Western Civilization and Gandhi free essay sample

Assignment: â€Å"Gandhi was asked what he thought about Western Civilization. He replied I think it would be a good idea.   Please comment referencing the various themes that we discussed in class possibly from the perspective of Sophia. † Course: Wisdom and Civilization, Garrison, NY. September 26th – 30th, 2011 For Credit towards my Master’s Degree in Wisdom/Spirituality with Wisdom University. Post-Paper by: Marie Trout [emailprotected] com Abstract Western Civilization has been successful in some ways and not so in others. It has relied heavily on dogma and been characterized by linear patriarchal institutionalization, centralization and hierarchy. Western Civilization is based on a worldview of â€Å"Doctrinism†. Here an attitude of â€Å"us versus them,† â€Å"right versus wrong† and â€Å"good versus evil† have been dominant attributes. The Wisdom inherent in Sophia and Gaia might help inform and connect us with our innate wisdom instincts as we move onto a path of new discovery while the old structures fall around us. We will write a custom essay sample on Western Civilization and Gandhi or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A combination of both lessons from Western Civilization, the wisdom of Sophia and Gaia along with the new discoveries within quantum science, transpersonal psychology, nature resonance, astronomy, spirituality and much more will be needed as humanity trek ever onwards on its evolutionary road. Introduction â€Å"It is not nationalism that is evil; it is the narrowness, selfishness, exclusiveness which is the bane of modern nations which is evil. Each wants to profit at the expense of, and rise on the ruin of, the other. (1) This quote from Gandhi sums up fairly well, what I think he hinted at with his tongue in cheek answer to the question about Western Civilization. Narrowness (of mind), selfishness, and sense of being â€Å"better than† are all mental attitudes that shape the thoughts, feelings and actions of every man, woman and child who have them. If these thoughts are and have been prevalent in a civilization obviously you see the results manifest in the kinds of action s that are taken by same civilization. I have looked at the historical background for some of these mental attitudes and a few other ones that I believe have contributed to shape the state and trajectory of Western Civilization today! I have also attempted to take a look at what a new World Civilization might a look like if we take these attitudes of narrowness, selfishness and exclusiveness out of the dominant societal equation. If humankind were to raise its consciousness level to live beyond these attitudes, what special prospects might be here for us precisely at this moment in time? What opportunities might be here that were never available to us before? How much more efficient might we be at creating new structures if we look to how far we have come without applying feelings of guilt? How do we connect to a forward-looking attitude that offers us the chance, skill, and know-how to create the world anew at this time of partial or total collapse of the old? Nature Dominance and Destruction in Western Civilization (Selfishness) I have chosen to define Western Civilization as commencing around the fall of the Roman Empire and the simultaneous rise of the influence of the Christian faith in the early centuries AD. Before Christianity became a weapon for political advancement of the power structures of society, pagan human self-understanding was rooted in nature-based animism. In the pre-Christian Greco-Roman era man believed that there were spirits in nature that needed to be consulted and appeased before man could chop down a tree or plow a field. (2) The new Christian faith endorsed a philosophy that encouraged the human race to be indubitably in command over nature. This view was of course based on the Judaic notion that man was put on earth to be in charge, benefit from and in fact â€Å"subdue the earth† and â€Å"have dominion over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth. † (3) Thus in the Judeo-Christian worldview, furthered by the new Christian Empire, there was no longer an obligation to hesitate when it came to a utilization of nature for human gain and exploitation. Up through the Middle Ages, as Christianity increased its influence over human thinking and advanced into Northern Europe (which had not been possible for the â€Å"might alone† Romans), human connection to nature and the Cosmos was seen progressively more as sinful and punishable by death. This belief was based on quotes such as: â€Å"He deposed of†¦. those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon and the constellations and all the host of the heavens. † (4) One might speculate that in order to really kill off the more nat ure based and druidic beliefs of the Northern European countries, the connection to nature came to be seen as a threat to the Christian faith by the church, and therefore it was made increasingly suspect to be communicating with, or be instinctually in touch with Nature. In other words, if God himself could â€Å"depose of† those who believed in nature spirits and who honored a druidic appreciation of the Cosmos, well so could man! Therefore Christianity was able to cunningly take over where a military take-over had previously been impossible by the Romans. The Catholic Church managed this coup by very cleverly coming in as a wolf in sheep’s clothing masquerading as the natural continuation of the old pagan beliefs. Previous holy sites and places of worship were acquisitioned and altered by the church – and little by little resistance faded and the new faith took root supported by local rulers and kings who stood to gain politically from embracing the new faith and its ability to contain the people. (5) As Christian self-righteousness and absolute faith progressively dominated a fearful population, the churches prosecuted and lit many a fire under practitioners of the ancient wisdom traditions and believers of nature based wisdom. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. † (6) As the battle cry of the church intensified in the Middle Ages, it became in vogue to burn and destroy not only nature itself, but nature- connected humans! Consequently many of the practitioners of the ancient wisdom traditions that were aligned with and connected to nature, cosmos, as well as those who had an â€Å"inner† knowledge/mystical awareness, were at grave ris k of getting burned at the stake. They were labeled â€Å"sensual, earthly or devilish,† seen as a threat, made suspect, and eventually killed! It is therefore not too farfetched to say that a connectedness to Nature within and without has been demonized by the church and the political power structures throughout Western Civilization. It has in actuality for many centuries been directly punishable by death! Is it any wonder that the human race has erased from its awareness much of our ancient memory of connectedness to nature? For centuries we have been categorically dissuaded from any attempts to honor or to communicate with the natural world. Any desire to do so in the Christianity based Western Civilization has been punished by banishment from the community or ultimately by death. Certitude and Exclusivity (Narrowness and Exclusiveness) In the Gospel of John Jesus is quoted as saying: â€Å"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. †(7) And elsewhere also in the Gospel of John: â€Å"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. † (8) The Christian faith is very specific about the absolute promise of Salvation to the exclusive chosen ones who stay true to the One True God. Building on the sense of the Jews as God’s chosen people; the Christian faith went even further. By removing the faith from its tribal limitations it was able to sweep people of all races and all nationalities, making the Christian faith the new tribe of individual salvation. (9) The Catholic Church was able to persuade king after king, in both city states and nations, to adopt Christianity as the political power-faith of choice. The option given was always one of â€Å"us† or â€Å"them†. If you were not one of the chosen ones, the True Believers, you were seen as unworthy and lost. It was therefore sanctioned by the church to make others â€Å"like us. † Missionary work was encouraged, and the ones that were not able to be converted were not worthy of living and could easily be disposed of. As it states in Matthew 28:19-20 â€Å"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,† was cleverly thought of to mean that the missionaries were not serving the church but rather was helping to save humanity. It was a matter of preserving the souls of the ignorant pagans and not relinquishing them to eternal damnation! So off the Christian Missionaries went to â€Å"save the world. Of course, since there was one way and one way only, it was paramount that the missionaries taught the others, but did not themselves pick up any â€Å"bad habits. † This was a â€Å"my way or the highway† type of approach. Thus the missionaries were authorized by the church to convert, dominate or control people who thought different, or who simply were different. A horrifying example of this can be seen in the White Man’s conquest of the native population both in Australia and the United States that allowed the Christian invaders to simply demolish and destroy the native population in cold blood. These