Indian Marriage Necklace †Research Paper

Indian Marriage Necklace – Research Paper Free Online Research Papers This paper is a study to further research â€Å"Marriage Necklace† kalata uru/thail C: 19th century, Indian, gold, approximately 1’x2’, currently shown at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. The study will cover the classification of this type of art as a whole, the technique in which it was created, the artists who created this type of art, its cultural history, iconography, mythology, and compare it to other works made during the time of its creation. This thickset necklace is made of thirty over-sized gold pendants arranged symmetrically along a stout black cotton cord. Five pendants are large hand shaped, highly ornate forms that hang on the front breast area of the necklace. Two pendants are geometrically shaped mirror imaged cones that counterweight the necklace on the back area. Dividing the front pendants, arranged in pairs, are twelve smaller less defined cylindrical pendants that have a file like texture. All pendants are clasp to the black cord giving them a defined direction to face rather than freely hanging. The focal point of the necklace is one of the five hand shaped pendants that hangs in the center on the front breast area of the necklace. This comb-like central pendant of solid gold is worked in repousse and depicts the Hindu god Shiva and his companion Parvati on the bull Nanki in front of a shrine. The relief design of the pendent allows red foil to show through from behind this scene. Above, green copper alloy backs more relief of antelope and birds, this detailed repousse work is characteristic of south Indian Jewelry. In Indian culture all women wear jewelry as a fundamental part of their wardrobe and as a sign of respectability. Jewelry has great importance; it signifies status, marks rituals of life and identity, awards decency, and presents a social background and stage in life. As a protection from misfortune it acts as a store of wealth, and as a medium of prayer it has an association with religion, fortune, and health. This piece of jewelry known as kalata uru meaning â€Å"neck bead† also called a thali was the ceremonial Kazhutthuru necklace from the mercantile Nattukottai Chettir community. Originally this thali was worn by a bride, as a gift from her new husband, during special festival occasions at a Chettiar marriage ceremony, a smaller version was also presented to be worn daily. For a Chettiar marriage a woman’s dowry is an important role through which jewelry was rendered between families, a bride can expect to receive a certain amount of jewelry from her in-laws. The gold used to make the complex marriage necklaces such as this one is given by the bride’s family; except for that used for the central pendant, which is provided by the groom’s family. The thali central pendant was a key factor to the wedding ceremony in that it not only symbolized a blessing from the sun god Suyra it also had spiritual powers to establish a unity between the newly wed bride and groom. Although a Chettiar wedding could take place without the central pendant it was looked upon as a horrible insult to the bride’s family, therefore making it crucial for the groom to present a pendant for the thali that was unique in its own. The smaller daily worn version of the thali known as a mangalsutra is greatly reduced with only a selection of gold pieces rather than the full set of thirty that are worn during the marriage ceremony. Pendants are added to the mangalsutra upon different ritual happenings, each of these pendants has a symbolic meaning, such as fame, education, strength or success. Pendants are also added after the sacred fire, and after conception. Once this jewelry is in the bride’s possession it is known as stridhan or â€Å"women’s wealth†, it belongs solely to the bride and remains an uninfringeable source of financial security for her. In times of trouble the bride could support herself by selling the pendants from it, if not used the stirdhan is inherited by her children. This particular thali actually lacks one pendant. The pendant missing would have been a large elaborate bead representing the foot of Krishna. It is debatable whether a bride sold this pendant during a time of crisis, passed the pendant on to a child, or if this thali was ever completed for a marriage ceremony. The technique in which this thali was made has features from early nineteenth century Europe as well as highly proficient techniques that are unique to the Indian subcontinent. During this period some of the most extensive innovations in craft of gold were created by Indian goldsmiths, some of these skills are still used around the world today. Goldsmiths held high ranking status in the hereditary caste system within the Sudra group of the social categories of India. Out of all metalworkers the status of a goldsmith attributed ritual purity. Goldsmiths worked on the floor of unadorned workshops using simple, sometimes makeshift, tools with which they produced works of great skill and ingenuity. A goldsmith was not only a metal smith, but also worked as an engraver, to mark the pattern of the design to be produced, a chaser, to hollow out the areas that were to be enameled and precious stones to be set, and an enameller, to hatch the surface and fuse colored glass to the piece, a nd on occasion an artist for creating the design of the jewelry. Compared to other works of jewelry of the nineteenth century this ceremonial Kazhutthuru thali is renowned for not only its legendary cultural history but also its exquisite craftsmanship of its time of production. For the last century Upper-class Hindu families have hired goldsmiths to model thalis for their own personal wedding ceremonies, mimicking the Kazhutthuru thali. It has suggested that this thali is as important to India as the royal queens crown is to England. Reference List J.P. Losty, et al. â€Å"Indian subcontinent.† In Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online, oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T040113pg58 (accessed April 8, 2009). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 200-. Marriage Necklace (kalata uru), New York. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. metmuseum.org/toah/ho/10/ssa/ho_1991.32.3.htm Cooper, Ilay, and John Gillow, 1996. Arts and Crafts of India. London: New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. Barnard, Nicholas, 1993. Arts and Crafts of India. London: Conran Octopus Limited. Branard, Nicholas, 2008. Indian Jewelry. London: V A Publishing. Dye III, Joseph M., 2001. The Arts of India Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Research Papers on Indian Marriage Necklace - Research PaperHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Hockey GameInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHip-Hop is ArtPETSTEL analysis of India

