Acts of Faith

Acts of Faith Introduction Religious multiplicity is among the greatest challenges faced by today’s world (Eboo, 2007). â€Å"Acts of Faith† is a compelling story that gives inspirations from Eboo Patel, who lived with a vision of unity.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on â€Å"Acts of Faith† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The book takes us through his journey in life from childhood up to adulthood, including his founding mission of a youth interfaith movement, which would cultivate harmony and togetherness among the youth. â€Å"Acts of Faith† is an excellent piece that is written with a beautiful flow that gives chronicles of confidence and self discovery. The author, Dr. Eboo Patel writes about his journey of faking identity, to portray himself as an Indian, an American, and a Muslim. In the process of trying to forge his identity, he came up with a comprehensive conclusion about the similaritie s between all faiths. As a result, he developed an interfaith group that was responsible for helping the youth understand, and embrace the commonness of their humanity through their different faiths. Through this movement, the author proves that educating a young nation to ignore religious differences and work for the bosom of everyone is the only way for the world to escape violence and interpersonal conflicts. Themes of the Book The main theme of this book is religious fundamentalism. Through this book, Dr. Eboo, the author, covers three main religions that he experienced. He gives to his readership an account of the similarities and differences between the three religions. He then comes up with a general comment to summarize his findings from his experience with different religions. He also covers the theme of unity among people of different religions and races. The author effectively brings out the theme of unity by working to promote oneness in the society, so that everyone can eliminate religious and racial differences and work for a common interest. He initiates this by supporting an interfaith movement among the youth, which he hopes will bear abundant fruits in future. Author’s Background Knowledge that equip him to Author this Book The author of the book, â€Å"Acts of faith† has lived a life that has equipped him with relevant experience and skills to write this book. He is an American Muslim from India, possessing three identities but with one body. He lived an adolescent life that offered him a chain of subsequent rejections of various levels of heritage, as he believed that the three religions in him could never co-exist.Advertising Looking for book review on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He believed that he could not be an Indian, an American, and a Muslim at the same time; he had to serve one master at a time. He grew up outside Chicago, where he had to succumb to a series of constant barrages of racism that exposed him to bullying and mistreatment. He found himself excluded from the rest of the society because of religion and race. During his high school life, he ignored everything concerning his heritage from the Indian and Muslim religions and worked for his educational success. He did this in a bid to be like the White Native Americans who were around him. When he joined college, he learnt about the â€Å"liberatory† force of politics and the hypocrisies that existed in America. He realized that anger is not a person’s identity. When Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, Patel watched how young people with raw emotions were recruited by religious extremists who manipulated them into murderers full of hatred (Eboo, 2007). On the other hand, he was facing distinct ideas at different levels of understanding: an American fighting for equality and openness; a Muslim striving to go back to his original teachings of mercy and forgiveness; an Indian with diversity added to the original material. The Author’s main Points and Supporting Evidence The author mainly dwells on how to live with oneness and work for a common interest, despite having a multiplicity of religions and races. He points out that we are all human beings with intrinsic dignity and require to be treated with respect. We are hence the same despite the little physical differences that we may have. He emphasizes on eliminating discrimination against each other. He convincingly shows how young men with bitterness and hatred can be transformed successfully through the society’s faith, and their own efforts into profound leaders who will advocate for peace in the society rather than war and bloodshed. He supports his arguments by saying that by faith peace can be achieved even in societies that have had a lot of unrest. This is through instilling the correct values among the youths so that they can grow up learning to l ive together in peace and work in togetherness. By starting a successful interfaith movement among the youth, he proves his findings about his idea of creating unity and oneness in the society.