Gay Scouts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gay Scouts - Essay Example ive perspective maintaining that its legalization stands for an unholy motive since it goes against religious teachings, the proponents maintained that people should not be prejudiced on the base of sexual orientation or preference. This is mostly because gay people had been denied many opportunities because of their sexual preference. Although the issue is highly controversial, legalizing gay scouts is the best option since older ways of prejudice are outdated and a better way of perception ought to be developed since times are changing. One of the reasons why gay-ism ought to be accepted is that even the gays are people who require the support of the society. Gay activists who have been relentless in ensuring that gay people can interact with other people openly through passage of laws that govern their rights for a long time. This is in spite of the idea that this issue had been ignored for decades. The activists also intended to ensure that organizations that mostly sponsor scouts acknowledge them in the society although a significant number of them were against the move to lift the century ban on gay scouts. Although Americans had been divided on this issue, there have been improvements on perception as the gay individuals are becoming more and more accepted in the contemporary society. This has been the main reason why the lift on the ban was possible. The legalization was justified because it has become widely accepted and even banning them does not solve the problem. Acceptance has been identified even in some of the religious institutions that include the United Methodist Church, which is one of the largest religious sponsors with a sponsor capacity of approximately 363,000 scouts (Richter, 2013). This religious institution had a significant influence on the outcome of the ban lift vote because it has many followers who would follow its views making it easy to lift the ban. The lift was also necessary so as to eliminate discrimination of such

Light Vehicle Driveline System Faults

Light Vehicle Driveline System Faults The contents of a driveline system are clutch, transmission, shaft and wheel. It is an important part of a vehicle. Identifying and confirming the work requirement: the nature and objectives of the analysis and evaluation requirements are determined by the work instructions and reports used. Correct functioning of light vehicle driveline is accessed and interpreted. Throughout the work, equipments and social isolation requirements and personal protection needs are observed. Safety impacts of the work are responded according to the obligations and practices. There are also faults related to clutch, gear axle, wheel and it also has the remedies for it. Light Vehicle driveline system faults: Introduction: The contents of a driveline system are clutch, transmission, shaft, axle and wheel. It is an important part of a vehicle. It can be said as the controllable parts of the vehicle. The gear or the transmission is the system which boosts torque and power. The clutch is the system which controls the transmission if it runs out of control. The wheel is why the front tire rotates to the wish we want. If faults are found in these any parts, it must be inspected well and remedies must be taken immediately in order to prevent it from damages. Special remedies are mentioned below in some faults which can be rectified by a person if a little try is given. In several vehicles, problems may arise with the two system such as drive staffs and transmission system. The drivers are mostly concerned when transmission and driveline troubles arise. . However, it is very important to check out the causes before the replacement as it may be very expensive. The proper and systematic analysis and the evaluation of the right problem should be detected and then the actions for the repair must be undertaken. Main body Components of driveline system: Driveshaft: it is a component mechanically builds in order to transmit torque. It is generally used to connect components of a drive train which cannot be connected directly. It is so because of the distance. Clutch: This is a device which provides for the transmission of power from one module to another. The other module of the clutch is the brake. Clutch is used when the power of the transmission is to be controlled. It is employed with two rotating shafts. One shaft is attached to a power unit and the other provides output power. Gearbox: it is responsible in order to provide torque or speed to a device under gear ratio from arotating power source. In vehicles a gearbox is connected to the crankshaft of the engine. The output of the gearbox is transferred through driveshaft which in order rotates the wheel. Driving wheel: A turbine or a locomotiveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s pistons drive the driving wheel. It is made of side rods coupling rods. Generally one rod straightly driven by the main rod and it is connected at the end of the piston rod. It is via the side rods, power is transmitted to the others. Axle: It is a main shaft for a gear. The axle is fixed to the wheels which rotates with them or fixed to the surrounding. Before bearing and bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle is provided and today it resides under the hole of the wheel. The shaft rotates with the wheel. Identifying and confirming the work requirement: the nature and objectives of the analysis and evaluation requirements are determined by the work instructions and reports used. Correct functioning of light vehicle driveline is accessed and interpreted. Throughout the work, equipments and social isolation requirements and personal protection needs are observed. Safety impacts of the work are responded according to the obligations and practices. Dianne Christensen-Herman, Transmission and driveline troubleshoot, January 2011 Prepare for analysis and examination: examination procedure is made to meet the motive of the work. Analyzed information on board diagnostic systems is used to identify system performance achievement. To select from the available quantity of choice, diagnostic process, sequence. Tests and testing equipments are made. Important tools and materials are found out in order to support the diagnostic process and are also prepared to use. The components required for the driveline system are prepared which include park-up, isolation and cleaning. Implementing the methodology: the diagnostic course is to be followed with authorized methods and directions. Testing equipments are applied according to the requirements. Various findings found are analyzed and verified by using various processes. The results of the findings are fully examined according to the criteria. Valid and meaningful conclusions are made out of the available findings. Selecting response measure: materials which can be used again are collected and stored for further use. The testing equipments are preserved and taken care of for further use and the waste materials which are not required are put aside or removed from the place of work. According to the workplace procedure, the area and the equipments are cleaned and also inspected. Failure analysis and evaluation criteria are determined in order to rectify the faults and to effect variation in system characteristic. Light vehicles include both two wheelers and four wheelers. Driveline system consists of components like clutch, torque converter, manual transmission, automatic transmission drive shaft and final shaft. Module parts replacement and parts replacement is covered by the diagnostic. Driveline system faults includes abnormal gear wear, abnormal clutch operation, contamination, hard shifting, loose mounting etc. Testing equipments: testing equipments consists of systems like compound level, pressure gauge, millimeters, tachometers, and computerized diagnostic system. Tests are needed to conduct. Various tests included are lubricant inspection, pressure, road testing, sensor integrity and function, solenoid operation, wiring and power control ECU integrity. Information and procedure: Procedures of the work place are to be regulated in order to use the tooling and equipment. Procedures are to be followed for reporting and communication. Component specifications are to be analyzed for testing equipment and material. The design rules ro be followed must be the Australian design. The regulation of the vehicle industry is to be evaluated and regulated. When a constant nature of excitation is transmitted from the engine, the torsion response at various points is to be remained the same under various trails. A variation from the baseline response data is observed due to various minor cracks developed along the driveline. Clutch fault finding: When the clutch cable is broken. When the adjustment in the clutch cable is found incorrect, it is a symptom of clutch faults. Another symptom is that of releasing bearing of a broken clutch Faults also contains such as wrong adjustment of the clutch cable. Excessive clutch silk lining, contaminated clutch disc lining, faulty pressure plate are some other faults Diagnose and Rectify Motor Vehicle And Transmission and Driveline System Faults Gear faults: Liquid leakage: in automotive transmission the color of the liquid is usually deep red. These fluids should not be confused with the main fuel which can easily be transferred to the transmission area via air. Removing the built up dirt is firstly necessary from the transmission area using steam cleaning. Burned smell: it occurs when the engine is turned on at neutral transmission and also when the vehicle moves in neutral format. Driving wheels fault: There can be loose steering gear adjustments. It is than required to be adjusted to its specifications. It can also happen due to steering gear mounting loosen and the remedy for it is tightening of steering gear bolts The steering may sometimes be felt hard to be rotated especially it is observed in power steering and the reason behind is may be due to low tire pressure. Sometimes the wheel bearing may also be loose which must be replaced with the new ones. Drive shaft faults: Worn u-joints slip joint wear, or a faulty center support bearing are mostly the reasons for the noise found in drive shaft. Also grinding from the driveshaft may be caused by worn universal joints. The joint ends up being dry, causing the rollers to wear. Axle fault: It includes improper pinion bearing It also includes excessive gear tooth backlash variation Another fault is the pitch lineout run out And also cocked pinion bearing is a major fault. Homer Rahnejat, Steve Rothberg, multi-body dynamics-monitoring and stimulation techniques. Conclusion: In this projects highlight is made on the different light vehicle driveline system. It projects on how faults may occur and also what are those faults. For some of the unknown faults remedies are suggested. But still instead of trying hard and getting the matter more complicated, a thorough examination or inspection of the vehicleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s driveline system may help to sort out the problems more easily. A vehicle driveline system faults comprises of the drive shaft and transmission system. Several vehicle problems may take up due these systems and the early detection is very important to avoid heavy expenses. Check the transmission fluid with the help of dipstick. If the insufficient fluid in the transmission is observed, there is a probability of the leak. Determination of the cause is important before making the repair. If the vehicle is making noise while driving, this will indicate that the vehicle is running on low fuel level or dirty transmission fluid or may be clogged. The transmission filter should be changed.

Claudio and Heros Relationship in Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing

Claudio and Hero are the idealised Elizabethan couple in the book because of the patriarchal society that the story is based on. This is because Hero is shown as a weak and powerless young woman while Claudio is described as a powerful and honourable man. In the wedding Claudio decides to shame her and says ‘There, Leonato, take her back again Give not this rotten orange to your friend’. Even when Hero is being insulted and accused of being a prostitute she does not defend herself and says ‘Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?’ Instead of defending herself she asks if Claudio is alright which displays a sign of weakness in her. Claudio and Hero’s relationship started off at love at first sight therefore they did not know each other when they fell in love which was bad because if only Claudio knew Hero better than he would not have to worry about the lies that entered his ear. When Claudio is tricked into believing Hero was going out with someone else he says ‘If I see any thing tonight why I should not marry her tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will...

