Essay on The Issue of Same-sex Marriage - 1254 Words

It has been around there for years, in newspapers, on television and in today’s local news: gay marriage. It surely is an ethical dilemma and the dilemma shows us two sides: people are either in favour of gay marriage or they are against gay marriage. Gay marriage can be legalised by law and if not, punishment in jail could be the next step. And that is where the ethical dilemma starts. All human beings have certain needs in life, these needs could differ per individual, so as a commonly accepted model there is the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This model describes the basic human needs which also states that the most basic needs must be met before the other needs can be fulfilled. The first needs are the physiological needs. These needs†¦show more content†¦It took me a while to find a definition that did not include only ‘man and woman’ in the definition and that shocked me somehow. What is the meaning of marriage, or what does it mean to the indi viduals that get married? â€Å"Marriage (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage same-sex marriage† (â€Å"Marriage†, 2014). The values for this case include the moral values honesty and nonviolence. In the encyclopedia, marriage is stated for man and woman to be united, recognised by law. The definition for same sex marriage it is stated as ‘a relationship like that of a traditional marriage’ what already implies that is wasn’t ‘normal’ before and the traditional marriage is an example to follow. It is a great thing to legalise marriage and for example in the United States of America this happened in 17 of the 50 states already. Also the 18th state already joined, Utah in December 2013, and more than 900 same-sex marriages took place in Utah immediately after allowing. But on January 6, 2014, â€Å"the United States Supreme Court stayed the ruling pending further appeals† (Wikipedia, 2014). The value honesty plays a big role in fulfilling gay rights. Again, it would be a very strange situation if homosexuals are not able to fulfil theirShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of S ame Sex Marriage984 Words   |  4 Pages Homosexuality is hotly debated within the United States of America when it comes to the idea of same sex-marriage. Society cannot seem to agree about whether it should be made legal or not. The views on this topic have been shaped by religion, by the 1980’s AIDS period, and by so much more. Throughout the time homosexuals fought for their rights, had to go through life wondering if their friends would survive, to bring us to today’s reality where even social media gives every individual the opportunityRead MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage966 Words   |  4 Pagesstudies focusing on same-sex and heterosexual couples and the challenges they experience with bringing up children. The main focus of the articles is to draw on the conclusion on same-sex couples. When dealing with families of same sex marriages you must put into consideration how families are the same and different from traditional families. In today s society man y of same-sex couples are confronted with social irregular characteristics which may cause many complex issues. The main point isRead MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage1376 Words   |  6 PagesLiberties/Civil Rights Issues November 19, 2014 I†¦My chosen topic is Gay Rights- more specifically marriage equality. Public opinion in the U.S. shows the majority support for the legal recognition of same-sex marriages. This issue is more likely to be supported by women and people under 50. My thesis is that marriage equality a civil right, rights we are born with as a citizen of the U.S. which the government cannot interfere with or suppress. (Lecture Notes 8/27). Over the past decade, marriage equality hasRead MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage Essay1677 Words   |  7 PagesEqual marriage has always been a contentious issue in society. The legalisation of same sex marriage in New Zealand in August 2013 via the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act has been a source of pride for those in some parts of our society and a source of horror for those in other parts. This issue split the country, and those in power, right down the middle, with some people taking sides that didn’t necessarily align with what w ould be expected of their political leanings. The issueRead MoreThe Issue With Same Sex Marriage1704 Words   |  7 PagesThe Issue with Same Sex Marriage has been debated for over a decade and we have seen conflicts of concerns regarding the rights of homosexuals. Do they have the right to same sex marriage? First must look for the level of definition from the word marriage. We must first look at the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), in which it states that marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman. On July 18th, 2006, the Congressional voted on the proposed Amendment that befell onto the House ofRead MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage1286 Words   |  6 Pagesrelationship that is â€Å"morally right†. When speaking on gay marriage, there are typically two views. To some it is just absouletly disgusting, and then to others it’s a beautiful thing. â€Å" Opponents of Same Sex Marriage say marriage is between a man and a woman and anything else i s morally wrong( â€Å"At Issue : Same Sex Marriage†) As a human being , whose right is it to tell someone who they can and can not love. Sometimes people may disagree with gay marriage on a spiritual level, but who is to say one person’sRead MoreThe Issue With Same-Sex Marriages1568 Words   |  6 Pagesdebate about the issue of same-sex marriage. For many, it is one of the fundamental human rights to love and marry whomever one chooses. Others feel that this right should be