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on â€Å"Acts of Faith† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He says that figures like Osama bin Laden were once troubled youths but ended up as terrorists because they did not find a suitable mentor; instead, they met people who taught them hatred and fed them with bitterness. If they had met a good mentor, they would have never been terrorists; instead, they would have been among the world’s most honored leaders. How the Author Argues his Points Dr. Eboo, the author of â€Å"Acts of Faith† is a convincing author. He argues out his points with sufficient evidence. He employs a persuasive language that can potentially transform his entire readership that has been living with hatred and discrimination of any kind. The author argues his point from a societal point of view. He uses common examples that are likely to be familiar to almost all his audiences. He portrays them in a comprehensive manner, covering each detail, to give his readers the real picture of his meaning, and convey the right message to his target audience. He builds persuading stream of ideas that create a mood of self-reflection to the readers, which help to sink his point home. Ideas that Link to Other Readings in the Course The main themes of this book link with several other readings in the course. The ideas of racial and religious discrimination are also brought out in â€Å"Dreams from My Father† by Barrack Obama. The book by Obama also talks about racial discrimination in America. The author shares an experience with Dr. Eboo; he was born of parents from two different cultures, Kenya and Hawaii, he grew up in Hawaii, in a humble family and later in America. Just like Dr. E boo, Obama lived a life of hope and faith as he wished for a society that did not know any racial and religious differences. Implications for Cultural Diversity and School Leadership Learnt from the Book This book teaches about the need to live peacefully in a society of cultural and religious pluralism. Most schools host students from varied ethnic groups and religious backgrounds. Through this book, school leaders learn to live with other students from a diversity of societies keeping in mind that all human beings are the same; that our physical differences cannot be suffice to justify or cover any level of discrimination. It is hence necessary for school leaders to promote peace among students of different backgrounds.Advertising Looking for book review on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Audience to direct this book This book best suits ethnics and racists. It is a marvelous book for people whose souls are filled with hatred and bitterness. Acts of Faith will help such people realize their identities. They will also learn how to find fulfillment in these identities as they work towards the common goal. The book can also be directed to leaders who make their decisions and judgments basing on their personal interests and race or religion. Strengths and Weaknesses of this Book Strengths This book effectively and persuasively covers the idea of pluralism among religions and races. It is a fantastic book that advocates for togetherness and oneness of the human race. The author uses a diversity of styles and diction to create the desired mood and convey his message in a way that is convincing to his audience, as he attempts to achieve his goal of authorship. Weaknesses The author makes a general conclusion about the similarities that different races and religions have. He does this basing on only three identities. He does not consider the cultural differences that people have, which are also a cause of discrimination among different groups. He should have considered such factors in his book and provide a lasting solution to them. The book has many story lines, which are incomplete. It covers some ideas at shallow levels. Reference Eboo, P. (2007). Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. Boston: Beacons Press.

A Cigarette Butt is One Thing…

A Cigarette Butt is One Thing†¦ A Cigarette Butt is One Thing A Cigarette Butt is One Thing By Maeve Maddox In standard English usage, the word butt has numerous meanings as both a noun and a verb. The OED offers 14 entries for butt as a noun. The meanings vary from â€Å"barrel† to â€Å"a type of one-horse cart.† Perhaps the most common definition is a. The thicker end of anything, esp. of a tool or weapon, the part by which it is held or on which it rests; e.g. the lower end of a spear-shaft, whip-handle, fishing-rod, the broad end of the stock of a gun or pistol. Butt meaning â€Å"barrel† gives us the expression to be the butt of a joke. This use stems from the custom of setting up archery targets on barrels. The butt of a joke is the target of a joke. The meaning â€Å"remainder of a smoked cigarette† was first recorded in 1847. The sense of â€Å"human posterior† has been in use from 1450, but ancient use does not necessarily confer acceptability in standard speech. To my ears, butt as a word for the human posterior is for informal use, more or less on a par with bitch as used by some speakers as a generic term for â€Å"woman.† That’s why I was startled to hear it used in a television commercial the other night: Better legs and better butt with every step. To my ears the ads that use this phrase are more offensive than the ones with the baby bear who can’t wipe his bottom without leaving behind scraps of toilet paper. At least those ads use the word â€Å"bottom† for the anatomical area under discussion. In mulling over my reaction to this use of â€Å"butt† in an ad intended to be aired in every living room in America, I reviewed the many expressions in English that can be used to refer to a person’s backside. I’ve probably used them all at one time or another, but not indiscriminately. Some words for the human posterior seem to me to be acceptable in ordinary speech, no matter who is present. For example, rear backside bottom seat behind derrià ¨re posterior Some I’d use only if I felt some irritation with the person whose anatomy was being referred to. For example, butt hind end tail rump keister bum fanny (Caution: this one does NOT refer to the same bit of anatomy in British English as it does in American English.) ass (arse in British usage) Some words I’d reserve for moments of jocularity or perversity: buttocks cheeks booty tush buns heinie caboose fundament haunches gluteus maximus As a copywriter I might use â€Å"butt† in an ad to be placed in a specialized publication read by young people, but not for one intended to be run during national television prime time. It’s a generational thing, I’m sure. I hear plenty of young people use it as if it were perfectly acceptable in polite company. Still, advertisers might think twice about using it in ads intended for a general audience. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Greek Words You Should KnowDawned vs. DonnedCapitalizing Titles of People and Groups

