Martin Luther Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Martin Luther - Essay Example In his early life, Martin Luther dedicated himself considerably to the monastic life. His journey to create the foundation for a religious movement within the Catholic Church and generally within Christendom started when he joined the Augustinian friary in Erfurt, Germany. He established a strong movement in Germany that would later be duplicated and repeated in other parts of Europe. This led to the start and growth of a backlash against the corruption that was rampant in the old church (Bishop 1). It should be noted that the Protestant Reformation was a protest for reform in the church; the movement led by Martin Luther strongly disputed the claim made by the then church leaders that freedom from punishment for sin by God could be bought with money. According to his interpretation and understanding of the bible, he believed that the leaders of the old church were misleading the congregation for their own selfish purposes. It is on the basis of this that Martin Luther sought to refo rm the church by providing teachings and interpretations that he deemed to be factual and right. He taught that salvation is received as a free gift of the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and not earned by good deeds as claimed by the leaders of the old church (Mullet 27). Martin Luther was dedicated to challenging the primacy of authority of the Roman Catholic Church at the time. He began challenging this authority by questioning the understanding of the origins of salvation, which he argued cannot be found in the hands of human beings or in membership within a religious institution (Mullet 20). He provided a new understanding of salvation which he said was grounded in faith in Jesus Christ and was only granted through the God’s grace. Also, he challenged the over indulgences by the church leaders which he argued would set the stage for religious or spiritual confrontation. His message resonated well with majority of the