The Bennett Surname, From Medieval Given Name Benedict

The Bennett Surname, From Medieval Given Name Benedict The Bennett surname derives from the medieval given name Benedict, originating from the Latin benedictus, meaning blessed. The name became popular due to St. Benedict in the Middle Ages. Bennett is the 78th most popular surname in the United States and its surname origin is English.  The meaning of the surname can change depending on ancestry and country of origin. Discover the following alternate spellings and genealogy resources for the surname Bennet. Alternate Surname Spellings BennetBenedictBenedickBendickBeneitBenoitBennitBenet Genealogy Resources 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their Meanings: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census?Bennett DNA Surname Project: Join over 270 members of the Bennett DNA surname  project working to bring together genealogists who are researching the Bennett surname (primarily in America), with an emphasis on the use of DNA testing.Bennett  Family Crest - Its Not What You Think: Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Bennett  family crest or coat of arms for the Bennett surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.  Bennett Family Genealogy Forum: Search this popular genealogy forum for the Bennett surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Bennett query.FamilySearc h - Bennett Genealogy: Access over 6.7  million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Bennett surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bennett Surname Family Mailing Lists: RootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Bennett  surname. In addition to joining a list, you can also browse or search the archives to explore over a decade of postings for the Bennett surname.DistantCousin.com - Bennett Genealogy Family History: Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Bennett.GeneaNet - Bennett Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Bennett surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.The Bennett  Genealogy and Family Tree Page: Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Bennett surname  from the website of Genealogy Today. References Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967.Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Bergenfield, NJ: Avotaynu, 2005.Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia.  Bergenfield, NJ:  Avotaynu, 2004.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.Hoffman, William F. Polish Surnames: Origins and Meanings.  Chicago:  Polish Genealogical Society, 1993.Rymut, Kazimierz. Nazwiska Polakow.  Wroclaw: Zaklad Narodowy im. Ossolinskich - Wydawnictwo, 1991.Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

How the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has effected Research Paper

How the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has effected relations with Iraq, Palestine, Iran, AndAfghanistan - Research Paper Example How the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has affected relations with Iraq, Palestine, Iran and Afghanistan America’s relations with Israel have significant effects on its relations with other countries in the Middle East. Arabs generally have a feeling that America is supporting Israel blindly and keeps a blind eye towards the massacres conducted by Israel against the Arab world in general and against Palestine in particular. America’s foreign policies towards Middle East are influenced by its historical and cultural relations with Israel. Israel’s relationships with America are so strong because of the cultural similarities of these two countries. No other country in the world has ever succeeded in maintaining such a strong and long relationship with US as Israel does. Moreover, no other country in the world is getting such big financial and military aids from America as Israel does. Mearsheimer & Walt (2008) have pointed out that â€Å"As of 2005, dire ct US economic and military assistance to Israel amounted nearly to $ 154 billion, the bulk of it comprising of direct grants rather than loans† (Mearsheimer & Walt, 2008, p.24). Moreover, â€Å"Israel's bombing of Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981—despite formal criticism—was enthusiastically supported by the Reagan administration† (Zunes, 2006). Because of the strong relations with Israel, America never criticizes Israel even if Israel engages in illegal activities against the Arab world. ... They encouraged Taliban and Osama led Al-Qaida to fight against Soviet Union. They taught the Islamic fundamentalists that communism is against the religious beliefs and teachings of Islam. The rest is history now. America succeeded in expelling Soviet troops from Afghanistan; however, they forced to give huge prices for that later. The 9/11 incident and the current war on terror which destroyed the financial back bone of America were the outcomes of America’s injudicious efforts in Afghanistan earlier. â€Å"Despite the widely-held tail-wagging-the-dog assumptions, history has shown that the United States has frequently used Israel to advance its strategic interests in the Middle Eastern region† (Zunes, 2006). Neutral political observers quiet often confused to give proper answer to the question why United States is sacrificing its interests for Israel. In most of the issues in the Middle East region, America is playing its cards staying at the back drop. US donâ€℠¢t like the involvement of any other super powers in this region since the Middle Eastern region is blessed with immense natural resources like oil and fresh water. America is exploiting Israel-Arab enmity to block the interference of other superpowers in this region. However, America’s efforts are affecting them as a boomerang. â€Å"If the United States had not been a strong supporter of Israel, it would have been very difficult for Soviet Union to win friends and allies in the Islamic world†(Sheffer, 1997, p.32). At present most of the Arab countries like Iran, Palestine etc are in good relations with Russia. Moreover, America is facing stiff challenges in Afghanistan and Iraq. After the end of cold war and the defeat of

Inclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Inclusion - Essay Example The term "inclusion" captures the two-way movement taking place to abolish the distinction between the disabled and the general population. Rather than treat the disabled as a separate group, those who support the notion of "inclusion" called for promoting the principle that society and its institutions have to structure its processes and systems to accommodate everyone without any form of discrimination so that a wide range of people with their individual characteristics, including that portion although a minority to be a part of, and not apart from, of the benefits that can be enjoyed by the general population. Thus, while inclusion has been widely used in the field of education, arising from the roots of liberal and progressive interpretations of the declaration of human rights, it has widened its scope to cover the ideal of an inclusive society (Ainscow). An inclusive society is one where any person can fit in and realize his/her full potential with the help of social institutions that are prepared to do so, instead of focusing mainly its resources to the general population that is characterized by the statistical mean. The reasons for the growing popularity of inclusion are easy to understand. With the growth in prosperity of human societies, there is likewise an improvement in the level of knowledge and science that has enabled society to better understand many of the scientific causes of disabilities. There is likewise a growing sensitivity to the plight of those with these disabilities, and the growing realization that the opportunities enjoyed by the majority of the population should also be enjoyed by those members of society who, regardless of where the fault lies, have disabilities. Therefore, the purpose of inclusion is humane and recognizes the idea that the quality of a society can be gauged by the way it takes care of those who suffer and are least capable of taking care of themselves because they participate and carry out their social function with a physical or mental handicap. Inclusion, therefore, is a good development because it recognizes the dignity and value of every person, and that everyone, including (or especially) those with disabilities can contribute in their own way to make the world a better place for everyone until the end of time. Meanings of Inclusion Inclusion is a term that has several meanings of varied depth and scope. It means more than the simple integration of disabled persons in mainstream or regular schools and in society (Low). The meaning has developed into an ideal of "inclusivism" that takes into consideration all children as a whole and focuses on radical changes that need to be made in schools and educational and teaching systems, instead of just re-placing children from a special to a mainstream education setting (Booth et al.; Wedell; Porter in Thomas et al.). Inclusion is easier dreamt of and said than done because of its complex nature that demands a reorganizing and reconstructing various aspects of the educational system. Gregory argues that these adaptations vary according to the disability, but several changes apply to the wider set of students. Gregory adds that changes would include environmental arrangements like the physical layout of classes, equal access to facilities from anywhere, playground adaptations; material and equipment