Dissecting of a Pig

Purpose: How are the external features and internal organ systems of a fetal pig organized? Introduction: Sus scrofa, or the domestic pig is a member of the class Mammalia and the order Artiodactyla. Since we as humans are also a member of class Mammalia, we have a good deal in common biologically with pigs, although we might not like to think so. Since we have a good deal in common, it is very helpful for us to study these animals both anatomically and physiologically. We do this when we test medicines on pigs, perfect surgical procedures on pigs, and even when we used to use pig valves for replacements in human hearts. Thus the pig is a first-rate example of a mammal and the purpose of this lab is to recognize the specific similarities between the pig and ourselves as humans. As the pig is a mammal, many aspects of its structural and functional organization are identical with those of other humans. Shared traits of those of a pig and human are their mammary glands, common hair, live birth, metabolic systems, similar organ systems, and basic body form. Swine are widely used in research and testing. They share anatomic and physiologic characteristics with humans that make them unique and viable model for any research. Their gastrointestinal anatomy has some significant differences from that of humans; however, the physiology of their digestive processes has made them a valuable model for digestive diseases. The urinary system of swine is similar to humans in many ways, especially in the anatomy and function of the kidneys. The anatomy and physiology of organs such as the liver, pancreas, kidney and heart have also made this species the primary species of interest for doctors to gain a better understanding on how the human body generates. Hypothesis As the pig is a mammal, many aspects of its structural and functional organization are identical with those of other mammals, including humans. Thus, the study of the fetal pig is in a very real sense; a study of humans. When we cut into the fetal pig I suspect for the digestive system that I will see the diaphragm Materials: †¢Fetal pig, preserved †¢Dissecting tray †¢Cord/twine †¢Dissecting kit †¢Paper towel †¢Plastic bags (2) †¢Gloves †¢Ruler/meter stick Procedure: †¢External Anatomy †¢Digestive System †¢Respiratory System †¢Circulatory System External Anatomy As I analyzed our fetal pig I established that the ears and eyes are lateral to its head , the tail is posterior to the nose. On my fetal pig he had 4 digits

Compare the Ways in which John Steinbeck and Thomas Hardy Explore the Theme of Loneliness Essay