The Anthropogenic Impacts On Biodiversity Environmental Sciences Essay

The Anthropogenic Impacts On Biodiversity Environmental Sciences Essay Introduction Anthropocentrism or being Anthropogenic in nature refers to the way of thinking that regards humans as the source of all value and is predominantly concerned with human interests. (Carter, N, 2003, p. 14) Biodiversity is the abundance of different species and ecosystems in nature making it the earths most valuable resource. Biodiversity is of very much importance as it boosts the productivity of the ecosystem where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. In other words, there would be no population of humans without biodiversity but the irony is that, the biodiversity is decreasing at an alarming rate due to the various human activities which is also referred as the biodiversity crisis. The three main factors impacting the biodiversity as a whole may be listed as: population growth, overconsumption and technology. This essay will describe how and where the biodiversity has been impacted at very great extents because of the above mentioned factors. Population growth of the humans can be considered as the root of the problem of the loss of biodiversity. According to Ehrlich (The Population Bomb, 1968 as cited in Cahn, A and OBrien, R, 1996), the human population has been doubling every 37 years and if this continued for the next 900 years, then the world population will be nothing less than sixty million billion people implying that there will be about 100 persons for each square yard of the Earths surface, land and sea. The human population now is at 6 billion; with an annual global growth rate of 1.8%, three more people that are added to the earth every second. (Quebec biodiversity, 1994) The simple fact that the countries are not able to feed their populations shows that they are overpopulated. With such high rates of increase in human inhabitants, the problem of the need to convert the natural habitats to land for human consumption becomes obvious. This ultimately results in five primary processes of degradation namely: over harvesting, habitat fragmentation, habitat destruction, alien species introduction and pollution. (Biodiversity and Human Health, 2001) It is the anthropogenic nature of the humans to rule the environment by spreading to new habitats in order to find newer food sources. The innovative man has always been discovering various types of technologies right from the technology of the spear and arrow to the modern technology of the harpoon, gun-powder and the drift nets helping him to over harvest on the various species. According to the Fisheries Agency, Japan consumes about 60,000 tons of fish a year, mainly the three blue fin tuna species which is more than 75% of the worlds annual catch and also other countries, such as the U.S. and Russia, are catching up with the Japanese as a result of which the blue fin tuna has been becoming very hard to find and the prices for these species have hit the extremes. (Tuna Shortage in Japan, 2007) Apart from overconsumption, humans have also been de monstrating their anthropogenic nature by wasteful mass kills where the entire herds of some species are slaughtered. A classic example of this is the Dumfries fish killing festival of Scotland where individuals have been killing fish in the Galloways River Urr as a part of the Grande Internationale World Flounder Tramping Championships where the person who captures the most number of fish by the unorthodox method of treading on the fish is awarded by giving three bottles of whisky,  £150 and also the title of The Undisputed Champion Of The World. (Facebook, 2010) Also the Denmarks Gruesome Festival of mass killing dolphins and whales to prove adulthood, where nearly 1,000 whales and dolphins are killed annually. (Think about it, 2009) This clearly shows the mans exploitation of the natural resources exceeding their cycling capacity. Natural resources are classified as renewable and non-renewable resources. Forests and wild-life are considered as renewable resources because of the ir ability to regenerate by reproduction but the rate at which humans have been utilizing the so called natural resources is very much of a concern. The extensive use of forest lands for timber and other valued wood resources has resulted in the loss of habitats for hundreds of species. And with the increase in human inhabitants arises the need to convert natural habitats to land for more human consumption. The innovative man has been able to exploit the forests and its resources for his selfish needs with the use of new machines and better means of transport. Clearing a dense forest has become much easier now. Humans have been able to sustain their growth by converting natural habitats to fields where food can be produced. At least 23 percent of the earths land is being used for agriculture. Most tropical forests were not greatly disturbed in the past mostly because of their inaccessibility and other factors but now the trend has been changing with the increase in the demand for th e various raw materials used in plastic production. Tropical forests have been disappearing rapidly as a result of the need of the humans to make room for more farms of timber used for construction and also used as a fuel. Deforestation has alarming global consequences such as: extinction of species (plants and animals) and climate change. Although the tropical forests cover only about 7 percent of the Earths dry land, they are home to half of all the species on Earth. Many species have micro-habitats or in simple terms, they are present only in those small areas in these forests and due to this their extinction is very much at stake because of the deforestation here. The edges of the deforested fragments dry out because of incoming hot winds as a result of which the matured rain forest trees die standing at the margins and eventually the biodiversity is lost. This also has a devastating effect on the tropical soils as the soil cover in the tropical rain forests is very thin and wit h deforestation, over time all the minerals in the soil are lost because of the high temperatures and heavy rains. (Deforestation in the Amazon, 2010) (Tropical Deforestation, 2007) (Deforestation in the Amazon, 2010) A large portion of deforestation in Brazil has been primarily because of land being cleared for pastureland by commercial and speculative interests. Between May 2000 and August 2006, Brazil lost nearly 150,000 km2 of forest and over 600,000 km2 of Amazon rainforest has been destroyed. About 60-70 percent of deforestation in the Amazon results from cattle ranches and the want for palm oil while the rest mostly results from small-scale agriculture. The numbers of endangered species in the forests of Brazil have been increasing at alarming rates because of the various anthropogenic activities of the humans as reported by the Associated Press. (Mongabay website, 2010) Deforestation and fragmentation is increasing at an alarming rate in Amazon. In Amazon nearly 2 million ha of land is deforested annually (Fearnside et al. 2005). Habitat fragmentation is a serious threat to species persistence in tropical forests (Ewers Didham 2006). According to Wilcox and Murphy (1985), the effects of f ragmentation are loss of original habitats, creation of edge effects, and isolation of habitat patches and this will affect the species composition. According to Turner and Corbett (1996), forest patches are further affected by invasion of further plant and animal species, and increased human exploitation such as hunting, burning, grazing, and extraction of resources. The greatest human impact in Southwest Australia has been the clearing of native vegetation for agriculture. Forest fragmentation differentially affects seed dispersal of large and small-seeded tropical trees (Cramer et al. 2007) Due to fragmentation, not only are individual species are affected but the plant- animal interactions are also affected (Andresen and Levey, 2004). In tropical regions, fragmentation affects the dispersal of large seeds to a greater extent than the small seed. Cramer et al. (2007), studied the seed dispersal of two Amazonian tree species, the large-seeded, mammal dispersed Duckeodendron cestro ides and the small-seeded, avian dispersed Bocageopsis multiflora. The percentage, distance and distributions of Duckeodendron cestroides seeds were all reduced in fragments when compared to Bocageopsis multiflora. This is supported by facts such as, large seeded plant species are prone to extinction, fragmentation affects large animals dispersers than small animal dispersers; and large and small seeded plants are linked differentially to primary and secondary habitats (Cramer et al. 2007). Large animals are for needed for dispersal of large seeds, and these animals need large home range but are affected by edge effects caused by fragmentation and also due to hunting. Primates are often absent from fragments (Gilbert and Setz, 2001). From Meehan et al. (2002), it is known that the extinction of frugivorous pigeons in Tonga (Polynesia) left 18 large-seeded plant species with no dispersers. From the work of Babweteera et al., (2007), the loss of elephants in Ugandan forests has left Balanites Wilsoniana regeneration concentrated under parent plants and is greatly affected. Bush fires have been used for hunting and clearing land here. Although native plants are highly adaptive to fires, intensified burning changes the composition and condition of the natural vegetation. This has resulted in the spread of a root disease called jarrah dieback caused by the root fungus called Phytophthora cinnamomi which has been spreading to other habitats, particularly in the Stirling Range National Park, where it has caused the loss of plants like the Banksias. (Conservation International, 2007) The tiger population in India is declining so fast that the whole population may be extinct here in the next 10 years because of deforestation and poaching. (Animal of the Day, 2010) In the forests of Armenia, habitat loss poses a particular threat to a range of species. Many species have been threatened to extinction because of the increasing use of land for agriculture. (National Repor t, 2002) The forests in Succulent Karoo have been affected badly by the diamond mining carried out in these areas. Approximately two-thirds of the South African coastline and almost the complete Namibian coastline have been mined for diamonds and other minerals like gypsum, marble, monazite, kaolin and titanium threatens the regions biodiversity. (Conservation International, 2007) Destruction of habitats for requirements such as building of canals, dams and houses is the most important threat to biodiversity. The Aswan High Dam located in Egypt, is an example for habitat destruction where the environmental side effects of the project have been disastrous with the spread of the disease called, schistosomiasis which is spread by snails living in the irrigation channels here. (Quarterdeck, 1995) A major contributor to depletion and extinction, after habitat loss, is the introduction of alien species. Man has always tried to introduce animals and plants familiar to him where ever he is. It started with the goats and pigs for familiar animal protein. These alien species damage the flora and fauna of the local area where they are introduced. The spread of these alien species replaces healthy, diverse ecosystems with biologically weak landscapes. Prior to the arrival of humans, there were a range of species of birds, invertebrates and plants in Hawaii but with the introduction of many plant and animal alien species, more than half the bird species and also many species of snails have become extinct. (Biodiversity and Human Health, 2001) Rabbits being introduced into Australia, Asian fish species put into the waters of Florida, introduction of Africanized bees into Brazil and also the introduction of rhododendrons into England are few examples of alien species that have destroyed the local plant and animal species. It is estimated that about 4,000 plant and 2,300 animal alien species are present in the United States at this time resulting in the endangering of more than 42% of the animal and plant species here. (Biodiversity Web, 2005) Also in the Nile river, despite the presence of a wide variety of fish, the regions fishing industries struggled to grow because the fish that lived there were small-bodied and bony, not the kind they wanted thereby, there was a need for a larger and a more commercially desired fish for the fishing economy to grow. They introduced the fish species called the Nile perch, Lates niloticus. It grew far larger than many of the other Nile fish, and was perfect for commercial fishing purposes. Being carnivorous, the Nile perch made the smaller native fish its prey. As the population of the Nile perch grew, the populations of the other 150-200 of the native species have vanished entirely. Introduction of foreign species has had simil ar impacts in other waterways worldwide by making the simplified ecosystems unstable indefinitely. (Human Impacts on the Nile River, 2010) ArcGIS map examining modern day fish biodiversity. (Human Impacts on the Nile River, 2010) Climate change has significant impacts on ecosystems. It is predicted to be the greatest long-term threat to biodiversity in many regions and is listed as a key threatening process under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth). The various technological developments made by man giving him an upper hand over other species come only at a price and this price is undoubtedly pollution. The use of various fossil fuels, petrochemicals and many other heavy metals has been increasing the greenhouse gas emissions. The drastic increase in the emission of green house gases has resulted in global warming and thereby causing a sea level rise and ultimately leading to melting. The oceans are being acidified due to the tremendous increase of the carbon content in the atmosphere which leads to the loss of biodiversity.   (Biodiversity Web, 2005) (Global Issues, Climate Change and Global Warming Introduction, 2010) (Global Issues, Climate Change and Global Warming Introduction, 2010) The quantity of oceanic plankton on earth is being affected by the depleting ozone layer.  The tiny organisms that float in the oceans are known as planktons and they play a vital role in maintaining the marine biodiversity as they are major sources of food here. Therefore, a decrease in quantity will cause a domino effect in the marine food chain species which is dangerous for the marine plant and animal species. Even though there have been global warming instances in the past, the rate at which the temperature has been increasing now is what is alarming. (Global Issues, Climate Change and Global Warming Introduction, 2010) Strategies adopted by humans to mitigate these impacts: Educational programmes are being introduced by governments to educate the populations on the importance of biodiversity. One such educational programme was initiated in the 1990s by the US Congress where they had set up an environmental education office to promote environmental education at all levels. The Plant Conservation Alliance and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were the partners to the U.S government. In 2002, the UK along with all other Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), made a commitment to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth. This commitment was subsequently endorsed by world leaders at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. At its meeting in Gothenburg in 2001 the European Council agreed to halt biodiversity decline with the aim of reaching this objective by 2010. The 2010 biodiversity target has become incorporated into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as one of the targets under MDG 7 (Ensure environmental sustainability). (Natural Environment Research Council, 2007) The concept of protected areas has been introduced for the conservation of the biodiversity. These are locations which receive protection by the enabling laws of each country or rules of international organizations. They include parks, reserves and wildlife sanctuaries and they also Marine Protected Areas whose boundaries include some area of ocean. There are over 147,000 protected areas in the world with more added daily, representing a total area of 19,300,000  km2 (7,500,000 sq  mi). (Green Facts, 2009) The governments have also been purchasing property rights for the sake of conservation taking over all the rights from the owner or it can purchase a conservation easement where it acquires rights necessary to protect the target species or ecosystem while leaving the owner free to use the land. This law also allows water rights to increase stream flows, and permits for grazing or the emission of air pollutants can be bought and retired. Like acquisition, regulatory approaches a re being used by governments to limit the manner in which any activity can be carried out. Regulations are being enforced by governments by a wide range of sanctions. Sanctions carry additional internal (guilt) and external (bad publicity) costs for the individuals or the companies who violate the regulations. The example of biodiversity regulation is the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2009) Another major strategy is to encourage private conservation action through incentives like tax credits and regulatory reliefs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Safe Harbor program is an example of a regulatory relief incentive. Safe Harbor agreements assure landowners who improve habitat that they will not be responsible for protecting the increased populations of endangered or threatened species those lands may attract. (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2009) Finally, with the help of genetic engineering, using the various DNA techniques, different kinds of bacteria capable of synthesizing plants to be able to restrain to the changes in climate and also to avoid various diseases are being created by the modification of their genes. I would like to conclude by saying that, the very little the governments do to save biodiversity, What matters is the initiative taken by each individual human to save himself and his future generations (or) Only if the last tree has been cut down and the last river has dried to a trickle will man finally realise that we cannot eat money!

