Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte - 1149 Words

During it release in 1842, ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte was considered to be a novel of obscenity and monstrosity. The novel has the ability to adapt to a range of themes and transcend the forms of content and cultural context within the ideas of love, oppression, power and harmony. Critical readings of the text have challenged and enriched readers in a diverse array of interpretations of language and structure; forming personal meanings that have developed throughout history. England, in the1840s was a time where the economy struggled with depression and the middle and upper classes feared revolt. Terry Eagleton, within his critical reading, suggests that the novel, ‘Wuthering Heights’, is based on the â€Å"enteral conflict of social†¦show more content†¦He rebels against the ideas of social prejudice through the bond he shares with Catherine. Eagleton states that Heathcliff and Catherine change the interpretations of social status as an attempt to liberate themselves through love, enriching the idea of breaking the social standards and manifesting the idea that love conquers all. Oppression is a major theme that underlines the novel ‘Wuthering Heights’. This idea of confinement within the novel is presented through the social class and the oppression inflicted onto the characters. Bronte depicts social class between the Earnshaw’s and the Linton’s through the marriage of Catherine Earnshaw and Edgar Linton. Catherine fears that her love for Heathcliff could intruded the cultural standards of the time so therefor decides to marry Edgar instead of Heathcliff stating â€Å"†¦if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars†. This marriage is an attempt to rise social status as being with her true love, Heathcliff, would mean she descends society. Although Catherine marries Edgar, she still finds oppression. She is so torn between her love for Heathcliff that it slowly kills her, making her weak. When confronted by Heathcliff, who speaks of his suffering, she torments him saying †Why shouldn’t you suffer? I do! †. Catherine is naive, betraying her one true love for a life of wealth and comfort with Edgar. She believes â€Å"time

Dante Alighieri An Italian Poet - 1552 Words

Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet, originally from Florence experienced economic, political and religious disruption that reflected the town’s struggles. Hardship that he encountered, being the death of his mother, his wife Beatrice until his death in exile. Dante took his pain and suffering and turned it into his inspiration for his poetry. The Blacks seized control of Florence and in 1302 Dante and others were exiled. It was during Dante s exile he faced hardship and was forced to discontinue his studies. However he continued to work on his writings under his struggles, using them as an inspiration. Dante is noted to become stronger and more wise throughout his writing, maturing. His views on the world and of himself changed during this time, including his political, religious, and economic action. His writings reflect his life struggles in his writing. The Devine Comedy was Dante s greatest and final piece. Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy is a reflection of his Christian beliefs. It incorporates biblical figures but also characters in Pagan, Greek, and Roman mythology. The most important character is besides Dante himself is Virgil, who is also Pagan. The Middle Ages, poets incorporated their heritage and introduced their culture in their writing. It was understood in the beginning, God created human life. One comes to the understanding Dante believes that all humans have the choice to live to the fullest and are granted a place in heaven upon death, if a personShow MoreRelatedThe Divine Comedy1705 Words   |  7 Pagesrevival. One of the writers that influenced this revival is Dante Alighieri, a 13th century poet from Florence, Italy. His world famous epic, La Commedia, or more commonly known as The Divine Comedy remains a poetic masterpiece depicting truth and sin. The Divine Comedy, through the journey into the three hells, expresses a universal truth of good versus evil. Alighier i’s life of heartbreak with the influences of other famous poets like Homer and Virgil has affected his writing style, and throughRead More Dante Alighieris Influence on Italian Culture Essay examples886 Words   |  4 PagesDante Alighieris Influence on Italian Culture nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dante Alighieri was a very well known and influential poet in early literature. amp;#8220;He was not only a poet, he was also a philosophical thinker, an active politician, and a religious visionary; (Holmes 1). Dante was born in Florence in 1265, into the Guelph political party, one of the two main parties in Florence. The Guelphs were aristocrats and nobles. They supported the church and papacy and were against theRead MoreEssay about Dante Alighieri1178 Words   |  5 PagesDante Alighieri Dante Alighieri was the first and best Italian poet and wrote mainly on love and religion. His Divine Comedy is considered the greatest book of the last millennium. George Steiner said, Dante’s totality of poet form and philosophic thought, of local universality and language, remains unrivaled. At a time where the notion of culture and of European culture in particular, is somewhat in doubt, Dante is the sovereign underwriter. His are the solutions beyond logic†Read MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Comedia 947 Words   |  4 PagesIn his life Dante, Alighieri was a famed author, poet, and statesman. Over the course of his life the esteemed thirteenth century Italian wrote a handful of successful works. However, Dante is undoubtedly best known for his critically acclaimed epic poem, Comedà ¬a, which would later be called The Divine Comedy. Comedà ¬a has 3 parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The first installment, Inferno, may currently be the most well known of the three poems, spawning countless reprints, several moviesRead MoreTheme Of Symbolism In Dantes Inferno720 Words   |  3 PagesWhen reading Dante’s ‘Inferno’, it becomes apparent that Alighieri used his writing as a means of cogitating on the events that happened in his life. In order to understand his references to early Rome, Florentine politics, and other characteristics of the poem, it is necessary for the reader to develop a foundational background of Alighieri himself. With this knowledge, one can begin to grasp the concepts of symbolism and idealism that are so prevalent within the text, experiencing the poem inRead More Dante Alighieri Essay834 Words   |  4 Pages Dante Alighieri was one of the most renowned writers in world literature. His great masterpieces have influenced the world immensely. He was not only a great writer and poet but he also was a man that overcame great odds to write awe inspiring works of art. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dante Alighieri was born in Florence, Italy either in late May or early June, 1265. His childhood was somewhat troubling because of the early death of his mother and then his father when he was 18. He managedRead MoreTaking a Look at the European Renaissance Essays1385 Words   |  6 Pagesperiod was the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Dante was born in the city-state of Florence, Italy in the year of 1265. When Dante was just nine years old, he met the love of his life, Beatrice Portinari. Beatrice Portinari would become the subject of, and inspiration for much of Dante’s writing. Love was the topic of many of Dante’s literary works and he was amongst the first poets to write about love. After the death of Beatrice Portinari (when Dante was twenty-five years of age), Dante became interestedRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri873 Words   |  4 PagesDivine Comedy† is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. He wrote the epic some time between 1308 and 1321, the year he died. It is considered one of the greatest works of world literature. He wrote â€Å"The Divine Comedy† while he was exiled from Florence, Italy (Bishops 182). â€Å"The Divine Comedy† recounts Dante’s idea of the afterlife. It is written in a first person perspective and follows Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. At the time Dante wrote the Divine Comedy, Italy was goingRead MoreHow Literature Changed a Nation: Dante Alighieri and The Divine Comedy1146 Words   |  5 Pagesdifficult task to achieve. The poet, Dante Alighieri’s world was one filled with spirituality and stigmas. Unlike many other artists of his time, he completed his most famous and influential work in Europe’s 1300’s. Dante’s piece, The Divine Comedy, demonstrates the journey one takes throughout life, to find one’s self and connect with the world and religion, all through three volumes of poet ry. Of his talent, came a business of the arts. In addition, he changed the way the Italian language was perceivedRead More Analysis of the Inferno of Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of the Inferno of Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is considered by many as the first great poem in the Italian language and perhaps the greatest poem written in Medieval Europe. The poem is so famous that one of the minor characters, Capaneus the great blasphemer, has his name on a mesa on one of Jupiters moon Io (Blue, 1). Also, the poem is divided into three canticles, or sections, Inferno, Purgatorio, and