The two books have one clear element in common. The two authors, Steinbeck and Hardy, give us a great outlook on loneliness in its many forms. They communicate their ideas and thoughts to us in a very similar manner, despite being from very different times and walks of life. Of Mice and Men, is set and was written during the Great Depression of the United States of America in the early 1930’s, in the Salinas Valley of California, tells us the story of George Milton and Lennie Small. The two migrant workers, bound together by an unusual and sure friendship, are in pursuit together of the â€Å"Great† American Dream – their dream. They will have their own land, be their own masters and no longer have to answer to anyone, and finally live in peace. On the other hand we have The Withered Arm, set in the early 19th Century as one of Hardy’s Wessex Tales, where he lived all his life. Hardy tells us the tale of a young woman, Gertrude Lodge, as she begins her new life. However, things are not what they should have been as Gertrude is afflicted with an unknown blight, her happiness both threatened and later destroyed. She is not completely alone – her plight is intertwined with that of Rhoda Brook, who carries a great pain in her heart and a great power, or perhaps a curse, that not even she realises. The two texts are each set in the same rural environment as that of their authors, both bringing us the tale of so many people struggling through their lives as best they can. In Of Mice and Men we see that every man, and woman, has their own dreams, their own obsessions to pine away for, to imagine and envisage when they are so often so lonely – each has their own thoughts, their method, of escapism from the reality they live in. The Withered Arm, again, in a different manner shows characters angry, obsessed, with lives they could have had and the possibilities that they have lost or had taken away from them. Each are victims of circumstance, each yearn for lives that are no longer theirs, each for a chance now gone. In each difficulty we can see a parallel, and in both books we can see characters sharing the same basic challenges to overcome, and obstacles in their path. Both show us some of the many facets and characteristics of loneliness and trouble in this world – no matter how little they look for difficulty and dilemmas, people will always manage to find them, no matter how hard they strive against it. â€Å"The best laid schemes o’ mice and men Gang aft agley [Often go wrong] And leave us nought but pain For promised joy† Robert Burns As Of Mice and Men begins, we are shown the two migrant farm workers, George and Lennie, on their way to a new job, a new start, â€Å"bucking† barley at a Californian ranch; fleeing much undue upset in their last town, mostly thanks, despite his original intentions, to Lennie. It is late evening and they both spend the night by the Salinas River before continuing on to their new place of work the next morning. It is here that we first discover some of the main personality differences, and conflicts, between the two characters, and learn of their aspirations and their future. We immediately see much of their natures and that of their friendship as Lennie â€Å"flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool†¦snorting into the water like a horse.† Lennie dives headlong, dunking his head into the murky waters of the Salinas like an animal, all for a drink of water; George restrains him, attempting to keep him in line and to keep him safe. George and Lennie have struggled their way through life together, as an inseparable pair, not like all the other hopefuls out there, â€Å"Because I got you an’ you got me† – together they might just get somewhere. The way this particular phrase is repeated so much tells us a lot about their friendship and how they both so desperately need it to survive. â€Å"The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features†¦every part of him was defined.† We see George as the sharp and able leader who gives Lennie his direction, blunt and bitter when it comes to his frustrations. All too often feeling taunted by the world, his life, and the problems they each throw at him – no matter how hard he tries and how much he accounts for it. Despite his quick temper and scathing reprisals, he holds a great care and affection for his travel-partner and the companionship he brings him – much more than is at first apparent. George feels responsible for Lennie, he has been Lennie’s guardian ever since the passing-away of his Aunt Clara, and no matter how hard he tries he always, and always will, feel that Lennie’s troubles, Lennie’s mistakes and faults are his own and that which he must resolve and reconcile – however much they may cause him yet more problems of his own. George feels a great loneliness inside, believing in his heart himself to be as worthless as every other like him, and as a result of this he gains his purpose – to become somebody, and he knows that is something he and Lennie must do and can only do together. Without Lennie he would be nothing, no more than every other man like him – alone and without hope. â€Å"Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders†¦he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws†¦his arms did not swing but hung loosely at his sides.† Lennie, we can already see if very different to George, a slow simpleton, likened to an animal on two counts now, expressing his simple personality and impulsive nature. It is thanks to the pair’s great bond and need that we see Lennie as such a vital character in the book, for George is not the only man to whom Lennie brings a purpose, it is around him that so much of the story unfolds and revolves about. Despite the simplicity in his manner and unsure path throughout the story, Lennie brings certainty to all those around him. They are drawn to the raw and basic companionship that his presence brings – he is both consort and confidant for all their thoughts and feelings. He neither understands nor takes in much of what they say but, rather than wasting their breath, it seems even more a boon unto them. Lennie is like a wandering sheep and it is George that gives him his direction and his purpose, and as he takes his lead from George, Lennie in turn gains his own shape and dream. Lennie’s simple, cumbersome shape walks always in George’s shadow, always behind him wherever he may go, no matter what. For Lennie life is as simple as he is – it is that which seems to create so many problems for them both, in turn presenting the answers to so many others, and it is this which gives Lennie such a lasting effect on all those around him. The two are together in the pursuit of their own dreams, each finding both a purpose and the means in the other. George dreams of his own land, his own life, and it is much the same for Lennie, on his own basic level. Lennie wishes to care for his own creatures, his rabbits. He loves to hear every word of them that he can get, and George loves to tell them to him – so obsessed and incensed are they with merely the thought of what lies ahead for them with the success of their great plan. This form of â€Å"dreaming† and hoping that many of the characters of this story holds shows how everyone of them wishes to escape from the present world that they live in, where society demands everything of them when they have nothing to hold as their own, and nothing to give. Together these two continue their journey, their unique bond always apparent as they cross upon the lives of many others, all showing the properties of loneliness and all for different reasons, giving us an outlook on how so many in this world are alone and isolated, and how what George and Lennie have is so valuable. â€Å"Ain’t many guys travel together†¦maybe everyone in the whole damn world is scared of each other.† The pressure of the â€Å"American Dream† and the demands of that society’s doctrines and social structure to achieve are imposed upon everyone and anyone and this is why it becomes such a great feature and driving force behind so much of the loneliness of this book. Every common man goes to America to succeed and achieve something, but society inflicts quite the opposite upon them – projecting, forcing upon them, an image of how people should think and most certainly be resulting in loneliness and isolation, a dissatisfaction of themselves and those around them and the ongoing fear of amounting to absolutely nothing. It is ironic that this very society which sets out to have everyone achieve and succeed does quite the opposite, causing so many problems along the way. The nature of the â€Å"American Dream† that so many in this story hold in their minds is that very thing which isolates every one of them from each other, and dooms them to failure. Upon arriving at the ranch, they are met by an old man named Candy and his now old and scrawny dog. It is Candy who explains to them the ways of the ranch, first showing them around and then, as the story progresses, introducing the personalities of the other ranch hands to them. We learn much about Candy himself and who he is, seeing in the second chapter Candy caught listening in on George and Lennie’s words together, as George attempts to keep Lennie in check and keep him safe. Candy was listening simply to feel as a part of their conversation, to feel involved in something, for Candy craves conversation in any form, so alone does he feel. It can be seen that now for so much of his life Candy has been separated from the other men, isolated from all others. Since Candy lost his hand in an accident upon the farm he has been unable to work with the others, condemned to the menial tasks and solitary life during the day, and now thanks to his advancing years he is even more isolated. His only companion throughout all this time has been his pet dog, a source of consternation for the other men as it nears the end of its days, its presence being an eyesore to them all and odour a cause of much dismay. The animal had been his companion since its birth, and now old and suffering from rheumatism, the men convince Candy to allow them to put it out of its misery for him. As Candy grudgingly agrees, against a great sadness, he loses his oldest and closest friend, and again he feels truly alone. Having no one, he attaches himself to Lennie and George and to the dream they both share and makes himself a part of it, willing to offer all he has, his life’s work and savings, for it to be so. However, as that dream is again jeopardised, perhaps fatally, he still wishes to carry on and fulfil the dream – for it is all he has left. It this desperation of Candy’s to make his new dream, their dream, become so, that yet another man becomes tied up in the illusion and the hope that it brings. Crooks is a fellow worker upon the ranch, a stable buck, working to repair saddles, tools and to look after the horses, unable to do other work since he was crippled, kicked in the back by one of the horses he was working with. We have never heard much of Crooks, only chance phrases from the other men, snatches of comments in the middle of a conversation; he is not often talked about, and never talked to – Crooks is a Negro. We do not see him for the majority of the book for he is never with the other men, always separated from everyone, simply because of the discrimination, the ignorance and the prejudices of that time. As the only Negro in the area, he is completely alone, without anyone but himself for so much of his life, but it was not always so. Crooks used to have someone – he used to live with his family, they owned a farm, he was with his brothers, his parents – his family, and he was counted as someone; now he isn’t even counted. The â€Å"American Dream† tells us of equality, of everyone having a chance to attain their dreams, to have something to hold, be proud of and call their own – in America everyone and anyone can have just this and be somebody unless, of course, if they are black. â€Å"This is just a nigger talkin’†¦so it don’t mean nothing, see?† This contradiction and hypocrisy intermittent throughout the dream is that which causes Crooks to be just who he is – alone and isolated, helpless and unable to anything about it. When Lennie wanders into Crooks’ living area simply looking for company as the other men are all away in the town, Crooks shows outrage and indignation that a white man would presume it his right to simply walk into his room without leave. However, Lennie’s innocence wins through, despite Crooks’ irritation, â€Å"Crooks scowled, but Lennie’s disarming smile defeated him.† As Crooks begins to talk to Lennie, and discover the nature of his relationship with George, we see his jealousy that another man could have someone so easy to talk to, such a simple and easy friendship. Such is his bitterness and jealousy over the pair’s companionship that Crooks goes on to taunt and tease Lennie with the possibility that George is injured and is no longer going to be there. He tells Lennie that he too is alone and must look after himself and continue life knowing he had someone, had something, and lost it as Crooks did. Crooks wants Lennie to feel what his pain is every day, every hour, and make someone else feel how he does – and, in doing so, make himself feel less alone. â€Å"A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody†¦a guy gets lonely and he gets sick†. As Lennie’s anger flares up, we see that perhaps Crooks isn’t so malicious after all, for he placates Lennie – he wants him to stay, despite him being a white man, one who took his life away from him, an enemy. So alone is he that any company will do, black or white – it doesn’t matter any more; and so â€Å"It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger,† as Candy joins Lennie. He only has himself and what little company that he can find; he has been separated from others, alone for so long, simply because of the colour of his skin, so isolated thanks to an ignorant and naive prejudice, so much for a dream – when Crooks came to America he found an ongoing nightmare. There should be equality, and this is what America shouted aloud to the world – everyone in America has a dream to live out, and everyone who comes to America has a chance. However, this is not the case for Crooks – despite what people claimed, despite what the â€Å"American Dream† told them, he has nothing but material possessions, and to him they re nothing. Reading books is his only source of company, but â€Å"Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody – to be near him.† When Crooks first learns of their dream, not quite as they intended for it was their dream and nobody else’s’, he scoffs for has heard this kind of a story all before – he has seen hundreds of other hopefuls come through the ranch and continue on into nothing. He tells them this mockingly, and also to end their hopes for they too are going nowhere. However, as Candy justifies their hopes in defence, he subsides for he sees the possibilities himself, gets caught up in the trio’s aspirations and dreams, as Candy did, and pleads to be taken along, to join them – simply to be somewhere with others who might accept him for who he is and not for what. Crooks begins to open up, he finally believes himself to be an equal and to be counted, and he has been given back both his hope and a real chance. However, things are not to be as they hoped as the wife of Curley, the boss’ son, enters. As always the men are wary and bid her leave and in response her bitter temper rises. Crooks stands up to her, thinking outside his place in his newfound happiness, and she drills into him, makes him again realise just who he is, how little all he says and thinks is valued and how much power she holds over him. For a moment Crooks had become a man again and believed in his own freedom, but Curley’s wife put an end to that, to his open thought and his belief in all his hopes of being his own man again. â€Å"Crooks stared hopelessly at her, sat down†¦and drew into himself†¦Crooks had reduced himself to nothing, no personality, no ego†¦Everything that might be hurt drawn in†¦into the indomitable pride of the Negro.† Crooks the Negro presumed to think himself on the same level as Curley’s wife, to cap all the isolation and rejection from every other person on the ranch. So enraged is she that we see the malicious and bitter side of her nature born out of the oppression, the distress and torment of countless similar situations where no one ever listens, where she is always alone. She gives him no quarter as her scathing, bitter anger lashes into him. This conflict amongst and between the oppressed and repressed – first between Candy and Crooks, Crooks believing their dream to be as hopeless as all the rest, so demoralised has he become thanks to the life that American society has put him through, and then between Crooks and Curley’s wife, simply leads them in a circle, and right back to square one. Both are without freedom and hold little control over their own rights, and still they are brought into conflict by the ways in which society portrays the world and treats each of them, one putting the other’s hopes and liberty again into doubt, painting a wholly despondent and bleak future -all the more separated from each other, all the more isolated and alone. Curley’s wife always appears as a woman up to no good, spoken of hurriedly in whispered conversations. She is always out looking for trouble with the other men, always holding apparent bad intentions as she flaunts herself in a vain attempt to attract them to her, willing to do anything for companionship, and as a result getting quite the opposite. George had always recognised her danger, but Lennie is blind to every bit of it. However, we begin to see that she isn’t up to such wickedness as we are first led to believe, and her bitter tongue is simply born of a life of loneliness. The men always shy away from her fearing blackmail from a work mate or Curley’s wrath if they were to dare the stigma and go against the rules of society, and become friendly with another man’s wife. This fear of the bosses’ authority and their abuse of it is yet another barrier that stands between ever establishing some true ideals of equality. She has been alone and isolated by everyone for so long, not even her husband listens to her, simply telling her what he wants to say and never waiting for a response. Lennie, never vigilant nor wary for he has no reason to be, is the first person that hasn’t looked at her with fear in his eyes, for he is different; she has tried everything and seems doomed to failure – everyone is repulsed, everyone resists her, everyone bar Lennie, and she latches onto him because of this. One day she catches him on his own and without George always looking over his shoulder. He is like an open book to her, and instantly accepts her for exactly what she is. She delights in finally finding someone who is such a perfect companion, who no longer draws back away from her in fear, but talks to her as he would anyone else. Despite what is first apparent, she simply wants to be with someone who listens. We learn that she once had a life, once had a chance and could have been somebody, been somewhere and just perhaps have got somewhere in life, but had it taken away from her through no fault of her own, but the unjust and unreasonable actions of another – her own mother. To escape that, to escape a dead end and lonely life where one that should be so close to her takes her chances and dreams away from her, she married Curley and inadvertently runs into something much worse. She had a dream, found a chance and lost it thanks to a situation entirely out of her control, and things only go down hill from there. She is alone unable to do anything to escape the life that she now leads, no one is willing to talk to her, she is confined to the ranch and no longer has any chance of happiness, or simply of finding a friend. Yet again, a pursuer of the â€Å"American Dream† finds quite the opposite. She revels in Lennie’s companionship, temporarily feeling as if she were no longer alone in the world as Crooks did, and so tells him things that she has told no other, opening herself to him and finding that he accepts all that she says without doubt or uncertainty. However, as she learns of Lennie’s love for the touch and feel of soft things, she lets him closer without restraint or forethought, lets him touch and hold her hair. As she draws away in worry that her hair (and subsequently her looks) are being dishevelled, the one thing she believes herself to truly hold is mishandled, and so she pulls away, expressing her distress. Lennie panics and does the only thing that his simple mind can think of – resist, and so he grips hold of her tighter, unwilling to let go, he is confused and frightened and understands nought of what is happening. He fears that if George were to find out that he had made someone unhappy and done wrong by them he would abandon and discard him, fearing disapproval if his actions were ever discovered; and so he clamps his hand over her mouth, hoping that none would hear the noise. He grips even tighter as she struggles all the more desperately in the pain that his awesome strength is causing her, and he jerks and shakes her body in response, in an attempt to silence her. In this he succeeds, but to an extent that he never intended – he unwittingly breaks her neck. Yet again Lennie has caused great harm without ever realising it possible, and this time the outcome is greatly worse. She was always alone, always without somebody, even those closest to her appear to have wished against her happiness; John Steinbeck signifies this to us by never naming Curley’s wife – she was never important to the person, and the people, that she should have been. As soon as she finds someone that was conceivably different, perhaps wasn’t like all the others, she takes it all too far too soon, without thinking of the consequences. As a result she loses everything. The story ends in the pursuit of Lennie, George goes after him with the other men for he cannot let them get to him first and it is here that we are reminded of Candy’s words upon his own companion, his pet dog, â€Å"I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t have let no stranger shoot my dog.