ruled by certain moral codes and restrictions in order to maintain the basic moral fabric of Western society. Today, many critics who advocate for the legalization of same-sex marriage across the United States do so on the grounds of the fact that it will create a more equal and fair society. Same-sex marriage, or indeed simplyRead MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage1711 Words   |  7 Pagesyear. Same-sex marriage is a debatable topic that attracts many responses from those supporting and those opposing the issue. People who dispute gay marriage believe it is morally wrong, while gay rights activists believe that all marriages be treated equally. This dispute is put into several different lights including morals, family values and religion; and those of equality, constitutionality. Section 1: The first major law that affected same-sex marriage was the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)Read MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage1664 Words   |  7 Pagesconclusions which declare that every generation after the Salient Generation (1928-45) is more in favor of same-sex marriage. The primary component here is that â€Å"younger generations express higher levels of support for same-sex marriage† (Mitchell). As far as reflecting the change in attitudes, the data shows that older generations â€Å"have become more supportive of same-sex marriage in the past decade† (Mitchell). In relation to Lewis and Gossett’s research, their research aligns in their claim thatRead MoreThe Issue Of Same Sex Marriage931 Words   |  4 PagesThe issue of same-sex marriage is an extremely controversial topic within Ireland. The discussion reached its zenith on May 28th, 2015, when the predominately Roman Catholic Republic of Ireland became the first country in the world t o legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. Additionally, the issue divided the population of Ireland into two corners: those who were pro-family versus those who were pro-marriage. Pro-family citizens opposed the marriage equality referendum and the pro-marriage side

An Argument for a SMART Board Grant Free Essays

The support of this grant would pay for the purchase of a SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard on a nomadic floor base for the Pace University School of Education Department. The SMART Board allows professors to include and incorporate multimedia elements into lessons, such as pictures and synergistic presentations, as a consequence devising lessons and lectures more exciting. Students will be able to hear, see and take part with the information they are larning for that peculiar class. We will write a custom essay sample on An Argument for a SMART Board Grant or any similar topic only for you Order Now The SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard system comes with Notebook package. This package provides a assortment of tools to assist distinguish direction. By holding a SMART Board, professors and pupils are able to compose with a digital pen or with their finger, onto the SMART Board screen. Files from Notebook can be saved in different formats, printed, emailed or posted ; hence, giving pupils complete entree to class stuffs. Basically, anything that can be done on computing machines can be improved by holding a SMART Board available. In the simple and secondary degrees, instructors are invariably seeking to make lessons and activities that meet the demands of all scholars. I think that at the high instruction degree, this mentality gets lost. The bulk of classs are lecture based with essays and written scrutinies. Because of this set up, I feel that college pupils loose their love of acquisition and attending and engagement in classs begin to drop. If a pupil was a ocular scholar in high school, he will still be a ocular scholar during college. The synergistic whiteboard caters to all different scholars because it incorporates images, sounds and stimulations. Students are able to see, hear and interact with what they are larning. Pace University needs more engineering. Pace University has been looking for ways to increase their enrollment Numberss, every bit good as keeping rates. Installing and absorbing engineering onto their campuses could be merely one factor in carry throughing those undertakings. As a former Pace University pupil embassador and representative, I was invariably asked inquiries about the types of engineering that are in the schoolrooms and what pupils are being exposed to. By holding synergistic SMART Boards on campus, I think these inquiries would be eliminated because you can physically see them. Pace University besides has an full school dedicated to Computer Science and Information Systems. I feel that by holding engineering seen in the schoolroom, will besides nicely reflect the impact of that single school on campus. The pupils at Pace University would profit from the purchase of an synergistic whiteboard in a assortment of ways. Students will look at go toing category as something exciting. Students will besides derive a better apprehension of the course of study and constructs being taught, due to the mixture of tools and resources that the SMART Board has that can be incorporated into lessons. Pace University, itself, would profit from holding SMART Boards in campus because pupils will be working on their communicating and engineering accomplishments for the twenty-first century, hence dividing themselves from alumnuss from other colleges and universities. Pace University ‘s slogan is â€Å" Work toward Greatness † . I believe that by incorporating the usage of an synergistic whiteboard into different classs that Pace has to offer its pupils, professors will animate their pupils more. The Pace University School of Education ‘s slogan is â€Å" Making brooding practicians who promote justness, create lovingness schoolrooms and school communities and enable all pupils to be successful scholars. † I believe that the pupils within this school, specifically, will profit enormously from the synergistic whiteboard. They will be exposed to a new engineering that is widely being used in schools all throughout the United States. Students will be able to hold an unfastened head when it comes to engineering and integrating in simple and high schools. Not fiting these pupils with these accomplishments would be harmful to their well-being. Today ‘s universe is filled with different types of engineering, from cell phon es to IPads. Students are invariably surrounded with engineering throughout their day-to-day lives, which merely makes sense to hold that same engineering go a portion of their instruction. 