Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Spirituality and Family Resilience Essay Example for Free
Spirituality and Family Resilience Essay Perhaps no other social institution has a closer link with religion than does the family. In the case where the family becomes particularly â€Å"sacred, the danger of family violence is also as real as in the various forms of the secular religion of love. When the family as such, mostly forms of marriage and children, is seen as an untouchable value by the outside world, by family members and by the church. The risk exists that family members will want to keep all injustice and violence that occurs inside the family members will want to keep all injustice and violence that occurs inside the family a secret.            A woman or a child often receives the message to sacrifice her or himself for the sake of the family: to behave in a proper way and tolerate the violence in order to safeguard the family. As child are existentially loyal to their parents (Boszormenyi-Nagy Spark, 1973)1 and partners who are beaten often lack self-confidence, most will want really to keep the family intact, because it is, in spite of the violence, valuable for them. The risks exist that religion might be used as a means to legitimize power balances in the family that can become very oppressive. The idea that the family is sacred often emphasizes the traditional, marriage-based family, which usually goes together with a pattern of traditional roles. Although sacrifice has a certain value, justice should not be overlooked. When love is only conceived of in the second person, it supposes a kind of never-ending love and devotion to the other. This can be seen as a form of self-sacrifice in spite of me. The human person has to compare and weigh goodness towards the unique other with the right of each other person.            The belief in the cross does not call people in the first place to activism, but enables a deep spiritual experience of devotion arising from belief in God. The human person can give him or herself without having to create their whole lives themselves. In these sense, the metaphor of sacrifice, within the framework of the Christian belief in God, is liberating. On the basis of Christian faith, some parents can find new hope and courage. In difficult situations parents may realize that they have done everything in their capacity and that they have to leave the rest trustingly in the hands of God. In this way, families may overcome difficult situations and achieve a high degree of resilience (Spousel, 2003).2 The cross and faith in the resurrection cannot only liberate people from the often frenetic effort to realize a perfect intimate life, but also may motivate people to protest against suffering and evil. The cross is a sign and a message never to forget the sufferings of people (Merz, 1997).3 The death of Jesus on the cross and the Christian faith signify a protest against the rhetoric of the necessity of sacrifices in the name of a higher aim. It is not God who asks for sacrifice, but people themselves who require sacrifices of others in an abuse of power.            Despite ample evidence that global indexes of religiousness are linked to a family functioning, the mechanisms by which religion uniquely influences family dynamics are not well understood or empirically documented. To advance the scientific study of religions role in families, we delineate how the construct of sanctification applies to marital and parent-child relationships as well as to the entire family systems according to diverse religious traditions. We define sanctifications as a psychological process in which aspects of life are perceived a shaving spiritual character and significance. Todays families face a myriad of problems including economic difficulties, physical health addiction problems, and many stressful work related issues. There is acceptance among many Americans that religion facilitates positive and healthy family interaction and enhances the life satisfaction of its members.            Religious affiliation and participation may provide and/or enlarge the social support system available to the family by increasing the number of friendships with other families. This social support may lead the family to believe they are cared for and loved, esteemed and valued, and belong to a network of mutual aid. Social support has also been found to be an important factor in a familys ability to overcome crises. Churches may enhance a familys social support by encouraging group activities. Religious affiliation and participation may strength families by providing enjoyable activities. Many religions provide direct education in supportive family values, attitudes, and behaviors. The themes of charity begins at home and do unto others as you would have them do unto you are supported in all of the worlds major religions. Religions assist families in formulating and maintaining moral values and ethical codes of conduct. Most religions also operate to counteract several human tendencies that hinder relationships. Religion operates against such easy solutions by encouraging families to stay together and work out their difficulties.            Religion may strengthen families is by encouraging families to believe in, and seek, personal and family assistance from God. Belief in divine intervention may be another resource providing comfort, inspiration, or guidance fro family members. The influence of God is difficult to measure, but many people perceive its very real effects in their lives. For many, God is a reality, and when God assists humankind by petition, then divine influence is another source of help to families that is encouraged by religions. It is useful to consider the role of religion in family change in the Western world within the context of the teachings and authority of the Christian Church. The Roman Catholic Church developed the view that, while marriage, pro-creation was seen as the primary purpose of sexual relations; and intentional interference with this purpose, by either contraception or abortion, was prohibited.             