Women in the Ancient Mediterranean Research Paper

Women in the Ancient Mediterranean - Research Paper Example Implicit within the patriarchal ideology was the perception that those outside the hegemonic male were losers and inferior to males. The paper explores the status and role of women in ancient Mediterranean. A review of women’s agency in ancient civilizations such as Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Rome demonstrates the social, political, and cultural factors that propelled female empowerment. In addition to the powerful images of goddesses and women’s roles within the religious sphere, women’s activities manifested within other social realms including economic, health, war, poetry, governance, and philosophy (Rutland 16). Largely, the sphere of religious practice can be regarded as an opportunity for exceptional women to attain their own value within a culture that concisely defined feminine roles as subservient to masculine models. Hence, historians highlight the Minoan civilization that appeared to manifest several of female deities backing the assumption that women in Knossos benefited from religious gender democratization. In most cases, only exceptional women who are atypical of the mainstream impacted on the politics of the day, mainly through their husbands as was the case of Olympias (Alexander the Great mother). This observation also applies to Cleopatra VII, who was the final Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty. This was also true of the egalitarian early Christian church that largely relegated women to the home to serve their husbands (Walcot 163). Discussion In ancient Mediterranean, women ranked along property rather than separate legal persona. As a result, the control of women remained a male prerogative; hence, adultery or rape remained sins against the male members of the family (husband, father, and brothers), and only incidentally against the victim (woman). This is well captured in the book of Deuteronomy (22:25-8), whereby if a married woman is raped within the confines of the city and is not heard to cry out, the ordeal i s not considered rape but adultery, and as such, should be castigated accordingly. In the ancient Mediterranean, prostitutes were depicted as dangerous, capable of stripping men their virtue (at worse their masculinity) since they were not within the confines of a dominant male. Women came out as irrational, prone to hysteria, and sex-obsessed. Women, especially virgins formed a section of the limited good of the society as limited resources to be pursued and acquired by men of prestige, power, and wealth. Men epitomized status and honor while women epitomized decorum and purity and lack of these meant the presence of shame. The social stigma heightened the powerlessness of the woman (Walcot 163). For instance, upon registration, a prostitute lost her healthy liberties as a citizen and listed for life and marriage or motherhood could not eliminate her name from the list. This highlights that a prostitutes occupation was the core determinant of her entire life-style and the stigma as sociated with the occupation could not be eliminated. There is ample literature on the social structures of honor and shame and how they affected women within Mediterranean antiquity. Honor and shame acted as coordinates in an intricate matrix of other societal factors such as kinship, economic control, social networking, and social hierarchy. The honor code derived from gender roles linked to sex, whereby honor can be ascribed to men while shame to women. In this model, the honor of the family resides in its women (women embody the possibility for shame via their sexual conduct); however, men carry the responsibility for protecting women (considered as the â€Å"

Congress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Congress - Essay Example Thus, the veracity of the claim of the ‘broken branch’ and the possible solution for fixing the ‘broken branch’ are discussed in the discussion which ensues forthwith. What Organizational Changes Congress Might Make To Work More Effectively It is true that in light of the limitations prevailing upon the Congress, there are some changes that can be ratified to make the Congress more effective. One of the changes which the Congress can make to work more effectively is instituting a room for the selection of an effective party leader with juniors working under this party leader. Another way to fix the US Congress is to build a better and more dynamic electoral system. This artifice can be achieved by establishing open primaries which would end gerrymandering among politicians. This is because, gerrymandering effectively provides politicians with a leeway which they use to pull away from their own districts. There cannot be proper representation in the event tha t politicians make a dereliction on their own jurisdiction. Conversely, amendments can be made to the rules of the Congress to make Congress function more effectively. The crux of the matter herein is that experts such as Mann and Ornstein contend that the problem besetting the Congress is not really about the representatives in the Congress, but the outdated traditions, procedures and rules which govern the operations of Congress which bar legislative processes and progress. Particularly, Article 