Review of the Glass Castle free essay sample

Those people expected Orwell to shoot the elephant. Orwell realized that if he could shoot the elephant he will gain some respect from the Burmese people. I think his decision was based on circumstantial motives, social motives and political motives. It was considered as a political motive because he did not want the other German officer to be disrespect by Burmese people and have a bad experience like him. Social motive is one of the most important motives because he wanted gain some respect from the Burmese, who always a fool of him. I think it is not so hard to assign his motives to categories because Orwell describes his feeling very clearly in his essay and it’s easy to understand. 2. Facts ordinarily do not speak for themselves. How does Orwell present his facts to make them speak in support of his analytic points? Look, for example, at the death of the elephant (paragraphs 11 to 13) * I think Orwell used the fact to support his analytic points by describing the death of the elephant in step by step, so the reader can imagine along. We will write a custom essay sample on Review of the Glass Castle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For example in paragraph 13, he explained how he tried to make the elephant suffer the least but ended up being hopeless. He also tried to explain how the elephant was in such an agony to the point that it probably couldn’t feel anything anymore. 3. List morals you learn from this story. * I’ve learned that in order to live peacefully with other people you have to adjust yourself, sometimes significantly. I learned that sometime we couldn’t always do what we wanted to do because of circumstances. And sometime we have to do what we don’t want to do. I also learned, in general, people tend to be prejudice and judge others from their own experience. We can’t tell if we will be hated or loved by each group of people. We need to be very careful and be responsible with our choice of words and actions. Jonathan Swifts â€Å"A Modest Proposal† 1. Identify examples of the reasonable voice of Swift’s authorial persona, such as the title of the essay itself. * 2. Verbal irony consists of saying one thing and meaning another. At what point in this essay do you begin to suspect that Swift is using irony? What additional evidence of irony can you find? * 3. Look, in particular, at instances in which Swift’s authorial persona proposes shocking things. How does the style of the â€Å"Modest Proposal† affect its content? Martin Luther King Jr. â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† 1. Describe King’s theory of non violent resistance. * King was inspired the idea of using nonviolent resistance by Gandhi, a philosopher and leader, who trusted that love and truth is mandatory to win people’s heart. King also had the similar vision with Gandhi since he was a clergyman who valued love and honesty. He believed that violence would not solve any problem but will only make things worse and cause more damage. 2. Why did King choose nonviolent resistance over violent resistance? According from King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†, â€Å"I have tried to stand between these two forces, saying that we need emulate neither the do nothingism of the complacent nor the hatred and despair of the Black Nationalist. For there is the more excellent way of love and nonviolent protest. † I think Martin Luther king chose the nonviolent resistance because Dr. King was a clergyman, there for; he serves God and used Jesus principle to solve each and every problem. In this case, to love your enemies more and only nonviolent protest will show how so much can be achieve by being peaceful. 3. What encouraged Martin Luther King to fight for African American in Birmingham? * According form King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, â€Å"We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. † King realized that he and his people had been waiting for too long to have the rights they should have. The rights that they had since they were born in this world. But American took their rights and suffered them for a large period of time. He believed that it’s time for him to do something to get those rights back to his people, so the generation wouldn’t be suffer like the past generation.

