What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie Essay Example

What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie Paper The story of What You Pawn I Will Redeem, starts off with the self-analysis of our protagonist Jackson, Jackson. He’s a man of gritty self-awareness, he tells the readers a short tale of his nature. He reveals the polar opposite end from which he hails from. Although, the tale of how he became a homeless man remains a mystery. As the quest initiates we see consistent representations of aboriginal companionship through mutual ethnicity and social conditions. At the first sight of a long lost family heirloom â€Å"his grandmothers regalia† Jacksons ambition was cemented (well with wet cement). He’s immediately attached to retrieving this heirloom in the most honorable manner he can fester. Seeing personal redemption in doing right by his grandmother. At the very beginning, Jackson introduced himself we are presented with a flawed portrait of a man. â€Å"One day you have a home and the next you don’t, but I’m not going to tell you my particular reason for being homeless because its my secret story.† Page 1. Jackson moved to Seattle from Spokane when he was a young man, flunking out of college, marrying and re-marrying and even fathering a few children. He mentions these facts in such a nonchalant manner, not a trace of regret can be sensed. Though even with all this bare information he’s still a man with secrets, which later plays into being a part of his identity. â€Å"I understood. We Indians have to keep our secrets.† Page 13. Another intriguing part of Jackson is how his nature is portrayed. â€Å"I didn’t break hearts into pieces overnight. I broke them slowly and carefully.† â€Å"Piece by piece I’ve been disappearing ever since.† Page 1. He shows a hard truth in the form of self-analysis, without a sign of regret. We will write a custom essay sample on What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Throughout Jacksons quest he makes numerous connections with people over the mutual ground of ethnicity.When we first meet his initial two companions â€Å"Rose of Sharon† a Yakama native and â€Å"Junior† w

buy custom Proteins and Amino Acids essay

buy custom Proteins and Amino Acids essay Amino acids can be defined as compounds that are made up of two functional groups namely amino group (NH2) and the carboxylic group (COOH). Amino acids are characterized by the formation of very long chains through a chemical reaction. It is through the bonding of these long chains that produces proteins. The bond so formed is known as a peptide linkage and the specific protein properties are influenced by the nature and sequence of the amino acids in it (Marchuk, 1992). Amino acids are divided into two groups namely; essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be supplied by food (Marchuk, 1992). They include isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Non-essential amino acids are those synthesized by the body from the essential amino acids or normal breakdown of proteins. They are arginine, alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine. Animal sources of proteins with the exception of gelatin contain all the essential amino acids and are therefore complete proteins. However, most plant proteins do not contain all the essential amino acids (Campbell, Mitchell, Reece, 1999). Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is present in all cells and primarily creates encoded instructions for amino acids synthesis (Brenner, 2001). Two processes, namely; transcription and translation are involved. Transcription is characterized by the transfer of genetic information from the DNA to a similar molecule known as Ribonucleic acid (RNA). A messenger RNA contains information for synthesis of a protein. It migrates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm as it undergoes different types of maturation including splicing where the elimination of non-coding sequences is carried out. Translation takes place in the cytoplasm. Here, the mRNA interacts with a specialized complex called a ribosome, which as a result reads the sequence of mRNA bases. A transfer RNA (tRNA) is responsible for assembling the protein, one amino acid at a time (Brenner, 2001). Protein assembly proceeds until when the stop codon is encountered. Buy custom Proteins and Amino Acids essay

Understanding the French Expression Nimporte

Understanding the French Expression N'importe The French indefinite expression nimporte, which literally means no matter, can be followed by an interrogative adjective, adverb, or pronoun in order to designate an unspecified person, thing, or characteristic. If you dont know what interrogative adjectives, adverbs, and/or pronouns are, be sure to study those lessons before continuing with this one (just click the link in each heading). Use With Interrogative Pronouns Interrogative pronouns can function as subjects, direct objects, or indirect objects. nimporte quianyoneNimporte qui peut le faire.Anyone can do it.Tu peux inviter nimporte qui.You can invite anyone.Ne viens pas avec nimporte qui.Dont come with just anyone.nimporte quoianythingNimporte quoi maiderait.Anything would help me.Il lira nimporte quoi.Hell read anything.Jà ©cris sur nimporte quoi.I write on anything.nimporte lequelany (one)- Quel livre veux-tu  ? - Nimporte lequel.- Which book do you want? - Any one / Any of them.- Aimes-tu les films  ? - Oui, jaime nimporte lesquels.- Do you like movies? - Yes, I like any at all. Use With Interrogative Adjectives Use nimporte  with interrogative adjectives in front of a noun to indicate a non-specific choice. nimporte quelanyJaimerais nimporte quel livre.Id like any book.Nimporte quelle dà ©cision sera...Any decision will be... Use With Interrogative Adverbs When used with interrogative adverbs, these indicate that the how, when, or where of something is unspecified. nimporte comment(in) any wayFais-le nimporte comment.Do it any way. (Just do it!)nimporte quandanytimeEcrivez-nous nimporte quand.Write to us anytime.nimporte oà ¹anywhereNous irons nimporte oà ¹.Well go wherever / anywhere.

