Studies of Religion One Unit Hsc – Secularism Speech

What is secularism? Secularism is the belief that religion should not interfere with or be integrated into the public affairs of a society. Oxford dictionary defines â€Å"secular† as â€Å"concerned with the affairs of the world, not religious or spiritual† so in this sense all civil government is â€Å"secular†. The only civil governments that are not fully secular in this sense are Vatican City and some fundamentalist Moslem states. The governments of all the major countries in the world – including Australia, the USA, Great Britain, New Zealand, Italy, India, etc are all secular governments.There are multiple factors which have contributed to the decline of religion's relevance for the integration and legitimation of modern life. The increasing pluralism and materialism of society alongside society's increasing individualism and dissatisfaction with traditional religions are major reasons for secularisation. This trend is most evident in the significan t increase in the number of people responding â€Å"No religion† in the census alongside an overall decline in the Christian figures recorded in the census Interfaith Dialogue and growing secularism.Since World War II, Australia’s population has grown and become more diverse and Australians have become more secular in nature. Secularists believe that people are comfortable without the reference to God in their lives. There are a number of reasons for the increase in secularism in Australia; these include increasing pluralism i. e. the acceptance of all religions as equal; individualism and materialism – spirituality may be overlooked when power, looks, possessions and fame are offered instead. What Impact did Secularism have on the Religious landscape of Australia post 1945?The rise of secularism has led to both a drop in the numbers of people regularly attending religious service. In 1947 only 0. 3% of the population classified themselves as having â€Å"No Re ligion†. However, in 1971 the instruction â€Å"if no religion, write none† was introduced into the census. This saw a seven-fold increase from the previous census year in the percentage of persons stating they had no religion (0. 8% in 1966 to 6. 7% in 1971). Thus many people who would have previously fallen under the â€Å"Not Stated† category were now included. Since 1971 this percentage has progressively increased to about 16. 5% in 1996, with a dip to 15. % in 2001. The 2001 census figures reveal that Christianity is still the numerically largest religious tradition in Australia accounting for 68. 0% of the population. However, there has been a significant decline in the percentage of people affiliated with Christianity. Furthermore, of those claiming affiliation there has been a decline in the regular attendance of religious services. The ongoing decline in most Christian groups as a percentage of the population is due to increasing secularization as well a s other factors such as dissatisfaction with traditional religious movements, aging membership, and a lack of migrant intake.Effects of secularism †¢Loss of religious values. †¢Lack of religious church practice – civil marriages, non religious funerals, shopping malls (the new cathedrals) †¢Seeking alternative â€Å"religions† or â€Å"forms of spirituality†. †¢Social standing of clergy/church – trustworthiness †¢Political social action – Marxism, Green Movement etc. †¢Influence of scientific humanism, economic rationalism †¢Rise of New Age Religions which focus on personal satisfaction, wealth, self help groups, happiness, mind and spirit exhibitions, personal meditation, affirmation environmental â€Å"sit – ins†. These have all attained quasi religious status.

Globalization and Transnational Terrorism Defined Essay

The world nowadays is facing what is terrorism. Terrorism can be defined as the threat or use of violence with the intent of causing fear in a target group, in order to achieve some objectives e. g. political , where as Globalization is a process rather than an outcome. It is best defined as â€Å"the expanding scale, growing magnitude, speeding up and deepening impact of interregional flows and patterns of interaction†. 4 Today’s â€Å"globalization† is a product of the 1990s. Globalization is a critical feature of the context in which transnational terrorism has grown. Despite the tendency to view the current transnational terrorist threat as having religious inspiration, it is more accurate to see it as being motivated, at least in part, by the inequalities between nations as well as within them. It was after Sept. 11th when the US was attacked by the terrorists , the very discourse of international relations and global politics has been transformed. Before the event of Sept. 11th, the important and most talked about issues were geo-economics in nature. International Submits and organization had agendas of Globalization and humanitarian. But now geopolitics and security concerns have once again become the central issue . There were many improvements regarding politically front where there became a consensus that democracy was not only the best but also the only legitimate way of organizing modern polities. the globalization of the economy was a foregone conclusion as nations scrambled to liberalize their economies in order to live up to the new standards set by the World Trade Organization whereas In the social arena, lifestyle and tastes shaped by multinational consumer corporations were well on the way to change the global popular culture. But just after the Sept. 11th event there was great sense of insecurity that because of terrorism inspired the US economy and the government, the two most important forces behind globalization, and that has resulted in a reassertion of sovereignty by the US and other nations. The fear that liberal standards are facilitating terrorism is causing the US and other European Union members to control transborder transactions. There are efforts to stop the resources moving from one place to another and this has lead to greater scrutiny of banks and setting up of strict measures that will prevent the flow of capital. There is a trend today’s more VISA restriction , keeping an eye on the foreigners just because to prevent any mishap. Governments are engaged in international cooperation in order to monitor the flow of information, people and monies across countries. These measures have resulted in the change of priorities in which means that cost is now second to security. If this state of affairs persists, globalization be retarded and the very instruments that facilitate and accelerate globalization will be blunted. Globalization and Transnational Terrorism Defined Before exploring the relationship between globalization and transnational terrorism, it is very necessary to understand what often politicized and misinterpreted terms. Globalization is a process rather than an outcome. It is best defined as â€Å"the expanding scale, growing magnitude, speeding up and deepening impact of interregional flows and patterns of interaction†. Modern globalization has taken place in three forms: economic, cultural and political, each with its distinct features and effects. Transnational terrorism is terrorism that has transcended the confines of the territorially defined nation-state in terms of both its objectives and operations. Transnational terrorist groups are usually characterized by a universals ideology, enhanced mobility and communication networks, multinational sources of recruitment and funding, and cross-border operations. Kegley, (2002) Globalization as a Motivation for Terror Globalization is a critical feature of the context in which transnational terrorism has grown. Despite the tendency to view the current transnational terrorist threat as having religious inspiration, it be of no doubt that a part of transnational terrorism is motivated by the inequalities between nations as well as within them . Globalization has its fair share of â€Å"discontents†, while terrorists have always â€Å"aimed to exploit the frustrations of the common people†. Stapley , (2006). Globalization, in its various penetrative forms of westernization, secularization, democratization, consumerism and the growth of market capitalism, represents an onslaught to less privileged people in conservative cultures. It is certain through globalization U. S threaten traditions, religion and way of life, while bringing unfair distributions of wealth and power. This way, the growth of disgruntled communities has proven to be the primary source of recruitment and support for transnational terrorists globally. Nassar(2004) Through Cultural globalization western life and values are projected throughout the world via media and internet. Because of this some Countries feels this has an attack on their religious teachings and cultural traditions, and is generating movements of resistance, including support for transnational terrorism. Finally, terrorism can most importantly be traced to a fundamental motivation – the struggle for power. US has been very much benefited by the Political globalization where they formed strong alliances with national governments, including undemocratic and oppressive ones. US in order to protect its strategies interests extents its military might internationally, it also supports oppressive regimes and its the presence of US forces in Saudi Arabia, are some of the things that is not accepted by many countries. Therefore, to the extent that the economic, cultural and political dimensions of the US-led global order impinge upon and undermine Middle Eastern and/or Muslim ways of life, or at least are seen to do so, it elicits from militant Islamists and their supporters violent responses framed in the idiom. Nassar (2004) Globalization as an Enabler of Terror While terrorism aims to repel US-led globalization, it has concurrently harnessed globalization’s features in three primary ways, †¢ Through the exploitation of: new technologies. †¢ Global financial networks. †¢ reduced barriers to cross-border interactions Because of the above points modern transnational terrorism is and can be very dangerous. Globalization has enabled transnational terrorism through the exploitation of new technologies . Globalization age is known as the Information Revolution age , where revolution of computing , telecommunications and data – transfer took place . Making a proper use of these technological advancements such has internet , mobile phones and satellite telecommunications terrorist –related activities have increased their efficiency , coordination in operations , and communication between national and international borders. And it is only because of globalization features that terrorist activities or terrorism is no longer confined to a single nation or boundary but it now enjoys expanded range. It is also with the help of advance telecommunications network hat now transnational terrorist groups have defined there organizational structures , sharing principles of horizontal rather than vertical organizational structures. Transnational terrorists organizations are broadening their reach in financial resources too. They have global financing networks that include legal non-profit charities and businesses, as well as illegal activities such as drug smuggling and kidnapping. Kesselman , (2006) Globalization as an Obstacle to Counter-Terrorism Globalization have contributed a lot in the transnational terrorism with its new capabilities in all sectors , and this impedes the ability of nation-states to fight against terrorism effectively . The Existence of electronic commerce has weaken the abilities of the states to track , locate and prosecute the illegal activities in the cyber space and this has also played an important role in the effectiveness of the transnational terrorism. Even International institutions have not been up to the mark to promote international law and this has led to an increase in activities by transnational terrorist groups such as money laundering and arms trafficking which are considered as a criminal acts under international law.. In short , global law enforcement instruments have played little if any role in the fight against global terrorism Conclusion The relationship between globalization and transnational terrorism is one that has not been under consideration in current counter-terrorism efforts. When the characteristic of globalization can facilitates transnational terrorism, globalization can be used as a weapon against it. Therefore , its very necessary to first find out the relationship between globalization and terrorism before its too late . References : †¢ Nassar ,Jamal R. (2004). Globalization and Terrorism: The Migration of Dreams and Nightmares (Globalization (Lanham, MD. ). ). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. †¢ Mazru , Ali Alamin i , Kafrawi , Shalahudin and Sebuharara ,Ruzima (2004). Islam: Between Globalization & Counter-terrorism. Africa World Press. †¢ Stapley , Lionel (2006). Globalization and Terrorism: Death of a Way of Life. Karnac Books †¢ Combs , Cynthia C. (2005). Terrorism in the 21st Century (4th Edition). Prentice Hall. †¢ Kegley,Charles W. (2002). The New Global Terrorism: Characteristics, Causes, Controls. Prentice Hall. †¢ Baylis , John B,Smith, Steve and Owens, Patricia (2008). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford University Press. †¢ Kesselman , Mark (2006). The Politics of Globalization: A Reader. Houghton Mifflin.

