Institutional Affiliation

Terrorism within our borders was not something that people thought of daily if ever. Radio advertisements that instructed us on how to talk to our children about terrorist attacks, as though it were similar to a tornado warning, is not something that I anticipated in my lifetime. The atrocity that occurred on 9/11 is not something that is supposed to happen here, but it did. We are challenged by the infiltration of immigrants to our country, whether legal or illegal. Our citizens are fearful of the future attacks that are threatened and at times the very presence of the Arab population within our communities.International terrorism threatens the United States, its allies, and the world community. Defeating the terrorist enemy requires sound policies, united government effort, and international cooperation. In light of that, it is difficult to remember as you board an airplane with six Arab passengers, that we live in the â€Å"melting pot. † America was founded on freedoms, fr eedom of speech and freedom of religion, to name a few. How do we, as a country, monitor and measure our safety, while ensuring the freedoms that are afforded our citizens? How do we deal with the threat of terrorism within our own borders?Can we provide safety by simply following the laws of our country? As a senior counter-terrorism official, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of our communities. Local law enforcement plays a critical role in enhancing the safety in communities. Communication links between local law enforcement and state and federal government will further the effectiveness of this program. It will be my responsibility to encourage local law enforcement in their fight against terrorism. We do not have the right to intrude on the religious activities of Arabs or anyone else within our communities without just cause.Defining terrorism in a country based on freedoms is a difficult task. Our country’s downfall is we have still not attempted to deal wi th or identify the causes of terrorism. We must identify the cause and the potential activities which threaten our society. The problem of terrorism–the problem of a relatively small number of violent lawbreakers who have set out to undermine our democratic way of life and seek either to blackmail the government through violence or the threat of violence to comply with their demands, or to overthrow the government entirely. We should all think about what kind of country we want to live in.To be truly patriotic means recognizing our responsibilities to uphold the democratic principles which make this the freest nation on Earth. It is important to remember that the opening words of the Constitution are `We the People' not `I the People. ‘ Being a citizen in a democracy means that you can't organize your own private army because you disagree with the actions of the democratically elected government. We need to focus on restorative justice. Restorative justice is grounded i n the focus on the harm created, not simply on the breach of law. This means that the first priority isunderstanding and responding to the needs of victims and the healing of victims. The direct victims are the primary focus, but everyone else who has been touched by the crime is also involved, including the community as a whole. To address the harm to victims, restorative justice believes that we must affirm moral responsibility and the need for accountability on the part of those who have done the harm. Restorative justice sees the past in the context of the present and the future, looking at: * what accountability is needed to address the harm to the victims; * what accountability would provide the offender the opportunity to dorestitution or reparation or whatever needs to be done to address the harm created; and * what accountability is needed for the restoration of community, including the restoration of the victim and the offender into community. Such accountability assumes t he need for safety. This involves the whole community taking responsibility for the victims as well as the offender, including seeing everyone in a human context that is broader than just the moment of the crime. Finally, restorative justice is about the engagement of all parties, including the larger community, in working towards healingthe harm and the creation of community, a community that includes both the victims and the offenders. Within our communities, it is critical that we appropriately monitor the business of individuals who have been associated or are believed to be associated with known terrorists. There are already procedures in place to monitor the actions of these individuals. It would not be appropriate to infiltrate communities on the basis of race, unless there are specific ties to known terrorists. Ethically, homeland security is responsible for the safety of all individuals within ourborders and cannot pick and choose based on race. Known terrorists, whether Am erican born or a foreign national, once captured should all receive the same treatment and rights. Recent actions of military in Iraq and elsewhere, if interpreted by the Iraqi people, may give rise to the belief that Americans are in fact the terrorists. The torture of Iraqi captives and the outright murder of innocent Iraqi civilians could lead one to believe that we are no better than Al Queda. We do not have the right to torture terrorists in order to gain information. Effective counterterrorism should take the form of prevention.We need to neutralize the terrorist organization by weakening it or making potential targets more difficult to attack. After the attacks of 9/11, an important distinction was drawn between the U. S. argument that an attack on Afghan soil was legitimate because of the Taliban's close and supportive relationship with al Qaeda and the more extended claim, that one nation could launch an attack within another nation's sovereign territory, even if there was no state support for terrorists acting within the borders.If evidence is present that a particular state has intentionally supported global terrorism and continues to do so, the case can be made for armed force to avoid future terrorist attacks within the framework of the just war tradition. A state linked to support of terrorism against another nation is engaged in a war of aggression. Any country that is the object of terrorist attacks has a right to defend itself. In effect, the case against the Taliban was not intervention for regime change but a war of self-defense against a government that was directly complicit in terrorist attacks. (Himes, 2004) The attack on Iraq does not meet the criteria of Just War.President Bush and his advisors presented a case for armed intervention in order to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Concern that enemies might use such weapons has fueled the new debate. The United States declared its willingness to initiate attacks upon adversaries it considers to be threatening. Anti-Americanism is alive and well in all parts of the world. Within our own borders, Anti-Americanism is not as widespread as is the disillusionment with our own government. It is not the foundations of America that are at issue, but the interpretation and thus application of our ability to affect the rest of the world.

An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison

Kay Redfield Jamison authored An Unquiet Mind, a memoir describing the troubling existence of mental illness in her life. This autobiographical journey reached out to a world that is peopled in mental illness. She writes of her drive, emotional intensity, and passion and pain in life as she struggled with severe manic depression. This is a story with healing implications for a world that struggles to find therapeutic resolution to this debilitating illness. I will discuss some of the key elements in Jamison’s empowering voyage through life and her madness. Jamison was an ingenious and unpredictable child. Her illness slowly transfigured her state of mind in the latter chapters of her teen years. Manic depression hit her with a serious emotional meltdown at the age of 17, thereby setting the stage for the challenges to come with her brain disease. She found addiction in the manic highs that offered feelings of grandeur and omnipotence. The other side of her diseased mind sent her plummeting into the pits of depression where she contemplated suicide—sometimes with the trigger of gun and other times standing at the ledge of a building. The novel setting chronicles her life from childhood into adulthood. From the age of seven, in the second grade, she witnessed a terrifying plane crash, just on the outer perimeter of her elementary school campus. Her father, a pilot in the Air Force, added the fascination of flight and death, something that stuck with her. Jamison wrote, I never again looked at the sky and saw only vastness and beauty. From that afternoon on I saw that death was also and always there. One critical element that aided in her ability to cope, in adulthood, was her demonstrative, supportive family. Even though they were a mobile-military family, her mother did her best to secure structure, along with the support of her elder brother, father, and grandmother. Kay and her brother excelled in school and extra-curricular activities. Kay found pleasure in her adolescent years. She wrote, They were to be an extremely powerful amulet, a potent and positive countervailing force against future unhappiness. Her sister, on the other hand, was self-absorbed, defiant, demanding, and lacked compassion for the families uprooted lifestyle. However, her sister could also be witty and charming, traits passed down from dad. Ms. Jamison had an ability to cast symbolism of deft clarity, thereby creating magical images that pulled the reader in and kept their interest peaked. She described her father’s persona with eloquence, as can be seen here: When times were good and his moods were at high tide, his infectious enthusiasm would touch everything. Her mother was kind, generous, and had the role of offering counsel when life’s incidents called for it. In a nutshell, her extended family was a plethora of caring, well-liked people willing to help those in need of help. Prior to her first taste of true mental madness, her father retired from the Air Force. The family moved from Washington to Southern California. Culture-shock hit her square in the jaw, but soon she learned to enjoy the exhilaration of intellectual conversations among the financially elite of California. She got a college-aged boyfriend, a man she met at UCLA during her volunteer work in the pharmacology department. It was a standard high-school fling that petered out once she digested her high school diploma and then met the fate of her mental illness. Within a year of moving to California, her father—who still displayed high moods and great laughter—was becoming dark. His exuberant enthusiasm faded as he, too, faded into depression and a hermit-like existence. This was compounded with his new drinking problem. She didn’t realize, however, that her own flights of manic highs and depressing lows were an equally challenging personality to live with. At 17, she found herself riding the wave of her manic high: staying up night after night, writing poetry and making future plans that were unattainable. She felt exuberant beyond belief. She wore out her friends with her endless, rapid-fire discussions. They told her, â€Å"slow down, Kay. You’re wearing me out, Kay. † She did. Her halt came crashing down on her. Her initial bout with mania was light-hearted and fairly gentile in comparison to the wild out-of-control episodes to follow years later. She wrote, Then the bottom began to fall out of my life and mind. My thinking†¦was torturous. In the coming years, she began to lose to the pace of her own thought-processing. Ideas stormed across her. She was on overload. Her acceptance of her illness wasn’t apparent to her. It was slow and gradual. She described it with such empowerment in the following two, short sentences: I did not wake up one day find myself mad. Life should be so simple. At this point, she obtained her doctorate in psychiatry and a position as an assistant professor in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry. In three months of reaching this esteemed level, she became a raging psychotic. She was, eventually, treated for manic depression and prescribed lithium, back in 1974—a drug that would save her from pure delirium, a state she couldn’t admit to, due to the ramifications of the high states of mania. She stopped taking it, against medical advisors—a common quirk among manic depressives who long for the theater of the manic highs. She went through bouts of dark depression with a suicidal itch. At this time, she was in therapy two to three times per week, while still staffed at UCLA. She was losing her senses due to the stresses of co-workers and the feudal nature of staff meetings—according to Kay anyway. She, then met, David, a fellow psychiatrist. They built a relationship out of her openness and his immediate kind temperament and his diagnosis of one of her difficult patients. She, at the time, was still married; so she denied his repeated dinner offerings. Their closeness grew. She finally gained the courage to tell him of her mental illness, fearing his reaction. He soothed her. She wrote, â€Å"I say, rotten luck. † His unbridled kindness and enthusiasm formed a balance in her edgy existence. Then, he died of a heart attack at the age of 44. Kay Jamison was 32. She discovered that grief is far different from depression; for there is hope in grief. She wrote of her grieving: David had loved and accepted me in an extraordinary way†¦And now, four years after his death, I found a very different kind of love and a renewed belief in life. She met an Englishman, a man who came to know her better than anyone. At this point, she came to the realization that her life depended on lithium. Yet, she chose, through therapeutic counseling with her psychiatrists in L. A. and London, as well as with the support of her Englishman partner, to lower her dosage. She continued her courageous clinical work in the very field of mental illness that has drenched her life with manic highs and dark, lifeless lows. She worked with patients and spent much of her time in the field of research: searching, with hearty commitment, to track down the gene that causes manic depression. Yet, aside from her efforts and personal relationship with finding the gene, she, at the same times, wonders what it might mean if she were to discover the gene. There is an obvious hereditary link, but is the gene the means to a solution? That question remains to be answered and cannot be anything but speculation until research discovers the gene—if someone ever does. One question being this: is it right, if a parent were aware of a prenatal gene carrying manic-depressive gene to abort the fetus? The difficulties surrounding the ethical issues raised would be a challenging arena of debate. This situation is further complicated when one or both parents are bi-polar. Why, then, should they have the privilege to play God and determine an unborn child’s fate. From the other side, people would question a person suffering through life with such a debilitating and emotionally destructible illness. When we consider Ms. Jamison’s illness, it’s important to point out that her manic depressive illness came prior to today’s medically softened term: bipolar disorder. Most doctors and clinicians, according to Kay Jamison, feel that the term bipolar loosens the stigma associated with manic depression. However, now that the term bipolar is so common in our culture, the stigma may have resurfaced. Of course, it’s up to individual interpretation and should be left to the patients to decide. Yet, the bipolar mind is in a pretty tight corner because it is truly not up to the patient or clinician to determine what society chooses to entitle as stigmatic. If a person discovers your diagnosis, or witnesses the behaviors of mania first-hand and is wise enough to wade through the other possible reasons behind a person’s behavior, its still, in the end, mental illness. And the overwhelming tendency, today, is that so many people are medicated and self-monitored that your best friend, or lover, may harness the internal wiring of manic depression, and keep the brunt of it hidden from you. Medication and therapeutic counseling has found new avenues to aid in curtailing this beastly illness. Technology and scientific research continue to make advancements for the betterment of the individual and society as a whole. Yet, the transparent selves within a diseased mind will continue to haunt people.