2. Aim 3. Activity 4. Measurement To enrich and better Pace University ‘s plans and set of classs through synergistic engineering and engineering integrating. To promote pupils to be independent critical minds and booming scholars at the collegiate degree. To increase pupil motive, engagement, accomplishment and success. To hold pupils program and behavior research, work out jobs and do informed determinations utilizing appropriate digital tools and resources. To hold â€Å" future instructors † become educated on a company and engineerings that is on a regular basis being used in school territories soon. To distinguish direction for all pupils. To use the assigned class clip in the most effectual manner possible. Assign web pursuits: Students will be encouraged to utilize Pace University ‘s resources from the library, databases and dependable beginnings from the Internet. Students will utilize the research and engineering available to them to assist them decode jobs and answer inquiries. Synergistic lessons: Students will actively prosecute within the lessons. Students will acquire out of their seats to take part and foster their acquisition. Videos/Lectures: Teachers can implant videos cartridge holders that demonstrate the same constructs that are being taught in their class. Teachers can enter notes from the class, salvage them and post/email them to pupils. Virtual Field Trips: Teachers can take their pupils on a trip during their assigned class allotted clip. Presentations: Students can show their undertakings utilizing the SMART Board in several ways: making a NoteBook file, digitally making it, entering their voices, etc. Exams/Reviews: Teachers can make games/activities that can assist the pupils review constructs for scrutinies. Teachers can make scrutinies on the SMART Board. Workshop Session: Provide pupils with the chance to larn how to really utilize the SMART Board. Students will be able to utilize the cognition gained in their field arrangements and future occupations. Pre-course study: Conducted on the first twenty-four hours, inquiring pupils about their involvement in the class, anticipations of their engagement throughout the class, class and terminal of class experience. Post-course study: Conducted on last twenty-four hours, inquiring pupils about their apprehension of the class stuff, if they were successful in the class, if they enjoyed the class, would they urge the class and impact of engineering used in the class. Informal appraisals: Teacher observation, pupil diary entries/blogs on the subject of usage of the SMART Board. Formal appraisals: Lessons/lectures/activities can be video taped. Samples: Student work samples will be saved to be included in a portfolio. Attendance Preparation Engagement Behavior How to cite An Argument for a SMART Board Grant, Essay examples

Fidelity In Movies Essay Example For Students

Fidelity In Movies Essay In todays society, fidelity is something that most people no longer pay mind to. It has become so common to lie or cheat in a relationship that it is not looked at as a loss of moral values for most of todays modern and more liberal society. It is rather unfortunate because I believe that the ability to maintain proper morals and values, or to instill them into those that are our future plays an important role in our lives today. In the Websters Dictionary the noun, fidelity, is written to mean the quality or state of being faithful. This can be taken in a number of ways depending on the relationship two people may have. For example, the relationship between a parent and child, husband and wife, a friendship all carry a certain idea that one will be honest and faithful to the other and vice versa. Sometimes these feelings are also diverted. They may backfire and cause feelings of mistrust. Lying, cheating, abuse are all factors. There are other values of morality other than fidelity. Other values or ethics deal with morality or the basis of moral values. Whether or not one should steal, rape, kill are all part of instilling morals. Any parent that would teach a child that these things are good was not raised in a normal loving household. It is extremely easy to blame society with what goes on in the media. Unfortunately what these people refuse to believe is that not everyone is born bad. They are taught these things by the company they keep or by the situations they involve themselves in. In the play â€Å"Medea†, Medea faces the harsh reality of infidelity. Her husband Jason has left her for a princess. Medea, like any normal woman today would want revenge. The difference between them is that the normal woman would not commit the crime, while in fact Medea does. After what feels like an eternity of planning and vowing revenge she devises a plan to murder the woman who has stolen her husband as well as her husband and their two children. She feels betrayed and has every right to. Imagine in that time that it was a crime to commit adultery, but because Jason had left his wife for a princess it was plausible which left Medea livid. After being given a place of exile Medea puts her plan into