violent and arrogant actions were approved and encouraged by the church. And interpretations of the natives as primitive, non-Christian and savage were at the core of this paradigm. Thus to slaughter and destroy this native population was no more an immoral proposition than it was to cut down a tree or slaughter a buffalo. The native population was seen as pagan (half-naked, with different laws around sexuality) and as devilish (worshiping and honoring nature) and therefore there was nothing wrong with the Christian man slaughtering and destroying the native population. The Native population was simply regarded as if they were weeds to pull out of the fields before they could be put under the plow. The â€Å"us† killed â€Å"them† and it was all done out of good Christian duty! Certitude has been encouraged by the Abrahamic Religions in general. Christianity share the same jealous Judaic God syndrome with Islam and therefore many a religious war, crusade and terrorist attack has been waged at the behest of a proposed defense of the â€Å"one and only truth†. Western science has likewise been caught up in the syndrome of certitude in its quest to appear unquestionable and absolute. The interesting thing about this kind of belief is that one can only â€Å"prove objectively† that which builds on previous findings! Science is slow to embrace new evidence, especially the kind of proof that shatters the preconceived findings that have been accepted before. Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in Rome in the year 1600 for his refusal to back down from his conviction that Copernicus was right in his heliocentric understanding of our universe. I believe we find ourselves in similar quandaries today as we grapple with the inclusion of the radical findings of neuroscience, transpersonal psychology as well as quantum science. Thankfully we do not burn people at the stake anymore! Serious science prides itself at being provable. And as much as I agree with the need to verify and critically analyze findings, I also know that sometimes we need to accept results that consistently prove themselves, but are outside the realm the current paradigm of accepted science. So how does one enlarge one’s world view? How do we add new knowledge, if we are limited by what has been accepted within the current paradigm? We are living with a scientific model that only validates what can be measured and weighed with our five senses. Anything beyond that is scoffed at and relegated to the realms of â€Å"the para-normal,† â€Å"psychic† or â€Å"the religious. † Richard Dawkins proudly proclaims that â€Å"science is based upon verifiable evidence. Religious faith not only lacks evidence, its independence from evidence is its pride and joy. (10) Proponents of a strictly scientific worldview allude to the spiritual experience as a kind of mumbo jumbo that is lumped in with proponents of organized religion. â€Å"Theres all the difference in the world between a belief that one is prepared to defend by quoting evidence and logic and a belief that is supported by nothing more than tradition, authority, or revelation. †. (11) Howe ver to me there is a world of difference between a dogmatic acceptance of creed and a spiritual experience that is personal, intense and undeniable. Or findings in transpersonal psychology outside the strict Western medical paradigm, and therefore is relegated to the realms of â€Å"mental illness†. Or actual â€Å"hard science† that seems to prove that there is a potential for traveling faster than light, or particles smaller than we thought. Science however, is slow to come around and accept such findings when they are fundamentally changing what we previously accepted as â€Å"fact†. Again we have an â€Å"us versus them† view that pits proponents of â€Å"good verifiable science† and the more experimental and paradigm-shattering kind against each other. The level of certitude of what is true and false tends to be absolute for both proponents of both Western science and organized religion and therefore as much as Dawkins might want to set himself apart from believers of religion, I believe he himself is just as caught up in a limiting world view as those he denounces with intense fervor. Nonetheless both science and religion are stuck in world views that keep them both from really looking outside their own limited world view. Repression and Violence John Harvey Kellogg was an esteemed business man and the co-creator of the Kelloggs Cereal Company. He was also a leader in the formation of the American Medical Missionary College and an influential writer on health and wellness in the late 1800’s America. He was a Seventh Day Adventist and advocated such practices as applying carbolic acid to the clitoris of young women to prevent sexual arousal. He was a staunch proponent of sexual abstinence and saw masturbation as threatening to human health and society. He suggested wiring the foreskin shut in young boys to effectively prevent an erection. He also advocated applying electrical current to the sexual organs at time of arousal. These kinds of measures would be efficient tools in ridding society of all the ills stemming from the sexual urges. He was a proponent of circumcision of boys with no anesthetic, â€Å"especially (†¦to) be connected with the idea of punishment. † (12) In marriage Mr. Kellogg saw the sexual urge as no less than â€Å"legalized prostitution. † (13) Mr. Kellogg was just one of many respected medical practitioners of the time, who interpreted the sexual drive as something to repress and inhibit at all cost. Many societal ills, death and destruction were interpreted by him and many like him as directly linked to the human sexuality. Long before Mr. Kellogg’s wonder practices became all the rage on the American plains, the Catholic Church had long been one of the largest contributors to this kind of suppression of the human urge to procreate. Prohibiting the sexual urges has directly led to centuries of sexual abuse in the church. These cases are now well documented and starting to undermine the reign of the Papal Dynasty. The way the fundamentalist Islamic world treats human sexuality is even more barbaric and laden with including female circumcision and prevalent rape. The Abrahamic religions, and the power structures that have embraced them, have systematically labored to make human nature, including our sexuality, seem so suspect and dangerous that it has been at the heart of its mission to demonize it. Much energy has been spent on how to punish humans who were transgressing, and how to make an example out of them. This has of course directly led to violence perpetrated by the power structures trying to contain the people from exploring (their own) nature (burnings, executions, torture, Mr. Kellogg’s prescriptions, etc. But it has also led down the path of repressed and frustrated urges manifesting and expressing themselves in their shadowy forms of violence, scorn and cruelty. In America, judging by the standards used to rate movies, we are still much more lenient towards allowing unspeakable violence than we are comfortable at allowing a bare breast or a naked buttock to be seen on the screen by our youth. Blood, gore and violence are h owever included in almost every video game and every movie that we allow to babysit our popcorn-eating youngsters. Human nature expressed holistically includes our basic urge to procreate, expressed in our sexuality. When made suspect and repressed (beyond a normal level that allows us to function among other people) powerful, perverse and brutal actions might result. The shadow side of our sexuality if it is not allowed to find appropriate and adequate expression is often tragic. Grof has another way of linking sex and violence by pointing out that the two are intrinsically linked in the 3rd birth matrix. He would say that as we wander through life without consciously looking at the deeper personal pre-natal layers, as well as the archetypal collective forces, we are doomed to relive and in fact attract certain patterns all through our lives in unconscious search for completion. Grof thus joins the theories about human behavior of Freud (sexual drive) and Adler (will for power) with his own transpersonal views and offers an understanding that points out that the joining of sex and violence stems from an unconscious desire for freedom from the painful experiences in the third perinatal birth matrix. 14) Grof, however would agree that the worst thing to do with any urges from the unconscious mind is to suppress them permanently. During most of the time span of Western Civilization Nature and human nature has been reduced to its most basic, shadowy and lowly tendencies by the repression and denial of its natural form by church and other powers. There is no doubt in my mind that this mist aken expression of religion, through the denial of sexual nature, has contributed to further the violent outbursts inherent in terrorism and in the wars of our world. 15) The connection between repressed, abusive sexuality and violence is beyond doubt, whether you view this through the lens of Adler, Jung, Freud or Grof. This same trend of forced sexual suppression is also seen in fundamentalist Islamic countries. Whether in Judaism, Islam or Christianity this repression of natural urges stems from a misunderstood practice of the religion of a jealous monotheistic (and sex-hating) God who accepts no competition from nature, cosmos or man himself.