Human Rescource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Rescource Management - Essay Example Rousseau (1989) defines the psychological contract as â€Å"an individual’s beliefs regarding the terms and conditions of a reciprocal exchange agreement between that focal person and another party† (p. 123). There are various aspects of the work force like variations in the job, nature of job, challenges of the work and other areas that have been considered as growing areas of interests (Hughes and Palmer, 2007). There has been various human resource management issues related to the contingent work force that provided one of the most appropriate areas of studies for the professionals and researchers. According to Feldman (2006 as cited by Hughes and Palmer, 2007) the Bureau of Labour Statistics (2005) revealed that the contingent workers formed nearly 10% of the workforce in early 2005. George and Kelly-Patternson (2007) covered different importance of psychological contract within various professional groups. The present economy has transformed from the manufacturing to service and service to knowledge based economy. The experience and skills of individuals have become base for economy. The psychological contract is high in the knowledge based industry. Success of the projects depends on the psychological contract. Psychological contract is explained with respect to emotional aspects of loyalty of employees and support from the organisation (Grimmer and Oddy, 2006). There are individual perspectives of employees, perception of the employees and mutual promise among the employer and employees (Rousseau, 1995). Working relationship of the individuals and organisation is covered in psychological contract (Sparrow and Cooper, 1998). Psychological contract is explained with the use of the term â€Å"unwritten expectations† (Wellin, 2007). These expectations are ever-changing and continuously operating between the all the members of the organisation. There are transactional psychological contract and relational psychological contract. Transactional

Civil Liberties Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Civil Liberties - Essay Example He was instructed by Supreme Court to put down his website after being convicted of murdering police officials (Salakhan n.p). Such measure was taken to ensure that opinions of judiciary were not influenced by external factors and remained bias-free. However, restricting free flow of information and only making limited facts available results in ineffective decisions. Depriving Al-Amin from his right of speech also gives rise to a probability that a general American is susceptible to abuse of power by authorities. It also raises a question if having different opinions (even unethical ones) makes infringement of freedom of speech legitimate. United States Courts have been visibly clear about what a free speech means. According to their version, freedom of speech includes not to speak, usage of black armbands by students, use of offensive words and phrases to convey political messages, contribution of money for political campaigns, advertising commercials products and to engage in symb olic speech. On the other hand, inciting actions that would harm others, making and distribution of obscene material would not be included in freedom of speech (â€Å"What Does Free Speech† n.p). ... The argument is constructed on a premise that Al-Amin’s speech was for political motives and collection of financial resources; and a dissemination of print material to general public via web. If the court considers use of web by Al-Amin to disseminate offensive material, their jurisdiction may appear valid under the laws governing censorship of web which is a restriction on availability of information that government considers to inappropriate (â€Å"Freedom Online† n.p). However, socialists perceive such restriction as an infringement of civil liberties. It is important to note that such restrictions would only reflect doctrines of those in power, having an impact on civil liberties. Furthermore, an imposition of authority results in lesser expression of one’s thoughts. Observing definition of permissible speech and its corroboration with criticism on censorship on web, it can be seen that Supreme Court’s decision of depriving Jamil Al-Amin of expressing his opinion was an infringement of basic civil liberties. A critical analysis of these theoretical concepts indicates that infringement of civil liberty of a single citizen can be extended and replicated on others’ case as well. In Jamil’s case, the Supreme Court deprived him of expressing his opinion and also gathering funds for his cause which is also a classification of freedom of speech under Supreme Court’s definition (â€Å"What Does Free Speech† n.p). The first amendment itself celebrates difference of opinion and considers it a right of every American to express themselves while restricting Congress to cause any infringement. Such interference gives an undue dominance to state

