John Adams essays

John Adams essays John Adams was born in Braintree, now called Quincy, Massachusettes on October 30, 1735. He graduated from Harvard College in 1755, where he ranked fourteenth out of a class of twenty four people. Adams was the first vice-president and served under George Washington, our first president.Later in 1797, John Adams became our second president serving from 1797 to 1801 with his vice-president being Thomas Jefferson. Adams was the first president to reside in the White House, and the only chief executive whose son served as a president. John was the oldest son of John and Susanna Adams. They lived on a farm in Braintree where John had a deep connection for the family farm. When he was only sixteen years old, he attended Harvard College and graduated with a law degree. In 1758, he began to practice law and met many people who would later influence him as leaders of the Massachusettes Colony. In 1764, John married a lady named Abigal Smith, who he had been seeing for three years. She was the daughter of a minister and together they had five children. In 1818, Abigail passed away after fifty-four years of marriage. On April 30, 1789, John Adams took office as the first vice-president under the authority of George Washington. Adams served for eight years as vice-president even though he often thought it was the "most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived". In 1796, John won the presidental electon and was ignagurarted on March 4, 1797 at Federal Hall, Philidelphia. He served only one term, losing in 1800 to Thomas Jefferson. At the age of sixty-six, Adams moved back to his Massachusettes farm where he spent the last twenty-five years of his life. Even though he never participated in the public life again, he took great pleasure in the career of his son John Quincy Adams, who became president in 1824. John Adams died on July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Decl...

A Civil Action essays

A Civil Action essays This book is about a hotshot lawyer name Jan Schlichtman that gets involved in a lawsuit against two companies in Woburn, Massachusetts. The lawsuit was about toxic waste that was dumped by both companies, W.C. Grace and Beatrice Foods on their property that ended up contaminating the Woburn areas water supply. Eight families claim that the death of their children were caused by trichloroethylene (TCE) in the toxic waste which caused these children to have leukemia, skin rashes, nausea, burning eyes and other ailments. The story continues on to talk about how the families and lawyers try to convince the jury by using evidence that they got from medical experts, public health specialists, geologists, civil engineers, and government agencies to win the case. In the end the financial power and stonewalling of the companies, and the partiality of the presiding judge for one of the defense lawyers resulted in a verdict that favored the defense. At the end of the case Jan Schlichtman had to file bankruptcy because of all the cost. Only when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to launch a clean up and filed a suit against the two companies to pay a share of the cost was the only actual justice served. They said the project would last for 50 years but after they?re all done there will still be TCE left. After reading this book I came to realize that the justice system is messed up. People get favored over based on their reputation, where they went to school, the law firm they work at and etc. The lawyers that represented the two companies were from Harvard and part of a major law firm. The lawyer that represented the families was from a smaller firm and didn't go to a really good college and the judge treated them different in court. Another thing that I realized was that if you don't have specific evidence to prove your point in a case it could get dism ...

Bear Stearns & Co Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bear Stearns & Co - Essay Example gh development rate of new franchisees and their new organization possessed saves, all the unneeded "hit" tapes from their current saves either could gainfully sold to new franchisees for stocking their saves with a base stock, or be utilized to stock the s organizations new stores. Blockbusters administration Pointed out that amortization of goodwill in excess of 40 years is worthy under proper accounting rules (GAAP). Blockbuster ought to be realized that adjusting lapses happen and depending how the loan specialist collects these blunders, the mixed installment (central + investment) may change marginally a few months to keep these mistakes from collecting; or, the gathered slips are balanced for at the end of every year, or at the last advance payment (Penman, 2009). There are a couple of pivotal focuses important when selling a home with an amortized credit. Primarily, there is significant dissimilar portion of the regularly scheduled installments at the investment, particularly amid the initial 18 years of a 40-year contract. 2. The impact on the Blockbusters 1988 earnings per share if 5-year amortization were applied to this goodwill will decrease keeping in mind that terms governing loan amortization is based on the mark of 40 years. In the case underneath, installment 1 apportions around 80-90% of the aggregate payment towards interest and just $67.09 (or 10-20%) at the Principal equalization. The careful rate distributed towards installment of the key relies on upon the investment rate. Not until payment 257 or 21 years into the credit does the installment assignment towards chief and investment level out and in this manner tip most of the regularly scheduled installment to Principal equalization pay down, and I think it is appropriate on this ground. In addition, the level of mortgage monthly payment will be high. 3. The earnings per share if the Video superstore purchases were not included in the 1988 revenues would have been much low keeping in