Charging Sales Tax on Internet Purchases

Charging Sales Tax on Internet Purchases Internet purchases should not have sales tax because internet shopping is supposed to be convenient for the consumer. After doing some research online I came to an article called the Incidental Economist. After reading I too had to agree that your average home eBay seller and other individual small business whose profit is less than 10,000 dollars a year should not have to do the states job of pursuing a sales tax.Was not the sales tax already paid when the Reseller first bought the product? I feel it should be his or her own profit if they are selling things that once belonged to them or in order for the seller to acquire the product in the first place it had to be bought. I feel that this is another way for the state to capitalize on a double taxing loophole. On the other hand, there is a down-side to this. With technology evolving, more consumers are turning to the internet for the ease of shopping, bill paying, and other amenities.Imposing a sales tax could improve the economy of a state by using the money from the tax to mend roads, fund schools, and implement programs in the community. The state should be responsible for making sure that sales tax is enforced not the small business seller. The state should have some program that monitors transactions on the web to enforce such a law that would make paying sales tax hard to avoid. I also feel that this sales tax should be imposed on large retailers only.Your average homeowner who wants to get rid of a few things by selling them online should not be responsible for charging sales tax. To me this is very similar to charging sales tax at a yard sale; it just is not going to happen. Works Cited Stim, Richard. Sales Tax on the Internet – Free Legal Information – Nolo. 2010. 2010 . The Incidental Economist. The â€Å"Amazon Law†: Sales Tax on Internet Purchases. October 2009. October 2010 .

Essay about Job Outsourcing - 542 Words

The economy is one of the most varied topics on the political frontier that is constantly debated, though there is no obvious solution to the United States perpetual economic problems. Held within the crumbling economy of today, are many ongoing controversial issues that plague our once healthy nation. One such problem is job outsourcing, an issue with many schools of thought giving the topic its controversial nature. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The exportation of jobs offshore is job outsourcing. This, to some, is believed to be a benefit to our economy. According to a brief report from the National Center for Policy Analysis, â€Å"Increased economic globalization has caused jobs to move to the United States as well as away from it, and†¦show more content†¦Though in the very distant future we can reap the benefits of that outsourcing, largely, Americans have no jobs and often in this lazy economy, go without for months on end. This just hurts our current economy, creating more struggles and causing less spending, which is needed to get out of the current economic despair. Outsourcing is a way for greedy corporations to make more profits, lay off more workers who have seniority and corresponding wages, and to end up bringing in new workers at starting salary. According to the president of eInnovate, Bill Bryant, â€Å"America is losing more than two-thousand jobs a day across every field due to outsourcing†. Outsourcing is affecting American industry and it will only become a larger issue. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Senator Kerry would benefit most in this coming election from placing the proper sanctions and regulations on corporate America. The Constitutional government set fourth by our fore fathers, was built upon by amendments to properly adjust to changing times and continue to protect American way of life. Within are checks and balances to properly support the structure we call government. By passing a bill, which Kerry could propose, one could properly monitor corporate activities. To protect the best interest of our nations economical future, Kerry could also propose peace talks and international trade with moreShow MoreRelatedOutsourcing American Jobs Essay1561 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Outsourcing of American jobs overseas is displacing Americans in the United States. American blue-collar workers and the Middle Class American will soon be a word of the past if the US government continues outsourcing the low-skill jobs overseas. One of the concerns in regards to the outsourcing of jobs is that wages of American jobs versus the wages of the Chinese, Japanese, Indians and Philippians are much less. If these workers were using the same identical technologyRead More The Outsourcing of American Jobs Essay1033 Words   |  5 PagesThe Outsourcing of American Jobs   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The exporting of American jobs is an issue that is important and will become increasingly so as more and more white collar jobs are shipped overseas. American companies in the past few decades have been sending American jobs overseas paying residents of other countries pennies on the dollar what they had paid American workers to do. This saves the companies millions of dollars on labor costs but costs Americans precious jobs. As the problem of job outsourcingRead More Outsourcing American Jobs Essay1630 Words   |  7 PagesOutsourcing American Jobs Outsourcing, no word in todays workforce is so loved or hated. Depending on who you are it is the greatest thing ever or an evil act by money hungry businesses at the expense of American workers. But what is the truth? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it both? 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In its broadest sense, outsourcing is simply contracting out functions that had been done in-house—a longtime U.S. practice (â€Å"Globalization: Threat or Opportunity†). When a URead MoreOutsourcing damages the American economy by sending jobs overseas. Outsourcing can be defined as1400 Words   |  6 PagesOutsourcing damages the American economy by sending jobs overseas. Outsourcing can be defined as the contracting of a business process to a third-party. In the USA, outsourcing is thought of as a bad, dirty word, spoken about in hushed tones and secrecy amongst upper-classmen and business moguls. As stated by W. Rivkin, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, The off-shoring phenomenon has implications for policymakers, business leaders, and members of the workforceRead MoreEssay American Airlines Plans for Outsourcing Jobs1015 Words   |  5 Pagescutting 14,000 jobs, which 13,000 of them included union workers from a staff of 80,000 employees. This decision heavily affected the maintenance operation’s airline staff, as their job was going to be outsourced overseas. The plan consisted in cutting 4,600 mechanic systems in the U.S, including a complete closure of its heavy maintenance facility at Fort Worth’s Alliance Airport. Larry Pike, president of the local Transport Workers Union announced in an NBC 5 interview that the jobs in Fort Worth’sRead MoreEssay on Outsourcing Jobs To Foreign Countries1420 Words   |  6 PagesOutsourcing Jobs to Foreign Countries Due to the lack of employment in foreign countries, companies that outsource work overseas are not only beneficial to themselves but also to the service providers being employed. The initial benefit that catches the public’s eye from outsourcing is a cost reduction on the company’s part. But that is not the only benefit from outsourcing or even the key benefit that causes companies to outsource, on the other hand, outsourcing has its disadvantages as wellRead MoreEssay on Global Outsourcing and Job Loss1953 Words   |  8 PagesGlobal Outsourcing and Job Loss Outsourcing has become a popular trend among United States companies within the last decade. American companies are feeling challenged to raise profits, lower prices, and put their products to market before the competition. International manufacturing is benefiting both consumers and producers in this regard. However, the question of whether or not offshoring is a positive or negative influence on the United States job recovery, in today’s unstable economy still