PERSONAL STATMENT (short) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PERSONAL STATMENT (short) - Essay Example At this young age I saw what a difference a nurse can make. Nana, during this time, became ill and had to have both legs amputated. We got through it together. Those years were not all easy, but I gained much from them. I learnt lessons that have followed me throughout my life: perseverance, empathy, team work, and compassion. Sadly, Mum passed away, after a long battle with cancer, five years ago. With her last two years on earth, I was her primary caregiver. Although a sad time in life, I was blessed to be able to care for her during her final years. I am a mother now of two beautiful children, ages 15 and 17. Watching them grow up and seeing how they have matured has brought me great joy. To experience the wonder of new discoveries through their eyes and assisting them to grow and mature into the young adults they have become is an experience I will always treasure. Having my own children has taught me that I have a natural talent in working with children. As my own children got older, I realized I missed the daily interactions with younger children and that was enough to ascertain my career working with children. Initially, I became a Nursery Assistant working mostly as a caregiver. Although, neither glamorous nor high paying job, it was immensely rewarding.

Procter and Gamble research report Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Procter and Gamble research report - Term Paper Example The company management has responded to investors worry on costly structure and slow top line growth rate by through a cost saving plan worth $10 billion. This is expected to reduce the headcount that will enable the company achieve its earning per share growth rate forecast to 8% and 10% in free up funds that can be reinvested. Third quarter results shows that the organic sales have increased by 3% from its previous quarter but the operating profit decreased by 11%. The management of the company lowered the earning per share to $3.82-$3.88 from the previous earning of $3.93-$4.08 as a result of the lowering operating profit. This means that Procter and Gambler 2012 fiscal year earning per share is expected to remain flat as compared to previous fiscal EPS of $3.87. The company gross margin has decreased by 150 bases to 49% on higher inputs and negative sales while it has increased by 32.9% on restructuring charges and overhead costs. The firm is supposed to restructure if it expects to gain full potential in its future growth. This is to be achieved by mean of calibrating its pricing by either adopting initial price or by promotion. Also, the company should invest more in the developing markets where it remains under penetrating where all other firms in packaged goods are moving. Business summary Procter & Gamble Company has famous line up of packaged brands which are sold and distributed through three global business units in over 180 countries world wide. The company brands include Tide laundry detergent, Pantene shampoo, Cover Girl cosmetics and lams pet food which means the company trades in household and personal products industry. The company is rated as an AAA credit worth company by Morningstar credit rating agency in the consumer product industry. The company strength and sustainability compared to other industry player has being rated wide by Morningstar which means its competitive advantage remains high. The competitors of the company are L’Oreal SA, Reckitt Benckiser Group and Kimberly-Clark Corporation which have market capitalization of $72,309, $47720, $42799 and $30972 millions respectively compared to Procter $ Gamble CO. market capitalization of $176134 millions. This shows that Procter & Gamble Company is more capitalized than its closest rival compa nies. Also, the sales revenue of its competitors are $26745.83, $15196.91 and $20,846 respectively compared to Procter $ Gamble sales revenue of $85374. Total sales revenue in the industry from the above sales revenues amounts to $148162.74. Procter & Gamble Co. thus, it contributes 57.62% of the total sales revenue. From the above findings, Procter $ Gamble Company stands as the most valued company compared to its competitors. Historical performance of the company shows that the performance of the company has being on a decline path from year 2009 to date. Financial forecasting of the company is that the share value is to be raised from the current price of $72 to $75 if the $10 billion saving plan is implemented together with Pringles divesture. This implies that in 2013, ratios of

Mergers and acquisition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Mergers and acquisition - Essay Example Firms in different industrial sectors tend to respond differently when entering a M&A process. Current study focuses on the effects of M&A process on the increase of shareholders value and the creation of shareholders wealth. Reference is made on a specific industrial sector: the financial services industry. The case of a recent merger of two financial institutions - banks in Britain, Lloyds and HBOS, is used in order to show all the potential aspects of the issue under examination. Employees from both these institutions have accepted to participate in the study. The results - along with the material published in the literature - indicate that M&A can be a valuable strategic tool for the increase of a firm's profitability; however, its effects on the creation of shareholder wealth are not quite clear. The study focuses on the examination of the following issues: a) how can mergers and acquisition benefit a firm's shareholders, b) which are the effects of mergers and acquisition on a firm's equity' c) are there specific measures taken for the increase of shareholders' wealth in the case of a merger or acquisition, d) which is the role of state in the development of the relevant procedure - control by antitrust authorities, e) does the leadership style affects the development of mergers and acquisition' And f) does the n... 2. Literature Review The development of M&A through the decades has been continuous; the specific strategic tool has been used by managers in order to support the improvement of their firms' performance - even if the results have been found to the different in each particular firm. M&A have been used since the 1940s but their use was then limited; through the years M&A have been significantly developed reaching in 1980s an important level. However, it was necessary that changes are made on the existing M&A practices in order to meet the demands of the market but also the firms' potential to respond to the requirements of the particular processes. Regarding this issue it is noted that 'the market for acquisitions changed dramatically in the 1980s as government policies facilitated 'mergers for efficiency' rather than 'merger for diversity'' (Lubatkin et al., 1997, 59). On the other hand, it is proved that the effects of M&A on a firm's performance can be differentiated - the financial strength of the acqu irer may not directly supported or increased - long term benefits are rather to be expected in case of development of the relevant process. The above issue is highlighted in the study of Flanagan (1996) where it is noted that 'purely related acquirers benefit more than purely unrelated acquirers; acquiring firm stockholder returns were also higher if the acquisition was friendly or a tender offer' (Flanagan, 1996, 823). At a next level, it is noted that 'acting in a socially responsible and lawful manner is a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for increasing shareholder wealth' (Frooman, 1997, 221).Of course, it is possible that the effects of M&A do not appear within a short period after the completion of the process. The reasons

Choose the topic based on the description Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Choose the topic based on the description - Essay Example The official website of the project emphasizes on the economic opportunity that the project can bring about. It says the British Columbians, Albertans, Canadians, aboriginals, communities and landowners are benefited from it. It provides with education and training opportunities and also improves the safety and integrity of gas transport and operations in the country (Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeilines, n.d). An in-depth analysis will show that the claims made by the government and the company behind the pipeline are nowhere near facts. A vast portion in the proposed route of the pipeline is passing through the traditional lands of many aboriginal groups like Yinka Dene. This also turns out as a menace for the natural habitat of wild salmon. Enbridge is trying to tackle the situation by offering a 10 percent equity stake for aboriginal groups in 80 kilometres of the line. But this can only be regarded as a business minded approach to secure the first nations’ support. Such an offering cannot make up for the loss that the proposed project can bring about. Robyn Allan, an economist and CEO of former Insurance Corporation of BC, in a report specifies that the proposed pipeline can adversely affect non-oil industries. Continual increments in oil prices are inevitable for the success of the project, and therefore it will be a blow for the common man in the country. Family purchasing power will decline; production cost in oil based industries will increase, and the eventual outcome will be abatement in GDP. Enbridge’s history in installation and maintenance of gas pipelines is not worth in giving it a ‘trustworthy’ label. Many NGOs (as cited in Financial Post, 2012) point out incidents of gas leakages and oil spills in pipelines built by them; and 190,000 litres of oil spilled in Wisconsin in July, 2012. As per reports (Financial Post, 2012), there was a 230,000

Development & failure of Supranational institution and their influence Essay

Development & failure of Supranational institution and their influence on Economic Integration of Europe since World War II - Essay Example The rulings of the court have direct effect and supremacy within national judicial systems, even though these doctrines were never explicitly endorsed in any treaty. Treaty of Rome served as a backbone to all other established treaties and theories. The European Act and the Maastricht Treaty have provided for majority, but not unanimous, voting in some issue areas. It is due to the liberalism of Neofunctionalism and Intergovernmentalism theories, which has resulted in the accomplishment of EU. In one sense, the European Union is a product of state sovereignty because it has been created through voluntary agreements among its member states. But, in another sense, it fundamentally contradicts conventional understandings of sovereignty because these same agreements have undermined the juridical autonomy of its individual members. (Stephen D. Krasner) Sovereignty is the central organizing principle of the economic system either applied directly or indirectly, it is taken to mean the possession of absolute authority within a bounded territorial space. Until World War II (WWII), much of the international law was designed to reinforce sovereignty. However just after WWII much of the non-Western world had gained their independence in the decades by setting up a scenario in which many of the new states were not fully sovereign but later they gained recognition as sovereign states, by joining intergovernmental organizations (Eric Brahm). The European Union stands out as the most advanced example of a global economy followed by sovereignty, which is marked by unprecedented levels of economic interpenetration. The initial treaties relating the coal and steel sectors bounded a small group of six European nation states devastated by WWII, later expanded in the landmark Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957, to incorporate all sectors of the ec onomy. Despite of all remarkable supra-national dimensions, European Union has not so much undermined member state sovereignty, as reinforced it by enabling a far greater degree of collective national control over the economy. (Jens Beckert) Today many organizations are state-based seeking to carve out additional authority for them and finding functional benefits in ceding authority to supranational organizations. (Eric Brahm) Schuman Plan Treaty of Paris, 1951 The Schuman Plan, created a supranational agency to manage aspects of national coal and steel policy, such as levels of production and prices. It was agreed that the six countries that signed the Treaty of Paris that were Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany, would pool its coal and steel resources. (Schuman) Member nations of ECSC pledged to pool their coal and steel resources by providing a unified market for their coal and steel products, lifting restrictions on imports and exports, and creating a unified labor market. Economically, the Coal and Steel Community achieved early success; between 1952 and 1960 iron and steel production rose by 75% in the ECSC nations, and industrial production rose 58%. When