The Aeneid of Greece by Virgil The Aeneid Free Essays

The Aeneid of Greece by Virgil The Aeneid, tells the story of Aeneas’s journey in search of the land where he is destined to build the city that will one day become the great Roman Empire. Largely influenced by Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad, the Aeneid begins halfway through Aeneas’s journey, as he nears the city of Carthage, ruled over by Dido, who built the city after fleeing from her murderous brother. King Arthur of Britain, by Howard PyleThe character of King Arthur is larger than life. We will write a custom essay sample on The Aeneid of Greece by Virgil The Aeneid or any similar topic only for you Order Now He is rarely presented as truly human; he is either the idealized symbol of Camelot and the virtues of the Round Table, or he is a peripheral character sometimes virtuous but rarely with a penetrating intelligence capable of seeing long-term effects and making sound decisions. Whether a historical Arthur actually existed, what we are left with today is a mythological character, memorable and tantalizing in his virtues and foibles. Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. The author is unknown. This epic poem describes the hero Beowulf marching with his fourteen warriors and arrive at the place of Heorot where he finds that he king of Heorot Hrothgar terrified by a monster called Grendel. Beowulf manages to kill Grendel and his monster-mother at his abode beneath a lake. After that he returns to his country and becomes the king there and rules his kingdom for fifty years. He dies of the wounds he got once during the combat fought with a dragon. Gilgamesh Is the Priest-King of the city of Uruk. He is a tyrannical king who works his people to death and takes what he wants from them. He kills the young men at will and uses the women as he pleases. The people of Uruk cry out to the gods for help so that they can have peace. | Ramayana – is the immortal tale of Shri Rama that teaches us the values of ideology, devotion, duty, relationships, dharma and karma. Biag ni Lam-ang (Tagalog: â€Å"Buhay ni Lam-ang†) ay isang epikong tula ng mga Ilokano mula sa rehiyon ng Ilokos sa Pilipinas. Sinalaysay at sinulat sa orihinal na wikang Ilokano, pinapaniwalaang na pinaghalong gawa ito ng iba’t ibang mga lumilikha ng tula na pinasa sa pamamagitan ng mga salinlahi, at unang sinulat noong 1640 ng isang bulag na manunula na si Pedro Bucaneg. Ibalon – Author Fr. Jose Castano May tatlong mga bayani sa epiking ito: Baltog, Handyong, at Bantong. Unang bayaning dumating sa lupang ibalong ay si Baltog at sya ang nagpayaman ng bukid. Ang pangalawang bayani na dumating sa ibalon ay si Handyong, nakipaglaban siya kasama ng kanyang mga tao sa libu-libong mga giyera at digma. At si bantong ang namuno sa pag patay sa kalahating tao, at kalahating halimaw na c Rabot. | Analysis: The difference between western and eastern epic, the eastern epic involves the story about Indians and Philippines but in western epic they start from the medieval ages and it involve the story about the gods and the goddess. How to cite The Aeneid of Greece by Virgil The Aeneid, Papers