The Protestant reformers adopted a somewhat different view of marriage but continued to hold the ideal of a lifetime marriage, although they allowed divorce for a limited set of serious causes. Celibacy was de-emphasized during the Reformation but the prohibitions against contraception remained strong. In fact, the proscriptions against divorce and birth control remained fairly monolithic in Christian churches well into the 20th century (Thornton, 1985).4 The Catholics have become less unique, fundamentalist Protestants have become more distinct. Given the historically strong interests and doctrines of the Christian churches concerning family matters, it is difficult to imagine how far-reaching family changes of the last two centuries could have occurred without provoking fundamental re-examination of theology, doctrine, and programs. Heated and extensive debates concerning family changes and appropriate responses to them are not new phenomena but have been endemic for a century in the Western world (Wilcox, 2007).5            The foundations of national morality are laid in private families. The institution of marriage played a vital role in promoting the moral health of the American republic, both by civilizing men and fostering a family environment where children were more likely to grow in virtue. They knew that the new republic’s commitment to liberty and limited government dependent in no small part on the capacity of American men and women to form and maintain families that fostered fidelity, hard work, self-control, and a measure of independence. They knew, in other words, that self-government begins at home.            Modern Americans, however, seem no longer to see as clearly the connections between our nation’s half-century retreat from marriage and dramatic declines in child welfare, as represented by marked increases in adolescent delinquency, depression, and suicide over this same period. They do not see how this retreat is implicated in unprecedented increases in the size and scope of the police state over the last half century-in, for instance, the prison-building boom of the past three decades, the responses of federal and state governments to the spiraling crime rates of the 1970’s and 1980’s. And they do not see that the poor and working classes have been hit hardest by the breakdown of marriage in America.            For the first time in history-not just American history but the history of known human society-people began to toy with the idea that children and marriage were really two discrete life phenomena. _______________ 1Cf. I. Boszormenyi-Nagy and G.M. Spark, Invisible Loyalties: Reciprocity in International Family Therapy (New York: Harper and Row, 1973. 2Cf. L.M. Spousel, ‘Spirituality and Family Resilience.’ Family and Focus 48 (2003): F5-F6, at F5: ‘Many parents have told me that it is their faith that allows them to persevere. They found relief when they acknowledged that they had done all they could do for their children and began to trust in a higher power. This process of â€Å"letting go†created hope and encouragement, not a sense of giving up. Families were able to bounce back and move on with their lives’ 3Ct. J.B. Merz, Zum Begriff der neuen Politschen Theologic 1967-1991 (Manz: Matthias-Grunewakl, 1997), 201. 4These unpublished data are derived from a panel study of women conducted between 1962 1980.Also see Thornton (1985). 5Otto, Rudolf, 1923. The Idea of the Holy. References: Boszormenyi-Nagy Spark, G.M. (1973). Invisible Loyalties: Reciprocity in            International Family Therapy (New York: Harper and Row. Merz, J.B (1997). Zum Begriff der neuen Politischen Theologic 1967-1997.            Manz:Matthias-Grunewakl., 201. Otto, Rudolf. (1923). The Idea of the Holy. Spousel, L.M. (2003). Spirituality and Family Resilience. Family Focus 48. Thornton, A. (1985). Changing Attitudes Toward Separation and Divorce:            Causes and Consequences†. American Journal of Sociology (Jan.) 856-872.
Monday, August 5, 2019
Referendum for Scottish Independence
Referendum for Scottish Independence The referendum for the Scottish independence will take place on the 18th of September 2014. This would most definitely lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom. There have been a series of arguments supporting the break up, and other not supporting the break up. The independence of Scotland is mainly supported by the Scottish National Party. According to this party, achieving independence from the United Kingdom is beneficial to Scotland, because the Scottish will be able to implement policies that are of great concern to them[1]. On this basis, Scotland will be able to achieve self-determination. The Scottish National Party believes that by achieving independence, the people of Scotland will be able to make the right policies, concerning their economy, and society at large. The Scottish National Party further believes that the government situated in Westminster is not a representation of the Scottish people, and this is because the many of the Scots did not vote for the government under consideration. Despite this factor, this government makes major decisions concerning issues that affect the Scottish families, and communities[2]. The Scottish National Party finds this situation unacceptable. On this basis, proponents of independence argue that with an independent government, the country can focus on issues that affect the Scottish people, and also one that would protect the interests of the Scots, and anybody living in Scotland. Furthermore, the Scottish National Party believe that the policy initiated by the UK government reducing taxes on the wealthiest is not of the Interest of the Scots, and on this basis, it aims at reversing such