† George finally catches up with Lennie at their meeting point where they stayed that first night before making their way onto the ranch. Lennie has been plagued by images and hallucinations from his past and his imagination, so distraught has he become over doing something so wrong and upsetting George in such a huge way, without ever intending to he managed to take away every hope the two had of achieving their dream all thanks to the pressure put upon him to do right by everyone, make no mistakes and allow none to hear of the rest, which leads to him causing more problems than ever before. George has Lennie imagine their dream once more, for that was always how Lennie was happiest – imagining his future, escaping from the present. It is in this moment that George puts the gun to the back of Lennie’s head, and, fighting off his shaking hand, pulls down upon the trigger. He never wanted to, but he had to – this was the only possible choice George could have made for the ultimately innocent Lennie, nothing he could do would have been easier, or better, for Lennie. George in doing so loses his one and only companion, every hope he ever had of being somebody and every hope of those around him that became a part of their dream – all in that instant every hope was lost. Such is the despair that Candy finds it difficult to let go, he wants to continue the dream and to finish it, despite all which has happened, but he knows that is never possible now. Lennie was the one that held everything, everyone, together and gave them all hope and a chance, and now he was gone. The Withered Arm tells us a story of the ordeal of Rhoda Brook, her son, Farmer Lodge and his newly married wife, Gertrude, as Thomas Hardy chooses to constantly switch your attention, not concentrating on single character’s loneliness and hardships, but that of four. We first meet Rhoda Brook working in the cow sheds, a milkmaid, and we instantly recognise how emotionally isolated and detached from others she is. As the other characters about her chat among themselves she chooses to remain apart, and uninvolved, from them all. We see how alone and different from the other simple farm hands she is, â€Å"He hasn’t spoken to her for years,† whilst they talk about her and the notorious love affair she had with the Farmer Lodge – and his recent marriage to a young lady not from nearby, but the city. She is one apart from the rest, not like them, and no longer does she care or worry over their words and thoughts of her. She remains impassive throughout the conversation and the others comments about her, â€Å"She knew she had slyly been called a witch.† Her physical loneliness and separation, probably much out of choice, is also elaborated upon as â€Å"She milked slightly apart from the rest,† as well as through the description of where she has chosen to live, â€Å"their course lay apart from the rest†. The truth about Rhoda and Farmer Lodge’s affair, now many years in the past, is widely known in the area. Long ago they were together and for unexplained reasons she was abandoned – perhaps upon the realisation of Rhoda’s pregnancy. The very thing meant to bring a couple closer together and bring with it happiness and companionship may have brought completely the opposite for Rhoda. However, Farmer Lodge has developed very materialistic views, adhering and conforming to those of the society he lives in. Rhoda was below his class, below him, and he could never have been seen in a permanent relationship with her because of that – society would never have accepted him. Another possible reason is that of Rhoda’s advancing years and waning beauty – her age is closer to that of Lodge’s and so his materialism again pushes him away from her as he chooses to marry a young and still beautiful girl not long out of her teen.This is what he feels he must have – the best. With the arrival of Gertrude Lodge the final brick is laid in the wall standing between Rhoda and her happiness, between her and Lodge and both of them and their son. We recognise instantly that Gertrude is neither country-born nor country-bred, and knows little of her new life and what lies ahead. From the beginning she is almost completely alone – she is a young lady, highborn, and not long out of her teens, lady-like and beautiful, and there are none like her that she can communicate with. Gertrude worries much over others’ opinions of her, as she desires so much to be readily accepted into her new community. However, things are not to be all she could hope for, as she soon realises how alone she is to be as society separates her from the majority of those around her, thanks to the strict taboos on cross-class relationships and of a lady socialising with those of the lower class. When Rhoda learns of Gertrude’s arrival she has her son discover ever detail and feature of the girl, sizing her up and comparing herself to Gertrude in her jealousy, for she believes that it should be she, not Gertrude, that Farmer Lodge should have married and is bitterly angry that he refuses to acknowledge their son and even what they both had between each other as anything but insignificant and irrelevant. The son that Rhoda and Lodge both had together is yet another great example of the loneliness that this story portrays as his mother’s loneliness and emotional feelings merely add to that of his own. Hardy chooses to give him no name, as did Steinbeck with Curley’s wife, emphasising how unimportant and worthless he is in the eyes of those that he should mean so much to. His father rejects him outright – barely ever acknowledging his presence, â€Å"He took no outward notice of the boy whatsoever,† and when he does it is only as an inferior and one of no consequence as the boy is described as â€Å"Just one of the neighbourhood.† Even his own mother, with whom he has lived for all his years, is unconcerned with him, so obsessed and incensed with her own dilemma that she simply uses him as ammunition, and justification, of her right over others to Lodge. He is used as a spy upon Gertrude and Lodge by his mother, if not that then he is always at work upon one household duty or another, and despite all that he does none of it seems to satisfy his mother. He is barely ever given any affection at all, seemingly only useful for errands and chores that Rhoda cannot bring herself to do. Despite her anger over Farmer Lodge’s total lack of acceptance of their son, she too does much the same, and never realises the frustrations that he hides underneath as a result of this all, â€Å"His mother not observing that he was cutting a notch with his pocket knife into the beech-backed chair.† The son has no father figure to follow, but certainly not a good example, and his mother tries to set him one no better – she doesn’t even make the effort. Rhoda develops an obsession with Gertrude whom she has neither met nor even seen. Such is her fixation that one night she is visited in a troubled dream by an image, the distorted and repulsive impression of Gertrude that Rhoda has built up in her mind through her bitter jealousy. â€Å"The figure thrust forward its left hand mockingly, so as to make the wedding ring it wore glitter in Rhoda’s eyes.† This thing that Rhoda believes Gertrude to be taunts her, thrusting the proof of her marriage to Farmer Lodge before her very eyes – the thing that Rhoda herself so covets and desires for herself. As the creature draws closer, Rhoda grips its arm in fright and hurls it to the floor. One day Gertrude visits Rhoda in her small house upon the hill, and Rhoda sees her for what she really is. Gertrude, in her loneliness in Lodge’s great manor house, comes to Rhoda for companionship, and in her she finds a friend. At first Rhoda is unresponsive, but slowly she begins to come round, to see through all the lies she has told herself all too often in her resentment at being alone. However, all is not to be so perfectly resolved, as we learn of Gertrude’s arm – the strange marks, like as that of fingers’, upon the flesh and over time they gradually worsen and deteriorate. â€Å"It looks almost like finger marks†¦as if some witch, or the devil himself, had taken a hold of me there, and blasted the flesh.† Gertrude’s other sorrow becomes apparent as she too has realised the faith that the farmer puts into face value and beauty – for she believes that he will begin to love her less if the arm does not heal as it should. As a result, over time, Gertrude begins to preoccupy herself and obsess about her arm as Rhoda did over Farmer Lodge and it continues to worsen. No one understands its nature, no one knows of a cure and Gertrude, stricken with worry and concern, turns again to Rhoda, following perhaps a maid’s, or a worker’s, advice, and the irony in this is how many would believe Rhoda to be the guilty party, the witch, cursing upon Gertrude and that she of all people would know her adversary best. Rhoda meanwhile says nothing upon the matter of the arm, merely inquiring upon it, hoping that it might recover. For Rhoda neither understands what effect she has had upon Gertrude, nor knows how she caused it – much of the time she vainly tells herself that it is nothing but a coincidence. All the same, Rhoda apprehensively leads Gertrude across the hills and fields one day to Conjuror Trendle, a man renowned for powers that other people believe in more than he. â€Å"He affected not to believe largely in his own powers and when warts that had been shown him for the cure miraculously disappear†¦he would say lightly, ‘Oh I only drink a glass of grog upon ’em†¦perhaps its all chance’, and immediately turn the subject.† Trendle lives many miles apart from other men, separated by their views and taboos of that society upon witchcraft and anything related. He has been cast away by their prejudices all because he has a talent that they neither possess nor understand, and they fear him for this. He merely uses what he has to help people as best he can, getting nothing but fear and aversion in return, and this he does for Gertrude too. Despite the rumours and whispers that people speak behind his back, he does what he knows to be best all the same – rejecting the constraints of society for his own freedom, and in turn having much of it taken away. He shows to Gertrude the image of an enemy, the only one capable of causing such a blight, and Rhoda’s fears are to be realised as, despite Gertrude never telling her who the image she saw was, she never spoke to Rhoda again, never mentioned the arm and never called around her house, simply looking for a companion, again – for now her unsee n assailant had a face, that of Rhoda. Over a very short period their friendship began to break down very quickly, almost instantly as realisation had dawned upon Gertrude, and so she never saw anything of Rhoda, or her son, again for many years and eventually the two both slipped out of the community and were never seen again – they were forced out by the fears of others, by Rhoda’s desires of things that were no longer hers to covet and by the entire community, for none really cared. Gertrude was now truly alone and without a single companion- her husband no longer even looked at her, such was his revulsion of the withering of her arm and displeasure at the fact that she had not even managed to produce him an heir in all their time together. Gertrude’s beauty was waning as the full anguish of the arm and being so alone in the world assailed her. She became obsessed with the arm and the search for cures, attempting every crackpot remedy that she could find in her maddened struggle – but none ever worked or had any effect. Driven into desperation by her husband’s and society’s demands for young ladies to be beautiful and perfect always, for Gertrude fears the rejection of her husband as Rhoda was rejected many years ago. In many ways this despair and incensed search for a cure drove even larger a void between Gertrude and her husband, for in the end it was both she and the arm driving him away, so obsessed did she become – much thanks to the pressures and expectations of the world around her. Again she goes to visit Trendle in the vain hope that perhaps he will be able to cure her at last, however, this time she makes the journey alone – showing just how much more lonely and separated from others she has become. Upon arriving she sees Trendle, now an old man and barely able to even leave his house – he has lost even that little bit of freedom that life had allowed him and has absolutely no one but himself to rely on, and no one to be there when he dies. In his last days, Trendle tells her simply what had to be done – he was too old to help now, she would have to cope alone with this task as always, but he could point her in the right direction. She agrees to all that he tells her, whatever it may be, such is her desire to again be beautiful for her husband again and to allow her to again conform to the views of those around her – much the opposite choice to that of Conjuror Trendle. Gertrude must touch the body of an executed man just cut down from a hanging – not dead for more than an instant so as to turn the blood of Gertrude and cure the withering of the arm. Finally, after many weeks wait the chance arrives and Gertrude’s prayers, driven to wishing upon the death of a fellow man, are answered and she strikes up a deal with the old, isolated hangman, separated from others by the nature of his trade, who was not wholly unused to requests of her sort. The condemned that is to become Gertrude’s saviour is a young man, charged of arson – the burning down of an old warehouse. The young man was apparently simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, but an example had to be made to satisfy the people. On the allotted night, Gertrude goes to the hangman as planned, and he then leads her to the open casket and she pulls back the covering and touches the figure beneath. To her horror she sees it to be Rhoda’s own son – the son of Farmer Lodge. Gertrude backs off in dismay and turns to discover both Rhoda and Lodge standing behind her. Rhoda shouts in anger and pushes Gertrude away from them both, for even now she still stands between the Farmer Lodge and their son once again – as always Gertrude comes between Rhoda and Lodge, always in the way of Rhoda’s hopes, desires and always keeping her completely alone. Gertrude screams in fear and falls to the floor, for the shock and extreme stress, together with the draining nature of the arm finally get the best of her, for she has died. Her blood had been turned, but all too far. Here the story concludes, as Rhoda moves farther away and separates herself from the local community entirely yet again, totally alone thanks to her own bitterness. Even after her son is lost still nobody goes to pay their respects or offer their company – she becomes even more alone than ever, all thanks to her own negligence. Farmer Lodge is also alone now, perhaps as he deserved, for his uncaring and selfish ways led to the grief of many and his dishonesty to the death of his wife for he broke his marriage vows that he made before God – â€Å"In sickness and in health.† His wife is dead and his son is lost forever and with him any chance of ever having an heir to all his estate. In his despair Lodge sells all his farm and land and moves away – only now do we realise how truly alone he has become, and all thanks to him, his materialism and conforming to what society dictates as to how he should live his life. He offers Rhoda an annual income, as an attempt at a final reconciliation but she never accepts it and none see her again. He loses everything and is doomed to die alone, leaving us later to discover that he has left all that is his to a reformatory for boys, showing how he did have thoughts and feelings regarding his son, but never had the strength to show them which is perhaps his greatest sin. Both Lodge and Rhoda isolated themselves from others and both are now even lonelier as a result of this. Gertrude’s vanity may have played a part in her own undoing, represented by the extremes to which she was willing to go as she even wished for the death of a fellow man, guilty or innocent alike, but it was Lodge, and those around her, that drove her to such desperation and in the end she dies alone, above all emotionally, as her husband stands apart from her with Rhoda. The young son meanwhile, brought to his end by Gertrude’s desperate wishing is always portrayed in Hardy’s novel as the innocent throughout, trapped between his two parents never being truly loved or cared for – always alone and always innocent. Towards the end we assume that perhaps he has got involved in a youth gang. This leads to his later arrest at the crime scene showing that no father figure and role model at all would have perhaps been better than that of a bad and unloving one who rejects him outright, he may have been innocent but he never had anyone who would stand up for him. This rejection by his father and ignorant negligence on his mother’s part leads to his tragic death, similar to that of Candy’s wife – who also remains unnamed as they are never important to those that they should be, leaving both of them completely alone and hopeless. The unfortunate tragedy that we see at the end of each novel is but one of the many similarities between these two novels. As we begin, each story features two central characters, George and Lennie, Rhoda and Gertrude, around which the story unfolds. As they live their lives we are introduced to many others, each with their own individual problems and dilemmas besetting them. These unlikely friendships between our central characters ultimately end in a tragedy, first with one unknowingly causing great problems for the other and finally one must put the other out of their misery, and at the same time condemn themselves to loneliness and hopelessness yet again. In Of Mice and Men we see at the root of everyones’ problems the desperation to achieve and become somebody – to find the American Dream. The society in which they have lived tells them that they are nothing without achievement, and they all agree for much of their sadness originates from this feeling of worthlessness. In George and Lennie’s case it drives them onwards, in search of their dream, but the others do not have the friendship that they each possess and have no hope of getting anywhere. Candy is old, crippled, with no hope of being able to work for something anymore and no hope of ever actually finding a companion as everyone deserts him each day. Crooks has nobody, he lost everything thanks to American society and the fact that the dream doesn’t work if you are black, he is hopeless for all time. Curley’s wife, a seemingly dangerous character of this story is isolated for just that. She has nobody bar her husband, who neither loves her nor listens, separated from others by both him and other peoples’ fear of the stigma that would ensure should they become her friend. She had her one chance at achieving something taken away from her many years ago. For Lennie the necessity to conform and do right by people is too much for him – he can never understand and in the end this leads to his death. His fear of disapproval forces him to take a life without ever intending to. It is upon George’s shoulders to end the story, for there is only one possibility – he must end all his hopes, condemn himself to being alone with his guilt, every chance that they had together and those around them found upon their arrival for he must take Lennie’s life to save him from misery. This pressure from American society and the unbending rules on what people should and shouldn’t be causes so much dissatisfaction and unrest, leaving everyone feeling hopeless and alone, that they have been brought up to believe. They thought they had a chance, and they found nothing. The Withered Arm, on the other hand, is set in a world of tradition, of British society and its harsh social structure. In everyone’s mind there is desperation to conform to the rules and agree that unless you are upper class, or in the case of the women – married, you are no one. Rhoda isolates herself from all others in her desperation to become someone, Farmer Lodge’s wife, and be counted and in doing so sentences herself to a life of loneliness, and starts much more for many others. For Gertrude there is a desperation to be what the materialistic views of those around her tell her to be, and in her search for this she ends up isolating her self even more than before. The young son, who nobody ever really looks to care for, there is isolation of a different kind and through no fault of his own. His parents never truly acknowledge him as their son and this ultimately ends in his tragic death. For Farmer Lodge, it is his materialistic conformism that causes many problems, and he isolates himself from all others in this story until the end, where it is he and Rhoda left and doomed to each be utterly alone for their sins.

Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth

Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth Juan Ponce de Leà ³n (1474-1521) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He was one of the first settlers of Puerto Rico and was the first Spaniard to (officially) visit Florida. Hes best remembered, however, for his search for the legendary Fountain of Youth. Did he really search for it, and if so, did he find it? The Fountain of Youth and other Myths During the Age of Discovery, many men got caught up in the search for legendary places. Christopher Columbus was one: he claimed to have found the Garden of Eden on his Third Voyage. Other men spent years in the Amazon jungle searching for the lost city of El Dorado, the Golden Man. Still others searched for giants, the land of the Amazons and the fabled Kingdom of Prester John. These myths were very pervasive and in the excitement of the discovery and exploration of the New World it did not seem impossible to Ponce De Leons contemporaries to find such places. Juan Ponce de Leà ³n Juan Ponce de Leà ³n was born in Spain in 1474 but came to the New World no later than 1502. By 1504 he was well-known as a skilled soldier and had seen much action fighting the natives of Hispaniola. He was given some prime land and soon became a wealthy planter and rancher. Meanwhile, he was surreptitiously exploring the nearby island of Puerto Rico (then known as San Juan Bautista). He was granted rights to settle the island and he did so, but later lost the island to Diego Columbus (son of Christopher) following a legal ruling in Spain. Ponce de Leon and Florida Ponce de Leà ³n knew he had to start over, and followed rumors of a rich land to the northwest of Puerto Rico. He took his first trip to Florida in 1513. It was on that trip that the land was named Florida by Ponce himself, because of the flowers there and the fact that it was near Easter time when he and his shipmates first saw it. Ponce de Leà ³n was awarded the rights to settle Florida. He returned in 1521 with a group of settlers, but they were driven off by angry natives and Ponce de Leà ³n was wounded by a poisoned arrow. He died shortly thereafter. Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth Any records that Ponce de Leà ³n kept of his two voyages have been long since lost to history. The best information concerning his journeys comes to us from the writings of Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas, who was appointed Chief Historian of the Indies in 1596, decades after Ponce de Leons journeys. Herreras information was likely third-hand at best. He mentions the Fountain of Youth in reference to Ponces first voyage to Florida in 1513. Heres what Herrera had to say about Ponce de Leà ³n and the Fountain of Youth: Juan Ponce overhauled his ships, and although it seemed to him that he had worked hard he decided to send out a ship to identify the Isla de Bimini even though he did not want to, for he wanted to do that himself. He had an account of the wealth of this island (Bimini) and especially that singular Fountain that the Indians spoke of, that turned men from old men into boys. He had not been able to find it because of the shoals and currents and contrary weather. He sent, then, Juan Pà ©rez de Ortubia as captain of the ship and Antà ³n de Alaminos as pilot. They took two Indians to guide them over the shoals†¦The other ship (that had been left to search for Bimini and the Fountain) arrived and reported that Bimini (most likely Andros Island) had been found, but not the Fountain.    Ponces Search for the Fountain of Youth If Herreras account is to be believed, then Ponce spared a handful of men to search for the island of Bimini and to look around for the fabled fountain while they were at it. Legends of a magical fountain that could restore youth had been around for centuries and Ponce de Leà ³n had no doubt heard them. Perhaps he heard rumors of such a place in Florida, which would not be surprising: there are dozens of thermal springs and hundreds of lakes and ponds there. But was he actually searching for it? Its unlikely. Ponce de Leà ³n was a hardworking, practical man who intended to find his fortune in Florida, but not by finding some magical spring. On no occasion did Ponce de Leon personally set off through the swamps and forests of Florida deliberately seeking the Fountain of Youth. Still, the notion of a Spanish explorer and conquistador seeking a legendary fountain captured the public imagination, and the name Ponce de Leon will forever be tied to the Fountain of Youth and Florida. To this day, Florida spas, hot springs and even plastic surgeons associate themselves with the Fountain of Youth. Source Fuson, Robert H. Juan Ponce de Leon and the Spanish Discovery of Puerto Rico and Florida Blacksburg: McDonald and Woodward, 2000.