US Supreme Court Decision Essay Example for Free

US Supreme Court Decision Essay An examination of the United States Supreme Court case Romer v. Evans, which was decided on May 20, 1996, is to be put forth in this paper. The case was argued on October 10, 1995. At issue was Amendment 2 to the State Constitution of Colorado â€Å"which precludes all legislative, executive, or judicial action at any level of state or local government designed to protect the status of persons based on their homosexual, lesbian or bisexual orientation, conduct, practices or relationships† (Romer v. Evans, 1995). The U. S. Supreme court held it violates the Equal Protection Clause. The opinion in favor was filed by Justice Kennedy, while the dissenting opinion was filed by Justice Scalia. The referendum, Article II sec 30b of the Colorado Constitution, read as follows: NO PROTECTED STATUS BASED ON HOMOSEXUAL, LESBIAN, OR BISEXUAL ORIENTATION. Neither the State of Colorado, through any of its branches or departments, nor any of its agencies, political subdivisions, municipalities or school districts, shall enact, adopt or enforce any statute, regulation, ordinance or policy whereby homosexual, lesbian or bisexual orientation, conduct, practices, or relationships shall constitute or otherwise be the basis of, or entitle any person or class of persons to have or claim any minority status, quota preferences, protected status or claim of discrimination. This Section of the Constitution shall be in all respects self-executing (Romer v. Evans, 1996). While many believed the law would prevent non-federal discrimination lawsuits based on sexual orientation as well as prevent the passage or the enforcing of existing laws prohibiting such discrimination, Amendment 2’s purpose was â€Å"generally inconsistent with mainstream American values† (Debbage Alexander, pg. 264). The State of Colorado argued the â€Å"measure does no more than deny homosexuals special rights† (Romer v. Evans, 1995). This is a decades old argument that right-wing Christian groups have used â€Å"to appeal to a wider, more secular audience by characterizing the gay rights movement as one aimed at getting special rights and protected status for gays and lesbians incorporated into civil rights law† (Debbage Alexander, pg. 273). Justice Kennedy writes in the opinion in favor, â€Å"The States principal argument that Amendment 2 puts gays and lesbians in the same position as all other persons by denying them special rights is rejected as implausible† (Romer v. Evans, 1995). Justice Kennedy further states how â€Å"Amendment 2 confounds this normal process of judicial review. It is at once too narrow and too broad. It identifies persons by a single trait and then denies them protection across the board† (Romer v. Evans, 1995). The final paragraph of Justice Kennedy’s opinion declares: â€Å"We must conclude that Amendment 2 classifies homosexuals not to further a proper legislative end but to make them unequal to everyone else. This Colorado cannot do. A State cannot so deem a class of persons a stranger to its laws. Amendment 2 violates the Equal Protection Clause, and the judgment of the Supreme Court of Colorado is affirmed† (Romer v. Evans, 1995). While Justice Scalia writes in his dissenting opinion, Amendment 2 is a â€Å"modest attempt by seemingly tolerant Coloradans to preserve traditional sexual mores against the efforts of a politically powerful minority to revise those mores through the use of the laws† (Romer v. Evans, 1995). While Justice Scalia has the right to his own personal beliefs regarding homosexuality and its validity as a protected class, many others do not share them. As Richard Mohr observes in Romer v. Evans: A Blow for Justice, â€Å"All or nearly all legal burdens on gays appeal directly or indirectly to prejudice†. His article goes on to describe how in 1996 this ruling should affect two major gay issues: gays in the military and gay marriage. When opponents cannot give logical reasons for their opposition it presupposes â€Å"strongly held beliefs for which one can offer no reasons or explanations are by definition prejudicial ones† (Mohr, para. 5). With the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, Romer v. Evans â€Å"marked an immensely important day for the gay rights movement and a major setback for anti-gay rights activists of all persuasions† according to Sharon Debbage Alexander’s article in the Winter 2002 issue of Texas Forum on Civil Liberties Civil Rights. Furthermore, this case has become one of the most significant decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in regards to gay rights. The majority of those who have analyzed Romer v. Evans purport the â€Å"fact that the case was won using a rational basis test adds to the strength of the decision for gay rights† (Debbage Alexander, pg. 297). Since the decision of Romer v. Evans, President Barack Obama has overturned the â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy within our Armed Forces and gay marriage is currently under consideration in two cases that have been heard at the U.S. Supreme Court. After winning Boy Scouts of America v. Dale in 2000 protecting the groups First Amendment expressive association rights, recently the governing body of the Boy Scouts of America voted to allow openly gay scouts within its membership, but not as Scout Leaders. The important issue of gay rights in America has finally reached the forefront of public policy and debate. As in Romer v. Evans, I hope that the United States Supreme Court will rule against the State of California’s Proposition 8 and DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, to find both laws unconstitutional. In so far as to bring equality for all to these United States of America.

