-building proved to be the most expensive and laborious task and involved very impressive engineering accomplishments in the architecture of Greece. Stone was in abundance and was used the building material, with its properties determining the style of construction. For instance, lintels and posts were frequently used in the construction of public monuments. Stone, which was the building material of choice, needed lifting technologies that utilized people as opposed to hoists (Chant et al, 1999). Cranes were not in use until much later, in 515 BC and beyond. They came into use as a result of labour shortage and not because of their capability of lifting larger blocks of stone. The unplanned growth of the earliest settlements was substituted by a bit more formal buildings, mainly after Persian attacks in the fifth century. With the advancement of technology in the military, it became necessary to adopt a defensive layout for the city streets. In the process of the reconstruction of these cities, there was development of numerous town planning theories, most of which were put into practice, with the grid plan becoming very common. Aristotle advocated for a city design of a defensive nature, which uses both the irregular and regular features. This, he argued, was aimed at reconciling the strain of moving both the equipment and troops easily, and to confuse any attackers (Chant, 2000). Natural Environment The location of earlier settlements was mainly determined by the natural

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Analysing The Emerging Democracy Of South Africa Politics Essay

Analysing The Emerging Democracy Of South Africa Politics Essay South Africa is a young democracy that has begun making serious attempts to bring the nation together and create national equality among the people. First to understand what a democracy is it needs to be defined. William Hay Anthony defines democracy as liberal representative government under law, sustained by a political culture that accepts open disagreement and demands accountability (Anthony, pg 135). This definition highlights the role of institutions in making a political order work (Anthony, pg 135). Applying this definition to the South African case is important to analyzing its development within being a democratic nation. Civil and political rights are important to a democratic nation because it must maintain rights to all of its citizens equally. South Africa has made huge steps in ensuring equal rights to all of its citizens, though it is quite clear that a lot more could be done. In terms of economic rights and social rights, South Africa has made attempts in making thes e rights equal for everyone. The democratic role of South African political parties has been a constant one. The African National Congress has been the party in power of the state since its first democratic election in 1994 and it seems like it is getting more and more support as time goes by. Their policies which have been put forth have the same goal of having equality within the state. In the past 16 years, South Africa has made numerous attempts to make its nation more democratic but it is clear that the work that the nation must do to have a complete democracy, is nowhere near finished. Rights have not always been equal to all people of South Africa throughout history, even in the past 20 years. From 1948- 1994, South Africa was under an apartheid, that is, a segregation of blacks and whites in all aspects of society. Under this rule, all races that were identified by the South African Government were divided. At the time, the government recognized four different racial categories: African, coloured, Indian and white (Lichbach 2009, 466). There were many laws that were put in place to keep the people of the country segregated at all times; the only exclusion to that was if a black African was working for a white one. Some apartheid laws were the Group Areas Act, Land Acts, Population Registration Act and Reservation of separate Amenities Act (Lester 1996, 227). During the apartheid, because coloured people could not vote or own property, they were living in extremely poor conditions and kept in certain black only areas. Even when coloured people could own land, th e qualifications amount was raised too high for many coloured people to even consider attempting to purchase land. (Maphai 1994, 3). Without the ownership of property, one could not vote. When the first democratic election was held in April of 1994, it marked a new beginning in South Africa; some called it the New South Africa. Mandela was named as president and many apartheid laws were abolished. People were becoming more equal within this country which meant people of all the coloured races were lawfully allowed to integrate with their white counter parts in education, work, property ownership and other rights that were not given to them before. With a new government set in place, citizens were excited to see how their country would change for the better given its new democratic policies that would soon begin to be in effect. What some people dont fully understand is that many things like becoming a new democracy take time, especially when dealing with a country with a past like t hat of South Africa. With that being said, even though these wonderful laws were being put into government, they were not exactly being implemented very well. One of the biggest reasons why so many of the countrys people have to live this way is because of the huge inequalities within the country; Inequality is still higher than anywhere else in the world (Pons-Vignon 2008, 3). Inequality is something that cannot be changed overnight with the passing of different laws; it is something will be an ongoing struggle for the country. Something that is special with the democratic characteristics of South Africa is the fact that the minority of the country has most of the power; white people are the clear minority of the population but they clearly have the most power. In 1980, it was shown that whites, who were one sixth of the population, earned two thirds of total income in the country (Maphai 1994, 137). Because white people have such great power as a whole, it is more difficult for other citizens of the country to rise economically. Since 1994, the only place that whites do not have the most power is in government. The Party that has been in power since the liberalization movement has been the black- led African National Congress or ANC. When it comes to voting, which many black people do have a right to now, whites just cannot even compare with the numbers that the Blacks have; in 2001, 79 percent of the population classified themselves as African, 10 percent as white, 9 percent as Coloured and 2 percent as Asian (Lichbach 2009, 472). The fact that government is led by a black supported party is not unfortunate for most white