American economy over the last two years (2009-2010) Essay

American economy over the last two years (2009-2010) - Essay Example The loss of investors’ morale to invest and become active in the capital and financial markets has had a great negative impact to on the overall American economy. The economic crisis can be closely attributed to the decline in collective economic power of consumers, businesses, and investors. In the fiscal year of 2009 and 2010, several Americans lost their jobs, a phenomenon that negatively impacted on consumer and household spending, although Obama’s job creation plan had reduced the rate of joblessness significantly through investment in new infrastructure. The government’s investment in infrastructure has however created a negative impact on the countries budget, as there is a possibility of the government incurring a budget deficit in the next years to recover the huge amount spent on infrastructure. The economy has taken a long time to recover due to reduced consumer and business spending and more particularly loss of investor confidence in the financial ma rkets. However, real estates and undervalued stock during that period could offer the best investment opportunity as many investors have shifted focus from investing these industries. On the other hand, decrease in consumer spending as result of bankruptcies of consumers may exert economic strain on discretionary spending sectors and retailers. This calls for socio economic approach to solve the vicious circle of economic decline of the American economy. The government introduced economic policies alongside Obama’s fiscal stimulus package to stop the economic decline and restore its stability and development. However, the economic disruptions of 2009 and 2010 had varying effects on different sectors of the economy with the recession affecting specific industries. The financial, real estate and tourism industries were adversely affected while technological, export and alternative energy industries were not affected. Aggregate Demand Aggregate demand is the measure of collectiv e spending on goods and services in a particular country. Outputs, employment levels, and general prices of goods and services are affected by variations in the county’s aggregate demand. Aggregate demand consists collectively of consumers’ expenditure, capital investment, government spending, exports and imports of goods and services. Expenditure on consumer goods and services include durable and non-durable goods consumed and repurchased by the specific consumers. In aggregate demand, expenditure on consumer goods and services is the biggest component. Capital Investment comprises of the total spending on capital goods that are used and applied for production of more goods and services such as plant, equipment and buildings, which will allow us to produce more consumer goods in the future. Capital investment also comprises of expenditure on working capital, which includes both work in progress and stocks of finished goods. Capital investments have bigger percentage b eing spent by the private sector and a smaller percentage being spent by the government in undertaking such as construction of new schools and road networks. Capital investments, particularly in the private sector of the American economy declined in the fiscal year of 2009 and 2010 due to the world recession that had affected

Spartacus 1960 - Defining freedom and evoking compassion Essay

Spartacus 1960 - Defining freedom and evoking compassion - Essay Example A gut wrenching storyline within the movie revolves around Tony Curtis, playing Antoninus, who is a beautiful young man who is put in a position to have his sexuality compromised by powerful Roman citizen, Marcus Licinius Crassus, played by Laurence Olivier. The central scene that creates the insinuation was cut from the original film but was later restored on DVD, giving a powerful new dimension to the character Antoninus that Curtis portrayed. Antoninus can now be viewed as a symbol for those who are sexually enslaved, who cannot say no for one reason or another, and are and have been victimized throughout history. His vulnerability can be seen to represent those whose bodies are used without consent, including slaves, children, and women who have been oppressed as the possessions of men through history. As a viewer, one is driven towards a protective emotional state when Curtis is threatened by sexual victimization. Spartacus was a powerful gladiator, however it was not his physic al strength that made him a formidable leader, but his cunning in using what could be found along their travels in order to combat the Roman forces. The story of Spartacus informs the viewer of the possibilities of the human spirit, while revealing the darkness that can come from having power over another person. Watching Spartacus (1960) is like experiencing a bittersweet triumph, the heart breaking as he dies, but the spirit soaring on the wings of his accomplishment in freeing the hearts of so many.

The Importance of Literacy Essay Example for Free

The Importance of Literacy Essay Try and imagine our society without a common language. This could be quite a hard idea to fathom. Allow me to assist you. If this hypothetical idea were in fact true, a typical conversation between two individuals would be as follows: one of the two would begin the conversation by making noises representing their language, the other person would not understand these noises and respond with unrecognizable noises to the first individual. As you can well imagine, this would get quite frustrating. Rita Mae Brown describes literacy as, a social contract, an agreed upon representation of certain symbols (420). If the symbols (letters) meanings are not agreed upon by those attempting to communicate, then interpreting one another becomes difficult. Simply stated, literacy is very important. Society has proven time and time again, it will reward those individuals who are competent and impede those who are not, whether expressed in terms of employment opportunities (job success) or just on a social level. One need look no further than their everyday activities in order to realize how important literary skills are. Without adequate literary skills one may not be able to identify on a label the correct amount of medicine to give a child, or read and interpret a sign giving instructions on what to do in case of a fire. These two examples bring perspective to literacys importance. Nevertheless, recent surveys have indicated that, 4. 5 million Canadians, representing 24 percent of the eighteen-and-over group, can be considered illiterate (Adult Illiteracy 5). Illiteracy is truly a problem within Canada. Although many groups are working to render the problem of illiteracy, much work still lies ahead. As our society moves on into the next century literacy is proving vital to economic performance. Without basic literary skills in ones possession they will become lost in our rapidly changing society. The modern worker must be able to adapt to the changing job-scene. This often means gathering new skills and knowledge from printed material, whether instruction manuals, computer programs, or classroom training (text books). It is quite commonly the case that highly skilled jobs require a high level of literacy. Therefore, literary skill level is an important factor in predicting an individuals economic success. It will affect an individuals income, their employment stability and whether they even receive employment opportunities. Presently, our world revolves around literacy. Simply being literate allows one to continuously upgrade ones literary skills to a higher level. It allows one to stay informed of happenings in and around the world through mediums such as newspapers and magazines. Knowing current news about what is going on in this ever changing world of ours is the key to staying ahead. Another thought to ponder is this, we rely on those with high literacy levels to record and document findings and happenings for future generations to reflect on. These writings would most likely be dull and inaccurate or would not exist at all without our current levels of literacy. When viewed from a social standpoint, literacy remains just as important as when viewed from the economic standpoint. Linda Macleod of the National Associations Active in Criminal Justice, points out that, 65 percent of people entering Canadian prisons for the first time have trouble reading and writing, low literacy is part of a constellation of problems that can limit choices in life and thus lead people to criminal activity (20). Somebody in possession of a high level of literacy will most likely be well informed and tend to make wiser decisions. By obtaining this level of literacy they have also gathered a large vocabulary giving them many words to choose from to express their ideas and feelings. Conversely, many would agree that a conversation with one who has a good grasp of the English language is always more delightful than with one who is less educated. Literacy can act as a window, opening ones view to the world. Presently, we are being bombarded with information, news, trivia and gossip (not that this is always a positive feature in our lives). Without sufficient literary skills one cannot even absorb any of this information. These people will miss out on many of lifes benefits, socially as well as economically. Without sufficient literary skills one would have a tremendously difficult time functioning in our current world. Think about your average day, consider how many times you refer to your literary skills to aid you, could you function without those skills? Finding an address, reading a map, reading a menu, performing a bank transaction, these are just a few common tasks that require your literary skills. Also, when looking at the importance of literacy to our nation, its value is evident. High levels of literacy throughout all sectors of Canadas workforce are necessary, low literacy levels of workers affect Canadas ability to perform in the increasingly competitive international marketplace (Literacy 7). Literary skills become building blocks. First creating a well- educated society, then a highly skilled labour force which can compete and adapt to the changing market. These factors lead to an increase in economic growth within the nation which in turn, results in a higher standard of living for its people. As our society moves forward into the future, a higher level of literacy will become more important to ones level of success. Where would our society be without our ability to exchange knowledge and information? How many times have you made a purchase that read on the outside instructions inside? You and I think nothing of this, and in a sense take our gift for granted. For many, deciphering written instructions is a near impossible task, asking for assistance does little more than to further lower their self esteem. Literacy is important. To truly seize the benefits possible in ones life it has to be accepted that literacy is the key. Society will continue to reward skilled individuals and disadvantage those who are not.

