Not Lowering the Drinking Age Essay Example

Not Lowering the Drinking Age Essay Example Not Lowering the Drinking Age Essay Not Lowering the Drinking Age Essay Bryan Blejski ENG 101-010 Ms. Abbott 28 July 2011 Not Lowering the Drinking Age Many teenage deaths in the United States are caused in some way by the influence of alcohol; however, many people still believe that the legal drinking age should be reduced to eighteen. This issue has been going on for years, but the law has not been changed since the change to twenty-one in 1980. States have become stricter about preventing under-age drinking, but teenagers have no problem getting alcohol. There are many arguments in favor of changing the drinking age back to eighteen. The facts show that drinking alcohol is too large of a responsibility for an eighteen-year-old to handle. In 1980 the government raised the drinking age to twenty-one because the number of drunk driving accidents was causing many teen-age deaths. The young adults of America considered this law a second prohibition. Prohibition was the period in United States history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors was outlawed. The push for Prohibition began in the beginning of the nineteenth century. After the American Revolution, drinking was on the rise. To combat this, a number of societies were organized as part of a new Temperance movement which attempted to dissuade people from becoming intoxicated. At first, these organizations pushed moderation, but after several decades, the movements focus changed to complete prohibition of alcohol consumption. The Temperance movement blamed alcohol for many of societys ills, especially crime and murder. The problem with the arguments for lowering the legal drinking age is it is simply not in the best interest of the publics safety to do so. Teenagers who drink are a danger to themselves and others especially on the highways. The drinking age was first lowered to eighteen in many states back in the Vietnam War era. The country was asking thousands of its young men to fight and die for their country on foreign soil, so the popular thinking was, How can we ask them to die for their country and not let them have a drink if they want one? But the lower drinking age begin to take a toll on the nations highways. The number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities began to rise at alarming rates, and a high percentage of those involved young drivers. Congress again put pressure on the states to raise the drinking age because of this startling increase in highway deaths. Many groups perform a series of arguments about the status of legal drinking age and few seem happy to leave it at twenty-one, where it has been for many years. One persistent argument in the discussion is on youth rights and privileges, means the age at which you can drink alcohol legally should be lowered to the age where you obtain right to vote and die for your country, eighteen. Currently, the legal drinking age is twenty-one in the U. S. , which is higher than the legal drinking age in many other developed countries. Supporters with an argument for lowering the drinking age, argue that if you have certain rights and obligations that seem more adult in a younger age that are fighting for the country, pay taxes and they marry, should be able to drink. These supporters who make this argument to lower the legal drinking age also suggest that the current legal drinking age simply encourages the illegal use of alcohol, many teenagers have tried alcohol, and some heavily and persistently before they reach the age of twenty-one. Although the above argument for lowering the drinking age may be most logical, it is a more convincing and persuasive argument. Research confirms the argument that the legal drinking age should be twenty-one, in short, adolescents have not developed the cognitive mechanisms, social, and psychological need to make thoughtful decisions and logically about alcohol and also, their bodies have not completed their physical maturation. The government’s changing the legal age to drink from twenty-one to eighteen would be the same as the promotion to avoid the time adolescents have to mature, which is vital for human development and it lays the foundation for responsible participation in society. In summary, research supports the argument that the drinking age should consider the overall perception of how successful undeveloped teens could handle alcohol. Those who want to see the legal drinking age was reduced from twenty-one to eighteen often argue that the legal drinking age in Canada and many European countries are in the middle of adolescence, and argue further that this lower drinking age has not resulted in the dismantling of the social structure (Heath 28). As some scientists and social researchers have pointed out, however, drinking habits of young people has changed considerably in recent years as the influence of American advertising and the availability of U. S. products has spread (Heath 231). Although the argument that a lower legal drinking age may be based on data from other countries, we must remember that the culture of alcohol are different in many of these countries and should not serve as a valid basis for a discussion of American matters. Once again, science and research should lead to an argument for reducing or increasing the legal drinking age. Interestingly, on a cultural tone, in relation to the argument against lowering the drinking age, the fact that younger teens are allowed to drink helped researchers suggest that there is an increase in binge drinking, which have been associated with a dramatic increase in harmful and fatal. accidents, social deviance, and increased distance between adolescents and their parents (Heath 231). Thus, those who support the argument for maintaining the legal drinking age of twenty-one in the United States points out that the vision we have of European drinking heavily romanticized, even dangerously so. There is an extensive amount of research which substantiates the claim that teenagers are simply not prepared, mentally or physically, for alcohol use. Recognizing that teens want to experiment with alcohol drinking regardless of the legal age, lifting the current age or declining it would approve the study, and perhaps even normal use, in an age where teens have not fully matured cognitive or physiological systems (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services VI). Cognitive maturity is necessary for people to make thoughtful and logical decisions in matters that require much thought and insight, while the physical maturity necessary to control the physiological effects of certain drugs, including alcohol. The consumption of alcohol, particularly in large quantities before the bodys systems are ready to form can stunt the healthy development that causes lifelong deficits. At sixteen or even eighteen years, is a teenager able to think ahead and make decisions based on such information. For this reason, the legal drinking age, instead of helping them by holding illegal use until the development has reached its conclusion (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services VI). Research findings about alcohol among teenagers is dramatic and confirms the need for the legal drinking age to be maintained at twenty-one. According to Loeb, Talley, and Zlatoper, the minimum legal drinking age â€Å"has a statistically significant impact on youthful fatality rates† (64), and there is evidence to suggest that lowering the drinking age to eighteen or sixteen would have the effect f increasing deaths caused by traffic and other types of accidents. People tend to view college drinking as a harmless rite of passage. But the problem is not that students drink. Its the quantity in which they drink too much. At least forty percent of students report binge drinking having five or more drinks in one sitting according to the National Center on Addiction and substance abuse at Colu mbia University. Excessive drinking has contributed to more than 1,700 college student deaths and more than 500,000 student injuries in 2001, says the National Institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Thousands of sexual assault among students, are also linked to binge drinking. For all the reasons mentioned here, the legal age of drinking should be maintained in current age: twenty-one. Although it would be naive to think that teens do not experiment with alcohol, not the government and we as responsible citizens, we cannot agree with the previous use of a substance that can have harmful effects if not used correctly. In addition to maintaining the current age, as well as government and people, especially teachers, parents and other adults who are in direct contact with young people, should increase their efforts to educate young people the dangers of early alcohol use. Although alcohol consumption can be integrated into the adaptive form of social routines, context, and limits the proper use should be taught. Cognitive and physical development of young people must be protected. As an adult he can, and hopefully to make considered decisions on alcohol use, but less than twenty-one, they are unable to do so. Heath, Dwight B. International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1995. Print. Heather, Nick, and Tim Stockwell. The Essential Handbook of Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2004. Print. Loeb, Peter D. , Wayne K. Talley, and Thomas J. Zlatoper. Causes and Deterrents of Transportation Accidents: An Analysis by Mode. Westport, CT: Quorum, 1994. Print. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. Washington, D. C. : U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007. [Electronic Version]. surgeongeneral. gov/topics/underagedrinking/calltoaction. pdf United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Federal Highway Administration. Highway Safety Program Standards. GPO, 1973. Print.