How ernest hemmingways life is paralleled in his works Essay

How ernest hemmingways life is paralleled in his works - Essay Example His writings remain well known due to his harshness, reductionist technique, and availability to readers. His writings created the way for potboilers and pulp fiction. In the almost sixty-two years of his existence that came after, he created a literary image without exceeding in the twentieth era. In acting as such, he as well formed a mythological champion in himself that encouraged, and some other times confronted not only committed literary critics, but also the intermediary. His life and trademarks remain evident even at current; otherwise, he was a star (Krstovic 20). His life encounters and how they were parallel to his work Born in 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, Ernest Hemingway enjoyed an upper middle group atmosphere, where his dad worked as a physician and his mother had practiced as a singer. The household used to go for summers in Michigan, where Ernest developed his huge admiration of everything that was not indoors. As a teenager, his dad taught him the way to hunt and f ish next to shores and within the bushes encircling Michigan Lake. This admiration of nature lived with him for the whole of his life. Nature could be the touchstone of Hemingway’s life and task. When Ernest finished his secondary education, his uncle assisted him get an employment as a reporter in the Kansas City Star. Therefore, this means that he never went to college after high school. Ernest worked at the Star for around six months (Mark 97). Hemmingway was a great sportsman. He loved portraying hunters, soldiers, and bullfighters. His interest in sports is evident in his high school life. He worked on the school’s newspaper; Tabula and Trapeze, primarily writing on sports. Due to America’s involvement in World War 1, Hemingway attempted to join the US Army. Happy as he was, he did not pass the physical test because of his poor eyesight. The desire to take part in the War did not however end there, and Hemingway enrolled with the Red Cross as an Ambulance d river. Upon coming out of US, Hemingway initially moved to Paris, and then got commands to go to Milan. After a short while after arriving at Milan, he travelled to the city of Schio where he did the job of driving ambulances. While shipping chocolates and cigarettes to war men on the rear, Hemingway got badly wounded on July 8, 1918, by pieces from an Austrian gun shield. Despite being seriously injured by the gun, and knocked by machine mortar fire Hemingway committed himself to safe the protection of his compatriot war men, moving them from the danger zone. The Italian state later gave Hemingway a silver medal of Military Valor for his champion activity (Smith 45). Hemingway stayed for some time nursing injuries at a hospital in Milan, where he met Agnes Von kurowsky, a nurse who came from Washington DC. The nurse had six years in his life older than Hemingway did, but he loved her and organized to go with her home to Oak Park. Despite Hemingway falling in love with Agnes, their love affair did not last his going back to the United States of America. Agnes, after a short while, left Hemingway for another man. This greatly devastated the writer, who was still young in age. This instance contributed to his writing of ‘A Very Short Story’ and ‘A Farewell to Arms’. This is a further instance of instances in the writer’s life that shaped his works. It was later that Hemmingway met his first wife Elizabeth Hadley Richardson whom they got married on 1921. They shifted to Paris, France and towards the end of 1923, as Hadley neared giving her