Sexual Harassment in America :: Sexual Harassment Essays

Individual rights are being infringed on all the time in this country. The common law in this country protects against sexual assault and battery, but not sexual harassment. The 1994 Violence Against Women Act has issued guidelines for sexual harassment by the federal agencies but has not set laws to be enforced. These guidelines are supposed to be followed by men and women around our country. People living in the United States should feel safe and comfortable walking down the streets, in the office or in their schools, and that's the bottom line. This essay will inform and relay information about sexual harassment. The issue that is facing this country is recognizing what sexual harassment is and how to combat it. Personally, I think it comes down to an issue of awareness. If everyone knew what sexual harassment was and how to deal with it in a mature manner, we would be able to control this growing problem. We will talk about what to do if you are put in a harassing situation, why this happens and how do deal with it on a personal level. There are several types of sexual harassment, just as there are forms or harassment too. The two most common forms are described as "Quid pro quo," and "hostile environment sexual harassment. "Quid pro quo," is a Latin word for something for something. This is when someone asks directly or indirectly for sexual advances in exchange for something powerful. Only people in power can commit this type of sexual harassment, but still lives in the power verses weak relationship. Good examples of this situation happen in the work force but are also seen in schools. When a teacher threatens to fail a student unless the student agrees to date the teacher, that is quid pro quo(OCR). It does not matter if the student refuses the teachers demands, and suffers the harm of the grade. The harassment is illegal. The other common type of sexual harassment is based upon the idea of comments indirectly or directly said in a hostile environment. This is called hostile environment harassment. This occurs when harassing conduct is so severe or persuasive that it affects the persons ability to be an individual. Regardless what type of harassment that occurs, you must take immediate action or measures to stop this violence.

Exxon Valdez †Continuing Case Essay

Many years ago, Raymond Baumhart the greatest sociologist questioned organization people, â€Å"What does ethics mean to the business world?† Some people believe that Ethics is a kind of feeling which would give the knowledge about right or wrong situation on the basis of religious beliefs. While other argues the prior view admitting that it simply the level of behaviour society accepts and the law requires. â€Å"Ethics is a study of moral standards whose explicit purpose is to determine as far as possible whether a given moral standard is more or less correct (Manuel G. Velasquez, 2006)† Standpoint March 24, 1989, one of the Exxon Valdez, a loaded oil tanker with 52 million gallons crude oil runs in Prince William Sound, spilling 11 million gallons of oil. The government was strongly feeling about the environmental damage, to the fishery and the life of people involved there. Output That was bad luck for the wildlife, approximately 30,000 birds and 2000 sea others lost their lives. More than $2 billion spent just to clean it up and paid millions of dollar to the fishermen. Ethically, Exxon lost image in the world and about 40,000 credit cards destroyed in protest. Ethical Issues It was truly horrific, the longer that marine animal is setting in oil the more they were dealing with death. Consumers lost their faith in Exxon and faced opposition from the world. The affected area has not fully recovered. The control over the ethical situation This was the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced. After a week, CEO Lawrence Rawls wrote apology note in all newspapers. In addition they began cleanup immediately after the situation occurred. Many of the ethical issues and dilemmas in international business are rooted in the fact that political systems and laws differ from nation to nation. In the international business setting, the most common ethical issue involve employment practices and corruption. According to the given case of Castle & Cook, â€Å"whistle-blower† would be able to file the lawsuit in a federal court. The plaintiffs alleged claims under the violation of the â€Å"Foreign Corrupt Practices Act† The jurisdiction in this case can enable the person thus empowered to act towards, and in what manner this power may be exercised. In Subject matter jurisdiction thus empowers â€Å"whistle-blower† to act toward certain kinds of legal questions, whereas in Personal jurisdiction, the foreign country employee lives out of state, the court must look at the contacts with the state. Going into a state regularly to conduct business is usually sufficient for the court to obtain jurisdiction. (The à ¢â‚¬ËœLectric Law Library,2014) References The Laws That Govern the Securities Industry. (n.d.). Retrieved September 4, 2014, from http://www.sec.gov/about/laws.shtml The ‘Lectric Law Library’s Lexicon Personal Jurisdiction, Retrieved September 4, 2014, from (http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/p211.htm) http://crab.rutgers.edu/~sambhary/International%20Bussiness%20Environment/notes/IBe%20Ch%2004%20Ethics.pdf In 1989, the Exxon Valdez tanker spilled nearly 11 million gallons of oil around the cost of Alaska; it caused one of the worst oil spills in the United States history. The Exxon Valdez continues to suffer from last 25 years and still paying off for the incident. The Exxon was to be sued by many individuals and businesses within state or federal court as required, as per the administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, for the Environmental regulations law comes under both state and federal court. Some company sued under the law of business losses within the federal court. Sea Hawk Sea foods, Inc, having a seafood processing business on Prince William Sound in Valdez, Alaska sued the Exxon shipping company under the law of business losses. The court dismissed the case with the advice of federal admiralty  law (9th Cir.1994). Fishing industry filed the complaint again Exxon. In 1994, the Exxon was initially ordered to pay $5 billion by federal court, which was reduced in federal appeal in 2006 to $2.5 billion. In 2008, The United States Supreme court had decided to cut down the damage by $500 million as Exxon has already spent approximately $2 billion for cleanup and recovery (New York Times, 2010). The Exxon shipping co continues with the lesson, even after paying all these damages and standing for a long time in the federal and Supreme Court of the United States. References The district court also removed more than 160 other state law cases relating to the oil spillEyak Native Vill. v. Exxon Corp., 25 F.3d 773, 774 (9th Cir.1994) Retrieved September 5, 2014, from (http://openjurist.org/484/f3d/1098/in-re-the-exxon-valdez) New York Times, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (1989), August 3, 2010 07-219Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker (2/27/08), Retrieved September 5, 2014, from (http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/07-219.pdf)

