Should Parents be Allowed to Choose the Characteristic of their Children through Genetic Manipulation

Islam and Christianity Essay Example

Islam and Christianity Essay Example Islam and Christianity Essay Islam and Christianity Essay Islam, which literally means peace, is one of the most largest and influential religion today with about 1.5 billion followers worldwide. Being a monotheistic religion, Islam’s major teaching is the existence of only one God, Allah and that Muhammad, who revealed the completeness of the teachings of Islam, is His last prophet. Other Islamic beliefs include the belief in angels, the Books of God that contains the teaching and Decree of God, messengers of God or the prophets and the Day of Judgment. The followers of Islam, Muslims, have five main duties known as the Five Pillars of Islam: to bear witness that there is no other God but and Allah and Muhammad is His prophet, to pray five times in a day known as the Salat, alms giving or the Zakat, Pilgrimage to Mecca or hajj and fasting during the month of Ramadan or Bukhari. Although a lot of books and many other reading materials had been published regarding the religion of Islam, I strongly believe that there are many things about their faith that cannot be grasp through reading alone.   Also, Islam and Christianity have many similarities as well as differences, thus it is important to compare them so as to evaluate which factor is greater, their similarities or their differences. 2.0 Personal Interview Details In order to better understand the Islamic faith, I interviewed Sh. Jamal H. Said, Imam and Director of the Mosque Foundation, 7360 W. St., Bridgeview, IL. 60455. The Mosque foundation aims to serve the needs of Muslims in different areas such as spiritual, religious and communal needs by nurturing their faith, fostering the wellbeing of their community and upholding their values through worship, education, outreach, charity and civic engagement (The Mosque foundation, 2009). You can also visit their website at mosquefoundation.org/. Preparations had been taken prior to the interview including authorizations, arrangements and materials needed. 3.0 Interview Summary In my interview with Imam Jamal Said, I have gained better understanding of the Islamic faith. I was also able to clarify things that I see troubling regarding the Muslim’s ways, beliefs and practices especially regarding the role of woman in their society and culture. These are the accounts of the information I attain from the interview with Imam Jamal Said. The Islamic faith originated in the time of Adam but its guidelines were prescribed and completed during the prophet hood of Muhammad. Many considers Muhammad to be the founder of Islam but there is no founder per say to the Islamic religion for it has been prescribed by Allah as the religion for all humankind. But it is the Prophet Muhammad that carried the message of the Islamic faith in its complete form and although illiterate, he was a role model in all of his affairs; as a leader, a father, a husband, nephew and friend. It is the teachings of Islam that gave women several rights including the right to inherit, own property and divorce which are not common that time. As Imam Jamal said emphasized, Islam is a complete way of life. The Islamic faith has prescribed two holidays which mark the end of the seasons during which two of the five pillars of Islam are consummated. Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of the fasting the ninth Islamic lunar month of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha, marks the end of the pilgrimage, or Hajj during the 12th Islamic lunar month of Dhul Hijjah. Also, Friday is a blessed day for Muslims because Allah has prescribed it to be the day Muslim’s congregate. Islam and Christianity believe in similar code of beliefs since they worship the same Abrahamic God but differ in their beliefs regarding the divinity of Christ as well as the prophet hood of Muhammad. They also differ in their belief regarding the way of salvation. Imam Jamal Said also stated the key difference between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims is not their creed, but rather their political differences. Shiite Muslims believe in the Imam, which is that some religious figures receive inspiration from Allah according to their lineage to the prophet Muhammad. According to the Islamic faith, men and women have equal footing but are governed by different rules due their natural differences. For example, a woman who is menstruating is excused from performing the five daily prayers and also from fasting during the month of Ramadan. A Muslim woman can divorce her husband if she simply does not like him, while a Muslim man is not given that right. However, sometimes Muslims adopt traditions oppressive to women which are against the commands of Islam but are purely cultural. Islam has forbidden such practices. The Bible is also one of the texts used by Muslims and thus, it is intriguing that they are allowed to practice polygamy although adultery is forbidden by the Bible. Regarding this matter, Imam Jamal said gave emphasis on the difference between polygamy and adultery which the Bible forbids. Polygamy had been a common practice in the time of the Prophet Muhammad and is still acceptable in some cultures today. Islam on the other hand rectified this practice by limiting the number to four and ensuring that women are given their rights and is done in a just manner. Polygamy is different from adultery and Islam also considers adultery as well as incest as a grave sin. Another notable practice of Muslims is that they remove their shoes at home and at the Masjhid. This practice has no religious implications but is only practiced due to their preference since Muslims place their foreheads on the floor during prayer. Indeed, there are things that are better understood not through books or any reading material. My interview with Imam Jamal Said truly deepened my understanding about Islam and Muslims in general. 4.0 Islam and Christianity Islam and Christianity are the two dominating religions in the world today. Although they have differences in their beliefs and practices, they also have many similarities with one another. Let us look at the similarities and differences between the two and weigh whether their differences or similarities are greater than the other. 