Shakespeares Purpose in Subverting the Moral Universe in Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares Purpose in Subverting the Moral Universe in Hamlet Essay he inverted moral universei in Shakespearean drama was a demonstration of the increased reality that ancestral and collective foundations were losing their sanctified nature. Key upheavals were taking place and the world of Shakespeare was evolving from a time where the earth was still the center of the universe,ii towards a life of societal instability. Like all playwrights, Shakespeares ideas for plot were partly a reflection of the world in which he lived. The enlightenment was a time where religion was giving way to science and economic gain. It would be unreasonable for such a reflective dramatist to omit the implications and limitations of the times in his work. The regulations and boundaries for human conduct are not always clear, especially in times of fluctuation. While I would not maintain moral universe is a dominant theme in Shakespeares work, I do argue that it is a somewhat significant current running through many of his plays. To define any one moral universe in the work is folly, each play deserves many separate definitions. Collective morality goes through an alteration according to the circumstances of each group of characters. Situational ethics play a role in determining the behavior of Shakespeares characters, especially in the history plays. To ascribe one particular moral universe to any work does not take into account the perspectives of all the major characters. While we are not privy to the thoughts of all characters, some plays reveal them more clearly. The Moral Universe In Hamlet Hamlet shows Shakespeares belief in the potential of human beings to achieve spiritual and moral transcendence and social harmony through reasoned thought and proper action. The play presents the individual as trying to make choices in shaping his or her own fate.iii This quote, taken from a lecture by Maria Simms, identifies Shakespeares intentions in the character of Hamlet. The play presents a parallel of the playwrights objective. Mad or no, Hamlet knows the difference between ethical and unethical and is committed to shaping his moral universe to that end. Shakespeare, torn between the dark ages of Elizabethan traditions and the glow of enlightenment, uses this indecision in the makeup of the character of Hamlet. The inversion of the moral universe takes place in the murders within the family, the unnaturalness of the mother remarrying the uncle, and old friends turning traitor. The quote, My two schoolfellows. Whom I shall trust as I will adders fangs, is a clear example of Hamlets world. His father is dead, his mother is lost to him, he is seeing ghosts, and he cannot trust those around him. Shakespeares purpose in subverting the moral universe was to accentuate the unnaturalness of the acts and the appearance of the ghost. In the first act of Hamlet, the appearance of the ghost character is problematic. When Shakespeare wrote it; English religious theology was not recognizing the state of purgatoryiv. Granted, the locale of the play is in Denmark, however, it is a sensitive point and conceivably that is why after Hamlet sees the ghost, Shakespeare permits his character go wholly round the bend. The spirit becomes the influence that upsets the balance of the moral universe. It is the most unnatural character in the play. The accusation of murder is the real moral question, from the ghosts viewpoint. If it were that Gertrude had remarried too soon, the ghost would have been seeking revenge for that transgression as well. The purgatory in Shakespeares play is a blatant upset in the conventional universe of that era. Hamlet furthermore has a dilemma, he has to believe the manifestation and the charge made by the spirit, and he cannot have absolute belief without sufficient evidence. One can assume that the audience was also questioning the likelihood of a ghost. Only when Hamlet establishes confirmation can the play advance; otherwise, we are trapped in purgatory along with the ghost. Other instances of inverted moral universe are: the mother marrying the uncle in haste, friends betraying each other, the wrongful murder of Polonius, and the King sentencing Prince Hamlet to death. These situations proceeded from the act of murder of Hamlet Senior. The inversion happens as the result of an unacceptable or un-natural act. What often happens in Shakespearian plays (and tragedies in particular) is the disordered universe exists because of injustice, wrong choices by the protagonist, and un-natural acts of murder. When the inversions transform back to natural order, resolution can take place. The transformations emphasize the redemption of the hero and the moral universe. The advancement of Hamlet marches through a troubled equilibrium of the natural world to a resolution where Fortinbras restores the element of order. An inversion of the moral universe back to order is a manifestation of the same journey that the protagonist had to go through. For example: Henry IV dies and order is restored through his son, Hamlet is killed and Fortinbras restores order, Romeo and Juliet both die and order is restored through the prince. Each of their fatalities see all of them ascend beyond themselves: that is, to become righteous. Simply put, the inversion serves for the dramatic representation of the salvation of the central character and the moral universe. The Moral Universe in the Henriad In Richard II, the moral universe still based its identity upon kingship predicated by God. Richard II is considered a moral character because of his divine rights. It would not necessarily matter if he were a proficient ruler, because his appointment as king is firmly grounded in absolutism. According to Wayne Jackson of The Christian Courier, This concept affirms that there is an absolute, objective standard of right and wrong. v When Richard II usurps the line of succession as set forth in Biblical tones, the moral universe starts to wobble. The Duke of York cautioned Richard II that there were, in fact, limits to what he could justify to his people, You lose a thousand well-disposed hearts, he warned. After Richard II disregards this good council and proceeds on his course of action, he begins to doubt himself. This hesitation is the opening Shakespeare provided for Bullingbrook and his character had limitations as well. In this moral universe, Bullingbrook cannot cleanly seize the throne. When Richard came down to the base court, he essentially abdicates the supremacy of the throne and provided Shakespeare with a moral universe that spins out of control. Nihilism became the new order and rules for behavior were vague from that point on. The Henriad is the clearest illustration of situational ethics in the works of Shakespeare. In his plays, the act of killing a king or subverting a kings power (A Midsummer Nights Dream) destabilizes the universe. In addition, each character feels justified in his or hers own actions. There is a lack of a conventional biblical moral universe in Henry IV, I and II; the persistent motif in these plays is that most of the characters are bent on servicing their own ends. The reality that an archbishop would consent to a revolt against the ruler is an obvious indication that the state of the moral universe is on its head. This might not have happened had Henry IV been a ruler by divine right. As the head of state, he set the tone of the universe. Since he interrupted the lines of succession; he left himself open to more of the same when his own past came back to haunt his rule. The constant uprisings are also taking place in Shakespeares sector. During the performance of the plays, Elizabeth was fending off rebellions of her own. The characters in the Henriad also are deficient in morality. As in Measure for Measure, most of the characters are flawed, not just the hero. Both Hotspur and Henry fail to see their moral shortcomings. Integrity crumbles because the idea on which it is based is shallow. In Henry IV, part II, the moral universe is political in nature. The moral