What is the history of Bill and Melinda Gates foundation What are Research Paper

What is the history of Bill and Melinda Gates foundation What are their current Projects - Research Paper Example The formal launch of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was in 1999 summer. In early 2000, it was the largest philanthropic trust in the United States since its endowment stood at more than $22 billion. It mainly focus on global health and population control programs, education reform and minority scholarships, a wide range of Pacific Northwest institutions and programs, and libraries and access to information technology (Crowley, 2000). The foundation donated a total endowment of $17 billion in the form of Microsoft stock. However, the Foundation staff later transferred it into other assets to shield the organization both from the vagaries of the stock market and from the corporation. Under the direction of the senior Gates and Stonesifer, the foundation merged with the existing W.H. Gates and Gates Learning Foundations. There was also formation of major programmatic divisions for library and information systems, global health, and education directed respectively by Tom Vander Ark, Dr. Perkin and Dr. William Foege, and Richard Akeroyd (Crowley, 2000). The main goal of the foundation is to offer everyone an equal opportunity to prosper through elimination or reduction of barriers like poor nutrition, weak educational systems and poor health. Therefore, the largest part of its expenditure is on three broad issues: global development, global health and programs in the United States, which focuses on enhancing education (New York Times, 2010). For better management of its philanthropy base, the foundation adopted 15 guiding principles. Among these principles is the limited but crucial role played by philanthropy, the science and technology to enhance lives around the world by treating grantees as valued partners while still leaving room for growth and change. Founded on the beliefs of the Gates’ family, these principles have helped formulate policies used when giving grants to NGOs (Fundsforngos.org, 2008). Although it is unique

Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 20

Homework - Essay Example The employees of a business should be handled with the utmost esteem and terms of their contracts should be met without compromise. These values are absolute, and one must take them seriously enough to dominate human rationale, weakness, ego, or individual faults. Incase of failure one looks back at core values for guidance as there is always disagreement about what values should reign supreme (Dunfee & Nagayasu, 1993). In business, the ones values are the values of the employer, the freedom to choose own ethical values is somewhat limited, but due to corporate scandals, the thought of following the corporation’s values is a problem (Shaw, 2011). The real test of values and communication in business comes from resulting action. Good ethics and communication principles should be noticed at the top levels of management. In addition to that, a corporate values and ethics initiative should be sold throughout the company and customers. A company should practice its ethics and communication values. Training must be provided to everyone So that its principles are known to everyone in the business (Jennings, 2012). The ethics and communication principles should extend to the next generation employees. This is because, the longer it lasts, the more established the principles will be. Conclusively, this article illustrates the importance of business ethics in a business. It gives an insight of how business ethics aids the development of a business and gives the social, political and environmental impact of communication or business ethics in a business

Miley Cyrus Essay Example for Free

Miley Cyrus Essay Miley Cyrus has always been an important figure to me and to my identity. I begun my teenage years watching Hannah Montana every night before going to bed, listening to her songs as both, Miley and Hannah and I even used to learn the lyrics to every song that eventually helped me a lot to improve my english speaking skills. I also had Hannah Montana room appliances, posters and even my bedding was from the famous show. As I see these pictures and also videos, followed by all the comments that are being posted about her everywhere from Youtube to Twitter and from Facebook to many gossip magazines everywhere I look. I feel hurt and I cannot imagine how much pressure she must be feeling at the moment. We live in a world that still doesnt know how to appreciate and is full of hate that doesnt go away easily. Personally, I don not have a problem with what she is doing, but I am really curious, I cannot understand how a person could change not only her appearance, her way of dressing but also her personality from night to morning. I do not dislike who she is now, though I find it disturbing how being a role model to so many young girls she really doesnt care about dancing in front of everyone in such an obscene way or posting pictures on her personal Instagram consuming drugs, for instance the picture where she is smoking a joint of weed. Girls that are still young and even older ones can totally follow these actions and do the same just because their idol is doing it, so in this way I dont think she is doing the right thing. As long as I know, Miley did not have many cheerful times, the last six months of her busy life. She struggled with many aspects of her personal life, just like we all do from time to time. Perhaps she did not know how to manage this in a different way so she decided to make a drastic change. Comparing the two pictures, the first one where her hair is long, she wears an acceptable dress and she smiles sweetly, the other picture below that one was at this years VMAs and she is looks so much more outrageous, her hairstyle completely change, she went from long, brunette to short very light blonde hair. She also changed her clothes and it seems that showing skin is something that makes her feel better, she does not smile but she pulls her tongue out of her mouth and makes signs with her hands. I understand her at this point because as a teenager, I feel how pressure starts to accumulate more in life everyday as I grow older, it is not easy to deal with everything, to find a balance in life. Sometimes things dont go very well or as planned, I get hurt, we all get hurt and we have to learn from mistakes but sometimes I want to be someone else, I want to change who I am and feel different, new and refreshed. From one side, I truly admire the way she reacts to the situation. She is being so critiqued on every move she does, everything she does will be known because she caused so much polemic that way too many people are just on her feet and will not stop wanting to see and know what she does. The media follows her, portrays her in a negative way and she does not care, because she feels happy doing whatever she wants and being different. Cyrus has already spoken many times to the public answering to the publics negative response and the way she answers its been so confident that it is very impressive. I think I have much to learn from her, not from the obscene dance moves and the lack of clothes in public. Instead, learn from the attitude she has taken and how strong she is by not letting comments and people bring her down.

Euthyphros Definition Of Piety

Euthyphros Definition Of Piety In Platos Euthyphro, the character Euthyphro attempts to define the pious as what all the gods love. In this essay, I will examine the basis on which Socrates rejects this definition. In order to do so, I will provide an outline of the dialogue for context. Furthermore, I will analyse what Socrates seems to require for a good definition. Finally, I will attempt to defend Euthyphros definition. Socrates rejects Euthyphros definition on the grounds that his reasoning is circular, but I will argue that by removing the implicit requirement that there needs to be a cause for what the gods love, Euthyphros definition stands up to Socrates argument while falling under his requirements for a good definition. In the Euthyphro, Socrates wants Euthyphro to instruct him on definition of the pious, as Euthyphro is considered an authority on all religious matters, and Socrates believes that by coming under his tutelage he can escape Meletus charges should he prosecute Socrates. Socrates and Euthyphro agree that there must be one exact standard or characteristic quality by which all pious things are pious and everything impious, in contrast to the pious, is impious. Socrates wants to know what this quality is. Euthyphro suggests that prosecuting those who commit injustices is pious, and not prosecuting them is impious, regardless of whom they may be. He references his prosecution of his own father for murder as an example. He notes that Zeus imprisoned his own father for wickedly devouring his own children. As Zeus is the best and most just of all the gods (6a), if he behaves rightly in imprisoning his father for injustice, Euthyphros actions must be pious for following this example. Socrates feels that this is not a good definition of piety. He points out prosecuting those who commit injustices is merely an example of a pious act, and not a definition of piety itself. Euthyphro concedes that there are many more pious deeds that do not consist of prosecuting offenders. Socrates then asks Euthyphro to tell him the the essential aspect, by which all holy acts are holy (6d). Euthyphro then proposes another definition: that piety is what is agreeable to the gods. Socrates proceeds to investigate whether or not this more general definition is accurate. First, he notes out that the gods themselves often quarrel, as is recounted in the myths that Euthyphro believes in so literally. Socrates points out that arguments do not persist over disputed facts, since agreements can be reached through calculation or investigation, but rather over questions of value, such as what is right and wrong, and noble and disgraceful, and good and bad (7d). Euthyphro agrees with this assessment. Socrates points out that if the gods quarrel over what is just and what is good, then there is clearly no agreement among them on such issues. After all, if they have different opinions on justice, it follows that they must approve of different things. Therefore there must be certain things that are loved by some gods and unloved by other gods. But according to Euthyphros definition, that would mean that those things are both pious and impious, since they are approved of by some gods and disapproved of by others. This is clearly contradictory to the earlier assertion that there is one standard for piety, and concordantly for impiety since the impious is that which is not pious. Euthyphro replies that surely the gods all agree that a person who kills someone unjustly should be punished. Socrates replies that the argument is not about whether or not an acknowledged wrongdoer should be punished, but about whether that person has in fact acted unjustly. Hence for Euthyphros argument to have any weight, he needs not to show that the gods agree that someone who murders unjustly should be punished, but that they agree that a particular murder is unjust in the first place. All of this gives us an idea as to what Socrates considers a good definition. He is not satisfied with answers that pertain to certain types of piety, or specific examples of piety. The answer must concern a quality that involves all forms of piety and to nothing that is not pious. In short, a good definition, for Socrates, requires both generality and exclusivity. Furthermore, it must have explanatory power. A statement of somethings non-essential attributes might be true, but would qualify as a definition because it does not explain what that thing is; it merely describes some of that things properties. Eurthyphros responds by changing his earlier definition; he proposes that the pious is what all the gods love, and impiety is what they all hate. Socrates responds by asking Euthyphro whether pious deeds are approved by the gods because they are pious or whether they are pious because they are approved by the gods. The point he wants to make here is that there is a difference between being something and getting something. There are three things that can be said about any action: (1) it is pious, (2) it gets approved by the gods, and (3) it is approved by the gods. The distinction between statements (2) and (3) is that (2) deals with the act of approval by the gods and (3) deals with the state of the action as being approved of by the gods. Causally, (3) must follow (2). The three claims Euthyphro makes are: (i) something gets approved by the gods because it is pious; (ii) something is approved of by the gods because it gets approved of by the gods (this claim is implicit); (iii) what is pious is what is approved of by the gods. The first claim (i) says that (2) is true if (1) is true, (ii) states that (3) is true if (2) is true, and (iii) states that (1) is equivalent to (3). But (i) and (ii) imply that if (1) is true then (3) is true, which is not the same as saying that (1) is the same as (3). Even if (1) and (3) refer to the same thing, they do not have the same meaning. Therefore Euthyphros cannot claim that the definition of piety is that which all the gods love without his reasoning being circular. While Socratess argument is indeed a powerful blow against Euthyphros definition, we shall try and see if it is at all possible to defend Euthyphros definition. One way do so is by going back to the question that Socrates poses to him about whether that which is pious is loved by the gods because it is pious or whether it is pious because it is loved by the gods. The question assumes that the gods need a reason to love something, which is not necessarily the case. If the approval of the gods does not require a cause, then piety can certainly be defined to be that which the gods love without causing any inconsistency. We note that what is pious is always pious. It does not seem to make any sense that what is pious today will be impious tomorrow. It follows that what is pious today was pious yesterday, and what was pious yesterday was pious the day before that, and so on until we arrive at the first cause of piety itself, which is defined as what all the gods love. Under this framework , piety is the state of being loved by all the gods, but it is meaningless to ask what prompts the gods to love something; that is, what caused the gods to love it. Socrates would no doubt complain that this makes piety a rather arbitrary affair, but that should not hinder Euthyphro. It has already been affirmed that different gods can love different things. That indicates that the likes and dislikes of the gods are not based on some higher principles, but are in fact arbitrary. Even so, it is always possible that all the gods can all love the same thing. This can happen purely by chance, but that would still not change that thing from being pious under Euthyphros definition. We note that Euthyphros definition is overarching definition that includes all that is pious and excludes everything else, while having sufficient explanatory power. While Socrates argument against Euthyphros definition is strong, it does not necessarily invalidate the definition. By removing the implicit requirement that the gods need a reason to love something, the definition holds up to both Socrates argument as well as his requirements for a good definition.