Hindu Essay Example For Students

Hindu Essay In India there are six orthodox schools of philosophy which recognize the authority of the Vedas as divine revelation, and they generally function as pairs Nyaya and Vaishesika, Mimamsa and Vedanta, and Samkhya and Yoga. Those who did not recognize this authority were the Jains, Buddhists, and materialists. Even in India where spiritual ideas dominate the culture there were some who were skeptical of those ideals and held to a materialist view of the world; they were called Carvaka, and their doctrine that this world is all that exists is called Lokayata. The materialists did not believe in an afterlife and found sense perception to be the only source of knowledge, denying the validity of inference or general concepts. They focused on the senses and the four traditional elements of earth, water, fire, and air. Consciousness for the Carvaka is only a modification of these elements in the body. The soul is also identified with the body, and pleasure and pain are the central experiences of life, nature being indifferent to good and evil with virtue and vice being merely social conventions. This worldly philosophy naturally ignored the goal of liberation (moksha) or simply believed that death as the end of life and consciousness was a liberation. However, they also tended to neglect the value of virtue or justice (dharma), placing all of their attention on the worldly aims of pleasure (kama) and wealth or power (artha). Although Carvaka ideas are mentioned in some ancient writings, their own ancient writings were lost, and much of what we know of the early materialists is based on criticisms of other schools. However, a famous, ancient drama called The Rise of the Moon of Intellect (Prabodha-candrodaya) reveals some of the beliefs of this worldly movement. In this play Passion is personified and speaks to a materialist and one of his pupils. Passion laughs at ignorant fools, who imagine that spirit is different from the body and reaps a reward in a future existence. This is like expecting trees to grow in air and produce fruit. Has anyone seen the soul separate from the body? Does not life come from the configuration of the body? Those who believe otherwise deceive themselves and others. Their ancient teacher Brihaspati affirmed the importance of the senses, maintaining that sustenance and love are the objects of human life. For the materialists the Vedas are a cheat. If blessings are obtained through sacrifices and the victims ascend to heaven, why do not children sacrifice their parents? How can fasting, begging, penance, and exposure to the elements be compared to the ravishing embraces of women with large eyes and prominent breasts? The pleasures of life are no more to be avoided because they are mixed with pain than a prudent person would throw away unpeeled rice because it has a husk. Sacrifices, reciting the Vedas, and penance are merely ways that ignorant and weak men contrive to support themselves. Yet upon analysis it was often found that the materialists theory that no general inferences can be made contradicted their own views about the nature of the world. Nevertheless their hedonistic philosophy at times gave a humanistic criticism of the ethical contradictions of others. In the great epic Mahabharata a Carvaka is burned to death for preaching against the bloodshed of the great war and condemning Yudhishthira for killing thousands to regain his kingdom. They did criticize sacrifices and valued the arts as a means of pleasure. Hell they believed to be the pain experienced in this world, but all this ended in death. Like Epicureans they found that pleasure could be maximized and pain minimized by detachment (vairagya). Immortality was only found in the fame one leaves behind for noble deeds performed. Nyaya and VaishesikaThe Nyaya and Vaishesika schools are primarily analytic and are therefore more concerned with logic and epistemology than ethics. The word nyaya means that by which the mind is led to a conclusion. The Nyaya school formed about the fourth century BC with the Nyaya Sutras by Gautama. The first sentence declares that supreme happiness is attained by knowledge of the sixteen categories which are right knowledge, objects of knowledge, doubt, purpose, example, tenets, inference, confutation, ascertainment, discussion, sophistry, cavil, fallacy, quibble, futile rejoinder, and losing arguments. Knowledge comes from perception, inference, comparison, and verbal testimony. Objects of knowledge are self, body, sense organs, sense objects, intellect, mind, activity, defects, rebirth, fruit, pain, and release. The soul is distinct from the sense organs and the mind which it uses to make judgments with the aid of memory. Judgments and actions are transitory but produce karma, which causes the union of the soul with the body, the soul transmigrating from a dead body to another birth. Gautama recognized the soul as the cause of the body but also acknowledged parents and food as other causes as well. Ethical concerns can be found in the discussion of the defects and the means of liberation. Gautama mentioned three categories of defects as attachment, aversion, and misconception. Vatsyayana, who wrote the first commentary on the Nyaya Sutras in the 4th century CE, explained that attachment can come from lust, jealousy, avarice, greed, and covetousness; aversion from anger, envy, malice, hatred, and resentment; and misconception from wrong apprehension, suspicion, pride, and negligence. Gautama considered misconception the worst sin, because without it attachment and aversion do not occur. By fruit Gautama referred to what is produced by activity and defects. These results of action (karma) may occur immediately or after a long interval. Release is defined as the absolute deliverance from pain. Release does not occur though because of debts, afflictions, and activities. However, when knowledge is attained, wrong notions and defects disappear, removing pain and bringing about release. Since false concepts are the cause of the chain of events that leads to pain, correct knowledge is the solution. Even hatred of pain and attachment to pleasure can bind one. The activities of mind, speech, and body must be good and not bad but must also be performed without attachment. Selfishness is associated with false concepts, and virtuous actions emphasize the soul rather than the body and its senses. True knowledge comes from meditation, which is prepared for by good deeds. Gautama recommended practicing yoga in forests, caves, and on riverbanks. To attain final release the soul may be embellished by the restraints and observances of the internal discipline learned from yoga. Study and friendly discussion with those learned in knowledge is also suggested. The Vaishesika philosophy is considered the oldest of the six orthodox schools and may even be pre-Buddhist. The Vaishesika Sutras by Kanada were written shortly before Gautamas Nyaya Sutras. The word vishesa means particularity, and this philosophy emphasizes the significance of individuals. Vaishesika recognizes three objects of experience as having real objective existence, namely substance, quality, and activity, and three products of intellectual discrimination which are generality, particularity, and combination. The reality of the soul is inferred from the discernment that consciousness cannot be a property of the body, senses, or mind. However, the life of the souls knowing, feeling, and willing is only found where the body is. Each soul experiences the consequences of its own actions, resulting in the differences between individuals, from which the plurality of souls is inferred. Even liberated souls maintain unique characteristics in the Vaishesika philosophy. The Vaishesika Sutra begins with the idea that virtue (dharma) is the means by which prosperity and salvation are attained, but it acknowledges the authority of the Vedas as the word of God that leads to this prosperity and salvation. As with Nyaya the supreme good results from knowledge, in this case of the six predicables substance, quality, activity, generality, particularity, and combination. In addition to the four traditional elements of earth, water, fire, and air, they name ether (akasha), time, space, soul, and mind as the only other substances. One need not fall back on the scriptures to know the existence of the soul, because the expression of I makes its reality clear. The qualities are color, taste, smell, touch, numbers, size, separation, conjunction and disjunction, priority and posteriority, understanding, pleasure and pain, desire and aversion, and volition. Activity is going up or down, contracting, expanding, and motion. Action (karma) is opposed by its effect which is how it is neutralized. Individuals are only responsible for voluntary actions; actions from organic life are considered involuntary. Worldly good is attained by ceremonial piety, but spiritual value is found by insight. The highest pleasure of the wise is found in independence from all agencies involving memory, desire, and reflection, and this knowledge results from peacefulness of mind, contentment, and virtue. Pleasure and pain result from the contact between soul, senses, the mind, and objects. When the mind becomes steady in the soul through yoga, pain can be prevented. Liberation (moksha) is not having any conjunction with the body and no potential for a body so that rebirth cannot take place. The traditional character of this school can be seen from the actions recommended for achieving merit. Ablution, fast, abstinence (brahmacharya),residence in the family of the preceptor,life of retirement in the forest, sacrifice, gift,oblation, directions, constellations, seasons,and religious observances conduce to invisible fruit.1Progress comes from virtue (dharma), but even this has consequences which neutralize it; for ultimate release cannot occur until even virtue is eradicated in selfless insight. So long as one is dominated by desire and aversion, virtue and its opposite are stored up, preventing liberation. When one realizes that all objects that seem either attractive or repulsive are merely compounds of atoms, their power over one ceases. True knowledge of the soul dispels self-interest in universal awareness. Each soul reaps the harvest of its deeds in this life or a future one, but with liberation it becomes absolutely free. The awareness of the seer is the vision of perfection which results from virtue.Mimamsa and VedantaThe Mimamsa