Saturday, August 31, 2019

The Sixth Sense Film Analysis

With a close up of the award, the clip begins with our view of the couple only in reflection of Malcolm’s recent award, which is made to seem meaningless as we can’t read the writing despite it being in centre of the frame. The award is in a red frame. This already seems to be warning to both Malcolm and Anna that danger could be heading their way, especially during the reflected close-up shot of the two. It also makes us wonder why this prop appears slanted on the chair.This suggests that the award is a symbol of danger. Also, the red lighting on the couple from the fire leads us to believe that they are now the central target of a dangerous presence. Which we see in upcoming events. The only sound we hear is diegetic, though its very quiet which gives off a calm atmosphere but may also suggest we should be listening for something. In the shot where the couple are reflected in the frame, we see that she is lower down than him showing the characters importance.00:06:08 A wide shot is used to show the scenery and expensive objects. We can see that they are a wealthy couple through the setting. The large living room has what looks to be expensive furnishings and an ornate fireplace as well as a grandfather clock and chandelier in the equally big hallway. We also can assume this as Malcolm is wearing a jumper with a rowing club logo, something we often associate with richer people. The couple then head upstairs and discover the house has been broken into.The setting suddenly becomes dark and we see Anna’s shadow on the wall, She’s positioned to the right in front of the open window showing a dangerous situation, this is also hinted as her back is turned on the dark room insinuating there may be something lurking in the shadows, which is why the lighting is very low key and dull. We hear some diegetic sound though its rather quiet which helps to change the atmosphere from relaxing to a tense and suspicious one.00:06:41 Malcolm approaches his wife to see what the problem is, with this we get a point of view shot, the camera examines the floor before tracking up to the smashed window, the shot lasts approximately 8 seconds and allows us to take in the situation. The phone on the ground makes a beeping noise similar to the sound of a warning alarm which should be seen as a warning in its self. The noise then dies out which links to Malcolm’s life later in the scene.We can assume this scene is centred around Malcolm as it’s his view we’re seeing from, it’s also his bag we see on the floor sprinkled with shattered glass as well as earlier the winning of the award. 00:06:54 A mid-shot Is used to show Malcolm being protective of his wife. As the couple have now taken off there expensive jackets/cover ups it seems they also lost the power that comes with it. 00:07:08 The camera slowly zooms towards Malcolm and straight cuts back to a point of view shot, as this happens we hear the non- diegetic music increasing the tension.As we see Malcolm begin to move we also hear the faint noise of movement from the intruder, this (as well as the camera shot) is allowing the audience to capture that the intruder is standing in the bathroom. We see in a point of view shot to add tension as well as close ups so the audience can see the expression on Malcolm’s face. Though the distance from the bathroom and the position of Malcolm isn’t far at all 13 seconds pass before we discover who is in the room, the time has been stretched out to cause more tension.00:07:13 The first view we get of the bathroom is of the floor as the shot is still from Malcolm’s point of view, the fact we see the floor before the camera moves up shows that he isn’t confident enough to look straight ahead, the shot then is then zoomed out to create a full body shot. it’s obvious the man we see (Vincent) isn’t mentally stable due to the break in, his body language and the fact he’s took the majority of his clothes off, knowing this Malcolm speaks quietly trying to keep a clam atmosphere.As Vincent moves towards the door we hear the diagetic sound return, we also see Malcolm and his wife are aware of the danger, when Vincent moves closer and Malcolm steps back. 00:09:10 A mid-shot frame is used when Vincent starts to become angry and upset making him unpredictable and therefore more of a risk, the pan across Vincent’s face to allow us to see the emotions and then does the same to Malcolm. Vincents body language also tells the audience how unstable he is, one arm  is ‘protecting’ him throughout, he’s also very closed and shrugged which also gives off the sense of fear.The scene becomes very quiet with the only sound being whispers and crying. 00:09:51 A mid-shot is used as Vincent shoots the gun. High key lighting has been used to show whats going on as it’s done very quickly. The loud gunshot comes as a shock to the audience as it’s been very quiet which adds more shock, within seconds Vincent turns the gun on himself.The camera pans while this happens. Malcolm was shot in his rowing jumper, making it ironic that he was shot right in front of his rowing photo in which they all look happy and full of life. 00:10:27 A crane movement is used to end the scene, the screen then fades black and remains silent for a moment before playing the same non-diegetic music as earlier in the scene. The lighting is very dark and the room is a mess which represents the current situation The sixth sense film analysis With a close up of the award, the clip begins with our view of the couple only in reflection of Malcolm’s recent award, which is made to seem meaningless as we can’t read the writing despite it being in centre of the frame. The award is in a red frame. This already seems to be warning to both Malcolm and Anna that danger could be heading their way, especially during the reflected close-up shot of the two. It also makes us wonder why this prop appears slanted on the chair.This suggests that the award is a symbol of danger. Also, the red lighting on the couple from the fire leads us to believe that they are now the central target of a dangerous presence. Which we see in upcoming events. The only sound we hear is diegetic, though its very quiet which gives off a calm atmosphere but may also suggest we should be listening for something. In the shot where the couple are reflected in the frame, we see that she is lower down than him showing the characters importance.A wide sh ot is used to show the scenery and expensive objects. We can see that they are a wealthy couple through the setting. The large living room has what looks to be expensive furnishings and an ornate fireplace as well as a grandfather clock and chandelier in the equally big hallway. We also can assume this as Malcolm is wearing a jumper with a rowing club logo, something we often associate with richer people. The couple then head upstairs and discover the house has been broken into.The setting suddenly becomes dark and we see Anna’s shadow on the wall, She’s positioned to the right in front of the open window showing a dangerous situation, this is also hinted as her back is turned on the dark room insinuating there may be something lurking in the shadows, which is why the lighting is very low key and dull. We hear some diegetic sound though its rather quiet which helps to change the atmosphere from relaxing to a tense and suspicious one.Malcolm approaches his wife to see w hat the problem is, with this we get a point of view shot, the camera examines the floor before tracking up to the smashed window, the shot lasts approximately 8 seconds and allows us to take in the situation. The phone on the ground makes a beeping noise similar to the sound of a warning alarm which should be seen as a warning in its self. The noise then dies out which links to Malcolm’s life later in the scene.We can assume this scene is centred around Malcolm as it’s his view we’re seeing from, it’s also his bag we see on the floor sprinkled with shattered glass as well as earlier the winning of the award. A mid-shot Is used to show Malcolm being protective of his wife. As the couple have now taken off there expensive jackets/cover ups it seems they also lost the power that comes with it. 00:07:08 The camera slowly zooms towards Malcolm and straight cuts back to a point of view shot, as this happens we hear the non- diegetic music increasing the tensio n.As we see Malcolm begin to move we also hear the faint noise of movement from the intruder, this (as well as the camera shot) is allowing the audience to capture that the intruder is standing in the bathroom. We see in a point of view shot to add tension as well as close ups so the audience can see the expression on Malcolm’s face. Though the distance from the bathroom and the position of Malcolm isn’t far at all 13 seconds pass before we discover who is in the room, the time has been stretched out to cause more tension.The first view we get of the bathroom is of the floor as the shot is still from Malcolm’s point of view, the fact we see the floor before the camera moves up shows that he isn’t confident enough to look straight ahead, the shot then is then zoomed out to create a full body shot. it’s obvious the man we see (Vincent) isn’t mentally stable due to the break in, his body language and the fact he’s took the majority of hi s clothes off, knowing this Malcolm speaks quietly trying to keep a clam atmosphere.As Vincent moves towards the door we hear the diagetic sound return, we also see Malcolm and his wife are aware of the danger, when Vincent moves closer and Malcolm steps back. A mid-shot frame is used when Vincent starts to become angry and upset making him unpredictable and therefore more of a risk, the pan across Vincent’s face to allow us to see the emotions and then does the same to Malcolm. Vincents body language also tells the audience how unstable he is, one armis ‘protecting’ him throughout, he’s also very closed and shrugged which also gives off the sense of fear. The scene becomes very quiet with the only sound being whispers and crying. A mid-shot is used as Vincent shoots the gun. High key lighting has been used to show whats going on as it’s done very quickly. The loud gunshot comes as a shock to the audience as it’s been very quiet which adds mo re shock, within seconds Vincent turns the gun on himself.The camera pans while this happens. Malcolm was shot in his rowing jumper, making it ironic that he was shot right in front of his rowing photo in which they all look happy and full of life. 00:10:27 A crane movement is used to end the scene, the screen then fades black and remains silent for a moment before playing the same non-diegetic music as earlier in the scene. The lighting is very dark and the room is a mess which represents the current situation