people. In the early 1990s, the ANC adopted many policies and went through many negotiations with the National party (NP) to get more support from the white community. With the attempt that the ANC made toward getting support from white people in the country, white people began to see the ANC more like a rival as rather than an enemy. (M aphai 1994, 75) As well, the leaders of the ANC have done a good job in convincing all people, including whites, that their policies will only help to better the country. Unions are also helpful with making a nation more democratic. The ability to have specific rights because of employment is a huge factor in having equal rights for people. It was 1979 when African Trade Unions were finally recognized and the Congress of South African Trade Unions was then formed in 1985. (Lichbach 2009, 477) Recognizing unions that were made up of Black workers was essential in implying that they, as workers within the state, deserve no less than that of white workers. Unions allow a group of workers to negotiate with their employers about better wages and working conditions. In the aspect of civil and political rights, South Africa is making a clear progression towards truly having equality within those rights. Democratically, South Africa is making a big progression towards effectively having equ al political and civil rights for all of its citizens. Through the coming years there should be more polices out being put into effect and hopefully a better understanding of equality among races. It is only then that the rights that are actually listed within the South African law will have been respected and truly put into practice. Before democracy was even a possibility in South Africa, the main problem was an attempt by white settlers to make a country whose population is 75 percent African a `white man`s country (Maphai 1994, 1). Three million white people had achieved unchallenged superiority over sixteen million Africans by 1965. (Maphai 1994, 1) The technological advancement of white people is one of the big factors of what made them overpower that large number of blacks. (Lichbach 2009, 463) Economically and socially, many South Africans do not have adequate rights that should be equated to them within their democratic nation. In 1994 the life expectancy was at 65 years and then within the next decade it dropped to 52 years. This is because of a degenerative health care system and the battle with HIV- AIDS that the country has to deal with. (Bond December 2009, 581) As of 2007, South Africa had the most deaths of HIV-AIDS than any other country in the world. (Central Intelligence Agency 2010) The infant mortality rate is decreasing but is still relatively high because of the amount of babies dying because of HIV- AIDS. The Literacy rate is on the rise because more people now have access to adequate schools. In 1980, when the literacy rate for whites was 99.3% it was at 67% for Black Africans. (Maphai 1994, 138) Historically, when all coloured Africans were separated from whites, there was always an enormous gap between the well being of whites and that of coloured people. Today, the gap has closed but it is still not equal. As years go by, there are more and more opportunities for black Africans in regard to employment. Years ago, blacks did all of the labour and whites reaped all the economic benefit from that labour. Since new laws have been put in place, blacks now have the option to work in any field that is desired by them. Although, within certain industries, policies biased against employment have restricted income earning opportunities for blacks (Maphai 1994, 143). Skille d jobs with high wages were granted to whites while black workers were paid poorly. (Lichbach 2009, 465) Some say that affirmative action may be needed to keep at least a significant portion of black people in certain jobs but this is not always a sufficient (way) to redress the socio-economic imbalances in South Africa (Waghid 2003, 168). Affirmative action policies may turn qualified applicants to the job solely because of the fact that they are white and cannot be hired because the business needs to hire more black people. There needs to be other policies out into effect that actually provide adequate education to more blacks. A company should not feel obligated to hire someone just to fill a quota; a person should be hired based on the skills he or she has. Poverty is affected by those that are unemployed and those that earn wages. In 1991, the ANC said that the best way to address poverty was through economic growth. (Lichbach 2009, 478) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is represen ted in terms of income. This is unfortunate for the black majority that only earns wages. White people earn an income as well as other money in forms such as that of interest, rent, dividends and profits. All these other forms of income were accessible to whites by virtue of ownership of capital, land and other assets (Maphai 1994, 137) which black people did not have the advantage of being able to own. In the decade of 1986 1996, the annual growth of the GDP was less than one percent whereas the population growth of the country was an average of 2.5 percent per year. (Lichbach 2009, 472) The South African Economy was never designed to serve a black majority (Lichbach 2009, 472). As a middle income country, South Africa has a GNP of about 3630 US dollars per person. After 1994, the economy was revived with the GNP growing at a rate exceeding that of the population growth rate (Lichbach 2009, 472). During the Apartheid, sex and marriage between races was prohibited. Every aspect of social life was segregated by race. People of different races did not have the right to interact with one another socially no matter what the circumstance. The Freedom Charter of the ANC from 1955 declared that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on will of people (Lichbach 2009, 467). It was the 1980s that the government realized that the apartheid was costing a lot of money. The economy was suffering from a recession, currency inflation, and excessive costs (Lichbach 2009, 468). While the economy was going through this hard time, white people had the money emigrate whereas black people had to face the brunt of the poor education system. A social right that should be equal to all is that of citizenship. Under the Bantu Homelands Act (1957) Africans were stripped of citizenship, expelled from parts of the cou ntry and consigned to ten scattered, ethnic homelands (Kopstein Lichbach, pg 467). This was the largest forced movement of a group of people anywhere in the postwar world. Today, all South Africans have citizenship within their country and are able to purchase land anywhere they would like. In 1989 there were numerous black consumer boycotts due to Conservative Councils decision to uphold separate Amenities