philosophy is also very ancient, and the Mimsama Sutra by Jaimini was written about the 4th century BC. This text begins with the subject of dharma, which the Vedas consider the means most conducive to the highest good. Dharma transcends sense perception, because the senses only perceive what exists in the present; dharma in the Mimamsa philosophy has a metaphysical reality that carries into the future. Same Sex Marriages EssayEvolution from the will down to specific elements modifies nature and emancipates each spirit. Just as one undertakes action in the world to release the desire for satisfaction, so does the unevolved function for the liberation of the spirit. Thus spirit is never really bound or liberated nor does it transmigrate; only nature in its manifold forms is bound, migrates, or is liberated. The pure spirit, resting like a spectator perceives nature which has ceased to be productive and by discriminating knowledge turns back from the dispositions. When virtue and other karma cease to function, the spirit of the individual remains invested with the body by past impressions; but when separation from the body comes, its purpose is fulfilled as it attains eternal and absolute independence. The practice of yoga in India is very ancient, probably even pre-Aryan. Yoga is mentioned in several Upanishads and its philosophy is described in the great epics, particularly in the Bhagavad-Gita portion of the Mahabharata. The classic text for what is called the royal (raja) yoga is Patanjalis Yoga Sutras, probably written in the second century BC, although scholarly estimates range from the fourth century BC to the fourth century CE. The word yoga has the same origin as the English word yoke and means union. In the Katha Upanishad the senses are to be controlled as spirited horses are by a yoke. The raja yoga tersely described by Patanjali as having eight limbs is considered the psychological yoga. The Yoga Sutras begin with the idea that yoga (union) is the control of the modifications of consciousness; this enables the seer to stand in ones own form instead of identifying with the modifications. The five modifications are knowledge (perception, inference, and testimony), error (ideas not formed from reality), imagination (ideas without objects), sleep, and memory (experienced objects). These are controlled by practice and detachment. Practice requires constant attention for a long time, and detachment comes from getting free of the desire for experiences. Mastery of this comes from the spirit overcoming the qualities. Meditation can be reasoning, discriminating, and joyful awareness of the unity of the universe and self or cessation by renunciation and constantly dissolving impressions, resulting in undifferentiated existence, bodilessness, absorption in the supreme, or faith, enthusiasm, memory, and wisdom. Intense practice brings the best results, or it may be achieved by surrendering to the Lord. The perfect spirit of the Lord is untouched by afflictions, actions, and their results; it is the infinite seed of omniscience beyond time, and its symbol is the sacred word. Constant practice of that brings cosmic consciousness and the absence of obstacles. The obstacles that distract consciousness are disease, laziness, indecision, apathy, lethargy, craving sense-pleasure, erroneous perception, lack of concentration, and unstable attention. These distractions are accompanied by sorrow, worry, restlessness, and irregular breathing. Cultivating the feelings of friendship, compassion, joy, and equanimity toward those who are happy, suffering, worthy, and unworthy purifies consciousness, as does breathing in and out. Subtle vision modifies the higher consciousness by bringing the mind stability, as does the transcendent inner light, the awareness that controls passions, the analytical knowledge of dreams and sleep, and concentration according to choice. The lessened modifications become transparent and transformed, and the memory is purified and empty so that objects shine without thought. The subtle elements become undefinable nature in the meditation with seed. Beyond discrimination the oversoul is blessed with direct truth, which is different from verbal inferences. This impression prevents all other impressions, and control of even this controls everything in seedless meditation. The practice of yoga and meditation is enhanced by discipline, self-study, and surrender to the Lord in order to remove obstacles such as ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and clinging to life. Obstacles result in action patterns that cause suffering in this life and the next, as virtue and vice bear the fruits of pleasure and pain; but concentration overcomes their effects. Future suffering can be avoided if the perceiver does not identify with the perceived. Discriminating undisturbed intelligence removes ignorance and suffering by the absence of identity and the freedom of the perceiver. The practice of union proceeds through the eight steps of restraint, observances, posture, breath control, sublimation, attention, concentration, and meditation. The restraints are not injuring, lying, stealing, lusting, nor possessing and are called the universal great vows we have often seen before. The second step of observances involves cleanliness, contentment, discipline, self-study, and surrender to the Lord. Patanjali suggested that destructive instincts may be overcome by cultivating the opposites of greed, anger, or delusion. In confirming nonviolence the presence of hostility is relinquished. Not lying brings work and its fruits, not stealing riches, not lusting vigor, and from not possessing comes knowledge of past and future lives. Cleanliness brings protection of ones body, goodness purified becomes serenity, and single-mindedness conquers the senses. Being content gains happiness. Discipline perfects the senses and destroys impurities. By self-study one may commune with the divine ideal, and meditation is successfully identifying with the Lord. Stable and pleasant postures (asanas) release tension and transform thought. Regulating the inhalation and exhalation of the breath (pranayama) prepares the mind for attention. By withdrawing consciousness from its own objects the senses are sublimated (pratyahara) and under control. The last three steps of attention (dharana), concentration (dhyana), and meditation (samadhi) are the same as the last three steps of the Buddhas eightfold path. Attention is defined by Patanjali as the original focus of consciousness, concentration as continuing awareness there, and meditation as when that shines light alone in its own empty form. These three work as one in inner control leading to wisdom and are the psychological steps. As the control of destructive instincts and impressions evolves, the flow of consciousness becomes calm by habit, and oneness arises in meditation. As this oneness evolves, past and present become similar in the conscious awareness. Patanjali then described various psychic abilities that can be attained from the practice of yoga. Supernatural powers may come from birth, drugs, chanting, discipline, or meditation. Yet he warned that worldly powers are obstacles to meditation. Only the knowledge of discriminating between goodness and spirit brings omnipotence and omniscience, and only from detachment to that is the seed of bondage destroyed in freedom. The soul of the discriminating perceiver is completely detached from emotion and mind so that with serene discrimination the consciousness can move toward freedom. Finally the evolution of transforming qualities fulfills its purpose and stops, cognized as a distinct transformation. Patanjali concluded,This yoga text has been tremendously influential in India and beyond, and is in my opinion a very positive guide to spiritual liberation as well as being beneficial to ethical development.Bhagavad GitaThe Bhagavad-Gita, which means the Song of the Lord, was written bet ween the second century BC and the second century CE. It synthesized many ideas from the Samkhya philosophy and practice of yoga, but it is also claimed by Vedanta and Hindu philosophy in general as its greatest work on spirituality. The text is actually contained in Book 6 of the epic poem Mahabharata, which tells the story of the great civil war that may have occurred in India as early as about 1400 BC or as late as about 900. These stories will be discussed in the next chapter, but the dramatic context for the dialog between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna is the beginning of the actual battle between the rival ruling families, the Kauruvas and Pandavas. The Bhagavad-Gita is narrated by the sage Sanjaya, who clairvoyantly perceives what is going on and relates it to the blind King Dhritarashtra. Krishna is an uncle and friend of the Pandavas, but remaining neutral he allowed one side to use his vassals in battle, while the Pandava Arjuna got to have him as charioteer although he would not fight himself. By the time this was written Krishna was considered an incarnation of the god Vishnu, the preserver, and he teaches Arjuna several kinds of yoga for achieving union with God. This is the earliest work that emphasized the religious worship of God through devotion to an avatar or incarnation of God which developed into the Vaishnavite faith in medieval Hinduism. The poem begins with Dhritarashtra asking Sanjaya what is happening not only on the field of Kuru but also on the field of dharma (virtue, duty). Sanjaya describes how both armies are arrayed against each other blowing their conch horns to show their readiness to fight. Then Arjuna asked Krishna to position his chariot between the two armies, and there he saw many of his relatives on the other side, causing him to feel faint and consider not fighting. Even though the others are killing, Arjuna does not think it would be worth it to do so, even for sovereignty of the three worlds, let alone an earthly kingdom. Evil would come to him, he says, if he should kill his relatives. How could this bring happiness? This family destruction is wrong and would destroy ancient family duties and bring on lawlessness, which would lead to corruption of the women and caste mixing. Why should he kill for greed of royal pleasures? It would be greater happiness for him to be killed unresisting and unarmed. Thus Arjunas mind was overcome by sorrow. Krishna, who is called the Lord, responds by upbraiding Arjuna for timidity and cowardiceWords/ Pages : 4,844 / 24