Free Essays on Who Really Was Mary Magdalene

of choice, wouldn’t you say? That’s when Jesus replied saying not to cling to him until He ascends to the heavens. He tells her to tell the disciples of the resurrection. Mary then goes to see the disciples. Mary Magdalene announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord." In other scriptures, her name is first in the list of witnesses. Mary Magdalene was the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Tradition has labeled her a prostitute, but there is nothing in the Bible to support this view and too much to dispute it. The only problem is that it turns out that she wasn't bad, just interpreted that way. See a prostitute was almost any women not married (or if married not rented out or sold) or working for the high class people. Mary Ma... Free Essays on Who Really Was Mary Magdalene Free Essays on Who Really Was Mary Magdalene Who really was Mary Magdalene? Apparently her status in early Christianity was high. The Bible gives us clues about her importance. After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene not Peter, according to the Gospel of John. In this scene there are many things that may reveal that Mary was a lot more than a follower. She was scene to be the wife, according to her words. On Easter Sunday morning, she visits Jesus' sepulcher, either alone or with other women, and discovers it empty. Then she is solo at the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene asks the gardener â€Å"where have you taken his body and I will go and remove it†. Only the spouse would have been allowed to do such a thing back around this time. Clearly Jesus and Mary had a special relationship. That’s when the gardener (Jesus) calls her by her first name â€Å"Mary† which again only the spouse of a woman could call a woman by her first name, because it was disrespectful. Otherwise you were supposed to refer to a woman as woman. Up until now Mary did not recognize the man she spoke with, it was when Jesus said her name she recognized his voice and ran to cling to him saying Rabooni, meaning my love: intimate words of choice, wouldn’t you say? That’s when Jesus replied saying not to cling to him until He ascends to the heavens. He tells her to tell the disciples of th e resurrection. Mary then goes to see the disciples. Mary Magdalene announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord." In other scriptures, her name is first in the list of witnesses. Mary Magdalene was the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Tradition has labeled her a prostitute, but there is nothing in the Bible to support this view and too much to dispute it. The only problem is that it turns out that she wasn't bad, just interpreted that way. See a prostitute was almost any women not married (or if married not rented out or sold) or working for the high class people. Mary Ma...

Quotes from the Book Things Fall Apart

Quotes from the Book Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart  an important African novel by Chinua Achebe, is  one of the greatest classics of its time. The book involves the clash of cultures and belief systems, as colonization affects the people. Here are a few quotes from Things Fall Apart. Quotes From Things Fall Apart A proud heart can survive general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 3 But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error. And so people said he had no respect for the gods of the clan. His enemies said that his good fortune had gone to his head.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 4 No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 7 When did you become a shivering old woman, Okonkwo asked himself, you, who are known in all the nine villages for your valor in war? How can a man who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their number? Okonkwo, you have become a woman indeed.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 8 After such treatment it would think twice before coming again, unless it was one of the stubborn ones who returned, carrying the stamp of their mutilationa missing finger or perhaps a dark line where the medicine mans razor had cut them.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 9 Beware Okonkwo! she warned. Beware of exchanging words with Agbala. Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 11 It was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth, like learning to become left-handed in old age.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 14 We have heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas, but no one thought the stories were true.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 15 Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 17 The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 20 Okonkwo stood looking at the dead man. He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape. They had broken into tumult instead of action. He discerned fright in that tumult. He heard voices asking: Why did he do it?- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 24

The principles of the Bauhaus and the Art Deco style of architecture Essay

The principles of the Bauhaus and the Art Deco style of architecture - Essay Example In 1925, the world's most renowned and influential artists and architects met in Paris, at the International Exhibit of Decorative Arts and Modern Industries. The architects gathered to share ideas on the evolution of art design. The architects contributed in the architect’s modern interpretations of established designs. From this exhibition, a new style of art came up. The architect named the new art as Style Modern. The name later changed to Art Deco Style. The style used the simple bold design on material such as glass and plastic. Art deco being ornamental and beautifying used bright colors. Art deco style symbolized wealth, glamor, and complexity. Art Deco consisted of three main types: zigzag, classic modern and streamline modern. The style involved areas of design like architecture and interior design. It also enveloped visual arts graphic arts jewelry and film. The style drew influence from Egypt and Aztec forms of architecture. The structures of art deco style are based on mathematical geometrical shapes. The styles use machine age and streamline technologies such as electric lighting. Style modern is characterized by the use of materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, and inlaid wood. The characteristics of deco style will include; clean lines, distinct geometric shapes, decorative features and designs with wide-ranging influences. It combines linear symmetry, staggered or tiered pyramid shapes and use of unusual deco is a versatile style and is easily integrated into a wide variety of personal styles. The Bauhaus Gropius House in Lincoln, Massachusetts (picture dictionary of modern architecture, image 4) is an example of Bauhaus style. It is a national historic landmark in New England. Gropius Walter designed and built the house in 1938 as his family home. Gropius being the founder of Bauhaus style incorporated the philosophy of the style. The modest home is significantly white in color. It has smooth facades that express simplicity. The building is cubic in shape and the blocks are made of glass. The stare case leading upstairs is spiral and visible from outside. The house is made of simple economical steel pillars and the building has a pergola roof. The landscape surrounding the house is simple and blends in well with its environment. The use of minimal color scheme is employed in the interior. The house has furniture designed by Marcel Breuer and fabricated in the Bauhaus workshops (Panayiotis 24). The 77 storey skyscraper Chrysler Building in New York presents an Art Deco bu ilding. It was completed in 1930 and designed by architect William Van Allen. The building displays a sense of complex and elegance. The materials used in the construction such as metal and stainless steel were expensive. The Chrysler building displays distinctive ornamentation. It is tall and vertical. The floor is marble and brightly colored. The interior has stylish patterns and the lighting is superb and can use a variety of colors depending on occasion (Panayiotis 33). The two styles of architecture contrast each other. The Bauhaus style is simple. It signifies the use of locally available material. It is friendly economically. Art deco is modern, uses sophisticated styles and is expensive. It is a show of glamour and prosperity (Panayiotis 37). In conclusion, both styles are adopted because of the various features that they represent. The features are very attractive to all those that may be interested in one form of architecture or the next.

LANGUAGE, POWER & IDENTITY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

LANGUAGE, POWER & IDENTITY - Essay Example Furthermore, language convergence and membership of a person in groups are also determined based on the languages that they know (THOMAS And WAREING, 1999). Bi-lingual or Multi-lingual Having the ability to speak two differently languages fluently marks a bi-linguist, whereas the ability to speak more than one language fluently marks a person as being a multi-linguist. Being bi-lingual or multi-lingual can be and is often for a number of reason, but mostly the adoption of more than one language occurs more rapidly in the early childhood stage of a person’s life. Whether it is because of a competent and saturated job market, parents or grandparents belonging to different nationalities or because one has migrated elsewhere, the reasons for accounting to a person being a bi-linguist or multi-linguist are many. Influences on Social identity of a person who is multi-lingual In order to case study the influences, impacts and effects of language diversity on a person, it is important to understand some majorly important terms and influences that shape the changed personal identity of a person. ... Individuals of a specific speech community communicate more often with each other than with individuals outside their speech community and so there exist preference and speech community isolation, which is also termed as communicative isolation. This is influenced by social, cultural, economic or regional similarities or preferences. To understand the term community better, we can analyze that the family of an individual is also a community and there by the language with which they communicate will form a speech community too. Furthermore, speech community is also observed with friends or the employees of the work place. It is noted that the changes in accent, dialect, written Performa or the differences in the languages spoken by individuals also mark changes and developments of speech communities (AGER, MUSKENS And WRIGHT, 1993). The community in general may have a focused set of characteristics of a language being communicated or it can be also diffused with emergence of different widely varying set of characteristics. Code-switching An individual, who is well-versed in more than one language, often tends to change or switch languages while speaking. Either to stress on a specific word, to lay emphasis on the issue or to just make someone laugh or impress the other- the use and reason for code switching varies from person to person and situation to situation. Sometimes, it also occurs unknowingly (NORTON, 2000). Linguistic convergence The lexical, phrasal, verbal or grammatical borrowings or transfusions from one language to another is often termed as linguistic convergence i.e. the convergence or merger of more than one languages, accents or dialects into another. Sometimes it is