The stranger was a ghost Essay Example for Free

The stranger was a ghost Essay It was in the summer season I was on my way home for a holiday. I had really longed to be at home especially during this period as it is also the time I celebrate my birthday. I needed to pass by the supermarket and do some shopping since I had planned of having my birthday party indoors with my friends. The big day being only two days away then meant that I needed to do some shopping instead of having to run for some items during the last minute. As I parked my car outside the supermarket and quickly reached out for my ‘to buy list ’I noticed a very pretty lady standing by the telephone booth. But just as I came out I lost interest in her since I was sure that her face didn’t look any familiar. I went ahead to the supermarket and there did most of my shopping, which took quite some time, approximately 2hours. I went to the counter and paid and pushed the carrier to the car, suddenly I realized that I had misplaced my key to the car door, looked in my shopping bags, nothing! Inside my jeans pockets but lo! I was then sure of one thing, that my key must be lying some where in the shelves of the supermarket where I must have placed them as I read the prices and probably compared what quantities of items to buy. Any one would have forgiven me as I was a bit confused with the huge shopping something that I was not used to. I made to the supermarkets but as I entered I saw the same lady again, this time I noticed that she actually looked at me as if ready to say hey but I was in much haste of which she must have noticed. I went right in the supermarket and started going from one shelf to another; appeared like I was doing a double task because I literally went to all the shelves I had earlier picked items from. The key was right on the last shelf what a pity? Had I thought of doing the rounds but on a reverse I would have saved a lot of time! The lady made a point of stopping me on my way out, she called me â€Å"Paul is it you†? I turned to her and said no am sorry but my name is Peter. But were you at Braubern High School? I told her yes that is where I went for my high school education and had a friend by the name Paul and people mistook us for another so this wasn’t so unusual. So I was kind to her and told her that I was abit in a hurry and so needed to go. She was reluctant but said if I didn’t mind for her to give me her mobile phone contacts so that incase I met Paul I would give it to him. I reached out for my phone and apologized to her that my day had been hectic as I had even misplaced the key to my car. She told me that she had noticed that I had lost peace when she saw me running back to the supermarket. I reached for my phone and she gave me her contacts and when she gave her name as Tracy I gave her a second look since that was the name of my first girlfriend. A girl I had met at a theatre in college and we had talked for so long on the first night that by the time we were actually parting ways to go back to our school vans we felt like we had known each other half our lives! One thing I was sure about was that this is not her at least not my Tracy. Whatever had happened between me and Tracy was sort of a mystery because after seeing each other for quite sometime during vacation, had fallen for one another intimately and had known that for sure we were meant to be together and that we were to do anything within our powers to make it happen. The last time I had seen Tracy was at the beach and coincidentally it was also the best time together. But she had disappeared from me in a mysterious way, a way that I can’t describe as she felt me taking a drink at the beach and she had told me she needed to sand bath, something I never enjoyed doing but she had told me that she would be back in a while. That is the last I saw her. I made reports about that and even the search of her in the waters became fruitless. I had only known that she lived alone and was actually an immigrant so efforts to track her family were frustrated especially because after her education she had moved to another state. Anyway all this I remembered after this lady gave her name as Tracy and inside I was burning with an interest of knowing her more, knowing if she had anything to do with my girlfriend. I quickly told her that I would be calling her later and she was like that is very okay and indeed she was looking forward to communicating with me later. I gave my phone contact too. As I drove home that evening I kept remembering all the good things that had happened between me and the initial Tracy, the way we had loved each other, the promises we had promised each other, the respect and all that, and I felt I missed her, missed her hugely! A cold chill ran through my backbone for I could not avoid remembering that she had disappeared mysteriously. Perhaps she had left me through this way intentionally or may be it was as a result of not loving me as she had appeared to. Could it have been a way of hurting me? I had promised to take my time before committing to another girl but sincerely speaking I knew I would not mind having this second Tracy as a close friend, perhaps to help me forget of my past love life. My night was full of this lady! The following day I made up my mind and called her, I was not going to suffer in silence anymore, I asked her if I could met her for an hour as we have a drink over our talks and she told me she could only get available in the evening, this didn’t exactly suit my agenda since I needed to be home the whole evening and doing preparations for the following day but I all the same said that was okay to see her then. I was so anxious, seeing like time was on a stand still, like the clock had stopped ticking. I was not sure if it was okay to tell her the old story of the other lady, or to first give her time and observe her character, I was only sure of one thing: that I needed to be with her, at least even if it was for an hour! Time came and we had sat and made our orders that I kept stealing glances at her not to appear rude if I stared, I told her about my following day agendas and infact invited her also to the party. One thing led to another and we had stayed out late, when I asked her if she could come with me for the preparations she didn’t hesitate but said as long she could get a taxi from my place to her home in the late hours after helping. Tracy was so helpful she did most of what was worrying me and In a short while, then I asked if it would be okay if I let her sleep in the guest room and maybe leave in the morning to return later for the party. She must have also liked me as she said no problem, that whole evening she made me feel important, a man†¦..wanted and loved, there are the moments in my life I hoped that would last forever. We kissed and hugged tons! Finally I showed her where to rest for the night and I closed the main door and went to my room to rest also. I was up early the following day and after I made breakfast, I made it to the room where she was supposedly asleep and tried calling her name but Lo! There was no one there! Absolutely no one! Why had this happened to me again? Why had I gone all the way with a stranger? How had she made her way out? I had had the key to the main door all the night. Why was this spirit following me? For at this moment I had no doubts that this was a ghost even of the same first Tracy. My day was completely spoilt, when my friends arrived later in the day they had to make food for themselves for I had not done a thing, I was even scared and stayed out at the verandah all the day thinking that if I went inside the house the ghost would haunt me, believing It was still within. My friends then moved me to another apartment and I sworn to myself never again, Strangers not me!