Canadian Parliament Buildings Fire of 1916

Canadian Parliament Buildings Fire of 1916 While World War I was raging in Europe, the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa caught fire on a freezing February night in 1916. With the exception of the Library of Parliament, the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings was destroyed and seven people died. Rumors were rife that the Parliament Buildings fire was caused by enemy sabotage, but a Royal Commission into the fire concluded that the cause was accidental. Date of the Parliament Buildings Fire February 3, 1916 Location of the Parliament Buildings Fire Ottawa, Ontario Background of the Canadian Parliament Buildings The Canadian Parliament Buildings consist of the Centre Block, the Library of Parliament, the West Block and the East Block. The Centre Block and Library of Parliament sit at the highest point on Parliament Hill with a steep escarpment down to the Ottawa River at the back. The West Block and East Block sit down the hill on each side at the front of the Centre Block with a large grassy expanse in the middle. The original Parliament Buildings were built between 1859 and 1866, just in time to be used as the seat of government for the new Dominion of Canada in 1867. Cause of the Parliament Buildings Fire The exact cause of the Parliament Buildings fire was never pinpointed, but the Royal Commission investigating the fire ruled out enemy sabotage. Fire safety was inadequate in the Parliament Buildings and the most likely cause was careless smoking in the House of Commons Reading Room. Casualties in the Parliament Buildings Fire Seven people died in the Parliament Buildings fire: Two guests of House Speaker Albert Sà ©vigny and his wife returned to get their fur coats and were found dead in a corridor.A policeman and two government employees were crushed by a fallen wall.Bowman Brown Law, the Liberal member of parliament for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia died near the House of Commons Reading Room.The body of Renà © Laplante, Assistant Clerk of the House of Commons, was found in the building two days after the fire. Summary of the Parliament Buildings Fire Shortly before 9 p.m. on February 3, 1916, a member of parliament noticed smoke in the House of Commons Reading Room in the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings.The fire quickly raced out of control.The House of Commons was interrupted in the middle of a debate on fish marketing.Prime Minister Robert Borden was in his office when he was alerted to the fire. He escaped down a messengers stairway through thick smoke and flames. His office was badly damaged, but some papers on his desk were not touched.Major-General Sam Hughes, who was down the street at the Chà ¢teau Laurier hotel when he heard about the fire, called in the local 77th Battalion to provide crowd control and help with the evacuation.At 9:30 p.n. the roof of the House of Commons collapsed.Senators and soldiers rescued some historic paintings from the Senate before the fire spread to it.By 11:00 p.m. the Victoria Clock Tower had caught on fire, and by midnight the clock was silent. At 1:21 a.m. the tower fell.By 3:00 a.m. the fire was mostly under control, although there was another outbreak the next morning. The Centre Block was a smoking shell filled with icy rubble, with the exception of the Library of Parliament.The Library of Parliament had been built with iron safety doors, which were slammed shut against the fire and smoke. A narrow corridor separating the Library from the Centre Block also contributed to the Librarys survival.After the fire, the Victoria Memorial Museum (now the Canadian Museum of Nature)  cleared its exhibition galleries to make room for parliamentarians to meet and work. On the morning after the fire, the museums auditorium was converted into a temporary House of Commons Chamber, and that afternoon, members of parliament conducted business there.Rebuilding the Parliament Buildings began quickly even though there was a war on. The first parliament sat in the new building on February 26th, 1920, although the Centre Block wasnt completed until 1922. The Peace Tower was finished by 1927. See Also: The Halifax Explosion in 1917