criterion of the crown is not only the progress back to proper succession, but political effectiveness as well. The individual weakness of a figure vital in the public sphere has great repercussions in society. Hal cared about his image and coldly calculated when he would show his true nature. He was trickster, deceiver, and deliverer based upon the situational moral principles. It is ironic that he was revered as The Ideal Christian King, clearly he broke the law during his illegal activities with Falstaff. Like his father before him, he was artful in the use of his friends and then shed them when they no longer served a valuable purpose. In the Henriad, Shakespeare allows the audience to decide upon each characters moral behavior and whether or not it was justified. There are many facets and differing moral universes in this group of histories. Hals youthfulness is the agent of change Shakespeare uses in the Henriad. It is only when he sheds his youthful friends, immoral activities, and shallow ideals that he can move forward and re-unite his country in battle against the French. This is the true restoration of the moral universe. If he had simply assumed the crown when his father died, without the journey of shedding his past, the moral universe could not have reverted to its natural state. Shakespeare also used the device of character conflict when depicting the many conflicting moral universes. Characters feel the pull in different ways. It is easy to imagine Hal as that gentleman with the angel Henry IV, on one shoulder (tarnished though is fathers image is) and the devil Falstaff on the other. Indeed, it is only through Henry IVs realization that he has taken the crown illegally that resolution is possible. Shakespeare used this kind of introspective journey as a theme in many plays. Without his fathers epiphany, Hal would undoubtedly been easily swayed to the dark side. Henry IV achieves redemption through his understanding and remorse and that sets the moral universe in enough order that Hal is in a position to make his choice. Hal serves as the equilibrium between the two contradictory characters of Henry IV and Falstaff. Comparison of the Moral Universe in the Henriad, Hamlet, and Measure for Measure In both Measure for Measure and Henry V, the rulers are not about to let social immorality be part of their rule. Shakespeare deals with Angelo and Falstaff in a like manner. It is clear that these men, who once enjoyed the ear of royalty, are going to be Shakepeares scapegoats for people who have strayed morally in life and in rule. The character of Falstaff is a thorny one, He is a disgrace to knighthood, and one might say that his code of honor is simply, CHEERS! He receives the penalty by Henry V for his transgressions with Hal during his youth. His sideways attempt to grasp power by ingratiating himself with Hal does not serve him well. His character is a discordant note in the rule of Henry IV, and moral harmony is restored when this note is silenced in Henry V. Again, in Henry V we see a lack of moral consciousness, or at the very least a bid for moral right. Henry V will not invade without the archbishops proof with right and conscience, that his claim to France is valid. Nevertheless, this supposedly moral outlookvi is tainted by the truth that lies beneath, in order to keep order in his country (forestall uprisings); he needs to get his subjects to focus on issues abroad.vii Shakespeares characters deviate from their expected social roles. In Measure for Measure the characters are trying to either save their own skins or their virtue. Similar to the Henriad, it is all blurred confusion over what actually constitutes a collective moral universe. There is further complexity of characters in Measure for Measure, we observe how they each wrestle for justice in their individual ways. Measure for Measure and Hamlet differs from the Henriad because there is more at stake ethically. The war in Measure for Measure is the fight to restore the values of the citizens, the justice they feel they deserve, and proper rule to the society. Each character is concerned with justice in his or her own moral universe. Aleksander Bobko, at a conference on Unjust Structures at the Von Hugel Institute in Cambridge noted, Justice, then, is a kind of the objective measure of things, its ultimate basis being Logos which, contrary to Chaos, sets the world in order. In Measure for Measure, when each character receives justice, the moral universe is set to rights. Shakespeare neatly ties up at the end of the play, with no problematic threads left out. Hamlet also seeks justice for the death of his father and receives it when he kills his uncle. CONCLUSION The overturned moral universe in Shakespearean performances of Measure for Measure, Hamlet ,and the Henriad was a display of evolution from an established religiously sanctioned rule to an enlightened time. Shifting expectations created moral ambiguity and a shared moral universe was hard to ascertain. Shakespeare used his plays as a mirror of the change his society was going through in the choice of his plots, character conflict, and moral inconsistencies. Humanity was moving away from absolutism to relativism and nihilism. Situational ethics played a strong role in his work in the lives and choices of his characters. Instead of using magic as the weight to unbalance the universe, he used morality and ethics as literary devices to throw his created worlds into chaos. When the moral universe was out of order, the rules of society became indistinct. Shakespeare forced certain characters to undertake journeys for enlightenment to restore the moral universe. His function in destabilizing the moral universe was to emphasize the unnaturalness of the actions of his characters. i Term moral universe introduced by Professor Tomkins, Fall 2003 ii Donahue conversation iii Simms lecture Effect of the Reformation on the Renaissance in England iv Tom Bishop http://www.shaksper.net/archives/1998/1276.html SHAKSPER, the international electronic conference. v A Critical Look at Situation Ethics by WayneJackson. vi How moral is war, consider who gains, a few titled men are the only people who will actually benefit along with a host of knights, who fight for glory and pay in their protected Armour. But the reality is that the serfs will be the one to pay- their lands taxed, their farms and villages burnt and the men killed. All because they live in the region of certain lords, they will fight, no matter what the cost. Their situation remains static no matter who wears the crown, until they get a king who knows how to avoid war, restore a collective moral universe, and rule as a political leader instead of a barbarian. (Wendt) vii Tomkins lecture, November 2003. Works Cited Oxford English Dictionary. Second Edition. 1989 (ed. J. A. Simpson and E. S. C. Weiner), Additions 1993-7 (ed. John Simpson and Edmund Weiner; Michael Proffitt), and 3rd ed. (in progress) Mar. 2000- (ed. John Simpson). OED Online. Oxford University Press. http://dictionary.oed.com Hacker, Diane A Writers Reference. 5th ed. Boston New York: Bedford/ST. Martins 2003 Murfin, Ross and Ray, Supryia The Bedford Glossary Of Critical and Literary Terms: Second Edition. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martins. 2003 The Riverside Shakespeare: Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston New York, 1997. Jackson, Wayne. A Critical Look at Situation Ethics 1999. 1 Mar. www.christiancourier.com/feature/March99.htm Simms,Maria. Introduction to Shakespeare lecture. http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/hmcs/human/writing/introwrittext/lectureNotes/Topic2Hamlet.html Christian Courier A Critical Look at Situation Ethics: Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston New York, 1997. Donahue, William. Personal interview. 15 November. 2003 Tomkins, Ken. Shakespeare Lectures. Sept. Nov. 2003 Bobko, Aleksander. Evolution of the concept of justice-from objective measure to aesthetic evaluation. June 2003 Conference. Transforming Unjust Structures: Capabilities and Justice. Von Hugel Institute St Edmunds College, Cambridge.