The candidate for the Democrats

The candidate for the Democrats was an election in itself. Three contenders showed promising outcomes for a Democratic victory. The first candidate was representative Oscar Underwood of Alabama, he secured the support of the South. The second candidate was Champ Clark, he had support from the rich party members including a newspaper publisher named William Randolph Hearst. The final candidate was Woodrow Wilson, who had just been elected to governer of New Jersey two years earlier. It took 46 ballots, but finally Woodrows idea for moral revival of the nation tipped the scale in his favor and won the spot for Democratic candidate. The Republicans we split between two candidates, William H. Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. Taft controlled most of the convention in Chicago, but when it finally came down to it Taft was chosen. The newly gathered Progressive Party, who were basically Republican, stormed out of the convention and declared it a fraud. With time running out, ! they gathered together and urged Roosevelt to lead a new party. Roosevelt did not think twice, he happily agreed and was nominated for candidate of the Progressive party. The fourth candidate in the election was the small Socialist party and their nomination of Eugene V. Debs. As for the issues, the Republicans were for conservation and banking, currency reform, mild revision of the tariff and for regulation of trusts. The Democrats also wanted conservation and banking and currency reform, but the similarities end there. They wanted much lower duties and to end all monopolies. The election was not a four-way battle, it was primarily between Roosevelt and Wilson. Taft had very little popular support and Debs was not favored by anyone. With the election down to two, the competition became tough. Both Roosevelt and Wilson supported a much stronger government role in economic affairs, but once again the similarities ende