Kindergarten-Full Day Versus Half Day Essay

The sky is the limit for children. The benefits of children attending full day kindergarten are far greater than those children that attend half day. Some parents and educators disagree; they say that children should not be forced into their educational career so young. Whether for or against full-day kindergarten, the common goal for all parents is the well being for each individual child. Every child has different needs and capabilities. Parents have to make an informed decision on full day or half day kindergarten. That decision can be a difficult one. Ultimately that decision is the starting point for the next twelve or more years of education for these young children. Connecticut does not have a law mandating all towns have full day kindergarten. The budget process has to make full day kindergarten a priority. The curriculum for kindergarten is limited during half day sessions for children. Because of the time limitations during half day, these children are getting significant amounts of homework to bring home. Before and aftercare is needed due to the short school day for the half day kindergartners, causing parents to pay for childcare. The most important point is that children’s cognitive learning is so crucial at age five. They can absorb so much information at a kindergarten level. Taking advantage of that will give them the best opportunities for the educational career and give them a head start. Kindergarten was originated in 1837 (Burkam 3). Children develop their mental, social, and emotional faculties through play, music, movement, interaction with the outdoors, and opportunities to engage in independent and creative pursuits (Burkam 3). The goal of kindergarten is to prepare children for first grade academics (Burkam 5). Children show great resilience so can therefore adapt to any formal routine, especially education. We must constructively use this critical stage in their lives to have them absorb all the information they can. Most towns in eastern Connecticut have full day kindergarten except Montville. There is no set standard in Connecticut law for all towns to have at least one full-day kindergarten. East Lyme, Niantic, Norwich, Waterford, Ledyard, and Groton have already established a full day program for kindergarten. Montville being the only town in the surrounding area that does not have a full day option available makes it very difficult to those parents in that town to make arrangements for care of their children. Planning a town budget for full day kindergarten is not as complicated as it may seem. Child care is financed primarily by families, who are estimated to be paying between $40 and $50 billion annually (Mitchell 8). Only a small percentage of those funds being spent could be used for funding all schools with full day kindergarten programs. Demonstrating better ways to increase and combine local, state, public and private sources to finance all types of programs so that they can meet higher standards and that all families can afford kindergarten and preschool education (Mitchell 12). Some educators say the biggest obstacle is hiring teachers. They would need twice the amount already staffed. Splitting up the groups of half day classes and teachers could be a solution to that issue. There would not need to be any additional teachers hired in that case. There is so much for children to learn at the age of five. A full day of learning, social interaction, and play is so beneficial. Research comparing half-day and full-day kindergarten shows those children benefit from a developmentally appropriate, full-day program, most notably in terms of early academic achievement—a foundation for school and life success (Villegas 1). Full-day kindergarten can afford children the academic learning time needed to prepare for mastery of primary-grade reading and math skills (Villegas 1) In particular, the weight of evidence shows that full-day kindergarten benefits children in these ways: contributes to increased school readiness, children that are adapted to full day kindergarten are already prepared for the transition into regular grade level schooling, most importantly, they understand rules and behavior, which leads to a higher academic achievement. Standardized tests and classroom grades find that full day students achieve higher and improve student attendance. There is better attendance in full-day kindergarten due to the parents understanding that there is so much more information and teaching provided during a longer day and does not want their child to miss, supporting a childs literacy and language development has long lasting effects that are greater in children that attend full day kindergarten (Villegas 2). One study showed higher reading achievement persisting through third grade and in some cases even seventh grade (Villegas 1). Enrolling a child in full-day kindergarten benefits them socially and emotionally. Full day gives children a balance of structured play and self play. Being with classmates for more hours in a classroom forces them to build positive relationships. Those relationships last sometimes all the way through twelfth grade. Decreases costs by reducing retention and remediation rates (Villegas 1, 2). One study, which found full day students to be more than twice as likely to remain on grade through third grade, showed that this academic benefit helped to offset 19 percent of the first year’s cost of extending the kindergarten day (Villegas 2). For those children in half-day kindergarten, they need to have before and after care in some families, especially when both parents work full time. If there were full day kindergarten, it would eliminate some of that cost of after care. Due to these children needing to go to multiple places throughout the day for care and schooling becomes the issue of transportation. During a parents work day, that child could be bused to as much as three different locations just for child care. Parents prefer longer kindergarten programs because children have to make fewer transitions within a day and they believe their children will be better prepared for first grade (Mitchell 5). Day care programs are valuable, but do not have the curriculum and equal age structure that kindergarten does. Proponents of full-day kindergarten believe that children, as a result of their various childcare and preschool experiences, are ready for more demanding and cognitively oriented educational programs (Burkam 6). Having group play with children ages 0-5 is not beneficial educationally. Children at age five are at an important learning stage in their lives. The more education they can receive in kindergarten the better prepared for school they will be. Full-day advocates suggest several advantages for the longer kindergarten day: it allows teachers more opportunity to assess children’s educational needs and individualize instruction, it makes small-group learning experiences more feasible, it engages children in a broader range of learning experiences, it provides opportunities for in-depth exploration of curriculum, it provides opportunities for closer teacher-parent relationships, it benefits working parents who may need a longer school day (Burkam 6). Reading, math, science are subjects that are the beginning fundamentals in learning Researchers found that children who attended full-day kindergarten scored higher on reading comprehension and mathematics concepts and applications (Burkam 9). Having more hours in a school day allows teachers to take a more one on one approach for the children to really delve deep into counting, the alphabet, writing, speaking, and so forth. The foundation of learning stems from kindergarten. Cognitive development is the most important issue with having children in a full-day kindergarten program. Kindergarten is more than play and social interaction with peers, this time must be used to take full advantage of a child’s potential in learning. Education should be the first priority and focus in a child’s life. The bigger picture is laying the groundwork for children’s educational experience. The younger the child the more prepared they will be for the future and the most successful in life.

Marketing PowerPoint Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing - PowerPoint Presentation Example On VEBS Oel, which specializes in oil products and petrol distribution. It is also highly successful in the refining sector, for example, selling 6.4 million barrels of fuel daily to gas stations. BP also produces polyethylene, polypropylene and acetylene amongst others. BP is also now involved in the solar energy sector. BP, undeniably a giant, is located in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa. (BP 2008). Game theory is responsible for the coordination processes in a given functional structure. Schmidt (2002) explained that these coordination processes usually follow physical flows. Each division (purchasing, production, sales, etc.) is constrained in throughputs by other internal divisions while adapting to local uncertainties (labor, breakdown of equipment, input and output changes with regard to the firm environment, etc.). Routines are used to balance ex ante budgets and define buffer inventories. Chandler pointed to the successive organizational changes which occurred in Du Pont de Nemours from 1907 to 1920, when coordination within a functional firm becomes clearly inefficient and that it was then broken down into parts and that a multidivisional structure emerges. Then much simpler coordination procedures can be implemented under the authority of the division manager while the benefits of the specialization by function are lost (economies of scope). Consider a stylized firm with a functional structure consisting of a purchasing, a manufacturing, and a selling division. It is assumed that manufacturing involves fixed costs, so that it pays to increase the volume of throughput. However, the environment is assumed to be uncertain both in the downstream and upstream markets. This suggests that corresponding decisions should be flexible in order to benefit from favorable market conditions. Altogether these conflicting objectives may endanger the financial

Research paper about famous photographer Ansel Adams

About famous photographer Ansel Adams - Research Paper Example He started school in 1908 but he was a poor student. He started to hate going to school. In 1915, his father took him out from school and had him home-schooled. During that time, Charles bought his son a pass to the Panama Pacific International Exposition. This Exposition had exhibits on science, arts, machinery and photography. That was the first time young Ansel encountered photography as a form of art. There were three prints exhibited by the great photographer Edward Weston – whom he would collaborate much later in a group project and will become a great friend. His unconventional education opened the doors for young Ansel: He became interested in piano and began to teach himself how to play. He was a serious student of music, and recognizing this, his father hired a piano tutor for Ansel. Her name was Marie Butler and she tutored Ansel for three years. At this point, Ansel was seriously considering becoming a concert pianist. In 1916, Ansel’s family took a trip to Yosemite and on this trip, his father gave him a camera. This trip made him interested in photography as a result. â€Å"With his camera, a Kodak Box Brownie, Ansel’s life as a photographer began – an interest which was to endure for the rest of his life. With his first attempts at committing the magic of Yosemite to film, he demonstrated the beginnings of an immense talent which was to make him a world-class photographer† (1). Ansel was then persuaded to attend school again and he did. He went to Mrs. Kate Wilkins’ private school. He graduated from eighth grade in 1917 at Mrs. Wilkins’ school. His graduation marked the end of his academic career. He continued to pursue piano and music, as well as his new passion – photography – after graduation. Like the way he taught himself piano, he began teaching himself the basic principles of photography. Then he got a job working part-time for a photo finisher in San Francisco, Fred Dittman. T his is where Ansel had his first darkroom experience. Will Dassonville, a neighbor, was a technician and manufacturer of photographic papers. â€Å"It was Will Dassonville who was Ansel’s true inspiration and who brought his attention the true extent to which photography could be developed into an art form.† (2) This picture is called The Tetons – Snake River. This iconic picture is taken at the Yosemite Park and is probably one of the most famous photographs that inspired environmentalism in America. Many photographers agree that Ansel Adams made a huge impact in photography that you can actually denote the history of photography into before Ansel Adams and after Ansel Adams. It has been said that before Ansel Adams, photography is not taken seriously, and was not considered an art form. The photographers then used extreme manipulations on their photographs to make them resemble paintings. However, Ansel came to the scene declaring â€Å"photography is poetry of the real† and eschewed manipulations. He practiced the value of â€Å"pure photography† using only light, shutter speed and other simple manipulations of the camera. Ansel clung to the large format camera even if the point and shoot ones were readily available. Because of his beautiful pictures of nature, Ansel changed how photography was seen (it is now art) and has influenced America about how to take care of their environment. Because of him, King’