Empress Matilda, Contender for the English Throne

Empress Matilda, Contender for the English Throne Empress Matilda, also known as Empress Maud (c. February 7, 1102–September 10, 1167), the daughter of Henry I of England, is best known in history for the civil war sparked by her fight against her cousin Stephen to win the throne of England for herself and her descendants.  She was also a strong-willed and capable ruler in her own right, the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor, and the mother of Henry II of England. Fast Facts: Empress Matilda Known For: Member of the British royal family whose claim to the throne sparked a civil warAlso Known As: Empress Maud, Holy Roman Empress;  German Queen;  Queen of ItalyBorn: c. February 7, 1102 in either Winchester  or  Sutton Courtenay, EnglandParents: Henry I of England, Matilda of ScotlandDied: September 10, 1167 in Rouen, FranceSpouse(s): Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, Geoffrey V, Count of AnjouChildren: Henry II of England, Geoffrey, Count of Nantes, William FitzEmpress Early Life Matilda was born on or about February 7, 1102, as the daughter of Henry I (Henry Longshanks or Henry Beauclerc), the Duke of Normandy and King of England. Through her father, Matilda was descended from the Norman conquerors of England, including her grandfather William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, known as William the Conqueror. Through her mothers mother, she was descended from more kings of England: Edmund II Ironside, Ethelred II the Unready, Edgar the Peaceable, Edmund I the Magnificent, Edward I the Elder and Alfred the Great. Matilda or Maud? Maud and Matilda are variations on the same name; Matilda is the Latin form of the Saxon name Maud and was usually used in official documents, especially of Norman origin. Some writers use Empress Maud as their consistent designation for Empress Matilda. These are useful notes to distinguish this Matilda from the many other Matildas around her: Henry I had at least one illegitimate daughter also named Maud or Matilda.Robert, Earl of Gloucester, was married to a Matilda.The rival of Empress Matilda for the crown of England was her cousin Stephen, whose wife, also a cousin of the Empress, was also named Maud or Matilda.  Stephens mother, Adela of Normandy, was a sister of Henry I.The Empress Matildas mother was  Matilda of Scotland. Marriage to Henry V Matilda was betrothed to Henry V, who later became the Holy Roman Emperor, In April 1110, at the age of 8. She later married Henry V and was crowned Queen of the Romans. When Henry V died in 1125, Matilda returned to England at age 23. Matildas younger brother William, the heir to the throne of England as her fathers only surviving legitimate son, had died when the White Ship capsized in 1120. Her father Henry I, therefore, named Matilda his heir and obtained the endorsement of that claim by the nobles of the realm. At the same time, however, Henry I took a second wife in hopes of fathering another legitimate male heir following the death of his first wife. Marriage to Geoffrey of Anjou Henry next arranged a marriage between Matilda and Geoffrey le Bel, often called Geoffrey of Anjou. Geoffrey was 14 and Matilda was 25. He then called upon his good relations with Count Fulk V of Anjou to negotiate the betrothal of Matilda to Fulk’s son Geoffrey le Bel. They were soon married in June 1127. After a brief but tumultuous marriage, Matilda attempted to leave her husband. Geoffrey, however, wanted her to return and, after a royal council, Matilda was sent back to Anjou. At the same time, however, Henry I once again required his nobles to support Matilda as his successor. Geoffrey and Matilda had three sons: Henry II of England, Geoffrey, and William. Death of Henry I Matilda’s father Henry I died in December 1135. Quickly thereafter, Stephen of Blois stepped up to claim Henrys throne. Stephen was Henrys favorite nephew and had been endowed by the deceased king with both lands and riches. Despite having pledged themselves to Matilda, many of Henrys followers reneged on their pledge and followed Stephen, preferring a British male king to a female ruler with a foreign husband. Matilda and her supporters- including Robert of Gloucester and King David I of Scotland- stood up to oppose Stephen, and so began the 19-year civil war known as The Anarchy. The Anarchy For several years between 1138 and 1141, skirmishes between Matilda and Stephen led to castles and lands being taken and lost. Each time one of the contenders seemed to gain the advantage, noblemen changed sides in the war. Finally, in 1141, Matilda captured and imprisoned Stephen. She then made preparations for her coronation in London. On her arrival, however, Matilda immediately began imposing taxes and removing privileges from her soon-to-be subjects. These actions were poorly received and, before Matilda could be crowned, Stephens wife was able to raise an army against Matilda and her supporters. Unable to defeat Stephens army, Matilda retreated to Oxford and released Stephen from prison. Stephen was crowned King of England in 1141, and soon thereafter lay siege to Matilda. Matilda escaped across the Thames River to Devizes Castle, where she set up headquarters for several more years of war. Older Years Finally admitting defeat, Matilda returned to France to her husband and son. After Geoffreys death, she ruled Anjou; at the same time she worked to establish her son Henry II as the heir to the English throne. After Stephens wife and son died, Henry was able to negotiate succession to the throne with Stephen and, in 1154, Henry was crowned King of England. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, became queen. Death Matilda died September 11, 1167, and was buried in Rouen at Fontevrault Abbey. Her tomb stated only that she had been the daughter of King Henry, wife of King Henry, and mother of King Henry. Legacy Matilda was an important historical figure whose battle with Stephen had a profound impact on the politics of her time. In addition, as the mother of Henry II (and the person who helped put Henry on the throne) she played an important part in the story of English succession. Sources â€Å"Empress Matilda, Lady of the English.†Ã‚  Medievalists.net, 9 Apr. 2013.â€Å"Queen Matilda, Empress Maud and the Civil War with King Stephen.†Ã‚  Historic UK.

Assignment #1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

#1 - Assignment Example His work can be used by the central banks to curb inflationary expectations appropriately. 2005: Robert J. Aumann and Thomas C. Schelling: They received the award for their research of conflict and cooperation through game-theory analysis. Schelling applied the concepts of game-theory to international relations. Prof. Aumann’s work focused on the issue of effect of continued repetition of games on co-operation. 2004: Finn E. Kydland and Edward C. Prescott: They received the Noble prize for their research on effects of business cycles on international trade. They examined the driving forces behind business cycles, and analyzed the temporal consistency of economic policy 1998: Amartya Sen: Prof. Amartya Sen received the Noble prize for his work on welfare economics in case of famine, and suggestions to prevent it. His work focused on the human development theory, the underlying mechanism of poverty, and political liberalism. The Oxford English dictionary defines theory as â€Å"an idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain something† (â€Å"Theory†). Formulation of a theory is a step-by-step scientific process, starting from an opinion to stating the final theory. The starting point of a theory is an observation of a particular process. The interest created by this observation then leads to the formulation of an opinion regarding the process. This opinion is based on the available information regarding the same process, and the researcher’s beliefs. These opinions are also a reflection of the researcher’s expectations regarding the outcome of the enquiry. These opinion and observation then lead to the formulation of hypotheses. Hypothesis is a possible theoretical explanation of the observation made by a researcher to fill the gaps in the research previously done on the subject matter. This is followed by collection and classification of the data. Data collection is followed by the formulation of invariance