Gilgameshs True Identity Essay - 1145 Words

Gilgameshs True Identity Gilgamesh, who was made perfect physically, with all of the wisdom and secrets of the gods, shows he is not perfectly made on the inside as he struggles to find his true purpose and identity in the Epic of Gilgamesh. He, who proves good at heart in the conclusion of the epic, does not know why he was created and is frustrated at his mortal third in his early life. Made to bring strength and prosperity to the mortals of Uruk as an honorable king, Gilgamesh must first go on a journey to find out his true identity and mature along the way. Whether it is for everlasting life, fame, or his desire to be king- Gilgamesh searches for his true identity and purpose throughout the†¦show more content†¦After Enkidus passing, Gilgamesh develops a fear for death, believing his fate will be like that of his friend. When Siduri confronts Gilgamesh, he makes clear his overwhelming fear of death from Enkidu. Because of my brother I am afraid of death, because of my brother I stray through the wilderness and cannot rest. But now, young woman, maker of wine, since I have seen your face do not let me see the face of death which I dread so much. She answered, Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. (102 Epic of Gilgamesh) After being told this, Gilgamesh still will not accept this fate, his fear of death and longing for eternal life too strong in his heart. Utnapishtim puts Gilgamesh to a test to become a god and upon failing, he begins to realize he is not worthy to be a god or have everlasting life. Again he is denied everlasting life when the serpent snatches the flower that restores youth from Gilgameshs grasp. After Gilgamesh is denied everlasting life when the serpent snatches the flower that restores youth from his grasp, the realization that he will never be immortal comes over him and he begins his journey home. Upon arrival to the city of Uruk, Gilgamesh swells with prideShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 932 Words   |  4 Pagespermanence. The opening lines 1-23 from Tablet 1 of the poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, introduce us to the ancient Sumerian hero, Gilgamesh. These lines are arresting for their directness and simplicity; they briefly outline the ensuing tales of Gilgamesh’s adventures and achievements and emphasize the hero’s extraordinarily vigorous and powerful nature. The introduction hints at a more personal journey, one in which the hero â€Å"came a far road, was weary, found peace† (1,9) suggesting that GilgameshRead MoreThe Iliad, Odyssey, And Epic Of Gilgamesh1466 Words   |  6 PagesPolyphemos cave. After the confrontation with the Polyphemos, Odysseus and his men escaped by stabbing Polyphemos’ in the eye while he was asleep. Once Odysseus and his men were safe on board on their ship, Odysseus took it upon himself to reveal his true identity and proceeded to taunt Polyphemos. At the request of Polyphemus, Poseidon sent a large stone that nearly destroyed the ship in an a ttempt to kill Odysseus’ men and hinder his journey home. While this eventually fails, it does exemplify Odysseus’Read MoreGilgamesh : The Epic Of Gilgamesh909 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh† is a didactic story set out to expose the inevitability of death. The true meaning of this story is sometimes overlooked because the story is told in heighten language not easily understood. The epic hero in this story is Gilgamesh; he undertakes a quest for knowledge which is overshadowed by his ignorance. The tragic death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s trusted companion forces the epic hero to change his perception of death. To overcome great obstacles one must be willing to putRead MoreThe Role Of Women In The Epic Of Gilgamesh1189 Words   |  5 Pages Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s journey would have ended a lot sooner, and Gilgamesh would have still rampaged in Uruk, never bringing peace to those who were below him. Aruru, Shamhat, Ninsun, Ishtar, S iduri, and Utanapishtim’s wife all contribute to Gilgamesh’s journey, and in the end, provide Gilgamesh with the necessary tools in order to transform his character. These women in The Epic of Gilgamesh are essential to the plot, and provide both wisdom and perfection, but can also bring temptation and destructionRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Odyssey Essay1548 Words   |  7 Pagesmajority of their knowledge from female characters. The authors of Gilgamesh and Odyssey both acknowledge females with intelligence. First, Lady Wildcow Ninsun, Gilgamesh’s mother, is described in the Gilgamesh as, [†¦] clever and wise, Well versed in everything, Epic of Gilgamesh I.260-261 Ninsun plays a crucial role in interpreting Gilgamesh’s confusing dreams of his future companion Enkidu. Multiple times she has told Gilgamesh what to do with his dreams of Enkidu, â€Æ' You lifted it up, set it downRead MoreBatman And Gilgamesh Essay1733 Words   |  7 Pagesloses a loved one. When Gilgamesh’s beloved friend, Enkidu, dies from an illness caused by the gods, Gilgamesh becomes afraid of death and decides to seek out Utnapishtim who would help him get immortality. Gilgamesh says: â€Å"Shall I die too? Am I not like Enkidu? Grief has entered my innermost being, I am afraid of Death, and so I roam open country. I shall take the road and go quickly to see Utnapishtim.† Just like Bruce receives help in his quest, Utnapishtim becomes Gilgamesh’s mentor who gives himRead MoreEpic Journeys towards Improvement in The Epic of Gilgamesh and Oedipus Rex670 Words   |  3 Pagesgods, both of the heroes’ stories would have had totally different outcomes. Gilgamesh would have probably died in his first fight with Humbaba. Oedipus might have been lucky enough to never find out about his past if the god’s prophecies never came tru e. Another major difference between the two protagonists is that Gilgamesh is born two-thirds divine and one-third human. He says, â€Å"If I fall on the way, I’ll establish my name: Gilgamesh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (49). The hero of Uruk will do whatever it takes to leaveRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk2127 Words   |  8 Pageshis identity. Identity is imperative for Enkidu since he aligns himself with the animals. After he was made, he was tossed into the steppe where he only associates with animals. His home was the â€Å"home with the beasts† (7). He â€Å"knew neither people nor inhabited land† (6). As such, by teaching him the cultural practices of the city of Uruk, Shamhat is moulding Enkidu to see himself as a human and hence concretizing his identity as an individual from Uruk. This will give him a sense of identity; andRead More A Jungian Analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay3198 Words   |  13 PagesGilgamesh himself. While researching, I consulted the many translations of Gilgamesh found on the web. It seemed that the more sources I sought, the greater the amount of differing opinions and convoluted versions I uncovered. In an effort to remain true to the epic, I will mainly be referring to the book, World Mythology, written by Donna Rosenberg with a few inclusions from Kovacs translations. 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Similarities Between Genesis And Creation Of Hymn Chapter 1