The Impact of the Iroquois Confederacy on the Creation of the United St

"One arrow is easily broken, but tied together, no man can break the bundle." -Peacemaker This philosophy was at the core of the powerful Iroquois League of Five Nations. The League of Five Nations, or Iroquois Confederacy as it is more commonly called, was a thriving and well-functioning form of government very similar to that of the United States Government. Hundreds of years before "civilized" man arrived in the New World -- historians think as early as 1400 A.D.-- the Iroquois had created a radically new and well-organized form of government unlike any other before it. This new form of government was the idea of two peaceful men named Hiawatha and Deganawida (McClard 47). Hiawatha and Deganawida realized that the five Iroquois tribes were constantly fighting with one another resulting in many innocent deaths and ongoing tribal wars. As a solution to the constant stream of violence between the Iroquois people, they proposed a union between the five tribes that would make the Iroquois nation as a whole stronger and more powerful, while uniting their "brothers" together in friendship. The Iroquois Confederacy was a lasting union between the five Iroquois tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. This union of five Iroquois tribes would prove to have a great deal of impact on the founding fathers of the United States. The grounding principles of unity, freedom of the people, and democracy that defined the Iroquois Confederacy very much impressed certain men who were charged with designing the new government of the United States. By the time the Europeans arrived in America, the League was already hundreds of years old (McClard 75) and running just as smoothly as when Hiawatha and Deganawida created it so man... ...on, 1988. 2. Fradin, Dennis Brindell. Hiawatha: Messenger of Peace. New York, NY: Maxwell Macmillian International, 1992. 3. Graymont, Barbara. Indians of North America: The Iroquois. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. 4. Malkus, Alida Sims. There Really was a Hiawatha. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap, 1963. 5. McClard, Megan and Ypsilantis, George. Hiawatha and the Iroquois League. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1989. 6. Phillips, Martin. The Constitutional Convention. Morristown, NJ: Silver Burdett Company, 1985. 7. Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. The Iroquois. New York, New York: Holiday House, 1995. 8. Yenne, Bill and Garratt, Susan. North American Indians. Secaucus, NJ: Chartwell Books, Incorperated, 1984. 9. Zimmerman, Larry J. and Molyneaux, Brian Leigh. Native North America. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1996. The Impact of the Iroquois Confederacy on the Creation of the United St "One arrow is easily broken, but tied together, no man can break the bundle." -Peacemaker This philosophy was at the core of the powerful Iroquois League of Five Nations. The League of Five Nations, or Iroquois Confederacy as it is more commonly called, was a thriving and well-functioning form of government very similar to that of the United States Government. Hundreds of years before "civilized" man arrived in the New World -- historians think as early as 1400 A.D.-- the Iroquois had created a radically new and well-organized form of government unlike any other before it. This new form of government was the idea of two peaceful men named Hiawatha and Deganawida (McClard 47). Hiawatha and Deganawida realized that the five Iroquois tribes were constantly fighting with one another resulting in many innocent deaths and ongoing tribal wars. As a solution to the constant stream of violence between the Iroquois people, they proposed a union between the five tribes that would make the Iroquois nation as a whole stronger and more powerful, while uniting their "brothers" together in friendship. The Iroquois Confederacy was a lasting union between the five Iroquois tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. This union of five Iroquois tribes would prove to have a great deal of impact on the founding fathers of the United States. The grounding principles of unity, freedom of the people, and democracy that defined the Iroquois Confederacy very much impressed certain men who were charged with designing the new government of the United States. By the time the Europeans arrived in America, the League was already hundreds of years old (McClard 75) and running just as smoothly as when Hiawatha and Deganawida created it so man... ...on, 1988. 2. Fradin, Dennis Brindell. Hiawatha: Messenger of Peace. New York, NY: Maxwell Macmillian International, 1992. 3. Graymont, Barbara. Indians of North America: The Iroquois. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. 4. Malkus, Alida Sims. There Really was a Hiawatha. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap, 1963. 5. McClard, Megan and Ypsilantis, George. Hiawatha and the Iroquois League. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1989. 6. Phillips, Martin. The Constitutional Convention. Morristown, NJ: Silver Burdett Company, 1985. 7. Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. The Iroquois. New York, New York: Holiday House, 1995. 8. Yenne, Bill and Garratt, Susan. North American Indians. Secaucus, NJ: Chartwell Books, Incorperated, 1984. 9. Zimmerman, Larry J. and Molyneaux, Brian Leigh. Native North America. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1996.

Litter Control :: Environment Ecology Littering

Litter Control Litter control is not only an important issue to me but to this state and country. Programs such as Keep America Beautiful and adopt-a-highway are designed to promote a clean environment by educating people and creating projects to help improve the environment (Keeping America Beautiful). Growing up I learned the importance of having a clean environment. It improves the quality of life, it increases your confidence level, and it makes you proud of your community. I feel strongly about this issue because there are a lot of people who just do not care. South Carolina has a goal of making people aware of the environment. The state government has started a campaign called Palmetto Pride (Diane Marlow). The promotion tactics that they use includes South Carolina officials and well-known people promoting beautification of the state. I also have a goal of making people aware of the environment and I decided that creating a project with children would be very effective. I always thought children were excellent people to work with. They are eager to learn and to show enthusiasm. My plan was to work with the children of St. Lawrence’s Place. That idea was sparked from my University 101 instructor. There I hoped to design a trash-pickup program similar to the one that the adopt-a-highway program had. Along with the program, I would have educated the children about litter prevention and the importance of a clean environment. Instead of walking along a highway collect trash we would wander around St. Lawrence’s Place looking for trash and items to be recycled. Unfortunately, the program could not be carried out because of scheduling problems. Luckily, there was an adopt-a-highway project going on in my hometown during the time of fall break. Adopt-a-highway is a program of public service for volunteers to collect trash along the highways of America. The group agrees to pick up trash at the minimum of three times per year. There is an age limit for this program. Those that are interested must be at least twelve years of age to participate in the trash pick-up. The adopt-a-highway program also educates people about litter prevention and recycling (Adopt-a-highway). On October 15, I arrived on Main Street with some of my friends and former classmates. Main Street is a very busy road that connects to a highway.