action by making a mends with Jason. She in turn gives him gifts for his new princess. These gifts are poisoned and in turn cause the princess and the kings death. She also murders her young children. This leaving Jason miserable and to blame he carries around his guilt, this leaving Medea happy with her revenge. Picture that on the five oclock news today. Unfortunately this has been something that has become so common it only proves that there is a definite loss in fidelity today. But sometimes, when you walk out of a movie theater, you can still feel that good overcomes evil. In the film Charlies Angels, the relationship held between the three girls, Natalie, Dylan and Alex is a,chemistry within its own right. The girls grow to depend on one another. To trust one another and know that undoubtedly they will be there to help each other out. As it is in their relationship with Bosley. Bosley aside from being a friend is also someone that the girls look up to and respect not only because he is their superior but also because they know that he would never harm them. Neither would his superior, a man with no identity, known only by his voice and with the name of Charlie. In this film, Charlie is given an assignment for his girls to complete. He is told that a media mogul has been kidnapped and hi s partner has hired the Angels to find him. They begin their investigation to find that he may be linked to someone who is in the same field, but not as advanced. This leads to an investigation where the girls must go undercover to trap the bad guy only to believe that the mission is complete. .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 , .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .postImageUrl , .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 , .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5:hover , .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5:visited , .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5:active { border:0!important; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 { 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; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5:active , .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .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; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5 .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u532e0cb3d3bdf3b0936867c905ed0ad5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Yoon Jin Yi EssayThe philosopher Thrasymachos believed that justice was the advantage of the stronger people in his just world. For him, these things defined justice. The laws were made by those with political power and used for their own advantage. This is similar to those that played the evil roles in the film. The bad guys, if you will who wanted to do exactly that with their power by using money as an influence to get what they wanted. To make a long story short the good guy turns out to have an evil streak. In this case he does a great job of deluding Dylan. He makes her believe that he and she should be romantically involved and in this case after a wonderful evening together his partner shows up at his house and together they kill her. Like all movies, shes not really dead. She survives and finds her comrades to fight the enemy and to save her superiors. At the same time Alex is dating a film star who is enthralled with himself more than her. Her ideal of fidelity is put on the line because she is not honest with him about what she really does for a living. Of course once she decides to tell him what she really does his trailer is blown to pieces, yet he is understanding and amusingly aroused. Natalie finally meets the right guy during a stakeout and finds a genuine interest in him as they begin a relationship where fidelity will become an important factor. He seems to be an innocent man much like Natalies character. His actions portray him to be a well brought up young man. As we all know Charlies identity is and has always been a secret. His trust and loyalty is put in the hands of Bosley as well as the girls by never revealing who he is. Th at was something we were made to understand from the beginning. It is a part of their understanding and relationship with one another. After making a brief opening, the film introduces us to their life before becoming an Angels. They were all raised in good homes with loving environments and although one might have had a better education then the other there is still a regard to proper morals. My statement meaning that money will not buy you a better ethical or moral background. That may be used as an excuse. From the wealthiest to the most humble I believe that if good morals and values are instilled in you, you will undoubtedly be a good person. Their true feelings of fidelity are towards each other. Much like the philosopher Polemarchos the girls believed that justice was each person getting what is owed to them. By this statement they followed general rules of doing the right thing by your friends, protecting yourself and those you love from your enemies and following the old saying an eye for an eye. All in all I came to look at them as if they were a family. It made me believe that no matter how bad the world may one day be as long as I have someone that I love and cherish by my side who was taught the same ethical and moral values as I was it will be much easier to raise my child to be the same way. It is something that I believe we have lost as we adapt to a more liberal society. Hopefully with time I hope that most people will find that those values make the world a better place to live. Philosophy

Comparison and differences between Conan Doyle Essay Example