Did you know that religious texts are some of our most important documents in history serving as an idea of past. And two famous texts are The first chapter of Genesis and â€Å"Creation of Hymn†. These two documents are very similar than they are different, even though they are from different origins. The style, narration, and tone are very different in both texts, but there is a couple of things that they are in common. The idea of emptiness, the description and establishment of darkness, the setting of water, and the origin life. In Genesis chapter 1, is narrated by a third person point of view omniscient and formatted in a chronological order while establishing the setting of text. In Genesis, the very first verse begins â€Å"When God†¦show more content†¦I infer that the author was saying there was only darkness that you could tell day because of no sun nor night because of no moon. Together in both readings, darkness is viewed as a black or negative space. Next, the appearance of water or setting is brought up by both texts. In (Genesis 1:7), â€Å" God made the expanse, and it separated the water †¦.†, which gives the establishment of water in the story having water. While in the (Creation of Hymn: line 1,3) water is given a description as â€Å"... bottomlessly deep?† and water was also described as â€Å" The life force was covered with emptiness, all this was water†¦.†. Both articles, give statements where water is mystical, deep and empty. Lastly the origin of life and they way it started out. On (Genesis 1:11) the earth didn’t beginning with humans, but with vegetation as stated â€Å"Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind of earth†¦.†. As for (Creation of Hymn: line 4) talks about theâ€Å"Desire came upon that one in the beginning; that was the first seed of mind. Poets seeking in their heart with wisdom found the bond of existence in non-existence.†. Discussing about how the first minds were born and were curious. Both quotes talk about how each life began through their own texts, one is established by vegetation the other through the human mind. In the end, both texts had lots of things inShow MoreRelatedEssay on Religion, Creation Stories, and Creation Myths5429 Words   |  22 PagesReligion, Creation Stories, and Creation Myths One of the fundamental questions that religions seek to answer is that of origin. How was man put on earth? Why and from what was he created? Who created him? What does his creation imply about the status of human beings? Some or all of these questions are answered by a religion’s creation stories. Every religion’s creation myths attempt to give solutions to problems present to that religious society. 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They are also themes that she found in the Genesis narrative of Adam and Eve in her King James Version of the Bible. As a central influence in Dickinson.s Nineteenth Century, Puritan, New England society, the Bible was a primary text at both Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke, where Dickinson attended (Sewell 362). At home, Dickinson.s father read a chapter a day to his family (Sewell 694), and at age 14, he gave her a copy of the King JamesRead MoreOcd - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment131367 Words   |  526 PagesLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Clark, David A., 1954– Cognitive-behavioral therapy for OCD / David A. Clark. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-10: 1-57230-963-6 ISBN-13: 978-1-57230-963-0 (hardcover: alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-59385-375-0 ISBN-13: 978-1-59385-375-4 (paperback) 1. Cognitive therapy. 2. Obsessive–compulsive disorder. I. Title. RC489.C63C57 2004 616.85†²2270651—dc22 2003020283 To my parents, Albert and Ardith, for their support and encouragement

The Goal Free Essays

Jakeshia Moore Mktg 372 Alidee Nov 28, 11 The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement The Goal by Eliyahu Goldatt is a novel, regarding the management and accounting processes at a manufacturing plant. The book focuses around a perhaps older 30- early 40s something industrial engineer, Alex Rogo. With the description Goldatt gives of Rogo, he personifies the profile of a large number of people involved in business administration (Lui 1997). We will write a custom essay sample on The Goal or any similar topic only for you Order Now Alex is married, with two children and his lively-hood is in jeopardy, unless he can figure out exactly how to save his production plant, by understanding â€Å"the goal† of his company. In order for Rogo and the readers to even begin understanding that â€Å"goal†, Eli begins to unravel the novel by introducing the readers to Alex Rogo and apparent problems with his production plant. In the opening of the first chapter these problems meet Mr. Rogo at work, as a confrontation takes place between him and his immediate boss, Division Vice President of their company UniWare, Bill Peach. The dispute takes places over an overdue order number 41427, which happens to be fifty-six days behind schedule. Given this has become the norm for Rogo’s plant, Mr. Peach requires nothing less than for order #41427 to be shipped that day, since the plant is neither profitable nor productive. In fact so many orders, as of late, have been so far behind that it is becoming a major problem for the company and the lively hood of the workers. Therefore, Mr. Peach decides to give Alex three months to turn things at their plant, or he’s prepared to recommend the Bearington plant be shut down. With the amount of time order number 41427 is already late; the pressure is on to get the order out the door and shipped according to Mr. Peach’s specifications. Surprisingly the plant gets the order shipped that night, but not very effectively. All the hands in the plant are working on one order, with forbidden overtime to compensate. Only after dinner with Lou, his controller, does Alex develop a sense of determination to define his mode of constraints. His efficiencies are good, but he can not to put to a finger on what’s causing the problem; and without the Five Steps of Focusing this at first seems impossible. Alex has spent late nights pondering the future of the company. He attempts to identify â€Å"the problem† at his plant, the process he will have to go through to change it, how resistant his plant would be to that change, and how he intends to overcome their resistance. Alex does all of this just in time for Mr. Peach to call a plant managers meeting at the headquarters. On his way to the meeting, Alex learns the problems with efficiency and effectiveness are not only plaguing his plant, but it’s the entire industry. It’s been losing money since Japan entered the manufacturing market and stolen market share from companies in the United States, like their UniWare Division of UniCo. During the meeting with Mr. Peach and the other plant managers, Alex mistakenly comes across a cigar he received from and old friend; a physicist named Jonah, and has an epiphany. Two week prior to the meeting, by pure chance, Alex ran into Jonah and they began to catch up. Alex gave Jonah a run down of his job as plant manager at UniCo, and eagerly described how his firm’s investment in automation (ie. obots) had increased productivity by thirty-six percent. Jonah, in turn questioned Alex about some key identifiers of productivity such as: their ability to decrease inventory, reduce operational expenses, and selling more product. Jonah really asked some in-depth questions to help Alex understand his core problems. Until Jonah predicted their problems with high inventories and not meeting shipping dates, A lex was sure he was simply dealing with some routine problems, not the demise of his entire organizational structure. Jonah explained to Alex that there is only one real â€Å"goal† for any organizations, and anything bringing you closer to achieving that is productive and anything otherwise is unproductive. Productivity, according to Jonah, is defined as accomplishing something in terms of goals. Late for his flight, Jonah uses the Socratic Method to help Alex conclude what â€Å"the goal† of his plant really is. Alex struggles with the questions Jonah ask initially, but eventually discovers and internalizes the concept of the Theory of Constraints. Meanwhile at the meeting, . How to cite The Goal, Papers