1, Section 5 of the American Constitution reads that each House has the capacity to determine the Rules of its Proceedings. In this light, in the event that an incumbent Congress finds the rules, traditions and rules of its predecessor [to be] unproductive, archaic or inhibitive, members of the Congress may move in to amend these laws (Mann and Ornstein, 48). Amendments can also be made so that the remunerations of Congressmen can be tied to their performance. While some such as Vermeer ha ve christened this move as No-Budget-No-Pay principle, there is a strong push to this effect to bar Congress from getting paid, in the event that Congress fails to make budget spending and decision in time. The need for this move is underscored by the fact that since 1952, Congress has passed budget planning and spending bills in a timely manner, only four times. Despite this state of affairs, the gravity of the matter is underscored by the dire financial and political situations which stem from the failure of the Congress to pass budget spending and planning, as was seen on October 1, 2013. In this case, the US government came to a sudden halt when the House Republicans failed to agree on their efforts to link the passage of the 2014 budgets of the federal government since they were fighting against the implementation of the healthcare reform. Consequently, 40% [800,000 workers] of the US’ public service was temporarily forced out of work, while 1 million federal American em ployees were made to work without payment (Vermeer, 220). It is also important to have the Congress [to] have all presidential nominations either conformed or rejected within 90 days, after that the Senate receives the presidential nominations. The importance of this proposal has its underpinnings in developments which have taken place in the US Congress. In 2011, more than 200 positions that had been presidentially appointed remained unfilled, following the senators’

Agent orange in Vietnam: Effects and remediation

Agent orange in Vietnam: Effects and remediation ABSTRACT Many types of herbicides were used during the Vietnam War for the purpose of destroying the forests, where Vietnamese soldiers sheltered. Among them, the chemical that was used the most and most hazardous was Agent Orange. This paper, based on secondary research, will discuss some main issues of Agent Orange in Vietnam. In particular, three facets are mentioned, including the effects of Agent Orange on the environment and human in Vietnam, the manner of overcoming its consequences and the struggle for justice for Agent Orange sufferers. Overall, the paper draws the conclusion that the remediation of Agent Orange effects is gradually carried out, but it requires a lot of time and manpower to basically clean-up the remainder of the toxic. Agent Orange In Vietnam: Effects And Remediation Introduction. In Vietnam War, the U.S. Army used a chemical substance called Agent Orange to reveal Vietnam soldiers’ cover and shelters during their chemical warfare in Vietnam. Agent Orange is a name of the herbicide established for military, which contains a dangerous chemical contaminant called dioxin. Dioxin in Agent Orange is a highly toxic and it can cause disabilities, birth defects, diabetes and even cancer. The main purpose of using this deadly substance is to destroy dense terrain in jungles, where Vietnam Armies may be hiding; and to devastate Vietnam’s vegetation and sources of food. It is noteworthy that Agent Orange was sprayed up to about 50 times concentration recommended by manufacturers for eliminating plants in agriculture. The Agent was sprayed over South Vietnam by trucks, boats, infantryman backpack sprayers, and mostly by cargo aircrafts. In fact, not only the environment was destroyed, but human who exposed to the chemical could also be associated with seriou s health issues. It affected both Vietnamese people, and U.S Army veterans, who directly spread this substance into environment. This paper discusses the tremendous impacts of Agent Orange on environment as well as on people in Vietnam, how to remedy its consequences and describes the struggle for justice for Agent Orange victims. Effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Effects of Agent Orange on environment. For the first time in human history, a kind of noxious herbicide was used on a large scale in Southern Vietnam, and it caused severe consequences for the ecological environment. In fact, about 72 liters of herbicides (include 44 liters of Agent Orange) was sent out by U.S Army. 86% of the toxic was sprayed directly onto forest land, while 14% remaining was sprayed straight onto agriculture land, where mostly planted rice (H.T 2005). Such enormous amount of these fatal herbicides had created many terrific impacts on environment in Vietnam. From 1965 to 1971, the U.S Military sprayed Agent Orange over approximately 24% of Southern Vietnam, at least 5 million acres of forests and 500,000 acres of crops were destroyed (Vo, cited in Joseph 2011), corresponding to 12% of forest cover and 5% of arable land in total area (H.T 2005). As said by Stellman (cited in Vo 2009, unpub.), they sprayed the herbicide repeatedly in high concentrations, which comprised 3-4 mg/l, much higher than in circumstance of large-scale production and emergency. As a result, this chemical toxin had killed trees, animals, caused ecological imbalance and did great damage to forest resources. The abundant rainforest ecosystem completely vanished, and replaced by a ragged ecosystem. Various types of forests and natural resources in Southern Vietnam were influenced. Animals’ natural habitat was also heavily affected. A lot of plants in forests died and this led to the depletion of genetic resources of a number of rare species. The