Comparison and differences between Conan Doyle Essay Explore the points of comparison and differences between Conan Doyles The Adventure of the Speckled Band and Rendells Bloodlines Wider Reading  The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bloodlines by Ruth Rendell diverge in a number of ways. These two stories were written at different times during history. The Adventure of the Speckled Band was written in the late eighteenth to early nineteenth century, where as Bloodlines was written in the mid to late nineteenth century. These two stories are set about one hundred years apart. The differences in the stories can be compared in the following ways: The character and method of the detectives in each short story are not the same. In The Adventure of the Speckled Band, Sherlock Holmes is the detective and Dr. Watson is his accomplice. Holmes has appeared in many of Conan Doyles previous works of literature. He comes across to the reader as mysterious and clever. He is regarded as mysterious due to his alleged brown cape and hat. This vision of him makes the reader think that he likes to keep things to himself (which he does). He is quiet when he is not absorbed in a case, and he is calm and collected for the majority of the time. He rarely loses his temper throughout the whole of the story. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison and differences between Conan Doyle specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison and differences between Conan Doyle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison and differences between Conan Doyle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Sherlock Holmes is also delineated as extremely clever in the way he thinks and acts. He has meritorious analytical and observatory skills. One can perceive these skills very early on in the story. I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your left glove you had a good drive in a dogcart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station. From the quote, one can see that Holmes uses ratiocinative skills to come to that conclusion. Holmes works alone and does not share the information he has achieved until he is sure that it is true. From this, one can see that Holmes has pride in his work. This can be seen from the following, located at the very end of the story. I had come to these conclusions before I had entered this room The fact that Watson is telling the story keeps the reader in suspense. Due to the fact that Holmes doesnt share his clues with anyone else, not even Watson causes tension and suspense and it makes the reader become even more submersed into the story. Sherlock Holmes comes across as quite a strong character. From the following taken from the narrative, Holmes demonstrates his strength: he picked up the steel poker and, with sudden effort, straightened it out again. One can also tell that Holmes is a very placid and collected character because when Dr. Roylott confronted him, he remained composed and dignified in front of the erratic Dr. Roylott. Holmes showed that Dr. Roylott did not intimidate him by perplexing him. The following demonstrates this: But I have heard that the crocuses promise well  Ha! You put me off, do you?  Here, Holmes is demonstrating his superiority, to the reader. He shows no remorse in doing so. When Holmes straightens out the poker, he is effectively insinuating that he is just as good as Dr. Roylott, possibly even more so. He is also proving that he has equal physical strength.  Holmes tells Watson after his interlude with Dr. Roylott that he does not wish to be associated with the police. Fancy his [Dr. Roylotts] insolence to confound me with the official detective force! Again, this shows that he thinks he is better than the police as he is implicitly rude to them here. We can see that Holmes enjoys working independently from the following (at the beginning of the story): As to reward, my profession is its own reward This shows the reader that Holmes is only a detective because he enjoys the occupation. It is also saying that Holmes is not concerned about money. On the other hand, Bloodlines by Ruth Rendell is dissimilar in terms of the character and method of the detectives. In Bloodlines, there are two detectives involved. Only one main detective features in the story and that is Wexford, but the other detective, Burden, has his own place in the story as well. Wexford comes across to the reader as very persistent. He is very qualified in his job and gets on with it. One can see that he does so right at the beginning of the play when he is interviewing Arlene Heddon. You wont mind if I come back in a day or two and well have another talk. It is Wexford that takes charge throughout the story, and he voices his opinion the most. Wexford does have a personality, but Rendell doesnt show it to the readers. He does not reveal much information about himself throughout the duration of the story. One can also see that Wexford is very competent. He realises from the clues in the facts that it was Carol Fox that had killed Tom. The following is taken from the narrative towards the end of the story. From those pictures he suddenly knew who had killed Tom Peterlee and why. This is the only time in the story in which the narrative withholds information about what Wexford thinks. It is Wexford that puts all the clues together to solve the crime. Burden, the other detective, is not really involved in the murder of Tom Peterlee, but he helps Wexford out. This act shows the reader that Wexford and Burden are quite close acquaintances. Burden is a very busy man and he has other things to do. The reason why Burden does not appear to be on the same level as Wexford is because he is working on a different case to Wexford. He is very judgemental when he meets Arlene, he comments about her and he says that: Intelligent girls dont live in caravans with married welders. This quote shows that although Burdens views are very set and prejudiced, he is still observant enough to see Arlenes intelligence.