4.1 Similarities between Islam and Christianity One of the most notable similarities between Islam and Christianity is that they are both monotheistic in nature, they both believe in one God, the creator of heaven and earth. Only God is worthy of worship and idolatry is considered as a very serious sin against God. In the same way, they (Islam and Christianity) also believe that a time will come when God will judge all the people according to their way of life and or beliefs, Judgment Day, where either heaven or hell awaits them. Consequently, they believe that humans have soul or spirit that leaves the body in time of death. Both religions also believe in angels and human messengers of God. Thus, the writing on the holy text of Islam and Christianity, the Quran and the Bible, are revelations from God through His messengers or prophets. Islam and Christianity also have similar practices including prayer, congregational service of worship, charity and fasting. Both believe that prayer as a means of communicating with God, that God had appointed a special day for worship (Friday for Muslims and Sunday for Christians) and that charity as well as fasting carries spiritual reward (Gaudet et al., n.d.). Islam and Christianity’s teaching about prayer, although different in wordings, have the same meaning (Gaudet et al., n.d.).   Both prayers constitute three major parts which are adoration, submission and supplication: adoration on the goodness and divinity of God, submission to His will and supplication for man’s wants and needs (Gaudet et al., n.d.).   In the same way there are a lot of teachings or rather writings in the Quran that are similar to the writings in the Bible like teachings about creation (Quran 35:13 and Genesis 1:14 etc.), the Ten Commandments (Quran 2:53 and Exodus 24:12 etc.) and prohibiting marriage to some degree specifically due to bloodline (Quran 4:22-24 and Leviticus 18:6-18). 4.2 Differences between Islam and Christianity Although both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic in nature and believe in only one God, Christians believe in the trinity of God, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, a belief that Muslims strongly reject. The two religions also believe in Jesus but they differ in what they believe. Christians believe that Jesus is human and god at the same time, the son of God and the Virgin Mary, that He was crucified and rose from the dead at the third day, ascended to heaven and seated at the throne of God. This belief is the foundation of the Christian faith. On the other hand, Muslims believe that Jesus is, just like Muhammad, a prophet of God and not the Son of God. They deny His crucifixion as well as the miracles that Christians claim He had performed. Still, Muslims affirm Jesus’ ascension to heaven (Religious Facts, 2009). Their differences in their beliefs about Jesus can be considered as the primary difference that separates Islam and Christianity. Muslims and Christians also differ regarding their belief in the nature of man. According to Christians, man inherits the sin of their forefathers, Adam and Eve, and are thus by nature a sinner. Consequently, a person has to be baptized in order to be cleansed from their inherited sin. On the other hand, Muslims believe that every man has equal ability to do good and evil with their free will and that sin is ones own and cannot be inherited by their descendants. Thus, every man is born pure and sinless. Muslims also believe that no one can atone for the actions of another person. However, a person may ask God for mercy and forgiveness on behalf on another person (Gaudet et al., n.d.). On the other hand, Christians believe that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice and died for the atonement of man’s sin. Although Islam and Christianity are similar regarding the limitations of marriage due to bloodline as mentioned earlier, they still have contradicting views. Muslim men are allowed to marry up to four times as long as they can support their wives and treat them equally (Said, 2010). However, Christians believe that it is a man’s duty to be faithful to his wife and thus should have no other. Another major difference between Islam and Christianity is their belief regarding salvation. Islam teaches that at the Day of Judgment all will be resurrected and taken for a final accounting of their deeds and the same time, the world will meet its end cataclysmically (Fisher, 2005). â€Å"Hell is the grievous destiny of †¦ those who have rejected faith in and obedience to Allah and His Messenger, who are unjust and who do not forbid evil. Hell also awaits the hypocrites who even after making a covenant with Allah have turned away from their promise to give in charity and to pray regularly† (Fisher, 2005). Islam describes hell as â€Å"fire fueled by humans, boiling water, pus, chains, searing winds, food that chokes, and so forth† (Fisher, 2005). Christianity on the other hand emphasizes on the grace and love of God for humanity regarding salvation. John 3:16 says, â€Å"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him w ill not perished but have eternal life†. The Bible described hell as a burning lake of fiery sulfur. Thus, Muslim salvation lies on their deeds while Christian salvation lies on faith on Jesus. Additionally, Muslims believes that although a believer is sent to hell, he/she will eventually be lifted to paradise and only unbelievers will be left there (Fisher, 2005). In contrast, Christians believe that punishment in hell is eternal. 5.0 Conclusion Indeed there are a lot of texts pertaining to Islam but knowing things personally from a man of the faith is something more. There are things that cannot be learned through reading alone and I have proven this matter through my interview with Imam Jamal Said of the Mosque foundation. Islam and Christianity may have a lot in common regarding their beliefs and practices but the facts show that their differences far outweigh their similarities. The mere fact that they have different view regarding the salvation itself is strong enough to separate the two religions since it is the main purpose of every religion to give salvation to the soul/spirit. Their beliefs regarding the oneness or trinity of God, salvation and matters pertaining to Jesus are the foundation of their faith, something that separates one from the other. References Fisher, M. P. (2005). Living Religions. Upper Saddle River,: Prentice Hall. Gaudet et al. (n.d.). Islam and Christianity: Similarities and Differences. Retrieved July 16, 2010 http://muslim-canada.org/islam_christianity.html Mosque Foundation (2009). About the Mosque Foundation. Retrieved July 16, 2010 from mosquefoundation.org/About-Us/Overview.aspx Religion Facts (2009). Comparison Chart: Christianity and Islam. Retrieved July 16, 2010 from   religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/christianity_islam.htm