Cultural Profile free essay sample

Country Cultural Profile: Arab Republic of Egypt Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the cultural structures, variables and behaviors of the society in the Arab Republic of Egypt located in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and include the Asian Sinai Peninsula. The development of this analysis is based on the understanding of the characteristics and variables of the Egyptian culture. Section 1 – People Relationships 1. 1. Universalism versus Particularism Universalism is the degree to which people believe that various ideas and practices can be effective in all circumstances. People who are high in universalism believe they can develop rules and standards that can be reasonably applied to everyone in every situation. They tend to use contracts, formal systems, and procedures to convey what they expect from others. People who are low in universalism (i. e. , high in particularism) develop their expectations of others based on their personal relationships with them and their trust in them rather than on rules. When negotiating deals, people from highly particularistic cultures will want to develop a relationship with the other party before having substantive discussions toward making an agreement. People from highly universalistic cultures are prepared to proceed with substantive discussions much more quickly, but then expect to document their agreement with an enforceable contract. Because of their universalist approach, in a business situation Americans will want to rely on a contract to communicate the terms of an agreement and to define the relationship between the parties. Strong universalist cultures use the court to mediate conflicts. Therefore Americans have much more lawyers per citizen than any other country. The more universal a country is, the greater is the need to protect the truth. International operating businesses think more likely in an universalistic way. Egypt is a particularistic culture where people look at relationships and circumstances in a specific situation to decide what is right. For the Egyptian, the legal contract communicates a starting point for an agreement. As circumstances change so too should the terms of the agreement. For the Egyptian, the situation and the particular individuals involved are what define relationship. 1. 2. Individualism versus Collectivism Individualism focuses on the degree the society reinforces individual or collective, achievement and interpersonal relationships. A high individualism ranking indicates that individuality and individual rights are paramount within the society. Individuals in these societies may tend to form a larger number of looser relationships. A low individualism ranking typifies societies of a more collectivist nature with close ties between individuals. These cultures reinforce extended families and collectives where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. The lowest Hofstede dimension for the Arab World, including Egypt, is the individualism, compared to a world average ranking. This translates into a collectivist society as compared to individualist culture and is manifested in a close long-term commitment to the member group, that being a family, extended family, or extended relationships. Loyalty in a collectivist culture is paramount, and over-rides most other societal rules. 1. 3. Neutral versus Emotional In highly affective cultures, people tend to openly express their feelings. In highly neutral cultures, emotions are not expressed as openly and naturally. People from highly affective cultures are more likely to smile, talk loudly when excited, and greet each other enthusiastically. People from highly neutral cultures experience the same emotions, but are less inclined to express them, and they express them more subtly. Implications for behavior in the workplace include how demonstrative people are when showing appreciation and affection for each other and when celebrating successes. Egypt is an example of affective, emotional culture. 1. 4. Specific versus Diffuse In specific cultures, the whole is the sum of its parts. Each persons life is divided into many components: you can only enter one at a time. Interactions between people are highly purposeful and well-defined. The public sphere of specific individuals is much larger than their private sphere. People are easily accepted into the public sphere, but it is very difficult to get into the private sphere, since each area in which two people encounter each other is considered separate from the other, a specific case. Specific individuals concentrate on hard facts, standards, and contracts. People from diffusely oriented cultures start with the whole and see each element in perspective of the total. All elements are related to each other. These relationships are more important than each separate element; so the whole is more than just the sum of its elements. Diffuse individuals have a large private sphere and a small public one. Newcomers are not easily accepted into either. But once they have been accepted, they are admitted into all layers of the individuals life. A friend is a friend in all respects: tennis, cooking, work, etc. The various roles someone might play in your life are not separated. Qualities cherished by diffuse cultures include style, demeanor, ambiance, trust, understanding, etc. Egypt is an example of diffusely oriented culture. 1. 5. Achievement versus Ascription In highly achievement-oriented cultures, social status is largely derived from a persons achievements. In highly ascription-oriented cultures, social status is largely derived from personal attributes such as age, experience, social connections, or gender. In organizations, a persons status is reflected in his or her privileges such as access to resources and perks, deferential treatment, and input in decision making. The U. S. A. is an example of highly achievement-oriented culture. Egypt is an example of highly ascription-oriented culture. 1. 6. High versus Low Context The high versus low-context dimension of culture relates to norms of communication. In low-context countries, communication relies more heavily on the literal meaning of the words used. Meanings of written and spoken communication are more explicit. To people from high-context cultures, the bluntness and directness of low-context communication styles can seem insulting or aggressive. In high-context cultures, much more of the context surrounding the written or spoken communication is involved in conveying the message. Factors such as the social status of the communicators and the nature of the relationship between them are key. The meaning of everything said in high-context communication has to be interpreted in the context of the social relationship between the individuals. The U. S. A. is an example of low-context country. Egypt is an example of high-context country. . 7. Inductive versus Deductive In cultures with an inductive thinking style, people go from the specific to the general. They arrive at a theory or model only after amassing facts through experimentation and observation. People in cultures with a deductive thinking style are comfortable with abstractions. In an argument, discussion or written presentation, they p refer to go from the general to the specific and to deduce facts from general principles. Americans tend to be highly inductive. Egyptians tend to be highly deductive. 1. 8. Large Power Distance versus Small Power Distance Power distance index focuses on the degree of equality, or inequality, between people in the countrys society. A large power distance ranking indicates that inequalities of power and wealth have been allowed to grow within the society. These societies are more likely to follow a caste system that does not allow significant upward mobility of its citizens. A small power distance ranking indicates the society de-emphasizes the differences between citizens power and wealth. In these societies equality and opportunity for everyone is stressed. Large power distance is a characteristic for Egypt. This indicates that it is expected and accepted that leaders separate themselves from the group and issue complete and specific directives. The society is more likely to follow a caste system that does not allow significant upward mobility of its citizens. They are also highly rule-oriented with laws, rules, regulations, and controls in order to reduce the amount of uncertainty, while inequalities of power and wealth have been allowed to grow within the society. The high power distance ranking is indicative of a high level of inequality of power and wealth within the society. These populations have an expectation and acceptance that leaders will separate themselves from the group and this condition is not necessarily subverted upon the population, but rather accepted by the society as their cultural heritage. 1. 9. Masculinity versus Femininity This dimension pertains to the degree societies reinforce, or do not reinforce, the traditional masculine work role model of male achievement, control, and power. In essence it looks at the degree to which masculine values like competitiveness and the acquisition of wealth are valued over feminine’ values like relationship building and quality of life. In many cultures with a low masculinity rating, it is noticed that they also have low gender equality. The terms relate to nurturing (feminine) versus assertive (masculine) behaviors and ideals. The U. S. A. is an example of ‘masculine’ culture. Egypt is considered a ‘feminine’ culture. 1. 