Anyone interested in Scottish family and Scottish local history should Essay

Anyone interested in Scottish family and Scottish local history should be aware of the changes in legislation in the nineteenth - Essay Example However, there had been previous laws, which concerned the relief of the poor within the country before the enactment of the 1845 act. Nevertheless, this particular act is particularly important to the history of the Scottish local family in that it was wholly intended to empower the individual parishes to enumerate own poor. Moreover, besides just enumeration of the poor, the enactment of the law empowered the state to enquire more into the poverty status of the people.Through the enquiry, the state would understand the circumstances around the poverty, understand whether the ‘poor’ would be in a position to work and establish whether there existed other family members who would be depended on by the family for survival. A characteristic feature that existed in the Scottish law previously had been a poor rate or levy, which had been imposed within the state in order to assist the poor. However, therefore was the need to evaluate the effectiveness of the legislations as they were prior to the 1845 enactment of the legislation, which saw the amendments, which led to the 1845-act formulation. The act of 1845 had main provisions, which revolved around the establishment of a supervisory board whose mandate was to effect poor law system regulation. It also provided for retaining the already existing ‘parish based systems’ via Parochial boards (The National Archives of Scotland, para 3). The boards had also powers to regulate taxes. Outdoor relief services for the poor were meant to remain with an attention to building more poor houses for the sick. Moreover, the act empowered the inspector of the poor to legitimize the applications of relief to the poor. The effects of the enactment of the legislation saw the able-bodied poor segment of the population miss an automatic entitlement to the poor relief, as was the case previously in England. However, under the legislation, the poor had the capacity to engage legal procedures to appeal for poor relief denied on them. Nevertheless, in spite of such a promising legislation as it were, it suffered a major drawback on the fact that it lacked a framework to address outdoor relief mismanagement, which was very prevalent. The nineteenth century legislations had great impacts on the records to the Scottish local family and as such, anyone interested in Scottish family and Scottish local history should be aware of these changes in legislation. This paper therefore intends to discuss the specific changes brought about by the legislation and the impact brought about to the records. The previous regimes of legislation ware more open and inclusive where the disabled as well as the poor were entitled to assistance with the blind, orphans, the sick as well as the old having the priority over the assistance though the able bodied had special provision to the relief under special occasions (Milner, 2). Under such instances, the able bodied were included in the provision of the ‘occa sional’ poor during hard times. It was the responsibility of the Kirk sessions and the landowners to oversee dispensation of the relief within the rural areas whereas the town councils as well as magistrates over saw the process within the urban areas (Milner, 1; General Register office for Scotland, 1).1 Each parish took care of its own poor through church collections, voluntary donations as well as through fines inflicted on the convicted sinners (Mitchison, 109; Clark,

Article response paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Response paper - Article Example The author goes ahead to present a solution that people can use to adjust to new social environments while keeping their own original identity. He introduces the concept of switching cultural codes to acceptable levels that keep everybody happy. The author also gives examples of his students who used his program to integrate to new social contexts successfully. Personal observations/comments concerning how the article relates to previously knowledge. I have always been of the opinion that one cannot depict two sets of culture at the same time. Until I read this article, I believed that if an individual found himself or herself in an environment where cultural norms are in conflict with his or her own, then he or she would either have to stick to his or her culture, or acquire the new one, not keep a balance between the two. From the article, the author has shown how one can nature two conflicting cultures can be natured to exist as one. People can give and acquire new cultural states that do not offend their conscience, or those of the people they interact with by ceding negligible cultural norms. The author talks about Jorg’s situation with small talk, a situation that I can identify with. I have learnt that it is not what others will think about us, but rather what we think others will think of us that makes people reserved. It is up to individuals to make up their minds and decide how to interact with people. The fear of breaking the status quo also works against many people in society, especially when a person is in the minority. Despite her strong academic record in Vietnam, Thao did not have the nerves to speak out her mind because her society made her believe it was wrong. She had rather not â€Å"upset† her colleagues in class with her ideas. She, therefore, could not speak up her mind for fear of causing chaos. This brings out the idea of ‘pleasing’ other people at one’s own expense. The article stresses the importance of being able to express oneself while keeping other people’s ideas in mind, rather than keeping quiet in situations where your contribution could be of considerable help. Excerpts ...they need to do more than learn simple differences in cultural etiquette... This excerpt illustrates the point that just learning about other people’s cultures is not enough if we are to have any meaningful interaction with them. It is important to practice the culture to guarantee healthy relationships. ...some situations pose greater culturally driven psychological and emotional challenges for many students... The excerpt above stresses the diverse effects of cultural differences; not all cultural discrepancies have the same effects on students. Some are extreme, while others are mild. This depends on the individual as well as the environment where the cultural clash occurs. ...so that students can learn from these intense interactions without becoming overwhelmed, I establish a safe c lassroom environment where they can share their experience with their peers... This statement confirms that people get uncomfortable when faced with situations that are in conflict with their cultural norms and beliefs. It is vital for an individual to learn to create personal environments that make him or her to express himself or herself without fear of retribution. Questions 1. What is the most effective way of resolving cultural differen