An analysis of Animal Experimentation articles Essay

An analysis of Animal Experimentation articles - Essay Example The presented arguments by the doctors and research scientists (two experts in their field) indicate that this is a subject that divides opinion between informed, intelligent people. The clear issue in the debate revolves around morality and whether animal experimentation is necessary to safeguard human beings against potentially harmful new drugs and practices in medicine, and is vehemently supported by both sides. 2. Were the problems or issues expressed effectively? Describe how the problems or issues were or were not best expressed. The two articles vary on their ability to express the issues effectively. Lankford uses the article to defend the position of support towards animal experimentation. In this manner, the article does not address the issue but just seems to provide a list of statistics to prove his point. The work highlights a number of animal research achievements and how it has led to the prevention of disease but does not suggest any form of resolution of the issue. The Carlson article does attempt to resolve the issues. The work discusses that â€Å"we can learn to improve public health by looking first at what threatens it† (Carlson), indicating a willingness to seek a resolution. This viewpoint also acknowledges that it is vital to keep questioning forms of medicine and that it can be beneficial to look at the argument from different perspectives. 3. How would you determine the credibility of the sources of information used by the authors in the articles when investigating the problems or issues presented by your topic? The two articles appear to be fairly reliable and credible sources of information regarding the animal experimentation debate. The first, written by Lankford, was written for the Foundation for Biomedical Research. The group is in favor of animal experimentation and use medical facts and statistics to back up their claims. The author is clearly knowledgeable, although the article does not highlight his position in the organization. The second article is an expert opinion in the field of research science. Her work contrasts with the first, emphasizing that the results of animal experimentation have been grossly misjudged. Carlson relies on findings from University studies and medical journals to persuade her audience. In terms of credibility, both articles appear to be so, though Carlson does provide sources for the statistics used whereas Lankford states facts such using language such as â€Å"between 1950 and 2004† (Lankford) but fails to ascertain where they come from. 4. Compare two steps that would be most effective in refining solutions to the problem and resolutions to the issues presented by your topic. The animal experimentation debate is saddled with a number of issues concerning morality and ethics. For animal experimentation to be proven necessary and useful to society, it appears that more clear research and positive results are needed that link the success of medical improveme nts to the need to test them on animals. The main difficulties to overcome are the beliefs surrounding animal cruelty which animal extremist groups chiefly use as their main argument against animal experimentation. These groups will perhaps never be persuaded as to the benefits of animal experimentation but scholars such as Carlson indicates that there is no proof that animal testing is necessary to

How do dinosaurs become extinct Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

How do dinosaurs become extinct - Research Paper Example Extinction gets certified when there is no surviving individual that is able to create a new generation through reproduction. Functional extinction describes this state where only a countable few specie members survive, and can neither thrive nor reproduce. This could be as a result of age, lack of representation of both sexes and poor health and distribution. The actual point of extinction is difficult to identify due to the larger potential range that a species has, and the determination of extinction is usually done retrospectively. Dinosaur is a term that gets used to refer to a wide variety of chiefly terrestrial, carnivorous and herbivorous reptiles of the now extinct Ornithischia and Saurischia orders that thrived during the Mesozoic Era. They are thought to have been the biggest known land animals that shared a specific common anatomy. True dinosaurs had legs ankles and hips somewhat structured like a bird’s, such that the legs were mobile under the body and not outside like present lizard species. Sir Owen Richard formed the name dinosaur in 1841 to identify the remains of extinct reptiles. The name dinosaur originated from the Greek word deinos which means fearfully terrible, and sauros, which means lizard. Many explanations have been given, some of which have been convincing, about the extinction of dinosaurs. These explanations range from disease, volcanic eruption, asteroid impact, and climate change, which is the most supported of all theories (Page 56). II CASE PRESENTATION A. ASTEROID IMPACT THEORY The Asteroid Impact theory gets used by many scientists to explain the disappearance of dinosaurs from the face of the earth. As such, several variations of this theory exist, some of which are largely similar with minor differences setting them apart. The asteroid extinction theory gets sometimes referred to as the K-T Asteroid Theory, and the Alvarez Asteroid Impact. All these theories vary marginally, but are all centered on a single event though to have prematurely destroyed most of the life forms on earth dating back 65 million years ago (Norman 77). The asteroid theory got first fronted by the father son team of Walter and Luis Alvarez in1978. Walter and Luis analyzed sediment sam ples collected in the 1970s at the K-T layer close to the town of Gubbio in Italy. The tests revealed high concentrations of the element Iridium, rarely found on earth, but found in abundance in meteorites. Upon analysis of more sediment of K-T boundary strata from other regions of the globe, high concentrations of Iridium got recorded, as well. Guided on the basis of the average sediment thickness, team Alvarez suggested that a large comet or asteroid, perhaps several miles in diameter would be needed to spread as much Iridium as was recorded all over the earth. The impact of such an asteroid hitting the earth would be a massive explosion, massive fires and total annihilation of whatever life existed then, dinosaur inclusive (Parsons 95). A crater, partly submerged in water and worn down, got found along the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula whose creation largely coincides with the K-T boundary. Scientist from the world renowned National Aeronautics and Space Administration estimate that the Chicxulub Crater as it is currently known would have gotten formed as a result of the action of a 6 to 12 mile diameter asteroid. The crater is currently about 130 miles wide (Debus 66). Scientists from the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado have traced the asteroid path back into space. Their calculations revealed that a collision between an asteroid that was 100 miles wide called Baptistina, and another asteroid of relatively small size out beyond Mars’