Philosophies of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Essay -- Philosophy Mar

Marcus Aurelius Even today, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is read by every class from kings to common people. The book is a universal classic, meaning it can be related to at any time, by anyone. The philosophies included in his book have spanned the centuries, and Meditations remains to be one of the most influential books ever written. Marcus Aurelius was born on April 20, 121 AD into a family of royalty. His uncle and adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, was the emperor of Rome. Aurelius, too, was trained from birth to be a great ruler like his father. At age eleven, he dedicated himself to religion, although he considered philosophy to be the "true, inward" religion, one which did not require ceremonies necessary in others. Throughout his childhood and early adulthood, Aurelius was taught by several talented teachers. When he was young, the great Epictetus tutored him, followed by a man named Q. Junius Rusticus, who would accompany Aurelius throughout much of his life. In 161 AD, Pius died, leaving Aurelius and Pius’s other adopted son, known as Verus, to rule together. The two brothers were quite different, although no disagreements are mentioned between the two. Verus was a headstrong man, who was more apt to want a war than the contemplative Aurelius. Verus was an "Epicurean" and definitely would never be called a philosopher. However, Verus died suddenly in 169, leaving Aurelius to rule Rome on his own. It is important to mention that during basically all of Aurelius’ rule, Rome was engaged in a long series of defensive wars. In fact, the book Meditations was written during these wars, possibly during the darkest of conditions. And even though these wars were successful, they were taxing both on Rome as a state, and on Aurelius himself. However, he somehow managed to stay somewhat unaffected throughout, an amazing feat unto itself. Although Aurelius was considered a great man and emperor, he ruthlessly persecuted the Christians. He considered them a threat to his "imperial system." However, he did not know very much of the Christian doctrines that he was so against. In direct contradiction to this ruthlessness to the Christians was the way he treated his own people. He is considered to be the "Last of the Great Emperors." He ruled Rome during a time of declining prosperity. However, he did try to improve his home while he ruled it. He ... ...the greatest empire. He did his best to keep the government an honest as possible, and tried to use it for the advantage of the people, which was it’s original purpose. Aurelius obviously was concerned with many different areas of both his empire and his religion. Marcus Aurelius, through his book Meditations, has attained something he scorned in principle - posthumous fame. Throughout his life, he was known as a generous emperor, and not considered to be a student in philosophy. After his death, however, his diary was discovered, and the true inner thoughts of Marcus Aurelius were published for the entire world to read. Although the vast majority of the philosophies included in Aurelius’ book still hold true and make sense, we know that at least one was wrong. Aurelius believed that even posthumous fame was short-lived, for a person’s named is never carried from generation to generation. However, this melancholy collection of philosophies written by a lonely man centuries ago is still considered to be one of the most influential books ever written. Although he never received the opportunity to be a philosopher during his life, Marcus Aurelius certainly deserved the title.

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Summer School I can blame no one but myself for my need to attend summer school for this year. However: I would like to blame it on my Spanish teacher, my mother, my siblings, my dog ate the homework, anyone but Christopher L. Martin. Summer school was not in my game plan the first day of school last year. I entered my school, Lake Catholic HAS, with the calm surety and purpose of a bona-fide tenth grader, Vie been here before.My anxiety level was low but my expectations for the future year were high. There are times when I think that I remain overwhelmed in some way by the enormity of the campus; the numerous classrooms, by the tough rules that are actually enforced. Transitioning from a small Catholic parish school boasting an 8th grade graduating class of 34 students to a large campus of hundreds of students present a challenge to â€Å"fit-in† that I had never experienced. I began the August, 2011 school year anticipating the spectacular athletic and academically successfu l year ahead of me.I ever thought that such a hopeful day would end in humiliation a years end. You might ask what caused this major shift in my universe. I failed both semesters of Spanish II and had to retake the entire year during summer school at SST. Robert Williams in Euclid, OH. I will be honest and admit that prior to formulating thoughts to Jot down in preparation of writing this personal essay; I thought the most devastating result of having to attend summer school was that I was automatically ineligible to participate in football.I was not allowed to attend practice or to Join the am for the annual trip to the Edinburgh campus where players honed their skills and bonded as men. I now realize and accept the fact that my behavior placed a heavy financial burden on my families finances. Summer school is not cheap! . The cost of attending summer school hit our budget so hard that my 2011-2012 grades were not paid for until it was too late to pick up the summer reading assignm ents. I am therefore very grateful to have the option of writing this personal essay. Paying for summer school had our family without food and water.Not only did my having to attend summer school overwhelm our family budget, the time factor ruined any chances I might have had for summer employment. I had to wake up every morning to go to school and remain in that hot stuffy building for four hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. It may be difficult to believe, but there were times when our instructor would keep us in class for an extra hour or two. The requirements were so intense that I spent most of the long hot summer nights and week-ends stuck in the house completing homework assignments.Unfortunate as it was, I feel this experience has opened my eyes to my need to take personal responsibility for myself in all areas of my live including school. Writing this essay also makes me realize the unconditional love and faith my mother has in me in spite of what I did or didn't do. Ha rdship it placed on her as a divorced single parent and her ability to provide for me and my siblings. My athletic scholarship has been revoked because of this and still she works hard to keep me here so that I can get the best education available.She didn't even include caring for herself into the equation because she was focused on supporting me and my siblings. Yea, she stayed on me to the point of angry outbursts; however, I realize the reason for her persistence at keeping me focused is based on her love for me and her hopes for me to enjoy a bright future. It is also noted in my mind, that accurate, timely completion of class assignments is a precursor to life as a college student and as a functioning, contributing member of society. I am considering this summer school experience from beginning to end as a â€Å"lesson learned. â€Å"