Online Course Development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Online Course Development - Research Paper Example ive and apply other corresponding tools and processes in curriculum development when developing projects consistent with their professional aspirations and expectations. 1. There are different types of theorizing as presented by different authors and scholars. Define the term â€Å"Theorizing† as discussed by different scholars. What are the implications for the different definitions for practice? 2. Read chapter 4 of Marsh and Willis and other online readings recommended for this course. Develop a virtual mental picture of the teachers; prescriptive theorizer (TED), Descriptive Theorizer (TAMMY) and Critical-Exploratory Theorizer (TODD). Remember to include in your mental picture of these teachers, their common beliefs, goals, beliefs, practices, and habits 2. Students must reflect the different priorities, backgrounds, experience and skill brought by different stakeholders during curriculum planning. Remember to develop detailed discussions on the role played by teachers, principals, parents and student during curriculum development 1. Write a critical response on the basic concepts that underlie curriculum research and some of the approaches schools are using to support the process of curriculum development. The reflection should thorough and present a clear thesis. 2. Discuss the problems faced during curriculum planning and implementations. Include approaches that can be used to solve the problems you stated and possible recommendation for future implementation process 1. In Chapter 6 of the course textbook, Marsh and Willis (2007) elaborate and present the different players during the curriculum process and the hats they wear. In the hats presented in the chapter, identify the hats that you may wear. Visit and open the course website and click on that hat. Read the role associated with that hat during the curriculum planning and implementation process. 2. You are a crucial member of the curriculum planning group. Two facilitators have agreed to work

What is Liberal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

What is Liberal - Essay Example The distinction between conservative and liberal economics is, at the most basic level, the distinction between a belief in the advantageousness of government involvement and a belief in the advantageousness of free market capitalism. Friedman, of course, was one of the most vociferous advocates for a free market, as he showed in Capitalism and Freedom. However, the essence of Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom was advocacy of capitalism in a liberal society, where a liberal society refers to a society that does not restrict individual liberties. In contrast, the conservative society is one that does limit individual liberties based on tradition and social values. With that, Friedman cannot be accurately called â€Å"conservative†, since his profoundly libertarian political viewpoints contradict the essence of the conservative establishment. When Friedman called himself a â€Å"liberal† in the John Stuart Mill sense of the term, what he was referring to was a tradition known today as â€Å"classical liberalism†. The use of the word â€Å"classical† before the term refers to a commitment to individual freedoms both in the economic and social sense. Classical liberals believed in laissez faire capitalism and the liberal ideology. John Stewart Mill, as an ethicist and political philosopher, was liberal in his ethics and conservative in his economic views, which today meant he was a â€Å"classical liberal† and a libertarian. Mill believed the government should not be allowed to restrict the freedoms of its citizens under any circumstance, and this is the sense in which Friedman refers to Mill and places himself in his tradition. In Capitalism and Freedom, Friedman writes, â€Å"Political freedom means the absence of coercion of a man by his fellow men. The fundamental threat to freedom is power to coerce, be it in the hands of a monarch, a dictator, an oligarchy, or a momentary

My hypothesis is How can nutrition help fight depression and boost Literature review