laws, and initiating a universal tax system that would serve the entire Scottish population. However, there are counter arguments developed by people who are strongly opposed to the independence of Scotland[3]. One reason advanced is that a strong Scottish parliament, entrenched within the political structures of the United Kingdom enables Scotland to experience the very of both world. That is the ability to make decisions in Scotland, as well as the ability to play an importan t role in creating a secure and strong United Kingdom. On this basis, people who do not support independence argue that Scotland is strong when it is entrenched withi8n the political structure of the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom is strong and secure with Scotland as its member. Furthermore, anti-independence proponents argue that important British institutions such as BBC and the Bank of England were created by Scotsmen[4]. On the other hand, the UK pension system was developed by a Briton, while the NHS was created by a Welsh man. On this basis, if the Scots and other members of the Kingdom work together, then chances are high that they would make the Kingdom a better place to stay. To accelerate the strength of the unity, the Scots, together with other members of the union fought together to destroy Nazism, fascism, and other ideologies that were a danger to the unity and prosperity of other members of the Kingdom. These proponents further argue that the Scots are justifying independence on the basis of protecting their social welfare and interests. However, this is difficult, when the Scots leave the British connection[5]. This is because chances are high that there will be barriers to trade, uncertainties, and political and economic instability. To protect themselves from these uncertainties, the best method is to maintain the British connection. This would ensure more prosperity, more jobs, and more economic growth in Scotland. Furthermore, the world is moving to regional integrations, and examples include ASEAN, and the European Union[6]. This therefore proves that states needs to corporate in the international system, and negotiate as one community, for purposes of protecting their interests. This would prove virtually be impossible if Scotland decides to gain independence. For instance gaining membership in the European Union is a very difficult process that normally takes so many years. Furthermore, the economy of UK is strong, stable, and very big. This is a very big advantage to various business organizations in Scotland, and this is because they can easily access this market, without facing an y barriers. Furthermore, the Currency of the United Kingdom is the most successful and oldest in the world, and on this basis, it is a good currency for trading with[7]. These proponents further argue that it would be very difficult for Scottish organization to competitively conduct business in the international arena. This is because other countries are negotiating as a block, and on this basis, Scotland needs to be under the UK in order to compete effectively in these foreign markets. Under United Kingdom, Scottish businesses will be able to find new markets, and improve on their existing ones[8]. Scotland security will further be strong, and this is because they will be under the protection of the British armed forces. Lon this note, the Scots will have a say in the UN Security Council, as well as NATO. These anti-independence proponents further denote that Scotland and English have interacted with each other, for many years. This interaction amongst each other promotes multi-ethnicity, and it is therefore strength for Scotland. These proponents argue that thousand of Scots, and the English have intermarried with each other, they have formed famil ies, and are neighbors. On this basis, voting for independence is not a wise decision, and this is because the disadvantages of independence outweigh the advantages of independence[9]. In conclusion, Scotland should not vote for independence. This is because the arguments brought forth by the Scottish National Party are not sincere. For instance, the British political system is democratic, and everybody is responsible for electing the person they want. On this basis, the Scots also had a chance to participate in the elections and elect their representatives. Arguing that the government at Westminster is not representation is there undemocratic and not sincere. Furthermore, the decision to gain independence from UK is not wise, and this is because Scotland will lose many trading opportunities that they enjoyed while under the UK. This would make the economy of Scotland vulnerable to manipulations from the international community, and other powerful economies. On this basis, arguments brought forth by anti-independence proponents are valid. Bibliography: BBC News. Salmond calls for independence referendum in 2014. BBC News. BBC, 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16478121>. Crawford, R., Bannockburns: scottish independence and the literary imagination, 1314-2014.. S.l.: Edinburgh Univ Press, 2014. Print. Gordts, E., Scotlands Secession Vote: Indecisive Independence. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 5 Sept. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/scotland-secession vote_n_3876007.html>. Market, J., The economic implications for the United Kingdom of Scottish Independence: 2nd report of session 2012-13. London: The Stationery Office, 2013. Print. Saunders, B., Scottish Independence and the All-Affected Interests Principle. Politics 33.1 (2013): 47-55. Print. [1] J, Market., The economic implications for the United Kingdom of Scottish Independence: 2nd report of session 2012-13. London: The Stationery Office, 2013. P. 44 [2] B, Saunders., Scottish Independence and the All-Affected Interests Principle. Politics 33.1 (2013): 49 [3] J, Market., The economic implications for the United Kingdom of Scottish Independence: 2nd report of session 2012-13. London: The Stationery Office, 2013. P. 32 [4] BBC News. Salmond calls for independence referendum in 2014. BBC News. BBC, 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16478121>. P. 7 [5] BBC News. Salmond calls for independence referendum in 2014. BBC News. BBC, 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16478121>. P. 4 [6] E, Gordts., Scotlands Secession Vote: Indecisive Independence. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 5 Sept. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/scotland-secessionvote_n_3876007.html>. p. 6 [7] Saunders, B., Scottish Independence and the All-Affected Interests Principle. Politics 33.1 (2013): 51. [8] R, Crawford., Bannockburns: scottish independence and the literary imagination, 1314-2014.. S.l.: Edinburgh Univ Press, 2014. [9] E, Gordts., Scotlands Secession Vote: Indecisive Independence. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 5 Sept. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/scotland-secessionvote_n_3876007.html>. p. 8
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Roe v Wade Essay -- Abortion History Illegal Legal Pregnancy Essays
Roe v. Wade      Have you ever wondered how abortion came to be legal? It was decided in the Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade. The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision was a major landmark in not only the abortion issue, but also in American government.      In 1970, Norma McCorvey, a single and pregnant woman in Texas wanted to get an abortion. The state laws of Texas at that time stated that it was illegal to have an abortion in Texas. Even though the state told her that she could go to one of the four states in which abortion was legal to have the procedure done, she decided that she could not afford to travel to another state to receive the procedure. Norma McCorvey decided that she would sue the state of Texas, claiming that her constitutional rights were being taken from her. She then changed her name to the pseudonym â€Å"Jane Roe†to protect her right of privacy. The district court found that Roe did have grounds to file the suit against the state of Texas. They ruled on the grounds that the abortion laws in Texas infringed on the first, fourth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth amendments of the constitution. The first amendment states that, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances†(http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html). The fourth amendment states that, â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized†(http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html). The Fifth Amendment states that,      No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime,      unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in      the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or      public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice      put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to      be a witness against himself,... ...them to a bigger risk of being pressured into an unwanted abortion. Many women are pressured from their male partner, physicians, parents, or others. 2. The question, â€Å"When does life begin†? was an unanswered question in 1973. Now there are answers that say that life begins at conception. 3. People need to protect unwanted children after they are born. Women should no longer be forced to dispose of unwanted children by ending human life.      Whether you believe in legalized abortion or not, the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade has definitely changed the way most American women treat unwanted pregnancies. It will be interesting to see what changes may occur from the next â€Å"Roe†case. Bibliography â€Å"Is Cerebral Palsy Ever a ‘â€Å"Choice’?†Lifeissues.net. 2000. 31 July 2004.      . Palmer, Gary. â€Å"Roe V. Wade Exposed. 22 Jan. 2003. Alabama Policy Institute. 31 July      2004. . Pavone, Frank. Interview. Interview with Dr. Philip Ney. 16 Jan. 2001. 31 July 2004.      . â€Å"Roe v. Wade†. The case. 22 Jan. 1973. 12 July 2004.      . â€Å"Roe v. Wade – Then and Now.†Reproductiverights.org. Jan. 2003. 9 July 2004.      .
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Hugo Chavez: Love Him or Loathe Him? Essay -- Essays Papers
Hugo Chavez: Love Him or Loathe Him? Last week an incendiary press release exploded into the global headlines. A man by the name of Hugo Chavez ventured the claim that he had become an important target of assassination. Even more alarming, he proceeded to identify his assassin. It was none other than George W. Bush. "We have enough evidence," said Chavez, "that if anything happens to me, the person responsible will be the President of the United States" (â€Å"Defying U.S., Venezuela’s Chavez Embrace Socialism†). Who is Hugo Chavez? And why would he have the audacity to regard himself as a threat -- indeed, a lethal threat -- to the most powerful country on earth? And does he really believe he is so dangerous in the eyes of the United States that he would be viewed as a candidate for extermination? Hugo Chavez is the duly elected leader of a relatively small country on the northern coast of South America called Venezuela. It is a nation whose regional stature has, in the last twenty years, grown in influence in total disproportion to its size. The reason for Venezuela's increasing political clout is simple. It is the owner of vast reservoirs of liquid gold. It is perched on an enormous supply of oil. To a country like America, which is the world's largest consumer of fossil fuels by far, nothing could be more encouraging than to share geographical proximity with a nation so abundantly endowed with oil. Increasingly, however, a common neighborhood is all the U. S. shares in common with Venezuela. The two nations are clearly drifting apart, and at an alarming pace. The lightening rod in America's relationship with its South American neighbor is Hugo Chavez. In many recent pronouncements, the President o... ...lt;http://globalresearch.ca/articles/LAN407A.html>. -Niemeyer, Ralph and Lucila Gallino. â€Å"Interview With President Chavez.