use of Agent Orange and some else herbicides in Vietnam War had devastated vast areas of forests, which is a very essential basis for stable development of Vietnam. Besides the ecosystem, the soil was also contaminated as a result of the herbicides. The nutrient composition of the soil was damaged and the topsoil became exhausted. When the forests were exterminated, the soil would no longer be covered, and this brought about soil erosion. Research have pointed out that 3.3 million hectares of natural land, including 2 million hectares of domestic forest land were affected by herbicides. In many large areas, land has not been able to be used for cultivation and grazing livestock because the toxic have absorbed deeply into the soil. Since the contaminant dioxin is not broken down quickly and easily in soil, even today, traces of dioxin are still found in soil in many parts of Southern Vietnam. Effects of Agent Orange on human. A. Schecter J. Constable wrote that â€Å"There is no doubt that during and after the war, many Vietnamese absorbed this very toxic material (dioxin). It is our belief from toxicological research and epidemiological studies from many countries that this dioxin probably resulted in significant health effects in Vietnam.† Dioxin, even with infinitesimal amounts could seriously damage human’s health and reduce the lives of people exposed to it as well. In fact, dioxin can cause a great deal of diseases, such as Hodgkin’s disease, mental disorders, soft-tissue sarcoma, diabetes and several kinds of cancer (Martin 2009). Additionally, there is a potential that it can create several legacies for future generations. According to War Legacies Project (Dwernychuk et al. n.d.), herbicides, including Agent Orange had compromised about 4.5 million Vietnamese civilians and 2.8 million U.S veterans. Among them, it is estimated by the Vietnamese Red Cross that up to 3 million Vietnamese have suffered health effects and 150,000 children were born with birth defects (Fawthrop, 2004). The truth is there are so many people were killed by Agent Orange that there are not any firm statistics of the number of people died after exposing to this chemical toxic. With people who survived in the chemical warfare, dioxin would exist in their body for at least 10-12 years. Consequently, their offspring might be at risk of legacies, although they were born many years after war and far from battlefields. There are some kinds of birth defects namely cleft lip, cleft palate, fused digits, muscle malformations and paralysis; and some developmental disabilities as stated by NAS (cited in Dwernychuk et al. n.d.). More dangerous, plants and animals, which are sources of human’s food might consumed dioxin in soil and water, then the toxic may enter bodies through food chain, destroying human from cells. In short, the consequences of Agent Orange/Dioxin are enormous, long lasting and not been thoroughly studied. For those reasons, there have not been any ways to overcome its effects completely and swiftly. Remediation of the consequences of Agent Orange. Process of overcoming Agent Orange’s effects on environment and human. To surmount the consequences of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam, it requires both effort from this country and the U.S government. The very first thing needed is starting an afforestation program to green the area destroyed by Agent Orange. Scientists have planted rapidly growing trees to create the necessary coverage for bare land, and then they intercropped native plants to recover the featured ecosystem. Furthermore, a project called â€Å"Training for local human resources to restore forest ecosystem and reuse of degraded land due to the effects of toxic chemicals during the war† was launched with the financial support from Ford Foundation (Vo 2009). On the U.S Government’s side, they have also launched a project to clean up Agent Orange in Vietnam. Accordingly, they are providing $43 million to diminish the contamination degree in an area of 73,000 meters square from 2013 to 2016 (Ho, cited in Perry 2012). A decontamination clean-up site was established in Da Nang to allow the clean-up and Vietnam and the United States are looking at new sites in Dong Nai and Binh Dinh in the near future. Both of the two nations also hope to reach the target of fundamentally resolving the aftermath of Agent Orange/Dioxin by 2020. Besides, addressing health issues is also an integral part on the way eradicating Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam. A report in the Make Agent Orange History (2012) revealed that in an effort to remedy health effects, Vietnamese government makes a grant of about $40 million each year to Agent Orange victims. The Vietnam Red Cross has also raised a donation of more than $22 million to assist Vietnamese affected by the toxic herbicides. Likewise, the Ford Foundation, UNICEF along with other organizations and contributors has given $39.1 for health care and other services for the sufferers. An amount of $40.1 million had also been distributed for remediation and health programs by the U.S Congress The struggle for justice for Agent Orange victims. For many years, Vietnam has tried to require the U.S government to take responsibility for environmental and health consequences of Agent Orange used in Vietnam. Nevertheless, the negotiations are still not getting anywhere. As a consequence, a group of Vietnamese scientists decided to sue 39 chemical companies and those people who responsible in a number of courts in America (Dinh 2005). However, the lawsuits were judged unfairly and all dismissed. Although did not achieve the goal, the lawsuit has helped many people around the world have a closer look at the tragedy of Agent Orange. In the meantime, Vietnamese