Study on Steps to Christ Essay Example for Free

Study on Steps to Christ Essay He took man’s nature, that He might reach man’s wants. The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Such is the character of Christ as revealed in His life. This is the character of God. It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered and died. He became a Man of Sorrows, that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy. But this great sacrifice was not made in order to create in the Father’s heart a love for man, not make Him willing to save. No, no! God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son. John 3:16. The Father loves us, not because of the great propitiation, but He provided the propitiation because He loves us. None but the Son of God could accomplish our redemption. What a value this places upon man! Through transgression the sons of man become subjects of Satan. Through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ the sons of Adam may become the sons of God. The matchless love of God for a world that did not love Him! The thought has a subduing power upon the soul and brings the mind into captivity to the will of God. Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced mind. He was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy. But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil. It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. To all, there is but one answer, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Let us avail ourselves of the means provided for us that we may be transformed into His likeness, and be restored to fellowship with the ministering angels, to harmony and communion with the Father and the Son. How shall a man be just with God? How shall the sinner be made righteous? It is only through Christ that we can be brought into harmony with God, with holiness; but how are we to come to Christ? Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. But when the heart yields to the influence of the Spirit of God, the conscience will be quickened, and the sinner will discern something of the depth and sacredness of God’s holy law, the foundation of His government in heaven and on earth. Conviction takes hold upon the mind and heart. The prayer of David, after his fall, illustrates the nature of true sorrow for sin. His repentance was sincere and deep. There was no effort to palliate his guilt; no desire to escape the judgment threatened, inspired his prayer. David saw the enormity of his transgression; he saw the defilement of his soul; he loathed his sin. It was not for pardon only that he prayed, but for purity of heart. He longed for the joy of holiness, to be restored to harmony and communion with God. A repentance such as this, is beyond the reach of our own power to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ. Christ is ready to set us free from sin, but He does not force the will. If we refuse, what more can He do? Study God’s Word prayerfully. As you see the enormity of sin, as you see yourself as you really are, do not give up in despair. It was sinners that Christ came to save. When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look to your Redeemer and talk of His merits. Acknowledge your sin, but tell the enemy that Christ came into the world to save sinners and that you may be saved (1 Tim. 1:15). He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13. The conditions of obtaining mercy of God are simple and just and reasonable. Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt, have not yet fulfilled the first step of acceptance. We must be willing to humble our hearts and comply with the conditions of the Word of truth. The confession that is the outpouring of the inmost soul finds its way to the God of infinite pity. True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. All confession should be definite and to the point. It is written, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God’s promise is, Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13. The whole heart must be yielded, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him. There are those who profess to serve God, while they rely upon their own efforts to obey His law, to form a right character, and secure salvation. Their hearts are not moved by any deep sense of the love of Christ, but they seek to perform the duties of the Christian life as that which God requires of them in order to gain heaven. Such religion is worthless. When Christ dwells in the heart, the soul will be so filled with His love, with the joy of communion with Him, that it will cleave to Him; and in the contemplation of Him, self will be forgotten. Love to Christ will be the spring of action. Such do not ask for the lowest standard, but aim at perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. Do you feel that it is too great a sacrifice to yield all to Christ? Ask yourself the question, What has Christ given for me? The Son of God gave all—life and love and suffering—for our redemption. And can it be that we, the unworthy objects of so great love, will withhold our hearts from Him? What do we give up, when we give all? A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His matchless love. And yet men think it hard to give up all! God does not require us to give up anything that it is for our best interest to retain. In all that He does, He has the well-being of His children in view. Many are inquiring, How am I to make the surrender of myself to God? You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him. Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians. Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith. As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit, you have seen something of the evil of sin, of its power, its guilt, its woe; and you look upon it with abhorrence. It is peace that you need. You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart. Then believe that He does this because He has promised. The gift which God promises us, we must believe we do receive, and it is ours. You are a sinner. You cannot atone for your past sins; you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. But God promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. You confess your sins and give yourself to God. You will to serve Him. Just as surely as you do this, God will fulfill His Word to you. If you believe the promise,—God supplies the fact. Do not wait to feel that you are made whole, but say, I believe it; it is so, not because I feel it, but because God promised. —Summary of all the key points in Steps to Christ, pp. 9-51, in the author’s own words. Part Two – How Can I Remain True to God? Jesus says, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11:24). There is a condition to this promise—that we pray according to the will of God. But it is the will of God to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. So we may ask for these blessings, and believe that we receive them, and thank God that we have received them. Henceforth you are not your own; you are bought with a price. Through this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has begotten a new life in your heart. You are a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Son. Now that you have given yourself to Jesus, do not draw back, do not take yourself away from Him, but day by day say, I am Christ’s; I have given myself to Him; and ask Him to give you His Spirit and keep you by His grace. As it is by giving yourself to God, and believing Him, that you become His child, so you are to live in Him. Here is where thousands fail; they do not believe that Jesus pardons them personally, individually. They do not take God at His Word. It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions to know for themselves that pardon is freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God’s promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor. Look up, you that are doubting and trembling; for Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Thank God for the gift of His dear Son. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17. A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. A change will be seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they have become. Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ’s, our thoughts are with Him. There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works reformation. The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in His followers. It was His delight to do the will of God. There are two errors against which the children of God especially need to guard: The first is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, which can make us holy. The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption. Obedience is the fruit of faith. Righteousness is defined by the standard of God’s holy law, as expressed in the ten commandments (Exo. 20:3-20). That so-called faith in Christ, which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption. The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,—just what it was in paradise before the fall of our first parents,—perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized. Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer. This is evidence that Satan’s delusions are losing their power. No deep-seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness. The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire His character. A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the Word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image. The change of heart by which we become children of God is in the Bible spoken of as birth. Again it is compared to the germination of the good seed sown by the husbandman. It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit. It is by His power that the seed develops. As the flower turns to the sun, that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven’s light may shine upon us, that our character may be developed into the likeness of Christ. Do you ask, How am I to abide in Christ? In the same way as you received Him at first. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. Colossians 2:6. By faith you became Christ’s, and by faith you are to grow up in Him—by giving and taking. You are to give all,—your heart, your will, your service,—give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must take all—Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper—to give you power to obey. Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee. This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. Hence, it is Satan’s constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour and thus prevent the union and communion of the soul with Christ. When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself. Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie—to choose to separate ourselves from Christ. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. Nothing can pluck us out of His hand. All that Christ was to the disciples, He desires to be to His children today. Jesus prayed for us, and He asked that we might be one with Him, even as He is one with the Father. What a union is this! Thus, loving Him and abiding in Him, we shall grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ (Ephesians 4:15). God is the source of life and light and joy to the universe. Wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing. Our Saviour’s joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men. For this He counted not His life dear to Himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame. When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart, like sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden. Love to Jesus will be manifested in a desire to work as He worked for the blessing and uplifting of humanity. It will lead to love, tenderness, and sympathy toward all the creatures of our heavenly Father’s care. Those who are the partakers of the grace of Christ will be ready to make any sacrifice, that others for whom He died may share the heavenly gift. They will do all they can to make the world better for their stay in it. This spirit is the sure outgrowth of a soul truly converted. No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we shall have something to tell. We shall seek to present to others the attractions of Christ and the unseen realities of the world to come. There will be an intensity of desire to follow in the path that Jesus trod. And the effort to bless others will react in blessings upon ourselves. Those who thus become participants in labors of love are brought nearest to their Creator. The spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth, stability, and Christlike loveliness to the character, and brings peace and happiness to its possessor. Strength comes by exercise. We need not go to heathen lands, or even leave the narrow circle of the home, if it is there that our duty lies, in order to work for Christ. With a loving spirit we may perform life’s humblest duties unto the Lord (Col. 3:23). If the love of God is in the heart, it will be manifested in the life. You are not to wait for great occasions or to expect extraordinary abilities before you go to work for God. The humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus can be a blessing to others. Many are the ways in which God is seeking to make Himself known to us and bring us into communion with Him. If we will but listen, Nature speaks to our senses without ceasing. God’s created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust. No tears are shed that God does not notice. There is no smile that He does not mark. If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now; for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God. God speaks to us through His providential works and through the influence of His Spirit upon the heart. God speaks to us in His Word. Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption. Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven. The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? As we meditate upon the Saviour, there will be a hungering and thirsting of soul to become like Him whom we adore. The Bible was written for the common people. The great truths necessary for salvation are made as clear as noonday. There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the Scriptures. But there is little benefit derived from a hasty reading of the Bible. One passage studied, until its significance is clear to the mind and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident, is of more value than the perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive instruction gained. Keep your Bible with you. As you have opportunity, read it; fix the texts in your memory. We cannot obtain wisdom without earnest attention and prayerful study. Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages, we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given. Angels from the world of light will be with those who in humility of heart seek for divine guidance. How must God esteem the human race, since He gave His Son to die for them and appoints His Holy Spirit to be man’s teacher and continual guide! Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life. Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God’s heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of prayer. Yet prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence. There are certain conditions upon which we may expect that God will hear and answer our prayers: One is that we feel our need of help from Him. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, if we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted. When all known wrongs are righted, we may believe that God will answer our petitions. Another element of prevailing prayer is faith. When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most. But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire, is presumption. When we come to God in prayer, we should have a spirit of love and forgiveness in our own hearts. Perseverance in prayer has been made a condition of receiving. We must pray always if we would grow in faith and experience. We should pray in the family circle, and above all we must not neglect secret prayer, for this is the life of the soul. Family or public prayer alone is not sufficient. Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God. In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business engagement, we may send up a petition to God and plead for divine guidance. Let the soul be drawn out and upward, that God may grant us a breath of the heavenly atmosphere. We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun. Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He is not indifferent to the wants of His children. We sustain a loss when we neglect the privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in the service of God. If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the love of God and the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed and they would refresh one another. We must gather about the cross. Christ and Him crucified should be the theme of contemplation, of conversation, and of our most joyful emotion. We should keep in our thoughts every blessing we receive from God, and when we realize His great love we should be willing to trust everything to the hand that was ailed to the cross for us. The soul may ascend nearer heaven on the wings of praise. As we express our gratitude, we are approximating to the worship of the heavenly hosts. Many are at times troubled with the suggestions of skepticism. God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. Disguise it as they may, the re al cause of doubt and skepticism, in most cases, is the love of sin. We must have a sincere desire to know the truth and a willingness of heart to obey it.