Ancient Chinese Philosophy: How to Live Life Essay

How do I live my life? Since the early beginnings of society people have always been concerned with our behavior in public and conduct towards others: how should I behave towards my parents, how should I treat my friends, and in what way can I best show my respect for the gods? Religion was the first form of moral code; the writers would present their ideas about truth and morality, and reinforce their opinions with omnipotent deities who would, in a way, scare believers into acting accordingly. As society began to develop and powerful empires began to expand religion was no longer a priority. Many of the rituals necessary to appease the various gods were impractical. Furthermore, skeptics and other logical thinkers began to question their existence. However, moral code still needed to be maintained—especially in the growing empires—and people began searching for other forms of guidance. Moral philosophy most likely developed for this reason; to rationally investigate the truths and principles of knowledge, behavior and conduct. Around the fifth century B. C. in China (which today is known for strict guidelines regarding respect and obedience) two great philosophers, Confucius and Lao Tzu emerged who devoted their lives to explaining how to live life virtuously, and righteously. Though the two philosophers differ extremely in the presentations of their ideas, and the ideas themselves, together they create a full and detailed moral code. Confucius, the earlier of the two philosophers, (died in 497 B. C. ) analyzes various daily situations and suggests how one should behave in them in The Analects. The Master, as his pupils call him, repeatedly mentions the importance of behaving like a gentleman. But what exactly does this entail? What does one need to do to be considered a gentleman? There are many virtues that Confucius finds essential to being a gentleman, the most critical one being benevolence, which he discusses primarily in the first four books. Benevolence in the eyes of The Master, however, is very different from our current perception; we see it as kindness and sympathy while Confucius evidently sees it as something much greater. For us today benevolence can be seen in simple acts of compassion. For example, a common act of benevolence is putting your extra change into the plastic cup of a homeless person in Washington Square Park. I see a benevolent professor as one who is respectful of his students’ other responsibilities and gives them ample time to prepare their assignments. To Confucius, this would not be enough; he describes benevolence as a quality that is very difficult to achieve; apparently, it is something that does not even seem appealing to many. According to The Master, it encompasses our values, loyalty, pride, and honesty, and it manifests itself in our relationships with friends, parents, and superiors—only one who is perfect in all these categories can be considered benevolent, and therefore a gentlemen. The idea that Confucius describes as most vital to achieving the status of gentlemen is filial piety, the reverence for ones parents. The virtuous child would give their parents no other cause for anxiety than illness, The Master says. He must never stray too far from their â€Å"fields,† and if he does, he must always make his whereabouts known. To serve one’s parents to the fullest, he must also follow their instructions (or advice) exactly, even if they might not be beneficial or even good for his well-being. This must be done without questioning them. He can try to â€Å"dissuade† his parents on to a more righteous path if it is done subtly and respectfully, but cannot blatantly point out mistakes in his parents’ suggestions. It does not stop there; the child must cover up any blunders the parents make from the eyes of the world. Whether Confucius puts filial piety on a higher level than law is unclear, and he may not have considered extreme examples. But I am. If your father, for example, would murder someone, should you take the Euthyphro approach of bringing him to justice, or should you become an accomplice in his crime by tampering with evidence, or perhaps burying the body? I doubt that any fair gentleman would ever involve himself in a crime so grave under any circumstances. When the parents begin to age the child should take note of it. The old age of your parent’s should bring you anxiety, The Master suggests. It is obvious that at some point the responsibilities of the parents and children reverse; during childhood it is children who bring stress to their parents (or in the case of perfect children, don’t), and during adulthood it is parents, and their health, who should bring stress to the children. Confucius never completely mentions but implies that as the parents’ age advances the child must make changes in his life to accommodate his parents. Perhaps, in today’s society that would mean to spend more time with them when they retire and monitor their health more often than before. The child’s obligations do not end during the lifetime of the parents; to be a good son you must live with reverence towards your parents even after their deaths. One way to do this is to not change his father’s â€Å"ways† for three years. Another is to present their spirits with offerings and sacrifices. Some of these ideas, however, leave the boundaries of respect and move towards expressions of love. You are expected to feel anxious when they are not in good health, but that can only be felt if you truly love them. And how can anyone oversee whether you are presenting their spirits with offerings? You must be truly devoted and love them to continue respecting them even after they are dead (or just very fearful of their spirits). It appears that Confucius never draws a clear line between respect and love; maybe in his view one cannot exist without the other. The respect and awe of parents from an early age shapes the child into a polite and well-rounded adult, one who is not too arrogant and knows his place in society. Whatever filial piety is, it is clear that it is only a small aspect of benevolence an insufficient virtue on the road to becoming a gentleman. But before we can even explore what qualities you need to be a gentleman, we must ask what The Master means when he says â€Å"gentleman. † There is certainly some idealism and imagination involved in his construction of the gentleman. In a way, the gentleman is a perfect and unattainable feat that everyone should strive for. Confucius advocated for respect of tradition, culture and knowledge; without showing interest in these aspects of society, all hope of becoming a gentleman is lost. A gentleman must respect and live by the traditions, but at the same