My hypothesis is How can nutrition help fight depression and boost mood and the corrlation bewtween them - Literature review Example In fact, more and more experts and people are realizing that diet and nutritional supplements not only helping in fighting depression but it also helps in curing depression and even preventing it in the first place (Wiseman, 2002). Diet and Depression Before even shedding light on the link between depression and diet, it is important to know that depression is a very critical and increasing phenomenon in the western world and especially in the United States. The figure presented above shows that in the year 2006 more than 5 percent of the population in the United States was diagnosed with depression. Diet plays an important role in influencing the mood and behavior and individuals. The same is evident from the figure presented above from Academy of American Family Physicians, which clearly shows that the cure for most of the depressive disorders lies in medication and diet (Wagemaker, 2009). This is true because neurotransmitters, which are responsible for controlling our behavior an d moods are controlled by what we eat. Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine appear at the top of the list of the neurotransmitters, which have their association with mood (Alaimo, Olson, & Frongillo, 2000). Important here to note is that any deficiency, excesses or imbalance in these neurotransmitters eventually result in mood swings, behavioral alternations, and impact on the perceptions of any person about pleasure and pain (Carroll & Royal Society of Canada, 1998). Serotonin plays an important role in mood, sleep, relaxation and appetite (Barker, 2002). Dopamine and norepinephrine are responsible for regulating and creating feelings and perceptions about hunger, thirst, digestion, blood pressure, aggression, sexual tendencies, breathing and respiration and others (Gropper, Smith & Groff, 2008; Licinio & Wong, 2005). A recent large cross sectional conducted by Australian researches under the umbrella of University of Melbourne reached interesting conclusions that women are more inclined towards eating a traditional diet are 30 percent less likely to face problems such as depression, dysthamia, stress and other anxiety related disorders (Escott-Stump, 2008). On the other hand, women who consume a more western diet were on a 50 percent more risk than other to face issues such as stress and depression (Markus et. al., 1998). Important here to note is that this has been one of those studies, which has looked on the link between the â€Å"whole diet† and â€Å"depression† whereas, other studies have tried to examine the impact and relationship between specific nutrients and their impact on moods and depression related illness (Whitney & Rolfes, 2008). This study was conducted with 1046 women, which were between the ages of 20-94. The diet of respondents was monitored with the help of a comprehensive questionnaire, extracted from the Cancer Council Victoria dietary questionnaire. The questionnaire has the room for noting around 74 different foods and 7 alcoholic beverages. The research took place over the time of 12 months (LaHaye & LaHaye, 1996; O'Connor, 1997; DeBruyne, Pinna, Whitney & Whitney, 2008). The principal researcher Felice Jacka, even provided concluding remarks in these words, â€Å"Simply put, if you habitually eat a healthy diet that includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and high-quality lean meat, then you may cut your risk of