Educational psychology Essay

One of the world’s issues of today is on context of education. Many education conventions have been organized to discuss on matters relevant on the development of educational goals and programs. Education should be considered as one factor in the development of man as the most significant since it brings all breakthroughs in all walks of life. From the time of primitive education to the medieval period, education has been playing a great role in the lives of every citizen and the state in general. The very first task of educational contenders was and is to set educational development goals. The challenge of all educational institutions today is to produce a curriculum that will earn high productivity as in lifelong education. The institution should be more focused on creating opportunities where learners can exercise their abilities and potentials. There must be that sense of self-education in order for them to perform better jobs in the real world because their education is gained not only by mere transfer of learning but through applying their skills into the real life setting. Today, people are conscious of searching for breakthroughs be it scientific, cultural, or educational, in order to improve the quality of life. This is one goal in education that must be taken in to account from time to time because it is through this that improvements and developments take place. Along with these breakthroughs, rapid changes in the society’s way of life bring a lot of conflicts in the human life. By conflict, man faces several challenges that will test his true capacity and knowledge in resolving his own issues. That is, by inculcating in the learners the culture of being sensitive to the needs of the people and the nation brings a lot of pressure in our educational today. People are not trained to satisfy themselves but to see to it that the whole nation can benefit what one person is enjoying out of something. However, in the advent of various educational programs and projects, long term education program is still best to be implemented. This is in response to different curriculum reforms to attain quality delivery of instruction. The national government through the education department, has been looking for ways and means in order to help sustain these long term programs in order to provide a standard and suitable curriculum for every Filipino and attain progress in the academe. Moreover, the Department of Education has laid the three millennium development goals to help attain the Education for All by the year 2015. These goals include accessibility, quality, and sustainability. These goals will help improve the number of Filipino children to be in school and complete their education as prescribed by them of their age and as mandated by the constitution of which education is a right. These millennium development goals of the Education for All (EFA) enable schoolchildren to harness their faculties in improving their way of life and participate in the development process in educational reform and societal progress. According to the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, Russian Federation, education will become a social institute providing people with various educational opportunities. With this end in view school and university curricula should be diversified to enable everyone to make up their own educational trajectory in compliance with their aptitudes, thus creating the basis to implement the principle Education for all. Thus, in the Philippines various projects have been undertaken in order to qualify the implementation the Education for All. These projects include MADRASAH (for Moslem schoolchildren), Education for Indigenous Peoples, inclusion of values education in the curriculum, strengthening the higher order thinking skills type of questions in every learning area, the implementation of National Achievement Test (a standardized test), the participatory school improvement planning, the integration of information and communications technology in education (ICT4E), the decentralization of management including the downloading of maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) to specific schools, and the conduct of various trainings and national competency examinations. These are some of the approaches in order to carry out the implementation of Education for All. Nevertheless, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution cited that the Department of Education as the only agency in the Philippine government, responsible for education and manpower development. It further stated that the state shall protect and promote the right of every citizen to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all. This is still in line with the context that education is a right and is for all. Whether a schoolchild is in the formal or non-formal education, what matters most is his assumption of his respective role in the society, the virtues he shall live with, and the use of his capabilities in attaining the long term goal in education that contributes to the total progress and development of the nation. At the end of the day we do realize that the search for an adequately structured educational system, is to secure our lives from the many challenges of the outside world at all sorts. Hence, education in the new society shall be within the context of national development and value formation in order to help build a nation other than ourselves. —oo0oo—