African American Contributions in Science Essay -- Science African Ame

African American Contributions in Science   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout American history many African Americans have been overlooked in the field of science. Some powerful minds and great inventors haven’t been re-introduced to new generations. African Americans have contributed a great deal to the advancements of our country and one of the major fields they have made contributions to is in the field of science. Many successful African Americans have been overshadowed by their Caucasian counterparts. More of our children should be aware of these great historians. African Americans that have made major contributions in the field of science that should be discussed, studied and taught to our society to educate new generations of the vast majority of these great scientists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are a variety of areas in the science field that African Americans have participated. There were Chemists, Biochemists, Biologists, Physicists, and many others. There were people like Herman Branson who was an assistant professor of chemistry and physics at Howard University who help prepare many young students for the science field. Dr. Branson became a full professor of physics and was made chairman of the physics department of Howard University from 1941 to 1968. He had research interests in mathematical biology and protein structure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dale Emeagwali was honored scientist of the year in 1996. She has made great contributions to field of science that has benefited mankind. Dr. Emeagwali came from a background where if you wanted to be a doctor while growing up, you would be slapped across the head and told to stop dreaming. Her dreams of being a scientist came true as she worked hard to achieve her degree and make startling discoveries. Among her accomplishments she made the discovery of isozymes of kynurenine formamidase in the basterium streptomyces parvulus which, prior to her findings, were known to only exist in higher organisms. Dr. Emeagwali also proved that cancer gene _expression could be inhibited by antisense methodology, which she says can lead to better treatment for cancer. She is a well accomplished scientist that many people have never heard of.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All fields of science affects the lives of many people, but the inventors are left out. Inventors make many lives more comfortable and convenient. George Edward Alcorn, Jr. was a not so well-known inventor, but he... ...et (1977). Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United States. New York: Free Press Manning, Kenneth R. (1983). Black Apollo of Science: The Life of Ernest Everett Just. New York: Oxford University Press Massie, Samuel (1982). Cited in Barry Meier "Why There are So Few Black Chemists." Industrial Chemical News 3:1-6 Meier, Barry (1982). "Why are There So Few Black Chemists." Industrial Chemical News 3:1-6 Mozans, H.J. (1974). Women in Science. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press Pearson, Willie Jr. (1985). Black Scientists, White Society, and Colorless Science: A Study of Universalism in American Science. Milwood, NY: Associated Faculty Press Roscher, Nina M., and Cavanaugh, Margaret A. (1987). "Academic Women Chemists in the 20th Century: Past, Present, Projections." Journal of Chemical Education 64:823-827. Rossiter, Margaret W. (1982). Women Scientists in America: Struggles and Strategies to 1940. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press Young, Herman A., and Young, Barbara A. (1976). "Black Doctorates: Myth vs. Reality." Chemical Technology 6:296-299. Zuckerman, Harriet (1977). Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United States. New York: Free Press

Ceaseless controversy †Christianity Essay

The 18th century England was embroiled in ceaseless controversy. The first half of the century was marked by political movements, the rise of skeptics and deists (enlightenment period) whereas in the second half, revival within the church became the issue at stake. Harris states that the century witnessed deterioration in religious tradition, which resulted from a new spirit of individualism, accompanied by the development of new literary forms.1 Ancient records served as the basis for the claims of Christian theology,2 and the deists questioned their authenticity. The deists also ignored revealed religion, laying emphasis on the religion of nature, which is based on reason. As Cragg infers, gradually reason took the place of theology, and served as a principal factor preoccupying the century’s thought. Moreover, its supremacy as a foundation of faith was universally accepted.3 As a result, the deists expressed their objections to Christianity, considering it as a religion contrary to reason. The enlightenment period of the 18th century also came up with biblical criticism. New methods of empirical science were applied to the study of all disciplines, including the Bible.4 Consequently, a number of distinguished writers subjected the Bible to criticism. One of these personalities was Thomas Paine. In his second part of The Age of Reason, he attacked the Bible based on his own investigation. In 1796 Richard Watson, bishop of Liandaff (1737-1816),5 wrote a refutation against Paine’s book, entitled: â€Å"An Apology for the Bible.† Thus, Paine’s The Age of Reason (II) and Watson’s refutation represent enlightenment insights and religious authority respectively, which stood at conflict in the 18th century. By comparing their different perspectives, this paper will demonstrate that Paine’s argument is based on reason whereas Watson’s is based on Biblical authority and tradition. Paine is a believer in natural religion, and so his writings are opposed to the assumptions of revealed religion. For him, God fully reveals himself not in written scripture but through the universe, which can be communicated to anyone without being falsified as the Bible is. Therefore, in his attack against the revealed religion, he primarily searched for defects in the Bible. Raising a moral issue, he quoted a verse from the Bible wherein God ordered the Israelites to attack the Canaanites. From this he concluded that the Bible cannot be the word of God, as it includes a morally defective account which the creator of man by no means commissions to be done.6 According to Paine, it is repugnant to God’s moral justice that he should doom to destruction the crying or smiling infants of the Canaanites. In his reply, Watson demonstrated his defense of the revealed religion. He contends that if we are to despise the revealed religion in this way, the same will be true for natural religion, because it is obvious that earthquakes too swallow up men, women, the little ones, and infants. Then, â€Å"why do you not maintain it to be repugnant to God’s moral justice,† Watson asks Paine, † that he should suffer crying or smiling infants to be swallowed up by an earthquake, drowned by an inundation, consumed by fire, starved by famine or destroyed by pestilence?†7 This indicates that according to Watson, there is also a defect in the deist’s bible, i.e. nature. If the Bible is to be regarded defective in moral accounts because of the destruction of the infants of the Canaanites, Paine’s bible (nature) too is equally defective. In another words, Watson infers that what is revealed in nature is found in the Bible, so they are not contradictory to each other. Therefore Watson argues that it is unfair for Paine to criticize the Bible without equally comparing it with his bible (nature). He strongly expresses his objections as: â€Å"you have no right, in fairness of reasoning to urge any apparent deviation from moral justice as an argument against revealed religion because you do not urge an equally apparent deviation from it, as an argument against natural religion: you reject the former and admit the latter† (Apology, 91). In this way, Watson views Paine’s argument of morality as biased and unjust. For Watson, the Bible which he regards as â€Å"a divine instruction given to some, and traditionally communicated to all† is infallible, for it is the inspiration of God (Apology, 85). In my opinion, all Watson’s arguments lie on this key assumption. He does not critically question the authenticity of the books in the Bible as Paine does. For example, one of the books in the Pentateuch tells us that Moses spoke face to face to God, and wrote down what God had instructed him. This is undoubtedly acceptable for Watson. He does not accept any philosophical thought that may rob him of his Bible. But Paine, following his motto: â€Å"my own mind is my own church†8 accepts only what seems agreeable to his mind. Watson considers the Bible as an infallible guide, but Paine considers his â€Å"reason† as infallible and self-sufficient. While Paine tries his best to prove that the Bible contains morally offensive accounts, Watson learns morality from the Bible. He addressed Paine: â€Å"the Bible, which you despise, has taught me not to judge anyone; it has said to me, ‘who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls† (Apology, 7.) Watson came to know everything acceptable to his mind from the Bible, as his confesses: â€Å"God’s word has assured me of all that I am concerned to know† (Apology, 17.)

The Distribution of Population in Northern England

Northern England has a vary distributed population across the Northern area. Northern England is home to some very well known towns like Kendal, Barnard Castle and Hexham. The diagram below shows the distribution of popuation in Northern England. And as you can see the most populated areas are all situated all the East coast of the country, these include towns like Morpeth, Hexham and Alnwick. The further you work in land the less populated it gets until you reach the centre which is hardly populated at all and in fact only homes around 2% of Northern Englands population, this is less than 20 people per km2. The Eastern Coast of the north east is where it is most populated with three diffferant parts of population. The ultra high density which homes around 33% of the North Population which again is over 400 people per km2, the secound part is of High density which homes around 35% of the Norths population this is between 40-400 people per km2 and finally the medium density which homes 30% North Englands population this is 20-40 people per km2. The middle of the country, like the pennines area has hardly any of the population based here, it has less than 20 people per km2 which is 2% of the population. This area however takes up alot of the Northern land area, it is around 40%. There are many factors which help us to understand the reason for the population distribution in Northern England, these include the following, Climate, Fertile Soil, Transport, Communications and job offers (ie- employment, which will attract alot of people). The reason for High density distribution along the coast is because with being on the coast this is a excellant way of transport, for Industry (ie, like trading, export and inport, the countrys economy), this can also be used by locals and other countrys if they want to set up businesses. So the coast is a brilliant place for Industrys to set up because it cuts down on Transport costs, therefore the company will benefit. With Industry setting up here then this will attract alo of people because there will many Job others and homes will be set up near the Industry for the workers to live. A example of this is Teeside this homes alot of important Industrys like ICI and also has a new wastewater and sludge treatment plant which can serve over a population of 3.5 million and it will also cater for other difficult industrial effluents produced my Teeside Industry, for example it already hosts for ICI. Also the Climate on the Coast isnt as cold as it is in the middle of the country which has very altitudes. The coast has areas of relatively flat land for building unlike the middle of the country which has alot of mountain areas like the Pennines. The largest Suburban housing estate is also based in Teeside called Ingly Barwick.Other towns of High Density in this area is Tyneside and Wearside. The reason for the places of High Density like Consett, South East Northumberland and Mid Durham is because of the the traditional mining and industrial towns that declined are now diversifying and attracting new investment. This again will attract people for employment oppurtunities. And also with this area not beging ultra high density the scenery isnt as ugly (ugly meaning views of lots of Industrys), as the settlements consist of villages and small towns, this will also attract people as it is attractive. The soil is also very Fertile in these areas therefore large yields of crops will be produced to sustain the large population but also for profit. As you move further inland the population density distribution decreases, a main reaon for this is because the land becomes less flat and more moutains occur like the Pennines. This makes it hard to build settlements and Industry. The only Industry in this area is sheep farming, because there is alot of land for the animals to shelter in bad weather. With this area being at such High altitudes this also affects the reason why people dont often live here, because the weather will be so cooled, and the high altitudes make it hard for communication to be set up. And as you can see from the picture below of the Pennines area the land is not very flat. Areas like this that dont hold many people are places like Cheviots, Pennines and Cumbria. The only reasons that people may live here are for Farmling, Retirement or for the tourist industry as there are many attractive areas like the Lake District which attract many people from all over the world. The soil in this area may also not be very fertile, so that the yeilds of groups are not very high. Unlike on the Coastal area where it is very populated. With the High Altitudes it is also very hard to build transport, like roads which would have very dangerous roads in the mountaind and hair pin bends which may cause alot of accidents, would be hard to build and mantain.Also building communication links like bridges would be very difficult and would probably cost a large of money to do so. For Industry it would be hard to set up here because of a lack of flat land and the little areas of flat land are not good enough to expand on, and transport costs would be really high because the coast is far away and making railway lines and building airports is hard again because of the lack of flat land. So the reason for the Density Distribution in North England is all down to the factors like Climate, Land Altitude, Transport, Vegetation, Siol Fertility, resources and communications. Thats why there is a distribution of population in the North of England.