Comparing Different Types of Love in William Shakespeares Romeo and Ju

Comparing Different Types of Love in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet The three different examples of love between Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Rosaline and Paris and Juliet do share some similar aspects, but they also have their own differences. These three different types of love show us the variations of love and how it can mask itself into different forms. Romeo's 'love' for Rosaline. He was portrayed as a Petrarchan lover and his 'love' was simply an infatuation. He did not take time to know Rosaline or understand her, but thought that he truly loved her. In actual fact, he was only attracted to her because of her beauty; "The all-seeing sun/Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun." Romeo knows that Rosaline does not love him, that the relationship is not mutual. Romeo became depressed when he realised that Rosaline did not love him. He was moody and withdrawn. His use of oxymorons such as "bright smoke, cold fire, sick health" shows his uncertainty and confusion of this 'love' he has for Rosaline. Romeo's love for Rosaline is clearly infatuation, which really is not true love. Similarly, we question Paris' 'love' for Juliet. Did he really love her? His love for Juliet was not as straightforward. He did not even know Juliet, probably falling for her beauty rather that loving her for who she really was. It was probably superficial, but we cannot completely ignore his attempts to show 'love'. He risks his reputation as a noble by visiting Juliet's grave in the dead of the night so secretly and suspiciously. Also, when Romeo kills him he asks to be put in her tomb, "If thou be merciful, Open the tomb, lay me with .. ...d be one that was approved and acknowledged. Not like the one between Romeo and Juliet, where the choice to get wedded was based purely on their own decision and not one that was consulted with their own parents. Compared with Romeo's love for Rosaline, his best friends knew about it, Benvolio having found out when he spoke to Romeo, and probably telling Mercutio. It wasn't a total secret but was kept hidden from his parents. It is obvious that the love Romeo has for Juliet is true and deep, it is also reciprocated, unlike the one between Romeo and Rosaline, and Paris and Juliet. Also, the three relationships showed signs of hastiness and rashness, which resulted in a short-lived and rather brief relationship. However, the love did affect the characters in some way or other and had changed Romeo into a better person.