Big Five Personality And Adolescents Daily Development Psychology Essay

Big Five Personality And Adolescents Daily Development Psychology Essay According to J. Belsky’s (1984) process model of parenting, both adolescents’ and parents’ personality should exert a significant impact on the quality of their mutual relationship. Using multi-informant, symmetric data on the Big Five personality traits and the relationship quality of mothers, fathers, and two adolescent children, the current study set out to test this prediction. Adolescents’ agreeableness and parents’ extraversion emerged as predictors of relationship warmth, whereas parents’ openness emerged as a predictor of low restrictive control. In addition, some gender-specific effects emerged. Overall, parents’ and adolescents’ traits equally predicted the amount of relationship warmth, whereas adolescents’ unique personality more strongly predicted the amount of restrictive control. The predictive power of adolescents’ personality increased with age. Personality characteristics that affected relationsh ip quality were partly shared between parents and their adolescent children. Findings support Belsky’s (1984) notion that both parents’ and children’s personality predict the quality of their mutual relationship, though the relative predictive power of children and parents depends on the type of outcome variable and the age of the children. (Denissen, J. J. A., van Aken, M. A. G. & Dubas, J. S. (2009). Introduction According to Schults& Schults (2009), there are 5 factors contained in McCrae and Costa’s big five personality factors. They are Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. In short, it can be called OCEAN. Each alphabet represents one factor. According to McCrae and Costa’s theory, a neurotic may show that one is worried, insecure, and nervous. As for extraverts, they may portray that they are sociable, able to mix-around, and talkative. For those who are open to experience, they are creative and daring in pursuing anything that interests them. A person that is agreeable, he or she is basically good-natured, easy-going towards others and softhearted. Lastly, people with conscientiousness portray that they are careful, both reliable and hardworking. Aim of Research paper The aim of this paper is to know the big five personality development or five factor models that affects adolescence. Besides that, by using the OCEAN theory, in what way can we understand adolescence? Therefore, we will be studying the big five theory that affects the relationships between adolescence and their parents, exploring how maturity in them (adolescence) affect themselves and the surrounding, and the link between empathy and big 5 links with adolescence. Because of parents are involved in one of the study, we will be exploring a little on big five development have on adults. However, it is important to note that the main focus will be on adolescence. Empathy and big 5 personality in adolescence Empathy is a ssociated as tools for controlling aggression in adolescence. In today’s personality research, the five factor model is considered to be dominant, with lots of it being applied. According to the findings obtained, empathy and friendliness has large correlation. In other words, it refers to male and female, boys and girls. There is also positive correlation with conscientiousness, energy, and openness to experience has also been observed. There are about 832 children aged between 12-17 years old participated in the study. It was composed of 408 boys and 424 girls. Questionnaires were distributed in the classroom and administered by a certified psychologist. As for the measurements, The Spanish version of Bryant’s empathy Index for children and adolescents and Big Five Questionnaire were given to them. (Barrio, V. D., Anton, A. & Garcia L. F. 2004)

LOG502 MoD 5 TD Logistics Alternatives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LOG502 MoD 5 TD Logistics Alternatives - Essay Example The considerable cost savings can outweigh the speed used by shippers to move goods by trucks. In addition, intermodal is an environmentally friendly transportation mode (Browne et al. 4). By the use of intermodal transportation, organizations can reduce carbon footprint. Intermodal logistics parks allow shippers to have access to standardized transit schedules. It translates into capacity, reliability, and safety advantages. Moving the freight to intermodal allows companies to restructure their reverse logistics. Intermodal logistics parks provide cost savings, greater capacity, increased reliability, and significant safety and green advantages. Intermodal freight transportation can be costly because of the number of transportation modes. Intermodal logistics parks involve high costs that are linked with moving freight by the use of different modes of transportation. In addition, the absence of communication and equipment’s idle time may increase costs of transportation. Equally, equipment moving from one place to another empty adds to the costs. The costs incurred are expenses paid to employees and fuel costs. (Browne et al.

U07d2 Reimbursement Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U07d2 Reimbursement Reform - Essay Example The National Quality Forum is a nonprofit organization that brings to sight the measurement issues from the health care spectrum (Mattie, 2008). The Centre for Medicaid and Medicare arrived a conclusion that there would not be any reimbursements for the events and this led to a number of debates in the industry. The main intension of this decision was to help improve the safety of the patients and also to improve the overall quality of the healthcare systems. The intension was that if no reimbursements were to be provided to the hospitals for these errors then there would be more care and attention that is given and thereby better practices in the healthcare. The hospitals were getting paid excessively and the doctors were been seen to become more and more irresponsible and careless. Take for instance, if the doctors made an error and the patient required to go through another treatment for the rectification of the error, the doctor would be paid for both. In order to meet up to the current events in the health care and to ensure that doctors were accountable for their actions, the CMS brought in the initiative and the pay would not be given to the doctors in case of errors (DerGurahian, 2010). The initiative was followed by the insurers as well and newer and more versions were developed to ensure that the ‘never events’ were not paid for. This initiative has led the hospitals and the health care organizations to work harder to ensure bettered and more responsible behavior from the doctors and all people within the hospitals. There have been several insurers which have also agreed to withhold the payments even if a single error was to be conducted during the procedures. The basic reason why this initiative was taken is one which is very helpful, as if any error or event was to happen and was not supposed to happen, and then it was incorrect for the healthcare to