Bring Tare To Justice Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Bring Tare To Justice - Case Study Example In October 2007, a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature donated her money for a campaign that holds Boney Tare accountable for the Anglo-Mesopotistani War in the criminal and civil courts of England. The Lobby started a campaign with the slogan, 'Bring Tare to Justice'. The lobby has approached for advice on the advantages and disadvantages of suing Boney Tare in Civil Courts for Torts of Trespass against Tare in person and against Misfeasance in Public Office. There are thus two ways that justice could be brought against Tare - that is, against Tare as a person and against Misfeasance in Public Office. The potential claimants at the Lobby who can help sue Tare are Omar, who has been interned by the British Army for the last four years in its Detention Facility in Mespotistan, Ali, who was the victim of torture by two British soldiers who were subsequently court-martialled for their acts. Doris, a UK citizen who has never been to Mespotistan, but who is strongly of the opinion Tare should pay exemplary damages to those he has trespassed against. Fatima, whose husband died in the March 2003 bombing raids. Considering an answer to these questions would be the best method to understand the ways in which any legal proceedings could be brought against Boney Tare both on the basis that he has wronged in person and that there has also been Misfeasance in Public Office. After considering the four potential claimants who can help sue and testify against, it can also be decided as to who would be better suited to testify against Tare. For law dealing with the Trespass against the Person, the first issue is whether the English Courts have jurisdiction over a decision taken in England to commit false imprisonments in Mespotistan. Boney Tare can be sued on the basis of Tort or for committing legal wrong of Trespass and Misfeasance. Tort is a branch of Civil law and although similar to criminal law Tort is a case between private parties so in this case, under Tort a case can be brought up against Tare as an individual and Omar who was at the detention facility in Mespotistan or Ali who was a victim of Torture could bring up the case against Tare. The court might order to pay damages to Ali or Omar or stop the wrongful activity (in this case, the invasion and war in Mespotistan). The bilateral aspect of Tort law allows victims to sue the injurers directly without blaming the state and this provision can allow

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Economics - Essay Example He displayed both mathematical dexterity and wide literary grace. As a good economist, Keynes took keen interest in statistical methods of solving economic problems and maintained strong vigilance on the activities that took place in the economy. He mastered the way of observing the particular details that occurred in an economy and then used these details to develop general economic theories. As a person, Keynes demonstrated a dazzling intellect and an arrogance which, to some appeared to be the result of dismissive elitism of the Victorian era. Three elements guided the thoughts and writings of Keynes. These three elements were his presumptuous egotism, his strong identification with the elite class to which he was born and his despise for the values held by the bourgeoisie class (Rothbard, â€Å"Keynes, the Man†). Keynes overweening egotism allowed him to get the confidence that he was capable of handling the intellectual problems that arose during the contemporary period a nd solving them with precision. He scorned at the general principles that went against his ego. This man strongly believed that he was destined to become the leader of the ruling elite class of Great Britain. Keynes dealt with the issues that arose in Britain with a sense of perceived self confidence. He occupied a â€Å"position of power and dominance† (Rothbard, â€Å"Keynes, the Man†). Besides, the deep hatred of the values held in the bourgeoisie way of leading life made Keynes rebel against the institutions and establishments of family life, that supported the notions of savings and prudence. He led the life that was characterized by â€Å"social intellectual rebellion† (Rothbard, â€Å"Keynes, the Man†), the life of an aesthete and a bohemian. Major contributions in the field of economics Keynes’s elucidated the causes of rampant unemployment that affected major economies around the world. In most of the countries, unemployment rates soared h igh and all efforts to reduce inflation rate failed to bring the desired result. Keynes was able to realize the looming shadow of depression that was going to envelop the world economy and argued that monetary policies would not be sufficient enough to combat the effects of depression (Snowdon and Vane 34). He suggested the policy measures, which would help in increasing the aggregate demand and reduce unemployment. Despite the optimism of the time during his youth, Keynes intellectual career started with his thoughts about recession that was about to hit the world economy after a period of economic boom. The Great Depression actually arrived in the mid 1930s, towards the end of Keynes life span. During his life, Keynes had made significant efforts â€Å"to make sense of the disruptions and crises that began with the First World War and continued through the Great Depression† (â€Å"John Maynard Keynes†). His theories made profound impact in the macroeconomic field of study. Microeconomics Micro economics deals with the theories of demand and supply in the market at the firm level. According to most economic thoughts, there is a departure between micro and macro points of view of the world and the market. There is a distinction between the way in which the

Human Trafficking in Sudan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Trafficking in Sudan - Essay Example The legacies of slavery and colonialism can help to understand the current civil war and political violence as well as human trafficking. However, the emphasis in this paper will be on human trafficking and slavery. The foundation of slavery in Sudan has its roots in frontier war zones of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.1 One important aspect in the slavery of Sudan as well as Muslim society is that the slave will be treated as part of the family or a member of it. However, the descendents of a slave are slaves until they are freed by their master. Hence, the abolition of slavery in the West did not affect the situation in Sudan and Arab as well as African leaders of Central Sudan encouraged human trafficking on the premise of Sharia or Islamic law and encouraged the enslavement of non-Muslims. As a result non Muslims from Brazil were sent to Central Sudan that witnessed the human trafficking as the slaves from communities of Arab traders and Islamicized local leaders were sold in Central African markets. The human trafficking developed on the name of religion as the leaders started selling the people who did not embrace Islam. As it is clear that the rulers have the privilege of using the religion for their materialistic needs, the ruling group has monopolized Sudan's slave trade and that resulted i n slaves being an important export commodity. As the slave ownership with the help of farming helped the merchant class to be wealthy, the leading merchants established the slave establishments. The girl slaves from the slave family were forced to do prostitution and have sent their part of the earnings to their master. The beneficiaries of the earnings of those prostitute slaves were known for their nobility and that resulted in economic development of a particular class by exploiting the slave population. In addition to that, the exploitation of slaves resulted in mobilization of labor on a large scale. The mobilization accompanied the appropriation of products of slaves. However, even in the context of mobilization, the small-scale household labor force characteristic indigenous non-Muslim societies were not eliminated. Instead to that the labor force has turned into a component of a multifaceted system of forced labor that developed the production in plantations. As mentioned ea rlier as the slavery is a result of war zones in the previous centuries, the territorial conquest resulted in acquisition of slaves. As enslavement and state expansion happened simultaneously, that resulted in cultural differences between different groups and developed political variations among social groups. The establishment of Funji Kingdom resulted in Islamization of Northern and Central Sudan that resulted in enslavement of non Muslims. 2 The enslavement of people enabled the people in Sudan to buy women in most states of Sudan and it is not impossible to buy a pretty girl or a boy as a slave according to your desire. The slavery in Sudan changed it into a source country for men, women and children who are trafficked for the purposes of labor as well as sexual exploitation. The slavery in Sudan has helped other Arabian countries to enjoy the fruits and labors of it. As the

European single currency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

European single currency - Essay Example The idea of a European common currency had been in the drawing board since 1993, but the Euro as EU’s common currency went into circulation in 1999 and was considered as a major step towards European integration. The ratification of the Maastricht treaty in November of 1993 was responsible for the creation of the European Monetary Union or EMU and adopted the Euro as their common currency (European commission, n.d.). When the Euro was introduced into EMU on January 1, 1999, it became the new official currency of the 15 member countries thereby replacing their old national currencies like Deutschmark of Germany and Franc of France. The Euro was introduced first as a virtual currency for payments not requiring hard cash and for purposes of accounting. The old national currencies of member countries were used for cash payments and is considered as sub-units of euro. The European commission revealed that the real euro currency in bank notes and coins appeared in January 2002. The European commission reported that the primary responsibility of the EMU is to ensure the price stability of goods and services in all the member countries by maintaining an annual inflation rate of less than 2%.The European commission added that although Denmark and United Kingdom are members of the European Union, Euro is not their currency as they agreed on the ‘opt-out’ clause of the Maastricht treaty thereby exempting them from participation ... market. The European commission reported that the economic as well as monetary integration of the EU simulates the history of the Union. In 1957, when the EU was founded, they concentrated on establishing a common market. In the course of time, it was felt that closer cooperation related to economic and monetary matters were needed for the common market to progress and flourish further. The European commission revealed that when the euro was adapted as the single currency of the EU, the monetary policy is being managed by the European Central Bank (ECB) which was established for that sole purpose, and the corresponding central banks of the member countries. Together, they formed the Eurosystem Fiscal Policy on tax and spending and remain as responsibility of individual member countries. They adhere to follow the agreed procedures on public finances accounting known as Stability and Growth Pack. The member countries also retain their responsibility for creating their own structural policies related to labour, capital markets as well as pensions. They however agree to coordinate them with ECB to ensure higher chances of achieving goals related to stability, employment and growth. Having adopted a single European currency has many benefits and these were the motivations for the creation of the Euro. An Economics teacher form Oxford University named Tejvan R.Pettinger (2008) enumerated the benefits that can be derived from having only one European currency system. They are as follows: Reduced transaction Costs 1. There will be no more cost involved in currency exchanges; this will benefit tourists and firms trading in the Euro area