Working in Education on Many Levels Personal Statement

Working in Education on Many Levels - Personal Statement Example Education majors are essentially divided into two categories, Secondary Education and Elementary Education. Secondary Education programs are intended to equip teachers for educating young adolescent students up through graduation from high school. In most states, this involves instruction from sixth or seventh grade up through twelfth grade. Teachers are usually certified in an individual subject at the secondary level. So, a typical student will graduate with a B.S Ed. in Secondary Education with a certification to teach Chemistry, Geography, English, Foreign Language, etc. Elementary Education programs usually certify a teacher to teach from Kindergarten through sixth grade. In some states, this certification is broken into Primary (K-2) and Elementary (3-6) Education certifications. Most states avoid this, however, allowing teachers certified in Elementary Education to teach from Kindergarten through sixth grade. The coursework for Elementary and Secondary teachers is quite differ ent. Both will receive instruction in Educational Psychology and Methods of Instruction. They will also complete classes on Assessment and Evaluation that are similar, but his is where most of the similarities end. Elementary Education programs are more intensive in instructing teachers in strategies for building basic literacy in math and reading (Cooper, 1993). They will receive coursework in reading strategies, phonics and computational instruction that Secondary Education students do not receive. Secondary students will focus more on learning directly related to their area of certification. For example, a student studying to be a Chemistry teacher will have a core of chemistry classes that will include classes such as Chemicals Engineering and Organic Chemistry. The capstone for most teaching programs, both Elementary and Secondary, is a semester of student teaching, where the student is assigned to a mentor and teaches, with guidance, in a live classroom with his or her mentor. This experience is vital, because it is the first time students really get to experience what a real teacher does day after day (Ryan, 1992). It is not uncommon for students to leave Education programs after student teaching because they find they do not enjoy the duties teachers are expected to do or they have trouble learning how to manage students. The field of education has bee viewed by some as a safe place to work in many ways. Traditionally, teachers do not need to worry about fluctuations in the economy because they rarely are retrenched, even when tax revenue declines. Teaching has been viewed as an easy job with lots of perks, such as summers off and a short workday. The one downside to teaching, in the traditional point of view, is the relatively low pay when compared to other professions that require a college degree (Students, 2012). This view of teaching and working in Education is still intact, but has become dated over the past several years. The first way this myth about working in Education has been shattered is a result of the recent economic depression. Education, as a sector of the economy, has lost a record number of jobs (Teachers, 2012). School districts all across America have been dismissing teacher as they try to make their precious tax dollars stretch farther.  

Types of Forecasting Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Types of Forecasting - Research Paper Example There is no one standard method of forecasting, the effectiveness of the method depends upon the nature of the business and its usefulness to it. (Render, Stair & Hanna. 2003) Forecasting is easier to perform in businesses which have historical data to follow. For a new business like the one John and Micheal are pursuing is a new business line for which no substantial historical data is available. Further the business with this new venture needs expansion in the scale of production along with the changes in the supply chain. Due to all these factors the forecasting needs to be done in a way which incorporates the changes in the business, its supply chain while reducing cost and increasing profits in the business. The quantitative methods would not be suitable to apply as no historical data on the same lines of business will be available because of the newness of the product in the markets and lack of competitors of the product. The approach Stone Horse Supply Company needs to follow will be forecasting in view of the supply chain which can meet customer’s requirement on time, save costs associated with inventories and earn profits in the future. Unlike the traditional supply chains in the past, the supply chains now focuses on the demand chains, that is greater focus is given on the customers and their needs. Demand forecasting can be done at Stone Horse Supply Company by determining the demand for the future and what level of sales could be achieved. There are many methods of forecasting through which sales and demand can be determined which all usually work on the historic data and underlying assumptions which can not be applied to the new venture Stone Horse Supply Company is going to undertake. (Lawrence, Geurts, & Guerard. 2002) a. Consumer Surveys/ Market Research: This approach is a systematic approach to gain an

Hamlet review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hamlet review - Essay Example When Hamlet first appears in this play in Act 1, Scene 2, he in reference to King Claudius; 'A little more than kin, and less than kind.' He refers to the stepfather relationship with King Claudius who has married his widow mother so soon after his father's death. Hamlet thinks that this rush is unkind of his uncle. He also refers to the usurping of his throne because Hamlet is the Crown Prince and rightful heir to the throne after his father's death. As Hamlet deludes to the facts of the case, he reveals he feels the injustice of King Claudius' actions. Hamlet makes a soliloquy which includes his views of his mother; Hamlet says that his mother, Queen Gertrude, has married his uncle who is unlike his father and unworthy. She remarried within a month and does not give sufficient time for mourning to be over. Hamlet feels the injustice that his mother has done to his deceased father and himself. He considers the union of his mother and her brother-in-law incestuous. That is another injustice that weighs on his mind. In Act 1, Scene 5, Hamlet meets and talks with his father's ghost, who reveals to him that he has been murdered by Hamlet's uncle, Claudius. The Ghost says; 'So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.' It assumes that Hamlet will take revenge. It tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered the former King Hamlet and what it thinks are the injustices of Claudius and Gertrude. Barnet says that; 'Conscience, which permits passive disobedience, forbids murder, and thus makes cowards of some revengers.' (Barnet 234) This is shown in Hamlet's famous soliloquy when he debates with his conscience on whether to let things as they are or to take action to seek justice. Hamlet says; 'To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them.....' (Act 3. Scene 1). Hamlet's conscience interferes with his desire for justice. He cannot kill King Claudius while he is praying. Barnet says that; 'When Hamlet differentiates revenge from hire and salary (Act 3. Scene 3. Line 79), he specifies the gap between vengeance and justice. Revenge is always in excess of justice.' (Barnet 234). In Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet wants to kill King Claudius while he is praying but he changes his mind because he thinks that being killed while praying will surely send the soul into Heaven. Hamlet does not desire that his uncle Claudius should be accepted into Heaven so he forgoes this opportunity. His conscience does not allow him to kill a defenseless man. Hamlet thinks that to do justice by his father, King Claudius should not be allowed redemption and enter Heaven. Killing for the sake of killing without considering the true meaning of revenge would not be real revenge but is 'hire and salary'. Hamlet means that a mercenary kills mindlessly without considering the goal of exacting true revenge. Hamlet may seem like a coward because he is afraid of the judgment of Heaven if he kills King Claudius

Challenge of treatment low to medium strength municipal wastewater Dissertation

Challenge of treatment low to medium strength municipal wastewater from ambient to low temperature by using UASB reactors - Dissertation Example A, Boncz 2001, "Anaerobic Digestion Congress." Belgium. This book expounds on the ninth world congress. It gives a detailed study on the anaerobic digestion with reference to the proceedings in that congress. A, Charlier C 1994, Water Science Technology. Washington DC: Sage Publishers. This book is rich on data regarding the challenges prone in urban water management. It informs on municipal wastewater treatments by provide basic and necessary guidelines. Augusto, Carlos, and De Lemos Chernicharo 2007, Anaerobic Reactors. IWA. This books covers on several aspects regarding anaerobic reactors. It gives details on the principles of anaerobic digestion, biomass in the anaerobic systems along with designs in anaerobic reactors. Barbosa 1995, Wastewater Examination. Washington DC: Sage. Barbosa gives an account on waste and wastewater analysis. This is through providing details with physical analysis, sampling, instrumental analysis, chemical analysis, floatable analysis, organic analysis , statistical analysis and treatability analysis. Bhat, P., M.S. Kumar, and S.N. Mudliar. Biodegradation of tech-hexachlorocyclohexane. The authors give an account on biodegradation and biological treatmensts. Elsevier, 2006.Biological Wastewater Treatment in Warm Climate Regions. International Water Assoc. The author gives an account on wastewater treatment, characteristic and disposal in warm climatic regions. He gives details on water pollution and water quality before giving an account on waste water systems. C, Forestor F, and Chacin F 1997, Bio-resource Technology. New York: Maccmilan. Chacin and forester provide a very significant an easy to use management and applications of biotechnology. The book gives a state to art research on biotechnological inventions and innovation, especially for commercial exploiting. Chaggu 2004, Modified Pitlatrines. Wageningen : Wageningen University. This book is based on anaerobic treatments with fish processing in the wastes. It defined the a naerobic hydrolysis of lipids and proteins in fish processing on wastewaters. The author also gives an account on the use of ammonia and sodium chloride in the anaerobic treatment of lipids and proteins. Chernicharo, Carlos Augusto de Lemos 2005, Biological wastewater treatment in warm climate . IWA Publishing. The author gives an over view on sludge disposal and treatment in the perspective of slid concentrations, levels and flow. D, Mavinic S 1994, Water Environment. Wageningen : Wageningen University. Mavinic gives a detailed study on the climatic changes and their implications on water environments. He addresses this aspect from a wide range of approaches inclusive of the geographic and temporal and geographic perspectives. Lisa, Orphan, and Blaszcyk Kosaric 1999, UASR Water Science Technology. New York: New York University Press. The book by Lisa and Kosaric describes different ways in which technology has been used in the development of all aspects of UASR especially when rela ted to water and raw sewage. M, Kato T 1994, Low Strength Water Treatment. Wageningen: Press Publishers. Kato’s book has identification of the different water and sewage treatment using both low strengths. This book shows the different interactions of water strength as well as how these operations are useful in the treatment of sewage. Mara, David Duncan 2004, Domestic Wastewater Treatment in Developing Countries.