Major Works Data Sheet Essay Example for Free

Major Works Data Sheet Essay MLA Book Citation: |Biographical information about author: | |Tan, Amy. The Bonesetters Daughter. New York: Putnam, 2001.|(Last Name, First. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, original |publication date. ) |Genre: Point of View: Plot Summary Outline: (Two sentences each) | |Exposition/Background: Initial Conflict: |Rising Action: Crisis/Climax: |Falling Action: Characteristics of the genre: |Historical information about the original period of publication: | | | Characters |Name | | |Role in story | | |Characteristics (3-5 adj. ) | | |â€Å"Quote† that reveals character, (page | | |number). Then an explanation not a | | |translation. Name | | |Role in story | | |Characteristics (3-5 adj. ) | | |â€Å"Quote† that reveals character, (page | | |number). Then an explanation not a | | |translation | | |Name | | |Role in story | | |Characteristics (3-5 adj. ) | | |â€Å"Quote† that reveals character, (page | | |number). Then an explanation not a | | |translation | Name | | |Role in story | | |Characteristics (3-5 adj. ) | | |â€Å"Quote† that reveals character, (page | | |number). Then an explanation not a | | |translation. Memorable Quotes |â€Å"Quotation† (MLA citation). speaker |Significance of this quote Examples of Literary Techniques | |Choose three different techniques and quotes to discuss | |(Imagery, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, irony, foreshadowing, etc. ) : | |â€Å"Quotation† (MLA citation). speaker |State then discuss each technique listed Describe the setting (time and place) |Mood | | |The atmosphere or emotional condition created in the reader by the piece. | | | | |State, then discuss TWO symbols |State, then discuss TWO themes | |A symbol must be something tangible or visible, |A theme is a universal idea behind a novel, or the life lesson you learned from| |while the idea it symbolizes must be something abstract or universal. |the work; it does NOT include plot details, though details should  be discussed | | |in your analysis. ) Significance of opening scene |Significance of closing scene | | | | |Additional /Personal Comments and Analysis: | | | | | |MLA List of References (List where you found information for this assignment): | |ie. Phillips, Brian and Sekaran, Shanti. SparkNotes on The Outsiders. 23 July 2006 . | |ie. Sauder, Diane. MonkeyNotes on The Outsider. 1 August 2006.

Lord of the Flies Essay -- Literary Analysis, William Golding

Nature or nurture? A question frequently asked but hard to answer or prove. This is where William Golding steps in. He writes a novel about a group of schoolboys stranded on an island, fighting to survive. Instead of acting how they have been taught by society, they turn into a disaster, breaking up into separate groups, having celebrations to hunt pig, and killing each other. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding, inspired by The Coral Island and Paradise Lost, shows the true nature of human beings in a society created by children. The novel, Lord of the Flies, comes from William Golding’s personal experiences. In 1953, Golding asked his wife, Ann, if she thought it would be a good idea if he wrote a book about the mess boys with no parents would make on an island. She responded that she liked the idea, so Golding sat down and started writing his first novel (Tiger 22). As he started writing this novel, Golding remembered when he had served in the Royal Army during World War II. Those five years taught Golding what humans were actually capable and willing to do. They are also responsible for first interesting him in the evil within humans and barbarism (â€Å"Golding†). Although Golding got many of his themes from what he had witnessed, he also based his plot from a few of his previous readings. Lord of the Flies is considered to be William Golding’s response to R.M. Ballantyne’s, The Coral Island. Like Lord of the Flies, Ballantyne’s novel is based on a group of boys who get shipwrecked and end up stranded on a coral reef island. Although, in The Coral Island the boys make the best of the situation they are in and lead a happy, organized life. Golding calls his novel a â€Å"kind of black mass or realistic view of the situation† (Bu... ... ignoring his other ones. In response to this, Golding wrote the essay â€Å"Fable† to answer questions he received constantly (Wood 316). The book also â€Å"inspired two films, was translated into 26 languages, sold millions of copies, and became a standard on college and high school reading lists† (Lambert 317). Moreover, Nigel Williams, an actor produced a theatrical adoption from the book. The title of the novel was even used to name the killing or mass murder of children (Tiger 23). To sum it all up, in Lord of the Flies, William Golding shows that he believes in nature over nurture. Although his novel did receive negative reviews, it turned out to be a very successful novel. Lord of the Flies continues to be famous and studied world-wide. His wording, themes, realistic views, symbolism and writing overall continue to attract and interest more readers to his writing.