The theory of knowledge

The theory of knowledge IN EXPANDING THE FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE WE BUT INCREASE THE HORIZON OF IGNORANCE (HENRY MILLER). IS THIS TRUE? Knowledge is the antonym of ignorance. When we are faced with two opposites, the general notion is that if one increases the other is bound to decrease. Take a pigment for example. The darker pigment you add to your paint, the less lighter it would get. To understand this stance, we must first understand the definition of knowledge and ignorance. However, knowledge is too extensive to be defined in one sentence and discussed in one essay. Therefore, I will be limiting my writing to few areas of knowledge such as religion, language, science and mathematics to enforce my evaluation. Henry Miller talks about the increase in the horizon of ignorance and I feel that horizon is the perfect word for describing ignorance. Karl Popper stated that, Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite. I support his premise because the scope for ignorance is as vast as that of knowledge. As we obtain more knowledge, we only find more fields that could be developed even further, thereby, increasing our ignorance. Barring few exceptions, we can connect this to almost all areas of knowledge because, just like the horizon, as we get closer to it and we think that we have found the final answer, only to realize that, in reality, we are still far away from the end point. A common opinion is that as we increase our knowledge, we get less ignorant because we learn more. Citing environmental science, as we learn more about global warming, we find out the detrimental effects of objects which we were unaware of before, thereby, decreasing our ignorance on this issue. However, we realize that we are oblivious to so many other issues, which we never knew about before, only to discover that our field of horizon has increased. The more acquainted we get with religion, the more aloof we get to the prevailing norms in society. To gain religious knowledge one has to lose, till a certain extent, contact with the outside world. This is because if one actually has to follow one of these books diligently, he ought to compromise with the present customs of society. Looking at Hinduism, there are so many traditions such as Sati that have been abolished by society. Most religions stress the importance of simplicity and abbreviation from materialistic goods. The great sages and priests of the twenty-first century stay as far away from civilization as possible, to get away from the existing crimes and seek solace in the isolated areas. The main reason for this is that these books have been written so many years back that it is impractical for most of the people to follow most, if not all, traditions encrypted in these books. Hence, in gaining this knowledge one gets ignorant and becomes unaware of the scenario in the real world. Looking at a simple arithmetic problem; since kindergarten we have learned that when one and one is added, the end result is two. However, as we study further on and learn about other base theorems such as the Base two theorem where one plus one is not two, it is ten. Only then do we discover that we have so much more to learn about, like other base theorems and how we were ignorant about other base theorems apart from the base ten theorems used primarily in daily life. On learning more theorems, we realize that there are so many fields that we have not even looked at. Hence, arent we ignorant? Isaac Newton discovered Calculus in the seventeenth century. Only after this discovery did we learn the significance of this discovery in other fields such as science, engineering and even mathematics itself. Calculus enabled us to mathematically describe the dimensions of the physical universe and lead to the discovery of Modern science. Once the great scholars of the renaissance period understood the working of Calculus, it opened up doors to aspects of Mathematics and Science that were never even dreamt about before. The further development in these areas of knowledge facilitated us to expand our knowledge in computer science, business studies and engineering. On discovery of these relatively new fields of knowledge, we now understand the potential that lies in front of us to expand our knowledge even more, but this would only open up new areas that we would be ignorant to. As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious. This statement byAlbert Schweitzer is apt for nearly all areas of knowledge. As our knowledge increases we do understand so many new concepts and theories. Space has always been connected with mystery. The development in the field of space science has been tremendous. Forty years back, Man went to the moon for the first time. Since then, we have developed some amazing space shuttles and rockets to boost the advance in the field of astronomy. But as we discover more about our Solar System, we only realize that we are ignorant to so many issues about further planets that we would never think about if our knowledge had not increased. Citing the example of the first space shuttle to land on Mars, when we barely had enough knowledge about the planet, we always thought that life on Mars would be impossible and discounted life on any other planet, beside Earth, too. However, on more research and expeditions, Man found traces of water on Mars that could indicate the possibility of life in Mars. Thereby, increasing our field of knowledge has shed light on so many issues. We learn about so many new aspects as exemplified in the above examples tha t we only get more confused because of the enormity of knowledge or potential knowledge that could be acquired available to us. Looking at the flipside, we must understand that even before acquiring more knowledge, we were still ignorant to all the possible developments that increased our horizon of ignorance. It is only that we were aware of what we are ignorant about, after gaining more knowledge. The only difference is that we now know that we are ignorant about these new fields we do not have any knowledge about. Human beings have constantly evolved from premature cavemen to sophisticated and complex men. The reason for this is the thirst for more knowledge as we only get more curious to learn more. Our curiosity has been the main motivating factor for us to question our intellect and discover more. This drive to know everything pushes us to acquire more and more knowledge. The only way we can expand our current knowledge is by knowing more about those fields that we are aware about but are ignorant of. As we try to learn more about these topics, we ultimately reduce the ignorance that increased when we first discovered about these subjects. Language is one area of knowledge that goes against Henry Millers opinion, particularly when we improve our vocabulary. As we stumble across new words, all we need to do is look up a dictionary to find the meaning of that word and we have acquired new knowledge without getting more ignorant. After finding out the meaning, we have gained knowledge about that word and our quest is over. Knowledge is the expertise and skills acquired by a person through experience or education. It is the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. Experience is a journey from the womb to the tomb. Hence, throughout our life we keep on acquiring knowledge, it is a never-ending process. Analysing both sides, I comply with John F Kennedy that, The greater our knowledge increases, the greater our ignorance unfolds. I feel that when we span across new areas or develop any existing theory or knowledge, we only find new paths that could lead to more developments. Only then do we realize that we are ignorant to so many subjects that we would have never come across before, if we had not increased our knowledge. We probably would never be ignorant of anything if we had not started our quest for knowledge because if we were unknowledgeable we would not be ignorant to anything, we would probably not know the meaning of ignorance itself. BIBLIOGRAPHY: answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080404212819AAxaEPM 53k answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080517080546AAv8hzF 62k forums.philosophyforums.com/threads/expansion-of-knowledge-29878.html 35k http://www.math.wright.edu/People/Richard_Mercer/Classes/Common /WhyCalculus.html http://www.thinkexist.com http://www.wikipedia.org The Theory Of Knowledge The Theory Of Knowledge Option 3; Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. (Albert Einstein) Do you agree? Alexandra Albers Einsteins quote is essentially a tautology, as it says the same thing twice. The statement defines, to a certain extent, both knowledge and imagination in such a manner that the claim is true by definition, making imagination the more important of the two definitions. The claim can be seen as logical as it defines both issues; knowledge as being limited to all we now know and understand and imagination as embracing the entire world. Although both definitions can be seen as true as they are logical, does it make the statement true? And more importantly, does it make imagination more important than knowledge? The statement speaks of the relative importance of knowledge and imagination, raising the question whether imagination is more important than knowledge. In order to address the issue effectively, we need to understand the issue of importance. Importance can be defined as something of great significance or value  [CITATION Alb29 l 7177]  , something that should be noted and paid attention to. This definition suggests that knowledge is more important than imagination as knowledge is reality. Everything we know and see as reality which to us has been confirmed through knowledge. Imagination can be defined as the formation of a mental image of something that is neither perceived as real nor present to the senses  [CITATION Alb29 l 7177]  this suggests that imagination is an extension of knowledge rather than a replacement thereof. Knowledge is defined as The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered or learned.  [CITATION Alb29 l 7177]  Thus knowledge cannot exist without the necessary information and data that needs to be processed in order to acquire this knowledge in questioning its validity, truth and reliability. Einsteins full quote starts as follows; I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination  [CITATION Alb29 l 7177]  this suggests that he was not saying that imagination is always of greater importance but rather that it played a vital role in his life as Einstein was a creative person this is emphasised by the fact that he says I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.  [CITATION Alb29 l 7177]  This also shows the importance he sees in imagination and much of his work is probably reflected by his love for music. Imagination plays a large role in the thought process, as we perceive things with perception and therefore the use of our senses. We then remember this thought in our minds and can then re-imagine this perception when we require the knowledge associated with the sense. Once we have this base of knowledge, we can then apply creative imagination to the original thought or prior perception for example when imagining an image of a flower for which you have acquired the knowledge of how it looks, only afterwards can one use creative imagination to add to this initial image when painting a picture or something similar and then using imagination to change the way it is seen in reality. Hence imagination can be used as an extension to knowledge. This suggests that knowledge is a base for imagination as imagination often stems from knowledge. For example, fairy tales and other fictional stories are as a result of the authors imagination. The imagination which originated from the authors basis for knowledge- their sense of perception. After the writer has acquired the base of the story, a firm grasp of language to communicate the imagination and other knowledge issues are required, without which the story would not exist. Many of these stories were also written with an underlying purpose or message. For example in little red riding hood the moral lesson of the story is not to talk to strangers and to be careful who you trust. Suggesting that this way of knowing provides the basis for the story. Ethics are an area of knowledge which In the case of fairy tales are described using emotion and language as these stories are designed to relate to the reader. In order to write this story effectively, the author needs to have an understanding and knowledge of moral issues that he plans to address with his childrens book. Generally speaking, in order to have moral and ethical values, one needs knowledge of what is right or wrong. Although this is subjective knowledge and people therefore have different moral and ethical views, this is still an area of knowledge and something that one is taught as a child and can therefore be considered knowledge. These underlying messages can also be linked to emotion, as the writer must have felt strongly about this theme or message and this is a way of knowing and because he has emotions regarding the issue, it can be considered a form of knowledge. According to Einstein, the use of creative imagination to overthrow existing scientific theories when they become outdated and fail to cover known knowledge, imagination plays a role as it takes this base of knowledge and can improve upon it. Einstein is a conceptual physicist and therefore comes up with new scientific concepts using imagination and then develops it using knowledge. For example Einstein noticed the inadequacies of Newtonian mechanics and his theory of relativity was a result of his attempt to reconcile the laws of mechanics with those of the electromagnetic field. Dealing with statistical mechanics and problems merged with quantum theory, leading to Einsteins Brownian motion theory. Einstein would have not have been able to do without his prior knowledge and areas of knowledge, including; science, maths and history of the atomic structure and the knowledge he gained from scientists before him. This suggests like in the case of Einstein, imagination requires a basis o f knowledge, without which this imagination would be useless. Knowledge can be seen as a basis for imagination. Thus there are still certain cases in which imagination exists without former knowledge, for example Einsteins theory of the relativity of time. Which suggests that time is relative and that time seems to go faster when one is doing something enjoyable than it does when one is simply waiting for time to pass. Einstein established this theory using his imagination. This shows that although there are only few such examples, there are still counterclaims to the argument that knowledge is more important than imagination. Imagination might be part of knowledge, and vice versa, thereby suggesting that these terms are not separate, in which case, knowledge is not everything we now know. We acquire knowledge through the ways of knowing, which include emotion, reason, perception and language. For example, subjective knowledge is involved in emotion, as well as in imagination, therefore because everybody interprets an issue in their own way, knowledge cannot be limited to all we now know. Even Einsteins definition of imagination includes the word know suggesting that imagination is a part of knowledge. Although imagination is in fact more flexible than knowledge, this does not make it of greater importance. For example, someone who is blind from birth and has never seen what we perceive as reality will not be able to imagine something that is normal for someone with perfect sight. This emphasises that knowledge is gained through perception and in this case sight, because we have this knowledge, it is easy for us to imagine an image that we have seen before. As the blind person would never have seen this image, they cannot imagine it. Therefore without this knowledge, imagination is of little importance. Thus a blind person Might imagine things differently as a person with full sight suggesting that they might even have a broader imagination as theirs is not limited to imperial knowledge, for example there are several extremely talented blind artists who make use of their heightened senses other than sight to produce an image of their imagination without the knowledge from sight. Th is shows that to a certain extent imagination can also be transformed into reality. As explored throughout they essay it seems that although imagination and knowledge go hand in hand in most cases, imagination cannot exist without knowledge whereas knowledge can exist without imagination. Especially in the past where imagination was less important. Such as in tribes where the main objective was to sustain life by looking for food , as they did not have the necessary scientific apparatus, to investigate whether or not it was edible, people could only find out by eating the unknown plants and observing the effects on the people of the tribe. The tribes also observed the food that other animals in their environment ate and could then using logic derive that they could probably also eat the same plants. From these experiments and observations, the tribe people gained purely knowledge as they learned whether or not this plant can be eaten in the future. In conclusion, I do not agree with the Albert Einstein quote as i find knowledge to be more important than imagination because in essence, as explored throughout the essay, imagination, unlike knowledge does not necessarily define or create an image of reality, but is rather an aspiration. Something that we imagine to be true rather than something that is true in reality. Knowledge on the other hand, is something true. Some confirmation of reality that we can accept to be true. Suggesting that reality is of greater importance than the ideal, which is imagination. Thus as shown throughout the essay, there are limitations and counter claims to both opinions of the relative importance of knowledge and imagination. This shows that they are essentially related.