Love Cycle Essay

The rain starts pouring that particular early evening. Other students run towards buildings for shelter, but I do not notice the cold. How I feel is more overpowering than the disgust I would have felt for me getting soaked at any other time. My feet automatically stop right next to the bench where I have first seen her. That was what, more than a year ago, and I have not seen her for six months now. My beautiful, sweet Angie. Nothing could have prepared me for that one, fateful night when I passed by the same spot on my way home and, against the darkness of the park, I noticed a girl with her head bowed, her arms propped against the bench, and her hair covering her face. It was raining then, too, and that forlorn figure got me worried in spite of myself. So I had approached where she sat, and carefully asked, â€Å"Uhm, miss? † She did not look up. Maybe she was a stone sculpture, until I heard a hiccup. â€Å"Miss, are you OK? It’s raining and, uh, it’s kind of dark here. † The girl slowly sat upright until she was looking at me directly. I swear I heard angels singing when she trained those eyes on me. But they were sad, tear-stained eyes. I could not help thinking what possibly made such beautiful girl cry. Yes, she was beautiful even with the dark stains in her cheeks. Despite the situation, the guy in me just could not stop checking her out. She looked tall and slender. Her hair was long, almost reaching her elbow. She had these thin eyebrows, the kind I usually looked at in women. They made her eyes look bigger and God, didn’t she have the longest eyelashes. What guy wouldn’t fall for a woman who looks like her? My scrutiny halted when she muttered, almost inaudibly, â€Å"I’m OK. † Her voice sounded sweet to my ears. I have never been a picky person, except when it comes to women. I can eat anything, anyone can be my friend, but I can never just pick out one woman from the crowd and pursue her ‘til she say that sweet ‘Yes. ’ I guess maybe that’s the reason why I fell hopelessly in love with Angie. She just appeared into my life without warning, and she never sent any signal to my direction that she likes me, too. A week after that incident, I was forced to do some researching at the main library. By any choice, I would have chosen to play hoops with the guys, but my grade was on the line. Little did I know that I’d see her for the second time, in the library. The funny thing was we were obviously looking for the same thing because we reached for an old book at the same time. When we looked at each other, I found out it was her. She must have recognized me because she tentatively smiled. â€Å"Uh, go ahead,† I said, ever the gentleman. She took the book and said, â€Å"I guess there’s only this copy here. By the way, I’m Angie. You were that guy. † It made me smile because she did remember. â€Å"Yeah! I’m Skip. † When she looked puzzled, I added, â€Å"Actually it’s Steven, but I’m usually called Skip. † It was a year ago now, but I can still remember the way she smiled when we studied that book, or the way her face lit up whenever she talked. Eventually we became friends as we found out we had the same teacher but a different schedule on a subject. That friendship entitled me to see her everyday and talk with her. As days and months passed, I became more attached to Angie. Sometimes I would decline my mates’ invitation for one basketball game just so I could accompany Angie to wherever she wanted to go. I found out that I immensely enjoyed her company because we have so many things in common. We both grew up in a broken family; she lived with her father, while I grew up with my mother. The comfort we found in each other after talking about a similar experience drew us ever closer. It dawned on me one day that I have fallen in love with Angie. Every time she’s away, it creates a hollow feeling that only she can fill. Even my friends noticed the change in me. I was too afraid to let her know. The last time I pursued a girl, she turned me down even before I could ask her. I felt that it might happen the second time around with Angie. That would surely crush my heart, or any chances of her and me ending up together. More days passed. I got the shock of my life when one night, while I was at the apartment studying with my friends, she came barging into the room wearing the biggest, most beautiful smile. I was imagining her telling me, â€Å"Skip, I just found out that I could not live without you! † Instead, she told me and everyone else, â€Å"Skip! My goodness, you wouldn’t believe this! Will finally asked me! † I frowned upon hearing that name. I only met Will once or twice, and it didn’t dawn on me that he was pursuing my Angie, too. I didn’t even know if the two dated. After Angie told me about him, I felt like the world was crushing me. Would she have worn the same, big, beautiful smile if I asked her? Probably not. I died when she next announced, â€Å"Skip, he asked me. How could I not say yes? We dated a few times but we always see each other during Math II and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I no longer heard the rest of it because I stood up and, without saying anything, locked myself in my room. I didn’t hear her knocking, nor her voice pleading me to come out and tell her what’s wrong. The erratic beating of my barely functioning heart was too loud for me to hear anything. What Angie said, it was like a dagger. After all this time, I’ve been building my courage to finally tell her how I feel. But she beat me to it, with a very cruel message. Anger, regret, and resentment rolled up until I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to shout, to hurt myself. But how could I rewind the time, back to the days when I was on the verge of professing to her? I never felt so bad in my life, not even the way I feel about my last unfortunate episode with a girl can compare. I have loved Angie, so much in fact that I can give up anything. I nurtured this feeling until it blossomed into full-blown love that is far from what any man can comprehend. I wanted her back. I wanted back my Angie. It was so unfair. I know I haven’t indicated that I feel something special for her, but how could she not notice? It was like telling me, in my face, that she doesn’t think I’m good enough for her. It was too much that I found myself crying into the night like I never did before. The tears just wouldn’t stop even if I reminded myself it was not a macho thing. But who cares? The woman I’ve secretly loved for so long, just fluttered away. I found out it was hard. Since that night I avoided her, ignored her calls, her messages. I was hurting so much that I didn’t want to see her. Eventually the calls and messages stopped. I barely saw her in the months that followed. If I did, she was in the company of that guy who could have been me had I dared to tell her. I tried to move on because I can see that she’s happy. I was just unsure if it would be a great idea right now to be friends with her again. So the days and months that followed, I immersed myself into studying, hanging out with my friends and signing up for other activities to help me forget. I knew there was no other way but to forget, and forget I did. So in that early evening, I sit where she sat more than one year ago. The rain was accommodating, falling endlessly and washing the tears from my eyes. I was not crying because of regret, but because of the fact that I really did move on after all. I prop my hands over the edge of the cold bench and watch as droplets of rain create ripples in the puddle of water on my feet. Suddenly, rain stops falling in the puddle but it does not stop entirely. A pair of shoes appeared just next to the bench, and I noticed that a shadow stretches over the lawn in front of me. A female voice carefully asked, â€Å"Excuse me. Are you alright? † Yeah, it’s time for me to let go. Time can heal all wounds, and rain can wash away tears. I couldn’t help smiling at the turn of two similar events: one more than a year ago, and the other, right now. With a smile I looked up into the worried face of a girl holding an umbrella towards me and I said, â€Å"Yes, I’m OK. †

The silk Road recording the journey

The Silk Road was a very interesting time in life time history. The silk Road was the world's first superhighway not literally a single road it consisted of a good network of trade routes connecting China with Central Asia and lands beyond all the way to Rome. Goods were usually transported by larch Caravana it's made up of guides soldiers religious Pilgrims merchants and hundreds of fright bearing camels. The silk Road florist for more than 3000 years and had a major influence on the cultures of Asia Europe and Africa is Vinny Q ask you to become a traveler on the silk Road and to record your experiences at different points on your journey.In this mini to you will examine several documents and then write five journal entries in the voice of a fictionists person traveling the silk Road first choose the type of traveler you wish to be from the collection of district just descriptions on the following page give your traveler a name from the list below and fill out the profile of this p erson using the biological information and your historical imagination.Good Genadijs spread across to soak road for sentries this process of sharing is calling cultural diffusion by historians below are a few examples of goods and ideas that move by way of the silk Road's number one from China silk iron bronze server and mix orange trees paper gunpowder from Central Asia for Gano horses from Africa Ivory and rhinoceros horn from India spices and Buddhism from Europe music and glassware for travelers heading west the OC this town of done Wong was a place to rest and resupply before braving the Western Cody and the Telemac and deserts soon after the fall of hand dynasty.Buddhism monks Buddhist monks begin to dig caves just 10 miles outside of dung cock in many of the caves they built Buddhist shrines over the centuries these caves also became storage vaults for many items brought to Duntonge by Cellpro travelers in ancient times the Telemac and desert was sometimes referred to as the Cody today as then the temperature in the desert reaches over 100Â °F and rainfall and minimal