Comparing the Religions of Christianity and Hinduism Essay -- compare

â€Å"If I were asked to define the Hindu creed, I should simply say: Search after truth through non-violent means. A man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu. Hinduism is a relentless pursuit after truth... Hinduism is the religion of truth. Truth is God.† -- Mahatma Gandhi "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." -- C. S. Lewis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hinduism and Christianity are two religions that have been around for thousands of years. These religions have developed philosophies on certain subjects that can be compared in order to show their similarities and differences. Some of the main subjects that can be reflected upon are the paths to enlightenment or salvation, the religions' treatment of women, and the concept of the afterlife. This paper will give an analytic comparison of these religions through the discussion of these topics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most important elements of these religions is their history. The Hindu religion disputably began around 2500 years before the Common Era (B.C.E.) in India. It was geographically based along the Indus River, which was called â€Å"Hindu† by the Persians who had migrated there. They also called the land Hindustan and it’s inhabitants, Hindus. After that, the religion that followed was called Hinduism. Today, almost 800 million people practice the Hindu religion (Spodek, 261) More than a religion, Hinduism is a way of life and a philosophy that is most concerned with spirituality and enlightenment. The idealism of the Hindu religion comes from the Vedas, which are the Hindu religion's oldest scriptures and are considered to be a direct revelation of God. The Upanishads are writings that take their themes from the Vedas. The Upanishads, however, seem to be more along the lines of allegories that give a fleshy quality to the religion rather than a very dry and out of touch feel that can be found in other religious texts. Lastly, the Bhagavad-Gita is a collection of teachings that are based on the conversation between Arjuna, a soldier for one of two warring families, and Lord Krishna, who appears as Arjuna's charioteer. In these conversations the two discuss everything from the purpose of life to the basis of reality. Much like Christian proverbs, the teachings of Lord Krishna give advice and general good sense and... ... to the physical realm. The Christian version only allows for one life to determine the fate of one's eternity. It seems that the only way to miss the trip to heaven would be to denounce Jesus and not give for forgiveness, but who is going to do that if given the option in eternity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The comparison of these two religions is one that is full of differences with the occasional similarity. Mainly, I find Hinduism to be a religion full of positive aspects that give meaning and importance to any of its follower's lives. Conversely, Christianity is a religion that is steeped in contradiction and confusion. It uses guilt and dire consequences to push people into it arms. Where Hinduism allows for personal choice at a personal price, Christianity allows for personal freedom with almost no responsibility for personal action. Works Cited Spodek, Howard. The World's History. Second Edition. Calmann & King Ltd. London. 2001. Eastman, Roger. The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. N.Y. 1999 Jayaram, V. "Traditional Status of Women in Hinduism." Web. 15 May 2015. http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_women.asp