community has launched a campaign to appeal for the support from people around the world by collecting signatures. Fortunately, public opinion is supporting the lawsuit very strongly. The more good news is, in 2009, the Tribunal of Conscience concluded that the using Agent Orange of the U.S government is a war crime against humanity and a genocide crime human and environment and Vietnam. Accordingly, the U.S government and 39 chemical companies must take full responsibility and compensate the victims of Agent Orange (Hoang 2009). That is the biggest success so far of the Vietnam Association of Vi ctims of Agent Orange so far. However, the struggle to find justice for the victims is still challenging. Vietnamese people have to be persistent, thus, it requires the help of millions of people to heal the â€Å"Orange Pain†. Conclusion The above analysis has pointed out a great deal of massive consequences of Agent Orange on both the environment and human in Vietnam. Numerous negative effects caused by this chemical toxic still remain until now and they are likely to continue to exist in many, many years. Meanwhile, the process of overcoming the consequences is still carried out step by step by Vietnam, along with the help of the USA as well as many other organizations. What is more, the fight for the rights of casualties also has achieved certain success. However, these are the very first steps. In order to completely eliminate the effects of Agent Orange, this process need a lot more time and effort as well as the assistance of millions, even billions of people around the world. REFERENCES Dinh Vuong 2005, ‘Và ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¥ kià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n cà ¡Ã‚ »a cà ¡c nà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n nhà ¢n chà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¥t Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â€ž ¢c da cam/Dioxin Vià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡t Nam Hà  nh trà ¬nh Ä‘Ã ²i cà ´ng là ½Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, Khoa Hoc Phap Ly Magazine, vol. 3, viewed 22 February, 2014. Dwernychuk, W Bailey, C., n.d.,‘Health effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin’, War Legacies, viewed 15 February, 2014, http://www.warlegacies.org/health.htm. Fawthrop, T. 2004, ‘Vietnams War against Agent Orange’, BBC News story, viewed 18 February, 2014, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3798581.stm. H.T, 2005, ‘Chà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¥t Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â€ž ¢c mà  u da cam huà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ · dià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡t mà ´i trÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ng à ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¸ Vià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡t Nam nhÆ ° thà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿ nà  o?’, Khoahoc, viewed 12 February, 2014, http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/doisong/moi-truong/tham-hoa/606_Chat-doc-mau-da-cam-huy-diet-moi-truong-o-Viet-Nam-nhu-the-nao.aspx. Hoang Nghia 2009, ‘Toà   à ¡n LÆ °Ãƒâ€ Ã‚ ¡ng tà ¢m Nhà ¢n dà ¢n thà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿ già ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi: Cà ´ng là ½ là   lÆ °Ãƒâ€ Ã‚ ¡ng tri nhà ¢n loà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡i’ [online] Available at URL: http://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/Home/Binh-luan/2009/1887/Toa-an-Luong-tam-Nhan-dan-the-gioi-Cong-ly-la-luong.aspx (Accessed 23 February, 2014) Joshep, J. 2011, ‘Là ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹ch sà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ­ chà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¥t Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â€ž ¢c Da cam và   Dioxin à ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¸ Vià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡t Nam’, viewed 10 February, 2014, http://www.aspeninstitute.org/vi/policy-work/agent-orange/history. ‘Make Agent Orange History 2012’, ‘Solutions for Agent Orange In Vietnam’, viewed February 20, 2014), http://makeagentorangehistory.org/agent-orange-resources/background/solutions-for-agent-orange-in-vietnam/. Martin, M.F., 2009, Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and U.S.-Vietnam Relations, United States Congressional Research Service, p.10, viewed 14 February, 2014 Perry, M. 2012, ‘U.S. starts its first Agent Orange cleanup in Vietnam’ [online] Available at URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/09/us-vietnam-usa-agentorange-idUSBRE87803K20120809 (Accessed February 20, 2014) Vo Quy, 2009, Report in the cahier of Agent Orange, 2nd at United States House of Representatives, viewed 14 February, 2014. `

Authoritarian Government for the Philippines