Slave Poet Phillis Wheatley - An Analysis of Her Poems

Slave Poet Phillis Wheatley - An Analysis of Her Poems Critics have differed on the contribution of Phillis Wheatleys poetry to Americas literary tradition. Most critics agree that the fact that someone called slave  could write and publish poetry at that time and place is itself noteworthy in history. Some, including Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush, wrote their positive assessments of her poetry. Others, like Thomas Jefferson, dismissed her poetrys quality. Critics through the decades have also been split on the quality and importance of her poems. Restraint What can be said is that the poems of Phillis Wheatley display a classical quality and restrained emotion. Many deal with pietistic Christian sentiments. In many, Wheatley uses classical mythology and ancient history as allusions, including many references to the muses as inspiring her poetry. She speaks to the white establishment, not to fellow slaves nor, really, for them. Her references to her own situation of enslavement are restrained. Was Phillis Wheatleys restraint simply a matter of imitating the style of poets popular in that time? Or was it in large part because, in her enslaved condition, Phillis Wheatley could not express herself freely? Is there an undertone of critique of slavery as an institution beyond the simple reality that her own writing proved that enslaved Africans could be educated and could produce at least passable writings? Certainly, her situation was used by later abolitionists and Benjamin Rush in an anti-slavery essay written in her own lifetime to prove their case that education and training could prove useful, contrary to allegations of others. Published Poems In the published volume of her poems, there is that attestation of many prominent men that they are acquainted with her and her work. On the one hand, this emphasizes how unusual was her accomplishment, and how suspicious most people would be about its possibility. But at the same time, it emphasizes that she is known by these people an accomplishment in itself, which many of her readers could not share. Also in this volume, an engraving of Phillis Wheatley is included as a frontispiece. This emphasizes her color and, by her clothing, her servitude, and her refinement and comfort. But it also shows a slave and woman at her desk, emphasizing that she can read and write. She is caught in a pose of contemplation perhaps listening for her muses but this also shows that she can think an accomplishment which some of her contemporaries would find scandalous to contemplate. A Look at One Poem A few observations about one poem may demonstrate how to find a subtle critique of slavery in Phillis Wheatleys poetry. In just eight lines, Wheatley describes her attitude towards her condition of enslavement both coming from Africa to America, and the culture that considers her color so negatively. Following the poem (from Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, 1773), are some observations about its treatment of the theme of slavery: On being brought from Africa to America.TWAS mercy brought me from my Pagan land,Taught my benighted soul to understandThat theres a God, that theres a Saviour too:Once I redemption neither sought nor knew,Some view our sable race with scornful eye,Their colour is a diabolic die.Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,May be refind, and join th angelic train. Observations Wheatley begins by crediting her slavery as a positive because it has brought her to Christianity. While her Christian faith was surely genuine, it was also a safe subject for a slave poet. Expressing gratitude for her enslavement may be unexpected to most readers.The word benighted is an interesting one: it means overtaken by night or darkness or being in a state of moral or intellectual darkness. Thus, she makes her skin color and her original state of ignorance of Christian redemption parallel situations.She also uses the phrase mercy brought me and the title on being brought deftly down-playing the violence of the kidnapping of a child and the voyage on a slave ship, so as to not seem a dangerous critic of slavery, but at the same time crediting not the slave trade, but (divine) mercy with the act. This could be read as denying the power to those human beings who kidnapped her and subjected her to the voyage and to her subsequent sale and submission.She credits mercy with her vo yage but also with her education in Christianity. Both were actually at the hands of human beings. In turning both to God, she reminds her audience that there is a force more powerful than they are a force that has acted directly in her life. She cleverly distances her reader from those who view our sable race with scornful eye perhaps thus nudging the reader to a more critical view of slavery or at least a more positive