time distinguish himself from everyone around him. Though Confucius advises against questioning what has already been explained and accomplished. So how does he propose to become better? His analects are somewhat contradictory: how do you have any voice if you cannot speak out against old tradition, or create new ones? At the same time, the ideal man should learn from the people around him and be open to criticism. In a society which was so concerned with accordance and conformity, however, his ideas seem reasonable. By following these traditions, you are being polite and respectful, obviously, important qualities. Perhaps his greatest explanation of the qualities necessary to be a gentleman comes in Book V, where he describes the qualities that make Tzu-ch’an a gentleman, â€Å"He was respectful in the manner he conducted himself; he was reverent in the service of his lord; in caring for the common people, he was generous and, in employing their services, he was just. † To be a gentleman, you must have compassion and generosity, qualities that I believe every human has innately; therefore, it would be possible for anyone to be a gentleman if they can harness those traits. In his description of Tzu-ch’an it appears that he had some form of authority over others, possibly a duke or a nobleman in China. It is quite possible that his descriptions of a gentleman aim to describe the ideal ruler. Indeed, all of the qualities he portrays throughout The Analects are vital in a successful ruler: leading by action, not by word (avoidance of hypocrisy), fairness and justice to subordinates, acting reasonably, and using good judgment. Confucius’ teachings are very practical not only to the common man, but to the ruler as well. It is no surprise that this ancient text is still used by today’s societies as guidelines for good leaders. Though it is unclear what exactly a gentleman is, there is an explicit moral code that Confucius believes we should live by. The philosophy recounted in Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, on the other hand, is far less practical, in my opinion. His teachings are more spiritual and are harder to live by because of their vagueness and ambiguity. He created the idea of â€Å"Tao,† which is more than just a way of life, it’s even more than life itself—it is everything! Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, and all other complementary opposites are Tao. It is likely that by Tao, Lao Tzu is referring to the Universe and everything it engulfs, as he is known to have theorized about the flow of nature. Lao Tzu explains how Tao should be embraced. His philosophy creates a sense of unity among humans, and encourages them to become one with their surroundings. But there are a few ideas which he must not have fully thought through. Is Tao really everything? Everything includes the good and the bad, and Tao is described as all good. Furthermore, there should be no desire to stray from Tao because of its idealism. But is it even possible to stray from Tao if it is everything? Evidently, Tao itself is an idea too complex and difficult for most people to understand, at least for me it is. For this reason (and maybe others as well), Lao Tzu created Te, which is more concrete than Tao—it is the manifestation of Tao, the person walking on the path, rather than the actual path. Through his use of Te, Lao Tzu is still able to create some moral code. By today’s standards, Lao Tzu’s philosophy is in some ways outdated and obsolete. He values inaction, and feels that everyone should be satisfied with what they know and have. To some this may seem like lack of ambition; how can a philosopher possibly be advising against ambition? But I find his advice to be pointing out the faults of over-ambition, and possibly greed. As with everything, there should be harmony, and an equal balance between ambition and satisfaction with the status quo. This is a sound suggestion because through out history we have seen overachievers fall repeatedly: Alexander the Great and his empire, the Roman Empire, the infamous Hitler and his empire as well. Maybe this is not what he intended at all; maybe he meant that lack of action is better than the wrong action. If the action we make will steer us further from the end of Tao, then it may be wiser to not act at all. Or perhaps, through inaction one can reflect and further his spirituality, and by doing so take one step closer to Tao. Maybe, it is for this reason that Lao Tzu chose to leave Taoism so open-ended—so that the reader could interpret Tao in his own way—one person’s path may be radically different from another’s. Though his value of inaction may not make sense to the modern eye, his idea of simplicity and potentiality resonate strongly with us. He compares potentiality to an uncut piece of wood. There are so many possible directions we can take with that single piece of wood—it can become anything! He suggests that a person remain this way, maintaining innocence and openness to new experiences. No matter what we may have seen or felt in the past, we should not be biased towards what the future holds. This is not easy, but is a desirable trait, and probably must be attained to achieve Tao. He also stresses the values of simplicity, which is completely necessary to follow the path. How can one possibly see the path, if he is distracted by what he does not need? Often, it is our embrace of personal possessions and wealth that hinder us from true reflection and meditation. Maybe, it is for this reason that Lao Tzu speaks out against ambition; because you will never see truth if you are blinded by desires. It is likely that Lao Tzu was in some way associated with Confucius, as there is visible influence Lao Tzu in Analects and influence of Confucius in Tao Te Ching. Confucius mentions â€Å"the Way† numerous times, but never explains what it means. Lao Tzu mentions benevolence and vaguely describes what a good ruler is, â€Å"a shadowy presence to his subjects. † Both place high importance on remaining within society’s norms, Confucius through his awe of traditions, and Lao Tzu through his inaction. Both agree that one should live by their word, and that honesty, integrity, and consideration for others desires are important. On their own, neither of the texts adequately describes a fulfilling way of life; together, with Confucius addressing practical matters and Lao Tzu focusing on the spiritual ones, a complete and detailed moral code is constructed. The way of life that these two ancient philosophers described so centuries ago still holds strong today. Though they are difficult to follow with all the temptations of modern society, and the vices of modern man, every one of us still strives to be a gentleman on the path of Tao.