Double Entry Journals for the Crucible Essay

Analysis â€Å"We cannot flinch; these are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points! †¦in great pain: Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven† (1244). Mass paranoia, confusion, fear Despite being an educated man, Hale is fully embracing the witch-hunt and keeps advocating it. The people of Salem are too afraid to question the validity of the witchcraft claims because even â€Å"God thought him beautiful in Heaven† -an hour before the Devil fell-. How can common men of Salem identify the Devil correctly? â€Å"Ancient friendships† are no longer relevant because anyone, even a close friend can be in the league with the Devil. Although it is not important whether the person is a Devil-worshipper or not because the people of Salem do not â€Å"dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points†, Hale himself appears to believe that anyone accused has the potential of being a Devil-worshipper and worth to be interrogated. Since the way of the Devil is â€Å"so subtle† that the people of Salem â€Å"should be criminal† even to trust their friends now. The small bits of evidence seem to be forced or plotted, but according to Hale, all such proofs were real, â€Å"frightful†, and more than enough to be used to convict the accused. There appears to be a very thin line between being a devote Christian and a devil-worshipper, even to sensible Mr. Hale. â€Å"If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God’s fingers? I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem-vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant’s vengeance† (1246)! Justice, power The people of Salem expect that their legal system, based on the Bible, has the truth of God, However, it is being manipulated very easily as in this case. Proctor mocks this notion by pointing out that the accusers may have their own selfish reasons for their accusations, but due to their holy legal system, their will commands the laws. Proctor refers this fact by the phrase â€Å"common vengeance writes the law†. He repeats this point –bravely- several times in the quote â€Å"vengeance is walking Salem† and â€Å"this warrant’s vengeance† to reinforce this idea. He clearly points the double standards in the current justice system by asking â€Å"Is the accuser always holy now†? He is questioning the innocence of Abigail and the girls by making radical comparison between them and the God’s fingers, which had inscribed the Ten Commandments. Even though Proctor uses an extreme comparison to mock the girls, the power they seized at Sale m is far beyond their own rights. Deciding who will die and live is godly power as â€Å"jangling the keys of the kingdom† refers to. Proctor is simply pointing out the ridiculousness of the situation while trying to save his wife’s life. However, when fear and greed takes over; the logic becomes irrelevant, which makes all his efforts futile. â€Å"Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretense is ripped away-make your peace! He throws her to the floor, where she sobs, â€Å"I cannot, I cannot.† And now, half to himself, staring, and turning to the open door: Peace. It is providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now. He walks as though toward a great horror, facing the open sky. Aye, naked! And the wind, God’s icy wind, will blow† (1248)! Deception, adultery, guilt, honesty, punishment Proctor has not been honest with his wife, Elizabeth, about his relationship with Abigail, which put Elizabeth in a vulnerable position. He feels guilty about it but at the same time until his wife gets taken to the jail upon accusation of Abigail for witch crafting, he never even considered admitting it. Adultery is one of the ten commandments and Proctor is expecting a lot of trouble for revealing it. Even though Elizabeth already senses it, Proctor may lose â€Å"peace† and happiness in his marriage forever. He may also be criticized harshly by the people for his sin. Also, he may make Abigail very mad, which is a crazy thing to do under the circumstances. Abigail wants to take place of Elizabeth and getting her killed is very easy for Abigail. Being at the verge of revealing such a shameful secret makes Proctor feel as if he is â€Å"naked† and â€Å"facing the open sky†. The quote repeats â€Å"naked† several times to emphasize the shame Proctor feels about revealing this secret. â€Å"Icy wind† represents the hurt he is expecting to feel afterwards due to brutal critism, shame and guilt. â€Å"I cannot charge murder on Abigail†. †¦ â€Å"She†ll kill me for saying that†! †¦ â€Å"Abby will charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor†! †¦ â€Å"I cannot, they’ll turn on me—â€Å" (1248) Terror Even though Mary Warren is now official of the court helping girls to decide who is performing with craft, she is extremely scared of getting accused herself. She is very well aware of the extend of the evilness of Abigail and the girls and knows that they will seek revenge if she helps Proctor to clear Elizabeth’s name about the puppet. Mary W. feels extremely scared of Abigail as she uses the phrase â€Å"she’ll kill me† and â€Å"they’ll turn on me†, which means that Mary Warren would do anything they expect her to do such as  blaming others of worshipping the Devil, or keeping puppets at their house to harm other people, which makes the Mary Warren a true puppet and Abigail and the girls true witches harming innocent people using the puppets like Mary Warren. â€Å"Giles: That bloody mongrel Walcott charge her. Y’see he buy a pig of my wife four or five year ago, and the pig died soon after. So he come dancin’ in for his money back. So my Martha, she says to him, â€Å"Walcott, if you haven’t the wit to feed the pig properly, you’ll not live to own many,† she says. Now he goes to court and claims that from that day to this he cannot a pig alive for more than four weeks because my Martha bewitched them with her books† (1244) Slippery slope Martha gets accused of wicth craft by Walcott just because the pig he purchased from her dies –probably because Walcott did not take care of the pig well-. However, the accusation is that Martha is practicing witch craft with her books. Walcott seems to be taking advantage of the current insanity to resolve past enmity. Even though Giles seems very upset about the situation and finds Walcott’s accusations groundless, in Act I, it was him trying to use Hale’s influence to spy on his wife and learn about what kind of books she was reading and accusing her with â€Å"the stoppage of prayer†. Giles seems to have initiated the fall of his loved one unintentionally. About Walcott’s accusation and the logic: Even though there may be many other reasons for the pig to die after its purchase from Martha and there is no obvious correlation between two events, the court choses to treat this case with extreme and concludes that the pig died because Martha was pr acticing witch craft. It is a long jump, very illogical conclusion.