World Wide Web and the Internet Relationship

World Wide Web and the Internet Relationship 1. WHAT IS THE INTERNET? The internet can be defined as one which is productive and connects computers and other electronic signal receptors anytime and anywhere, helping to share and acquire information. [6](Jillana Enteen. (2006)). The internet has made a revolution where it is one which helps us confirm our beliefs and has made our life less monotonous by surfing on it. It is an electronic realm filled with infinite opportunity.[3] (Jamison, Elizabeth. (2001)). Like the supercomputer, the Internet began as an idea to tie several computers to a supercomputer. Today, it ties more than 64 million computers together[12] (Windom, Jarvis F. (2002)). The Arpanet was the first name given to this network as only a few restricted persons were getting access to this network. It then got the name Internet when this network became popular and was known internationally. [3] (Jamison, Elizabeth. (2001)). Word count:139 2. WHAT IS THE WORLD WIDE WEB? The world Wide Web is a hypermedia-based system that offers a graphic representation of, and access to, the resources available on the Internet. WWW information is accessed through these computers using browser software, such as Netscape Navigator.[4] (Jean-Stephen Pichà ©. (1998)). This is a concept introduced by Tim Berners-Lee, Tim suggested three main technologies that meant all computers could understand each other (HTML, URL and HTTP) (Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z2nbgk7). The Web page that are accessible on the web usually contain hypertext links and are sometimes called links. These links connect to other pages that are store on the same or even a different server; these servers can be in any location throughout the World. This system of interlinked documents is known as hypertext (Dummies.com, 2010). Word count:124 3. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORLD WIDE WEB AND THE INTERNET? Without the Internet, the WWW would not have existed. ThefirstWorld Wide Web (WWW)program debuted onthe Internetinthesummer of 1991.[7] ( Kaplain, Karen. (1998)). The WWW is a very genius way of accessing information using the Internet. The Web shortened word for the World Wide Web is only an aspect which forms part of the Internet. The need of finding information instantaneously has developed the WWW to access all the needed information found on the Internet. The WWW as its name invokes says that it must be worldwide but this can only be done through the Internet which connects computers globally. [5] (Jetter, John A. (1996)). Now, though, theWorld Wide Web, with its search engines and hypertext links, has made theInternet accessible even to those who know next to nothing about it. ((1996). How theWorld Wide WebsimplifiesInternetsearches,73,181. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/227758920?accountid=10382) Word count:152 4. WHAT ARE THREE PURPORTED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE WORLD WIDE WEB AS IT FIRST EMERGED, AND THE MORE RECENT WEB 2.0? The world wide web (WWW) as it first emerged had only the characteristic of making people accept what they were given on the Web. The  early  web  provided a limited user interactions or content contributions and only allowed to searchtheinformation and read it. The Web 2.0 has made a change where theusers ofweb 2.0have more interaction with less control.[10](San Murugesan (2007)) . By using the Web 2.0 nowadays, people are allowed to communicate online through social networking. The notion of Social Software is normally used for systems, by which humans communicate, collaborate or interact in any other way.[1] (Alby, T (2007)) Through the Web 2.0 people can even create their blogs and have full participation. The user is an integral part in the production process of content, tastes, emotions, goods, contacts, relevance, reputation, feedback, storage and server capacity, connectivity, and intelligence. [8](Pascu et al. (2007)) Word count:154 5. WHAT IS RSS AND WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT TO THE WEB 2.0? Really Simple Syndication (RSS) uses extensive markup language (XML) to constantly scan the content of Web sites for updates, which will then be delivered to subscribers desktops or mobile devices through an RSS feed. [11](Wendy G, Jie. (2007)). People are up to date with just one click. The RSS is an easy way to condense information into a digestible form. People can take a quick glance at the feeds and there is no need to visit the web page if not interested. The updates can then be displayed in the newsreader in a similar way to e-mail, enabling users to skim hundreds of headlines each day, with the aim of improving productivity. [2] (Bradbury, Danny. (2006)). The Web 2.0 is an ideology which is used to benefit power. An example is Ebay which is a platform where people buy things online. For example, if someone likes vintage t-shirts, he can set up an  RSS  feed and have all auction detail that matches his search criteria sent directly to his desktop. [9] (Rioux, Mike. (2008)). Word count:176 Reference list: Alby, T. Web 2.0. Konzepte, Anwendungen, Technologien; Hanser: Mà ¼nchen, Germany, 2007. Retrieved from Future Internet 2010, 2, 41-59; doi:10.3390/fi2010041. Bradbury, Danny. (2006). MightRSShelp to solve yourwebmess? INFORMATION OVERLOAD: Danny Bradbury reports on a tool that could help to structure your incoming information:[SURVEYS EDITION]. Financial Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/249913821?accountid=10382. Jamison, Elizabeth. (2001). What is the internet? Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/204772152?accountid=10382. Jean-Stephen Pichà ©. (1998). Doing Whats Possible with What Weve Got: Using the World Wide Web to Integrate Archival Functions. The American Archivist,61,106-122 . Jetter, John A. (1996). The World Wide Web: Interface on the Internet, 10, 4-5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/194694597?accountid=10382. Jillana Enteen. (2006). Spatial conceptions of URLs: Tamil Eelam networks ontheworldwideweb. New media society,8, 229-249. Kaplain, Karen. (1998). THECUTTING EDGE; Father Figures; Early Architects ofthe InternetandWebLook totheFuture; Tim Berners-Lee:Theman who createdthe World Wide Websaysthebest is yet to come. Retrieved  from http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/421269139?accountid=10382. Pascu, C.; Osimo, D.; Ulbrich, M.; Turlea, G.; Burgelman, J.-C. The potential disruptive impact of Internet 2 based technologies. First Monday, 2007, 3. Rioux, Mike. (2008). The World ofWeb 2.0. Electrical wholesaling, 89, (44-45, 62, 5). Retrieved from  http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/209774207?accountid=10382. San, Murugesan (2007), UnderstandingWeb 2.0, Journal IT Professional. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/1013810326?accountid=10382. Wu, Wendy G;Li, Jie. (2007). RSS made easy: a basic guide for librarians. Medical Reference Quarterly, 26, 37-50. Retrieved  from http://x.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.1300/J115v26n01_04. Windom, Jarvis F.  (2002). Internet; History. Retrieved from  http://search.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/232337957?accountid=10382

Pynchons Gravitys Rainbow Essay -- Pynchon Gravitys Rainbow Essays

Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow    Thomas Ruggles Pynchon was born in 1937 in Glen's Cove, New York. He is the author of V., The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity's Rainbow, Slow Learner, Vineland, and Mason & Dixon. Nothing else is known of this author (not exactly true, but close enough to the truth to make that last blanket statement passable). He has attempted to veil himself in total obscurity and anonymity. For the most part, he has succeeded in this, save for a rare interview or two. In 1974 he received the National Book Award for Gravity's Rainbow. He would have been awarded The Pulitzer Prize as well, but his blatant disregard for narrative sequence led to a rift between the judges and the editorial board. Ultimately, the book was not selected. In fact, no book was chosen that year in the Fiction Category, the first (and only) time a work of fiction did not receive the award. The controversy that followed was considerable. Keeping this in mind, any attempt at an expurgated plot synopsis is laughable at be st, therefore will be somewhat refrained from. However, given the brevity of this paper, it is possible to address the setting(s), the chief protagonist, and some interpretations concerning the title of this book.    The setting is World War II, and England is being devastated by Hitler's revenge weapon, the V-2 rocket. In response to this, two organizations, ACHTUNG--Allied Clearing House, Technical Units, Northern Germany; and PISCES--Psychological Intelligence Schemes For Expediting Surrender, embark on a quest which will carry them across the world in order to find a solution for this dilemma. That's about as simple as it gets; a cursory analysis of this story is comparable to trying t... ...y) that pools all of these colors together. The colors could represent the varying aspects and cultures contained within the Human Race. The choices presented both in the title and in the story itself create a vast labyrinth, much in the way Borges conceives the workings of an elaborate universe.    This book is not for everyone. It is the most convoluted, non-linear, contradictory work of fiction I have ever encountered. It is also one of the most hysterical, challenging, harrowing, brilliant and beautiful. Pynchon clearly affirms Eliot's assertion that fiction and poetry must be difficult in order to capture the difficult modern world. Reading this work becomes a metaphor for examining life which exists on a disruptive continuum. From this book alone, Thomas Pynchon must be considered as one of the most important voices in 20th-Century literature.