Psychology and New Technology Program Essay

ABC Corporation has made a decision to purchase a new technology program for their employees. Because this technology program is new, employees ranging from age 17- 70 needs to be train. Training must be complete with six months. Before training is implement, four fundamental principles of adult education, including psychological, sociocultural, biological, and cognitive must be analyze. Because of the age range it would feasible to divide the employee into two groups. First group is Young learners (YL) age group 17-25 and the second group is Adult learners (AL) age group 26-71. The AL group will require multiple sessions because of the number of employee in this group. Before training begins, both groups must prepare for learning, therefore an open discussion regarding the new technology program, training plan process and how it will affect the employees will be discuss, this discussion will gain support and full participation from the employees. After analyzing both groups, the biological factor for the YL group will not have a strong impact. Most young learner between the ages of 17-25 is computer knowledgeable and is familiar with the 21st century social media and is open for change with new technology. YL group would benefit from Web-Based Training (WBT) instead of the traditional classroom forum. Many young leaners prefer a teaching method that would keep them engaged, and eager. WBT is the delivery method for the YL group. The adult learners (AL) ages 26-70 may not be a computer literate and would benefit from the traditional classroom approach. The AL group would require the adult educator to have patience, slow lecturing, plenty of hands on exercise, and frequent breaks. Hands on exercise are a memory factor that would benefit the AL group two months after been train. Most adults learners tend to forget what they have learned. Information that goes into adult leaner memory is memorize if the learner practices remembering the information soon after he or she learns it. Psychological factors deals with individuals’ way of thinking and learning. Separating the groups would allow the employees to learn and collaborate within their age group. Developing two groups will allow the learners to relate to each other, and feel comfortable learning. Training both groups together would be challenging for the adult educator as well as the employees. The possibility of redundant questions would slow down the class, which could result in less participation. Cognitive factor is the process of obtaining knowledge through experiences. The Adult learner (AL) is in charge of their own learning. They focus on what will advance their career and life circumstances. The Young learners (YL) rely on others to tell them what they should learn. Both groups learning environment has an impact on how well they comprehend the new technology program. The YL group would benefit from a self pace, web base training module or a stimulation module with active interaction of practical and theory scenarios. Each module will require an assessment and a passing score of 90% or higher to advance to the next module. This learning style would allow the YL group to continue to make use of 21st technology. The AL group would not benefit from web base training. Most adult learners are not comfortable learning new technology, in this case the employees does not have an option. The AL group who is not adaptive to change would find it challenging to learn a new technology program via a computer; this would be an internal factor that may take time to overcome. The job of the trainer is to make the learner apart of the learning process, by asking for volunteers, or asking experiences related questions. The AL groups are concern with why and how to apply this new technology. Sociocultural deals with how adults deal with individual learning and how learning takes place. Dividing employees into separate groups will be beneficial at the end of training. Both groups can relate to their own learning team. The YL group want experience classroom group interaction with their team. Web-based training (WBT) is similar to distance learning. There will be online discussion, and e-mail dialogue. The AL group will build possibly new relationships, interact more, discuss challenges, and success. In conclusion, in order for the ABC Company to be effective with the new technology program, the recommendation is to divide the employees into separate groups, and categorize them as Adult Learner (AL), Young Learners (YL). This approach would be beneficial from the adult learner perspective and applying the four fundamental principles, simplifies the training plan and the assurance that training will be complete successfully within six months. Afterward employees will be able to apply the new concepts, and best practices of the new technology program.

Performance pay for MGOA Physicians (A) Essay

On a warm day in June of 1998, Dr. Harry Rubash stood in front of a bookshelf in his new office arranging photographs of his family and former colleagues in Pittsburgh. He looked out his window to the profusion of hospital buildings and tangled Boston streets below. It was a good picture, he thought, of the problems that faced him in his new position at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Dr. James Herndon, his former colleague at the hospital system of the University of Pittsburgh, had brought him to MGH to take over as chief of orthopaedics at Massachusetts General Orthopaedic Associates (MGOA). Herndon himself was new to MGH, having recently taken over as chairman of Partners Orthopaedics.1 Rubash and Herndon faced the ominous challenge of restoring the financial health of the ailing MGOA. The Hospital’s History In service since 1811, MGH was the third hospital founded in the United States and included the first orthopaedic service in the country, founded in 1899 by Dr. Joel E. Goldthwait, a pioneer in the field. The department had a long history of providing outstanding clinical care, in addition to making significant contributions to medical research and teaching. It was an MGH doctor who first made the discovery of a herniated disc. In fact, the annals of orthopaedic literature were filled with disorders that bore the names of the MGH doctors who discovered them. The prestige of both MGH and the orthopaedic department was well-deserved. In 1998, the year Rubash and Herndon arrived, the 12 surgeons at MGOA performed over 2,000 surgeries (see Table A for the number of surgeries performed from 1997 to 1999).2 The range of procedures performed covered everything from knee arthroscopy to hip replacements, to spinal surgery. The group also had a history of providing services to a wide array of patients across the socio-economic spectrum. Table B shows the group received revenues from patients with private insurance companies, patients on Medicare (government insurance for the elderly) and Medicaid (government insurance for low-income individuals and families), those covered by worker’s compensation, and self-pay patients (those without insurance). 1 Partners Healthcare was the parent company of the Massachusetts General Hospital. 2 MGOA surgeons had 252 days of surgical time per year. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Professor Jason R. Barro, Kevin J. Bozic, MD (MBA 2001), and Research Associate Aaron M. G. Zimmerman prepared the original version of this case, Performance Pay for MGOA Physicians (A), HBS No. 902-159 which is being replaced by this version prepared by the same authors. Some names in the case have been changed. HBS cases are developed solely as the basis for class discussion. Cases are not intended to serve as endorsements, sources of primary data, or illustrations of effective or ineffective management. Copyright  © 2003 President and Fellows of Harvard College. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, call 1-800-545-7685, write Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163, or go to http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of Harvard Business School. This document is authorized for use only in Human Resources Management – MMHA 6220 by Angela Montgomery at Laureate Education – Baltimore from February 2014 to February 2015.