Alienation of Labor Essay Example for Free

Alienation of Labor Essay The Alienation of Labor is an idea of Karl Marx which is an artificial construct and it is certainly applied but not too clear. Marx describes this idea in a pretty straightforward manner. He is basically saying that the worker has no control over his or her life. The worker is nothing more than a cog being used in the business machine’s discretion. The worker really has no individual rights and certainly no demonstration in the market place. In turn, the laborer is a slave to the system of product construction. There are four stages involved in this idea. There is nature, or human nature and this is because you are alienated from human nature. The second stage is the self, it is animalistic, and you are being reduced to an animal. The third stage is species, no longer having any sort of creativity. The final stage is other, meaning competition or work amongst each other. Hegel vs. Nietzsche -Hegel Hegel believes that slave morality is an opportunity to work on one’s self, and that freedom in the mind truly helps oppression. He believes that in this relationship, the master is actually the slave. He thinks this because he feels that the master is dependent on the slave and without the slave the master is nothing. In turn, this makes the master a slave because he is so dependent on his slave. If you crumble, Hegel believes it is a tragedy because he is a communitarian which means he is more empathetic to situations. He believes that if you weren’t strong enough and mentally tough enough it was because you didn’t get the support and care from the community. -Nietzche Similar to Hegel, Nietzche also thinks that freedom is held in the mind and you can only achieve this by being strong. A main difference of Nietzsche’s view compared to Hegel is the fact that he believes that if you fail at freeing yourself through the mind, you can only put it on yourself, it was your fault and no one else’s. Nietzsche’s view of this relationship works on two different levels or ideas: good or bad in the case of master morality and evil or good in the case of the slave. When talking about slaves, he believes that the slaves are incapable of creating their own original values, instead they are influenced and invert to their masters. The master’s view of the slave according to Nietzsche is basically that he is good therefore the slave is bad. In contrast, the slave’s view of the master is that he is evil, therefore we are good.

Underground Economy :: essays papers

Underground Economy The author of the article describe the illicit CD market that is taking place in Ukraine. He explains that 95% of the CDs shipped out the Ukraine are illicit, the producers of those CDs are not just burning low quality CDs, they are even producing their own polycarbonate discs with their own logos as a mark of quality. The International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which is actively looking for pirates that counterfeit CDs, seems to be desperate regarding fighting piracy in Ukraine as the law are inadequate and the Ukrainians have little or no knowledge of intellectual property. Those Ukrainians producing illegal copies of CDs are involved in the Ukrainian and European underground economy as they are making profit out of an illegal activity. The author give the example of a copy of Microsoft Office XP CD which cost $ 2.20 in Kiev and the original copy cost $ 580.00 in the USA. Those huge differences in prices are diminishing the profit of companies selling their products on CDs and they are therefore paying less taxes to the government where they are operating. The author of the article conclude by saying that Ukrainian government doesn’t have the will to terminate the illegal copies of CDs as the manufacturer employ lobbyists that exploit the unstable political environment to derail any move from the government to terminate their activities. Furthermore it seems to be very difficult to stop the counterfeiting of CDs as they are on the market before the legitimate versions are released. The author compare the battle against piracy like the war on drugs, one of the similitude is probably the shadowy organized-crime customers that both activities have in common. I believe like the author that it is quite impossible for international companies to sue any of the CD counterfeiter if the Ukrainian government doesn’t take an active part in the banishment of those factories. I also don’t believe that it is the government number one matter of problem, as we know that it is a country that has been going through the communist year and just got out of it, and there are many other important issues that are challenging the country and its government. Underground Economy :: essays papers Underground Economy The author of the article describe the illicit CD market that is taking place in Ukraine. He explains that 95% of the CDs shipped out the Ukraine are illicit, the producers of those CDs are not just burning low quality CDs, they are even producing their own polycarbonate discs with their own logos as a mark of quality. The International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which is actively looking for pirates that counterfeit CDs, seems to be desperate regarding fighting piracy in Ukraine as the law are inadequate and the Ukrainians have little or no knowledge of intellectual property. Those Ukrainians producing illegal copies of CDs are involved in the Ukrainian and European underground economy as they are making profit out of an illegal activity. The author give the example of a copy of Microsoft Office XP CD which cost $ 2.20 in Kiev and the original copy cost $ 580.00 in the USA. Those huge differences in prices are diminishing the profit of companies selling their products on CDs and they are therefore paying less taxes to the government where they are operating. The author of the article conclude by saying that Ukrainian government doesn’t have the will to terminate the illegal copies of CDs as the manufacturer employ lobbyists that exploit the unstable political environment to derail any move from the government to terminate their activities. Furthermore it seems to be very difficult to stop the counterfeiting of CDs as they are on the market before the legitimate versions are released. The author compare the battle against piracy like the war on drugs, one of the similitude is probably the shadowy organized-crime customers that both activities have in common. I believe like the author that it is quite impossible for international companies to sue any of the CD counterfeiter if the Ukrainian government doesn’t take an active part in the banishment of those factories. I also don’t believe that it is the government number one matter of problem, as we know that it is a country that has been going through the communist year and just got out of it, and there are many other important issues that are challenging the country and its government.