Friday, August 30, 2019

Technology In Our Daily Lives

Technology is increasingly dominate the lives of human race for the last hundred years. We are becoming more dependent on it in many regards. It is very useful in assisting us on doing household works, education and transports. Despite it’s peaceful use the advancement of technology is still a subject of much controversy. Many argue that the production or consumption of it can be very undesirable for the society. It’s because new kind of weapon develop as new technology advance. Besides, new type of crime also can occur. The dropping of two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki pictured modern technology as a threat to humanity.Our modern technology is also seen as something that can wipe out lives in a blink of an eye especially when we are talking about weaponry. Since the end of the First World War humanity has raced to develop weapons of mass destruction. During the Cold War, the American and Soviet Union had enough nuclear stockpiles to annihilate the human race. They both are trying to dismantle as much as they can since the Cold War ended long ago. But people are still fear the danger of nuclear terrorism. It’s when nuclear weapons fall to the hand of terrorist.The movie â€Å"Sum Of All Fears† dramatizes things that could happen when terrorists have a control over nuclear weapon. New type of crime also taking place as our technology advance. Cyberbullying can be one of the examples. It’s the use of information technology to harm or harass other people in a deliberate, repeated and hostile manner. It’s a very serious offence in some countries like in the United States, United Kingdom and many other developed nations. Other than that, new type of scams like voice pitching also occur as the way we communicate change because of advancement in communication technology.However, many also argue that the improvement of our technology improve health care services in many ways. In the last 50 years, doctors and scientist s have developed many new approaches and cures for deadly and contagious diseases like Tubercolosis. Also, doctors now able to detect symptoms of diseases earlier before it can cause harm to the patient. Now, surgeons also able to perform a surgery without physically present in the surgical room. This thing can happens because the help of our modernization of our communication technology and modern computer.Nevertheless, technology is also an engine of prosperity. It gives benefits to our economy as new machineries able to produce more variety of goods and provide better services. Economy able to satisfy the increasing needs and wants of the society as new technology enable producer to process things quicker. At home, machineries also assist us in finishing many of our household works. Now, working mother able to cook dishes without having to cook it by themselves. They can use their smartphone application to get it done for them.It affects educational field in many terms at the sam e time. Schools and universities able to provide better service by confronting students with up to date information from the internet. The invention of new software like Turnitin helps lecturers to prevent their students from plagiarize someone’s work. In conclusion, technology is very beneficial for the live of human race. It’s offers us a better medical care as its prolonged our life span. Besides, it’s also serve as an engine of prosperity as it can satisfy our needs and wants better and also it increases human well being.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Animal Experiments Ethics Controversy Essay

Experiment In present-day society, it is a well-known fact that animal experiments are playing an increasingly key role in our lives, and it is advancing at an amazing speed. Its research results have completely changed our lives. But in the meantime, the animal experiments ethics controversy has sparked much debate. Many people think that for the survival and development of humans, animal experiments are necessary. While some people argue that life of animals and humans are equally important, they are against any form of animal experiments. In this essay, I will compare and contrast two typical opinions regarding this issue. Convincing arguments can be said that animal experiments are commonly used in medical research. In studies on investigation and prevention, human diseases play a huge role. To start with the role of medicine, using animals to test new drugs could help in understanding the effects and side effects of new drugs. Therefore, people don’t have to be test subjects, and can avoid the dangers of being these test subjects. Moreover, animal experiments in cloning human organs also have a new break through. For instance, people found that goats implanted with human stem cells have blood and organs similar to DNA of humans. Specifically, the main use of it is nurturing human organs in animals’ bodies. One day when people are injured or sick, they will be able to directly replace organs. More importantly, through animal experiments, we can explore the mysteries of human lives. In other words, controlling the human diseases and aging, extending the lives of humans could be realized by animal experiments. For these reasons, some statistics show that biomedical research projects with more than 60% need to conduct animal experiments. There are many topic researches of animal experiments that are difficult. After years of research, animal experiments have saved countless lives, and it will continue to save more lives. Compelling arguments can be made that animal experiments play an irreplaceable important role in many other fields of science. In the first place, national defense and military science obviously rely on animal experiments. As we know, the first creature into space was not human, instead it was a dog. People did a lot of experiments with the dog in space, and thus gained a lot of data. Sensors were used to monitor her heartbeat, blood pressure, and other bodily functions to better understand any physical changes that might occur in space. In the second place, agricultural science, using animal experiments is very important and meaningful. Thus chemical fertilizers, pesticide residue testing, and quality of food, is eventually determined through the uses of animal experiments. Last but not least, in the area of light industry, people’s daily necessities, especially, the effects of chemical products are experimented on animals to test for harmful ingredients. For instance, before food additives, fur products, cosmetics, and so on, companies were required to conduct animal experiments to prove they were not harm to the human body. With the development of times, more and more fields need animal experiments. Maybe people haven’t noticed, but it has become an essential part of people’s daily lives. It may be tempting to argue that animal experiments are not fair. The main reason for this is that people think animals and humans have the same basic survival needs, and high levels of psychological needs. Obviously, animals and humans have the same rights to live in the world. We need to respect animals, respect lives. Another reason is some people think that animal experiments are too cruel. For example, Draize eye irritation test is used to measure the stimulating degree to human eyes of certain products. Rabbit’s are always used to do this kind of test, since they don’t have tears. People lock up these rabbits, open their eyes, and drop in the test substances. In order to get the best results, people will be forced to close their eyes. Moreover, after the experiments, all the rabbits will be killed, whether they are healthy or not. Even so, we should not do this in order to save animals lives instead we should sacrifice people’s lives. We can’t dent animal experiments, since it has some inadequacies. I believe that before we find a viable alternative, the majority of people would still support animal experiments. In summary, I would concede that we should protect animals’ rights and welfare, try to reduce or stop animal experiments. Despite that in the present level of technology, the existence of animal experiments for the development of humans is very necessary. Overall, I am convinced that we should use the proper experimental design, and data analysis methods to reduce the use of experimental testing on animals in the existing conditions, and look for new alternatives actively.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Darwinism and His Theory of Evolution Coursework

Darwinism and His Theory of Evolution - Coursework Example With the appearance of the Theory of Evolution, the lacuna, which was previously filled with a belief in the Creator, could be filled with scientific explanations. The widely debatable Theory of Evolution swayed the minds of many scientists, who began to apply it to all branches of knowledge up to history (Marx) and psychology (Freud). More than one and a half century has passed after the Theory of Evolution publication date and all this time the debate over it was evolving, adapting, changing, but did not stop for a day even. As any science, Darwin’s Theory has far more questions than answers. The same situation is with the modern theories. The current Synthetic Theory of Evolution, combining achievements of genetics and classical Darwinism, was established 80 years ago. It’s now evident for all evolutionary biologists that it is outdated and many facts do not find any explanation in it. Scientists talk about the need for a new synthesis, which would unite the achievement of present-day paleontology, embryology, animal psychology and other fields of biology, which were not considered fully by the modern evolutionary theory. But even if the third synthesis occurs (Darwin’s theory is the first synthesis, as the historians of biology state), it will not, obviously, solve all the problems. But it will certainly put some new questions - such is the specificity of science. Overview of the Issue. Pros and Cons Scientists can debate certain statements and facts of the Theory of Natural Select ion, but they have to admit that it, as a whole, is logically simple, clear and is confirmed by so many facts, testable in experiments, that can not simply be erroneous.  Most biologists understand it.  Another thing is that life is a very complex phenomenon and the Theory of Evolution gives only a very simplified presentation.  This paves the way for further development of the theory in terms of constructive criticism.  The essence of the Darwinian concept of evolution is reduced to a number of statements, recognized by most scientists: Within each species of living organisms there is a huge range of individual genetic variations in morphological, physiological, behavioral and any other character.  This variability can have a continuous, quantitative or intermittent qualitative nature, but it exists always. All living organisms propagate their kind in a geometric progression. Resources for all types of living organisms are limited and, therefore, the struggle for existenc e must appear between individuals of one species or between individuals of different species or between species and natural conditions.   In the struggle for existence only the fittest individuals survive; individuals with abnormalities that happened to be adaptive to certain environmental conditions.  This is a fundamentally important point in the arguments of Darwin.  Deviations appear not as environmental variations, but happen by chance.  Few of them become useful under specific conditions.  Descendants of such survivors inherit useful deviations, which allowed their ancestors to survive, and are more adapted to the environment than the other members of population. Survival and reproduction of the fittest individuals was called â€Å"natural selection.† Natural selection of separate isolated species in different conditions of existence gradually leads to a divergence of characteristics of these species and, ultimately, to speciation. On these postulates, once ag ain, perfect in terms of logic and supported by a huge number of facts, the modern Theory of Evolution has been established. Each of these theories is an explanation that has been confirmed to such a degree, by observation and experiment, that knowledgeable experts accept it as fact (Quammen, NG).

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Summery and your opinion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Summery and your opinion - Essay Example Economists have proposed changes in the business sector. The proposed changes are mainly targeting large businesses with the aim of transforming them into entrepreneurship. Transformation of an organization from a knowledge-based organization to an information-based organization is not achievable with only data processing. The attempt by the British to establish an information based organization in the modern India proves the idea (Drucker 45). The impacts of computer technology in business are the first evidence of the inevitable transformation of knowledge-based organizations to information-based organization. Coca-Cola Company is an example of a company that is still in the transformation process. Recently the company has automated its production plants using information system. The best way to measure the benefits of computers in business is through an analysis of technology as a capital. This implies that we need to determine expected rate of return, payout period and the investment’s expected productive life, discount present value of returns, cost of deferment risk, cost of risks resulting from failure and the opportunity cost (Drucker 46). The rate of data processing has been linked with the transformation of knowledge-based organization to information-based organization. The British experience in India however proves that advanced data processing is not adequate to create an information-based organization (Drucker 48). An organization’s capacity to process data determines its structure and this is the second effect of the transformation. Data gives information the required relevance however the process of transforming data into information depends on knowledge. The most appropriate definition of knowledge is based on specialization and therefore it is not easy to separate information from knowledge. Similar to the knowledge-based organization, an information-based organization requires specialists. In addition, there are more specialists