Billy Graham essays

Billy Graham essays "This is the Hour of Decision with Billy Graham, coming to you from Minneapolis Minnesota" Billy Graham, has preached to more than 210 million people through a live audience, more than anyone else in history. Not only that, but Mr. Graham has reached millions more through live televison, video and film. This has led Billy to be on the "Ten Most Admired Men in the World" from the Gallup Poll since 1955 a total of thirty-nine times. This includes thirty-two consecutive more than any other individual in the world, placing him as the most popular American for about forty years. This essay is going to talk about Graham's personal life, and what kind of family he grew up in and im also going to talk in detail about how he became an evangelist, because I feel it is very important yet interesting. His accomplishments in the fifties are uncomparable, so I will be including a considerable amount of information concerning that topic. Finally I will be talking about his personal achievements, books written, and how he has been a companion to some of the American Presidents. William Franklin Graham Jr. was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 17, 1918. Graham was raised on a dairy farm by William Franklin (deceased 1962) and Morrow Coffey Graham (deceased 1981). In 1943 he married his wife Ruth McCue Bell, and had four children Virginia 1945, Anne Morrow 1948, Ruth Bell 1950, William Franklin, Jr. 1952, and Nelson Edman 1958. At age eighty, he keeps fit by swimming, playing with is nineteen grand children, and from aerobic walking, in the mountains of North Carolina, where he currently lives. (Billy Graham Best Sellers, 1999) Billy Graham told Time Magazine in one article about his life before becoming a preacher. "I lived on a farm. The only difference was I had to get up early in the morning and go milk cows. When I came back from school that day, I had to milk those same cows. There were about twenty cows I had to mi...