7 Habits by Stephen R. Covey

Stephen R. Covey book is titled â€Å"The 7 habits of highly effective people† helps to develop individuals’ personality in relation with others. The author takes us on the journey thru becoming proactive. Than we learn to realize where are we going with our life. The next step is to set priorities in our life. What things are important and what things can wait. We also learn how to achieve compromise that is satisfactory to all parties involved in daily activities. The author teaches us how to practice empathetic communications and the importance of the team work. Once all of that is achieved we are reminded to renew ourselves thru elements of nature. The first habit is â€Å"Be Proactive†. It says to take control over your own future, and that every one of us is in control of their own future. The proactive people do not blame others for their misfortune. The first step to become proactive is to take initiative and to act or be act upon. When I was working in a plant, and wanted to advance to a supervisor’s, I took initiative. I have studied the blueprints; observed and learned from others, and then I became an assistant, and then a supervisor. There were several other employees that started their careers at the same time as I did, however, they did not take the initiative. When I was leaving the field they were still working at the same level when they have began. Listening to our language is another very important aspect of becoming proactive. My favorite phrase is Stephen R. Covey had mention in his book is – â€Å"Let’s look at our alternatives†. Many people like to say â€Å"There is nothing I can do†. Another very important aspect of becoming proactive is to look where we focus our energy. In his book, Covey refers to two circles: circle of concern and circle of influence. Proactive people focus on the circle of influence. This circle includes things one can do something about like, health, family or work related problems. Reactive people, on the other hand, focus their energy on the things that they have no control of, like terrorism; weather etc. â€Å"Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expand our energies in is a giant step in becoming proactive†. (As cited in Stephenconvey. com, 2009 p. 1). Begin with the end in mind† is the second habit. Every creation, design or invention is first created on the paper before it is actually build. My next project is to build a shed. Before I will invest time and money on generating the material, first I will have to make a plan of that building. Once I will accomplish that I can began to build. According to the author we should always know where we are going with our lives. â€Å"To begin with the end in m ind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where your are now and so the steps you take are always in the right direction† (Covey, 1989 p. 98). The best way to get there is by creating Personal Mission Statement. That statement concentrates on where you want to be, and how to get there (Covey, 1989). In the first habit you are a creator. In the second habit you have a vision and in the third habit you put all those things into a prospective. The third habit is called â€Å"Put first things first†. This habit helps us manage our lives. There are four quadrants to our time management. Based on those quadrants, it is more convenient to schedule future tasks. Daily or weekly plan can be made to focus on the priorities. That plan is never solid; it will most likely change as the daily tasks progress. It is really important to manage priorities based on those quadrants (Covey, 1989). The fourth habit called â€Å"Think Win/Win† moves us into interdependence phase. Our relationships with others depend on our mentality of thinking. Many people would like to receive the promotion or save their marriage but, they were not able to properly interact with others. There are six paradigms of human interaction (Covey, 1989). The fifth habit is to seek to understand, and then be understood. That means that the listener should not just hear the other person, but try to empathize with him. Most of the people can hear what others have to say; however they don’t listen to others, the message that other person is trying to relate goes by them (Covey, 1989). The sixth habit is to synergize. The author is relating to work in the teams. He states that the all team members are worth more that each of them separately put together. The group depends on each other. The differences between the people make the group stronger because of their differences. Every individual has a different prospective (Covey, 1989). The last of seven habits is to sharpen the saw. Most people tend to forget themselves and tend to stay in one place. Many of the people tend to focus on the activities that are not relevant to their goals or values. Every person should continue to grow using the four elements of nature. That involves staying fit in physical condition. That can be achieved by proper nutrition and daily exercises. Mental fit refers to reading and writing. Social element of nature refers to servicing to others. The last element is to stay spiritually fit by studying and meditation (Covey, 1989). In conclusion, the seven habits written by Stephen R. Covey, teach us how to become internally focused. They are the simple set of rules for successful life. That refers to both personal and private life. We go thru seven changes that will make ourselves more aware of the world and people that surround us. References Covey, Stephen R. (1989). The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Political Typologies Essay

Liberal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The political typology quiz categorized me under the liberal typology group. The liberal typology group belongs support the ideologies of Democrats. It is also the largest group among the nine typology groups. According to the quiz, the liberal group is open to several controversial issues that are the main themes and topics of debates and arguments. These issues include homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia, etc. A most recent controversial social issue involves stem cell research. However, even if the liberal typology group is part of the Democratic Party, it still has distinct values apart from other groups that also belong to the same party. One that is particular to the liberal group is their stand on war. The liberal group is supportive of diplomacy as a means of promoting peace with other countries. Liberalist groups do not believe that war is the answer to conflicts and disagreements. In addition to this, the group does not support anti-terrorist laws, specifically the Patriot Act, that the U.S. government is implementing. Other issues include espousing same sex marriages and advocating the protection and the preservation of the environment. Moreover, the group is also sympathetic to the concerns of immigrants and labor unions. I agree with the results of the quiz because as I was reading the ideologies of the liberal group, I find myself agreeing to them. I do not believe in war, and I do not want to support it. I think wars just cause more wars. Instead of resolving issues, it makes it even more complicated. A lot of innocent lives have been lost just because of simple disagreements that the higher-ups should resolve by talking in peace, compromising, and deciding what is best for the country and other countries as well. I also respect other people in that I believe they have a choice whether to engage in same sex marriages, abortion, support stem cell research, adhere to any religious doctrine or not, etc. I think everyone has the right to decide for themselves and choose whatever it is that they want to do in life, well, as long as they do not do harm to others or the environment. That is a different case. In addition, the issue about labor unions and immigrants is also something that I agree with. There is no competition when it comes to immigrants and employment. They were qualified to work in the country; therefore, there should be no question whether they do harm or good to the economy. Moreover, the rights and concerns of labor unions should be addressed. I think large businesses should pay attention to them and practice humanitarianism in the sense that they should think more of the people who work for them than the money that they earn because of them. Works Cited The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. (2008). â€Å"Liberal.† Retrieved from The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 28 March 2008. .