Creative writing Essay

Student Responsibility plays a key role in becoming a successful writer at the college level. Patty Strong, Lennie Irvin, and Donald Murray all talk in their articles about how students can succeed in college and what they will need to know and expect when writing at the college level. All three Authors explained their message in different ways but all three message’s imply that student responsibility is key for college writers. Although the authors took different approaches for their article, All three Authors can agree that Student Responsibility is a big part in making sure that a college student does well. Donald Murray, a college professor at the University of New Hampshire, discusses in his article, â€Å"The Maker’s Eye: Revising Your Own Manuscripts,† that he believes that student responsibility is the biggest part in being a successful writer at the college level. Murray believes that it is the student’s responsibility to make sure they manage their time accordingly and put enough time and effort into their work so that it is of quality. Murray also discusses one of the main problems Transitioning students face is not only being able to read their own work critically, but to read their work constructively. â€Å"Writers must learn to be their own best enemy. † Murray wants the writers to be responsible for receiving criticism and praise and being able to use that feedback in a constructive way. Although Murray talks a lot about being your own critic and revising your work with more care, all these points fall under the subject of student responsibility and how Murray wants the writers to look at their work more critically. Patty Strong echoes Murray’s beliefs in her article, â€Å"How Do I Write A Text For College? Making The Transition From High School Writing,† by discussing how she believes students must be responsible for viewing their writing as an opportunity to think. Strong emphasized how students transitioning from high school writing to college level writing, need to be responsible for preparing themselves for the different expectations of college professors, such as taking thinking risks and writing to discover what we do not already know. â€Å"Successful students understand that their education is something they are privileged to own, and as with a dear possession, they must be responsible for managing it. † Strong also emphasizes the importance of knowing that students are responsible for their own education; that means that students must be open to learning new strategies about writing and taking risks when it comes to their work. Strong believes that in college, we write to discover, not to write about what we already know. Students must take it upon themselves and be more responsible, to see that they are thinking more intuitively and that they are more open to learn and relearn new things. Strong also agrees that student responsibility Lennie Irvin, a former teacher of college writing for Twenty years, in his article â€Å"What Is ‘Academic’ writing? †, also agrees with Murray and Strong when he discusses that students must be responsible for understanding the writing task at hand and being able to break down important pieces of text and think about them critically. One of Irvin’s main focus’ in his article is that student responsibility is the most important rule in becoming a successful writer. â€Å"Your success with academic writing depends upon how well you understand what you are doing as you write and then how you approach the writing task. † Irvin also makes it clear that successful college writers have a better understanding of whom they are directing their work towards; implying that students are responsible for taking enough time to understand the text and respond critically. Irvin believes that freshman college students are responsible building a writer’s sense so that they can have a better understanding on what they need to say in their paper and how they are going to say it. Irvin believes It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they not only have the knowledge they need for their writing assignment, but they posses a writer’s sense of what the purpose of the writing assignment is and who the audience is. All three authors, Murray, Irvin, and Strong imply in their articles that student responsibility is the key to becoming a successful writer at the college level. Although the authors might have structured their articles differently, conveyed their messages to different audiences in different ways, they all three come back to the main focus of student responsibility. Also, the three authors may teach at different education levels, they may be different in age, but all three authors say the same thing in their articles. Although Irvin Structured his paper different than Murray and Strong, Irvin had a longer paper with more information about how students can be successful and implies in his article that student responsibility is important. Along with Murray and Strong, who have shorter articles, they also imply somewhere in their article that student responsibility helps students become more successful at the college level. Although the authors may have focused on a certain subject more than the other, all three of the prestigious authors want the readers to understand that their main focus is implied. The authors may not say it, but the authors all imply that students are responsible for their own success at the college level. All three articles, although they are different in many ways, talk about the different expectations college professors will be looking for and how it is the Student’s Responsibility to make sure they understand and take enough time to write a paper that is of their best work. Strong, Murray, and Irvin all have very different articles but they all help students get a better understanding of what college is going to be like and what their professors will be expecting. Student responsibility is the most important part of writing because without a responsible student, their work will not meet college professors expectations. Student responsibility to Murray, Strong, and Irvin is the most important part in writing a paper for college.