The Influence of Media on Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Influence of Media on Learning - Essay Example In the near future, Robert Kozma (1994) was saying, telephone, cable television, and digital computer technologies will merge (Stix, 1993). There is then the prospect of an interactive video supposedly "integrated with large multimedia databases to be distributed to people in various settings all over the world." With this announcement will probably come the threat of educational processes becoming quite expensive, complex, and made beyond the reach of most people. This is because Kozma doesn't present much defense on the significance of these changes. If we do not soon understand the relationship between media and learning-if we have not forgedsuch a relationship, this technology may be used primarily for interactive soap operas and online purchases of merchandise. Its educational uses may be driven primarily by benevolent movie moguls who design "edutainment" products whose contribution to learning may be minimal. There is much sense in the warnings and the hypothetical situation that Kozma (1994) gave. But much of his despair with the use of media may be caused by lack of emphasis on dialogue. A discussion on the theory of transactional distance (Moore, 1997) would be in order here. With all of these media, something has to bridge the gap between teacher and learner. Only then will media and its sophistication have any meaning (Moore, 1997). Any communication system devoid of feedback is deficient, as is the lack of interaction with the use of media in teaching. Kozma (1994) does not underscore this but only in the light of mentioning the delivery-truck model of transforming information. In teaching, it is the same as that of the derided hypodermic model (Smith, 1997) or of the banking system of education (ARRC, 2002) where the teacher deposits information and withdraws them back again through quizzes. There is very little learning then and throughout it all, the student may not have learned anything beyond memory work, where information stored can only evaporate after the quiz. True, "learning is a process by which the learner strategically manages available resources to create new knowledge by interacting with information and integrating it with information stored in memory" (Richey, 1989). This is why media cannot get all of the credit for the learning of the student, who still has to interact intelligently if he has to learn. On this regard, I would agree with critic, Richard Clark (1983). Kozma (1994) quoted that "learning with media is a complementary process within which representations are constructed and procedures performed, sometimes by the learner and sometimes by the medium." Studies are needed in this aspect to determine which are those performed by the learner and which are those by the medium. This aspect is emphasized because the case presented may be likened to children's' toys. While the objective is for the child to know how to manipulate things, discover how it could perform for his needs and interests, and where something is lacking, the child himself is supposed to be challenged to think of how the thing lacking is produced. Apparently, the situation has changed to the detriment of the child's thinking because of available technology. A

Media’s Influence Essay Example for Free

Media’s Influence Essay From Congress to Clowns: Media’s Influence on Bow Tie Transformation The bow tie could easily be dubbed the ‘black sheep’ of the Cravat family. Its origins are none glamorous and it is rarely embraced, typically turned against and most often forgotten. It is noticed in only its fleeting moments of sheik or dreadfully offensive shock. Its history originating in utility and birthed from a distinguished sect was turned against with the advent of visual media. The bow tie was first seen in the 17th Century when Croatian mercenaries went to support King Louis in France (Pohl). To keep their shirts closed and to protect themselves from the elements they tied a loosely fit tie around their necks (Pohl). There is debate over whether the intention was strictly utilitarian; as long, lace neckwear was already a fashion in France there was likely some influence. King Louis quickly adopted the tie for fashion. He named it â€Å"La Cravat† and made it the required attire for upper class formal gatherings (Pohl). It continued its European trend and was brought along with colonization to America. The earliest bow ties were white and were worn for fashion and social class distinction. It remained in use during the 18th and 19th century, but was mainly isolated to politicians, lawyers and scholars as very formal and professional attire. Abraham Lincoln and many of our early presidents were often photographed wearing the bow tie reinforcing its representation of being a distinguished accessory. The first major shift in accepted bow tie use coincided with the changes in political ideology. A young America, wanting to distance itself from European classism removed the bow tie from accepted fashion practice. Outside of the very formal ‘black tie affair’ it was rarely seen. The general opinion of the bow tie changed as well, as it began to carry with it an air of pretense or snobbery. Warren St. John, a writer for the New York Times, describes this shift in thinking, To its devotees the bow tie suggests iconoclasm of an Old World sort, a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bow tie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. Bow ties are worn by magicians, country doctors, lawyers and professors and by people hoping to look like the above. But perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think (St. John). This idea changed in an important way in the 20th century. After decades of a clear break from European influence the bow tie made a come back, but in an interesting way. It was still fashionably outcast outside of formalwear, but it became an icon for individualism. â€Å"A list of bow tie devotees reads like a Whos Who of rugged individualists† (St. John). Interestingly this new trend coincides with the advent and surge in visual media, via film, news real, magazine and eventually television. â€Å"Mens clothier Jack Freedman told the New York Times that wearing a bow tie ‘is a statement maker’ that identifies a person as an individual because ‘its not generally in fashion’† (St. John). The bow tie would never be ‘generally in fashion’ even with visual access, but media helped to mold new thinking about it as a symbol and defined opinions of those who wore it. Its casual use was adopted by outspoken and prominent politicians, comedians, broadcasters, and many animated figures. The influence from Hollywood and T. V. media would create an impression that would stick. In T. V. and film comedians and animated characters personas who wore bow ties were portrayed as goofy, awkward, quirky or nerdy creating a stereotype that modern bow tie wearers can’t quite shake. Characters such as Jerry Lewis’ Nutty Professor and Paul Reubens’ Pee Wee Herman have helped perpetuate it. It is possible that Hollywood as an institution and ‘protector of class’ may have created these characterizations in rebellion to the adoption of the bow tie by mainstream individuals. Simmel writes, â€Å"the elite initiates a fashion and when the mass imitates it in an effort to eliminate the distinction of class, [the elite] abandon it for a different mode†. Acting on the elites behalf, visual media created and exposed these clownish views to turn the style ‘off’, to make it un-fashionable, so it could resume class distinction (541). Like the black sheep that it is, despite its sense of folly the bow tie also leaves the impression of being quite trustworthy. Many highly respected leaders, lawyers, politicians and broadcasters have donned them and some have even been branded by this signature piece. Winston Churchill was known for his signature blue and white polka-dot tie. Charles Osgood for his trademark tie worn during broadcasts. That sense of trust could stem from the idea that these men are brave enough to ‘go against fashion’ or because ‘they don’t care what people think’ we trust them to be more candid and honest. Advertisers picked up on this trend and companies such as Chevrolet and Budweiser have included the bow tie in their corporate logos. They also reinforced this association of trustworthiness and honesty with their campaign slogans. In 1996 Chevrolet wanted its â€Å"blue bow tie to be among America’s top icons again†, so it created a series of â€Å"15 second spots featuring just the bow tie in unexpected places with the printed tag ‘Genuine Chevrolet’ and the narration ‘the cars Americans trust’† (Halliday). Budweiser also made this association with their ad campaign featuring just their red bow tie logo and the words ‘Budweiser, True’. Though the bow tie has made a dramatic shift in the 20th century from a symbol of class distinction and distinguished conformity to a symbol of individualism and supposed trust, the bow tie has not waivered as the staple accessory of formal attire. There have been some recent adaptations, again brought on by Hollywood celebrities such as the black button cover or black bolo tie, but when alternates are chosen they are typically mocked by mainstream media. Black tie affair still means black bow tie by all accounts. The sophistication and style has been reinforced by celebrities in photos or films of formal dances, dinners and parties. Representing all the glamour of classic Hollywood and associated with the debonair Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra. It has such a long standing tradition and symbol of what it means to be a sophisticated and classy gentleman that even Playboy picked it up and incorporated it into their bunny logo . In fact, Playboy’s use of the bow tie has in many ways taken the symbol full circle – the fantasy and money associated with having women and the ‘finer things’ in life really brings us right back to the ideas of class distinction and giving men something to aspire too. The bow tie has such an interesting history because essentially we aren’t sure what to think of it. Outside of its use as formal wear it doesn’t have a category or clear intention. Standing so far left of fashion it is one of those rare instances where those who chose to wear it really do demonstrate individuality and not out of a need for protest or desperation to be noticed. Finkelstein wrote, The basic irony of fashion is that it cannot succeed in marking the individual as truly different. While fashions may be touted as a means to be distinguished, the pursuit of fashion is more effectively a means of being socially homogenized. The historic success of being fashionable has been to provide a sense of individualism within a shared code, since individuals can look acceptably distinctive only within a restricted aesthetic. When they purchase fashionable goods that will distinguish them, they do so only from a range of goods already understood to be valuable. Having this understanding of fashion it seems to follow that one purchasing or wearing something un-fashionable truly is expressing their individuality. In the case of the bow tie it seems its wearers have less in common and that commonality derived by the observer has more to do with visual media’s attempt to categorize the wearer as something. Interestingly though, those known for donning the bow tie come from such a broad society base that stereotypes of general folly created by media characters do not really apply. However it may be that is exactly the point. When you can’t be categorized you will certainly stand out and in that case the bow tie, outside of the formal, acts merely as a signature piece with no real intention other than being noticed. â€Å"To be fashionable involves having specific knowledge about the value of goods. It is not sufficient to desire goods because of their utility† (Finkelstein). Clearly using the bow tie for the sake of the utility of being noticed makes the item quite un-fashionable, but maybe it is the individual outside of the fashion world who truly understands the value of goods. The bow tie is the ‘black sheep’ of the Cravat family, the outsider of the fashion world and that is its value. Visual media has changed its initial perceptions of being an item of social class distinction to that of a clown and yet despite its created perceptions those who choose to wear the bow tie outside of film and T. V. are highly regarded and trusted. Advertisers have picked up on this strange dichotomy and have even reinforced its credibility, but not to the approval of the fashion world. It is curious to think that the bow tie will ever become fashionable outside of its formal roots mainly because it has become something far more valuable than fashion. Works Cited Finkelstein, Joanne. â€Å"Chic Theory†. Australian Humanities Review. 07 March 2009. http://www. australianhumanitiesreview. org/archive/Issue-March-1997/. Pohl, H. â€Å"The History of the Bow Tie†. 05 November 2008. lula general articles. 07 March 2009. http://www. iula. org/the-history-of-the-bow-tie-16695/. Halliday, Jean. â€Å"Chevrolet ads seek to bolster image of bow tie†. 08 April 1996. Automotive News. Crain Communications. 07 March 2009. http://www. highbeam. com/doc/1G1-18451431. html. Simmel, Georg. â€Å"Fashion†. May 1957. The American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 62, No. 6, 541-558. 07 March 2009. http://www. jstor. org/stable/2773129. St John, Warren. A Red Flag That Comes in Many Colors. 26 June 2005. The New York Times. 07 March 2009. http://www. nytimes. com/2005/06/26/fashion/sundaystyles/26BOWTIE. html.