The Loss of Victorian Morality Essay Example

The Loss of Victorian Morality Essay Example The Loss of Victorian Morality Essay The Loss of Victorian Morality Essay Essay Topic: The Poetry of Dh Lawrence The Victorian Era and The Loss of Morality The Victorian era marks the period of Queen Victorians reign over England from 1837, until her death in January 1901. It was an age of new prosperity brought about by thriving industrialization, new scientific discoveries and technology, which encouraged the rise of an educated middle class. This new age also brought about a shift from agriculture to manufacturing, causing mass immigration into cities. City life provided Victorians with freedom and anonymity from the social values of smaller rural communities, and resulted in the loss of social and spiritual morality with lenience, poverty and carnality becoming routine occurrences. New cultural ideals and scientific findings, such as evolution, clashed with the religious philosophies of the time. The early Victorian age also had an influence upon literature and poetry and produced many excellent writers, such as Robert Browning, Charles Dickens, and Matthew Arnold. The subject matter of most Victorian works by these authors was usually socially oriented and focused upon the practical problems of daily life and contained moral messages for their readers. Robert Browning focused his poetry on the scandals of everyday Victorian urban fife. He used sex, violence and moral hypocrisy as themes in many of his poems. Browning, like Charles Dickens, filled his literary works with people from all levels of society and he also included characters that were immoral and evil. According to The Literature Network, Robert Borrowing dramatic monologues covered a wide array of subjects, from lucid dreams to the nature of art and even the meaning of existence. His poems Porphyrys Lover and My Last Duchess, are similar in that they both include murderers who coldly describe their evil deeds without any remorse. Porphyrys Lover, begins with a lover describing the arrival of Porphyry, and then it quickly descends into a description of her murder at his hands. He describes how he strangled his lover with her own hair to preserve the moment forever. The poem My Last Duchess also echoes this theme of depravity. The Duke describes his last wife, whose painting is hidden behind a curtain on the wall, and cheerfully mentions that his wife seemed to smile at everyone, so he Gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together (Browning 503). Robert Browning, like Matthew Arnold, included religious figures in his momentary of the loss of social values in society. His poem, Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister demonstrates that religious men were not immune to immoral behavior either. In the Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister, the speaker spews out his intense hatred for his colleague, Brother Lawrence. The reader quickly discovers that Brother Lawrence is a sincere and devout Christian; however, the narrator is in fact morally, spiritually and socially bankrupt. Scott and John, suggests that Borrowings botanical references throughout the poem not only demonstrate the narrators petty attitudes ND disturbed mind, but also suggests that homosexuality and buggery were common place. He points out that the word scrofulous in stanza 8, (Browning IPPP) could also refer to the Latin name of a plant commonly used to cure piles, which was poetry shares a common thread with Matthew Arnolds poetry, in that they both use variety and inventiveness to draw attention to a narrators thoughts and concerns. Arnold is more thoughtful about what true spiritual belief should be; yet, Browning tackles the same topics in a more flamboyant manner by illustrating what true Puritanism is not. The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Parades Church, is one of Borrowing most famous poems and demonstrates his view that base, immoral tendencies could be found anywhere in Victorian society. This poem also portrays a man of high religious standing, who lacks the morals and values of Christianity. In the bishops final hours, he is not interested in seeking God or what the afterlife has in store for him, but rather he focuses on the material goods he is leaving behind on earth. He does not look at the afterlife as a chance of being closer to God, or coming whole, but rather sees it as his chance to leave a legacy on earth. In his final moments he is concerned over the type of gems and stone that his tomb will be made of, and is mostly concerned about outdoing Gondolas tomb. Rather than honoring the Christian idea that in dying on earth, one will thereby become alive to God, the Bishop focuses on honoring himself and his life. The bishop clings onto life, so that he can ensure that his tomb will reflect his greatness, and be an earthly monument that shows how much better he is than Gondola. When Browning addresses morality, his themes tend to revolve around the separation of people and morality from the church. Both the Bishop in The Bishop Orders His Tomb and the monk in the Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister are concerned with earthly matters as opposed to the Christian message that one needs to focus on the things in Heaven. Browning uses art as a symbol of the loss of morality. The art mentioned in Borrowing poems sound like beautiful works; however, the beauty is merely an illusion that highlights a narrator who is immoral, at best, or a cold-blooded murderer at worst. The portrait of the Duchess was only painted because of the corruption and evil of the Duke. Just as the Bishops beautiful tomb was only to be constructed in order for the Bishop to praise himself, and his worldly possessions. Matthew Arnolds poems, Stanzas from the Grandee Chartreuse and Dover Beach, show his distrust of the past and the philosophies, theologies and ideals that were popular in their time. Arnold is living in an era of change, and while he determines that faith and religion no longer provide answers or meaning to his life, he has nothing to replace it with. In Stanzas from the Grandee Chartreuse he finds that he is wandering between two worlds (Arnold 85); the world of religion which he has deemed as dead (Arnold 85) and the new scientific knowledge and beliefs that are unable to fill the void left by the loss of faith, and are too powerless to be born. (Arnold 86) Arnold laments that if the time for faith and spiritual fulfillment has passed, then why cant science take away, At least, the restlessness, (and) the pain (Arnold 103). He is cynical about his own time period and questions the ability of society to make spiritual or moral sense of the new modern era. Arnolds concerns for future generations reflect the turmoil caused by booming industrialization. He suggests that religion should provide moral guidance and a social safety net during chaotic times of change, and although scientific knowledge and advancements appear to make the concept of faith obsolete, there will always be the necessity for of the nineteenth or even the twentieth century captures the isolation of modern humanity as does Dover Beach, with its use of the Tachycardia night battle. Anderson points out that the poem encompasses Arnolds theme about the human indention and attempts to capture the sense of confusion and isolation. Arnold believed that poetry should illuminate the human condition by offering a satisfying sense of reality and reconciling human beings with the universe(Anderson). Arnold believes the loss of morality is centered upon the loss of religion in society, and he like Dickens, also agrees that new philosophies, science and facts are not substitutes f or spiritual wholeness. Both Arnold and Browning address the churches role in the loss of morality. When Arnold refers to the Catholic Church in Stanzas from the Grandee Chartreuse he mentions how the church and priests are prideful, and the purpose of their hymns is to honor the march of Rome (Arnold 599 line 50). Arnold uses imagery, specifically the scenery of nature as symbols of lost morality. Arnolds description of the long disused trail to the Saint Laurent Monastery symbolizes the abandonment of religion and religious morality and values in society. Arnolds description of nature seems to be violent and dark, symbolizing the clash of nature and religion. Charles Dickenss novel, Hard Times, was published in 1854 and serves s the authors commentary on industrialization and the age of machinery, as well as the prevailing philosophy of rationalism, self-interest, and fact. F. R. Leaves classifies it as a moral fable (Dickens 364), and states that Dickens is Possessed by a comprehensive vision, one in which the inhumanities of Victorian civilization are seen as fostered and sanctioned by a hard philosophy, the aggressive formulation of an inhumane spirit (Dickens 365). Dickens uses the characters of the Grandkid children to illustrate the emotional and spiritual void that fact-driven philosophy has left them. They are unable to cope with the morally depraved effects of an industrialized civilization and are ill-equipped to make any real decisions about anything important in their lives. One of the novels main characters is Louisa Grandkid. She is a woman who appears to be cold, detached and unfeeling due to the education she has received that focused entirely upon cold hard facts. Her father describes her as: well-trained and not impulsive not romantic Accustomed to view everything from the strong dispassionate ground of reason and calculation (Dickens 75). She is neither moral nor amoral. Under the Utilitarian philosophy, Louisa is merely an excellent end product, full of dry, useless facts and void of any imagination (Dickens 79). Louisa brother, Tom, also a product of strict utilitarian schooling and upbringing is described as someone Whose imagination had been strangled in his cradle and is a hypocrite and a monster (Dickens 102). Tom turns out to be a self-absorbed thief who prefers money and gambling above all else, even family. His life ends badly after he robs Bounders bank and eventually dies thousands of miles away from Louisa. Dickens communicates the loss of holding innocence due to the changing philosophies and times, and the impact the loss of childhood had on ones moral character. Dickenss characterization of Mr.. Grandkids good friend, Josiah Bounder, exemplifies the social and moral decline created by industrialization and capitalism. Bounder appears to be a self-made man who has worked his way up the social of a factory and a bank which he professes to be the result of being a hard worker who possesses self-discipline and boundless determination. Dickens exposes Bounder as a fraud and describes him as a Bully of humility, who had built his Indy reputation upon lies, and in his boastfulness had put the honest truth as far away from him (Dickens 196). Dickens also exposes the myth that the working poor are lazy and lack the self-discipline and work ethic needed to become wealthy. Bounder is very much a symbol of the new immoral social class shaped by capitalism, wealth, greed, and self-interest. Dickens symbolizes moral decline in the death and treatment of Stephen Blackball. Stephen Blackball represents all those that are righteous and good. He is caught between the corruption of Bounder and he corruption of the union, and ultimately his death is caused by the immorality of Tom Grandkid. Dickens, like Arnold and Browning, also demonstrates how the immoral tend to be the authority figures in society. Charles Dickens does not focus on religion as the major influence on morality, but rather sees that the immorality of the age is based upon industrialization and the Utilitarian philosophy. We see this in young Tom Grandkid and his emotionally empty sister. The immoral people in Dickenss novel and in Borrowing poems tend to be people in high standing, whether in the church, in the community or in business. Browning talks about members within the church being like frauds, as they do not follow the values they preach. In a sense, Dickenss character, Bounder, is very similar and also does not uphold the values he preaches. Robert Browning, Matthew Arnold and Charles Dickens are different in many respects; however, they share the same concerns about the changes that the industrial age was having on British society. Although their concerns were about different philosophies and ideologies that were popular at the time, their main concern was how the fast paced innovations of industrialization ere changing the moral tone of British society. These authors used symbols, narrations and memorable characters as vehicles in their works to define and explore possibilities for coping with the moral and social crises facing England. The literary works of Charles Dickens, Matthew Arnold and Robert Browning are as relevant today as they were in the Victorian era. In our fast-paced and technology driven era, new advances in technology, medicine, and science make the question of morality more important than ever. Work Cited Anderson, Warren. Arnold and the Classics, in Writers and their Background:

Definition of Rhythm in the Visual Arts

Definition of Rhythm in the Visual Arts Rhythm is a principle of art that can be difficult to describe in words. We can easily recognize rhythm in music because it is the underlying beat that we hear. In art, we can try and translate that into something that we see in order to understand an artworks visual beat. Finding the Rhythm in Art A pattern has rhythm, but not all rhythm is patterned. For example, the colors of a piece can convey rhythm, by making your eyes travel from one component to another. Lines can produce a rhythm by implying movement. Forms, too, can cause rhythm by the ways in which theyre placed one next to the other. Really, its easier to see rhythm in just about anything other than the visual arts. This is particularly true for those of us who tend to take things literally. Yet, if we study art we can find a rhythm in the style, technique, brush strokes, colors, and patterns that artists use. Three Artists, Three Different Rhythms A great example of this is the work of Jackson Pollock. His work has a very bold rhythm, almost chaotic like what you might find in electronic dancehall music. The beat of his paintings come from the actions he made to create them. Slinging paint over the canvas in the way he did, he created a mad fury of motion that pops and he never gives the viewer a break from this. More traditional painting techniques also have rhythm. Vincent Van Goghs The Starry Night (1889) has a rhythm thanks to the swirling, well-defined brush strokes he used throughout. This creates a pattern without being what we typically think of as a pattern. Van Goghs piece has a more subtle rhythm than Pollock, but it still has a fantastic beat. On the other end of the spectrum, an artist like Grant Wood has a very soft rhythm in his work. His color palette tends to be very subtle and he uses patterns in almost every piece of work. In landscapes like Young Corn (1931), Wood uses a pattern to depict rows in a farm field and his trees have a fluffy quality that creates a pattern. Even the shapes of the rolling hills in the painting repeat to create a pattern. Translating these three artists into music will help you recognize their rhythm. While Pollock has that electronic vibe, Van Gogh has more of a jazzy rhythm and Wood is more like a soft concerto. Pattern, Repetition, and Rhythm When we think of rhythm, we think of pattern and repetition. They are very similar and interconnected, though each is also distinct from the others. A pattern is a recurring element in a particular arrangement. It may be a motif that repeats itself in a wood carving or piece of fiber art or it may be a predictable pattern such as a checkerboard or brickwork. Repetition refers to an element that repeats. It may be a shape, color, line, or even a subject that occurs over and over again. It may form a pattern and it may not. Rhythm is a little of both pattern and repetition, yet the rhythm can vary. The slight differences in a pattern create rhythm and the repetition of elements of art create rhythm. The rhythm of a piece of art can be controlled by everything from color and value to line and shape. Each piece of art has its own rhythm and it is often up to the viewer to interpret what that is.