Air Transportation - Smart Custom Writing Samples

Air Transportation - Smart Custom Writing Gay MarriagesIn the United States, homosexuality and consequently, same-sex marriages, has resulted in a lot of controversy and the trading of accusations and counter-accusations. Conceptually, marriage is defined as a legal and religious long-term commitment between two people of the opposite sex. This stretches further to incorporate rights in financial responsibilities and benefits as assigned to heterosexual couples. However, this traditional view is increasingly facing change and opposition. Several states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Iowa, the District of Columbia and, New Jersey have already reflected this clamour for change and adopted legislation allowing gay marriages. In these states therefore, homosexual couples have the freedom to decide whether to marry or not in a legally acceptable manner. The gay couples can enjoy mutual couple benefits such as legal spouse representation, medical visitations, pension benefits and inheritance rights accorded to the bereaved. In a few other states such as Rhode Island, Hawaii, Maine, Colorado and Wisconsin have instituted domestic partnership laws whereby gay couples can enjoy limited rights though gay marriages are out rightly outlawed. This has however not influenced the society to radically accept gay couples and end all stigma and discrimination directed unto them. Proponents of the entrenchment of gay rights into the United States Constitution argue that barring homosexual marriages is tantamount to discrimination. The essence of the United States Constitution is to protect and preserve minorities' rights and hence gay advocates feel that the federal government or anyone else should not bar marriage to any minorities. This argument is further supported by the Interracial Marriage Act whereby marriages across races were prohibited in the United States till 1967. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the pros and cons of gay marriages and evaluate them from a basis of whether it is plausible to not only legalise them but also mount awareness campaigns to de-stigmatize them, (Dunlap, 15 march 1995). There are various arguments that have been put forward in support of gay marriages. These range from rights in freedom in the Bill of Rights, inherent rights, societal perspectives and biological claims. First, lobbyists and advocates for gay couples feel that if they are not legalized, this will be tantamount to isolation of their rights to religious freedom. Opponents to this have expressed the fact that all major religions consider homosexual relationships as a sin. However, the First Amendment as entrenched in the American Constitution that every person’s rights and views pertaining to religion or lack thereof be it a minority group or not, must be protected. The marriage institution is a secular and societal activity in contrast to the widely acknowledged view as a solely religious perspective of people’s lives. Therefore, the government cannot base laws on a religious concept. This can be equated as entrenching the mentioning of God’s name in vain as a crim e. Secondly, benefits that accrue to a married couple such as joint property ownership and medical benefits are also accorded to gay couples if their unions are legalized. Vital societal and mutual benefits such as tax reduction, property ownership, insurance benefits and agency laws affect a couple’s decision-making. For instance, if a partner in a gay couple that has lived together for twenty years falls ill, visitation rights to the other partner are denied since they are not recognized by law as the next of kin or spouse. Therefore, critical decisions such as incapacitation are not discussed conclusively by the couple. This, as the advocates pointedly illustrate, is unfair just because these individuals do not fit a state definition. Thirdly, gay couples and various couples not only feel that this is an accepted lifestyle but also cite biological causation. Over time, the widely held conception that homosexuality is a deviant sexual behavior is fading out. History, dating back to the Greece indicates the existence of homosexual relationships and the origin of such terms such as Lesbos for lesbians. Psychological research is underway that has already achieved in showing that same-sex relationships have a biological causation. However, caution should be taken to differentiate this from a genetic causation which has no substantial basis. This is depicted by the fact that in most gay couples, one partner exhibits characteristics of the opposite sex such as softer voices in males and strong cheekbones in females. There would be absolutely no need for an individual to choose to be gay in a world that frowns upon the same. This argument therefore renders support to the implied theory that homosexuality is involuntary, ( Hetter, 3June 1996). Fourthly, denying gay couple the right to a legal marriage is discriminatory. America was founded on the concept of majority rule with the protection of minorities such as the anti-slavery acts and inter-racial marriages. Furthermore, it does not hurt anyone in particular or the society. A marriage is deemed as a personal commitment between two people and should not be dictated upon by society. On to the fifth argument for gay marriages, it is important to note marriages are founded on the basis of love not the mutual benefits accorded by the state on couples. This is a life-time commitment whereby the partners vow to support each other through thick and thin and forsake all others till death. It is noteworthy that legal maneuvers accorded to couples in several states have not served to quest the clamor for legalization and acceptance of marriages. This implies there is more to these marriages than just legal aspects. The sixth argument put forward is that gay marriages will entrench family values whereby couples will give up high-risk sexual behaviors. This is a two-edged approach whereby the opposite can be viewed as the erosion of family virtues. However, marriages encourage people to settle down and give up frivolous lifestyles which expose them to STDs and other risks. When married couples commit to building a life together, they depict a positive desirable behavior that should be encouraged, (Member Resolution and Opinion Poll, 2005 ). Finally, it is important to note that gay couples enjoy the same financial benefits and constraints encountered by heterosexual marriages. Therefore, a homosexual marriage ensures couples support each other especially in the face of the ongoing turbulent economic times. They can easily meet their bills and utilities and live the American dream if these unions are legalized. On the other hand, opponents to this legislation have come up with a myriad number of reasons as to why gay marriages should not be legalized. First and chief among these is the religious aspect. Most religions in the world today consider homosexuality a great sin. Homosexuality is not only deeply opposed by the various religions in the country but it is also deemed offensive. It is seen as limiting the freedom of religion enjoyed by the majority. The fact that the United States Constitution was founded under a religious perspective and highly borrows from the Christian Bible further serves to indicate the citizens’ opposition to homosexuality. Hence, laws prohibiting homosexuality should be upheld,. Secondly, the legalization of gay marriages shall weaken the definition and perspective attached to marriage as per se. With rising cases of divorce, which are projected at 50 percent, the respect accorded to marriages has already been weakened. Gay marriages, if legalized, are expected to increase the number of non-serious marriages viewed as making fun of this serious intuition such as individuals desiring to be tax-exempt. This shall be in utter contrast to the widely felt view that marriage is a sacred institution that should be well-adhered to. Further, this is supported by the fact that only people in the opposite sex can pro-create. Most activists against homosexuality feel that it encourages adoption while ignoring pro-creation, which is viewed as a gift from God. Secondly, the full adoption of marriage into the social setup shall ideally weaken the perspective in which traditional family values are held as the most vital in society. The chief building blocks of every society is the traditional nuclear family setup of man, woman and children. This has been the reason as to why societies have managed to remain rational throughout historical events such as the world wars, the great depression and other similar challenges. Family members have always stuck up close even when friends and lovers forsake thee. Therefore, it is noteworthy that our societies are crumbling due to the increasing change in perception of families and the weakening of their structure. Introducing another perceptive view to the already weakened family view shall definitely worsen the situation. Thirdly, this would trigger a slippery slope in the scope of the legality of marriages. Contrary to the proposition by gay proponents that these marriages would hurt no-one, this would trigger the onset of a chain reaction that would ultimately lead to a radical change in the whole idea of marriage. Abhorrent traits such as incest in which closely relate family members intermarry may come up. There is therefore a need to define the institution of family and marriage firmly, otherwise, the options and variations might prove to be endless. This may sound absurd, but it is vital to note that it does not take the majority to change this but a few activist judges to change these laws by interpreting them under the doctrine of stare decisis so as to impose this on everyone just as was the case in where two judges in California declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, (Dunlap, 15 march 1995). Finally, the gay culture, under a psychological analysis and review, should not be encouraged. This is since it leads to psychological disorders, much lower life expectancy which is indicated at less than twenty years in comparison to the general population which can be attributed to the hassles experienced by this couples; and the highly likely transmittance of Sexually Transmitted Diseases as is the case in the studies conducted in Haiti by Centre of Disease Control. There is therefore a need to discourage unhealthy practices that are detrimental to humanity, (Hetter, 3June 1996). In conclusion, it is important to note the controversy on gay marriages and homosexuality is a societal issue that must be resolved. Either the proponents and advocates of homosexuality will attain legislative and mutual recognition over time or the opponents of this change will manage to contain this whirlwind. It is therefore vital to analyze various articles that have appeared in the recent past which act as pointers as to the direction this crucial debate is taking,. References D, W. (August 22, 2008). What's the Harm?: Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Really Harm Individuals, Families or Society? Lanham: University Press of America. Dunlap, D. (15 march 1995). Some States Trying To Stop Gay Marriages Before They Start. wall street journal , 18. Hetter, K. ( 3June 1996). The New Civil Rights Battle . U.S News and World Report , 28-31. Member Resolution and Opinion Poll. ( 2005 , August Friday,26). Retrieved November 18, 2010,