†Venezuela Analysis. November 2003 <http://www.venezuelaanalysis.com/articlese.php?artno=1055>. -Pike, John. â€Å"Venezuela.†GlobalSecurity. August 2004 <http://www.globalsecurtiy.org/intell/ops/venezuela.htm>. -Stelzer, Irwin M. â€Å"The Axis of Oil: China and Russia Find a New Way to Advance Their Strategic Ambitions.†Free Republic. February 2005 < http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1346965/posts>. -â€Å"Topic Area A: The Situation in Venezuela.†Model United Nations of the University of Chicago. <www.munuc.org>. -West, Andrew. â€Å"A Recipe for Economic Collapse in Venezuela: Hugo Chavez’s Anti- Capitalist Philosophy.†Capitalism Magazine. October 2000 <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/565966/posts>. Hugo Chavez: Love Him or Loathe Him? Essay -- Essays Papers Hugo Chavez: Love Him or Loathe Him? Last week an incendiary press release exploded into the global headlines. A man by the name of Hugo Chavez ventured the claim that he had become an important target of assassination. Even more alarming, he proceeded to identify his assassin. It was none other than George W. Bush. "We have enough evidence," said Chavez, "that if anything happens to me, the person responsible will be the President of the United States" (â€Å"Defying U.S., Venezuela’s Chavez Embrace Socialism†). Who is Hugo Chavez? And why would he have the audacity to regard himself as a threat -- indeed, a lethal threat -- to the most powerful country on earth? And does he really believe he is so dangerous in the eyes of the United States that he would be viewed as a candidate for extermination? Hugo Chavez is the duly elected leader of a relatively small country on the northern coast of South America called Venezuela. It is a nation whose regional stature has, in the last twenty years, grown in influence in total disproportion to its size. The reason for Venezuela's increasing political clout is simple. It is the owner of vast reservoirs of liquid gold. It is perched on an enormous supply of oil. To a country like America, which is the world's largest consumer of fossil fuels by far, nothing could be more encouraging than to share geographical proximity with a nation so abundantly endowed with oil. Increasingly, however, a common neighborhood is all the U. S. shares in common with Venezuela. The two nations are clearly drifting apart, and at an alarming pace. The lightening rod in America's relationship with its South American neighbor is Hugo Chavez. In many recent pronouncements, the President o... ...lt;http://globalresearch.ca/articles/LAN407A.html>. -Niemeyer, Ralph and Lucila Gallino. â€Å"Interview With President Chavez.†Venezuela Analysis. November 2003 <http://www.venezuelaanalysis.com/articlese.php?artno=1055>. -Pike, John. â€Å"Venezuela.†GlobalSecurity. August 2004 <http://www.globalsecurtiy.org/intell/ops/venezuela.htm>. -Stelzer, Irwin M. â€Å"The Axis of Oil: China and Russia Find a New Way to Advance Their Strategic Ambitions.†Free Republic. February 2005 < http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1346965/posts>. -â€Å"Topic Area A: The Situation in Venezuela.†Model United Nations of the University of Chicago. <www.munuc.org>. -West, Andrew. â€Å"A Recipe for Economic Collapse in Venezuela: Hugo Chavez’s Anti- Capitalist Philosophy.†Capitalism Magazine. October 2000 <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/565966/posts>.
Establishing Excellence Essay -- American History, Colonists
The year 1620 marked the beginning of a new nation. Regardless of where they lived, the early colonists seemed to have one thing in common a tough, rugged individualism characterized by an independent nature and a desire for self-government Emigrants from England set forth across the Atlantic Ocean, on the Mayflower, embarked on their quest for better life. The Pilgrims founded the Plymouth colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts in December of that year. Fear and danger masked their hopes and dreams while conquering obstacles such as starvation, disease, and harsh winters. Despite the fatalities at sea, the unexpected dangers of the new land killed nearly half of the original crew. The 53 who remained witnessed the first ever Thanksgiving the following autumn in 1621. William Bradford succeeded John Carver in 1622 as governor of Plymouth Colony. Finding themselves in an intolerable circumstance, some members separated from the Church of England and sought reform. The groups, known as the Pilgrims and Puritans soon found their way into the New World. The ostensible Puritans wished to purify their faith by applying the principles set by the Protestant Reformation (Settling for determinism, 2011, para. 1). They chose to remain within the Church of England and work for reform, and supported the belief of setting an example of biblical righteousness in and out of church. Their leaders, highly trained scholars knowledgeable of the Scriptures, sought to bring the Church of England to a state of purity that matched Christianity in the same way Christ had (Settling for determinism, 2011, para. 3). The Puritans strongly emphasized the communal righteousness of their entire congregation before God. Although the Puritans came to America for relig... ...dom he longs for. Irving’s piece incorporates many elements of the new American romanticism: an emphasis on imaginations and emotions, an exultation of the common man, and an appreciation for external nature. â€Å"The Declaration of Independence†focuses on the oppressions of the tyrannical king. Through the whimsical and fictionist tale, Irving parallels the real struggles of the American Revolution. This found freedom accentuates