Globalization is Good Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Globalization is Good - Essay Example According to him there are three major arguments namely network society, informational capitalism and the development of contemporary global politics acts as a unifying thread for globalization. His trilogy works on the interaction of these three forces leading to globalization. It is this informational and technological revolution that led to network society where all society structure and activities are based on electronically processes information (Castells, 1998). This network society along with informational capitalism is the globalization system, which gives rise to globalized networks in the form of enterprises and political movements etc. This has only been made possible with the advancement information and communication technology (ICT). This ICT revolution has seeped in all aspects of our society and the economy and is responsible for the current phase of globalization. According to him the changes in economic policy resulting in liberalization and deregulation of economy i s also made possible due to changes in ICT (Castells, 2000). It provided the technological capacity to the system to work as a single global unit. Castell’s view is different from Gidden’s on globalization who talks about globalization in totality whereas Castell’s emphasizes on the transformation to global society and the leading factors. According to Castells this informational capitalism is quite unique in its form and shape from the earlier forms of market society. it is argued that this form emerged in the wake of failure of capitalism in the 70’s due to declining profits, burgeoning social cost, rising standards of living and the post war settlements which led to full... This essay aims at studying the meaning and characteristic of globalization along with the social developments. What are the driving forces and factors for the globalization and network society? What role internet has played in transforming the functional capabilities of the social networks? This essay also aims at studying various dimensions of globalization along with different social experiences and configurations of globalization as well as their alignment with each other. After studying the forces, such as changes in communication and technology, that is responsible for transformation in globalization it is evident that globalization is inevitable. It has entered into every sphere of our life, including economy, politics, society etc. Society network has led to informational capitalism and has influenced the global economy. This globalization has not only been limited to economy and business it has changed the concept of nationality and identity as well. The new concept is of gl obal citizenship that transcends national boundaries. The impact of globalization has generally been positive although it has led to more ethnic violence in some cases, but it is argued that such violence and hatred can also be resolved by introducing globalization at the grass root level. Globalization has also created some disruptions in the concept of jurisdiction and sovereignty but these problems can be resolved with appropriate legal measures. Hence generally globalization has been inevitable but good.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Article Summary. See instructions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Article Summary. See instructions - Essay Example Thus, as the authors state, as many as 66% of these cases are never reported (Lohmeyer, Mccrory, and Pogreb, 2002). The authors state that IT (information technology) departments in businesses have most often been in charge of information security within companies. However, some companies have gone beyond this and made information security both a business and a technological concept. Regardless, the authors feel that there is still a wide need for improvement in information technology and business practices within the majority of businesses. According to the article, 30 Fortune 500 companies that were studied had placed a senior business executive in charge of ensuring information security. The article further states: â€Å"According to an April 2001 estimate by Gartner, half of the Global 2000 are likely to create similar positions by 2004.† (Lohmeyer, Mccrory, and Pogreb, 2002). A few of these companies are also making sure that further safeguards are being added to the technological measures already being used to protect the business information. Even this approach, however, does not se em to be working for all businesses—or not all businesses are taking it seriously enough. While some of these Fortune 500 companies are taking the concept in strict measure, several of them are ignoring the problem all tougher, and just see information security as a technological issue that only requires some kind of technological solution. This is certainly a problem, since most of those that are experts in technology know that networks cannot be made totally impenetrable, and that all security features must be constantly updated to stay ahead or up to date with hackers. (Lohmeyer, Mccrory, and Pogreb, 2002). Businesses that only focus on security issues as a technology problems are also ignoring the fact that many of these problems can

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Geographical Market Area of Life Telecom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Geographical Market Area of Life Telecom - Essay Example We are an avant-garde alternative telecommunications provider with fully converged IP architecture and selective use of wireless technologies as well as an optimized and technologically superior delivery of integrated services of Voice, Internet, Video, Surveillance and many single broadband connections. Telephony, Broadband Internet Connectivity, Advanced IPTV and Video Services, Advanced Communication (video conferencing and live even video streaming) Tele-Surveillance (large, small and medium-sized business, small offices and homes) Broadband Wireless (hotspot Wi-Fi) Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Life Telecom’s competitive advantage is built on the execution of its commitment: dependable delivery of advanced wireless services and breakthrough technological solutions backed by dedicated 24/7 network management support. We are a distinguished company in Bahrain and one of the few worldwide; to optimize the extensive use of IPs for the integrated deployment and management of voice, data, video, and value-added services over wireless networks. With us, no limits can hold you back from realizing your goals and â€Å"make your dreams come true†. The core product of Life Telecom for its initial rollout consists of a list of services including connectivity through the ISP providers. This is referred to as the Infrastructure Business Service. Life Telecom’s products and services are divided into three (3) main categories namely Wireless services, IP services (VPN, VoIP) and ISP related services. In the following phases, once the network is constructed, Life Telecom will introduce business services as a value-added service which can add value to Life Telecom subscribers including Web Applications and Web Consultations, etc.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Shopping Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Shopping Motivation - Essay Example however behind all these characteristics, the motivation to buy is one of the key variables which contribute towards shaping the overall strategies for marketing. Thus, analyzing and understanding different shopping motivations allow managers to help them better their segmentation policies as well as the development of new and more penetrating retail marketing strategies. (Wagner,2007). The traditional research in this area however, remained focused on the interaction of consumers with the physical market places to make their buying decisions however, over the period of time, as the new forms of markets and marketing evolved, the scope has broadened and currently research in this area also focus on the different motivations of consumers while making purchase decisions in different market settings. This paper will attempt to study and anlyse different shopping motivations that exists when consumers make buying decisions. This paper however, also takes into consideration Means End Chain and its links to the Goal Directed Theory while presenting analyzing various shopping motivations. According to dictionary definition of Consumer, a consumer is one who consumes an economic good. A consumer is generally thought of as a person who identifies a need or desire accordingly makes a purchase. Thus, a consumer is a person who first identifies or feels the need for something and then after going through a mental process decides to whether buy or not buy certain goods or services. Thus a consumer is generally thought of as a person who identifies a need or desire accordingly makes a purchase. However, there are different factors which influence that mental process of deciding what to buy and what not to buy and a good marketer will always attempt to understand that mental process and then design strategies to influence that decision making process. Thus, no matter who are we in life (a child, a parent, a student, a worker, a business owner, a lover, etc.) we buy and consume things which makes us consumers. We buy different products (tangible and intangible) for many reasons (to eat, to wear, to watch, to play, to travel, to keep in good shape and to feel secure). Hence, the consumption activity is essential and primary part of our daily life and we as consumers attempt to consume according to our needs, wants and purchasing power. (David, 1997). However, there is a certain process, as defined above, which takes place in consumer's mind while evaluating a purchase. That process or behavior is often called consumer behavior. Consumer Behavior Consumer behavior can be easily be described as how consumers feel, think, create reasons to select between different alternatives like different brands of goods, or different products. Thus in its essence, consumer behavior is how the external and internal factors influence a consumer to make a buying decision. Consumer behavior, therefore, not only involve the interaction of the consumer with its environment but it also attempt to comprehend the influence of that environment on the decision making p

Friday, August 23, 2019

Leadership in Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Leadership in Nursing - Essay Example In this regard, one can found innumerable cases and examples where nurses have been caring and have brought changes in patients’ lives. For this reason, nursing (Peterson’s, 2010) is a respectable and a profession in demand, and will always remain respectable and in demand. At the same time, I believe that nursing though being a profession is an art that involves some personal touches from the individual, as one can acquire nursing-related education from the academic institution but to be a nurse, one should be caring, compassionate, considerate, etc that becomes an art and a self-thing rather than a job. Since my childhood until now, I went through different phases that brought me closer to the families living in my community. Our neighborhood was a tight-knit locality where celebration or even tragedy would become friends and even strangers come together to celebrate or share the moments jointly. In this regard, my decision to go in the nursing profession (Petersonâ⠂¬â„¢s, 2010) was an outcome of a moment of my life when I came across a tragedy, death of a loved one in our community. While recalling my memory, I remember the feelings of compassion and kindness that everybody in the community showed to each other, especially during final days of that loved one. I saw how each individual reduced the pain in a different way as everybody took the death in his or her own perspective. In specific, from that experience, I now relate and interact with patients and their family members as someone from my community that went through the same experience of losing a loved one and that enables me to reduce my anxiety, and at the same time, reduce their pain during taking care of the patients. In other words, nowadays, I put efforts to acquire a different perspective of life in an optimistic manner and employ my knowledge and learning of medical education as my contribution as a nurse. Besides the experiences that influenced me in becoming a registered nurs e, my connection with God has been another notion that has been facilitating me in appreciating people and their relationships, and this relation helps me in taking life as it happens. In this regard, I believe that service is not a thing of everyone and different events of my life and relationship with God has taught me that the major purpose of life is to live for others and very few have really the heart to do that. The learning I have acquired through being a Registered Nurse at the Fresenius Medical Center, as well as at Jefferson Hills Manor have influenced me to perform my best for the betterment of other people both on and off duty. Besides acquisition of Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from California University of Pennsylvania, experiences such as volunteering had been very constructive in making me an ambitious person that now ignites me to do everything in life for the sake of other people. In addition, working as dynamic organizations such as Fresenius Medical Cen ter and Jefferson Hills Manor as a registered nurse and patient care technician, I have been successful in developing calmness, character, and skills to be caring in the

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The Life Styles Inventory Essay Example for Free