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics - Essay Example The people and neighbours nearby the plant were in great dilemma. The Corporation blamed the Indian workers and managers for such incident. Various cases were filed against the corporation and the chairman at Indian courts (Browning, 1993). In this paper, a study has been conducted based on the Bhopal gas leak disaster. One of the prime objectives of the paper will be to analyse the role of the former chairman of Union Carbide Corporation, Mr. Anderson regarding his fault in the dreadful explosion of MIC from the plant. The paper also deals with the stakeholder theory and corporate citizenship of the plant administered by Union Carbide in Bhopal, India. Furthermore, the paper will discuss about whether the corporation was successful or failed in their responsibility towards society. The stakeholder theory of the Corporation will also be highlighted by referring to the theoretical framework. 2.0 Is Anderson to blame at all for this accident? Union Carbide Corporation’s parent c ompany Dow Chemical Company is one of the biggest producers of chemical in the United States. The corporation is operating in various countries throughout the world. The plant had started its operation in Bhopal in the year 1969 with $25 million manufacturing facility. The plant was named as Union Carbide of India, Ltd (UCIL). Since its headquarters is in the US, technical and financial operations of the plant were performed in the US. Government of India also owned a certain part of the plant. Due to the incident of Bhopal disaster in 1986 as well as pressure from the US judges, the corporation approved to pay $425 million for the victims of the incident. Later the Union Carbide changed their opinion towards the victims. Mr. Warren Anderson, who was the chairman of the corporation, visited India after such incident and said everything would be done for the victims of Bhopal tragedy. He offered $1million for such dreadful disaster and to build hospital, orphanage as well as vocation al schools (Gupta, 2002). The incident was caused since proper safety measures were not adopted in the plant. The chairman was responsible to manage all the operations but he did not conduct them properly. The Carbide engineers were involved in the final design as well as construction of the plant. Due to possible limitation in the designing of plant such incident had occurred. There was inadequacy from the Union Carbide Corporation in safety measures, deficient in cooling facilities, defective alarm systems, poor maintenance and storage of excessive amounts of toxic materials. However, the corporation was not willing to admit their shortcomings and were rather blaming the workers for such damage. Various homicide charges were also filed against the top nine officers of the Corporation besides Chairman Anderson. In the US, the corporation had installed all the safety measures for the individuals working there. However, in one of the third world country, i.e. in India, Union Carbide did not adopt adequate safety measures for the workers in the plant (Browning, 1993). The deadly Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) was imported to India from the US in order to stimulate foreign direct investment. From that period onwards, the Bhopal plant

Internship Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Internship Report - Essay Example But it was also a great opportunity for me to understand the other desks that I didn’t really know about, such as back office teams. I discovered that in this industry, though people focus more on the front office, the back office and middle office are actually quite important. They support the front office: impressive front offices wouldn’t exist without well-organized back and middle offices. About the buddy system, I didn’t have an exact buddy during this internship program. However, I had many chances to interact with junior members from different desks. This helped me to a great extent to understand more about Nomura. Jason from IT, Mark from US rates trading, Jerry from credit trading, Tan, Yuichiro and Bruce from research, and Dennis from JGB swap trading were all great sources of learning. I had some of my meals with these young members, interacted with them when they were at work, and these experiences have brought me very close to some of these talented members of the Nomura team. I could share my dilemmas with them, and they often gave me great advice when I encountered problems, or encouraged me when I was upset. Also, while interacting with them, I could picture myself working at Nomura as a junior, and it helped me imagine how I could contribute as a junior member. During the internship, I also had several opportunities of meeting key people in Nomura. I realized that Nomura has lots of all-star players in this industry. Especially, I was thoroughly impressed with our CEO. He was quite eloquent and persuasive during the interview meeting, and I was fascinated by the speed and intelligence of his reactions to my ideas and queries. I see why he is one of the most successful people in this industry and why Nomura is expanding right now. In addition, I really appreciate Mr.Osone who just let me come into his office whenever I

Business Ethics and Virtue Ethics MOD 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Ethics and Virtue Ethics MOD 3 - Essay Example If a person is not courageous, for instance, he will not overcome the difficulties inherent in the practice of any virtue† (Pury & Lopez, 2010). In simple words, it implies doing what one knows he has to do no matter how demanding or complicated it might seem. Courage takes a number of forms. Examples incorporate the courage to stand for what is true, the courage deal with a personal apprehension, the courage to admit disrespect, the courage to tolerate physical or emotional hurt for self-development, the courage to move ahead through disappointment, and many more. Virtue of Honesty The virtue of honesty is defined as the negation to false reality, that is, â€Å"to pretend that facts are other than they are† (Roberts & Woods, 2010). According to Peikoff, honesty consists of taking the procedure of cognition sincerely, creating an active psyche, and looking for knowledge because one wants it to proceed appropriately rather than making an impression on others. Honesty is linked with the value it tries to achieve because such value should symbolize truth, it cannot be faked. From this perspective, virtues are depicted with respect to what is better for individuals: Virtues are not their own incentive or a type of self-anguish, but a â€Å"selfish necessity in the process of achieving values† (Roberts & Woods, 2010). A virtue such as honesty is not only an inclination to do what is truthful, nor is it to be supportively identified as an advantageous or ethically important character’s attribute. It is certainly a character attribute - that is, a disposition that is deep-rooted within its owner. An honest individual's motives as well as preferences, with respect to honest and dishonest behavior, reveal his views regarding honesty and genuineness - but naturally such views manifest themselves with regard to other behaviors and to emotional responses also. Virtue of Justice While speaking of justice as a virtue, one is usually indicating tow ards a quality of individuals, even if considering the justice of individuals as having some indication towards social justice. Plato treats justice as an â€Å"overarching virtue† (Sandel, 2010) of people as well as of societies, signifying that more or less all issues he would consider as ethical appeared under the perception of justice. However, in contemporary practices, justice includes just a part of individual integrity, and one does not readily imagine people as unjust if they lie. Plato knows individual justice on equivalence with â€Å"justice writ large in the state† (Sandel, 2010), however, he considers the state, or democracy, as a form of organism or beehive, and the justice of people is not thought of as mainly involving orthodoxy to just organizations as well as regulations. Instead, the just person is someone whose psyche is directed by a revelation of the Good, someone in whom rationale rules enthusiasm and aspiration through this sort of a vision. Su ch a formation of individual justice is virtue ethical since it connects justice (or behaving in a just manner) to an inner condition of the person instead of the loyalty to social standards or to good outcomes. Plato and Aristotle both were rationalists because they consider human understanding and ethical causes; in addition, what they state

Learning experiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Learning experiences - Essay Example Bexley Public School, consisting of 320 and located in Sydney’s southern suburbs, is a middle-sized school perfect for this unit. This school has students from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The school takes pride in its diversity; 87.9% of students are from language backgrounds other than English (there are 34 different spoken languages in the school). The school provides a range of programs for children, such as joining the National Partnership for the students’ literacy to be enhanced. The school celebrate holidays such as Harmony Day, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and Christmas. This unit is suitable for stage 1, year 2, as it teaches them about the different celebrations in their community. More specifically, it teaches them to accept and value the way other people celebrate the same celebrations but in different ways. For instance, there are different ways to celebrate a birthday. As there is a wide range of cultures, it is important for the students to understand the different types of celebrations and how they are celebrated so they can learn how to accept and tolerate people of other cultures. The students will be engaged in researching and participating in different celebrations, as well as talking to guest speakers to understand the unit of celebrations and differences between them. Also, the students must bring their own party decorations to see how each student celebrates. Students will need typing skills; hence, knowledge of Microsoft Word will be necessary. Students will be aware of the activities they will be doing in class. Each of the learning experiences involves hands-on activities that implements cooperative learning. Also, each learning experience commences with a discussion to check the children’s knowledge and whether they learnt anything from previous lessons. Hence, this will allow a discussion to be formed in which the students can make their own contributions to the topic. Hence, through this unit there will be a wide

Courtroom and the Jurisdiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Courtroom and the Jurisdiction - Essay Example Federal courts have limited jurisdiction. They can only hear cases falling within the area or scope defined by the Constitution of the United States or the federal statutes. The writer has chosen the bombing case at Boston Marathon where Dzhokhar Tsarnaev murdered three people and injured over 250 people after detonating a bomb during the Boston Marathon in 2013. Concerning jurisdiction and seriousness of the crime, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was charged in a federal court rather than state courts of Massachusetts. Dzhokhar was charged with thirty counts including maliciously damaging and destroying property with an explosive device, and conspiring to use a mass destruction weapon. The federal government can prosecute cases that fall within the federal jurisdiction. United States attorneys may decide to prosecute their cases concurrently with state crimes prosecution, or they may choose to prosecute from the state courts (Index to Criminal Justice and Behavior, 2008). In the case of Tsarnaev, federal prosecutors give importance to death sentencing. This may have been the only reason that the feds took over the state’s authority and why Dzhokhar underwent trial in the federal court rather than state court. A death penalty is prohibited in some states in the U.S. Several high profile cases recently have shown that innocent defendants sometimes plead guilty. More shocking is that in most of these cases, the defendant is known to be innocent or that people suspect his innocence at the time of entering the plea. On 19 August 2011, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin were released from prison almost 18 years after they were arrested in relation to murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis. Their freedom came at a cost of pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit. The plea bargain secured their freedom, but the three men will be considered as convicted murderers (Hemmens, 2009).  