Contempt of Court essays

Contempt of Court essays In this age of computers and fax machines, we as a people have devised and set up laws that protect us and keep us on the right track. However these laws and rights that each American shares and enjoys today, have not always existed. Common people, who were forced to face injustices and were railroaded by the system because at that time, no one before them sought to challenge the laws or there was no need to change them, has fought them for. Even though, these laws were changed and new ones were put in their place back in the early part of this century, when they were still new, there was still a problem. Some of these laws and rights were somehow looked over when the subject of race came up. For example, in the book Contempt of Court, Leroy Phillips and Mark Curriden tell about the story of Ed Johnson. Johnson was a black man who lived in Chattanooga at the turn of the century. Now, Johnson himself was not really of any importance. He didnt invent a new way of picking cotton or disc over a cure for some prevalent disease that was sweeping the countryside, nothing like that at all. In fact he was a nobody, just a common person, with a poor education to boot. The only thing that is important about Johnson is his case, State of Tennessee v. Johnson, in which Ed Johnson was accused of the crime of rape, but not just raping anyone, a white woman, and not just any white woman, but a young, white woman in the South at the turn of the century. Johnson, being a black man and being accused of such a heinous crime did not win him any fans, which is the reason for the importance of this case. Because he was black and it was early in the century only forty years after the Civil War, the people of Chattanooga were outraged and wanted quick justice. They didnt really care if they had the right man as long as he was black and somewhat fit the description of the perpetrator. This is part of the reason that Johnsons case is...

The Freedom Charter Called for Equality in South Africa

The Freedom Charter Called for Equality in South Africa The Freedom Charter was a document ratified at the Congress of the People held at Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa in June 1955 by the various member bodies of the  Congress Alliance. The policies set out in the Charter included a demand for a multi-racial, democratically elected government, equal opportunities, the nationalization of banks, mines, and heavy industries, and a redistribution of land. Africanist members of the ANC rejected the Freedom Charter and broke away to form the Pan Africanist Congress. In 1956, following extensive searches of various homes and confiscation of documents, 156 people involved in the creation and ratification of the Freedom Charter were arrested for treason.  This was almost the entire executive of the African National Congress (ANC), Congress of Democrats, South African Indian Congress, Coloured Peoples Congress, and the South African Congress of Trade Unions (collectively known as the Congress Alliance). They were charged with high treason and a countrywide conspiracy to use violence to overthrow the present government and replace it with a communist state. The punishment for high treason was death. The Freedom Charter and Clauses We, the People of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to know that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people. -The Freedom Charter Here is a synopsis of each of the clauses, which list various rights and stances in detail. The People Shall Govern: This point included universal voting rights and the rights to run for office and serve on governing boards regardless of race, color, and sex.All National Groups Shall Have Equal Rights: Apartheid laws will be set aside, and all groups will be able to use their own language and customs without discrimination.The People Shall Share in the Countrys Wealth: Minerals, banks, and monopoly industries would become government-owned for the good of the people. All would be free to ply any trade or profession, but industry and trade would be controlled for the well-being of the whole people.  The Land Shall Be Shared Among Those Who Work It: There will be land redistribution with assistance to peasants to farm it and an end to racial restrictions on ownership and freedom of movement.  All Shall Be Equal Before the Law: This gives people rights to a fair trial, representative courts, fair imprisonment, as well as integrated law enforcement and military. There will b e no discrimination by law for race, color, or beliefs. All Shall Enjoy Equal Human Rights: People are granted the freedom of speech, assembly, the press, religion, and education. This addresses protection from police raids, freedom to travel, and abolishment of pass laws.There Shall Be Work and Security: There will be equal pay for equal work for all races and genders. People have the right to form unions. There were workplace rules adopted including a 40-hour work week, unemployment benefits, minimum wage, and leave. This clause eliminated child labor and other abusive forms of labor.The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall Be Opened: This clause addresses free  education, access to higher education, ending adult illiteracy, promoting culture, and ending cultural color bans.There Shall Be Houses,  Security  and Comfort: This gives the  right to decent, affordable housing, free medical care and preventive health, care of the aged, orphans, and disabled.Rest, Leisure and Recreation Shall Be the Right of All.There Shall Be Peace and Friendship: This clause says we should strive for world peace by negotiation and recognition of rights to self-government. The Treason Trial At the treason trial in August, 1958, the prosecution attempted to show that the Freedom Charter was a Communist tract and that the only way it could be achieved was by overthrowing the present government.  However, the Crowns expert witness on Communism admitted that the Charter was a humanitarian document that might well represent the natural reaction and aspirations of non-whites to the harsh conditions in South Africa. The main piece of evidence against the accused was a recording of a speech made by Robert Resha, the  Trasvaal  Volunteer-in-Chief, which appeared to say that volunteers should be violent when called upon to use violence. During the  defense,  it was shown that Reshas viewpoints were the exception rather than the rule in the  ANC and that the short quote had been taken completely out of context. The Outcome of the Treason Trial Within a week of the trail starting, one of the two charges under the Suppression of Communism Act was dropped. Two months later the Crown announced that the whole indictment was being dropped, only to issue  a new  indictment against 30 people- all members of the ANC. Chief Albert Luthuli and Oliver Tambo were released for lack of evidence. Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu (ANC secretary-general) were among the final 30 accused. On March 29, 1961, Justice FL Rumpff interrupted the defense summation with a verdict. He announced that although the ANC was working to replace the government and had used illegal means of protest during the Defiance Campaign, the Crown had failed to show that the ANC was using violence to overthrow the government, and  were therefore  not guilty  of treason. The Crown had failed to establish any revolutionary intent behind the defendants actions. Having been found non-guilty, the remaining 30 accused were discharged. The Ramifications of the Treason Trial The Treason Trial was a serious blow to the ANC and the other members of the Congress Alliance. Their leadership was imprisoned or banned and considerable costs were incurred. Most significantly, the more radical members of the ANCs Youth League rebelled against the ANC interaction with other  races  and left to form the PAC. Nelson Mandela, Walter  Sisulu,  and six others were eventually given a life sentence for treason in 1964 at what is known as the Rivonia Trial.