People Watching essays

People Watching essays Living in a small town limits the number of places people can gather. Driving down the road towards my destination proved to me the lack of variation my town has. While surrounding cities are known for their downtown areas, I live in a city that is made up almost completely of gas stations and strip malls. I was very anxious to get out of my town and into a new atmosphere. As I sit on a bench in downtown Royal Oak I am prepared to see people from all spectrums of life going about their business. It is noon and the park is full of parents with kids, and a few elderly ladies walking around while entertaining themselves with small talk. I walk over to the swings and watch a dad pushing two twin boys who look to be having the time of their life. I can hear the yelps of the boys as Dad pushes them higher and higher. The father, who looks to be in some sort of executive business, has no problem getting his suit dirty to make his kids smile. Soon, a woman in what looks to be her mid thirties joins the group on the swing. She helps the man push the other boy, but after five minutes the boys hug and kiss the man and walk away with the woman. As they walk past my bench I am clued in on what has just happened. Dont worry youll see him next weekend. Dont you want to have fun with Mommy? the woman explains to the tearful boys. Hearing the conversation makes me realize the problems that the young boys are dealing with, and how for the 10 minutes I watched, they were having the best time with their dad. At 12:45, as a force of habit I get in my car and drive to a nearby store. I get out of the car, and notice the difference in Royal Oak and my hometown; I look at my watch and realize it is 12:47; the car trip seemed a waste of time, as I easily could have walked from the park to my second destination. It seems my years of driving from place to place in my town, has rubbed off on me in that it i...

Quotes by One Tree Hill Character Lucas Scott

Quotes by 'One Tree Hill' Character Lucas Scott It must be terrible to discover that your father has another family  and he has been denying your existence for years. This is what Lucas Scott has to deal with on the TV show One Tree Hill, which showcases Lucass emotions as he tries to create his own identity. If you have already watched episodes of One Tree Hill, these quotes from Lucas can help you better understand his character. Lucas Scott on Life Many people die with  music  still in them. Why is that so? Too often its because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, times run out. But I cant do it. And even worse, I dont know why I cant do it. You know, its like, no matter how confusing or screwed up life got, the game always made sense. It was mine, you know. And in a lot of ways, its who I am. But I cant be that person in their gym or in their uniforms or ... in their world. Ever wonder how long it takes to change your life? What measure of time is enough to be life-altering? Is it four years, like high school? One year? An eight-week walking tour? Can your life change in a month or a week or a single day? Were always in a hurry to grow up, to go places, to get ahead ... but when youre young, one hour can change everything. Katherine Anne Porter once said: There seems to be a kind of order in the universe ... in the movement of the stars and the turning of the Earth and the changing of the seasons. But human life is almost pure chaos. Everyone takes his stance, asserts his own right and feelings, mistaking the motives of others and his own. Most of our life is a series of images. They pass us by like towns on the highway. But sometimes, a moment stuns us as it happens. And we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment ... every part of it ... will live on forever. Needing Help Sometimes, its easy to feel like youre the only one in the world whos struggling, whos frustrated, or unsatisfied or barely getting by. That feeling is a lie.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦ we all need a little help sometimes. Someone to help us hear the music in the world, to remind us that it won’t always be this way. That someone is out there. And that someone will find you.† Random Musings What are you, Keith? An angel? A bad dream? Did you ever look at a picture of yourself and see a stranger in the background? It makes you wonder how many people have pictures of you. I was there but not to kill you. I saved your life, but I should have let you burn. Theyre afraid people might find out who they are before they find it out themselves. So Im confused. You want to be anonymous, and you let the world watch you on a web cam.

How Firms Try to Extract Consumer Surplus Using Two-Part Tariffs Essay

How Firms Try to Extract Consumer Surplus Using Two-Part Tariffs - Essay Example This study declares that consumer surplus may be defined as â€Å"The difference between the price that a consumer is willing to pay for a good and the amount actually paid†. A two-part tariff (TPT) has many interpretations, one of which is: â€Å"A form of pricing in which consumers are charged both an entry and a usage fee† (ibid, 317). There is more to two-part tariffs than described. It is essential to understand certain associated economic factors before getting at the rather complex topic. In this paper, I will explain in brief Consumer Surplus; Consumer Surplus and Demand; Monopoly and Pricing Strategies with Market Power. Two-part tariffs and consumer surplus are closely linked; I will explain what two-part tariff means in practical terms and show how firms try to extract consumer surplus using it. This paper highlights the public purchases goods only if there is some benefit to be had. Consumer surplus is a valuation of how much benefit individuals gain as a total on completing their purchase of the product in question. Most people have differing methods of evaluating the intrinsic value of a good. Such extraneous factors, apart from purely commercial reasons, decide for these individuals the maximum price they are willing to fork out for an item. If an individual is willing to pay  £ 100 for a Liverpool vs Chelsea soccer match, but manages a ticket for  £ 40; his consumer surplus is  £ 60. According to Pindyk, Rubinfeld and Mehta, â€Å"A demand curve is the relationship between the quantity of a good consumers are willing to buy and the price of that good.† They add, â€Å"It is fairly simple to calculate consumer surplus if the corresponding demand curve is known and their relationship can be examined†. Let us do so for an individual, as advised by the a uthors.