The Life Styles Inventory Essay The Life Styles Inventory (LSI) is a self-assessment questioning instrument that processes the information you input into the system into 12 different thinking styles. The LSI encourages applicants to understand and change bad behavior and find ways to improve them by examining one’s thoughts and feeling and why they do things the way they do. After taking the 240 self-assessment exam an individual knows exactly what they need to focus on in terms of their development style, because the assessment gives you raw feedback of the results. The results of the self-description is graphed on a circular diagram and table chart giving visual feedback of the individuals results as it relates to their thoughts and behavior in the 12 LSI styles. This summary is a custom-made developmental needs assessment, which then gives the individuals their strengths and areas they may need improvement in. My Life Style Inventory profile shows my primary style is Avoidance. My backup thinking style is dependent closely followed by Power falling within 5% referred to in the LSI Circumplex. As much as I hate to admit it I found the information in the finding extremely accurate with my primary style. I would definitely agree that Avoidance is in my nature. The information that it has under the avoidance style circumplex describes me to T. All my life I’ve been told that I hide my true feelings, that I shy away from situations that I may not want to get involved in because I make them bigger than they really are, and even that I have a fear of failure and rejection. However, I don’t fully agree with what it says about the Avoidance-Oriented Manager style for me. It states that that (â€Å"Managers scoring higher on this scale are often threatened by the responsibilities of their positions and tend to feel overwhelmed much of the time. By choosing to ignore problems in hopes that things will take care of themselves, they often obtain a false, temporary sense of security. †(LSI 2013). I agree with this statement to a certain extent. I might feel threatened by the responsibility of 1my position sometimes, but that is only because I want to do the job perfectly without any flaws, knots or wrinkles. As this may cause me to feel overwhelmed, it doesn’t make me ignore problems in hopes that things will take care of themselves it makes me strive that much harder to complete the job as best I can. I find myself as a more hands on: we will get it done together type manager because I feel people respect managers who don’t mind getting their hands dirty sometime. That’s not to say that I want delegate responsibilities throughout my team because I certainly don’t have a problem with doing that also. My first back up style is Dependent and I too much don’t agree with everything that was stated in this circumplex but again it kind of fit my personality. The circumplex states that (â€Å"The Dependent scale measures the degree to which we feel our efforts do not count. Dependent behavior originates in a need for security and self-protection: dependent people typically feel that they have very little control over their lives. † (LSI 201) It also stated that this style may be due to some type of life changes which I can see why it fits my personality. I was recently in a long term relationship with the first girl I ever loved and I believe due to that separation I can see how I may feel my efforts do not count and how I may feel I may feel that I have very little control over my life because in this relationship I really wanted to get back with my ex-girlfriend but we never did. And this even ties in with the Power management style which would be like my backup to my backup style. I believe my limiting style would be Self-Actualizing because this is where I scored my lowest score on the LSI circumplex. I believe that my low score in this area is what will possibly keep me from being the most effective manager possible. If I could change one behavior from this area I would change how it says I doubt myself and my ability to make a difference. I would like to have more confidence in my abilities and take the risks because with risk you get big rewards. This style that I would like to change is Achievement. I believe Achievement is one of the styles that I much have working for me because of all that I could gain. I also chose Achievement because this is where I scored one of my lowest scores on the LSI assessment and I agree with the reasoning the assessment had to offer. I think by me not scoring high in this assessment it increase my overall effectiveness in the organization because Achievers have increased opportunities for promotions, higher salary levels, more respect from others and the ability to effectively lead others just to name a few and these are all thing that I want the gain within an organization. My personal style is more laid back. I have a really nonchalant attitude toward most things. I am not really confrontational at all I am more like a mediator. I like to think of myself as an open person accepting of others and very friendly because I have a nature of wanting to be accepted. I feel my management style is somewhat different though. First and for most I demand the respect of all my employees as a manager because I want no misunderstanding what our roles is. Once you start one what you can’t change styles in the middle of the race, I believe you will lose a lot of respect from employees that way even fellow coworkers, top management etc. Also as a manager I feel that I am loyal, honest and fair. I believe that hard work is very important and I always strive to complete assignment at any cost. After I have established my roles as a manager and thing are running smoothly I then let my personality slip into the mix. Once I feel more comfortable with employees I am able to joke around and allow for a un-tense work environment. As I am not a manager at this time I recall my previous positions as a supervisor at my last job as a case manager and as a resident assistant over a floor of 35+ college men. In my job I also strived to complete assignments because I want the team to look good when other department were falling short of the quota. At the same time I was pretty cool with my team because I wanted a non-hostile work environment. My personality was shaped throughout the course of my life. I was raised by a single parent my mother and I was pretty sheltered. I was raised to do the right thing in a Christian household and to do unto others as I would want them to do unto me. I feel that the way I was brought up, my religion and culture definitely plays a part in my personality. I feel my mother sheltering me relates to my need to be dependent on others. I feel that the way I was brought up in a Christian household relates to me thinking the way I do causing me to be a little narrow-minded when it comes to certain issues. Looking back on this assignment I really feel like I learned a lot from the LSI. This experience helped me understand my style a whole lot better and makes me what to take hat I have learned and apply it to my life to make me a better manager. With what I have learned I definitely feel this assignment will influence my personal, academic and professional development because of what I know now. I’ve learned that this chart is not indefinite and that my styles can change if I work on it. The areas that I may feel are character flaw I can work on them and potentially fix them and make me better manager. One goal that I hope to work on is opening up more and not shying away from responsibility. I feel that if I work on these goals I would be a good manager.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Edgar Allan Poe and James Russell Lowell Essay Example for Free

Edgar Allan Poe and James Russell Lowell Essay James Russell Lowell and John Greenleaf Whittier were poets during the Romantic era. In that time, poets often wrote about humans’ relationship with nature. Romantics considered contact with nature as almost a religious experience. Lowell’s â€Å"The First Snowfall† and Whittier’s â€Å"Snowbound† can be explored through theme, tone, and figurative language. â€Å"The First Snowfall† and â€Å"Snowbound† share the obvious, similar theme, snow. Lowell writes, â€Å"The snow had begun in the gloaming† (Line 1). This is the beginning of the poem where he’s introducing the subject of snow and describing the simple experience of the first snowfall. Whittier writes, â€Å"The coming of the snowstorm told† (14). He also writes about snow, but describes a frightful, winter snowstorm, rather than a simple snowfall. Lowell’s and Whittier’s poems differ in tones. James Russell Lowell has an optimistic point of view toward the natural event, but the tone he uses is gloomy. â€Å"Again I looked at the snowfall and thought of the leaden sky† (25-26). Lowell is comparing the falling of snow to the mourning process of his daughter. Whittier is more depressed by the storm. He describes the snow as, â€Å"A hard, dull bitterness of cold† (11). Later, Whittier learns to accept the storm and writes about sitting and laughing by the fireplace with his family. Both poets use a variety of figurative language in their poems. Lowell uses a simile to describe the birds he sees outside his window flying through the snowfall. â€Å"And the sudden flurries of snow-birds, like brown leaves whirling by† (15-16). Whittier also uses a simile to describe what he observes outside his window. â€Å"And through the glass the clothesline posts looked in like tall and sheeted ghosts† (39-40). As shown, these two poems can be compared and contrasted through theme, tone, and figurative language. In the way the poets write, we can see their reactions to the snow. Even though they both wrote about snow, they didn’t approach the topic in the same way. Lowell and Whittier both lived in the Romantic era but lived different lifestyles, which affected how they saw events and formed the style of their poetry.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Kite Runner And Hamlet Tragedy