Closing Government, Rebuttal research Motion: â€Å"This house believes that an authoritarian government will help the Philippines progress. † I. Expected Argument â€Å"The form of government doesn’t matter and the progress of the country will depend on the kind of leader we have as a president. † II. Counter-Argument â€Å"Unlike in other forms of the government, the authoritarian form of government allows us to make a standard to what kind of leader is best for our country. † III. Explanation Since the authoritarian government aims for a person single-handedly leading our country, all citizens must adhere and go by the ideals set by the leader himself. The only time the country will be in chaos during an authoritarian regime is when the citizens don’t agree with the leader. This can be solved by a very strict criteria and standard of what kind of leader our president should be. The standards can be ranged from what kind of school he graduated from, to experiences in leadership. Being a leader of a country is not simply a face who everybody recognizes from television or somebody who bribes and cheats his way into position. Setting a standard is faster and more possible when we have an authoritarian government. Other governments have to be associated and linked with â€Å"freedom†, and so it is rarely possible to set a specific standard for electing a president because they promote independence and freedom of whomever wants to be a president. It is most likely that there could be an unsuitable leader that is elected to be president in a democratic form of government (because it is â€Å"everybody’s ball game†, quoted from my father) – that is the reason why until now, Filipinos are still protesting about our presidents and how they do not do anything to solve our problems. When we have a proper judgement of who to elect leader, we can have a more disciplined nation, economy follows right after because when we have a leader with one single vision to improve on our problems, the processes can be faster. The standard set can reflect how much our president can help us with our economy. Stocks can go higher, we can export more high priority local goods, and we can improve on our nationalism at the same time. We have to put our electoral nominees to the test so that we can have a more progressive country in terms of economy. IV. Examples In a smaller scale, the application of an authoritarian government can be associated with how one runs a company with the president as the CEO, and the different local governments in our country as the different departments in an office building. In a publicly owned company, the CEO must be a good role model to his employees in order to make them do their job properly. The CEO must provide the needs of the employees and in turn, the employees give their hard work and talent in their business. Trust is therefore developed and it makes running the business flow easily. When people choose a CEO, they do not just choose out of a whim. They pick people who are trained specially for the position and they have a guideline on who to assign the position of CEO or any other big name in a company. Effective CEOs are those who amidst crisis, can still maintain the stock prices and make them the same amount as every normal day. However, when they appoint a bad CEO, it can be seen when the stocks drop low for about 40 to 50% even when there is no serious problem. In that case, he should really be ousted. Singapore, having an authoritarian government led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has an economy relatively corruption free and has one of the highest GDPs (Gross Domestic Products) in the world. It would not have been possible to have such a successful economy if not for such a qualified Prime Minister for their country. I believe that it is possible for it to happen in our country, the Philippines, as long as we have a specific guideline and criteria in nomitating and electing our country’s leader. V. Sources 1) â€Å"Country Rankings. † (accessed January 20, 2012) http://www. heritage. org/index/Ranking. aspx 2) Huff, W. G. â€Å"Cambridge Journal of Economics. † (accessed January 23, 2012) http://cje. oxfordjournals. org/content/19/6/735. abstract

Anglo-Saxon Heroic Poetry - 5673 Words

Old English poetry is divided into two types: the Heroic, the sources of which are pre-Christian Germanic myth, history and custom; and the Christian. Heroic, or Epic Poetry belongs to one of these two types and refers to long narrative poems celebrating the great deeds of one or more legendary heroes, in a grand, ceremonious style. In its strict use by literary critics, the terms Heroic Poetry or Epic are applied to a work that meets the following criteria: such a poem must be related in an elevated style, and centered upon a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race. The hero, usually protected by or even descended from gods, performs superhuman exploits in battle or in†¦show more content†¦Features of legend building evident in epic include the following: 1.The heros near-invulnerability; 2.The heros fighting without conventional weapons (as in Beowulfs wrestling Grendel); 3.The heros inglorious youth; 4.The heros auspicious birth, an attempt at the reconstruction of the early life of a notable adult; 5.Transference of the deeds and events associated with one hero to another of similar name. Such events would include the gods arming a hero ( a metaphor for wondrous strength so great it must have seemed to have divine origins) and the hero is descending to the Underworld ( a metaphor for facing and overcoming death); 6.Historical inclusiveness: the poem presents a whole culture in microcosm - although the action is localized, flashbacks and inset narratives widen the epics geographical and chronological scope to include the whole of that races world and culture heroes; 7.The hero is a dramatic protagonist in each scene of a play that is too big for any stage Milton employed the epic machinery of Homer and Virgil while attempting to redefine their ethos from that of the man of action to that of the man of patient endurance and love. In attempting to make this shift, Milton was surely recognizing that the heroic poem is essentially non-Christian since it is based on the deeds of a man of physical action, a warrior and military leader. Although an epic may be either a folk original (primary), it must be unified inShow MoreRelatedAngloSaxon Literature Essay632 Words   |  3 Pagesthe Anglo-Saxon Period (449-1066), we see that many of their narratives, stories were simply passed down