My Gift To You The World Essays (283 words) - My Gift To You

My Gift To You The World My gift to you is somewhat strange, it's hidden and silent, alone and unheard, but it still lives beneath the darkened sun, it's love and hope and joy and sight, it's knowing what's right and wrong, it cried for life, and I heard it cry, I've tried to lift its spirits high, to let other people wonder of its glow, its burn for eternal happiness, our burn for eternal peace. To give these it's hard, to respect them it's harder, I've watched others, and seen them turn inside out, lying through the pain of their gritted teeth, do they know of love? can they feel the hope? have they ever cried silent tears? I myself have cried those silent tears, alone and scared and silent, my pain was great, my anger uncontrollable, can you feel my hardship, my hunger of exit to this world? to have materials and possessions, I could never have used, but to have what I give, perhaps I could have coped, and that time would now be forgotten, so now I give, what I want in return, I give the golden rule. I've tried to lead others to peace as is I, but for this you need their total trust, and they would not risk it all, so the act of good came to a stop, and my hope was just left hanging, now I still give, and I do with all my heart, I bring a gift to everyone, to make sure I please the sun, but after the deed I always feel loved, and I realize once again, "To give is to be born, and to receive is to remember.

Free Essays on Legal Memo

INTRODUCTION Our new client, Ms. Jane Healy has hired our law firm to handle her automobile accident that occurred nearly one year ago. She has obtained us to represent and provide advice for her potential litigation against the person or persons responsible for this accident and her injuries she sustained therein. This legal memorandum will address the liability issues concerning the restaurant who served alcohol to the driver who was involved with Ms. Healy in the alleged incident. STATEMENT OF FACTS Ms. Jane Healy, was involved in an automobile accident that occurred in the previous year on February 25, 1994. On that evening, Ms. Healy was on her way home from work in her 1998 BMW 325i on 14th Street . She was traveling in very heavy traffic. She was late for an appointment with a friend which caused her to be rushed. As she approached the light on 14th Street that intersects with Childs Street, her traffic light turned yellow. Even though the posted speed limit is twenty-five miles per hour on this street, Ms. Healy proceeded to accelerate to thirty-five miles per hour to ensure that she made it through the light. As she entered the intersection, the traffic in front of her suddenly stopped. Ms. Healy had to slam on her brakes in order to avoid causing a collision with the traffic in front of her. When she was forced to stop suddenly, she was left stranded in the middle of the intersection of 14th Street and Childs Street. Ms. Healy’s light turned red while she was still stranded. Meanwhile, Mr. Charles Raymond was traveling southbound on Childs Street. He was the first car stopped at the intersection. Raymond, who had been heavily intoxicated immediately before being involved in this accident, was paying no or little attention to what was occurring in the intersection in front of him. When the traffic light turned green, Mr. Raymond accelerated his car and roared his car through the interse ction, slammi... Free Essays on Legal Memo Free Essays on Legal Memo INTRODUCTION Our new client, Ms. Jane Healy has hired our law firm to handle her automobile accident that occurred nearly one year ago. She has obtained us to represent and provide advice for her potential litigation against the person or persons responsible for this accident and her injuries she sustained therein. This legal memorandum will address the liability issues concerning the restaurant who served alcohol to the driver who was involved with Ms. Healy in the alleged incident. STATEMENT OF FACTS Ms. Jane Healy, was involved in an automobile accident that occurred in the previous year on February 25, 1994. On that evening, Ms. Healy was on her way home from work in her 1998 BMW 325i on 14th Street . She was traveling in very heavy traffic. She was late for an appointment with a friend which caused her to be rushed. As she approached the light on 14th Street that intersects with Childs Street, her traffic light turned yellow. Even though the posted speed limit is twenty-five miles per hour on this street, Ms. Healy proceeded to accelerate to thirty-five miles per hour to ensure that she made it through the light. As she entered the intersection, the traffic in front of her suddenly stopped. Ms. Healy had to slam on her brakes in order to avoid causing a collision with the traffic in front of her. When she was forced to stop suddenly, she was left stranded in the middle of the intersection of 14th Street and Childs Street. Ms. Healy’s light turned red while she was still stranded. Meanwhile, Mr. Charles Raymond was traveling southbound on Childs Street. He was the first car stopped at the intersection. Raymond, who had been heavily intoxicated immediately before being involved in this accident, was paying no or little attention to what was occurring in the intersection in front of him. When the traffic light turned green, Mr. Raymond accelerated his car and roared his car through the interse ction, slammi...

Analytical Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analytical Paper - Essay Example Everything is available throughout the world with the help of internet and telecommunications. In the global economy, anyone can buy and sell anything using the advanced technologies. Globalization increases the interaction, cooperation and communication among different countries. A successful globalization will not only provide economic prosperity and development but also will provide social justice and equality to all kinds of people of the society. It should bring success for the poor people also. When some of the countries are working together for a common goal then it is called internationalization. But globalization is a broader term where there is no border, no barriers for people to do trade. Globalization is the process of converting the national economy into a global economy. Critics sometimes said that globalization is only good for the developed nations as it does not create positive impacts on the developing countries. India is one of the examples of developing countries and the effect of globalization in India will be discussed in this report. From the discussion of globalization in India, it will be clear how far the globalization has created positive as well negative impacts in Indian socio-economic and cultural platform. Discussion India opened up their economy in the early nineties after facing an exchange crunch. As a result, Indian economy felt the necessity of the presence of the multinational companies for overall growth and development. In 1991, the liberalization and globalization policies marked the beginning of a new era in Indian history. Economic effect Indian economy from the time of independence was a close economy. The different political parties came into the power but the type of economic inclination was same for India. In 1991, the new era in Indian economy started with three key words - Liberalization, Globalization and privatization. With the globalization process the restructuring of Indian economy started and some major ref orms were observed. Globalization brings a favorable impact on Economic growth. In 1970, the GDP growth was only 3 % in India. The countries like Mexico, Brazil achieved more than twice growth rate than India. In the eighties, a significant annual growth was observed from 3% to 5.9% but still it was comparatively very low compared to countries like China, Korea. In 1991, the GDP was calculated on purchasing power parity basis and Indian economic growth was 0.9 % only. Indian economy achieved a growth rate of 8% in the year 2003-2004. Not only the high GDP growth was noticed but also a significant structural change was noticed in Indian economy. Before the globalization, the maximum amount of GDP was generated from the primary sector. But after globalization, the maximum part of the GDP contribution comes from the service sector. ITES-BPO, software services providers has achieved a significant growth in recent years. GDP from the major sectors The service sector is the major employme nt provider also in Indian Economy. In recent times, the service sector has a great contribution in the national income also. The reason for growth of service sector is urbanization, privatization and high demand for consumer service. Significant high growth rate was observed in 2006-2010. The growth rate and service sector contribution have been shown in the above diagram. The government of India formulated policies to make foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector. The FDI in manufacturing sec