The Kite Runner And Hamlet Tragedy In the novel The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini and in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare the characters suffer tragedy as a result of the world that they have created for themselves. Despite the sufferings, in the end they find redemption. The characters do not act until they are pushed by it, the lack of action causes them to suffer. The conflict between father and son causes Amir and Hamlet to suffer. And Amir and Hamlet betray other characters and they both end up in tragedy. The man of action is rewarded while the man of inaction suffers tragedy. Amir and Hamlet are both hesitant in making decisions. Hassan, Amirs best friend and also his family servant, unconditionally helps Amir throughout the novel. Hassan is a brave Hazara boy who makes sacrifices for Amir. For you, a thousand times over Amir Agha. (Pg.1). Like Hamlet, Amir is very moderate in taking action. Amir witnesses Hassan get rapped before his eyes, but he just stands and watches it. In the end I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. (Pg.68). In this case, Amir is frightened to act because he is afraid of Assef, a bully, and what he would do to him. Similarly, Hamlets delay of action causes him to suffer. Despite the fact that Hamlet is aware of the flaw throughout the play, he does not act. Hamlets uncertainty about whether or not trust the ghost causes him to be very slow in acting, and this leads him to his downfall. Hamlet often does not act and when he does, he acts unwittingly. As a result, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius which leads him to his downfall. Hamlet himself realizes the complexity of him own action and he says, How stand I then, that have a father killd, a mother staind, excitement of my reason and my blood, and let all asleep, while to my shame I see all the imminent death of twenty thousand men. (Pg.231) Hamlet criticizes his own inaction by comparing himself to Fortinbras. Hamlet is impressed by Fortinbrass motivation to action that Hamlet himself lacks. Amir and Hamlet suffer from inaction that leads them toward tragedy. The tension between father and son, agonizes Amir and Hamlet. The relationship between Amir and Baba, Amirs father, and Hamlet and King Hamlet suffers the characters. At the beginning of the novel, Amir cannot fulfill Babas expectations of becoming his favoured son. Baba values sports and respected jobs, such as becoming a politician, more than anything else in his life. Baba is a self-centered man and he does not respect Amirs values and wants Amir to become like him. A boy who wont stand up for himself becomes a man who cant stand to anything.(Pg.22). As the time progresses Baba finds out that Amir has no qualities like him, and sometimes he even doubts whether Amir is his real son. This creates isolation between Amir and Baba. Furthermore, their isolation builds a tension between them which causes Amir to suffer. In contrast, the relationship between Hamlet and King Hamlet is considerably strong which provokes Hamlet to take revenge of his fathers death. I am thy fathers spirit; d oomd for a certain term to walk the night. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.(Pg.65). The ghost wants Hamlet to seek revenge for his fathers death. Hamlet loves his father, but he is uncertain about the ghosts existence. This puts Hamlet through dilemma and causes him to suffer. Amir is very obsessed with Babas expectations from him. Sometimes he curses himself for being his son. I wish I could open my veins and drain his cursed blood from my body.(Pg.27). Baba conceals his secret from Amir, and later on in the story he dies with his untold secret. Rahim Khan, Babas old business partner and his best friend, is a wise man who helps Amir with his advices throughout the story. Rahim Khan tells Amir Babas untold secret. He tells Amir that Hassan is his half-brother. Amir is angry because he hadnt known the truth in his whole life and he had been treating Hassan unfairly. But better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.(Pg.58). Baba conceals his secret to protect h is reputation, at the same time he is hurting Amir and causes him to act unwisely. Therefore, the inconsistencies between father and son suffer Amir and Hamlet. The betrayals alter characters lives, it causes them to suffer throughout the story and in the end it helps them to decide wisely. In The Kite Runner Amir betrays Hassan, his best friend. Later on, he faces the consequences of his betrayal and he chooses to redeem himself. Amir disguises the fact that he had witnessed Hassan being sexually assaulted. He deceives others when he is asked about Hassans wellbeing. This makes Amir feel dreadfully guilty, because he is being unfaithful to Hassan and their friendship. According to Baba, telling lies is the worst of all sins. When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wifes right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you lie, you steal someones right to the truth.(Pg.16). Amir is influenced by his guilt of betraying Hassan that he can no longer bear Hassans presence in his life, he arranges a conspiracy to drive Hassan out of his life. The absence of Hassan in Amirs life profoundly suffers Amir. He constantly remembers t he good time he had with Hassan in childhood. Most importantly, every thought of Hassan reminds Amir of his disloyalty. When Amir is told that Hassan is his half-blood brother, he regrets his unfaithfulness to him. In comparison, Hamlet betrays Ophelia, his lover. Hamlet is so overwhelmed with his fathers death that he completely forgets about his affections toward Ophelia. You should not have believed me, I loved you not. Get thee to a nunnery.(Pg.141). Hamlet betrays Ophelia by claiming that hed never loved her. Also, Hamlet murders Polonius, Ophelias father, which drives Ophelia insane. Ophelia commits suicide as a result of Hamlets betrayal, this causes Hamlet to suffer. In the novel, Amir instigates to seek forgiveness. Rahim Khan tells Amir that Sohrab, Hassans son, is captured by Taliban in Afghanistan, and he wants Amir to save Sohrab. There is a way to be good again.(Pg.173) Rahim Khan is aware of all the secrets in Amirs life and he tells him that has only one chance to re deem himself from his guilt, it is to save Sohrab and fulfill Hassans wishes. Despite all the obstacles on his way, Amir chooses to save Sohrab. He achieves redemption when he succeeds to save Sohrab and adopt him as his own child. Amir and Hamlet betrays other characters in the story, and in the end they both find redemption. In conclusion, Amir from The Kite Runner and Hamlet from the play Hamlet suffer tragedy as a result of their own actions. Amir and Hamlet are very hesitant in taking actions and when they act, it causes them to suffer. Babas characteristics and his expectations from Amir create conflicts between them, which causes Amir to suffer. Similarly, Hamlets search for his fathers revenge puts him in a dilemma. Finally, Amir and Hamlets betrayal to others causes them to suffer and lead them to their downfall.

How does Miler create a sense of tension and conflict between John and

How does Miler create a sense of tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of Act Two? In Act Two, John and Elizabeth Proctor are conversing and there are signs to indicate that there are tensions occurring in their marriage. Although the main theme of the ‘The Crucible’ is Witchcraft, this Act concentrates mainly on the relationship of John and Elizabeth. Miller uses a variety of dramatic devices, like stage directions to promote this point. Prior to this act the girls have named the witches and John has returned from Salem. Considering that this is where Abigail (whom John had an affair with) resides, it does not improve his dying marriage and relations with his wife. Miller begins by setting the tone for the scene and describes the front room of Proctor’s house. The room is described as ‘low, dark and rather long’; this immediately gives the impression of a threatening and hostile place. Coupled with the empty room, this could signify loneliness and symbolize the emptiness and lack of affection within the marriage. The word ‘halts’ is used to depict an image of a shocked John as he hears his wife singing, upon his entrance to the house. Miller could have decided to include this piece of information in order to show the audience how Elizabeth is rarely in a good frame of mind – perhaps due to her failing marriage. John then proceeds to add further seasoning to the food that Elizabeth has already prepared. This action is one of many devices used demonstrating the lack of satisfaction and need for more within the marriage. When Elizabeth does eventually enter to meet John, Miller is quick to show through her first line of speech â€Å"What keeps you so late? It’s almost dar... ... be more romantic and Miller shows an opposing side to his character, the pause indicates their discomfort and when Elizabeth’s ‘back is turned to him’ this is yet another effective way of making the audience notice the increasing distance between them, both physically and emotionally. Finally John then gives up and decides to try and address the problem that is bothering his wife. Miller’s stage directions ‘she doesn’t want friction, and yet she must’ portrays an image of a woman caught in two minds. Elizabeth wants to remain a good, obedient wife however she cannot resist challenging John about his whereabouts which led to his late arrival. The place of ‘Salem’ is mentioned and this could be Miller’s way of Elizabeth inadvertently or perhaps indirectly showing her distrust towards John. When John learns of Marry Warren’s presence in Salem his anger.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Portfolio Assessment Essay -- essays papers

Portfolio Assessment Perhaps the most prominent form of alternative assessment in use today is the student portfolio. A portfolio can be described as a â€Å"purposeful collection of student work that exhibits the student’s efforts, progress, and achievements in one or more areas of the curriculum.† Key elements of the portfolio include evidence of students’ choosing the contents of their own portfolio, specific criteria for the selection and assessment of student work, and clear evidence that the student has reflected on his or her work (Chriest & Maher, n.d.). Portfolios have been proven an effective means of student assessment in many areas of schooling, from preschool all the way through post-graduate work. Portfolio assessment has also been rendered effective in many business settings to determine the value of an employee. The advantages of portfolio assessment are many. Foremost, portfolios, when compared to written testing, provide teachers with a more complete picture of a student’s progress. Portfolios exhibit a student’s ability to problem solve and to reflect on the work that he has done. They also give students the opportunity to tangibly track their progress in a class. When implemented, portfolios can also encourage a school system to work towards a more â€Å"collaborative evaluation environment† (Curry, 2000). This indicates that the portfolios are not only tools for teachers to assess a student’s progress, but also for administrators to monitor a teacher’s classroom management. Disadvantages of portfolio assessment also exist: in many studies, â€Å"students found that keeping a portfolio contributed little to their self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses and, in some cases, that it even reinforced weakn... ...sment/alt_assessment.html This webpage lists other websites useful in alternative assessment. Resources are grouped by online location and subject. UniServe Science. (2004). Alternative strategies for science teaching and assessment. Retrieved March 7, 2004 from http://science.uniserve.edu.au/school/support/strategy.html This is an excellent resource that lists and explains not only creative alternatives to written testing but also ways to reach every student with every style of learning. Strategies outlined include virtual field trips, collaborative work, and debates. Worcester, T. (n.d.). Electronic portfolios. Retrieved April 14, 2004 from http://www.essdack.org/port/index.html This site contains information on electronic portfolios. Specifically, it includes reasons for considering, how to create, and assessment of electronic portfolios.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The Scientific Revolution and The Enlightenment Essay -- Essays Papers

The Scientific Revolution and The Enlightenment In the 17th Century, there was much controversy between religion and science. The church supported a single worldview that God’s creation was the center of the universe. The kings and rulers were set in their ways to set the people’s minds to believe this and to never question it. From these ideas, the Enlightenment was bred from the Scientific Revolution. Nicholas Copernicus was the first to question the universal truths and teachings of the church. He devised a theory that the earth along with the other planets revolved around the sun. This theory disagreed with Aristotle and the old teachings that the universe revolved around the earth, and that man was the center of the universe. To follow Copernicus’ theory was Giordano Bruno. He went beyond Copernicus to suggest that space was limitless, and that the sun and its planets may not be the only systems of its kind. i Bruno dared to say that he believed there was a possibility of other worlds with rational beings possibly superior to us. Since this kind of action was unheard of at that time, Bruno was condemned and burned at the stake for blasphemy. The team of Tycho Brahe and John Keppler were the next to study Copernicus’ theory. Brahe tried to disprove Copernicus’ theory and tried to prove the idea of the earth-centered universe. Although Keppler was Brahe’s assistant, he argued for Copernicus and analyzed Brahe’s data to conclude that the sun was the center of the universe. Keppler also used Brahe’s data to discover the movement of the planet Mars. This was the key to explaining all planetary motion. ii He also discovered the planets move in elliptical orbits, which also went against the beliefs of the church. Kepp... ...nce and nature inter-twined to compliment one another. i Santillana, Giorgiode. The Crime of Galileo. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955. ii Dene Scoggins. www.txwesleyan.edu/scoggins/world/17thCenturyScience/menu.html iii Porter, Roy. The Enlightenment. London: The Macmillan Press Ltd. 1990. iv Dene Scoggins. www.txwesleyan.edu/scoggins/world/17thCenturyScience/menu.html v Santillana, Giorgiode. The Crime of Galileo. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955. vi Santillana, Giorgiode. The Crime of Galileo. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955. vii Brians, Paul. http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/enlightenment.html viii Outram, Dorinda. The Enlightenment. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1995. ix Brians, Paul. http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/enlightenment.html