the maturing and development of America whereas Rip stays the same good-natured, whimsical fellow. Oliver Wendell Holmes' figurative poem entitled "Old Ironsides", written in 1830, strikes a chord with the patriotic masses of a young America. Within this poem, Holmes patriotically protests the decision of the Secretary of Navy to destroy the fighting ship the USS Constitution, popularly known as Old Ironsides. Establishing Excellence Essay -- American History, Colonists The year 1620 marked the beginning of a new nation. Regardless of where they lived, the early colonists seemed to have one thing in common a tough, rugged individualism characterized by an independent nature and a desire for self-government Emigrants from England set forth across the Atlantic Ocean, on the Mayflower, embarked on their quest for better life. The Pilgrims founded the Plymouth colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts in December of that year. Fear and danger masked their hopes and dreams while conquering obstacles such as starvation, disease, and harsh winters. Despite the fatalities at sea, the unexpected dangers of the new land killed nearly half of the original crew. The 53 who remained witnessed the first ever Thanksgiving the following autumn in 1621. William Bradford succeeded John Carver in 1622 as governor of Plymouth Colony. Finding themselves in an intolerable circumstance, some members separated from the Church of England and sought reform. The groups, known as the Pilgrims and Puritans soon found their way into the New World. The ostensible Puritans wished to purify their faith by applying the principles set by the Protestant Reformation (Settling for determinism, 2011, para. 1). They chose to remain within the Church of England and work for reform, and supported the belief of setting an example of biblical righteousness in and out of church. Their leaders, highly trained scholars knowledgeable of the Scriptures, sought to bring the Church of England to a state of purity that matched Christianity in the same way Christ had (Settling for determinism, 2011, para. 3). The Puritans strongly emphasized the communal righteousness of their entire congregation before God. Although the Puritans came to America for relig... ...dom he longs for. Irving’s piece incorporates many elements of the new American romanticism: an emphasis on imaginations and emotions, an exultation of the common man, and an appreciation for external nature. â€Å"The Declaration of Independence†focuses on the oppressions of the tyrannical king. Through the whimsical and fictionist tale, Irving parallels the real struggles of the American Revolution. This found freedom accentuates the maturing and development of America whereas Rip stays the same good-natured, whimsical fellow. Oliver Wendell Holmes' figurative poem entitled "Old Ironsides", written in 1830, strikes a chord with the patriotic masses of a young America. Within this poem, Holmes patriotically protests the decision of the Secretary of Navy to destroy the fighting ship the USS Constitution, popularly known as Old Ironsides.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Arthur Young Essay
Documents 1-2: How do the grievances noted by Arthur Young compare to those expressed in the Cahiers? The grievances noted by Arthur Young are focused more on the humanitarian needs of the French people during the late 1780’s. When looking at the document of September 2, 1788 Young mentions that there is an uproar over the high price of bread. There are many obstacles that a society can overcome, but when they are being starved and treated unjustly over humanitarian needs such as food, then there is a high possibility that they will revolt at any cost. There are also many similarities in both Young’s observances and the Cahiers. Both Young’s observances and the Cahiers note that the people are discontent with the fact that the First Estate made up of the clergy, and Second Estate made up of the nobility, are treated so well compared to the Third estate which included everyone from banker to lawyer and even the peasants. Therefore even though France was more revolutionary than any other country at the time, the disparity in classes between the rich and the poor was extremely obvious. Why might these grievances be revolutionary? And, in what ways are they peculiar to the Third Estate only and not the First and Second Estates? The grievances proposed by the Cahiers are extremely revolutionary. In fact you can see that these ideas seem oddly familiar because they exist today in our own constitution of the United States. One of the most famous ideas is proposed in idea 14, which states that freedom should be granted to the press. This idea is revolutionary because it would allow the people of France to freely express their discontents with the government and spread information freely throughout the country without the fear of being punished. Another great idea proposed by the Cahiers was the fact that all taxes should be assessed on the same system throughout the nation. It was imperative that the Third estate made this clear because even though they were the poorest, they were the ones being charged with the heaviest taxes. It was also interesting that the Cahiers brought up the fact that certain positions in offices and ranks should be granted to anyone who was qualified for the job, not just the nobility or based on heredity. This was revolutionary because it must have compelled many more people in France to obtain an education and strive for a better life because they were being granted opportunities. Documents 3-4: Based on your reading of these excerpts, what were the worst abuses of factory labor and the causes of poor working and health conditions? Right away what captures the readers attention is that the medical examiner is claiming that children as young as five years old were being sent to work as long as eleven hours a day. This idea is just