Responsibility of Government Essay

Time has changed and where we live today is what may be called as a â€Å"global consumer society†. People are striving in the fast lane to make their hassle bustle life a bit relaxing, convenient and luxurious by purchasing and manufacturing equipments and then disposing them off. This is where businesses and industry play an important role in degrading our environment, utilizing our resources to produce those artificial things and utilities for one’s convenience, which leads to ominous results. Presently, the most highlighted issues about the macrocosm is the menace to our natural habitat by our commercial sector. The essay will analyze how they affect our environment, their responsibilities to protect it and also it is the duty of government to take measures for it. According to Fieser, J. (2010) the biggest threat to the environment is inflicted by Commercial enterprises and businesses rather than any other domestic activity. Factories produce toxic waste and dump it without remembering about the side effects, thus polluting the soil and water. Similarly deforestation has been done on a large scale with them during the development of new industries, not considering the fact that they disturb the natural habitat. The majority of these offenders are from the third world countries also known as the underdeveloped countries, as they ignore  being environmentally responsible while competing with industrialized states. Likewise, due to deficiency of alternatives available in such countries it makes it hard for them to maintain a balance between energy conservation and economic progress. All of this results in environmental degradation by business sector. Many examples of such cases could be brought up with this discussion. For instance, a Union Carbide incident in OHIO (1960’s) where two chemical and metal plants were manufactured in a valley trapping it with the ash clouds and air pollution, not only did they result in endangering the surroundings but caused different respiratory diseases among the locals. In spite of being responsible for all, the company refused all public discussions and ignored governmental requests for the plant’s inspection, another similar big incident related to nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania and Chernobyl in which radiations were released to the local community and a steam explosion in the plant also let out tons of radioactive material in the atmosphere killing several and injuring thousands, all of these incidents are a proof of irresponsibility shown by the respective industries. Although, agreeing that the main motive of businesses is to make profit for their investors and that the consumers only prefer buying stuff which is cheaper instead of being Eco friendly – as environmental standard production of products raises their cost. They should be familiar with the social responsibilities they have on themselves, which is best described by Haynes, T. (N.d.). â€Å"Social responsibility is a moral theory that says any organization is obligated to act for the benefit of its society†, It is a duty that everyone has to perform to maintain balance between ecosystem and economy. Yet, still some companies work with the ideology that- what is best for the environment is not always financially best for them -which is wrong. Some, also think that they are not legally bound to care for the government as there are no such laws which asks them to do so. Another argument form these business enterprises is † that caring for the environment rests with the consumers not us, if they are not interested in favoring businesses running an Eco- sustainable policies then there is no point reforming such policies on them†. Let’s not forget that environment is common to everyone, no-one possesses it and everyone is equally responsible for it, so far no one is bound to accept the responsibility for a common thing, the point being drawn is that no private  organization should be responsible for the commons. As alleged, by James W. (2007) â€Å"Responsibility for the commons rests primarily with political communities of citizens through their governments, and their duty is to do justice†. Hence, the government should secure the sustainability of the surroundings and to introduce law which promote ecologically friendly advancement which would eventually bind all businesses to be more socially responsible. Also, it will encourage other sectors to contribute their part in fighting against the threats to our environment. The office of government is also important when it adds up to some critical topics connected to the environment such as global heating and loss of biodiversity which is done by deforestation and utilizing of natural habitat for new growth projects. This could be forestalled simply by opting alternatives for the arrangements, i.e. using old sites to build new industries and encourage recycling – government is the only physical structure that could enforce them to behave thus. Though, businesses should be socially responsible, but the governments do play a broader and important role in protecting our environment because it is their duty to assure justice to everyone, be it an organization or our environment and they should not wait till severe problems are faced after all is done. It is conclusive that government practices hold a major part in protecting our environment, even if businesses do try to be socially responsible they cannot make out a great deal compared to what government bodies can act- and they should perform whatever is possible if they want a pleasant and sustainable environment to live in. REFERENCES Fieser, J. (2010), Business ethics: section three. Hayens, T. (N.d.). Social Responsibility and Organizational Ethics. Kalinda, B. (Ed.). Social Responsibility and Organizational Ethics. (2001). Encyclopedia of Business and Finance (2nd ed., Vol.1). New York: Macmillan References. James, W. (2007), Conserving the environment:Guideline #10 for government and Citizenship. Online available from URL http://www.cpjustice.org/PJR2007Q2/EnvironmentGuideline10 [Accessed 10 April 2014] Jason, D. (2006), The role of government in environmental protection. Online available from URL http://grist.org/article/the-role-of-government-in-environmental-protection/ [Accessed 11 April 2014] (Why protecting our environment is so important?, 2011) Niharika Bhati, Role of Government and problems faced in protecting our environment. Online available from URL http://www.preservearticles.com/201102244196/role-of-government-and-the-problems-faced-in-protecting-our-environment.html [Accessed 10 April 2014]