Compare and Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

Compare and Contrast - Essay Example This symbolizes that he is still innocent and yet to be corrupted by the world. She pleads with him not to leave, but he is determined to leave. The fact that it is sunset as he begins his journey is also symbolic. The evening gets darker until the scene reaches climax. This symbolizes God’s light that slowly fades from Goodman’s heart (Bloom 64). Brown wanders into the woods with tangled ways, poor visibility, and dark. This symbolizes the confusion and loneliness of a life that is Godless. Goodman meets the devil who is described as being similar to him. This symbolizes the presence of the devil in the world according to the Christian domain. At this point, Brown makes at attempt to move away from the devil and go back to faith. He however does not achieve this and moves further into the forest where he meets several people, with the devil disappearing. When he is left alone, he tries to pray but he is distracted by a black cloud. This symbolizes how sin prevents people’s eyes from seeing the heavens (Ullen 371). Generally, symbolism within Young Goodman Brown is spiritual. Brown loses faith by following a path that is evil. The devil and Tom Walker is another symbolic story that is written by Washington Irving. The main character of the story is Tom Walker, who is wretched and leads an unhappy life. His wife is his primary source of misery. Their house is located in a dreary and desolate place. The house seemed like it was haunted and lifeless with a gloomy sensation. The house has been used symbolically to represent how Tom and his wife lived in misery (Buchanam 67). The setting has further been portrayed symbolically to portray misery, worries, and sins. Greed has been represented symbolically throughout the story. Native Americans, for instance, suffered greatly from the land owners and colonialists as a result of greed. The devil uses trees for firewood to symbolize his collection of men’s souls to

GDP as a measure of development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

GDP as a measure of development - Essay Example Todaro and Smith elaborates that GDP is â€Å"the total final output of goods and services produced by the country’s economy, within a country’s territory, by residents and non-residents, regardless of its allocation between domestic and foreign claims† (815). GDP is different from the gross national product or GNP in this sense: while the GNP refers to the final value of goods and services produced by citizens of a country, the GDP refers to the final value of goods and services produced by a territory or the country. Thus, the GDP includes all outputs of goods and services in the territory of the country, whether that output were from aliens or citizens. In contrast, the GNP covers only the output of goods and services of citizens whether that output was produced inside or outside the territory of a country. The term â€Å"final goods and services† are meant to emphasize that the concept of the GDP seeks to avoid double counting of goods and services. Fo r example, if a certain input is part of a certain output, the value of the input is not counted but only the value of the final output. The GDP count only the output currently produced (Dornbusch, 36). Thus, for example, the value excludes older houses but includes new house construction (Dornbusch, 36). Dornbusch et al. noted the following difficulties of GDP measurement (36-38): 1. GDP is unable to measure some of a territory’s outputs because they are not traded in the market. 2. GDP does not subtract anything for environmental pollution. Goods and services may have been produced but at high costs to the environment of the nation. 3. GDP does not factor the quality of goods or the improvements in the quality of goods. Baumol and Binder defined GDP as â€Å"a measure of the size of the economy† or the total amount it produces in a year and noted the following limitations of GDP as a measure (23, 90-91): 1. GDP is not a measure of a country’s well-being but, a t the same time, it was never intended to be one. 2. Only market activity is included in the GDP and this explains why African countries can survive on $ 5 per week. 3. International comparisons can be misleading if we use GDP because we are not comparing the same economic activities: many things that are counted in the GDP of the rich countries are not counted in the GDP of the poor countries. 4. GDP places no value on leisure. Baumol and Binder argued that as a country gets richer, its citizens acquire more leisure time and the value of the leisure goes up. 5. GDP can also overstate how a country is well-off because even the bads are counted in GDP accounting. According to Baumol and Binder, even disaster can bloat the GDP as houses or properties are reconstructed once a natural or man-made disaster strikes similar to the 9/11. Hall and Lieberman enumerated the following problems with regard to measuring the GDP (539-540): 1. GDP statistics can be inaccurate, especially among deve loping countries. 2. Many countries, especially developing economies have an underground economy. The underground economy includes hidden economic activity. The hidden economic activity can also include illegal economic activities, especially those involved in drugs, prostitution, many gambling activities, and those that seek to avoid taxes. 3. Many countries, especially the developing economies, have large areas where food is grown and consumed by farmers and many goods do not enter the market. 4. Household activities are also not included in GDP accounting. Parenting is not counted in the GDP unlike daycare programs. Takeouts are counted in the GDP but not homecooked food. Therapy is counted in the GDP but not talking to a friend. For Scott and Miles, there are at least two issues in using GDP as a measure. The first