Japan Vs Feudal Europe

The systems Presence of Feudal System Compare Feudalism developed slightly later in Japan than in Europe Contrast: Base of Feudalism European feudalism was grounded in Roman legal structure while Japan feudalism had as its basis Chinese Confucianism Evidence 1: Europe: the economic system of Europe is based on an economic system made of the relationships between the different classes in the hierarchal life in Europe. Japan: Unlike Europe, Japan's economy relied on Internal money flow.For the most part an Agricultural Economy Evidence 1: What the main Religion was Europe: Christianity Japan: Buddhism with Shinto Influence and Zen Buddhism Evidence 2: class differences and positions Divisions of Class and Rank Europe: King, Nobles (dukes, Duchesses), Peasants, Serfs Japan: Empower (acts as a figurehead) Shogun (has the power, Military Leader), Deadly (Each controls an area of land had Is master so his Samurai who are paid to work for and protect him), Samurai (Warriors who fought to pr otect their Diamond and people.They uphold a strict code of selflessness and honor), Peasants (farmers and Sherman, they were considered higher class than in Europe because they supplied food which all classes depend on), Artisans (people who were specialized in a specific trade), Merchants (Merchants were the lowest class and their Job was to trade and transport goods as well as shop-keep Europe: Unity of Church and State, Papacy Sometimes forced conversion Japan: In feudal Japan, state and religion were kept separate for the most part.Buddhism came to Japan 300 years before feudalism took shape. It blended with the native Japanese religion Shinto to for Zen Buddhism Japanese variation of Buddhism Reinforced Bushier values of mental and self-discipline Buddhist monasteries became very wealthy Conversion was never forced. Monasteries were centers of learning, charity, interpretation for the poor It was the country official religion throughout feudal Japan, but religious leaders did not try to control politics or society.This non-interference allowed the Shogun and Dynamos to rule while only focusing on the military and political aspects of their rulers The beliefs of Zen Buddhism were very popular among samurai since they followed beliefs of Bushier Evidence 3: Compare and Contrast in Warriors and their valuesWho they were, difference in training, attire, Position in society, role in the community, duty outside of warfare Bushier-values Justice or rectitude Without rectitude they will not be fulfilling the full responsibility of the samurai Courage Doing what its right no matter how scary Mercy Politeness (etiquette) Honesty Honor Loyalty Self Control expected to have not only the strength and skills to face combat in the violent Middle Ages but was also expected to temper this aggressive side of a knight with a chivalrous side to his nature. To fear God and maintain His ChurchTo serve the liege lord in velour and faith To protect the weak and defenseless To g ive succor to widows and orphans To refrain from the wanton giving of offence To live by honor and for glory To despise pecuniary reward To fight for the welfare of all To obey those placed in authority To guard the honor of fellow knights To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit To keep faith At all times to speak the truth To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun To respect the honor of women Never to refuse a challenge from an equal Never to turn the back upon a foe Evidence