Port Security Challenges

Port Security Challenges Tackling the issues associated with port security is of high significance for international trade. Beginning from 2001, the reality of the terrorist threat to America’s ports has increased considerably including the risk of the nuclear attack with the so-called â€Å"dirty bomb†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Port Security Challenges specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, terrorism is not the only port security challenge. Illegal human and contraband trafficking, piracy, and cargo security are other major port security risks. In the following paper, the problem of port security and its connections to the international trade will be observed in more details. The security challenges associated with port security are terrorism, piracy, illegal human and contraband trafficking, and cargo security (Blake, Schwartz, Schwartz, 2013). Each of the fields identified has the broad scope and variety of dimens ions. With regards to this fact, port security guards face the tremendously difficult operational task that becomes even more complicated owing to the complex structure of ports, complicated system of port authority distribution between the public and private stakeholders, and interference from multiple governmental and private agencies (Blake et al., 2013). The significance of mega ports to international trade can be hardly underestimated since they are the main processing harbors for over 80 percent of overseas commerce (Blake et al., 2013). In connection to mega ports, the tactics of the weak or confronting an enemy with the low-tech approaches confounds the tactics of the strong or doing the same with the highly technological weapons by means of implementing unexpected solutions (Blake et al., 2013). Sadly, terrorists have learnt how to implement the tactics of the weak quite effectively, which can be proved by the high number of dangerous occurrences on the maritime transport a nd in ports committed by them annually (Blake et al., 2013). However, the system of security in mega ports effectively implements to eliminate terrorists’ efforts and thus, the significance of these ports are crucial. In line with the above-mentioned information, the importance of rethinking asymmetric threats is conditioned by the changes that take place at the global arena (Blake et al., 2013). Terrorists begin to implement the newest and the most unpredictable methods to attack the vulnerable points in the port protection system. The society is left no other choice but to develop to the more complex and sophisticated safety and security systems.Advertising Looking for essay on transportation? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, the threat of the â€Å"dirty bomb† which is the type of fission weapons remains high (Cruise, DErman, Grillot, 2013). Generally speaking, any bomb containing nuclear m aterials can be referred to as the â€Å"dirty bomb†. The relationship of this threat to port security is inevitable because placing such bombs into cargo is not a very complicated task due to the existing security gaps. The reality of a terrorist nuclear threat to America’s seaports is thus quite high. The situation is getting worse because of the sheer size of cargo being operated in ports on a daily basis and absence of the well-designed system of central authority overseeing the maritime system (Cruise et al., 2013). In conclusion, the vulnerability of American ports to the terroristic threats continues to be the reason of concern for both the government and commercial institutions engaging in the international trade. With regards to this problem, it is the high time to rethink asymmetric threats and undergo the needed changes both in thinking and implementing the newly developed security strategy in practice. References Blake, P., Schwartz, D., Schwartz, T. M. (2 013). Upgrading NY-NJ Harbor: risks and challenges. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 4(3), 266-282. Cruise, R. J., DErman, V. J., Grillot, S. R. (2013). Protecting Our Ports: Domestic and International Politics of Containerized Freight Security. New York, N.Y.: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Political Heroism as depicted in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Research Paper

Political Heroism as depicted in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Research Paper Example This essay explores the characters, actions, and controversies of the three characters; Valence, Stoddard, and Doniphon, in John Ford’s film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence as a critique of political heroism and an examination of the value, relevance, scope, and limitations of the written law. In the contemporary society, heroism is quite fragile and can be easily destroyed by the media. However, the dialogues between most actors in Ford’s film portray heroism as relative to the level of arrogance an individual can portray. The Man who Shot Liberty Valance sensationalizes the challenges associated with establishing political order in accordance with the rule of law. For example, Stoddard is given credit for killing Liberty Valance who had caused a lot of instability in the town through his violent actions. The wrongful credit enables Stoddard attain great political favors and he ends up a marrying Hallie, a woman who was also loved by Doniphin. Therefore, Stoddard gets fame out of an action done by Doniphon and end up taking away the woman he loved. He even ends up dying unrecognized. Therefore, the man who removed the hindrance to the developments in the town ends up unrecognized. Moreover, Stoddard confesses to a newspaper editor about the true story, the editor ignores the true story and publishes the untruthful one (Stewart, Wayne, and Miles Web). The political aspect of the film focuses on Ransom Stoddard who is considered a hero since people assume he managed to kill the dreaded Liberty Valance. However, the actual hero in the shadows of political reality is Tom Doniphon since he was responsible for the killing under question. The reality of political heroism is evident when shooting of evil Liberty Valance by a civilian is considered a depiction of heroism even in the eyes of law (Stewart, Wayne, and Miles Web). The film addresses the issue of how law shapes the political arena. The

By outlining the current global political economy, discuss to what Essay

By outlining the current global political economy, discuss to what extent the current global political economy undermines national development in the South - Essay Example The linkage of international banks, financial institutions, and trade illustrates the difficulties facing current government systems. There are suggestions that the current global political economy is beneficial to the Global South. In this paper, I will outline the extent to which the international political economy has undermined development in the South. With the advent of globalization, the relevance of the role of how nation state should manage economic systems in the development process has taken center stage. The reasoning behind this is that the economic systems presume that there is a political structure. Consequently, this means that development occurs in a global framework; at the same time, it arouses the question of the relevance of individual, national development plans. National development strategies become peculiar when there are other actors in the development process other than the nation state. The importance of understanding the nature of global political economy is because economic systems can not exist without stable political framework. The North- South divide of the world represents the developed and the underdeveloped world. This division can be conceived as ongoing due to the global arrangement of the political and economic systems. The Global North refers to the industrialized countries mainly in the northern hemisphere, while countries in the Global South are mostly found in the southern hemisphere; in Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Latin America (Kegley, 2008). The global political economy took a different turn after the oil shock of 1973. The member countries of OPEC established an oil cartel which saw the price of oil increased dramatically. Marxist offers the explanation that the oil crisis was not caused by OPEC but rather the Nixon administration. This premise asserts that the administration wanted to safeguard the interests of America capital and