unimaginable to most people because a five year old is hardly old enough to take care of himself, let alone maintain a job that requires him to work for eleven hours a day. It is just painful to hear that these children spent their childhoods working in the factories and as a result their growth was stunted, their bone development was compromised, and their health was so poor compared to children not working in factories. The testimony of John Wright really puts everything into perspective because it’s a first hand account of his life working in the factories since he was a six year old. The fact that he worked the same hours then, to the hours he worked as an adult just shows how despicable the working conditions were in the factories. Just like the medical examiner he also explained that the children who grew up in these working factories suffered many health complications, some even became crippled due to over exhaustion. According to Engels, how did such an environment affect the poor mentally as well as physically? Engels believed that the scandalous environment in which the poor were forced to live in was a result of continuous mistreatment from the upper classes. He claims that the poor were basically treated like animals, hoarded from the country in to the city, and forced to work ungodly hours in order to keep up with the demands of industrialization. Then the poor were forced to live in cramped quarters where no proper sanitation systems existed, and even clean drinking water was a luxury. Engels explains that because so many people were cramped into such small rooms for such a long period of time the air quality was severely polluted and this caused many health problems. Engels brings up many good points by questioning how the upper classes ever expected the poor to stay healthy or even humane when their conditions were beyond poor. The fact that the poor were always subjected to extremes of hopes and fears really threw most people over the edge. They had no choice but to be mentally unstable because of the conditions they lived in. They were constantly living for survival in the most disgusting conditions while the rich got richer due to their hard work. Document #5: These maps reveal something about connections between population density, urbanization, and the industrializing process. What do these maps tell us about these connections? What might some of the social consequences of these connections be? The maps explain that as industrialization grew, and urbanization grew, more and more people started to move into the cities in hopes of finding opportunities for work and better living standards. You can see that the first map of the population density in England in 1801 seems quite dispersed compared to the population density of England in 1851. Also you can see from the map of England in 1851 that there was a huge population boom in between those 50 years. When looking at the map of concentration of Industry in England in 1851 then it is clear that people moved from the countryside to the larger cities that were the heart of industrialization. Engle best described the social consequences of the changes from 1801 to 1851 in such a short period of time in the previously discussed documents. With overpopulation cities got more crowded and the living quality in these cities steadily decreased. The environment was affected tremendously due to the cluster of factories and misuse by the overpopulation. Disease was more prominent because it was easier to spread in unsanitary and overpopulated areas. When employment opportunities arise, people will surely flock to them, especially the poor. This was just the case in England during the industrialization. Sadly what people failed to realize is that their quality of life would greatly decrease rather than increase due to the mass overpopulation.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
A Family Supper: A Visit to a Japanese Home
Seeing the high economic growth of Japan, and using the country’s high tech products that are sold all around the globe, all non-Japanese people have an idea about the culture of the nation. In the international mind, Japan is highly business minded, believes in economic nationalism, and is mainly Buddhist.All Buddhist nations in the world, except for China and Korea, are perfectly peaceful in their foreign relations, which is to say that they practice the theory of nonviolence propounded by the wisest of people. In order to practice nonviolence, any human being must act quite unfeeling or unemotional, which is actually quite beneficial in Japanese business too.The phrase ‘cold and calculating’ is apt in describing the benefits of being unemotional in business. It is this unemotional Japanese culture that comes to the fore in Kazuo Ishiguro’s A Family Supper. The story is an exposition of the Japanese culture in the foreign mind. Given t hat it does not describe the culture of Japan away from the narrator’s home, it is the story of a Japanese home, which happens to be typically Japanese in the perspective of the non-Japanese reader.The Japanese apparently do not believe in the exhibition of their emotions. If they are extremely worried, upset, or depressed, they prefer to commit suicide rather than to expose themselves to shame by revealing their emotional problems to others. Ishiguro’s story deals with two suicides, one of the narrator’s mother, and the other of his father’s friend, Watanabe.The latter was suffering from business problems, and therefore committed suicide because of the emotional strain that he could not express to others. Business is, of course, all important to the Japanese. In the case of the narrator’s mother, we are told that she consumed the dreadful fugu fish, which everybody knew to be poisonous or highly risky to consume.The mother used to avoid consuming the fugu fish, â€Å"but on this particular occasion,†writes Ishiguro, â€Å"she made an exception, having