History of Corrections Essay

The corrections system in America began mostly with the arrival of William Penn and his â€Å"Great Law.† This was back in 1682; the â€Å"Great Law† was based on humane principals and also focused on hard labor as a punishment. The corrections system really began to take hold in North America in the late 1700’s with the idea’s and philosophy of Beccaria, Bentham, and Howard. These philosophies were based on the thought that prisoners could be treated and reformed back into society. This hard labor was used as an alternative to other cruel forms of punishments that were used in earlier times such as physical abuse or even brutal death. In 1790 came the birth of the Penitentiary in Philadelphia. The penitentiary was different than other systems in that it isolated prisoners, â€Å" †¦isolated from the bad influences of society and one from another so that, while engaged in productive labor, they could reflect on their past miss-deeds†¦and be reformed,† (Clear, Cole, Reisig). The American penitentiary and its new concept was observed and adopted by other foreign countries. The Pennsylvania system of the penitentiary was based on inmate isolation so that they could ponder their past behavioral choices. In this system the inmates were confined to labor on their own. In New York they had a different system, known as the Auburn system. This system differed from the Pennsylvania system because inmates would come together during the day to do their work and labor but were otherwise held in isolation. In the early 1900’s a group of progressives sought to reform the ways of the corrections system. Their ideas about the cause of crime were more centered around the social, economic, and psychological pressures on people. The progressives brought up programs that were discussed in 1870 at the Cincinnati meeting. These programs included probation, parole, and other indeterminate sentences that are still used in corrections today. As we can see the penitentiary system has changed over the years. As we advance and learn more as a society, we are able to fine tune these programs for all parties involved. Overall, the key point of all of these systems and the ultimate goal is public safety. Keeping our people safe and moving in a peaceful direction is essential to our society. Goals of Corrections The corrections system in the U.S. has five main goals when dealing with criminal sanctions. Originally the system had four main goals: Retribution, Deterrence, Incapacitation, and Rehabilitation. Later on there was much focus placed on a fifth goal: Restorative and Community Justice. These goals are designed to be effective toward different types of criminals and a combination may be used in many cases. Retribution, also known as Deserved Punishment, is much like the old saying â€Å"an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth†(Clear, Cole, Reisig). Basically this is a punishment where the severity of the sentence should fit the severity of the crime. If a criminal has done wrong to someone then they deserve to feel that same wrong doing. There are two types of Deterrence used in corrections. The first is just a general deterrence, which is a method of using punishments and making them visible to the public with the goal of deterring others in the public from wanting to commit crime. Public hangings were once used as this type of deterrence. The other type is directed toward the criminal in hopes that they will not repeat crimes in the future. The punishment is to be severe enough to discourage any future criminal activity. This type is called Specific Deterrence. â€Å"Deterrence theory contends that if the public knows the consequences of deviance, many individuals will not commit a crime† (Long). Incapacitation is typically understood as the detainment of a criminal. The goal of incapacitation is to keep criminals from being able to commit further crimes. There are several different ways of using incapacitation. Reducing the movement and involvement of a criminal in society will hopefully reduce crime on the streets. â€Å"†¦ incapacitation focuses on the characteristics of the offenders instead of the characteristics of the offenses†(Clear, Cole, Reisig). Rehabilitation is more of a therapeutic method to help the criminal ditch crime and become a constructive member in society. â€Å"Rehabilitation involves teaching inmates silks and trades that will, hopefully, give them a chance to become law-abiding citizens once they are released from prison† (Long). This method is looked at as more of a treatment than a punishment, to guide the criminal to make better choices and live a better life. Restorative or Community Justice is a fairly new concept. It is aimed more at repairing damages caused by the crime to the victim(s) and the community involved. In this method the victim lays out conditions for the offender and what is necessary to help repair any losses. The community provides assistance to help restore the offender to the community. Some say that this method can be dangerous and bypasses certain safeguards. The goals of corrections are solid efforts to reduce crime. There are many improvements that could be made. As we learn and test these methods, they need to be fine tuned and have the bugs worked out. If something isn’t working in the appropriate way it needs to be addressed and refocused. I think that many of these goals will become weak and maybe overlooked with the new AB 109 bill and other reforms currently taking place in California Corrections. Prison Sanctions There are three types of sentencing structures used in the corrections system. Each type leaves some discretion for the judge and varies on the goals for the criminal. The different methods used are called: indeterminate sentences, determinate sentences, and mandatory sentences. Indeterminate sentences go in line with the idea of rehabilitation. These sentences usually have a minimum and a maximum term. It is a range and the courts use this range to determine parole and it is somewhat based on the amount of time given for a treatment program. The purpose behind this form of sentencing is incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. Determinate sentencing is quite the opposite from indeterminate, hence the name. This sentencing structure follows the concept of retribution mainly. Retribution is a deserved punishment, so basically the offender is given a length of sentence based on the crime that was committed. It is a fixed sentence that goes with the specific crime committed. After the offender has served his time he is then released and is free to go without any parole or program ties. The third sentencing structure is mandatory sentencing. This structure is based on the crime committed. It has a minimum time period attached to certain crimes that the government deems fit. This type of sentencing does not take into account the different circumstances of the crime but only looks at the crime itself. â€Å"The ‘three strikes and you’re out’ laws, now adopted by several states and the federal government, provide one example of mandatory sentencing†(Clear, Cole, Reisig). The purpose behind these sentences is incapacitation and deterrence. The sentencing structures are all a bit different. I am not sure if I can say for sure that I agree with any one more than another. I think the best way may be a good mix between indeterminate and mandatory. I do agree with the idea of the rehabilitation concept to an extent but the severity of some crimes should absolutely be accompanied with a minimum period to ensure some justice. Probation, Parole, and Intermediate Sanctions Probation, Parole, and Intermediate sanctions all seem to stem from similar concepts and ideas. Each of these forms of punishment seems to be a way of easing the harsh criminal laws for certain offenders in some cases. They were all developed in order to provide different means to support the offenders’ restoration in society. Probation, which began with John Augustus in 1841, allows the offender to serve out a punishment in the community while under supervision rather than be sent to prison. John Augustus is known as the first probation officer. He began by helping people with bail back in Boston in the 1830s. It was introduced as a way to â€Å"†¦ alleviate the harshness of the criminal law† (Clear, Cole, Reisig). It is now a form of sentencing that includes investigation and supervision and is used in every state today. Captain Alexander Maconochie, who I believe is actually an ancestor of mine but will need to do more research, created a system back in the mid 1800s that would reward prisoners based on their good behavior. He developed stages that prisoners could go through based on their conduct that were like steps to freedom. He is the founder of the concept behind what we call parole today. His staged system was to gauge the offenders willingness to accept society’s rules much like parole is supervision back into society with a set of rules. This system is also a way to ease the intensity of criminal law for those with good conduct. Intermediate Sanctions came about a bit later but for very similar reasons. Some expressed these reasons as: â€Å"†¦ imprisonment is too restrictive for many offenders, traditional probation does not work with most offenders, and justice is well served by having options in between† (Clear, Cole, Reisig). These were other ways of softening the criminal laws for offenders based on certain circumstances. These intermediate sanctions were aimed at lower risk offenders as a type of rehabilitation effort. The different intermediate sanctions include programs such as: community service, restitution, home confinement, boot camp, and more. I would have to agree with the basis of all three of these programs. I think that there are many offenders that would fare well in these types of sentences. However, these are more for the lower risk type offenders that have shown good conduct and that may have a chance in becoming a functioning part of society. There are many other higher risk offenders that do not deserve the option of these sanctions. It is better for the safety of the public that these sentences are highly monitored and that the offenders are ready to be placed back in society.