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Agatha Christie Essay

â€Å"Agatha Christie, a woman who is recognized as one of the best female crime & mystery novel writers of all time†. This introduction provides reasoning to prove that this is true through the explanation of her strong characters, her interesting settings, and her strong display of morality. The writer does a good job in avoiding facts, keeping the thesis mainly opinionated. In the body of the essay, I believe it could have been rearranged in order to have more of an effect on the reader. in body paragraph one, the writer gives a brief explanation of the strong characters Agatha Christie created. I believe this paragraph should have been in the middle and switched with body paragraph number two. In body paragraph number two the essay writer goes into great depth and detail about the interesting and diverse cultural settings she portrays her stories in. This paragraph portrays an in-depth insight in the settings of Agatha Christie novels. If placed first among her body paragraphs, its effectiveness would captivate its reader. The last body paragraph on Agatha Christie’s morality is an effective way to end this essays argument. This gives the reader a look at the â€Å"Why’s and how’s† of Agatha Christie’s world and her passion behind writing these types of novels. The essay writer avoids just reusing her major arguments in her essay; by simply paraphrasing she effectively includes the important ideas of her essay into her conclusion. Although this essay could be slightly proved upon, it was a effective example of highlighting stylistic writings of the great female novelist Agatha Christie. The Enduring Appeal of Agatha Christie Who does not enjoy a good mystery story? Popular literature abounds with examples, ranging from the controversial work of Dan Brown to the horrific work of Stephen King. This genre, rooted in the Victorian tradition of Edgar Allen Poe, Wilkie Collins, and Arthur Conan Doyles, certainly has a wide following. On the beach, on the subway, people escape into the world of these authors. Although many female writers claim to be the â€Å"Queen of Crime Fiction†, it is really Agatha Christie against whom all others are measured. Even many years after her death, readers appreciate Agatha Christie’s novels ecause of her strong characters, her interesting settings, and her strong morality. Next to Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple are two of the most recognizable detectives in fiction because of their distinctive attributes. Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, is noted for moustaches and his â€Å"egg-shaped head†. From the rather violent village of St. Mary Mead, Miss Jane Marple is known for knitting needles. A third detective, Ariadne Oliver, is an author with a fondness for apples. Interestingly, the last character is also thought to be Christie’s alter ego. Through her characters, Christie is able to express her own views on the social issues of her time. Ariadne Oliver, Poirot, and Miss Marple live in time and a world that has changed drastically and perhaps that is why the world of Agatha Christie is so interesting to us till: nostalgia. Although she is from a small village, Miss Marple seems to get around a great deal. In one adventure, she is convalescing in the Barbados when a murderer strikes in the resort where she is staying. Poirot and Ariadne Oliver can be found in small villages, London, and exotic settings in the Middle East. Despite their varied locales, the common element that runs through Christie’s novel is the â€Å"closed† society. These worlds are cut off culturally, economically, or physically, as in the case of Ten Little Indians, which is set on an island off the Devon coast. Poirot’s world is largely that of the upper classes, but considering the number of bodies found in stately country homes, they can be rather dangerous group to cross! The time is never specified, but a vague period between World War I and World War II is often favoured. Indeed, when in some of Christie’s later novels like Passenger to Frankfurt or Toward Zero, Christie uses the time period of the 60’s, the novels do not quite ring true. Vintage Agatha Christie harkens back to a more innocent time, although perhaps a more murderous one! Time and fashion may change in Christie’s world, but Christie’s moral stance stays firm. Through Christie’s novels, we can gain insight into the morality of the early 20th century, which still might have some resonance. In Christie’s world, murderers are punished by hanging. Even the gentle Miss Marple states in one novel that she feels it only right that a cold-blooded murder should be executed. Poirot favours capital punishment as well, expressing the view that it is more humane than putting a person in a small jail cell for life. Divorce is frowned on in Christie’s novels. After Christie’s first marriage to an RAF officer ended in divorce when he left her for another woman, Christie’s wrote several novels in which retired air force officers tended to be the villains! Christie’s morality, along with her setting and characters, give her novels a staying power that has certainly not been matched by anyone writing in the genre today. In practically any bookshop, airport newsstand or train station, it is possible to buy a Christie novel. Hers is a world of moral certainty: the victim will be avenged, the guilty will be punished, and in the end, the natural order of world, upset by murder, will be restored. Perhaps it is this restoration of order that gives the modern such comfort in these uncertain times.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Arthurian and Grail Poetry Essay

In 1871, Swinburne produced a new collection of poems which he entitled â€Å"Songs Before Sunrise†, which echoed a whole generation’s sentiments about Italy’s struggle for freedom. The poet’s stellar piece, â€Å"Hertha†, was yet another offering to the pagan altar upon which he worshipped. Hertha, the goddess of fertility, is written as the speaker of a dramatic monologue that aims to declare her superiority and immortality over the Christian God, a tactic Swinburne used to get the attention of the Victorian audience. He emphasizes, through Hertha, the significance and importance of Mother Nature over God, and provides line after line of physical representations of a â€Å"mother† that gives life and nourishment to her offspring, compared to a God who, in Swinburne’s logic, false and provisional. Also, by centering on the â€Å"body† of Hertha, Swinburne stays true to his established tradition of sensuality and passion. He ends the poem with Hertha saying â€Å"I am man†Ã¢â‚¬â€completing the ultimate pagan principle of man’s harmony and unity with nature. Swinburne’s most celebrated work, among his legendary pieces, is 1882’s â€Å"Tristram of Lyonesse†. A veritable triumph in the technical sense, the poem was skillfully written to feature long romantic couplets punctuated with a brilliant arrangement of vowel sounds, rhythm, and alliteration. Swinburne exposes his concept of passion masterfully in this tale of lovers who care for nothing else but their love, and would go to any length to keep the fire burning. Often referred to as Swinburne’s ode to the English dramatists, â€Å"Tristram† is, to this day, the most exemplary rendition of the English couplet. IV. Other Literary Accomplishments As much as Swinburne was known as an exceptional poet was his reputation as an excellent critic. From 1868, he managed to produce a number of volumes of literary criticism, with the best contained in Miscellanies and Essays and Studies. In this series, the genius and poetics of Swinburne are satisfyingly revealed and explored. He also published A Study of Shakespeare, in which he expressed his own great technical competencies and proficiencies in the areas of music and rhythm in poetry, by praising the iconic master of story, song, and technical excellence. It is quite apparent that Swinburne had intentionally limited his paganistic and atheistic principles to his poetry—the literary criticism that bears his name almost always stays firmly on the positive side, with nary a mention of technical or thematic shortcomings of the authors he discusses. With Swinburne’s passing in 1909, the Victorian society of England lost one of its greatest masters in lyric poetry, whose genius and brilliance were quite overflowing that he found it necessary to go against the tide, and stand by the least accepted constructs of society. V. Conclusion The question regarding Swinburne’s religious influences in his poetry has been clearly answered, and has validated the original logic proposed. There are indeed references to Christianity and traditional beliefs in almost all his poetry, which he strategically decided to use to disprove many of the paradigms established by the Church. With his declared propensity to explore the ideals of physical pain and pleasure, sexual passion, and excessive living, through a great deal of wit, sarcasm, and morbidity, the reading audience is left shocked and astonished way beyond their accepted levels. However, it takes one as talented as Swinburne to effectively realize the relationship between two opposing poles—Christianity and immorality—and use the commonalities to create an ideology that is all at once controversial and unacceptable, but also incredible and brilliant. Bibliography Apiryon, T. ‘Algernon Charles Swinburne’, The Hermetic Library, 1995, retrieved 12 July 2008 from http://www. hermetic. com/sabazius/swinburne. htm Bartleby, ‘The Rossettis, William Morries, Swinburne, and Others’. Bartleby. com, retrieved on 12 July 2008 from http://www. bartleby. com/223/0508. html Cymru, Gordd. ‘Arthurian and Grail Poetry’, Celtic Twilight, 2000, retireved 12 July 2008 from http://celtic-twilight. com/camelot/poetry/swinburne/index. htm Representative Poetry Online, ‘Selected Poetry of Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837- 1909), retrieved on 12 July 2008 from http://rpo. library. utoronto. ca/poet/319. html Sawhney, Paramvir, ‘Gestalt Paganism in AC Swinburne’s Hertha’ The Victorian Web, 2006, retrieved on 12 July 2008 from http://victorianweb. org/authors/swinburne/sawhney9. html Thomas, Edward, ‘A Modern Bacchant’, The New York Times, 29 December 1912.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

“A change in my life that has been for better”

Ten years ago, I married my beautiful wife and that was one of the best things that could ever happen to me. Marriage completely changed my life for the better and I am grateful for that.When I first came to the United States at the age of 14, with no parents with me except one sister I was alone. Overwhelming with her own responsibilities, my sister could not care for me, so I had to care for myself. That is one of the reasons why I was married at an early age of 22. Married to my wife changed me for better in many ways.Firstly, as my wife she cares for me in way which my mother would. For example, she washes my clothes for me, cooks for me and most basic things that my mother would have done for me in a regular basis.As a custom in my culture, when a man choosing a wife, she must be able to do everything that a mother would do for a son and more, such as prepare a good meal for the husband, make sure that he has clean clothes and be a shoulder for him to cry on if he need to. Anoth er thing a mother would do is to give advice when needed.Secondly, she loves me, because of her love I know what love is. I never knew real love before I met my wife. I never thought that I would be able to love or trust someone. She shows me that I was able to love and that completely changed my life certainly for the better.I feel free now that I know that someone loves and cares for me. She gives me hope to forward in life. She made me feel like all things are possible for me. That’s alone making me want to leave.Finally, her companionship is also as important.   Since were married I am never by myself except in school or unless we are at work. We have never spent a week away from each other. That is how much we love being together. She makes me feel safe when I am with her. I can remember vividly, we were having a conversation, and then she told me â€Å"you know Man, I am your protector, I was sent by God to protect you†.I also believe that being married saves m e from many diseases out there. Without being married, I probably would date as many women possible until I find the right one. Because now that I am married, I have to stay with one woman therefore, that saves me.Marriage could have both negative and positive effects on one’s life, but for me marriage was positively changed my life. I never imagine my life to be better except through marriage.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Compare and Cotrast the Characters of Gabriel Conroy and Michael Furey in “The Dead.”