Hamlet review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hamlet review - Essay Example When Hamlet first appears in this play in Act 1, Scene 2, he in reference to King Claudius; 'A little more than kin, and less than kind.' He refers to the stepfather relationship with King Claudius who has married his widow mother so soon after his father's death. Hamlet thinks that this rush is unkind of his uncle. He also refers to the usurping of his throne because Hamlet is the Crown Prince and rightful heir to the throne after his father's death. As Hamlet deludes to the facts of the case, he reveals he feels the injustice of King Claudius' actions. Hamlet makes a soliloquy which includes his views of his mother; Hamlet says that his mother, Queen Gertrude, has married his uncle who is unlike his father and unworthy. She remarried within a month and does not give sufficient time for mourning to be over. Hamlet feels the injustice that his mother has done to his deceased father and himself. He considers the union of his mother and her brother-in-law incestuous. That is another injustice that weighs on his mind. In Act 1, Scene 5, Hamlet meets and talks with his father's ghost, who reveals to him that he has been murdered by Hamlet's uncle, Claudius. The Ghost says; 'So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.' It assumes that Hamlet will take revenge. It tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered the former King Hamlet and what it thinks are the injustices of Claudius and Gertrude. Barnet says that; 'Conscience, which permits passive disobedience, forbids murder, and thus makes cowards of some revengers.' (Barnet 234) This is shown in Hamlet's famous soliloquy when he debates with his conscience on whether to let things as they are or to take action to seek justice. Hamlet says; 'To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them.....' (Act 3. Scene 1). Hamlet's conscience interferes with his desire for justice. He cannot kill King Claudius while he is praying. Barnet says that; 'When Hamlet differentiates revenge from hire and salary (Act 3. Scene 3. Line 79), he specifies the gap between vengeance and justice. Revenge is always in excess of justice.' (Barnet 234). In Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet wants to kill King Claudius while he is praying but he changes his mind because he thinks that being killed while praying will surely send the soul into Heaven. Hamlet does not desire that his uncle Claudius should be accepted into Heaven so he forgoes this opportunity. His conscience does not allow him to kill a defenseless man. Hamlet thinks that to do justice by his father, King Claudius should not be allowed redemption and enter Heaven. Killing for the sake of killing without considering the true meaning of revenge would not be real revenge but is 'hire and salary'. Hamlet means that a mercenary kills mindlessly without considering the goal of exacting true revenge. Hamlet may seem like a coward because he is afraid of the judgment of Heaven if he kills King Claudius

Perspectives on Medicare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Perspectives on Medicare - Essay Example The system (Medicare) is structured in four essential parts: Part A is based on Hospital Insurance, Part B caters for Medical Insurance, Part C deals with Medical Advantage and Part D relates to Drug coverage, which relates to Medicare prescription. Each part is important in establishing a Medicare plan for people since there is a correlation between each of the parts that provide Medicare benefits (Ball, 1995). The relationship extends to the fact that if one component is of low quality, the other factors should be of a similar nature. Hospital insurance is designed to cover inpatient care in case of medical emergencies. It caters to home health care, a nursing facility and a hospice, which will address and cater to the requirements of an inpatient. These are essential in ensuring that a patient will have these important services that will enhance quick recovery from any injury, ailment or any other health hazard that may arise. Medical insurance is implemented in order to provide cover for services administered by health care providers (such as doctors), outpatient care, home health care, and mediation or medical equipment (Hellinger, 1998). It also covers preventive measures that ensure the wellbeing of an individual, as well as limit or prevent any illnesses from becoming aggravated or causing fatal damage. Medical Advantage is a component of Medicare that gives the option of using Medicare-approved private companies, which provide various insurance policies. It has a formulated plan that ensures an individual receives any of the benefits that are provided in Part A and B. This aspect of Medicare provides additional advantages, which are provided at an additional cost (Ball, 1995). It (Medicare Advantage Plan) also provides cover that relates to drug prescription (Part D). Â  

American Foreign Policy In The 20th Century Politics Essay

American Foreign Policy In The 20th Century Politics Essay ..every nation which desires to maintain its freedom (and), its independence must ultimately realise that the right of such independence cannot be separated from the responsibility of making good use of it. The 20th century has often been referred to as the American Century. Throughout the last century, the United States of America (USA or US) has been involved in every significant international political event and incident. Despite war having been brought to its shores only once during the Century, with the bombing of Pearl Harbour during the Second World War, the United States, as it is commonly referred to, has participated in several international wars and regional military conflicts during the 20th century, either directly or indirectly. Today American strength, prestige and influence are so great that Washington is inevitably a factor in every international equation and the global dynamics, whether it is nuclear disarmament, combating terrorism, environmental change or economic slowdown. As the sole superpower in the world today, Americas influence in world affairs can simply not be escaped. In achieving such stature, a substantial role has been played by Americas Foreign Policy. Several scholars generally tend to regard the nature of American Foreign Policy to be reactionary. The common refrain that emerges from their studies and analyses is that American Foreign Policy in the 20th century has been primarily a defensive response to the actions of other world powers. They claim that during the initial decades after independence, the United States largely followed a policy of Isolationism and aspired to remain neutral in the international political upheavals of the period. Later, when the United States commenced proactive participation in international affairs, American Foreign Policy, it is claimed, never harboured hegemonic aspirations. On the other hand, a large section of the world considers the United States to be essentially an imperious state. The champion of liberal democracy has often been labelled a neo-imperialist country and its Foreign Policy perceived to be predominantly pursuing parochial and self-seeking agenda. It is claimed by this section that, under the garb of altruistic intent, the United States endeavours to spread its hegemony in the world. Over the decades, American Foreign Policy is seen to have acted purely in response to its own appraisal of emerging international situations and incidents. These appraisals have not been based on a collective assessment by the worlds leading nations but instead have been overwhelmingly based on American thoughts and habits. The Foreign Policy of any nation is indeed pursued to promote its interests and to further its objectives in the international arena. Every nation seeks to engage other nations of the world fundamentally to safeguard its own interests and ensure prosperity, whether economic or political, for itself. It is widely accepted that such engagement must occur in a manner that does not transgress the sovereignty of a nation or violate the accepted norms of civilised existence. American Foreign Policy is commonly perceived to often cast aside these norms and aggressively pursue what is considered by many as a parochial agenda. Even as the sole superpower maintains that its actions are motivated by altruistic intent and benevolence towards the lesser privileged nations, its influence and stature in international affairs has grown over the years which in turn, has apparently intensified the imperiousness and hegemonic attitude of the United States. METHODOLOGY Statement Of The Problem The aim of this research is to study the Foreign Policy of the United States of America and the appraisals that have influenced such policy actions so as to conclude whether the United States has engaged in an imperious conduct in international affairs and pursued a hegemonic outlook. Hypothesis Common beliefs and perceptions predominantly suggest that American Foreign Policy has been a reaction to the developments in the world, implying that the United States had essentially been an innocent victim of circumstances. Such perceptions emphatically harp upon the Isolationism policy and neutral attitude of American Foreign Policy as proof of Americas altruism. This research holds such inferences to be only partly correct, if not completely incorrect. It is maintained that the United States of America has always pursued a foreign policy purely to further its own interests without regard to international norms and opinion. The country has steadily shaped its foreign policy well in anticipation of developments and in some cases even without reasonable instigation. American Foreign Policy is considered to be parochial and imperious in nature. Scope Of The Research The turn of the 19th century was a watershed event in American Foreign Policy. It marked a distinct change from the earlier non-interventionist attitude to an outward looking and global approach. This altered stance has been the essence of the American Foreign Policy ever since. This research will examine the principal episodes and events relating to American Foreign Policy between the years 1900 to 2000. Foreign Policy is a reflection of a nations past as much as it is the response to contemporaneous matters. Therefore, to lend perspective as well as a background to the study, this research will briefly dwell upon Americas historical foreign relations prior 1900. History and past events can be objectively assessed only if they are examined in a detached manner. Their study must not influenced by present happenings and current thoughts or perceptions. This research will therefore terminate with the year 2000 because only a decade has elapsed since, which may not adequate to lend objectivity to the study after that period. Organisation Of The Research Foreign Policy of a nation is invariably an evolutionary process. While being a response to current and likely future issues, it relies heavily on past experiences. It either builds upon and consolidates the past successes or learns from its past mistakes and failures. Foreign policy responses to completely new issues tend to derive lesson from past instances of similar nature. This research has, therefore, been undertaken in a chronological order. The study has been chapterised into periods between key international events that influenced the American Foreign Policy. The study is accordingly divided as follows :- Chapter I Introduction and Methodology. Chapter II Historic Backdrop. (Covers the period from the American Independence to the end of the 19th century.) Chapter III Upto the First World War. (Covers the period from the beginning of the 20th century till the First World War.) Chapter IV Inter War Years. (Covers the period between the two World Wars.) Chapter V Cold War Era. (Covers the period following the Second World War till the fall of Communism in the early 1990s.) Chapter VI Post Cold War. (Covers the last decade of the 20th century.) Chapter VII Conclusion. (Summary and Inferences.) Method of Data Collection The data referred to during the course of this research was obtained from published books on the subject. Opinions, analyses and facts were also obtained from various internet resources, journals, periodicals and newspapers of repute. It was endeavoured to consult material from both sides of the divide. Works of Western as well as non-Western authors were referred, to lend objectivity to the study. All sources used for this research have been listed in the bibliography at the end of the research. Important citations and references for specific parts of the study have also been mentioned in the main part of the study in the form of end-notes after each chapter.