orally due to the lack of education prior to the era of Christianity. During the Anglo- Saxon Era literature initially began to be written down by the monks of the Christian Monasteries. The Anglo-Saxons contributed many details to human nature. The Anglo-Saxons named our modern day weekdays after Greek Gods. Heroism within an epic poem was often present du ring this period. Epic poetry wasRead MoreExodus : A Culturally Blended Anglo Saxon Britain1398 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Exodus† in a Culturally Blended, Anglo Saxon Britain The Old English poem â€Å"Exodus† exemplifies the complex mixture of influencing forces within Anglo Saxon culture at the time of its writing. As discussed in class, sixth and seventh century (the time leading up to the creation of â€Å"Exodus†) Britain were periods of increased Christian missionary work. It is important to note, however, that while Christian missionaries began to greatly influence and shape Anglo Saxon Britain, the conversion of its peopleRead MoreTheme Of Paganism In Beowulf1179 Words   |  5 PagesThe longest epic poem ever written in the genre of Old English is â€Å"Beowulf†, it has been composed in the native language as spoken during the Anglo-Saxon reign in England, preceding the Norman Conquest. Beowulf is regarded as a classic tale which relates the defeat of evil and triumph of good. The poem is divided into three acts. Christian and Pagan Influences in Beowulf: The Pagan deities, rituals as well as pagan ideas influenced Beowulf, when it was being created, though the passing down ofRead MoreThe Epic of Beowulf733 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf is the oldest anglo-saxon poem written in English. The poem describes the heroic deeds of Beowulf in his fight against monsters. Even if the events narrated in the poem take place in Denmark, the poem was transmitted by oral language between the anglo-saxon even 200 years after its creation. Anglo-saxons did not consider themselves british, but vikings, and their heroes were always from Scandinavia. The author of Beowulf is anonymous. The original poem was written on sheep tanned leatherRead MoreTrace the Development of English Lit During Any One Period...as Part of Your Discussion Highlight How Significant Events in the Influence the Writing...Additionally Show How Characteristics of the Genre the Writer Uses3085 Words   |  13 Pagesno limitations to where you can go. This quotation may apply to the span of the Anglo-Saxon period because of the coherent linkage to the origination of the English dialect and the modernization of English Literature. Over the years English literature has evolved greatly. There have been diverse changes to the structure and development of English language since the advent of Old English dialect during the Anglo-Saxon period to what we now speak and consider to be English language. â€Å"Old English isRead MorePeriods of English Literature1515 Words   |  7 Pagesthroughout the centuries, most especially if one considers the differences between the Old English, Renaissance and Romantic periods. The Anglo-Saxon history is undoubtedly very interesting to study, as the period spans several centuries and several different inhabitants of the land now known as England. The main characteristic of this time was the heroic ideal, which was the attempt by a hero to do things such as sailing a ship through a storm and taming a horse better than anyone else. TheRead MoreHistory Of Ancient Poetry Ghosh ( 1 )995 Words   |  4 PagesHistory of the ancient poetry GHOSH (1) The period of time of concerning 500-100AD in British history was characterized by foreign invasions and internal struggles. This resulted within the admixture of many races, tongues and cultures. Once the Romans departed from British Isles in 407 AD fighting continuing between the Picts and therefore the Scots who had lost their common enemy. The fifth century additionally saw conquests and therefore the gradual occupationRead MoreBeowulf : Portrait Of Anglo Saxon Society Essay2057 Words   |  9 PagesPortrait of Anglo-Saxon Society The Middle Ages in England began with the withdrawal of the Romans and the arrival of various Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes), during the mid-fifth century. These tribes, which became known as the Anglo-Saxons, were composed of people from North Germany, Denmark and northern Holland, and took control of most of Britain, except for lands such as Scotland, Wales or Cornwall (Hindley 23). They brought with them the tradition of oral poetry, specificallyRead MoreThe Importance Of Heroism In Beowulf1073 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf is a classic, epic story which theme focuses on good versus evil, â€Å"Beowulf is essentially a heathen poem† (Bodek) said F.A Blackburn because it consists of elements drawn from Anglo-Saxons culture before they were converted to Christians. It is tidily divided into three parts; The battle with Grendel, The battle with Grendel’s mother and the battle with the Dragon. The poem deals with Germanic forebears, the Danes, t he Geats and the Swedes. This story features a super-strong warrior BeowulfRead More The Anglo-Saxon poems, The Wanderer, The Seafarer, and The Wife’s Lament3469 Words   |  14 PagesThe Anglo-Saxon poems, â€Å"The Wanderer,† â€Å"The Seafarer,† and â€Å"The Wife’s Lament† The Old English, or Anglo-Saxon, era of England lasted from about 450-1066 A.D. The tribes from Germany that conquered Britain in the fifth century carried with them both the Old English language and a detailed poetic tradition. The tradition included alliteration, stressed and unstressed syllables, but more importantly, the poetry was usually mournful, reflecting on suffering and loss.1These sorrowful poems from