How to Write an Essay About a Book

How to Write an Essay About a Book How to Write an Essay About a Book Although we are living in a world with plenty of opportunities for gathering information and easy communication, a good tradition still exists. Internet forums, chats, and social networks are becoming more and more fashionable. Fortunately, the good old paper book has not been forgotten. Books are language in general; they also implement a certain culture. One can grasp the spirit of a given era, or to extend their knowledge about a given personality, place, or field of science. The only thing that we can learn from the majority of internet forums is how to use as simple language as possible, and how to discuss a topic without any clue of rational arguments. For that reason, we still need to read books, whether paper ones or e-books. There is one difficulty arising after we have received an assignment to write an essay about a given book. Every book contains a world consisting of symbols. Symbols are signs employed by human beings to communicate information. Knowledge, for example, is a system of symbols. It is important to note that every symbol needs to be interpreted by a given person; symbols do not exist independently from human thought. Therefore, one and the same interpretation of a given book is far from possible. Hence, don’t be afraid to express your own feelings and impressions; in the essay you should write your personal point of view on the book. However, you’d better follow some rules for writing a good essay. How to write an essay about a book – 8 key tips 1. Read some analysis of the book in question. It is always better to read secondary literature first, otherwise, you may be confused while reading the book. 2. Read the book. Try to read as much as possible. If there is not enough time left, you may skip the passages which seem unimportant (but not more than one third of the book). The voluminous books contain some descriptions of places, persons, and circumstances that you need to take into consideration. 3. Write down your impressions and thoughts, as well as the most important events described in the book. Unlike some ancient Greeks, you cannot remember all acts described in the Iliad. 4. Describe the plot of the book in two or three short paragraphs. Be concise: your teacher has probably read the book already. 5. Quote! Select two quotations from the book and elucidate their meaning. Explain what is important in them. 6. Write a paragraph about the author: their style, education, themes, and their influence over other writers. You should demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge of the historical era or literary school. 7. Criticize. What facts are unreliable in the book? Are there any weak points in it; for instance, wrong historical descriptions, prominent author’s bias, or unjustified end of the book (Deux ex machina), etc. 8. Draw a conclusion. What lesson do we learn from the book? What does an author intend to tell us? What do they not tell us and why? A good interpretation grasps the similarities between different books of one category, thereby analyzing a book in the light of a given era, or social, historical, political context, as it was stated. Every interpretation is a generalization, and at the same time it implies good knowledge about the distinctive features of a given book. You should pay attention to the details, and then generalize them. This is the essence of writing a good essay on a book.

Japanese Automobile Manufacturers as Multinationals Essay

Japanese Automobile Manufacturers as Multinationals - Essay Example Strategies created by Japanese experts were used by Toyota and other Japanese automobile manufacturers to achieve the imposing in the markets and the business development. Japanese strategy called KAIZEN is widely famous for using by Toyota and other major producers. According to Funaru this strategy includes continuous improvement and its impact on the product quality’s level (Funaru M. 2010). This strategy is considered to be integrative and cross-functional in meaning it involves all staff in the gradual improvement, management and business activities for increasing company’s productivity, quality of the products and competitiveness of the business. Speaking of Toyota’s product strategy, it’s built on the following: new innovative technologies development, highest quality, discovering of new sources for creativity and focusing on research. Toyota Company is one of the largest automobile manufacturing companies in the world. The designs of the products are quite impressive thereby commanding lots reliance by several customers around the globe. However, it is of crucial significance to note that there are a number of problems that face the Japanese Automobiles in general. Some of these problems may include the issue of globalization and its associated implications, stiff competition, striking a balance between marketing and branding as well as dealing with pressure to attain efficiency and maintain sustainability in the markets and production. These have presented major challenges to a number of automobile industries thereby compromising their competitive advantages over the other world producers.

Research proposal dealing with architectural design Essay

Research proposal dealing with architectural design - Essay Example The construction of a roller coaster would serve to attract additional business to this area of the city, further enhancing our ability for economic improvement and revitalization of other structures in the general downtown area. This paper will outline the background of this project, illustrate examples of other cities that have capitalized on small-scale entertainment parks, detail the specifics of the roller coaster itself and enumerate the requirements we would need to invest to make this proposal a reality. When determining the best use for this land, it is appropriate to take a look into the existing facilities in the immediate vicinity. This property lies approximately one half mile from the very large Veteran’s Park along Lake Michigan and less than a quarter of a mile from the River Walk along the Milwaukee River (Mapquest, 2006). This area is described as already thriving with traditional park-like activities. Veteran’s Park itself is bordered by McKinley Marina, the Milwaukee Art Museum complex, a large veteran’s memorial, the 76 Bike Trail, Lake Michigan access, large duck and geese ponds, paddleboats for rent, rollerblading and large fields for kite flying (AOL Cityguide, 2005). Betsa Marsh (2005) describes the River Walk as having â€Å"steps leading down to the river and circular overlooks just above the waves. The route is festooned with flower-draped lampposts, public art and benches just made for cracking open a book. Tiny bump-outs seem like perfect spots for moonlit kisses. Dozens of stores, cafes and bars with river frontage invite pedestrians to linger, browse and buy.† With these kinds of large scale park activities covering outdoor sports and leisure, boating, art, theater and providing room for large gatherings and activities, there is little need in the vicinity for another completely green park area. Businesses that would normally choose to locate close to such settings already have ample space in either of these two