The Concept of Tyranny in Literature Essay -- Tyranny Plato John Locke

The Concept of Tyranny in Literature All social contract theorists and classical thinkers understand tyranny to be someone (or government) with unrestrained power that is unjust or unfair to the body, it governs. They each share some views about the effects of tyranny but they have different views on the preventions and the circumstances that give rise to tyranny. In the end, Locke has the most effective ideas as opposed to Plato and Hobbes. Although, they are all equally great minds, based on the democracy that Americans hold true, Locke’s analysis can be the only logical means of proposed prevention. The first author, who takes particular concern with the concept of tyranny, is Plato in his work the The Republic. He perceives tyranny as a â€Å"dictatorship and the dictatorial man† (Porter 84) that â€Å"evolve[s] from democracy† (Porter 84). Circumstances that appear to give rise to tyranny, according to Plato, would be the â€Å"pure wine of liberty† (Porter 84) that seeps into the houses’ of man and breeds anarchy, such as in democracy. The people become slaves to the excessive servitude of keeping liberty with no restraints and rulers are unable to act without restricting someone’s liberty. These rulers are incapable of properly ruling because they cannot trample on the liberty of their subjects, or they will become considered â€Å"foul oligarchs† (Porter 84) and this further generates anarchy through the lack of rules and punishments the rulers can place on the city. It is the people who elevate â€Å"one man as their champio n above all others† (Porter 86) and at first it is a good society because he does not claim to be a ruler but â€Å"freed people from debt and redistributed the land to the people† (Porter 86-87). This create... ...ll effective today, with laws to keep power from consummating in one area, on the Locke theories. It is much more realistic because Plato’s view is a society that is not acceptable by the people, especially not allowing the guardians to keep their own children, to eliminate the idea of inheriting rights, and our basic principals of society have transformed since his time from hierarchy, harmony, and mutual obligation to equality, competition, and self-interest. Hobbes is also not appropriate because his cynical attitude towards men is not appealing to society and the sovereign aspect is not suitable in a democratic nation. Locke proves to be the most effective in today’s government and nations across the world because we have our separation of powers to ensure that the accumulation of power in the government never occurs, and our voting system to ensure equality.

Essay --

Wernekink commissure syndrome secondary to ischemic stroke: severe dysarthria is one of the main characteristics of this syndrome Introduction Pure midbrain infarctions are relatively rare. Several midbrain syndromes such as Weber’s, Claude’s and Benedikt’s syndrome had been described extensively before. Because of its rarity, clinicians do not frequently confront Wernekink commissure syndrome, but it is one of the midbrain syndromes. Wernekink commissure involves the decussation of dentatorubrothalamic pathway, which provides cerebrocerebellum connections through superior cerebellar peduncle in midbrain. Its main characteristics are bilateral cerebellar dysfunction, occasional oculomotor signs including internuclear ophtalmoplegia or palatal tremor [1-3]. We report a case of a patient with Wernekink commissure syndrome due to focal infarction in the caudal paramedian midbrain presenting with anarthria and bilateral cerebellar ataxia. Case Report A 62-year-old male current smoker was admitted to stroke unit in our hospital because of sudden onset dizziness, impaired speech and gait disturbance. He could barely walk without assistance. On admission day, his vital signs were normal except a blood pressure of 162/94 mmHg. He was alert and not dysphasic but his pronunciation was markedly slurred. He could not pronounce a single syllable. The extraocular movements were full, but he showed saccadic pursuit in all directions. Upbeating nystagmus appeared when he gazed upward. All limb extremities showed Medical Research Council (MRC) Grade 5 motor power and sensory examinations did not reveal any abnormality. Motor incoordinations were detected with finger-to-nose, heel-to-shin and rapid alternating movement test on both sides, the le... ...in the adult]. Revue neurologique 98 (6):435-477 3. Liu H, Qiao L, He Z (2012) Wernekink commissure syndrome: a rare midbrain syndrome. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 33 (6):1419-1421. doi:10.1007/s10072-012-0966-4 4. Mossuto-Agatiello L (2006) Caudal paramedian midbrain syndrome. Neurology 66 (11):1668-1671. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000218180.03127.11 5. Zhu Y, Liu HN, Zhang CD (2010) Wernekinck commissure syndrome is a pure midbrain infarction. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia 17 (8):1091-1092. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2009.11.032 Figure Legend Fig.1. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed diffusion restriction located in the paramedian midbrain (arrowheads).

“to the Reader” Analysis

â€Å"To The Reader† Analysis The never-ending circle of continuous sin and fallacious repentance envelops the poem â€Å"To the Reader† by Baudelaire. The beginning of this poem discusses the incessant dark vices of mankind which eclipse any attempt at true redemption. As the poem progresses, the dreariness becomes heavier by mentioning the Devil and demons, and how Hell is the final stop of everyone’s journey. The ending stanza says the most dangerous of all actions is boredom.This proposition that boredom is the most unruly thing one can do insinuates that Baudelaire views boredom as a gate way to all horrible things a person can do. The first thing one reads is the title, â€Å"To the Reader. † With this, Baudelaire is not just singling out any individuals or a certain group of people. â€Å"Folly, error, sin and parsimony,† (1) everyone possesses these vices, and that is who Baudelaire is addressing. A religious aspect is introduced in lines 5 through 7 stating that although we repent and confess, our sins are obstinate and our repentance feeble because soon after we are back to our wicked ways.Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, believe that there is a joyous afterlife for those who have led a righteous lifestyle and have atoned for their sins. However, Baudelaire dismantles this comfort by implying that we repent because we â€Å"Believ[e] our base tears can wash away the stains [our sins]† (8). Even with the hint of a religious tone, Baudelaire is still talking to those without a religious affiliation, for no one is perfect and has not apologized for an act they were not sorry they committed.In class, it was argued that this poem is not actually a religious work because it has no hope and that it is, in fact, just about human nature; I believe it is about both. It is human nature to express regret towards those we have wronged, whether Christian, Muslim, Atheist, or any other denomination. However, t hose with a religious affiliation are hypocrites; preaching that we must all be without sin and have faith in and obey their respected deity. They, such as Christians, demonstrate hypocrisy through participating in sins themselves.They think ill thoughts against those who believe something else – judging; speak poorly of others to their friends – gossiping; confess that they did not mean what they said or did – lying. Although we may try to live better with each passing day, our evilness has a stronger resolve. Baudelaire writes â€Å"On the pillow of evil Satan Trismegistus / Cradles at length our enchanted soul† (9 & 10) â€Å"It is in hateful objects that we find peace / Each day, one step further towards Hell† (14 & 15).In these four lines, Baudelaire is suggesting that we do unholy or immoral things without noticing; continuing to entertain Gluttony, Pride, or Lust without a second thought, and that our souls are the Devil’s price. Ther e are different levels of intensity to all sins; telling a white lie every now and again is far better than taking another’s life every now and again. For some, the thought of murdering or raping someone is atrocious, nevertheless Baudelaire believes that If rape and poison, arson and the knife Have not yet women their pleasant designsOn the dull canvas of our lowly destinies It is because our soul, alas, is not yet bold enough. (25-28) The Christian religion is hinted here again by the use of women; it was Eve that introduced sin to mankind by eating the forbidden fruit, the pleasant design of sin. These lines are suggesting that appalling crimes are thought about and can be conducted by all, but only the strong willed are able to carry them out. Of all the horrible acts one can commit, Baudelaire suggests that there is one that is most heinous above all the rest, and that is boredom.Baudelaire states that Boredom is â€Å"more ugly, evil, [and] fouler than the rest† (33). Being in a state of boredom can lead to all types of malice and immoral thoughts. When you have time to think, memories of how someone wronged you may appear and you may decide to do wrong back unto him, or perhaps going to the club may seem like a nice way to meet with someone to relieve you of your boredom, etc. Boredom is not just failing to find something to do, but that you are tired of doing the same stuff over and over again.If one is bored of going to church and hearing the gospel, they could always decide to follow a different religion or drop it altogether. Who can say they are without sin, completely wholly, and truly deserving of a divine afterlife? As previously stated, some believers can be considered hypocrites. People are always preaching that one must practice a better way of living, yet they are deaf to their own sermon. Sin is practiced by all, even those who believe themselves to be above it. Unfortunately, to cast away sin is to cast away human nature, whi ch cannot be done, and as long as boredom lingers around, sin will always follow.