10. Strong Uncertainty Avoidance versus Weak Uncertainty Avoidance Uncertainty avoidance index focuses on the level of tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity within the society i. e. unstructured situations. A high uncertainty avoidance ranking indicates the country has a low tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity. A low uncertainty avoidance ranking indicates the country has less concern about ambiguity and uncertainty and has more tolerance for a variety of opinions. This is reflected in a society that is less rule-oriented, more readily accepts change, and takes more and greater risks. Strong uncertainty avoidance is the predominant characteristics for Egypt. The society is highly rule-oriented with laws, rules, regulations, and controls in order to reduce the amount of uncertainty, while inequalities of power and wealth have been allowed to grow within the society. The society does not readily accept change and is very risk adverse. When strong uncertainty avoidance is combined with large power distance, it creates a situation where leaders have virtually ultimate power and authority, and the rules, laws and regulations developed by those in power reinforce their own leadership and control. It is not unusual for new leadership to arise from armed insurrection – the ultimate power, rather than from diplomatic or democratic change. 1. 11. Doing versus Being Americans are doers. Americans believe that they can achieve just about nything if we just ‘do’ enough (which generally means setting goals, making a plan and enacting every step of it with perseverance and dedication). People are evaluated by what they do and they are valued for their results. Other cultures also value ‘doing’, but, along a spectrum, not quite so highly. They leave more space for the role of ‘being’. ‘Who they are’ is often something people cannot ‘do’ anything about (from caste systems of various types to being European). This is the base of in-group, out-group systems. Americans join groups (as an individual) and leave them at will. In other cultures, people often simple ‘are’ part of a group that you cannot join nor leave (even if you really want to and work really hard at it with perseverance and dedication). The value of ‘being’ is predominant in the Egyptian society. 1. 12. Human Nature Trustworthy versus Not Trustworthy Human nature trustworthiness levels measure the degree people can be trusted or not trusted until proved otherwise. Egyptians can be considered trustworthy. They value personal relationships in a deep degree. A typical true example is the case of an expatriate loosing his wallet in a cab. A few hours later the expatriate would receive a call from the Egyptian who found his wallet with an invitation to go to his home to pick it up. The expatriate would then meet the whole Egyptian family and be invited to socialize with them. 1. 13. Individual in Control versus Fate in Control Some people believe that individuals can decide their own destiny, while others think that it is impossible to escape a predetermined fate. Egyptians strongly believe that fate in control. Events may change at ‘the will of Allah’. Such fatalism culture avoids change and slows down progress. Section 2 – Environment Relationships . 1. Control it - In Harmony - Controlled By The environment relationship with the people is measured with the degree by which it is controlled. The environment has enormous power in people’s lives in Egypt. Not only the mass of Egyptians, but even the fate of rulers and the elite have been subjects of the Nile Valley. Section 3 – Time Rel ationships 3. 1. Monochronic versus Polychronic Monochronic time is one-track linear: people do one thing at a time. Polychronic time is multi-track circular; it allows many things to happen simultaneously, with no particular end in sight. Monochronic time is tightly compartmentalized: schedules are almost sacred. Polychronic time is open-ended: completing the task or communication is more important than adhering to a schedule. People from polychronic and monochronic cultures have the same difficulties adjusting to one another as people from high-context and low-context cultures. In fact, polychronic time is characteristic of high-context people and monochronic time is characteristic of low-context people. Monochronic people tend to sequence communications as well as tasks. They would not be inclined, for instance, to interrupt a phone conversation in order to greet a third person. Polychronic people can carry on multiple conversations simultaneously indeed, they would consider it rude not to do so. The U. S. A. tend t have a monochronic view of time. Egypt is categorized as a polychromic culture. Egyptians consider time commitments an objective to be achieved only if possible, at the will of Allah. They are more concerned with relations (family, friends, close business associates) than with privacy. They change plans often and easily. . 2. Short-term Oriented versus Long-term Oriented Long-term orientation focuses on the degree the society embraces, or does not embrace long-term devotion to traditional, forward thinking values. High long-term orientation ranking indicates the country prescribes to the values of long-term commitments and respect for tradition. This is thought to support a strong work ethic where long-term rewards are expected as a resu lt of todays hard work. However, business may take longer to develop in this society, particularly for an ‘outsider’. A short-term orientation indicates that change can occur more rapidly as long-term traditions and commitments do not become impediments to change. Cultures differ in the emphasis that they place on the past, present, and future. North American countries tend to focus more on the present and the immediate future than other countries do. Most European countries have a more balanced focus on past, present and future. Many Asian countries focus heavily on what North Americans would consider the distant future. The implications of differing emphases on past, present and future may be most apparent in planning. North American managers primarily focus on achieving results within five years. Their long-term plans cover 5-10 years. In addition, employees hired in North America normally have from a few weeks to a couple of years to prove that theyll be successful. Employees who are unsuccessful in that time frame are normally asked to find another job or simply fired. In contrast, Japanese firms are more likely to hire employees with the intention of having a life-long employee. Egypt is considered to be in the long-term oriented ranking. Section 4 – Space Relationships 4. . Speakers Distance: Small - Medium - Large Speakers distance relates to the interpersonal space between communicators. In low-context cultures, people tend to be uncomfortable standing closer than three feet from each other when conversing. In high-context cultures, people tend to stand relatively close when conversing. They perceive a distance of three feet between communicators as something that interferes with thei r communication, and they will tend to step closer in order to be more comfortable. Egypt is considered to have a small speaker’s distance. A range of three inches is the norm in Arab countries. 4. 2. Private Space: Small - Large Private space relates to the distance perceived around personal possessions. One thing that is very common in Egypt is the idea of public versus private. It is the idea of how much should be shared with others and how much should be kept private. The problem in Egypt is that this division of public and private is reflected in almost all aspects of daily lives including homes. It is very common to live in an apartment that has two doors, one for the family members and one for guests. This is done because there is a desire to present an image to any guests coming in which may not be the most convenient or even functional for everyday use. The family entrance is very plain and simple, but the guest entrance may have a fancy chandelier and decorations. This part of the house almost looks too perfect, like something out of a magazine which suggests that in Egypt there is the need to lead or at least to appear to be leading perfect lives. The same is true of how much space is dedicated to everyday use and how much space is dedicated to guest use. It is fair to say that in most houses in Egypt up to half the space is kept aside for guests. This usually means that 5 or 6 family members would be crammed up in a small space so that guests would get the impression that the house is spacious with plenty of room. Of course how much space there is and how that space is furnished is a reflection of wealth. This seems to be an important issue in Egypt because of the large disparity between the social classes. Egypt is formed from a very large lower class, a slightly smaller upper class and a very small middle class. People who have some degree of wealth do not want to be mistaken for anything less than what they are, and people who have little but aspire for more, use the presentation of their homes as a means of social upward mobility. Section 5 – Visible Manifestations 5. 1. Symbols Language is one of the symbols of a culture. Arabic is the current national language of  Egypt and it is spoken throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Broadly speaking there are two kinds of Arabic. High Arabic is the formal, classical language used in the Koran. Each country  also has its own colloquial Arabic or street Arabic which can vary greatly. Egyptian Arabic is understood widely. This is largely due to its dominant movie and music industries which disseminate Egyptian Arabic throughout the Arab world. Egyptian Arabic is also known to be one of the most  melodic interpretations of the Arabic language. However Coptic language was the one spoken in ancient Egypt. Nowadays it is only preserved in Coptic Christian religious services. The way a society dress is consider as a symbol. Some Egyptians follow Islamic customs in their dress. Men grow beards and wear long, light colored gowns and skull caps. Women wear robes and cover their hair, ears and arms with a veil.