American Protest Literature

American Protest Literature The literary work that will be focused on will be â€Å"the fire next time† which is a book written by James Baldwin in 1963.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on American Protest Literature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The book contains two essays which include â€Å"My Dungeon Shook-Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary Emancipation† which discusses the central role of race in American history written in the form of a letter addressed to Baldwin’s 14-year old nephew and the second â€Å"Down at The Cross- Letter from a Region of My Mind† which deals with the relationship between race and religion based on Baldwin’s personal experiences with Christianity and Islam when he was young. These two essays were used by Baldwin to provide a more extensive meaning of the Negro Problem or racial tensions that existed in America during the 1960s. The purpose of this assessm ent will be to determine whether this book qualifies to be identified as a piece of protest literature and the various areas the author has chosen which represent protest literature. American protest literature is referred to as a form of literary work that has been written to create some form of awareness within a society that has been subjected to various forms of injustice. This type of literature is meant to highlight the struggle of these communities so that they can be able to overcome the atrocities and abuses they have been subjected to over certain durations of time. Baldwin’s book qualifies for protest literature because it addresses issues to do with American history and also Christianity and the Islamic faith. The first few pages of the book focus on the first essay where Baldwin writes a dedicatory letter to his 14 year old nephew and namesake James. Baldwin basically advises his nephew on how to deal with the racist society of America in which he was born.Advert ising Looking for assessment on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The letter basically offers some form of evaluation on the situation of blacks in America after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed to give the African American society freedom from the white oppressors. Baldwin basically addresses his nephew by pointing out that much of the difficulties the Negro community experienced in the white dominant country were known to the various members of the black society. The letter represents some form of protest writing where he tells his nephew that he believes the Negros (as they were known then) had to take the high road when showing the white Americans how to live a good and proper life (Baldwin 4-6). In his letter, Baldwin talks about the Negro community of America at times terming them as ignorant and also innocent to the actions of the white American society. He generally describes this c ommunity to be one that is strong to the various adversities and brutalities inflicted on them by the white Americans. He also describes them as having an unassailable resilience since they were able to overcome the most terrifying odds to achieve freedom from slavery and racial discrimination which had been directed towards them for a considerable length of time by the white society. This letter is basically meant to reaffirm the importance of the Negro community to Baldwin’s nephew despite the actions of the various members of the community (Baldwin 6-8). Baldwin (9) tells his nephew not to lose faith in his community as a result of their actions against those who sought to defeat their existence in the white society. In the last part of the essay, Baldwin (8-10) talks about how the African American community has been able to overcome the imposed values and belief systems of the white society where they have for example defeated the intention of spelling their names properl y and also practising their religion.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on American Protest Literature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This reflects protest writing as the writer speaks of how the Negro community was empowered to refuse any form of racial discrimination and slavery imposed on them by the white man. He addresses the aspect of integration by saying that the white society members should accept them as they are and stop fleeing from the reality of the social situation in America (10). In the second part of the book titled â€Å"Down at the Cross† Baldwin focuses on religious and race matters by assessing his own background as a Christian minister during his teenage years. In the very first parts of this section, he recounts his religious experiences as a fourteen year old boy by offering an insight into the religion of the Negros (16). He talks about how he joined the church to escape from the b rutality and atrocities committed against his fellow brothers because the church offered him some apparent form of safety from the dangers that were in the street. His escape to the church was also attributed to the moral decay that was being experienced in the Black community of that time. He describes how prostitution had become a problem especially in the place called the Avenue where all the socially immoral members of the black community headed to engage in immoral behaviour (Baldwin 17). In the second part of the â€Å"Down at the Cross† essay, Baldwin dismisses religion especially that practiced by the African Americans to be one that is not taken seriously because they have failed to live up to the ideals that were taught by Jesus in the Bible. He views it to be more of an escapist religion where the African Americans engage in worship to demonstrate their innocence to the racial discrimination they are being subjected to. The Christian Negros failed to practice the p rinciples of faith, hope, love and charity especially when they began to castigate the other members of society who did not observe Christian practices. Their religion was more dramatic and unreserved when compared to that of the white American society (Baldwin 15-22).Advertising Looking for assessment on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Baldwin also talks about the Muslim movement which was beginning to rise within the African American community where he tries to come to terms with the religion of Islam, Prophet Mohammed and other important religious leaders of the Islamic religion (46). Baldwin in his assessment of the Islamic faith focused on Elijah Muhammad (47) who was an African American religious leader during the 1960s. Muhammad led the Nation of Islam from 1934 to 1975 where he taught his African American followers on the ways of Islam. Elijah viewed Christianity as the white man’s rationale for oppressing the Negros because the basic foundation of the African American religion was founded on white Christianity (Baldwin 44-50). Baldwin criticised Elijah’s teachings because they were mostly centred on racial hatred that was not any better from the racial hatred the white people directed towards the African American society. Elijah saw the Christian religion as an extension of white rule and rac ial discrimination against black people. He believed that God was black and that he should have been addressed as Allah, the chosen one who has been selected to end the white devil’s domination in the African American society (Baldwin 49). Baldwin, James. The fire next time. New York: Vintage Books, 1993.