INTERNATIONAL HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

INTERNATIONAL HRM - Essay Example an now be called on to create company wide policies which affect the people working in London as much as they affect employees working in other parts of the globe. Implementing a global policy is never an easy task since the HR manager who is assigned to the job may have to balance several cultural, national and business systems related issues. Cultural differences are probably the widest set of problems since the phrase is used as a generic term for all the differences which people may have in their workplaces from country to country and region to region. In fact, I think that the elimination or at least the reduction of cultural differences could be the best course of action a HR manager could take. This is actually at the heart of the definition of globalisation where we are heading towards a mixture of cultures that represent us as human beings. The company wide HR policies can be a document which sets up the culture of the company even as an isolated bubble in a country where the outside culture is significantly different. However, this could also be asking for trouble as going with policies which are very much at odds with local cultures can create resentment and even a loss of human capital. The problems are compounded by the fact that MNC by their nature and definition may have origins in countries other than their main operations (Edwards & Kuruvilla, 2005). Wipro originated in India for example but has established offices in Sweden and London. Microsoft still calls the U.S. its home, yet the majority of their software is developed in India. An HR manager therefore, might consciously or unconsciously found the companies policies in the culture of its national origins thereby somewhat defeating the purpose of an international HR policy (Faulkner, et. al. 2002). To carry over the same style of HR management between countries with vastly different business cultures is very difficult. The situation which comes about in these cases is that important

Rainwater Collection and Usage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Rainwater Collection and Usage - Essay Example Moreover, the running costs are quite minimal. Areas best suited for this rainwater collection system are areas with no access to water resources, and areas that receive at least 200mm of rainfall per annum as this system’s effectiveness is pegged on the intensity of rainfall received. Rainwater harvesting systems channel rainwater from the roofs into storage tanks, either placed on the land or underground, through a variety of pipes and gutters. These pipes and gutters should be strong enough to accommodate large amounts of rainwater experienced during the rainy seasons and withstand the windy conditions peculiar to heavy storms (Gould and Nissen 2000, p. 35). The storage tanks, on the other hand, must always be covered to avoid mosquito infestation and contamination from dust, bird droppings and other contaminants. A property owner may choose to use a backup valve like an aqua saver, which automatically switches from rainwater tanks to mains supply whenever available, hence saving the property owner from the hustle of having to manually switch these valves. Rainwater collected through this system can be used in irrigation and washing clothes. However, we note that rainwater harvested from roofs may require treatment as it may be polluted by dust and dirt build on the roof. Moreover, areas accustomed to coal burning and large bird populations may produce roof rainwater contaminated by pollutants such as mercury. Residents in these areas may choose to use the water to flush toilets. It is advisable to allow the first flush of rainwater runoff as it clears the roof of any contaminants present. However, once treated, the water may become suitable for human and livestock drinking. Storm Water Harvesting Another system used in the collection of rainwater waste is storm water harvesting. This refers to the collection, treatment and storage of rainwater that has run off on the earth surface, or on surfaces specifically designed for this purpose. This system no t only harvests run off rain water from drains, roads, parks or playing fields but may also collect snow that melts into storm water systems. The surface run off may be channeled into surface waterways or into water filtration systems tasked with filtering and treating the rainwater before it is stored ready for use. Moreover, surface run off may be filtered by using rain gardens. These are planted depressions that allow water infiltration by accumulating rainwater on the surface, filtering off any pollutants before the water is absorbed into the ground. Once absorbed, the water is channeled into storage tanks via pipes. Swales may, however, be used in place of rain gardens (Gould and Nissen 2000, p. 97). These are low tracts of land, usually marshy, that filter off pollutants from surface run off and improve infiltration. This system of collecting rain water is essential in the collection of water used for irrigation, flushing toilets and even drinking once the water is treated. It is also useful as it collects excessive runoff during heavy storms, which would otherwise lead to expulsion of raw sewage from outfalls when treatment plant capacities cannot handle the combined flow. The main challenge in this system is the removal of pollutants by use of retention ponds this problem is adequately solved. Steeper slopes may