view of those who are slaves.Sable as a self-description of her color is a very interesting choice of words. Sable is very valuable and desirable. This characterization contrasts sharply to the diabolic die of the next line.Diabolic die may also be a subtle reference to another side of the triangle trade which includes slaves. At about that same time, the Quaker leader John Woolman is boycotting dyes in order to protest slavery.In the second-to-last line, the word Christian is placed ambiguously. She may either be addressing her last sentence to Christians or she may be including Christians in those who may be refined and find salvation.She reminds her reader that Negroes may be saved (in the religious and Christian understanding of salvation).The implication of her last sentence is also this: the angel ic train will include both white and black. In the last sentence, she uses the verb remember implying that the reader is already with her and just needs the reminder to agree with her point.She uses the verb remember in the form of a direct command. While echoing Puritan preachers in using this style, Phillis Wheatley is also taking on the role of one who has the right to command: a teacher, a preacher, even perhaps a master or mistress. About Slavery in Wheatleys Poetry In looking at Wheatleys attitude towards slavery in her poetry, its also important to note that most of Phillis Wheatleys poems do not refer to her condition of servitude at all. Most are occasional pieces, written on the death of some notable or on some special occasion. Few refer directly and certainly not this directly to her personal story or status.

Measuring Quality of Life Based on Geography

Measuring Quality of Life Based on Geography Perhaps the most important aspect of living that we sometimes take for granted is the quality of life that we receive by living and working where we do. For instance, the ability for you to peruse these words through the use of a computer is something that might be censored in some Middle Eastern countries and China. Even our capability to walk safely down a street is something that some countries (and even some cities in the United States) may lack. Identifying areas with the highest quality of life offers an important view of cities and ​countries while providing information for those hoping to relocate. Measuring  Quality of Life By Geography One way of looking at a places quality of life is by the amount of output it produces each year. This is especially handy in the case of a country considering many countries have varying degrees of production, differing resources, and distinctive conflicts and problems within them. The major way of measuring a countrys output per year is by looking at the countrys gross domestic product, or GDP. The GDP is the amount of goods and services produced within a country annually and is typically a good indication of the amount of money flowing in and out of the country. When we divide a countrys total GDP by its total population, we get GDP per capita which reflects what each individual of that country takes home (on average) per year. The idea is that the more money we have the better off we are. Top 5 Countries with the Largest GDPs The following are the top five countries with the largest GDPs in 2010 according to the World Bank: 1) United States: $14,582,400,000,0002) China: $5,878,629,000,0003) Japan: $5,497,813,000,0004) Germany: $3,309,669,000,0005) France: $2,560,002,000,000 Countries with Highest-Ranked GDP Per Capita The five highest-ranked countries in terms of GDP per capita in 2010 according to the World Bank: 1) Monaco: $186,1752) Liechtenstein: $134,3923) Luxembourg: $108,7474) Norway: $84,8805) Switzerland: $67,236 It seems that small developed countries are ranked the highest in terms of per capita income. This is a good indicator to see what the average salary is of a country but can be a bit misleading since these small countries are also some of the richest and, therefore, must be the most well off. Since this indicator can be a bit distorted due to the population size, there exist other factors which further inform quality of life. Human Poverty Index Another metric for looking at how well-off a countrys people are is to take into consideration the Human Poverty Index (HPI) of the country. The HPI for developing countries represents quality of life by formulating the probability of not surviving to age 40, the adult literacy rate, and the average amount of the countrys population who have little to no access to clean drinking water. While the outlook for this metric is seemingly dismal, it does provide important clues as to what countries are better off. There is a second HPI that is used mostly for those countries that are considered developed. The United States, Sweden, and Japan are good examples. The aspects that are formulated for this HPI are the probability of not