been invited by an old school friend whom she was anxious not to offend†(320). Obviously, the mother wanted to commit suicide.Neither she nor Watanabe were said to use the help of a psychotherapist when they were suffering from emotional problems. In her case, â€Å"She had many worries. And some disappointments†(325). In the case of Watanabe, we are informed by the narrator’s father, â€Å"He didn’t wish to live with the disgrace†of having lost his business (320). Yet, both the mother and Watanabe feel emotions that are intense enough to call for suicide.It appears strange that a highly business minded society is not positive enough to deal properly with its emotional problems. In other words, the Japanese society that is described through Ishiguro’s story does not always seem to strug gle for survival, hoping, praying, believing, and expecting better days. Instead, everything seems to be alright for individuals until they cannot seem to deal with their emotional problems and decide to end their lives.What is more, nobody seems to miss the people who have died with intense emotions. The narrator of Ishiguro’s story does not even recognize his mother’s face in the picture during the family supper, on which the story is based. All that the Japanese seem to feel for the deceased is rationalized sympathy. Both the narrator and his sister, Kikuko, refer to their deceased mother as â€Å"Poor Mother†(323).They believed that their mother was poor or unfortunate because she could not deal with her problems in a positive way. Neither did Watanabe assume that he could start afresh with a new business. For him, the end of his business marked the end of his life. The unemotional nature he must have expressed in business did no t help him out. Rather, Watanabe felt emotions that he found humiliating to express before his death, just like the mother who also committed suicide.Although the narrator of â€Å"A Family Supper†is visiting Japan two years after his mother’s death, there is no family discussion held about his mother. Only facts are important to know. Anything emotional seems to be avoided at all costs.The narrator’s mother did not confide in her children during her depressive phase before the suicide. And, if she had mentioned her problems to her husband, he is not willing to share them with the children. By underplaying emotions, the Japanese family is revealing its cultural belief in rationality that defines its economic success.As a matter of fact, Japan is known to be a very successful nation. If the country had been emotional and violent, it would most likely have been beset by problems known to the entire world. But we do not hear about the b udget deficit in Japan, neither do news reports complain that Japan has bullied another nation.All emotions seem to be checked, and the mind is held supreme. Nevertheless, it is human nature to fail as well as succeed. Perhaps the mother of the narrator as well as Watanabe had had their minds failed. Both of them had passed the stage of youth. Still, they did not seem to have revealed their strong emotions unto others. Even Kikuko, while living with her mother, did not seem to have focused on her mother’s problems. Both the suicides seem to have been done based on the intellect alone, even if the intellect had pretty much failed. In other words, Watanabe and the mother must have lost their minds. Therefore, the reader cannot blame lack of emotions, seeing that Japan remains generally successful without them.Kikuko does not ‘feel’ love toward her boyfriend. She is not even sure whether the boy whom she likes would be good for he r to spend a lot of time with. This is another exposition of the unemotional nature of the Japanese, although the reader may assume that Kikuko may eventually start feeling enough for a man whom she would finally marry. And, she will marry – that is a certainty.All non-Japanese people probably have an idea about the family values of the Asians. Asian societies are mostly patriarchal. Kikuko cannot speak openly before her father: â€Å"She answered him with short, formal replies†(321). Moreover, the girl must obey her father without questioning and without doubts. There is no friendliness between the father and daughter. What is more, the girl is probably not allowed to smoke before her father.She mentions to her brother that she had been wanting to smoke for quite a while. When he asks her why she did not smoke, she simply points at her house, referring to the father inside the house. She must respect her father unconditionally, and there is no point in questioning why he would not agree to his daughter’s desire to smoke as opposed to his son’s. It is tradition, it is faith.Japanese girls normally do not smoke before their fathers because smoking is a bad habit that girls in particular should not adopt. Kikuko is expected to cook in the home, and serve tea. Besides, she must marry soon after her education is complete. This is, indeed, a typically Asian perception of gender roles. And, foreign readers of Ishiguro’s story must be aware of it to begin with, for this kind of knowledge exists in our collective consciousness if nothing else.Ishiguro takes the foreign reader into the Japanese home to remind him or her about the culture of Japan that the reader may already have knowledge about. In point of fact, Ishiguro’s story confirms our beliefs about the unemotional and patriarchal Japanese culture. The unemotional nature of Japan has done it good, although when a Japanese person loses his or her rationality, there may be no turning back. After reading the story, there is no doubt left in the reader’s mind as to whether Japan would show great emotions in the near future, or if the country has become modernized enough to leave the patriarchal culture behind. In truth, Japan is still holding firm its cultural values.Works CitedIshiguro, Kazuo. â€Å"A Family Supper.â€
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