Lsi Paper Essay

The life Styles Inventory (LSI) is developed by Dr. J. Clayton Lafferty. LSI are measures 12 specific styles of patterns of thinking that can either help or hinder a person from reaching his or her potential. The 12 styles measures by LSI are organized into three general clusters: Constructive, Passive/Defensive, Aggressive/Defensive. Research has shown that the styles measures by the LSI are related to a number of indicators of effectiveness and success, including leadership effectiveness, management effectiveness, problem solving effectiveness, quality of interpersonal relations, salary, organizational level, individual health and well being, and organization culture. Part 1: Personal Thinking Styles After I took the LSI, my primary personal thinking style are Dependent and Competitive which came in the same percentile with a 99 percentile. My back up personal thinking style is Approval with a 95 percentile. To begin with my primary personal thinking, first, Dependent style, passive/defensive cluster, is about people who relies on others for direction, a good follower, doesn’t challenge others, and aims to please everyone. I totally agree this style can show who I am. Most of my life I tend to dependent on the others until now. I like to be a follower and accept what is people thinking and making decision. Now, I’m trying to change my thinking and attitude because I don’t want to be a follower forever. I know myself why I am always a follower because I am afraid to say something to be the first person, I might say the wrong answer that will makes me feel embarrass in classroom or public places. This might be side effect from when I was young, once time I said the wrong answer in classroom and my classmates started laugh at me. That situation still stays with me. Another of my primary personal thinking is Competitive style, aggressive/defensive cluster, is about people who competes rather than cooperates, strong need to win, and constantly compares self to others. I don’t agree with this score. For me, I think that competitive thinking style is not to be descriptive me. I always do the best with my job and task but I didnâ€⠄¢t focus on to be winning. I do accept my colleagues work, I am not the person who will say no or disagree too much. I plan to achieve my goal but I didn’t think to be number one. This thinking style seems cannot explain me. Next, my backup personal thinking is Approval style, passive/defensive cluster, is about people sets goals that please others, support those with the most authority, agrees with everyone, and reluctantly deals with conflict. I totally agree with this score. According to LSI result, the approval scale measures our need to be accepted by others to increase or sustain our feeling of self-worth. I think dependent and approval styles both are similar to explain me. I like to work many people but I will be a good listener. This might be cause from I don’t like to read since I was young until now. I want to change myself to be a good reader, so, I might have more knowledge to discuss, suggest, and participate with others people. The one style that might be working against me and reducing my overall effectiveness would be the Humanistic-Encouraging. I like to work and share story with people but for this style I think I don’t have to o much power to encourage people believe what I say or what I think. I can be an advisor for who has a problem but I don’t know after I talked with them my advice with help them or not. My score in Humanistic-Encouraging is the lowest percentile with is 57 percentile. So, I need to motivate myself for improve for effective in organization. Part 2: Impact on Management Style A: Planning B: organizing C: Leading D: Controlling Part 3: Genesis of Personal Style Part 4: Conclusion and reflection I think this survey is very benefits and advantages for me. When I looked at the score on the first time I don’t think dependent style will be my primary  but after I read all detail about who are in this style. I believe, this can show how I am. After finished this survey, I know how to approve and change my personal life style. This survey seems like a guideline that show you how to improve. Also if you follow all those steps, your personal style and think will change to be a good way. In this course MGMT591, I have my goal

Ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship Essay

With reference to one or two organization that you have studied, discuss the influence of ethics and innovation on the role of entrepreneurship (entrepreneur) and intrapreneurship (intrapreneur). Conceptual approaches play a vital role in influencing the role of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in an organization. Innovation, which is one of the concepts, is the ability to think anew by developing new services or products. It is synonymous with risk taking as defined in the entrepreneurial behavior. Organizations that create innovative products take on the greatest risk because they create new markets. It is the act to carve a new niche in it, as deemed by most entrepreneurs. Ethics, on the other hand is the basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. Organizations that mobilize this conduct concerned with decisions and what and how to do it. For example, ethical considerations in the role of entrepreneurship and intrepreneurship are revolved around the ways of an organization approaches its customers by instilling good values throughout the conduct, and also through consideration in the branding of the products or services, based on morality as it portrays the image of the organization. These two concepts influence the survival of an organization in the modern world to cater the society’s demands. One of the organizations that best fit these criterions is IKEA. IKEA has introduced various ethical conducts throughout the century. One of its most significance considerations is that IKEA introduced IWAY. It is an ethic code that had been introduced by the founder of the organization as a code of conduct between the organization and its suppliers since the year 2000. It encompasses guidelines concerning working conditions, prevention of child labour, the environment and responsible forestry management. This ethical conduct is to ensure that the suppliers won’t go overboard although things may seem inevitable as most suppliers don’t put that much of concern regarding the issues and most organizations seek for reduced cost. However, IKEA prioritizes morality, and dare to be venturesome, in starting their business with ofits from the quality. This ethical conducts inhibit bribery and anything related to the impropriety andanother organization as it is to ensure that their products are top-notch and can initiate a much greater pr results in creating quality products for the customers, hence providing customers the best of what they should opt for from an organization. It will  promote trust in business, and enhance in the growth of likely more organizations alike to adhere to the same code of conduct resulting a better lifestyle in a society. People benefits from getting to use quality products, while organization and suppliers gain profits as the business go viral from the trust embedded by the customers. However, this code of conduct, to a certain extent, won’t be able to stand a chance against the long run of the business. From time to time, organizations should revise on how they conduct their business as policies change overtime in order to adapt to the current demand of the world. IWAY can’t stay appr opriate for organizations as benefits and importance would be totally different years after. Hence suppliers will end up breaking the guidelines, resulting in contract breaches causing damages and loss to both organizations. Code of conduct, is about refinement in order to get it sustainably carried out, yielding its finest outcomes. In the innovative aspect, IKEA had been coming up with the concept of sustaining the price by introducing the ‘do-it-yourselves’ concept. Lowest price is the basis of IKEA’s concept. IKEA identify new customer needs for furniture from not just from those who can afford but also among the young and less wealthy. So the founder had came out with the idea of designing furniture in kit form, leaving the customer to put them together by themselves hence, reduce the cost of assembly. The furniture is put in flat-cardboard boxes, so that customers can access to the self-service warehouse without using any third-parties. This results in almost 80% of reduced cost for transportation. This innovation, as deemed to be potently reducing most of the cost, comes from having the customers engage in the idea of ‘do-it-yourselves’. IKEA’s prices have been 30% below any other traditional furniture manufacturers. Its contemporary and innovative avant garde idea had garnered both the attention of customers and suppliers. This results in impactful effects on the society as more classes of people would be able to possess high quality products and furniture. IKEA’s ‘do-it-yourselves’ furniture not just exhibit the exquisite design and sophisticated image from the company but indicates their stand in providing quality products in affordable price. This will entirely improve the social standard of a society and cater the demand of the customers, to own furniture that suits their social living within the current globalization. However, this strategy is not foolproof. There have  been numbers of debates on how customers comment that some I KEA’s products are complicated to assemble and in further action, require the need of an expert hence require more expenses. This will get us back to square one where buyers would have to pay for assembling the products. The idea of ‘do-it-yourselves’ is vividly attracting attention of customers and suppliers however, it would be better if proper guidelines and further proposal is planned for this strategy to work. Entrepreneurs are gambling to the fact that they’re selling unfinished products to the customers hoping profits in return, however this won’t be likely to occur without proper planning and detailed reviews. As discussed in the passage above, IKEA is been putting priorities to both the suppliers and also the customers. Attention on the suppliers was to ensure that the raw materials used reach the standard of quality to yield the best products. Customers were given priorities in the aspect of wanting them to buy the products, by taking care their needs, and demands. Exclusion of any of these two societies would leave a profound impact to IKEA itself. But in this aspect, it would be better if slight inclination of priorities were given to the suppliers instead of the customers. A great enforcement on how the expensive raw materials should have been taken into count by IKEA, is essential and should undergo ethical inspection, so that it gratifies the satisfaction of both the supplier and customers. Any organization should be aware that, if the materials are not off good quality, this will affect the selling process, as well as will hinder the profits gained. It is for us to realize that even though entrepreneurship is about approaching the customers need, venturing to their demands, it is highly recommended that we should look back and reflect that without having proper supplies and the right suppliers, none of that would happen. To deduce, both the concepts, innovation and ethics influence the role of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in an organization. Without the actualization of these two concepts, IKEA won’t be able to achieve such influences in the modern world of furnishing.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 73-77