Stop smoking Essay Example for Free

Stop smoking Essay Whether you’re a teen smoker or a lifetime pack-a-day smoker, quitting can be tough. But the more you learn about your options and prepare for quitting, the easier the process will be. With the right game plan tailored to your needs, you can break the addiction, manage your cravings, and join the millions of people who have kicked the habit for good.Smoking tobacco is both a physical addiction and a psychological habit. The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary, and addictive, high. Eliminating that regular fix of nicotine will cause your body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Because of nicotine’s â€Å"feel good† effect on the brain, you may also have become accustomed to smoking as a way of coping with stress, depression, anxiety, or even boredom. At the same time, the act of smoking is ingrained as a daily ritual. It may be an automatic response for you to smoke a cigarette with your morning coffee, while taking a break from work or school, or during your commute home at the end of a long day. Perhaps friends, family members, and colleagues smoke, and it has become part of the way you relate with them. To successfully quit smoking, you’ll need to address both the addiction and the habits and routines that go along with it.While some smokers successfully quit by going cold turkey, most people do better with a plan to keep themselves on track. A good plan addresses both the short-term challenge of quitting smoking and the long-term challenge of preventing relapse. It should also be tailored to your specific needs and smoking habits.

Child labour in the Philippines

Child labour in the Philippines Child labour in the Philippines Introduction Do you know where that pretty shirt you are wearing was made? Or, that soccer ball you love to play with so much? Do you know if it was made in a fair and ethical way, or made by hard working, poor children who should be spending their time playing and in the school benches? This essay will be about child labour in the Philippines. Child labour is an important issue because affects people in a negative way, and because it, unfortunately, still happens a lot. There are different views on this issue that will be discussed in this essay. This essay will consider arguments for and against child labour in the Philippines, with factors such as money, conditions, health and education. Child labour is a term that is known for a very long time. Child labour stands for: employment of boys and girls when they are too young to work for hire, or when they are employed at jobs that are unsafe and/or unsuitable for their age (according to the US department of Labour). The legal age limit is shown in the Philippines is shown in the following article: Art. 139. Minimum Employable Age. (a) No child below fifteen (15) years of age shall be employed, except when he works directly under the sole responsibility of his parents or guardian, and his employment does not in any way interfere with his schooling.[1] The Philippines is a young nation with a high percentage of young people in its overall population. In the past, 1995-1997, one sixth of the children worked. Around this time 22.4 million children where aged between 5-17, which meant that this age group was about one third of the overall population of the Philippines at that time. (Initiating and Mobilizing Action Against Child Labor in the Philippines). Money Money is one of the main reasons why children work in the Philippines. The Philippines is a poor country. Many households depend on children to work. The contribution of kids is financially needed within these households. According to the NSCB (National statistical Coordination Board)[2], who investigated the poverty statistics for the government, thirty three out of one hundred Filipinos were poor in 2006, compared to thirty in 2003. Poverty incidence increased to 26.9% for families in 2006 compared to 24.4% in 2003. The investigation also shows that, in 2006, a Filipino family comprising of five members needed a monthly income of 4,1477 PhP (Philipine Pesos) to be able to sustain their familys minimum basic food needs, an increase of 23% from 2003. To be able to provide for both food and nonfood basic requirements, a family of five needed 6,274 PhP monthly income in 2006, an increase of more than 22% from 2003. The schools in the Philippines are tuition free, but the parents have to pay for the other expenses. The expenses include uniforms, projects and materials. In fact, even if schools would be cheaper, they still wouldnt be able to pay for it; since the families are so poor they need the children to work as well. There are also positive sides of child labour. Both children and employers profit from child labour. The children benefit from child labour by earning money for the work they do. Children that work and contribute to the total income of their family, help the family survive. Usually, the parents cannot afford food and other needs for every family member, that is why the childrens contribution is need. Not working could lead to starvation, and eventually, to death. Children working in factories receive between 15 and 25 pesos per day (approximately 61 cents to $1) . The children in mines reportedly earn between 40 and 50 pesos per day (approximately $1.62 to $2). Older packers earn between 250 and 300 pesos per day (approximately $10 to $12).[3] Employers also benefit from child labour, because the salary of children is lower than those of adults. Low salary allows the employer to sell cheaper goods, and with cheaper goods, the employers can generate more profit. As shown above the difference in salary is high Conditions/health children are significantly smaller than adults. In some sectors, like in the mines, this might come in handy, because children fit in places and holes adults do not. Children are also said to have more energy than adults, which means they can be more productive and maybe even work a bit longer. Children also have smaller hands, which makes them work more precise. Even though children seem perfect for these kind of jobs, the conditions they have to work in affect their health. Many of the kids that work, work in hazardous and dangerous areas, such as mines and factories. Not only is working in mines and agriculture dangerous for the children, some children are even forced to work as child prostitutes, in the porn industry, as child soldiers or as servants. Another bad side to child labour is that children are weaker than adults, and have to do heavy work that affects their health. Children also have to work long hours. Long hours take toll on childrens not fully developed body. Education Education is very important. Schools are the childrens sources to obtain knowledge and other information. Instead of working, children should learn from books. Without education, the hope of a better life is far away, since the probability of those children ending up with a good job is low. Labour often interferes with childrens education. There are children that work and attend school. This is bad for the child, since the child cannot only focus on school but still has the responsibility of earning money. Children that do not attend school might end up being poor, which might result in their kids having to work. This might become a vicious circle. Children that work have the advantage of learning, from an early age, how to deal with money. The children get taught how to deal with money and they end up knowing the value of money. They also learn how it feels to have responsibilities and how to provide for their families. Conclusion In conclusion, there are a lot of factors that you should consider before forming an opinion about child labour in the Philippines. Factors like, money, education, health and conditions. Children should have the chance to be a children. They should spend time playing and learning one another in school, and not wasting away their youth in hazardous factories. Every child has the right to have basic human needs, such as a healthy environment, shelter, nutrition, clean water, proper education and clothes. According to Unicef, a possible solution would be: ‘One of the keys would be ensuring that all children go to school and that their education is of good quality.[4] [1] The Philippines National Laws, http://ipecphils.tripod.com/phillaws/p2_2.htm [2] NSCB, http://www.nscb.gov.ph/pressreleases/2008/PR-200803-SS2-02_pov.asp [3] United States Department of Labor, http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/sweat/philippines.htm [4] Unicef, http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html

Justice in Euripides Medea :: Euripides Medea Essays

Justice in Euripides' Medea How do we define reason as just? When asked this question, it really makes you begin to wonder how to depict what one might think is just. In the story of Medea, reason is what drives many of the characters actions. For example, the reason that Jason leaves Medea for Creon's daughter is for his own benefit. Is that just? Medea then kills Creon and his daughter for revenge against Jason. Is that just?. Throughout the whole story, you are torn with emotions between the characters. At first, you feel sorry for Medea. Her husband, who she has saved from death, has left her for another woman. She has been "all/obediant" their entire marriage, transforming herself into the sort of wife required by society. You can't help but sympathize with her. As she is "Faced with her husband's cold pragmatism, Medea responds according to her nature." Euripides really stresses the "otherness" of Medea's nature: she is "of a different kind", described in terms of nature and animals: she is "a rock or wave of the sea'", "like a wild bull", "a tiger". Yes, she is a little dangerous, but she is driven by her hear; that vital force which distinguishes the body from the corpse and has been crushed by Jason's betrayal. Later in the story, our sympathy transfers from Medea to Jason. Her revenge turns immoral, leaving readers with a sense of uneasiness. It is not so much the fact that she kills Creon and his daughter, but the fact that she slays her children in cold-blood. The stories characters, Medea and Jason, can be seen as representations of two different responses to life. For hundreds of years, society has judged each others actions and reactions based on just cause. This story, to me, has a type of underlying theme that drags the reader into a moral debate, which forces you to really question your own belief system. Today, we see it everywhere. On reality tv, court tv, and even on the news. We are constantly required to judge peoples actions as just or unjust. Justice in Euripides' Medea :: Euripides Medea Essays Justice in Euripides' Medea How do we define reason as just? When asked this question, it really makes you begin to wonder how to depict what one might think is just. In the story of Medea, reason is what drives many of the characters actions. For example, the reason that Jason leaves Medea for Creon's daughter is for his own benefit. Is that just? Medea then kills Creon and his daughter for revenge against Jason. Is that just?. Throughout the whole story, you are torn with emotions between the characters. At first, you feel sorry for Medea. Her husband, who she has saved from death, has left her for another woman. She has been "all/obediant" their entire marriage, transforming herself into the sort of wife required by society. You can't help but sympathize with her. As she is "Faced with her husband's cold pragmatism, Medea responds according to her nature." Euripides really stresses the "otherness" of Medea's nature: she is "of a different kind", described in terms of nature and animals: she is "a rock or wave of the sea'", "like a wild bull", "a tiger". Yes, she is a little dangerous, but she is driven by her hear; that vital force which distinguishes the body from the corpse and has been crushed by Jason's betrayal. Later in the story, our sympathy transfers from Medea to Jason. Her revenge turns immoral, leaving readers with a sense of uneasiness. It is not so much the fact that she kills Creon and his daughter, but the fact that she slays her children in cold-blood. The stories characters, Medea and Jason, can be seen as representations of two different responses to life. For hundreds of years, society has judged each others actions and reactions based on just cause. This story, to me, has a type of underlying theme that drags the reader into a moral debate, which forces you to really question your own belief system. Today, we see it everywhere. On reality tv, court tv, and even on the news. We are constantly required to judge peoples actions as just or unjust.