Act (Lester 1996, 233). The effect of these boycotts was that many businesses decided to take down their white only signs from store fronts. This movement really showed the power that united black consumers can have. Overall, South Africa is moving in the right direction in terms of their economy and society. With the GDP in a steady increase and more jobs being available to more of the country, it seems as if the country is heading towards making the state more democratic. In the term of 1989 1994, the National Party was in power. It is a white led party was whose leader was Frederik Willem de Klerk. De Klerk had an enormous role in ending the apartheid in South Africa. He was very supportive in changing the country into a multiracial democracy. (Lichbach 2009, 469) During the 1990- 1991 period, De Klerk used expressions like bill of rights, mixed economy, one undivided South Africa and one person one vote (Maphai 1994, 75). He wanted reform and non-racialism within the country. The leader of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1994 was Nelson Mandela when he won the Presidency. It is a black led party that was trying to gain more support from white people within the country. Not many white people wanted to support the party because they viewed the release of Mandela as the catalyst to the chaos that was on the rise within the country. As the ANC began to adopt more policies that appealed to more people in the country it was the first time that the ANC and the current government at the time openly agreed upon the same constituency. (Maphai 1994, 76) The two biggest parties in South Africa were the National Party and The African National Congress. In 1997, the National party changed its name to become the New National Party (NNP). They did this to try to move away from their apartheid past and create a new image for themselves. The party already began to share more views with the opposing ANC, which then led to an alliance between the two parties. After witnessing two federal elections as a recognized party, The NNP decided to dismantle in 2005. This was because of the rapid decrease in voter support; people did not like the idea of the NNP being allied with the ANC. In the 1994 election, NP had some 20% of the vote whereas in the election 10 years later that number dropped down to 1.9% (NEED CITATION FOR THAT). It was clear that the NNP was never going to have much say in governmental matters with so little voter support. Many former members of the NNP decided to join the ANC when the NNP was terminated. Negotiations for reform within the country began in the end of 1991 (Lichbach 2009, 470). During these negotiations the ANC and NP would agree on certain things like one person, one vote; an independent judiciary; and re integration of the homelands (Lichbach 2009, 470). These parties resolved most of their issues through political, economic and military pacts. A transitional government was finally made after the multiparty negotiating forum that took place in 1993. (Lichbach 2009, 470) It was the young leaders like Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela that recommended to the ANC that they should begin discussing the aspect of a multiracial democracy. Within the 1994 election, there was celebration throughout the country. There was an extremely high voter turnout; 86% of eligible voters came out to vote, with ANC having a 63% majority. With Nelson Mandela as the new President, the top three parties, ANC, NP and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), formed the Government of National Unity (GNU). (Lichbach 2009, 471) In 1986, it was P.W. Botha that authorized the repeal of selected apartheid laws in recognition of the fact that blacks now lived permanently in the heart of all major metropolitan areas (Lichbach 2009, 468). Unfortunately this did not work for him because it ignored majority political aspirations. The ANC has been in power of South African since it was liberated in 1994. What people need to know is that the South African economy was never designed to serve a black majority (Lichbach 2009, 472). Some question whether the fact that ANC has such a huge majority over government is a good thing or a bad thing. The strong hold that the ANC has over power of the country may tempt leaders to change rules of the game to cover up corruption or to squelch political dissent (Lichbach 2009, 490). Others say that it is good to see the government representative of what the majority of the country wants. There are about fourteen parties that are represented in the South African government with many of them having no real chance of coming into power. This aspect of the democratic audit is quite good in the case of South Africa because of how representative the government is. The majority of the population, which are coloured, also have the majority in government. Therefore, it is easier for many people to have their voice heard through the party that they support. Though with the fact that one party has such a majority over all the rest, it can also be said that none of the other people in the country will be represented. What makes ANC different from many other majority parties is that many parties want or have an alliance with them. Alliances only occur between parties that share similar views and want one another to prosper. In South Africa, it can be deceived that the ANC- COSATU- SACP alliance manipulates blocks of vote into concentrations of political power for their own aggrandizement (Waghid 2003, 120) to disempowered minorities whose interests are affected by the groups policies. As one of the worlds youngest democracies, South Africa has many democratic elements that need to be implemented within the society. Having democratic policies are meaningless unless those policies are being implemented. Rights and equality issues have been and will still be at the forefront of the governments policies as they try to make the country a better place for all citizens. The rights that are written down in South Africas constitution provide a sense of pride knowing that they are there for everyone but what needs to be realized is that being afforded rights is not the same as being able to exercise such rights (Waghid 2003, 15). The high levels of inequality that are present in South Africa have to do with the fact that it is a young democracy that needs time to alter their society to reflect that. The African National Congress that is in power in government is doing a moderate job in maintaining a satisfactory level of order within the country and will only do more as tim e progresses. To say that South Africa is not a real democracy would not be a fair statement to make because of its youth and inexperience with this type of government. This country is a democracy that needs to evolve more and allow the people truly understand what it means to be a democracy.