CHAPTER 73 Bourget Airfield's night shift air traffic controller had been dozing before a blank radar screen when the captain of the Judicial Police practically broke down his door. â€Å"Teabing's jet,† Bezu Fache blared, marching into the small tower,† where did it go?† The controller's initial response was a babbling, lame attempt to protect the privacy of their British client – one of the airfield's most respected customers. It failed miserably. â€Å"Okay,† Fache said,† I am placing you under arrest for permitting a private plane to take off without registering a flight plan.† Fache motioned to another officer, who approached with handcuffs, and the traffic controller felt a surge of terror. He thought of the newspaper articles debating whether the nation's police captain was a hero or a menace. That question had just been answered. â€Å"Wait!† the controller heard himself whimper at the sight of the handcuffs. â€Å"I can tell you this much. Sir Leigh Teabing makes frequent trips to London for medical treatments. He has a hangar at Biggin Hill Executive Airport in Kent. On the outskirts of London.† Fache waved off the man with the cuffs. â€Å"Is Biggin Hill his destination tonight?† â€Å"I don't know,† the controller said honestly. â€Å"The plane left on its usual tack, and his last radar contact suggested the United Kingdom. Biggin Hill is an extremely likely guess.† â€Å"Did he have others onboard?† â€Å"I swear, sir, there is no way for me to know that. Our clients can drive directly to their hangars, and load as they please. Who is onboard is the responsibility of the customs officials at the receiving airport.† Fache checked his watch and gazed out at the scattering of jets parked in front of the terminal. â€Å"If they're going to Biggin Hill, how long until they land?† The controller fumbled through his records. â€Å"It's a short flight. His plane could be on the ground by†¦ around six-thirty. Fifteen minutes from now.† Fache frowned and turned to one of his men. â€Å"Get a transport up here. I'm going to London. And get me the Kent local police. Not British MI5. I want this quiet. Kent local.Tell them I want Teabing's plane to be permitted to land. Then I want it surrounded on the tarmac. Nobody deplanes until I get there.† CHAPTER 74 â€Å"You're quiet,† Langdon said, gazing across the Hawker's cabin at Sophie. â€Å"Just tired,† she replied. â€Å"And the poem. I don't know.† Langdon was feeling the same way. The hum of the engines and the gentle rocking of the plane were hypnotic, and his head still throbbed where he'd been hit by the monk. Teabing was still in the back of the plane, and Langdon decided to take advantage of the moment alone with Sophie to tell her something that had been on his mind. â€Å"I think I know part of the reason why your grandfather conspired to put us together. I think there's something he wanted me to explain to you.† â€Å"The history of the Holy Grail and Mary Magdalene isn't enough?† Langdon felt uncertain how to proceed. â€Å"The rift between you. The reason you haven't spoken to him in ten years. I think maybe he was hoping I could somehow make that right by explaining what drove you apart.† Sophie squirmed in her seat. â€Å"I haven't told you what drove us apart.† Langdon eyed her carefully. â€Å"You witnessed a sex rite. Didn't you?† Sophie recoiled. â€Å"How do you know that?† â€Å"Sophie, you told me you witnessed something that convinced you your grandfather was in a secret society. And whatever you saw upset you enough that you haven't spoken to him since. I know a fair amount about secret societies. It doesn't take the brains of Da Vinci to guess what you saw.† Sophie stared. â€Å"Was it in the spring?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Sometime around the equinox? Mid-March?† Sophie looked out the window. â€Å"I was on spring break from university. I came home a few days early.† â€Å"You want to tell me about it?† â€Å"I'd rather not.† She turned suddenly back to Langdon, her eyes welling with emotion. â€Å"I don't know what I saw.† â€Å"Were both men and women present?† After a beat, she nodded.† Dressed in white and black?† She wiped her eyes and then nodded, seeming to open up a little. â€Å"The women were in white gossamer gowns†¦ with golden shoes. They held golden orbs. The men wore black tunics and black shoes.† Langdon strained to hide his emotion, and yet he could not believe what he was hearing. Sophie Neveu had unwittingly witnessed a two-thousand-year-old sacred ceremony. â€Å"Masks?† he asked, keeping his voice calm. â€Å"Androgynous masks?† â€Å"Yes. Everyone. Identical masks. White on the women. Black on the men.† Langdon had read descriptions of this ceremony and understood its mystic roots. â€Å"It's called Hieros Gamos,† he said softly. â€Å"It dates back more than two thousand years. Egyptian priests and priestesses performed it regularly to celebrate the reproductive power of the female,† He paused, leaning toward her. â€Å"And if you witnessed Hieros Gamos without being properly prepared to understand its meaning, I imagine it would be pretty shocking.† Sophie said nothing. â€Å"Hieros Gamos is Greek,† he continued. â€Å"It means sacred marriage.† â€Å"The ritual I saw was no marriage.† â€Å"Marriage as in union, Sophie.† â€Å"You mean as in sex.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No?† she said, her olive eyes testing him. Langdon backpedaled. â€Å"Well†¦ yes, in a manner of speaking, but not as we understand it today.† He explained that although what she saw probably looked like a sex ritual, Hieros Gamos had nothing to do with eroticism. It was a spiritual act. Historically, intercourse was the act through which male and female experienced God. The ancients believed that the male was spiritually incomplete until he had carnal knowledge of the sacred feminine. Physical union with the female remained the sole means through which man could become spiritually complete and ultimately achieve gnosis – knowledge of the divine. Since the days of Isis, sex rites had been considered man's only bridge from earth to heaven. â€Å"By communing with woman,† Langdon said,† man could achieve a climactic instant when his mind went totally blank and he could see God.† Sophie looked skeptical. â€Å"Orgasm as prayer?† Langdon gave a noncommittal shrug, although Sophie was essentially correct. Physiologically speaking, the male climax was accompanied by a split second entirely devoid of thought. A brief mental vacuum. A moment of clarity during which God could be glimpsed. Meditation gurus achieved similar states of thoughtlessness without sex and often described Nirvana as a never- ending spiritual orgasm. â€Å"Sophie,† Langdon said quietly,† it's important to remember that the ancients' view of sex was entirely opposite from ours today. Sex begot new life – the ultimate miracle – and miracles could be performed only by a god. The ability of the woman to produce life from her womb made her sacred. A god. Intercourse was the revered union of the two halves of the human spirit – male and female – through which the male could find spiritual wholeness and communion with God. What you saw was not about sex, it was about spirituality. The Hieros Gamos ritual is not a perversion. It's a deeply sacrosanct ceremony.† His words seemed to strike a nerve. Sophie had been remarkably poised all evening, but now, for the first time, Langdon saw the aura of composure beginning to crack. Tears materialized in her eyes again, and she dabbed them away with her sleeve. He gave her a moment. Admittedly, the concept of sex as a pathway to God was mind-boggling at first. Langdon's Jewish students always looked flabbergasted when he first told them that the early Jewish tradition involved ritualistic sex. In the Temple, no less.Early Jews believed that the Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple housed not only God but also His powerful female equal, Shekinah. Men seeking spiritual wholeness came to the Temple to visit priestesses – or hierodules – with whom they made love and experienced the divine through physical union. The Jewish tetragrammaton YHWH – the sacred name of God – in fact derived from Jehovah, an androgynous physical union between the masculine Jah and the pre-Hebraic name for Eve, Havah. â€Å"For the early Church,† Langdon explained in a soft voice,† mankind's use of sex to commune directly with God posed a serious threat to the Catholic power base. It left the Church out of the loop, undermining their self-proclaimed status as the sole conduit to God. For obvious reasons, they worked hard to demonize sex and recast it as a disgusting and sinful act. Other major religions did the same.† Sophie was silent, but Langdon sensed she was starting to understand her grandfather better. Ironically, Langdon had made this same point in a class lecture earlier this semester. â€Å"Is it surprising we feel conflicted about sex?† he asked his students. â€Å"Our ancient heritage and our very physiologies tell us sex is natural – a cherished route to spiritual fulfillment – and yet modern religion decries it as shameful, teaching us to fear our sexual desire as the hand of the devil.† Langdon decided not to shock his students with the fact that more than a dozen secret societies around the world – many of them quite influential – still practiced sex rites and kept the ancient traditions alive. Tom Cruise's character in the film Eyes Wide Shut discovered this the hard way when he sneaked into a private gathering of ultraelite Manhattanites only to find himself witnessing Hieros Gamos. Sadly, the filmmakers had gotten most of the specifics wrong, but the basic gist was there – a secret society communing to celebrate the magic of sexual union. â€Å"Professor Langdon?† A male student in back raised his hand, sounding hopeful. â€Å"Are you saying that instead of going to chapel, we should have more sex?† Langdon chuckled, not about to take the bait. From what he'd heard about Harvard parties, these kids were having more than enough sex. â€Å"Gentlemen,† he said, knowing he was on tender ground,† might I offer a suggestion for all of you. Without being so bold as to condone premarital sex, and without being so naive as to think you're all chaste angels, I will give you this bit of advice about your sex lives.† All the men in the audience leaned forward, listening intently. â€Å"The next time you find yourself with a woman, look in your heart and see if you cannot approach sex as a mystical, spiritual act. Challenge yourself to find that spark of divinity that man can only achieve through union with the sacred feminine.† The women smiled knowingly, nodding. The men exchanged dubious giggles and off-color jokes. Langdon sighed. College men were still boys. Sophie's forehead felt cold as she pressed it against the plane's window and stared blankly into the void, trying to process what Langdon had just told her. She felt a new regret well within her. Ten years.She pictured the stacks of unopened letters her grandfather had sent her. I will tell Robert everything.Without turning from the window, Sophie began to speak. Quietly. Fearfully. As she began to recount what had happened that night, she felt herself drifting back†¦ alighting in the woods outside her grandfather's Normandy chateau†¦ searching the deserted house in confusion†¦ hearing the voices below her†¦ and then finding the hidden door. She inched down the stone staircase, one step at a time, into that basement grotto. She could taste the earthy air. Cool and light. It was March. In the shadows of her hiding place on the staircase, she watched as the strangers swayed and chanted by flickering orange candles. I'm dreaming, Sophie told herself. This is a dream. What else could this be? The women and men were staggered, black, white, black, white. The women's beautiful gossamer gowns billowed as they raised in their right hands golden orbs and called out in unison,† I was withyou in the beginning, in the dawn of all that is holy, I bore you from the womb before the start of day.† The women lowered their orbs, and everyone rocked back and forth as if in a trance. They were revering something in the center of the circle. What are they looking at? The voices accelerated now. Louder. Faster. â€Å"The woman whom you behold is love!† The women called, raising their orbs again. The men responded,† She has her dwelling in eternity!† The chanting grew steady again. Accelerating. Thundering now. Faster. The participants stepped inward and knelt. In that instant, Sophie could finally see what they were all watching. On a low, ornate altar in the center of the circle lay a man. He was naked, positioned on his back, and wearing a black mask. Sophie instantly recognized his body and the birthmark on his shoulder. She almost cried out. Grand-pere! This image alone would have shocked Sophie beyond belief, and yet there was more. Straddling her grandfather was a naked woman wearing a white mask, her luxuriant silver hair flowing out behind it. Her body was plump, far from perfect, and she was gyrating in rhythm to the chanting – making love to Sophie's grandfather. Sophie wanted to turn and run, but she couldn't. The stone walls of the grotto imprisoned her as the chanting rose to a fever pitch. The circle of participants seemed almost to be singing now, the noise rising in crescendo to a frenzy. With a sudden roar, the entire room seemed to erupt in climax. Sophie could not breathe. She suddenly realized she was quietly sobbing. She turned and staggered silently up the stairs, out of the house, and drove trembling back to Paris. CHAPTER 75 The chartered turboprop was just passing over the twinkling lights of Monaco when Aringarosa hung up on Fache for the second time. He reached for the airsickness bag again but felt too drained even to be sick. Just let it be over! Fache's newest update seemed unfathomable, and yet almost nothing tonight made sense anymore. What is going on? Everything had spiraled wildly out of control. What have I gotten Silas into? What have I gotten myself into! On shaky legs, Aringarosa walked to the cockpit. â€Å"I need to change destinations.