Biology lab report ( includes abstract, intro, results, dissections ) - 1

Biology ( includes abstract, intro, results, dissections ) - Lab Report Example It was found from the comparison that the on average the northern population of Crotalus atrox has much greater heterozygosity than the southern population. Thus it can be considered that the northern population has more genetic variation than the southern population. Various reasons can be accounted for this genetic variation such as mutation in migration because of changed habitat, inbreeding within the southern population, as well as the genetic mechanisms such as genetic drift and gene flow bringing in forces like founder effect and population bottleneck. Therefore it can be concluded that the highway construction has impacted the genetic variations of the populations of Crotalus atrox. Crotalus atrox is an eminent species in semiarid communities, deserts of North America and reside in various regions. Although this specific rattlesnake’s species are not regarded as endangered, however, investigating this species will aid in the development of better protection and conservation practices (Brennan, 2008). The heterozygosity of Crotalus atrox, the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake’s two populations has been explored in order to ascertain if any change has occurred within the microsatellite diversity amongst the chosen two populations of Crotalus atrox. Investigation of microsatellite diversity leads to better comprehension of genetic fitness and variation within the species. It also provides an opportunity to penetrate on ways of conservation to prevent endangerment caused by the human made (anthropogenic) barriers, which are introduced into the natural habitats. There have been various studies done to explore the influence of anthropogenic barriers on the lives of various organisms. Landscape genetics reveals the way landscape features may impact the population structure by associating genetic discontinuities with environmental or landscape features. These features include climatic, edaphic, biotic and other

Methodology and Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Methodology and Design - Essay Example e cupcake business, questionnaires on online shopping, focus group with potential customers, and pilot study through selling of cupcakes at a local event. The in-depth look into the various elements of achieving a good research was the key aspects of the design methodology. The study also adopted secondary data such as review of the reported cases from the university, the university policy and the government policy on how the online business platform should be handled. The target population will be the businesspersons from both the online and physical cupcake enterprises with main focus on the former. The online businesses experts will also be engaged in an in-depth interview with the main focus being getting the expertise view into the venture to undertaken. The sample population for the study is also targeted at the customers of the cupcake. This is targeted as a means of getting to know their take on the business to be ventured into. A maximum number of five potential customers are to be interviewed in some kind of focus group. A local population is also targeted as part of the research sample. The local event is to be used to carry out pilot study through the selling of sample cupcakes. To achieve the objectives of the research, questionnaires were used to collect data. Secondary data i.e. the business experts in the field and also the research resources already gathered from the very line of business. Online business gurus are also to be involved. The questionnaires in both closed and open ended. The questionnaires were pretested for content validity and reliability. The interview method was administered on few experts to gather more useful information for the study. To ensure face validity and content validity of the questionnaires, the researcher intends to consult a number of experts in the field of computing, website and the online businesses shoppers. The question was pilot tested on a number of respondents within the local population at a local

Beauty Pageants and Our Children Essay Example for Free

Beauty Pageants and Our Children Essay Alost 3 million children, most of them girls, from the ages of 6 months and 17 years compete in beauty pageants annually in America. Competition can be local and national and they compete in categories such as swimwear, talent, costume of your choice, and eveningwear. This is an industry where mothers give her daughter energy drinks for a boost before pageants, 3-year-olds don fake fingernails, and parents regularly spend five thousand dollars on a childs pageant outfit (O’Neill 1). Beauty pageants have negative consequences on America’s youth contestants through the pressure to be â€Å"perfect,† media influences, and child sexualization, which results in exhaustion, eating disorders, and body image issues in their future. In recent years, the child beauty pageant industry has exponentially grown in size and popularity. This growth is mainly due to television shows, such as Toddlers Tiaras and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo that may be entertaining but exploit little girls in the process. These reality shows expose the behind-the-scenes horrors of beauty pageants that most people were oblivious too before. These shows have also revealed the use of energy supplements to improve the contestants performance, age-inappropriate costumes, intense and painful beauty regimens. Alana Thompson, featured on TLC’s Toddlers Tiaras, is a seven-year-old beauty queen, nicknamed Honey Boo Boo, whose mother frequently gives her the infamous â€Å"Go-Go Juice†, a mix of Red Bull and Mountain Dew, before pageants. It is common knowledge that energy drinks are bad for one’s health, but every nutritionist in the world would agree that Red Bull for a seven-year-old is tremendously dangerous. Alana now has her own reality television show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Parents are not only harming their children’s health but also their moral. On one Toddlers Tiaras episode, Paisley, merely 3-years-old, sported a costume based on the prostitute in Pretty Woman. In a 2011 episode, Madiysyn Mady Verst‘s mother filled out the then-4-year-olds chest with fake breasts and an impossibly round behind for a Dolly Parton routine. Experts in child development argue the difference between playing dress-up and making a profession out of it. Little girls are supposed to play with dolls, not be dolls, says Mark Sichel, a New York-based licensed clinical social worker, who calls the extreme grooming common at pageants a form of child abuse. Playing dress-up is normal and healthy, but when its demanded, it leaves the child not knowing what they want, he says. Accentuating their appearance with such accoutrements as fake hair, teeth, spray tans and breast padding causes the children tremendous confusion, wondering why they are not okay without those th ings (Triggs 1). All of this confusion and body image problems is instilled in child beauty pageant contestants at a very young age. Ultimately, this leads to eating disorders, psychological issues, and relationship problems in the contestants’ later years. A study conducted at the University of Minnesota by Anna Wonderlich, Diann Ackard, and Judith Henderson showed the correlation between childhood beauty pageants and adult disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, depression, and self-esteem (Wonderlich 1). The results of this scientific experiment proved that for all the tests that assessed characteristics of anorexia and bulimia nervosa scores for those who had participated in beauty pageants were higher than scores for those who had not participated (Wonderlich 5). These results indicate a significant association between childhood beauty pageant participation and increased body dissatisfaction, difficulty trusting interpersonal relationships, and greater impulsive behaviors, and indicate a trend toward increased feelings of ineffectiveness (Wonderlich 6). Another example of the destructive effects of childhood beauty pageant is Brooke Breedwell, now nineteen, who was a child pageant contestant and a star of the television documentary, â€Å"Painted Babies.† â€Å"As a girl, [Breedwell] suffered from stress and anxiety while striving for an unrealistic standard of perfection. [In various interviews], she explains that her mothers ambition, coupled with her own obsessive drive to win, resulted in severe social and psychological consequences† (Ahrens 86). Another negative consequence of childhood beauty pageants is the disturbing sexualization of young girls that steals away their treasured innocence–as if eating disorders and body image problems were not enough. Former child beauty queen Nicole Hunter confirms this theory by explaining that â€Å"dressing and acting like a woman at a young age compelled her to prematurely confront her sexuality, which in turn lowered her self-esteem† (Liberman 741). The child pageant circuit concentrates on the ideals of perfection and beauty, with an accompanying focus on sexuality. Innocent girls dressed in skimpy costumes parade and dance, remove pieces of their outfits and wink at judges. Basically, young beauty queens are taught to flirt and manipulate their early sexuality in order to win. Though frequently condemned for such eccentric and damaging practices, the child pageant industry has been gaining success and extensive popularity (Liberman 745). Additionally, reporter Richard Goldstein investigated the JonBenet Ramsey, a child beauty queen, murder case and brought to the surface both our horror at how effectively a child can be constructed as a sexual being and our guilt at the please we take in such a sight (Giroux 50). Her dynamic role in pageants was vastly examined by media after the murder. After JonBenet’s highly publicized murder, the problems of child beauty pageants, especially the degradation of young girls, are first brought to society’s attention. Although many pageant parents argue that the press unfairly focused on the connection of beauty pageants to Jon Benet’s murder, these defenders rarely address the concerns of robbing a child of her virtue by depicting young girls as â€Å"sexualized nymphets.† They have little to say about what adolescents actually gain in pageants. Those in favor of the pageants overlook how a child might see herself and her ability to form relationships with society when her feelings of self-worth is defined solely through a belief that beauty is one-dimensional and patronizing (Giroux 54-55). No five-year-old child enjoys getting her hair ripped out and teased, spending hours each day practicing exhausting dance routines, or devoting every weekend traveling to pageants rather than playing with friends. It is the beauty pageant contestant’s mother who forces them to endure these strenuous and sometimes painful rituals in order to achieve their own satisfaction. When feminist writer-performer, StaceyAnn Chin first saw Toddlers Tiaras she was â€Å"flabbergasted by the parents who were so invested in these contests they got angry if their girls showed any signs of flagging.† In regards to the infamous pageant moms, Chin states that, † the pageant reminded me a little of dog showstiny, powerless competitors trained to do as they are told, with trainers who exploit their charges to gain fame and fortune and live out some archaic dream they once had for themselves† (Chin 1). The vast majority of pageant moms deny the harmful effects beauty pageants have own their child. Pageant mothers often â€Å"neutralize† their deviant behavior of enrolling their daughter in pageants by claiming pageants help their daughter rather than hurt. Also, mothers deny their own responsibility as the accountable parent by claiming that her daughter chooses to participate in beauty pageants (Pannell 68). Every single pageant mom asked in a study about childhood beauty pageants talked about competitors winning prize money, crowns, trophies and gifts in child beauty pageants (Mosel-Talavera 81). Some mothers deceptively sign their children up for pageants to exploit their daughters financially. One pageant mother says that there is a very infamous pageant child that always wins a large sum of money, ‘There is one little girl down South – she’s the daughter of one of the biggest known photographers. In six weeks’ time she went from pageant to pageant and won like $40,000.’ In the summer of 2005, there was another child, whose mother also owns a pageant business, who won three cars at pageants (Levey 204-205). These examples clearly reveal the evils of parents exploiting their children in pageants for their own selfish rewards. In childhood beauty pageants, the pressure from parents, influence from the media, and the desire to win all lead to disastrous consequences for the participants, which will stay with them for the rest of their life. Eating disorders, body image issues, and an early loss of innocence are just a few of the consequences these precious girls will have to deal with in their lifetime. No child should have to struggle with these problems at such a young age. Although little girls dressed up in frilly dresses and tiaras may be cute, there is a fine line between a fun beauty pageant and ruining a young girls life.