Lesson Learned Essay -- Personal Narratives Stealing Theft Essays

Lesson Learned There are so many events that change one’s life that it is rather difficult to try and decipher which of those events are most important. Each event changes a different aspect of your life, molding how one’s personality turns out. One of these events occurred when I was about twelve years old and I attempted to steal from a Six Flags amusement park. My reasoning for stealing wasn’t that I didn’t have the money, or even that I wanted what I stole all that badly, it was that all of my friends had stolen something earlier that day and didn’t get caught. After getting caught I resolved, because the consequences are just not worth it, never to steal or give into peer pressure again. It all began when a couple of friends and myself went to Six Flags for some fun right at the beginning of summer. We arrived there early in morning, which was about nine o’clock for us. The birds were chirping and the sun was bright. There was also a hint of dew, making the grass sparkle in the sunlight. The place was packed, people were standing in huge lines waiting to buy their tickets. My friends and I were lucky because we had season passes and just walked right to the front gate and walked in. Naturally there was a security check at the front gate, little did I know that I was going to run into them again in the near future. From there we went straight to the ride â€Å"The Mind Eraser.† It was always wise to go to that ride first, because as the day progressed, the line grew longer. Since the ride is only about a minute long, the wait then becomes to long to make the ride worth the wait. As we got on, all of us were a little jumpy. It was the first time being to the amusement park that year, and our stomachs were not immune to the s... ...o our red van not saying a word to me. On the drive home she gave me my punishment. The punishment was that I was to be grounded for an entire month, and reap the consequences with the law. I ended up sitting in my house for the first month of summer and losing two-hundred and eighty dollars, which was my fine for stealing. After that event, I made things very clear what I would never do again. From then on I never did something just because everyone else did. I would assess the situation and decide whether the action was worth it’s consequences. This event prevented me from becoming one of those people who break the law just because they can, or because it gives them an adrenalin rush. My actions on that fateful day were definitely not worth the consequences that I suffered, and because of that, I have been very obedient of the laws and rules that are around me.

Argument in the Apology Essay -- Plato Socrates

The main argument in The Apology by famous ancient Greek philosopher Plato is whether, notorious speaker and philosopher Socrates is corrupting the youth by preaching ungodly theories and teaching them unlawful ideas that do harm to individuals and society. In his words Socrates quoted the prosecution’s accusation against him: â€Å"Socrates is guilty of corrupting the minds of the young, and of believing in supernatural things of his own invention instead of the gods recognized by the state.† 1 Further Socrates consistently introduces tediously compiled number of examples to provide valid and sound arguments to prove that he is innocent of the charges brought up against him to the court. The first approach that Socrates uses to prove his innocence’s is he uses a practical comparison between horses and all living and artifical things â€Å"Take the case of horses; do you believe that those who improve them make up the whole of the mankind and that there is only one person who has a bad effect on them? Or is the truth just the opposite that the ability to improve them belongs to one person or to very few persons, who are horse-trainers, whereas most people, if they have to do with horses and make use of them, do them harm.† 2 The premises in this quote are: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Horse trainers do improve horses. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Those who use the horses do not enhance them. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are more horse owners than the horse trainers. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Therefore, the improvements come from a small group of specia...

Wuthering Heights Reading Log

Alex Plager Britten Wuthering Heights Assignment Round 2 Reading Log: The two men in Catherine's life represent one of many sets of doubles within the novel. Both of these men contrast one another, and fight for power, influence, love and attention in her life. Because both Edgar and Heathcliff both represent contrasting forces in the novel, they are unable to work together or act amiably towards one another. The goal of each one is to remove the other from Cathy's life. After Catherine's death, Heathcliff attempts to sneakily remove the lock of Edgar's hair enclosed in the locket about her neck and replace it with his own.In â€Å"open[ing] the trinket, and cast[ing] out its contents,† (145) Heathcliff believes that he has won this battle with Edgar. Symbolically, this action represents Heathcliff casting Edgar out of Catherine's life and heart, and filling the space with himself. Heathcliff walks out of the room believing that Catherine's body will be put to rest with only h is lock of hair on her, meaning that he will be with her for the remainder of her physical existence on this world. However, Nelly steps in and intertwines Edgar's hair with Heathcliff's.Both Edgar and Heathcliff live their lives believing that Catherine is holding a lock of only their own hair in her coffin, thinking that they are the only one who will be with her in death. However, Nelly's actions represent the fact that despite the two men's efforts of trying to win Catherine to themselves wholly, even in death, that Catherine holds both of them in her heart, and that neither one cannot be completely cast out. As Catherine is discussing the nature of her love for both Edgar and Heathcliff, she reveals a doubling within her personality.She says, â€Å"Nelly, I am Heathcliff,† (70) and continues on to say that any separation between them â€Å"is impracticable. † This revelation reveals a lot regarding their relationship, and how the two of them seem inseparable throu ghout the novel. It explains why Catherine allows Heathcliff to repeatedly come back into her life even though the sheer mention of his name perturbs Edgar's composure. The double that is Catherine/Heathcliff explains why Heathcliff is constantly a part of Catherine's life.For Catherine, Heathcliff is less of a separate person, a different entity, but more of a projection of her personality. Heathcliff represents the wild, naturalistic aspect of her personality, which has been suppressed by her change into a civil, upper-class person. As such, this suppressed personality returns in waves, exhibited both in her fits, and Heathcliff's unrelenting visits, refusing to be put out like the fire Edgar regards it to be. The reoccurring theme of doubles is at its strongest within chapter 15 as Lockwood begins narrating the story to the reader from Nelly's perspective.To clarify, the events have already been recounted to Lockwood through Nelly, and now he is narrating the story after she has told it to him, through her perspective, â€Å"She is, on the whole, a very fair narrator, and I don't think I could improve her style† (134). Needless to say, the reader is experiencing the story not secondhand, but thirdhand. Also, Nelly has already been revealed to be an unreliable narrator, as well as Lockwood. Combining the two is certain to have a profound effect on the story itself. The narration of the story has already had a tone of gossip about it, especially since Nelly called herself as a â€Å"gossip† (53).Now the ‘he said she said' essence of the story takes its strongest form, as we, the readers, are hearing about it ‘through the grapevine. ‘ Bronte uses this doubling of narration to emphasize the removal of the reader from the events in the story. The shadow of doubt the novel has been shrouded in is now a level deeper and darker than it has been up to this point in the novel. Nelly's biased narration of events, whose memory is blurred by time, is now coupled with Lockwood's own character flaws of misjudging characters and is subjected to his own bias as he recounts the already recounted tale.Within the novel, the relationships between servants and masters are anything but traditional ones. One would expect a servant to respect their master, and keep their tongue in check, however Nelly Dean seems exempt from these expectations, causing the reader to question who is the true master and servant within the household. On page 102, â€Å"[Catherine] rang the bell till is broke with a twang,† however, rather than rushing in as most servants should given the franticness of the bell ringing, Nelly â€Å"enter[s] leisurely. † This singular event provides a plethora of insight into the relationship between master and servant.The reader is able to discern that, since it is Nelly recounting the story, she would have no knowledge of the events happening in the room prior to her calling unless she was not alread y within earshot. Therefore, Nelly already knows the nature of the confrontation going on between Edgar and Nelly, and how it is of importance. Yet still, Nelly â€Å"leisurely† enters the room, flaunting her knowledge that Catherine needs her on a level beyond that of which a master typically needs a servant, and also spiting her by deliberately taking longer to arrive.However, during her narration of this scene, the reader can see building emotion within Nelly just within the paragraph this quote is taken from. It is clear that Nelly's â€Å"temper of a saint† is strung tight by Catherine's â€Å"senseless, wicked rages! â€Å"(102) And as a result of this emotion that she is not entirely able to control, Nelly's narration of this particular scene may be more unreliable than usual, as she might be tempted to exaggerate Catherine's behavior in order to justify her anger with her to Lockwood more, so that he may agree with her, or so that she may feel that he does.Di ction Log: 1: â€Å"Will you say, twenty years hence, ‘That's the grave of Catherine Earnshaw. I loved her long ago†¦ † (137) Synonyms: Linton Catherine's choice of calling herself Linton reveals much about how she views herself in terms of her identity. During her time as Catherine Earnshaw, Cathy identifies herself as being Heathcliff's lover, but after her marriage to Edgar, her public identity changes to Catherine Linton, signifying her position as Edgar's lover.Telling Heathcliff that her grave will be that of Catherine Earnshaw is telling Heathcliff that she rejects her identity of Catherine Linton, and that she will be his in death, as she should have been in life. The continued musing on her death in this scene foreshadows her impending death, and this line serves to both comfort Heathcliff, and also ignite further heartbreak in regards to her death as Heathcliff both derives pleasure and anguish knowing that Catherine was his, yet was never with her. 2: â €Å"†¦ while her cheeks, at once blanched and livid, assumed the aspect of death.Linton looked terrified. † Synonyms: Edgar, her husband In referring to Edgar as Linton, there would normally be ambiguity in doing so because, technically, Catherine is also â€Å"Linton. † But addressing him as solely Linton reflects both Edgar's feelings of her not being ‘his' anymore and signifies the distance that he feels is growing between the two of them. The reader also knows that Bronte is referring to Edgar because the reader understands that Catherine is not truly a Linton, and not entirely Edgar's.Bronte's word choice symbolizes a growing emotional distance between Edgar and Catherine, terrifying Edgar not only for the sake of her safety, but also for their relationship. Since Bronte's word choice reflects Nelly's disposition, it is also made known to the reader that Nelly sees this growing distance, and development of Catherine's character. 3: â€Å"Thought I hate him as much as ever, he did me a good turn a short time ago that will make my conscience tender of breaking his neck. † (75) Synonyms: fond, delicateOf the possible synonyms that could replace the word tender in this context, â€Å"tender† conveys the meaning of what Edgar is saying best. Edgar is saying to Catherine that despite his anger towards Heathcliff, he is refraining from retaliating violently because his conscience prevents him from doing so because he feels that he owes Heathcliff a favor. The word â€Å"tender,† while typically used to describe something fragile that tends to break, is effective because it contrasts sharply with the action of â€Å"breaking his neck. 4: â€Å"†¦ In fact, that his health and strength were being sacrificed to preserve a mere ruin of humanity, he know no limits in gratitude and joy when Catherine's life was declared out of danger; and hour after hour her would sit beside her, tracing the gradual return to bodily health, and flattering his too sanguine hopes with the illusion that her mind would settle back to its right balance also, and she would soon be entirely herself. † (115) Synonyms: happy, optimisticIf one of the listed synonyms were used in lieu of â€Å"sanguine† the only meaning to the sentence would be the implication and foreshadowing made by Nelly that Edgar had his hopes too high, and that Catherine would never truly return to health. However, the use of â€Å"sanguine† adds a certain connotation to the quotation. While â€Å"sanguine† has no direct link to blood, through definition or synonymously, the root of it is linked to blood. Bronte's use of this word in particular serves multiple purposes.The first further emphasizes how high Edgar's hopes are for Catherine's healing. They are so strong they can be smelt, and tasted and have substance to them, the qualities of which are all likened to blood. Also, describing these hopes as sanguine serves to illustrate to the reader how much effort Edgar has put into helping Catherine, conveying that he has almost literally put blood, sweat, and tears into their relationship and her well-being. 5: â€Å"‘Ah! you are come, are you, Edgar Linton? she said, with angry animation. † (110) Synonyms: liveliness, fervor This quote is taken from a scene in which Catherine is having one of her frequent fits. The verb animate is traditionally used to describe an inanimate object coming into motion. During her fits, Catherine is often likened to an inanimate object due to her habit of fainting, or becoming immobile. During this particular one, she had been relatively stoic, limp, and puppet like, as she had been starving herself and appeared â€Å"haggard† (110).As such, the use of the word â€Å"animation† most properly fits the prior depictions of her within the scene as it fits the theme of her descriptions. 6: â€Å"Isabella and he had had an hour's interview, durin g which he tried to elicit from her some sentiment of proper horror for Heathcliff's advances; but he could make nothing of her evasive replies, and was obliged to close the examination unsatisfactorily, adding, however, that if she were so insane as to encourage that worthless suitor, it would dissolve all bonds of relationship between herself and him. (103) Synonyms: conversation, audience, exchange The use of the word interview enhances the meaning of the quote in that it provides a certain depiction of the exchange between Edgar and Isabella. Bronte's choice of the word interview conveys that it was not an amicable, two-sided conversation. While the interaction may not quite have been an interrogation, it was more aggressive than a mutual conversation would have been, as Edgar was obviously distressed regarding Heathcliff's relationship with her. : â€Å"Isabella and he had had an hour's interview, during which he tried to elicit from her some sentiment of proper horror for Hea thcliff's advances; but he could make nothing of her evasive replies, and was obliged to close the examination unsatisfactorily, adding, however, that if she were so insane as to encourage that worthless suitor, it would dissolve all bonds of relationship between herself and him. † (103) Synonyms: inquiry, interrogation Continuing from the same quote as above, Nelly continues to reveal the nature of the exchange between Isabella and Edgar.Choosing to regard it as an examination furthers the imagery of an uncomfortable interaction between siblings. The use of the word examination is more effective than â€Å"inquiry† or â€Å"interrogation† would be because of the tone that Bronte gives the nature of the conversation between them. Edgar is not an overly aggressive individual, and to interrogate his sister would be out of character for him. However, an examination suits Edgar's passivity because it conjures an image of a jealous lover trying to elicit information f rom their significant other, which is much like what Edgar is trying to do. 8: â€Å"Cheer up, you shan't be hurt!Your type is not a lamb, it's a sucking leveret. † (99) Synonyms: mouse, turtle I opted not to choose direct synonyms for leveret, which are rabbit, and hare, because these words do not change the nature of Catherine's insult. Bronte's diction here is likely due in large part to colloquialism of the time. However, the nature of Catherine's insult is rooted more in the fact that she is belittling Edgar as having the courage of a small animal more prone to flight, rather than to fight. Catherine chooses to call Edgar a leveret because of his predisposition to avoid and run from conflict, rather han to face it directly. A turtle retreats into its shell, whereas a rabbit will tuck its tail and run, exactly like Catherine is accusing Edgar of doing in this quote. This insult is particularly effect because Catherine is calling Edgar's manhood into question, which is not only uncharacteristic of a woman of the time, but she is also doing so in front of Heathcliff, effectively making a direct challenge to Edgar on both her and Heathcliff's behalf. Literary Criticism: â€Å"Will you forget me–will you be happy when I am in the earth? Will you say, twenty years hence, ‘That's the grave of Catherine Earnshaw.I loved her long ago, and was wretched to lose her; but it is past. ‘† (137) The goal of psychoanalysis is to interpret a character's (un)conscious desires by identifying Freudian concepts. An example of one of these such concepts is a Freudian slip, and one lies within the quote. Consciously or not, Catherine has called herself Catherine Earnshaw, despite her status as Edgar's wife, making her both legally and socially known as Catherine Linton. However, she has revealed in this Freudian slip that she does not emotionally identify herself as Catherine Linton, but as an Earnshaw.This is important because much of the confli ct up to this point has stemmed from Heathcliff's anger at Edgar taking Catherine from him, and in his struggle to win her back from him. Within this quote, Catherine subtly tells Heathcliff that she will die Catherine Earnshaw, meaning that she is rejecting the Linton name, thus ultimately meaning that emotionally, she is Heathcliff's. â€Å"Well, if I cannot keep Heathcliff for my friend, if Edgar will be mean and jealous, I'll try to break their hearts by breaking my own.That will be a prompt way of finishing all, when I am pushed to extremity! † (101) Within this scene, Catherine is venting to Nelly regarding her feelings regarding the conflict between Heathcliff and Edgar. In the quote, it is visible that Catherine is exhausted by their constant fighting, and the toll that it has been taking on her. Out of context, the claim the Catherine makes concerning her ability to â€Å"break their hearts† seems conceited, however, from a feminist perspective, this statement is substantial.For a novel written in this time, it would be rather uncommon for a woman to be depicted as having power over a man, much less two of them. While Catherine does appear to be selfish, and conceited in this quote, she is depicted as essentially having control over the two men, in that she has the ability to â€Å"[finish] all,† establishing the force that Catherine is able to exert in both of the relationships. In relation to the meaning of the work as a whole, this quote associates the ideas of emotional exile and acceptance. 3Ãâ€"3: Revenge consumes wholly Pain prevents transcendence