† The pilot glanced over his shoulder and laughed. â€Å"You're joking, right?† â€Å"No. I have to get to London immediately.† â€Å"Father, this is a charter flight, not a taxi.† â€Å"I will pay you extra, of course. How much? London is only one hour farther north and requires almost no change of direction, so – â€Å" â€Å"It's not a question of money, Father, there are other issues.† â€Å"Ten thousand euro. Right now.† The pilot turned, his eyes wide with shock. â€Å"How much? What kind of priest carries that kind of cash?† Aringarosa walked back to his black briefcase, opened it, and removed one of the bearer bonds. He handed it to the pilot. â€Å"What is this?† the pilot demanded. â€Å"A ten-thousand-euro bearer bond drawn on the Vatican Bank.† The pilot looked dubious.† It's the same as cash.† â€Å"Only cash is cash,† the pilot said, handing the bond back. Aringarosa felt weak as he steadied himself against the cockpit door. â€Å"This is a matter of life or death. You must help me. I need to get to London.† The pilot eyed the bishop's gold ring. â€Å"Real diamonds?† Aringarosa looked at the ring. â€Å"I could not possibly part with this.† The pilot shrugged, turning and focusing back out the windshield. Aringarosa felt a deepening sadness. He looked at the ring. Everything it represented was about to be lost to the bishop anyway. After a long moment, he slid the ring from his finger and placed it gently on the instrument panel. Aringarosa slunk out of the cockpit and sat back down. Fifteen seconds later, he could feel the pilot banking a few more degrees to the north. Even so, Aringarosa's moment of glory was in shambles. It had all begun as a holy cause. A brilliantly crafted scheme. Now, like a house of cards, it was collapsing in on itself†¦ and the end was nowhere in sight. CHAPTER 76 Langdon could see Sophie was still shaken from recounting her experience of Hieros Gamos. For his part, Langdon was amazed to have heard it. Not only had Sophie witnessed the full-blown ritual, but her own grandfather had been the celebrant†¦ the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion. It was heady company. Da Vinci, Botticelli, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, Jean Cocteau†¦JacquesSauniere. â€Å"I don't know what else I can tell you,† Langdon said softly. Sophie's eyes were a deep green now, tearful. â€Å"He raised me like his own daughter.† Langdon now recognized the emotion that had been growing in her eyes as they spoke. It was remorse. Distant and deep. Sophie Neveu had shunned her grandfather and was now seeing him in an entirely different light. Outside, the dawn was coming fast, its crimson aura gathering off the starboard. The earth was still black beneath them. â€Å"Victuals, my dears?† Teabing rejoined them with a flourish, presenting several cans of Coke and a box of old crackers. He apologized profusely for the limited fare as he doled out the goods. â€Å"Our friend the monk isn't talking yet,† he chimed, â€Å"but give him time.† He bit into a cracker and eyed the poem. â€Å"So, my lovely, any headway?† He looked at Sophie. â€Å"What is your grandfather trying to tell us here? Where the devil is this headstone? This headstone praised by Templars.† Sophie shook her head and remained silent. While Teabing again dug into the verse, Langdon popped a Coke and turned to the window, his thoughts awash with images of secret rituals and unbroken codes. A headstone praised by Templarsis the key.He took a long sip from the can. A headstone praised by Templars.The cola was warm. The dissolving veil of night seemed to evaporate quickly, and as Langdon watched the transformation, he saw a shimmering ocean stretch out beneath them. The English Channel.It wouldn't be long now. Langdon willed the light of day to bring with it a second kind of illumination, but the lighter it became outside, the further he felt from the truth. He heard the rhythms of iambic pentameter and chanting, Hieros Gamos and sacred rites, resonating with the rumble of the jet. A headstone praised by Templars. The plane was over land again when a flash of enlightenment struck him. Langdon set down his empty can of Coke hard. â€Å"You won't believe this,† he said, turning to the others. â€Å"The Templar headstone – I figured it out.† Teabing's eyes turned to saucers. â€Å"You know where the headstone is?† Langdon smiled. â€Å"Not where it is. What it is.† Sophie leaned in to hear. â€Å"I think the headstone references a literal stone head,†Langdon explained, savoring the familiar excitement of academic breakthrough. â€Å"Not a grave marker.† â€Å"A stone head?† Teabing demanded. Sophie looked equally confused.† Leigh,† Langdon said, turning,† during the Inquisition, the Church accused the Knights Templar of all kinds of heresies, right?† â€Å"Correct. They fabricated all kinds of charges. Sodomy, urination on the cross, devil worship, quite a list.† â€Å"And on that list was the worship of false idols, right? Specifically, the Church accused the Templars of secretly performing rituals in which they prayed to a carved stone head†¦ the pagan god – â€Å" â€Å"Baphomet!† Teabing blurted. â€Å"My heavens, Robert, you're right! A headstone praised by Templars!† Langdon quickly explained to Sophie that Baphomet was a pagan fertility god associated with the creative force of reproduction. Baphomet's head was represented as that of a ram or goat, a common symbol of procreation and fecundity. The Templars honored Baphomet by encircling a stone replica of his head and chanting prayers. â€Å"Baphomet,† Teabing tittered. â€Å"The ceremony honored the creative magic of sexual union, but Pope Clement convinced everyone that Baphomet's head was in fact that of the devil. The Pope used the head of Baphomet as the linchpin in his case against the Templars.† Langdon concurred. The modern belief in a horned devil known as Satan could be traced back to Baphomet and the Church's attempts to recast the horned fertility god as a symbol of evil. The Church had obviously succeeded, although not entirely. Traditional American Thanksgiving tables still bore pagan, horned fertility symbols. The cornucopia or† horn of plenty† was a tribute to Baphomet's fertility and dated back to Zeus being suckled by a goat whose horn broke off and magically filled with fruit. Baphomet also appeared in group photographs when some joker raised two fingers behind a friend's head in the V-symbol of horns; certainly few of the pranksters realized their mocking gesture was in fact advertising their victim's robust sperm count. â€Å"Yes, yes,† Teabing was saying excitedly. â€Å"Baphomet must be what the poem is referring to. A headstone praised by Templars.† â€Å"Okay,† Sophie said, â€Å"but if Baphomet is the headstone praised by Templars, then we have a new dilemma.† She pointed to the dials on the cryptex. â€Å"Baphomet has eight letters. We only have room for five.† Teabing grinned broadly. â€Å"My dear, this is where the Atbash Cipher comes into play† CHAPTER 77 Langdon was impressed. Teabing had just finished writing out the entire twenty-two-letter Hebrew alphabet – alef-beit – from memory. Granted, he'd used Roman equivalents rather than Hebrew characters, but even so, he was now reading through them with flawless pronunciation. A B G D H V Z Ch T Y K L M N S O P Tz Q R Sh Th â€Å"Alef, Beit, Gimel, Dalet, Hei, Vav, Zayin, Chet, Tet, Yud, Kaf, Lamed, Mem, Nun, Samech, Ayin, Pei, Tzadik, Kuf, Reish, Shin, and Tav.† Teabing dramatically mopped his brow and plowed on. â€Å"In formal Hebrew spelling, the vowel sounds are not written. Therefore, when we write the word Baphomet using the Hebrew alphabet, it will lose its three vowels in translation, leaving us – â€Å" â€Å"Five letters,† Sophie blurted. Teabing nodded and began writing again. â€Å"Okay, here is the proper spelling of Baphomet inHebrew letters. I'll sketch in the missing vowels for clarity's sake. B a P V o M e Th â€Å"Remember, of course,† he added,† that Hebrew is normally written in the opposite direction, but we can just as easily use Atbash this way. Next, all we have to do is create our substitution scheme by rewriting the entire alphabet in reverse order opposite the original alphabet.† â€Å"There's an easier way,† Sophie said, taking the pen from Teabing. â€Å"It works for all reflectional substitution ciphers, including the Atbash. A little trick I learned at the Royal Holloway.† Sophie wrote the first half of the alphabet from left to right, and then, beneath it, wrote the second half, right to left. â€Å"Cryptanalysts call it the fold-over. Half as complicated. Twice as clean.† A B G D H V Z Ch T Y K Th Sh R Q Tz P O S N M L Teabing eyed her handiwork and chuckled. â€Å"Right you are. Glad to see those boys at the Holloway are doing their job.† Looking at Sophie's substitution matrix, Langdon felt a rising thrill that he imagined must have rivaled the thrill felt by early scholars when they first used the Atbash Cipher to decrypt the now famous Mystery of Sheshach.For years, religious scholars had been baffled by biblical references to a city called Sheshach.The city did not appear on any map nor in any other documents, and yet it was mentioned repeatedly in the Book of Jeremiah – the king of Sheshach, the city of Sheshach, the people of Sheshach. Finally, a scholar applied the Atbash Cipher to the word, and his results were mind-numbing. The cipher revealed that Sheshach was in fact a code word for another very well-known city. The decryption process was simple. Sheshach, in Hebrew, was spelled: Sh-Sh-K. Sh-Sh-K, when placed in the substitution matrix, became B-B-L. B-B-L, in Hebrew, spelled Babel. The mysterious city of Sheshach was revealed as the city of Babel, and a frenzy of biblical examination ensued. Within weeks, several more Atbash code words were uncovered in the Old Testament, unveiling myriad hidden meanings that scholars had no idea were there. â€Å"We're getting close,† Langdon whispered, unable to control his excitement. â€Å"Inches, Robert,† Teabing said. He glanced over at Sophie and smiled. â€Å"You ready?† She nodded.† Okay, Baphomet in Hebrew without the vowels reads: B-P-V-M-Th.Now we simply apply your Atbash substitution matrix to translate the letters into our five-letter password.† Langdon's heart pounded. B-P-V-M-Th.The sun was pouring through the windows now. He looked at Sophie's substitution matrix and slowly began to make the conversion. B is Sh†¦P is V†¦ Teabing was grinning like a schoolboy at Christmas. â€Å"And the Atbash Cipher reveals†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stopped short. â€Å"Good God!† His face went white. Langdon's head snapped up. â€Å"What's wrong?† Sophie demanded. â€Å"You won't believe this.† Teabing glanced at Sophie. â€Å"Especially you.† â€Å"What do you mean?† she said.† This is†¦ ingenious,† he whispered. â€Å"Utterly ingenious!† Teabing wrote again on the paper. â€Å"Drumroll, please. Here is your password.† He showed them what he had written. Sh-V-P-Y-A Sophie scowled. â€Å"What is it?† Langdon didn't recognize it either. Teabing's voice seemed to tremble with awe. â€Å"This, my friend, is actually an ancient word of wisdom.† Langdon read the letters again. An ancient word of wisdom frees this scroll.An instant later he got it. He had never seen this coming. â€Å"An ancient word of wisdom!† Teabing was laughing. â€Å"Quite literally!† Sophie looked at the word and then at the dial. Immediately she realized Langdon and Teabing had failed to see a serious glitch. â€Å"Hold on! This can't be the password,† she argued. â€Å"The cryptex doesn't have an Sh on the dial. It uses a traditional Roman alphabet.† â€Å"Read the word,† Langdon urged. â€Å"Keep in mind two things. In Hebrew, the symbol for the sound Sh can also be pronounced as S, depending on the accent. Just as the letter P can be pronounced F.† SVFYA? she thought, puzzled. â€Å"Genius!† Teabing added. â€Å"The letter Vav is often a placeholder for the vowel sound O!† Sophie again looked at the letters, attempting to sound them out.† S†¦ o†¦ f†¦ y†¦ a.† She heard the sound of her voice, and could not believe what she had just said. â€Å"Sophia? This spells Sophia?† Langdon was nodding enthusiastically. â€Å"Yes! Sophia literally means wisdom in Greek. The root of your name, Sophie, is literally a ‘word of wisdom.'† Sophie suddenly missed her grandfather immensely. He encrypted the Priory keystone with my name.A knot caught in her throat. It all seemed so perfect. But as she turned her gaze to the five lettered dials on the cryptex, she realized a problem still existed. â€Å"But wait†¦ the word Sophia has six letters.† Teabing's smile never faded. â€Å"Look at the poem again. Your grandfather wrote, ‘An ancient word of wisdom.' â€Å"Yes?† Teabing winked. â€Å"In ancient Greek, wisdom is spelled S-O-F-I-A.†