What caused the Revolution of 1911-1912 in China Thesis

What caused the Revolution of 1911-1912 in China - Thesis Example A great percentage of them disliked the kind of ruling by the Qing dynasty that had been existent in the country for a very long time. The otherwise called Xinhai revolution, on a great extent can arguably be caused by be deficient in of able Ching emperors to rule the country. In the work of Ho, the inability of the Ching emperors to rule the country instilled a lot of violence among the citizens1. This work continues to bring out the view that, in as much as the dynasty was the most prominent, the fall of that dynasty created numerous issues for the country’s well being. By the 19th century, the dynasty was completely inflexible which saw the country experience a lot of challenges in terms of rebellions in the country, poor economy, imperialism from the west, poor produce and sales. By the end of 1911, the country had already gone through rebellion from the citizens. In 1912, Henry Pu Yi, the then emperor, stepped down from the leadership position to pave way for more reforms. From the work, it is evident that the emperor was clearly not needed by the citizens and was sapped by the revolution in 19122. A critical analysis of this situation brings out a clear indication of the fact that the major reason behind the revolution is that the Chinese pop ulace did not appreciate the manner in which the country was being run by the Ching dynasty. With poor leadership, it is evident that the misappropriation of funds would have its way, just like in the case of China. This misappropriation of funds led to the country being overtaxed, and the taxes fell in the hands of a few people. With the population growing on a tremendous manner, the dynasty could hardly deal with the demands of the populace, which in turn led to the revolts among the populace. In this work, it is apparent that the Qing dynasty was completely ineffective3. With this in mind, the Chinese citizens could not wait for the providence of the administration to lapse their hopeful

The South Korea Financial Crisis Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8500 words

The South Korea Financial Crisis - Dissertation Example There will be sections on: promoting greater competition (which includes the pre-crisis in Korea, Korea’s downfall and subsequent recovery, Korea's economic transformation, Korea and economic sanctions, Korean international relations and the politics of economy; globalization in Korea, and the comparison of Malaysia to Korea); improving corporate governance and education (which includes Korean debt, the economy in a postwar Korea, and higher education and economic competitiveness within Korea); and improving capital structure and profitability (which includes Korea's recovery and capital controls and trade liberalization in Korea). According to Lee, â€Å"Most strikingly, formerly the 11th largest economy in the world, Korea†¦ha[d] been the hardest hit. The Korean government requested emergency help from the IMF on November 21, 1997, to restore overseas confidence†¦For the first time in three decades, [Korea[ would experience the worst economic growth in forthcoming years†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Korea had been hit hard by the economic downturn in Asia. Regrettably, this was not just a Korean phenomenon, however. Korea’s problems, however, were indicative of the rest of Southeast Asia. Korea was majorly in debt by 1997, as it had been steadily increasing about $20 or $30 billion dollars more into debt each year for the three years prior to the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997. Not surprisingly, Korea’s total debt shot through the roof in 1997. Korea’s total debt had reached $120.8 billion dollars by 1997.... After this, there will be sections on: promoting greater competition (which includes the pre-crisis in Korea, Korea's downfall and subsequent recovery, Korea's economic transformation, Korea and economic sanctions, Korean international relations and the politics of economy; globalization in Korea, and the comparison of Malaysia to Korea); improving corporate governance and education (which includes Korean debt, the economy in a postwar Korea, and higher education and economic competitiveness within Korea); and improving capital structure and profitability (which includes Korea's recovery and capital controls and trade liberalization in Korea). According to Lee (2003), "Most strikingly, formerly the 11th largest economy in the world, Koreaha[d] been the hardest hit [by the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997]. The Korean government requested emergency help from the IMF on November 21, 1997, to restore overseas confidenceFor the first time in three decades, [Korea[ would experience the worst economic growth in forthcoming years" Korea had been hit hard by the economic downturn in Asia. Regrettably, this was not just a Korean phenomenon, however. Korea's problems, however, were indicative of the rest of Southeast Asia. Korea was majorly in debt by 1997, as it had been steadily increasing about $20 or $30 billion dollars more into debt each year for the three or four years prior to the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997. Not surprisingly, Korea's total debt shot through the roof in 1997. Korea's total debt had reached $120.8 billion dollars by 1997, which is in comparison to past years, which is shown in the following table (which covers the years 1982-1997). According Haggard et al. (2003), "Korea's