The Fairy Tales Of Gun Control Essays - Firearms, Gun Politics

The Fairy Tales Of Gun Control The Fairy Tales of Gun Control When a madman in Dunblane, Great Britain rampages and kills 16 children, it was the fuel politicians needed to fire the anti-gun movement. Great Britain banned the sale and ownership of handguns in 1997. But nobody expected the surge of violent crime that followed. Britains rate of assault, robbery, and burglary now exceed those in the United States. Murder and rape figures are now getting closer to U.S. rates. Between 1997 and 1999 were the highest murder rates in the past 10 years. According to Dr. Timothy Wheeler, American news media have virtually ignored this amazing change, even as politicians push more stringent, British-style gun-control. Gun control would not work in the U.S. because it would diminish public safety, raise crime rates, and boost the illegal sale of firearms. The public view of the gun is that it is used to commit violent crimes. But the truth is that the gun is also used everyday to protect the public. Every law officers and enforcement agent uses guns to control everyday criminal activity and protect the public. But public citizens to protect themselves and others also use the gun. One such case is the Pearl High School shooting. Joel Myrick, an assistant principal at the school, heard shoots and herded students into his office and locked up the door behind him. Myrick remembered that he had his .45 automatic in his car because he always takes a weapon whenever he travels. Myrick ran to his car and after getting his gun, he chased down the shooter, Luke Woodham, and forced him onto the ground as they waited for police to arrive. As Kenneth Smith reported, anyone reading the local paper would have known all about Joel Myricks heroics. But anyone watching a national evening newscast wouldnt have known that it took an armed man to stop the shooting. Another such case were a gun was used to protect the public was in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. In April 1998, a 14 year-old student walked into a school dance with a .25-caliber handgun and opened fire, killing a science teacher and wounding several students. When he fled the scene, the owner or the hall, James Strand, chased him down with a shotgun into a field and held him for 11 minutes until police arrived. Kenneth Smith reports that New York Daily News said only that Strand had persuaded the shooter to surrender and the shotgun was never mentioned. In May 1998, gun education stopped 15-year old Kip Kinkel from his shooting spree in the cafeteria of Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon. At one time, he pointed a .22 caliber semiautomatic rifle at a students head and attempted to fire three times but nothing happened. Jacob Ryker, who was shot in the lungs, Charged 15 feet and tackled Kinkel and disarmed him. Kenneth Smith wrote ABCs Ted Koppel credited Ryker with halting the shooting, non-of the specific details were given and the program quickly turne d into another debate on gun control. Kenneth Smiths retaliation in his report was Ryker knew when to attack Kinkel because Ryker knew the gun was out of ammunition. Ryker and his family were hunters and target shooters and his familiarity with firearms helped to stop the shooting. Secondly, gun control would raise the crime rates in the U.S. The public would not be able to protect themselves against criminals with illegal firearms. Even Darrel Scott, whose 17 year-old daughter, died in the Columbine massacre, is skeptic of the new gun control measures. Scott argues, No amount of laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. Furthermore, as reporter Kenneth Smith points out, a Florida State University study says Americans use guns to defend themselves as many as 2.5 million a year. In most cases, the gun were not fired but was used to deter the criminals. In addition, when Great Britain banned the sale and ownership of handguns in 1997, crime rates rose dramatically in the following year. As Doctor Timothy Wheeler point out, in 1998, BBC News reported that violence against a person rose by 16% and sexual offenses rose by 4.5%. The robbery

cloning is morally wrong essays

cloning is morally wrong essays Cloning is an issue that touches upon the most profound ethical issues. If humans even consider cloning each other then they should revise what is morally and ethically right and wrong. The cloning of any species, whether its human or non-human is by all means wrong. Denmarks Minister of Research agrees to the idea of cloning, or at least starting the cloning experiments. By votes of 11 to 5, the pro side has won the argument for cloning research. According to The Lancet magazine, researchers are about to be ready to start cloning as soon as legalization is drawn up. I personally think that should there be a universally unethical act, it should be cloning. If we want to look for a clear reason to why we should not clone, we should apply this to our selves. Imagine if there is a clone of you 20 or 30 years from now? Doesnt that shake the idea of the self? Identity is then no longer valid. On top of all, according to most religions, cloning would interfere with the will of God. Creation of human beings is a natural process that God has blessed us with. Interfering with this natural cycle is just like telling God: NO! Some people do not believe in morality in the first place. Others do not believe in the existence of God either. To those people, the simplest reason to why we should not clone humans would be the great risk of producing deformed humans. Then those who would survive will have to live with a defect for the rest of their lives without a reason. Secondly, if technology is able to develop human organs in animals, then what would be the line between human and non human. As a conclusion, cloning is interfering with lifes natural cycle and is a morally incorrect process. I think humans should start thinking of what they are doing before taking action ...