Women and World War II - Women in the Government

Women and World War II - Women in the Government In addition to thousands of women who took government jobs in support of the war effort or to free up men for other jobs, women played key leadership roles in government. In China, Madame Chiang Kai-shek was an active promoter of the Chinese cause against the Japanese occupation. This wife of the Nationalist leader of China was head of Chinas air force during the war. She spoke to the US Congress in 1943. She was called the worlds most famous woman for her efforts. British women in government also played important roles during the war. Queen Elizabeth (wife of King George VI, born Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon) and her daughters, Princesses Elizabeth (future Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret, were an important part of the morale effort, continuing to live at Buckingham Palace in London even when the Germans were bombing the city, and distributing aid in the city after bombing raids. Member of Parliament and feminist, American-born Nancy Astor, worked to keep up the morale of her constituents and served as unofficial hostess to American troops in England. In the United States, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an active role in building morale among civilians and military forces. Her husbands use of a wheelchair and his conviction that he must not be seen publicly as disabled meant that Eleanor traveled, wrote, and spoke. She continued to publish a daily newspaper column. She also advocated for responsible roles for women and for minorities. Other women in decision-making positions included Frances Perkins,  US Secretary of Labor (1933-1945), Oveta Culp Hobby who headed the War Departments Womens Interest Section and became director of the Womens Army Corps (WAC), and Mary McLeod Bethune who served as director of the Division of Negro Affairs and advocated the commissioning of black women as officers in the Womens Army Corps. At the end of the war, Alice Paul rewrote the Equal Rights Amendment, which had been introduced into and rejected by each session of Congress since women had achieved the vote in 1920. She and other former suffragists expected that womens contributions to the war effort would naturally lead to the acceptance of equal rights, but the Amendment didnt pass Congress until the 1970s, and eventually failed to pass in the required number of states.