Prompt Essay

SS 100 WRITING & COMMUNICATION Spring 2013 Assignment 1 Persuasive Essay – Section 1 Select one of these prompts & write a persuasive essay in which you develop your point of view on the given issue. Support your position with reasoning, facts & examples taken from your readings, experiences, or observations. Your persuasive essay should not be a purely research based essay; rather you should aim to convince your audience to your way of thinking through your own logic and reasoning. Your ability to formulate claims & use logos, ethos & pathos to support your views without any logical fallacies will be assessed.You are required to address the opposition & counter it in order to write an un-biased piece. Please ensure that your essay is properly organized, with a thesis statement in the introduction and well-structured paragraphs that are unified & coherent. In case you cite research, you must integrate all quotations smoothly, acknowledge the sources and provide a works cited p age according to the MLA Citation Style. Prompt 1 Think carefully about the issue presented in the quotation & either support or refute the main idea.Affirmative Action programs/ quota systems are meant to redress injustice but instead they cause further injustice. Prompt 2 Think carefully about the issue presented in the quotation & either support or refute the main idea. The private lives of politicians should be off limits. The focus should remain entirely on their performance in the public arena. Prompt 3 Take a position on the following claim of policy: Many countries require mandatory military service from their male citizens, for periods ranging from a few months to a few years.Pakistan should also enforce such a policy. Prompt 4 Take a position of the following claim of value: Sport stars can make millions of dollars through endorsements and prize money while individuals working in certain service professions like nursing, teaching etc remain relatively poorly paid. This is an unacceptable distribution of economic rewards. Prompt 5 Think carefully about the issue presented in the following quotation & either support or refute the main idea. Social networking sites cause more harm than good to society. Prompt 6Think carefully about the issue presented in the following quotation and either support or refute the main idea. The international fashion industry’s effects on society are overwhelmingly negative. Word Limit: 1300-1500 words Essay Submission: Hard copy to be submitted in-class Soft copy to be uploaded (log on to LMS, go to the Assignments option – select Persuasive Essay – upload your essay) Hard & soft copy submission = 19th March 2013 (Tuesday) Soft copy submission will remain open till 11:00pm Plagiarism will result in a Failing Grade & /or more serious penalties.