surviving to age 60, the number of adults lacking functional literacy skills, the percentage of ​the  population with income below the poverty line, and the rate of unemployment lasting longer than 12 months. Other Measures and Indicators of Quality of Life A well-known survey that attracts a lot of international attention is the Mercer Quality of Living Survey. The annual list places New York City with a baseline score of 100 to act as the median for all other cities to compare with. The rankings consider many different aspects from cleanliness and safety to culture and infrastructure. The list is a very valuable resource for ambitious companies looking to set up an office internationally, and also for employers to decide on how much to pay at certain offices. Recently, Mercer began to factor in environmental friendliness into their equation for cities with the highest qualities of life as a means of better qualifying what makes a great city. There exist a few unusual indicators for measuring quality of life as well. For example, the king of Bhutan in the 1970s (Jigme Singye Wangchuck) decided to overhaul the Bhutanese economy by having each member of the country strive for happiness as opposed to money. He felt that GDP was rarely a good indicator of happiness as the indicator fails to take into account environmental and ecological improvements and their effects, yet includes defense expenditures that rarely benefit a countrys happiness. He developed an indicator called Gross National Happiness (GNH), which is somewhat difficult to measure. For instance, while GDP is an easy tally of goods and services sold within a country, GNH doesnt have much for quantitative measures. However, scholars have tried their best to make some sort of quantitative measurement and have found a countrys GNH to be a function of the well-being of a human in economic, environmental, political, social, workplace, physical, and mental terms. These terms, when aggregated and analyzed, can define how happy a nation is. There are also a number of other ways to quantify ones quality of life. A second alternative is the genuine progress indicator (GPI) which is similar to GDP but instead looks to see if a countrys growth has actually made people better off in that nation. For instance, if the financial costs of crimes, environmental degradation, and natural resource losses are higher than the financial gains made through production, then the countrys growth is uneconomic. One statistician who has created a way to analyze trends in data and growth is the Swedish academic Hans Rosling. His creation, Gapminder Foundation, has compiled plenty of useful data for the public to access, and even a visualizer, which allows for a user to look at trends over time. It is a great tool for anyone interested in growth or health statistics.

Risk Factors of Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Risk Factors of Culture - Research Paper Example â€Å"Business has†, Ball & Wendell submit, â€Å"entered the era of the one-world market. Increasingly, companies are going overseas to attain sales and profits unavailable to them in their home markets.† (1993:6) In addition, since technological revolution has made communication and traveling very fast and speedy, it has also become very convenient for the individuals to travel to even the remotest corners of the globe for business, education and employment purposes. Consequently, the fast means of traveling have brought the nations closer to each other and have paved the way towards the formation of diversified corporate culture particularly in the USA, China and the Western World. As a result, the individuals having different cultural backgrounds are now working shoulder to shoulder with one another under one roof in various corporate firms as workers and employees, which has given birth to the idea of cultural amalgamation and outsourcing. Thus, cultural amalgamati on has altered the entire corporate atmosphere from top to bottom, where the professionals belonging to different racial, ethnic and religious groups have to work as colleagues, bosses and sub-ordinates under one and the same environment. Not only this that the businesses have witnessed imperative boom and escalation in the aftermath of cultural diversification, and has proved extremely profitable for the companies, but also such a profound development has turned out to be beneficial for the consumers and end-users, because the incurring of the global talent has given a go to the manufacturing of innovative products and wide range of choice available for the consumers in the market. Consequently, the concept of universal co-existence has helped out in respect of mitigating the prejudices like nationalism and regionalism, and businesses observe unabated flourishing at global level. In the same way, there have appeared inevitable risks of some negative impacts too