Malaria Disease: An Overview

Malaria Disease: An Overview Introduction: Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. Malaria is a very widespread disease in the tropics and subtropics regions of the world including Africa, South Asia, and South and Central America, affecting over 650 million people and killing 1 to 3 million. Over half affected and killed are young children in Sub-Saharan Africa. This disease is an enormous public-health problem because it only takes one bite by a mosquito infected with parasites that causes this infectious disease to become apart of a humans body. Malaria cannot be transmitted from one person to another by just standing next to them you have to have contact with them. Discussion: Malaria didnt just recently come about; it has affected on people for over 50,000 years. It could well have been a pathogen for the entire history but it has not been proven. The term malaria originated from medieval Italian and translated into â€Å"bad air†. Malaria has had a few names in the past like ague and marsh fever because of its association with swamps. Pioneer Discoveries: The first noted advance came in 1880 when Charles Louis Laveran, a French army doctor who worked in Algeria noticed parasites in the red blood cells of the infected people. He announced that malaria was caused by this protozoan and this was the first time that it had been known to cause a disease. The protozoan was later called Plasmodium by Ettore Marchiafava and Angelocelli. Some time later it was suggested that mosquitoes were transmitting this disease to humans by Carlos Finlay, a Cuban doctor. But it was Britains Sir Ronald Ross who finally proved it in 1898 by showing certain mosquito species transmitting malaria to birds and later isolated malaria parasites from salivary gland of mosquitoes that feed on infected bird. Sir Ross later became the Director of Malaria control effects in Panama, Greece, Egypt, and Macuitus. The works of Finlay, Ross, Marchifava, and Celli saved the lives of thousands of workers and helped developed methods used in future public health campaigns agai nst this disease. The bark of a cinchona tree that contains quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria. Global Initiatives: The Malaria Prevention Initiative spends over $1 billion a year to control malaria, the worlds largest health problem. In 2005 Bush launched the Presidents Malaria Initiative (PMI). He pledged to increase U.S. malaria funding more than $1.2 billion over five years in order to reduce death by malaria by fifty percent in fifteen African countries. He also challenged other countries to match him in things like private foundation and corporations that would help reduce the suffering and deaths caused by malaria. PMI had a goal and wanted it to be reached by contacting the child under 5 yrs of age and pregnant women. They will give these people proven and effective treatment measures. PMI also used a method that involved 4 keys components: indoor spraying of the homes with insectides, insecticide treated mosquito nets, lifesaving antimalarial drugs, and treatment to prevent malaria in pregnant women. PMI has impacted more than six million Africans just from the method with four key compon ents. PMI coordinates with national malaria control pregnancy and international partners including Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, The World Bank, and Malaria Booster Program to name a few. Diagnosing and Treating: The diagnosis and treatment of malarias severe form has become an important matter. The microscopic diagnosis of malaria requires skill, experience, and availability of everyone at all times. There are some tests that dont require as much skill but they havent been available in America for years. On June 13, 2007, the FDA approved the first malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for use of laboratories in the U.S. The test uses whole blood and takes only fifteen minutes. RDT is not able to detect if a patient has Malaria if they are infected with another disease. Malarial Statistics: The Center of Disease Control receives reports of one thousand to fourteen thousand cases of malaria every year. Some of these are as a result of international travel. Nearly seventy-five percent are acquired from victims who dont use the recommended preventive medications. During the 1800s quinine was used as the only drug to treat malaria until World War Two when more effective medicines were developed. Malaria control in war areas was created during World War Two to control the spread of this disease by mosquitoes in the south especially those surrounding military bases where troops could be affected. Prevention: There are ways to prevent malaria: such as using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and using netting. It has become a leading cause in death worldwide. If a person is diagnosed early and treated it can be cured. But a lot of people live in areas where the disease is common and get infected repeatedly and never recover. There have been programs aimed towards prevention of malaria by killing mosquitoes that carry the disease. If a person goes to the doctor they can ask for a vaccine and a drug used for anti-malarial infections. Malaria is at a low rate in the U.S. but it is widespread around. If a person travels on an airplane where malaria patients have been they should be tested three to four times back to back. Conclusion: In conclusion, malaria is a widespread disease affecting more people daily. So everyone needs to protect themselves. Scientist are looking for a cure but there is not one yet found. There are people out there giving money to those foundations whose main purpose is to help those affected with the disease. For those people out there infected by Malaria dont give up because help is on the way. Bibliography Deresinski, Stan. Rapid Diagnostic Testing For Malaria. Infectious Disease Alert 26(2007): 133,134. Unknown, U.S. AID Health Programs: Malaria and Child Survival. Congressional Digest 86(2007): 198-199. â€Å"Health and Disease.† Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Britannica Online. Retrieved and accessed on from 15 Oct. 2007 http://search.eb.com/eb/article-258139 Does homosexual parenting have negative effects? Does homosexual parenting have negative effects? This research paper tries to review the same sex couples relationships regarding the role they play in parenthood and the effects both negative and positive that they likely would have on their children whether biological or adopted. It also reviews the societys perception of the gay men and the lesbian community and their rights to raise their children. A comparison of the effects of lesbian and the gay men parenting and that of heterosexual parenting will also be brought about in order to bring about the positive or negative side of homosexual parenting. This research paper will also review the results of the researches done on homosexual parenting, the arguments, the outcomes and conclusions. Introduction According to Bozett (1987), lesbians and gay men form families which are identical in appearance like those of non-gay families. Within the last couple of years in the gay and lesbian communities, there has been increased awareness of the fact that the possibility of being a parent is not ruled out by being gay. According to Drescher and Glazer (2001), traditionally, when one came out as lesbian or gay, it meant that one had to abandon any hope of ever becoming a parent or even to keep ones children if one had them already. However, with homosexuality in the open, more and more same sex couples are having new babies, are continuing to raise previous heterosexual relationships children and also are adopting children (Drescher Glazer, 2001). As a result, after coming out many gay men and lesbians are considering parenthood. Parenthood in the lesbian and gay men community may come about from joining of a homosexual parent legally with a spouse of the opposite sex who may have one or more children who may be adopted or biological. On the other hand, children may be adopted by lesbians and gay men as single parents who may or may not have a lover who takes the stepparent role. Some of the gay men or lesbians may choose to provide foster care as a way of parenting. Lesbians on the other hand, can opt to become parents through alternative fertilization. Other ways for the homosexuals to become parents is where single or coupled gay men use a surrogate mother and also where a lesbian is inseminated by one or more than one gay man. And thereafter rear the offspring as if it were related to them biologically (Bozett, 1987). According to Kurdek (2004), homosexual parenting is when gay men or lesbians become biological or non biological parents to one or more children. Despite the controversy surrounding marriage of the same couples recently, there has not been established a reliable number of estimates of lesbian and gay couples. According to an American survey data, 40-60 (%) of gay men and 45-80 (%) of lesbians are currently romantically involved. Because when one presents himself or herself to the public as part of a lesbian or gay couple is subjected to abuse, discrimination and even violence, these numbers are likely to be underestimated as many do not come out in the open (Kurdek, 2004). Effects of homosexual parenting According to Patterson (2000), the gay and lesbians family lives have been a source of controversy for a long time. Due to the stigma attached to the same sex identities, the lesbians and gay men who declare their identities risk their original family relationships. However, the gay men and lesbians have always succeeded in creating and to sustain family relationships despite the discrimination and prejudice (Patterson, 2000). According to studies, children who have been raised by lesbian mothers tend to conform to gender role behaviors and careers that are stereotypical. In a census conducted in US 2000, 33% of lesbian couple household and 22% of gay couple household reported at least an under 18 year child living in that home. By 2005, the number of children living in the same sex couple households were 270, 313 (Patterson, 2000). In Stacey and Biblarz (2001) words, gay marriage today has become rampant in our society and many countries are endorsing for its legalization. It is therefore no surprise that family issues on lesbigay have turned into a rapidly growing industry in social science research. Such researches bear on family policies and marriage that predetermine the Western Cultures held convictions on parenthood sexuality, and gender. As opponents and advocates square off in cultural wars, legislatures, state and federal courts and in the electoral arena over efforts to extend equal rights to foster care, child custody, marriage, and adoption to nonheterosexuals, they heatedly debate the implications of a body investigating how the parents sexual orientation affects the children. The research bodys findings are such that there are no differences notable between children brought up by heterosexual parents and those brought by gay and lesbian parents. They also find the same sex parents to be as effecti ve and competent as heterosexual parents (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). According to most studies conducted about homosexual parenting, outcome of children of the same sex parents is no better, nor worse than other childrens in terms of self esteem, academic achievement, quality and warmth of family relationships, peer group relationships, or behavioral difficulties and no likelihood of being gay than other kids (Carpenter, 2007). According to traditional opinions, homosexual parenting will have the following effects on their children 1. Provide an associate, a model and experiences which make a child engage in homosexual activities. 2. The probability of sexual victimization in childhood will increase. 3. Due to the disturbed behavioral and standards of the parents, the child will likely be psychologically and socially disturbed than other children who have been raised by straight parents (Homosexual parents, 2010). However, in a 2002 AAP report on gay parenting, it found no meaningful differences of children who have been raised by same sex parents from those raised by heterosexual parents. The committee first assessed the adjustments, behavior, and attitudes of gay and lesbian parents and found more similarities than there were differences in the attitudes and parenting styles of gay and non gay fathers. At the same time, the lesbian mothers had the same scores in psychological adjustment, attitudes and self esteem toward child rearing with the heterosexual mothers. The second study looks at the sexual orientation and gender identity of children who have been raised by gay parents. The study reported that none of those children showed any confusion in gender identity, wished to be of the other sex or engaged in behavior of the cross gender. There were also no differences found in the boys or girls preference of toys, activities, games, friendship or dressing code with the same sex parents in c omparison with heterosexual parents, nor sexual attraction difference or identification of self as gay (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). The third area of study looked at the emotional and social development of children. It compared children who have been raised by divorced lesbians with those raised by divorced heterosexual mothers. There was no difference found in behavioral difficulties, quality of family relationships, peer group relationships, academic success, and personality measures. The study however, suggest one meaningful difference that children raised by lesbian parents are more likely to tolerate diversity and are likely to be more nurturing towards younger kids than those children raised by heterosexual parents (Hirsch Sears, 2004). Most of the researches conducted about gay parenting have the same conclusion that the suggestion that children raised by gay parents suffer has no base. The only significant difference as suggested by some evidence is that children raised by same sex parents are much freer in occupation and behavior explorations which are not hampered by traditional gender roles than children raised by heterosexual parents and thus a good thing (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). According to Stacey and Biblarz (2001), those who oppose to parental rights of lesbian and gay couples claim that children of these couples are at a higher risk of outcomes that are negative. Most psychological research however, concludes that the developmental outcomes of kids raised by same sex parents and those raised by heterosexual parents are no different (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). Several lawyers and activists who are struggling to defend adoption petitions and child custody by gay men and lesbians or attaining the marriage rights of the same gender have been successful on drawing on the research (Stacey Biblarz, 2001). In reference to Kurdek (2004), a comparison of both partners from cohabiting gay and lesbian couples with no children was done with those of married heterosexual couples with children. Of the 50 (%) comparisons, there were no differences between the heterosexual partners with the gay and lesbian partners. Differences were found on the 78 (%) comparisons, which indicated that the same sex couples functioned better than did the heterosexuals. According to Kurdek, since the same variables were used to predict the concurrent relationship stability and quality for both same sex parents and heterosexual parents, he concludes that there should be generalization across the heterosexual, gay and lesbian couples by those processes which regulate the functioning in relationships (Kurdek, 2004). There are a few studies purport to establish characteristics of children raised by gay couple which are negative, these negative characteristics tend to however be discounted as they are associated with researchers and organizations that are anti gay. While there is a need for further study of gay parenting, it is much clear that theres no reason found by the objective researchers to accept the idea that children of gay parents need protection (Hirsch Sears, 2004). According to Rekers (2004), the Arkansas regulation that denies foster parents licenses to those adults behaving in a homosexual way has a rational basis from three reasons. These are: From the inherent structure and nature of homosexually behaving adults households, foster children are endangered as they are exposed to a substantial harmful stress levels that are far above heterosexual homes levels of stress. There is normally a high psychological disorder incidence in children entering foster care ranging from 29-96 (%); hence in the presence of adults with homosexual behavior in the foster home they are vulnerable to increased maladjustment and psychological harm (Hirsch Sears, 2004). Same sex relationships are substantially short lived and significantly less stable compared to a man and a woman marriage hence the rate of household transition is high in foster homes with same sex couples (Hirsch Sears, 2004). Foster children in homes with members behaving in a homosexual manner are deprived of the vitally needed positive child adjustment contributions which are due to the inherent nature of their foster homes and which are present only in heterosexual foster homes which are licensed. Some of these contributions are a father or a mother model, lack of a father or mother childbearing contributions, and lack of a wife -husband relationship model (Rekers, 2004). According to Gerstmann (2004), it is clear that it has not been certainly established by the social science data that the lesbian or gay men households are not optimal environments for children to be raised. But this does not make it for the society to irrationally assume that the biological father and mother should raise a child for its best. According to Social science data, we should be cautious to assume that traditional families compared to families of the same sex are better environments for raising children. Again, we actually cannot say that hypothesizing that children being raised by both a father and mother benefit is irrational (Gerstmann, 2004). Conclusion Lesbians and gay men form families which are identical in appearance like those of non-gay families. Within the last couple of years in the gay and lesbian communities, there has been increased awareness of the fact that the possibility of being a parent is not ruled out by being gay. Homosexual parenting is when gay men or lesbians become biological or non biological parents to one or more children. Despite the controversy surrounding marriage of the same couples recently, there has not been established a reliable number of estimates of lesbian and gay couples. This is because when one presents himself or herself to the public as part of a lesbian or gay couple is subjected to abuse, discrimination and even violence, these numbers are likely to be underestimated as many do not come out in the open. Most of the researches conducted about gay parenting have the same conclusion that the suggestion that children raised by gay parents suffer has no base. The only significant difference as suggested by some evidence is that children raised by same sex parents are much freer in occupation and behavior explorations which are not hampered by traditional gender roles than children raised by heterosexual parents and thus a good thing. It is clear that it has not been certainly established by the social science data that the lesbian or gay men households are not optimal environments for children to be raised. But this does not make it for the society to irrationally assume that the biological father and mother should raise a child for its best. According to Social science data, we should be cautious to assume that traditional families compared to families of the same sex are better environments for raising children.