Michal Furey loved Gretta so much that he, a (probably) tubercular worker in a potentially carcinogenic workplace (the gasworks) risked his already fragile health to come stand in her back garden in a cold rain. He is so desperate to see Gretta before she leaves that he says â€Å"†¦ he did not want to live. † Gretta believes that he died for her, and it may well be the case. There is no mention of whether or not he wore galoshes, but if he did it didn't save him. He died a week after that last time he saw Gretta.Gabriel, however, is fond of the newfangled galoshes, and he is careful about his and his wife's health. Unlike Michael Furey, Gabriel seems to relish being alive. He is in love with his wife, but he also does not seem to harbor romantic notions about her. â€Å"He did not like to say even to himself that her face was no longer beautiful but he knew that it was no longer the face for which Michael Furey had braved death. † It's hard to imagine Gabriel Conr oy braving death for anyone, and certainly not for romantic love.He seems too self-satisfied for that, but he also has, as many smug and contented people have, an element of self-loathing â€Å"A shameful consciousness of his own person assailed him. He saw himself as a ludicrous figure, acting as a pennyboy for his aunts, a nervous wellmeaning sentimentalist, orating to vulgarians and idealising his own clownish lusts, the pitiable fatuous fellow he had caught a glimpse of in the mirror. † It is difficult, in this last respect, to compare Michael Furey and Gabriel Conroy.Michael Furey died as a teenager, in all the passion of ill-health coupled with immaturity and intense romanticism. Gabriel is a grown man, a teacher, a father and husband, with all the cares, maturity, satisfactions, and even dashed illusions that that status conveys. Michael, the passionate lover of Gretta who sang, with a beautiful voice, the maudlin tune of â€Å"The Lass of Aughrim† had none of G abriel's life of solid — and, perhaps, stolid — respectability and responsibility. Such circumstances change personalities.But, it is suggested by Joyce's text, Michael and Gabriel shared little except their love for Gretta. Michael is headlong, talented, in ill-health, but also careless of life. Gabriel is, by comparison, careful, steady, respectable, and bent on the enjoyment of his possessions (especially Gretta) and his raised status compared to many people around him. They seem to be of very different dipositions, and, at the end of the story, Gabriel and the reader are left to think whether Gretta would have been happier with Michael Furey, had he lived.

Bris Milah (Circumcision)

Bris Milah (Circumcision) Essay The Covenant of CircumcisionAnd G-d said unto Avroham: And as for you, you shall keep Mycovenant, you, and your seed after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you andyour seed after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. Andyou shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be atoken of a covenant between Me and you. And he that is eight days oldshall be circumcised among you, every male throughout yourgenerations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of anyforeigner, that is not of your seedand My covenant shall be in yourflesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male who isnot circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut offfrom his people; he has broken My covenant. Genesis 17:9-14Within the Jewish community, the topic of bris milah, ritualcircumcision, has never been more controversial. Many liberal Jews are nowrethinking its function in Jewish life, some even choosing not to perform it ontheir sons. They argue that circumcision is no longer of value now that thespread of infection can be halted by good hygiene and modern medicine. Some fear that the removal of the healthy part of an organ is a purelyarbitrary act which may cause permanent psychological and physicaldamage. It is true that circumcision alone is neither medically necessary noremotionally beneficial. Still, the bris milah is an essential ceremonyintended to formally usher the Jewish male into a covenant with G-d. Although the removal of the foreskin has been practiced by Jews sinceAvroham, the actual ceremony as it is today developed some time around themiddle-ages. Thus, communities in North Africa, Europe, and the Middle-Eastall evolved unique customs for welcoming new baby boys . There are stillcertain elements that are typical of all ceremonies. The following descriptionof a German bris is typical of the milah ritual and lacks many of the detailsthat would distinguish it from ceremonies originating in other regions. The mohel, ritual circumcisor, calls in the kvater (from German forfather, or G-dfather), the man who delivers the baby into the sanctuary. The mother, who will not witness the ceremony, hands her eight-day-old soninto the care of his grandmothers who pass him over to the kvater. Thekvater carries the baby into the next room and lays him into a beautiful chairwhich the mohel will declare as the Throne of Elijah before reciting a fewbiblical verses. The kvterin, G-dmother, lifts the baby from the Throne ofElijah and places him into the lap of the Sandak, the man (usually the father,grandfather, close friend, or well respected Torah scholar) in whose lap theceremony will take place. The mohel asks the fathers permission to act asproxy for the mitzvah, commandment, of circumcision. The fatherrelinquishes his right to perform the circumcision and appoints the mohel,who is more familiar with the religious law as well as the medical andhygienic requirements of circumcision, to do the mitzv ah instead. The mohelrecites the benediction, Blessed are You haShem our G-d, Master of theuniverse who sanctifies us with the mitzvot and commands us to performcircumcision, before removing the babys foreskin. When the actual cuttinghas been complete, the father also makes a benediction: Blessed are YouhaShem our G-d, Master of the universe who has sanctified us with Hiscommandments and has commanded us to bring him the baby into thecovenant of Avroham, our Father. Everyone in the audience then declares,Just as he has been brought into the covenant, so too he should enter Torahstudy, the wedding canopy, and the doing of good deeds (Klein 426). It isduring this ceremony that the boys name is publicly announced for the firsttime (Robinson132). Bris Milah literally means covenant circumcision. Ashkenazic,Northern- and Eastern-European Jewish, communities refer to the entireceremony as a Bris which means simply the covenant. Rabbi MosheSchapiro emphasizes that the circumcision must be coupled with theintention to forge a blood pact between G-d and the Jewish people. Thatbris milah is frequently translated only as circumcision is unfortunatebecause it leads people to believe that the removal of the foreskin is themost important element of the mitzvah. This is in conflict with Jewishthinking. Indeed, someone who is circumcised without the intent of fulfillingthis specific commandment must undergo a subsequent, relatively painless,procedure in which a drop of blood is drawn from the reproductive organ inthe name of the bris. This procedure is most commonly performed on maleconverts to Judaism who underwent medical circumcisions as children. The commandment is often seen as barbaric in the modern day. AsRabbi Shraga Simmons points out, there is no logical argument for cuttinga piece of flesh off a helpless baby. Three years ago Israeli courts heldhearings to discuss the famous case number 5780/98 which would outlawcircumcision as a form of genital mutilation. Indeed, to remove a healthypart of an organ is ridiculous in a secular context, and yet it has beenpracticed on Jewish males for nearly 4,000 years. The great question is why. One must first realize that Judaism is not a practical guide to livingbut a theological guide to spirituality. Many people have claimed over theyears that circumcision was practiced by the Jews for hygienic reasonshowever, this explanation is foreign to Jewish thinking and is absent from theearliest commentaries and oral laws of torah. The Jews were never regardedas healthier than their non-Jewish, uncircumcised neighbors. They did notperform milah on their sons because they hoped to prevent i nfection, butbecause they felt that it was a religious obligation. The Jews do not conformto religious obligations because they believe it is physically healthy to do so(if there are any medical benefits, these are considered secondary) butbecause they believe it is spiritually healthy to do so. To disobey the Laws ofhaShem, G-d, is looked upon as spiritual mutilation. According to Jewish mysticism, or kabbalah, the foreskin symbolizes abarrier which prevents growth (Simmons). Deuteronomy 10:16 calls uponus to remove the foreskin of our hearts. Orlah, the Hebrew termtranslated as foreskin literally means barrier. The foreskin is seen as abarrier to the spiritual growth of the uncircumcised individual. In anotherkabbalistic example, we are taught that when Avram circumcised himself, atage 99, G-d changed his name to Avroham. He added only one letter to hisname: heh. The letter heh is found twice in one of the most holy ofhaShems names signifying that through the bris milah a dimensio n ofspirituality is brought to the physical body. So, why on the eighth day?The answer is twofold. Schapiro believes that the number eight has aspecial metaphysical significance. He notes that the number six alludes tothe physical world: there are six directions (north, south, east, west, up anddown); there are six days to the work week, and according to the Chumashthere were six days of creation. The number seven, he adds brings a senseof spirituality to this physical world: the seventh day of the week, Shabbos, isa Jewish holy day, and many Jewish festivals, including Sukkos last for sevendays. The number eight however, transcends the physical altogether. Forexample, the festival of Chanukah, which commemorates a great miraclelasts eight days. READ: The True Tragic Hero in Antigone EssayThe second reason is one that might be considered a practical benefitwhich is supported by medical data. According to Simmons, prothrombin andvitamin K, two blood clotting agents, are at peak levels on the eighth day oflife. Prothrombin levels are normal at birth but drop dramatically during thenext few days. However, at the end of the first week, levels of prothrombinreturn to normal and are often at 110 percent of normal before stabilizing bythe ninth or tenth day. Still, the most logical reason to perform a ritualcircumcision is, in the religious context, simply to act as the sign of thecovenant G-d made with Avroham because this is the reason that we aretaught through Torah. Aside from the de-emphasis of physical matters involved in theprocedure, traditional Jews avoid reference to health benefits because, forthe most part, medicine doesnt appear to be on our side (Fink). WriterMordechai Housman insists that there has never been a re ported case ofhealth danger to a child circumcised by an Orthodox mohel, but mother, LisaBraver Moss claims that there are two known bris milah related deaths inmodern times: one in 1957 and another in 1978. Moss admits that nosystematic data on deaths or serious complications from bris milah have everbeen compiled but believes this may be due to the fact that circumcisiondeath can occur from secondary causes such as liver failure, pneumonia, andblood poisoning which health professionals may fail to link to theiroriginal cause. Nonfatal complications are equally unlikely to be associatedwith circumcision. Although the majority of modern Jews argue that the rite is harmless,historically Jews were not so certain of the safety of the procedure. Talmudiclaw exempts a Jewish male from infant circumcision if two of his olderbrothers lost their lives to the ritual. Though, as the Orthodox will argue, thiscase was hypothetical and not based on an actual incident, there are still twoBiblical examples of a parents failure to perform milah on his son due toconcerns over his health. Exodus 4: 24-26 relates the story of thecircumcision of Eliezar son of Moses. The Bibles rendering of the story isshort, cryptic and confusing: It was on the way, in the lodging, that haShem encountered him andsought to kill him. So Tzipporah took a sharp stone and cut off theforeskin of her son and touched it to his feet; and she said, Youcaused my bridegrooms bloodshed! So He released him; then shesaid, A bridegrooms bloodshed was because of circumcision.The great Torah commentator Rabbi Schlomo Yitzach (Rashi), say sthat Mosess great sin was in delaying the milah of his son. Moses felt thatthe trip he was about to embark upon would be dangerous for the newbornwho, he felt, should be allowed three days to recuperate after circumcisionbefore he embarked upon his journey (Shmos 24). In an earlier example,Midrash tells us that Yitzach did not circumcise his son Esav because hefeared for his health. Esav, unlike his twin Yaakov, was born with bright redskin. Yitzach worried that this was due to illness and that to perform milahon him would be dangerous. Esav was given a second opportunity for brismilah when he became bar mitzvah (the age of majority) but he refused it(Beraishis 140). These biblical examples provide us with some vital information aboutthe importance of bris milah. On the surface we can see quiet clearly thatthe conservatives are wrong: circumcision is potentially dangerous, andTorah recognizes this. More importantly though, we learn how vitallynecessary bris milah is to the Jews. Moses almost lost his life because hedelayed his sons circumcision too long. And Esav lost his status as a Jewishpatriarch because he refused to let anyone perform milah on him even afterit was clearly a safe endeavor. The ramifications of spiritual disobedience aresignificant. And just as the punishment for neglecting the mitzvah is severe,so the merit for properly attending to it is tremendous. READ: The Life Story of Nikita Khrushchev EssayThe devotion of the Jewish people to the rite of milah even duringtimes of difficulty is a testimony to its importance in Jewish life. When milahwas outlawed by the Greeks during the era of the Maccabean leadership,many Jewish mothers risked their lives to circumcise their sons. Even in themodern era Jews have undergone heroic acts for the preservation of themitzvah. Holocaust survivor Aviel Binyomin Colquette remembers thefollowing story:They were rounding up the young children and mothers and they putus onto a train car. There was one womanshe did not cover herhairwho looked particularly distressed. She asked all of thepassengers in our car for a knife. But we were all women and children. No knives. She then started to look around for any sharp object. Shewanted a shard of glass, or a sharp rockanything you might cut with. The other passengers tried to dissuade her. They scolded her for herweakness and begged her not to kill herself . Finally a soldier camethrough and she saw the outline of a knife in his pocket. Shedemanded he hand it over to her. In shock he complied. Then, to ourastonishment, she pulled from her bag a small infant boy. She saidthe blessings and performed the milah on him. She handed her childover to the officer and spoke to G-d, You gave me a healthy boy andnow I return him to You in purity and obedience to Torah.Similarly, many Jews in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) were notcircumcised due to secular laws and a general lack of interest in religiouspractice. However, the desire for bris milah was never completely eradicatedand when Western Jews were finally allowed to enter the FSU they weregreeted by large numbers of adult males who wished to undergo bris milah. Mohel Alexander Fink recalled his surprise at the large number of Jews whocame to see him at his arrival in the Ukraine:I was sure theyd all come to see the rabbi. Theyd heard his tapesbefore we came and had seemed really impressed. There were somany of them. From age eleven to eighty. At least a hundred men. And they were there to see me! I couldnt believe theyd be so excitedabout milah. More interested in receiving milah than in seeing therabbi. They wanted to be circumcised more than they wanted to belearned. The idea of a covenant is a rather difficult concept for the outsider tocomprehend. The relationship between the Jews and haShem, their G-d, isunderstood as a straightforward contract, I will be your G-d, and you will beMy people. The Jews will obey haShem and He will see that their needs aremet. The milah is the most visible sign of the covenant as it is inscribed on apersons body and serves as a daily reminder to the Jewish male of his statusas a servant of haShem and mankind. Until very recently, even the most liberal Jews felt that circumcisionthough not necessarily the briswas essential to Jewish practice. The status of an uncircumcised male in Jewish culture wasundefined. He was in a strange state of being both Jewish and non-Jewish. A Jew trapped in a non-Jewish body. A bizarre spiritual circumstance thatcould not be redeemed until the man took matters into his own hands andunderwent a circumcision. Indeed, Yeshiva student Joshua Konig, suggeststhat the gates of heaven will no t open up for an uncircumcised Jewish male. A Jews obligation is to serve HaShem and observe the Torah his entire life,even under the most desperate circumstances (Scheinbaum 204). Works CitedColquette, Aviel Binyomin. Personal interview. 18 Nov. 2001. Fink, Alexander. Personal Interview. 10 Oct. 2001. Housman, Mordechai. Circumcision and Your Childs Health. 5 Nov. 2001. . Klein, Isaac. A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice. New York: The Jewish TheologicalSemianry of America, 1979. Konig, Joshua. Personal interview. 28 Nov. 2001. Moss, Lisa Braver.Circumcision: A Jewish Inquiry. Midstream magazine. 5 Nov. 2001. . Robinson, George. Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to the Beliefes, Customs, andRituals. Ch. 3. New York: Pocket Books, 2000. Schapiro, Rabbi Moshe. What is Circumcision? Aish HaTorah. 15 Oct. 2001. . Scheinbaum, Rabbi A. Leib. Peninim On The Torah. Cleveland, Ohio: KisveiPublications, 2000. Simmons, Rabbi Shraga. Bris Milah: Beautiful or Barbaric? Aish HaTorah. 15 Oct. 2001. . Weissman, Rabbi Moshe. The Little Midrash Says: The Book of Beraishis. Brooklyn, New York: Bnay Yaakov Publications, 1986. Weissman, Rabbi Moshe. The Little Midrash Says: The Book of Shmos. Brooklyn, New York: Bnay Yaakov Publications, 1987.Words/ Pages : 2,623 / 24