Effects of Social Media on Young Adults Essay

Looking at the average Millennial, one would see him toting all his smart devices and would wonder if Millennials are ever disconnected – from technology or from each other. The Millennial Generation, more than any other generation, feels the need to be constantly linked to each other. For young American adults aged 18-32, technology is their life; virtual reality has come to supersede physical reality. In what seems like every second of every day, teenagers can be found on their computers, tablets, and cell phones, searching though pages of social media. In fact, statistics prove that they are: an average teenager has 201 Facebook friends and 73% of teenagers are on at least one social network (Thomas). Across Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and Twitter alone it shows how cyber space is endless. According to Social Media Watch, Twitter now boasts that as of May 2, 2013 it has 359 million active users; Facebook still holds the top social media spot with 701 million active users. Thanks to the sizeable growth in online activity, the Millennial Generation has lost touch with interpersonal communication. If not monitored, online social networking will become detrimental to the Millennial generation and following generations’ social and psychological development, as the anonymity of cyber space has been shown to encourage negative behavior, leading to increased feelings of disconnection from others. Each generation spends their childhoods in different ways. As for this century, Millennials find themselves trapped in the world of media, populated by televisions, radio, magazines, mobile phones, laptops and the Internet, which gives young adults access to what most young adults crave, social media. Read more: Speech on social media and its impact on youngsters essay. There seems to be no decline for â€Å"the social networking movement. † Just a few examples of the seemingly infinite types of online networking are: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and YouTube. According to Amanda Lenhart, of New York Department of Health, 93% of young adults go online. (Lenhart). With such a strong amount of people accessing the Internet, the dangers that can come from the massive amount of time spent online must be discussed. Social networking is being used as a new tool necessary for a growing technological society. Teenagers, being a large part of the online generation, have been caught up in the allure of online social networks and the way they have revolutionized how people go about their daily activities. A study showed that 48% of people ages 18-34 years old check Facebook when they wake up (Statistics Brain). This shows how highly young adults prioritize social media. Due to the excessive amount of time spent on these networks and the online freedom that young people have to continuously explore different social networking sites, they are prone to the negative effects it has on their development. While it may seem that social media is required for social survival in today’s society, in actuality it is just a way of communicating with greater ease. With moderation, social networks are vital to American culture. It is when these websites are abused with the intent to bully others, and once they are considered the only hobby for young adults, that they can become increasingly more dangerous. A large problem arises from communication via technology in lieu of face-to-face conversations, and its prevalence over other activities such as reading, sports, or other hobbies that positively shape the mind and body instead of being a catalyst for negative behavior. Social networking is affecting the schoolwork and test results of America’s youth. Researchers have found that the middle-school, high school and college students who used Facebook at least once during a 15 minute period get lower grades overall (Cosby). While they are trying to do homework students have a tendency to attempt to multitask and do their homework while simultaneously on different social media outlets. They claim to be successfully multitasking, but they are unaware of the affect these distractions are having on them. In reality, their efforts to multitask are making the simple task they were trying to accomplish take significantly longer than it ordinarily would. A study was performed at two West Coast high-tech firms to observe how many times employees were interrupted and the impact it had on their work. Each time a worker was distracted from a task, it would take an average of 16 minutes for the employee to return to the previous menial task they were in the process of doing. Even worse, some people forgot what they had been working on all together, showing effects on short-term memory (Sladick). This shows how impactful constantly checking social media or the interruption of a text message can be when working on something as small as writing an email. One of damaging effects of being â€Å"plugged in† all the time is this generation’s struggle to correspond with each other properly. Amanda Lenhart expresses her fear for the generation following her by speaking to the fact that 51% of young people primarily communicate with each other through texting, 42% use social media as a secondary source, and only 29% talk to each other as part of other activities outside of school (Lenhart). With online social interaction being so abundantly available to young adults, most would rather talk to someone over text messages or the Internet and avoid face-to-face contact, because of the stress that can come from talking to someone in person. America’s youth are showing a severe lack in the social skills necessary to be successful later in life, which will be harmful to the future success of American society. There are 30 million messages sent through Facebook every 20 minutes (Statistics Brain). While it may seem like a generation with a constant link to each other, brought on by the enormous quantity of messages sent between them, would have a excessive feeling of togetherness and an abundant number of fulfilling relationship, ironically, it is speculated these messages do not serve the same quality connection that one gets from an interpersonal conversation. A lack of interpersonal conversation ultimately leaves them feeling unhappy. There have been studies that prove the increased levels of Internet use have been associated with higher levels of depression and loneliness (Kersting). These online conversations do not provide people with the person to person bond that humans require to feel successful, but are more along the lines of shallow exchanges that include messages such as, ‘sup? ’ that would only require the simplest of responses, ‘nothing, u? ’. With this being the primary type of communication that they use, young people are unable to see the flaws that come from this type of interaction and how it will lead them to be dissatisfied if it continues to be the majority of how they communicate. The young adults have not learned the proper way to connect with other people nor have they used different conversational skills, or had to deal with different possibly complicated interpersonal situations, and they do not know how to get to know a person from somewhere other than behind the screen. Social media has a profound effect on American culture. The increase in technology brings forth the same idea of ‘which came first, the chicken or the egg? ’ Are the characteristics of the Millennial Generation: the need for instant gratification, the short attention spans, desire to be constantly connected, and the need to regularly multitask, because of the accessibility of technology? Or is the perpetual improvement of technologies in order to keep up with Millennials? Studies have shown a simultaneous rise of narcissism and social media usage in the Millennial generation, which raises the question: is there a relationship between the two? Narcissists are usually unable or unwilling to form connections that require emotional investments, such as face-to-face friendships, but still desire the social admiration and attention that a large number of friendships can offer (Bergman). This is the epitome of a person with thousands of ‘friends’ on his or her Facebook, who frequently participates in extensive, but insubstantial activity online. He or she feels loved, which increasingly fuels their narcissistic behavior. This is only one of the negative side effects that are on the upswing with the increased use of social technologies, others on the rise include aggression, anxiety and depression. The endless use of technology is affecting every part of people’s lives. With so many outlets for people to communicate with, the American culture has developed an addiction to social networking websites. People have been known to sleep with their phones, making different social media site the last thing they see each night, and allowing them to be contacted at any time of the night. Dr. Roseanne Barker, of The Barker Sleep Institute, says, â€Å"Americans are getting a lot of light exposure through electronics and technology during that last hour before sleep†¦ And it decreases the brain’s natural production of melatonin. † Melatonin is the body’s sleep-promoting hormone, she explains, and when phones constantly ring and beep throughout the night, it causes sleep fragmentation and disruption. Barker sees the issue in patients of all ages, but it is increasingly affecting the youth (Meckles). With adults placing technology at such a high place on their priority list, the idea is trickling down to America’s youth. Adolescents see the amount of time people older than them spend on the different types of social media and assume that the same behavior is acceptable for themselves. Studies claim a direct link between the use of cell phones and social networking and medical issues, like seizures and radiation (Meckles). A large problem coming from the hold technology has over people is how it affects their overall lifestyle, in this case their sleeping patterns, which causes an increase in more serious health effects that will affect them in the long run. One might say that social media has transformed the Internet into a tool that has made communication easier and more accessible. These networking sites allow people to communicate with people across the globe, showing them about how the other side lives. But what happened to it being dangerous for young people to engage in communication with strangers? Sure, a young person might think ‘this person is thousands of miles away, he or she can’t cause me any harm, why not add this person as a friend on Facebook? They could never find me in real life. ’ People have a false sense of security through the Internet. They find comfort in the anonymity available to them on social media sites. They feel a freedom from real life and freedom from consequences. Moreover, social networking offers young adults a place that puts a great emphasis on acting immorally. For example, all the different inappropriate themes posted all over the Internet that prompts impressionable young minds to think things that are usually seen as morally wrong are actually normal. Not to mention the danger that comes with certain social networking applications, such as Tinder. An application that uses a person’s GPS location to find people in his or her area and ‘matches’ them. Allowing the user to decide if he or she like a persons picture, if they do, the two people are allowed to communicate with each other through the application. Not only does that promote the importance of looks and allows a person to potentially create a fake identity to attract whatever type of person they are looking for, but it is a slyly built ‘dating’ site designed for teenagers. A person could mistakably be under the impression that it had a similar inconspicuousness that came with talking to a person across the globe, but actually be unknowingly be putting himself or herself at risk with a potentially dangerous person in his or her area. Anonymity causes people to question the validity of anything that is written on the Internet. If anyone is able to write whatever he or she feels on the Internet, then that is more difficult to determine what is true and what is false. This causes people to question everything they read even when the legitimacy is stated and has been proven. A recent study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that the negative comments on science articles affected how people perceived the validity of the science (Rooney). While it may be good that people do not immediately believe the things they read on the Internet, they have started to question verified data. In people thinking nothing on the web is true, they consistently try to disprove this data, and anonymously write scathing things about these studies causing other people who see these negative comments to think the research is not professionally done and therefore invalid. This type of anonymity on the Internet forces societies to take a step backwards. Anonymity on the social networking sites brings forth a major negative that has a serious impact on many young adults: cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can be very damaging to adolescents and teens. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicide. 68% – 97% of online aggression victims also experience offline relational aggression and 24% -76% also experience offline physical victimization. Cyber bullying is a gateway for a bully to start abusing others in person. More than 32,000 suicides occurred in the U. S. This is the equivalent of 89 suicides per day, one suicide every 16 minutes or 11. 05 suicides per 100,000 populations (Kersting). With namelessness on the web, people will say anything they want regardless of how it may impact someone else, because they have no fear of being held accountable for the harm it may cause. Anonymity can be used for offensive or disruptive communication. It is not uncommon for people to anonymously say damaging things about other people. People frequently create fake emails in order to make fake profiles on Facebook, so they can publically say whatever they what to whoever they what free of blame or punishment. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, about half of young people have experienced some form of cyber bullying, and 10 to 20 percent experience it regularly (Bullying Statistics). With the rise of use of social media sites this statistic is growing. As a way to increase awareness, a news station told the story of how someone made a false account and anonymously commented on a boy who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome Facebook saying, ‘You should just go kill yourself. No one likes you, anyway. ‘ The boy, who already faces challenges in school, where kids bully him relentlessly, was smart enough to take this message to his mother and thankfully was given the proper help for him to deal with the bullying and did not take his own life (Finn). Due to the lack of face-to-face contact with the victim, an online bully may not know the effects they are having on the other person. Therefore, online bullies are less likely to feel guilt about the things they have said. In his or her anonymity these kids are more likely to say something even more hurtful through technology then they would normally say to someone’s face (Kersting). These cruel messages are not only free to be seen by any one on the Internet, but they can easily be distributed quickly and to a mass audience, such as a whole student body, leaving the victim with few or no people unaware of the mean, and probably false, comments that are being said about he or she. Making it impossible for the target of the bullying to avoid the negative things that are being said. The ease of access to social allows cyber bullies to attack other people at any time, leaving their victims to feel trapped by the things being said to and about them. It is not like it was for previous generations, where at 3:00 o’clock a person was free from whoever was bullying them at school and could go home to a safe, bully free environment. Social networking allows this generation’s bullies to harass their victims at any time. Because they are attacked round the clock, some victims feel that suicide is his or her only way to be free of the hurt. Someone might argue that for someone who feels suicide is his or her only way to be free of pain that there are plenty of resources to help them. The problem is that a majority of these resources are online, on the very social networking websites where these people are receiving abuse. The resources that will supposedly help them to feel better come from the place that is causing them the most pain, and therefore causes victims of bullying to avoid accessing them. They have the mindset that the social media websites will only cause them pain, making the information unavailable to the people who need it most. In the creation of fake profiles, dangerous people are able to pursue whatever type of target they are seeking. According to Jacob Palme, â€Å"Anonymity can be used to seek contacts for performing illegal acts, like a pedophile searching for children to abuse† (Palme). While there are certain websites that inform people if there is a pedophile living in their area, so they can protect their children from them. There is no such way to warn people of those same hazardous people all over the web, because it is impossible to detect them over the Internet. These dangerous people use anonymity to say what ever they need to in order to get an impressionable person to do what he or she wants. Parents need to have guidelines for how technology is used within the household in order to raise well-rounded citizens that will grow into successful people that will participate in the road to a prosperous society. To have this functioning culture, the community needs children that will grow into adults that are capable of functioning on their own. From a young age, Americas children need to learn about being responsible and not relying on other people or the Internet to gather information For example perhaps have young people share a cell phone that has to be checked out from the parent by the child. This type of rule would require the young adults to be involved in other activities such a reading, sports, or clubs with others and not have the dependence on technology, that so many people ages 18-32 suffer from. Another possible way to monitor social media is have hours of the day where its not allowed. For instance, having to check phones, tablets, and laptops in at night. This will allow kids to connect with people in real life and not just over Wi-Fi. Modern technologies can very well be a double-edged sword, they offer a person an abundance of knowledge at their fingertips, but also can be the cause of intense destruction to another. When improperly used, social networking has an enormous harmful affect on a person’s wellbeing, sometimes even leading to death as stated above. The dependence American culture has on technology is negatively impacting young peoples development. If awareness of the inevitable destruction from the unceasing use of technology does not become more widespread, then American culture has no chance of staying a superpower in the world. People will be in constant fear for what an anonymous person might say about them through social media, hindering them from saying anything at all. The intelligence levels will continue to decline as the use of social media increases and America will be raising a dysfunctional community full of feelings of disconnection and depression. Albert Einstein once famously said, â€Å"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots. † This quote begs the question, has that day already come? 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