Guns Should Be Controlled or Restricted in the USA

Guns Should Be Controlled or Restricted in the USA Introduction Some Americans are inclined to accentuate their freedom provided in the democratic society with references to different aspects of the social life and legal policies. The possibility to have handguns to use them for protecting the property or life is also discussed in the context of stating the human rights and freedoms. However, the problem is in the fact that the real consequences of having handguns are in providing the threats for the other people but not in protecting themselves.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Guns Should Be Controlled or Restricted in the USA specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gun assaults are typical for the American society, and they emphasize the controversial character of the question associated with appropriateness of providing the public with the open access to handguns. Today, many sociologists and politicians insist on developing the restricting laws for guns’ ownership or on the absolute control of the process. Guns should be controlled or restricted in the country with references to the legal policies and laws because guns’ ownership is directly connected with the high rate of homicides in the USA, the availability of handguns affects the increase of suicide rates, provokes the growth of the children’s violence and intimate partner violence, and affects the increase of the violent attacks, using guns. Homicides and Strict Gun Control It is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that the rate of homicides in the USA is rather high. The problem is in fact that the causes of the phenomenon are not only in increasing the atmosphere of violence in the society but also in the availability of the methods to realize the violent intentions. From this point, gun ownership can be discussed as one of the most provocative aspects associated with the criminal situation in the country. According to Stell, â€Å"gun assaults are 5- 7 times more likely to result in death than non-guns assaults †¦ 70% of American homicides are committed with guns†, and moreover, â€Å"other countries with assault rates similar to America’s but with lower gun prevalence and with a commensurately lower percentage of homicide committed with guns enjoy homicide rates 50%+ lower than America† (Stell 38). It is possible to speak about the direct correlation between the availability of handguns and their usage as the means to kill the other person. The fact that 70% of homicides in the country are committed with guns can have the inverse dependence, and it is possible to affect the rate of homicides with controlling the access to handguns and their usage. Thus, Stell states that â€Å"reducing the percentage of homicides committed with guns is the key to reducing America’s homicide rate† (Stell 39). That is why, the only way to reduce the rate of homicides is the provision of the restricted laws a nd policies to control the usage of handguns by the population. From this point, â€Å"carefully-crafted, well-enforced firearms control policies can contribute to marginal reductions in criminal violence† (Stell 38).Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, the rate of homicides depends on the fact of the spread gun ownership among the US population, and to affect the negative tendencies in increasing the rate of homicides, it is necessary to focus on the restricted laws with the help of which it is possible to control who uses the gun and for what purposes. The following figure demonstrates the correlation between the number of victims and the weapon used to murder. Thus, handguns are used more often than any other type of weapon in the USA. Figure 1: Homicide by Weapon Type, 1976-2000 (Stell 43). Dependence of the Suicide Rate on the Gun Ownership The rate of suicides in the USA is also based on the fact of availability of handguns, and the problem can be solved with references to the gun control policies and laws. Stell claims that â€Å"more than 30,000 Americans commit suicide each year, putting suicide in the top ten causes of death. Guns’ â€Å"market share† in suicide is 50% not as large as their market share in homicide†¦but the body count is nearly twice as high† (Stell 39). It is rather difficult to determine from this perspective it is necessary to refer to the problem of committing suicide, and there is the question whether it is possible to control the rate of suicides with the help of restrictions in relation to gun ownership. However, the correlation between gun ownership and committing suicides with the help of handguns exists, and people should pay attention to this fact. Thus, it is possible to expect that, restricting the gun ownership, the governors will contribute to the decrease of the suicide rate in the USA. Suicides can be discussed as the reflections of the social situation in the country, but the suicides committed with using the handguns are also the reflections of the inappropriate laws operating in the country which allow people the minimally controlled access to the firearms.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Guns Should Be Controlled or Restricted in the USA specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Children’s Violent Actions and the Usage of Handguns The next negative consequence associated with the lack of control in the sphere of regulating the access to handguns is the interdependence between having guns and expressing violence. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that, realizing the availability of handguns and being affected by the violence in the media, children are inclined to perceive the violent actions as the ordinary situation in the real life. There are man y ways to explain the actions of the children who shoot their classmates and teachers, and the lack of the strict gun control is discussed among the causes for the tragic events. Thus, in their research, Lawrence and Birkland discuss the causes and consequences of the tragic situation at Columbine High School in 1999. The researchers state, â€Å"in April 1999, two students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado shot and killed 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves† (Lawrence and Birkland 1193). There were a lot of decisions made, and much attention was paid to the influence of the pop culture on children, to the availability of handguns, and to the necessity to develop school programs and security measures (Lawrence and Birkland 1196). The event shocked the public and made the society and politicians concentrate on the problem of gun control and the necessity of the restricted laws which should be stricter than the current regulations. Strict gun contr ol is the policy which is actively discussed by the politicians who take the opposite positions and cannot choose between the necessity to provide the public with the access to handguns as the way to protect themselves and the necessity to provide the strict laws and policies to control the usage of handguns in the society. To resolve the salutation and accentuate the necessity of control and restrictions, the tragic event at Columbine High School in Littleton was used as a trigger to intensify the discussions. According to Lawrence and Birkland, when the tragic event opens a window of â€Å"opportunity for policy making, policy entrepreneurs can easily link a preexisting policy idea with a ‘‘new’’ problem†, and the situation at school in Littleton just provided such a possibility for the supporters of the restrictions to develop discussions and hope for adopting the necessary changes in laws (Lawrence and Birkland 1201). Shootings at schools are the controversial events which make the public rethink the approaches to handgun policies. Nevertheless, the active reactions of the public subside, but the problem remains to be unsolved. Nevertheless, it is necessary to provide the strict gun control and restrict the usage of handguns to guarantee the secure environment for children. Homicides and Violence at Home The public’s violence is the problem of the American society, and it is also correlated with such an issue as the domestic violence. Children suffer from the violent actions of their classmates at school, and many persons suffer from the violent actions of their partners at home. The question becomes more controversial when its discussion is supported by the evidences and statistics related to the rate of the homicides performed with the help of handguns.Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, Vittes and Sorenson state that intimate partner violence results in 1500 deaths in the country and intimate partner assaults â€Å"involving a firearm are 12 times more likely to result in death than those involving other weapons or bodily force†, and moreover, firearms â€Å"are the most common weapon in intimate partner homicides† (Vittes and Sorenson 828). The problem can be discussed from the perspective that, understanding the availability of handguns, people are inclined to forget about the limited situations when it is possible to use the handgun legally. All the problematic situations, conflicts, and discussions cannot result in using handguns as the main argument in the negotiation process. Vittes and Sorenson accentuate the positive impact of restrictions on the considerations of people about the possibility to have and use handguns. Thus, those persons who are under some restraining order are not inclined to buy handguns because they are prohibited to have such an opportunity, â€Å"they may have been aware that they were legally prohibited from doing so; the prohibition is clearly stated on the restraining order itself† (Vittes and Sorenson 830). This example can be discussed as the evidence to support the statement that definite restrictions and laws can become effective methods to change the situation in the society and prevent the active usage of handguns. Today, a lot of people are at risk to experience the threat of being killed with a handgun because of the lack of restricted laws. The US population should be disarmed, and only specific groups of people (e.g. police officers, military officers, and private security guards) should be allowed to carry licensed guns. The Opposite Opinion However, there is also an opinion that restricted laws and policies cannot be discussed as the effective means to control the rate of homicides and suicides in the country, and it is important to pay attention to the other social cause s of the problem instead of developing the strict gun control policies. Thus, Kates and Mauser state that â€Å"if the mantra â€Å"more guns equal more death and fewer guns equal less death† were true, broad based cross-national comparisons should show that nations with higher gun ownership per capita consistently have more death† (Kates and Mauser 661). The researchers focus on the example of the Continental European nations and claim that the homicide rates in these countries are not dependent on the fact of the gun ownership that is why it is impossible to accentuate the parallels between the gun ownership policies and rates of homicides and suicides (Kates and Mauser 661). Thus, the authors pay attention to the fact that the controlled gun ownership as the ultimate solution to diminish the guns’ misuse remains a debatable issue. Moreover, the absence of the access to handguns cannot be discussed as the effective measure to prevent criminals from committing violent crimes. Nevertheless, it is necessary to look at the problem from the other perspective. The lack of the government’s actions to restrict the gun ownership and provide the definite control can contribute to the increase of the homicides’ rates in the future. The absence of the actions toward the problem’s resolving affects the situation in the society negatively. It is important to guarantee that the persons at risk are in the list of those ones banned from holding the licensed guns. The problem is in the fact that carrying a gun does not necessarily mean that a person will use it for self protection only as it is initially intended by the licensors or the gun owner. Moreover, losing control due to the circumstantial confrontations, persons may use their handguns to kill the others because of the impossibility to resist the emotions. Violent attacks are causes for many homicides with the help of handguns among children and the family members. The situati on can be resolved only with references to implementing the definite laws that is why the gun control can be realized successfully only at the government level. The United States government can impose controls on gun manufacturers and licensing organizations, indicating the procedures to be followed when providing guns to the public. Controlling guns policies mean that only definite people are able to have the access and own a handgun. Conclusion Definite restricted policies and strict gun control are necessary for the US society to regulate the problematic situation and make all possible to prevent the rate of homicides and suicides committed using handguns. Controlling gun ownership policies also mean that only police officers, members of the armed forces, private security guards, and the limited number of the other people can receive the ability to possess handguns legally. It is important to use the complex procedure in order to determine the persons’ suitability to posse ss weapons because of the risks of such a decision. Thus, the absence of the necessary control is the first step to increasing the rate of homicides because of the violent attacks. Furthermore, it is important to focus on the correlation between the gun ownership and rates of suicides. Moreover, the tragic events involving children at school are also the results of the extended availability of handguns. Thus, the gun ownership is among those reasons which are discussed in relation to the US homicide and suicide rates. In order to reduce the probable causes of such deaths, it is necessary to develop and implement the policies and laws which control or restrict the gun ownership in the USA. Kates, Don, and Gary Mauser. â€Å"Would Banning Firearms Reduce Murder and Suicide? A Review of International and Domestic Evidence†. Harvard Journal of Law Public Policy 30.2 (2007): 649-694. Print. Lawrence, Regina, and Thomas Birkland. â€Å"Guns, Hollywood, and School Safety: Definin g the School-Shooting Problem Across Public Arenas†. Social Science Quarterly 85.5 (2004): 1193-1207. Print. Stell, Lance. â€Å"The Production of Criminal Violence in America: Is Strict Gun Control the Solution?† Journal of Law, Medicine Ethics 32.1 (2004): 38-46. Print. Vittes, Katherine, and Susan Sorenson. â€Å"Keeping Guns Out of the Hands of Abusers: Handgun Purchases and Restraining Orders†. American Journal of Public Health 98.5 (2008): 828-831. Print.

Laicization in Latin America

Laicization in Latin America Before most Latin American nations gained independence from European powers, Catholicism was the dominant religion. The Catholic Church, as introduced by the Spanish, French and Portuguese in their respective colonies, maintained co-operative rather than competitive powers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Laicization in Latin America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, people had a set of specific religious rules to follow, which were both strict and compulsory in most families. However, the introduction of Protestantism and other religious movements brought some significance changes among many communities. In fact, distinguishing of religious powers in the region came with the birth of â€Å"Laicization†. Laicization in religion is a term used in reference to a secular way in which people gain the freedom to do various social and religious actions with little influence of mainstream religion. Some of these aspects include privatisation of religions, social differentiation and different configuration of beliefs. Such activities have faced much opposition in Latin America, especially in regions where the population of Catholics are dominant. In some of these areas, Catholics hold on to the claim that Catholic should be the only church in control of both political and religious affairs. The purpose of this paper is to discuss Laicization by answering such questions as â€Å"what makes laicization unique in Latin America?† and â€Å"To what extent is it necessary given the split throughout the region between Catholicism, Protestantism, and popular religion?† Within the context of Laicization, three unique elements are evident. First, it provides people with the freedom of personal conscience. In this case, every individual is entitled to own conscience. This therefore meant that by privatisation of religion, the state would protect all individuals regardless of their r eligious status. It further implies that interference would arise in whichever religion citizens chose to follow. Largely, this freedom brought social and moral liberalisation. Secondly, independence of politics from religion is a unique element of Laicization. In fact, it introduced the ideology of separation of the church from the state, meaning that both would act as separate entities. This extends to the freedom in decision-making and rule implementation. Finally, elimination of discrimination is a unique element in Laicization, which brought equality. The idea argues that anyone has the right and freedom to practice religion, regardless of gender differences. It meant that with uniformity of philosophical stands, equality would be embraced in all aspects of life.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Laicization is necessary to all religions because it introduced fre edom in both culture and religion. In an attempt to develop a good understanding of the concepts of discrimination, there has been a special focus on respect and balance in communities and individuals with differences in cultural and religious values. Having a monopoly religion had for many years brought about discrimination. However, the birth of religious pluralism gave birth to social coexistence between difference communities. In addition, the idea of Laicization has brought about modernisation even in the economy and politics. In fact, liberalization is a dominant aspect in these sectors. The process has further contributed to religious evolution, which in turn creates a social model that allows freedom in social and cultural interaction. Through democratic practices, laicization has made individual conscience strong. It provides individuals with the freedom of thinking and religion. Around the beginning of the 20th century, the complete separation of the church from the state and the universal declaration of laicity was a great achievement in Latin America. Diversity in religious philosophies has improved significantly, with citizens gaining the freedom of worship, conscience and sovereignty in their political will. Finally, it has brought about social mobility and the freedom to practice any religion.