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Causes and Trends of Homophobia in Middle East Essay

Causes and Trends of Homophobia in Middle East - Essay Example It is really an escalating tug of war between the homophobic society, human rights activists, and homosexual oriented persons. Undeniably, the Middle East society has been adamant in supporting lesbians, gay bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) groups since time immemorial. What is the status of homophobia In Middle East? This paper addresses the current issues of homophobia in Middle East by trying to answer the following important questions. What are the current trends of homophobia in Middle East? What are the main causes of homophobia in this region? Current Trends of Homophobia in Middle East Homophobia refers to the outraged fear and expression of anger towards homosexuals or simply to people who express sexuality that differs from the normally accepted heterosexual behavior or identity. Since time immemorial, the general society has always recognized and appreciated the heterosexual type of orientation towards sexual identity. However, few societies have identified and developed their own sexuality identity. Middle East has been in particular very resistant towards any persons or group of people deviating from heterosexuality. For the last few years, increased homophobia has been observed in Middle East. It is claimed â€Å"In parts of Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and elsewhere it is still very dangerous to be gay. People are being executed. Homophobic attacks, rapes, and murders happen all too frequently† (Dehgan, 2011, p. 1). Homophobia has always been suppressed by various societal structures such as the law, traditions, and religion. Most Middle Ea st countries have laws that prohibit marriage between homosexuals or any other form of sexuality besides heterosexuality. For instance, â€Å"More than two dozen men were arrested at what police called a â€Å"mass homosexual wedding† in the United Arab Emirates† (The Advocates, 2006, p. 37). However, as the society becomes more revolutionized more homosexuals come out in the opens and begin fighting for their rights. This is arguably the main cause of homophobia in this region and the rest of the world as well. Many people are coming up in the open to form groups that help them express their concerns on how the society treats them due to sexual orientation. The media plays a very important role in shaping the discourse of issues affecting the society. In the Middle East, media influence is a great force that cannot be ignored. Arguably, it has given the two opposing camps a fair playground in expressing their feelings and opinions. Homosexual groups come out in the me dia and openly express their stand towards sexuality. Internet and television has been one of the most widely used media in which homosexuals use to either express their sexuality or express their outrage against groups fighting them. Middle East countries are mostly Islamic. This implies that there is high degree of homophobia in this region than any other region in the world. Islam religion strictly prohibits homosexuality and has stern disciplinary measures and actions against homosexuals. Koran prohibits this type of sexuality and as such, Muslims in this region use it as a source of authority to discredit homosexuality. Politicians play a role in shaping the societal fabric. Politicians have been known to follow the current trends and demands of the population to achieve their political ambitions. Arguably, the politicians have been instrumental in quenching the homophobia crisis by advocating for equal rights to people of all types of sexual orientation. It has enabled the soc iety to accept the homosexuals and their sexual orientation rather than fighting them. Indeed, there is a slight increase in countries accommodating homosexuality. Habib agrees that â€Å"