An Analysis of Betty Neuman

An Analysis of Betty Neuman’s Systems Model Alanda James University of South Alabama An Analysis of Betty Neuman’s Systems Model INTRO PARAGRAPH. Neuman’s conceptualization of person, health, environment, and nursing provides the framework for the Neuman’s systems model. According to Neuman’s theory, the person can refer to an individual, family, or group. Clients are viewed through a holistic approach that studies the complete person and physical, psychological, and environmental factors that affect the person. Neuman views clients as dynamically organized systems, which have a core composed of basic survival needs shared among all humans (Ross amp; Bourbonnais, 1985). Client interaction is essential to defining the person and factors associated with treatment. Health is viewed as a continuum that constantly changes and develops over time. Neuman emphasizes wellness and states that â€Å"optimal wellness or stability indicates that total system needs are being met. † Neuman continues, â€Å"A reduced state of wellness is the result of unmet systemic needs† (Alligood amp; Tomey, 2010, p. 14,316). Stability and wellness are manifested through healthy living and indulging in activities that are meaningful to the person. Illness will occur when wellness has not been reached, but wellness can be restored once the person engages in meaningful and healthy activity. Alligood amp; Tomey (2010, p. 316) defines environment as â€Å"all the internal and external factors that surround and influence the client system. † Neuman believes stress factors are important to the concept of environment. Stress factors can alter the stability of the client which compromises wellness.

Transplant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Transplant - Essay Example t patient in the following years through to the 1970’s was poor anti-rejection drugs, which changed by the end of 1970’s when better anti-rejection drugs were developed giving patients up to five years after transplant. The effectiveness of organ transplant improved after that, and its use has augmented over the years. Organ transplantation is referred to as one of the health practices that whose results are often lifesaving. The process involved removal and replacement of a failing or damaged organ in the recipient body and replaced with a fully functioning one (Ethics of Organ Transplantation, 2004). In most occasions, transplantation takes places when the life of the recipient is at stake, and the only hope for survival of the recipient is the replacement of an organ or tissue (Alvaro, Siegel, 2009). Despite its advantages, it is apparent that transplantation has many challenges that may result not only in health complications, but also the loss of life. In relation to this assertion, the paper will expound on the many factors that prevent people from taking part in organ donation. Issues that will be addressed by the paper include the belief that organ donors fail to provide care to their families because of the complications associated with organ donation. In addition, it can cause traumatic disorders, the persistence of donor’s discomfort, in addition to psychological torture experienced after donation of an organ. The heart, lungs, pancreas as well as intestines, kidney and liver are transplantable in humans. The Canadian Medical Association has a specific policy that guides physicians and health care providers to issues regarding organ donation. Organ donors, as well as prospective organ donors, should be provided with relevant, understandable information related to the decision. Occasionally, this involves informing the donor about the benefits as well as risks of transplantation, procedures associated with the determination of death, and testing of