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.