A Transcendence of Exhaustion? :: Free Essays Online

A Transcendence of Exhaustion? In his article "Power and Weakness", Robert Kagan offers an insightful explanation of recent trends in transatlantic relations. He puts forth a very elegantly systemic explanation for this unraveling, or at least schism, of the West that seems to be taking place under our very noses. And yet for all its apparent clarity, Kagan's underlying argument is a myopic one, a model in need of a corrective lens in order to gain any significant predictive power. Luckily, current events offer an indispensable laboratory for testing some aspects of Kagan's ideas, while even our class' very circumscribed readings in the field equip us to spot major shortcomings of the argument. Kagan posits that a Kantian "perpetual peace" has emerged in Europe in the decade after the Cold War's demise. (211) America, in many ways a Western European nation but in many ways not, has found itself straddling a sort of a boundary between ideologies. (239) On the one hand, it espouses the same liberal values held by the Europeans, of forming economic and diplomatic ties, the establishment of the liberal "separate peace," so to speak. However, even as it speaks these noble words, it finds itself stomping on Panama and Chile, reaching out to slap at Iraq. It is not free from the need to act in the Hobbesian world of anarchy and strife. (211) This fundamental disagreement drives much of the tension over foreign affairs that has arisen between Washington and the European governments in the recent past. (Ibid) It is in offering a historical explanation for this state of affairs that Kagan excels. He dismisses outright the possibility that some abstruse national character might be to blame, pointing out that in many respects Europe and America have recently switched places, and behaviors accordingly, on the world stage. (214) Europe from the time of the Westphalian peace until the World Wars was the bloody realm of machtpolitik, the constant power plays at home and abroad that characterize especially the colonial period. As the locus of power in the Hobbesian sense, the Europeans historically believed in it and wielded it without hesitation. The timid young America, subject to the persecution of hostile European empires for much of its early life, learned accordingly to make use of the weapons of the weak: political and economic diplomacy. (215) However, Europe laid waste to itself in the two World Wars that can rightly be called the climax of machtpolitik, eliminating the concrete basis it once held for world domination.