Analyze a current or past relationship and create a strategy for Essay

Analyze a current or past relationship and create a strategy for managing it - Essay Example Losing contact with each other, we both had strings of relationships until both of us had our families. Both of us had only one child out of our own marriages and both of us got divorced from our spouses. Twenty years later, Andy came back to visit me at my mom’s house. He just took a chance if I was there, and was surprised when I was, as I was also visiting her. It was a pleasant surprise for both of us. At first, it was awkward seeing your first love two decades later when a whole lifetime has passed in between. We caught up with each other’s lives, but did not have enough time, since he was flying back to Australia the following day. A week later, I found a friend request on Facebook from Andy which I happily accepted. Since that time, we have spent much time chatting with each other, and even tried video-chatting a few times. Over time, we realized we were still in love with each other after all these years. Although we did not officially declare that we are once a gain a couple, we treat each other as if we are. I cannot fully commit to him because I did not really believe in long distance relationships, and somehow, had doubts as to his relationship history, since he has shared that he’s been into several relationships after his divorce. I, myself, have not gone dating after my divorce, so I had several qualms about getting into a serious relationship at this point in my life. Meanwhile, I decided to enjoy what Andy and I currently have, without the complications of commitment. It is what is known in social networking sites as a relationship status of â€Å"It’s Complicated†. Attraction Our initial attraction to each other was physical. Andy was a very handsome teenager, and was quite popular with the girls. On the other hand, I did not look bad myself, being a cheerleader and a prom queen contender. Knowing each other well as we dated exclusively in our teens, the attraction went beyond the surface. I discovered that he had a kind heart which was compassionate to others in need. He was a very good son and brother and to top it all, he had a sense of humor that complemented mine. I admired his drive and ambition to be successful, and envied his focus and persistence in his studies. I was sure that he was a great catch and would be an ideal husband and father as well as a successful professional in the future. Andy admitted that he fell in love with my feminine ways and the way I treated my family and friends. He felt very protective over me because I was so naive. He liked the fact that I was very down-to-earth and did not waste my time on shallow things such as fashion, make-up and boys. He loved my simplicity and the fact that I was a homebody, very skilled in cooking and home design and organization. He also thought I would make the perfect wife and mother someday. Our short term and long-term attraction factors for each other may be explained theoretically. Matlin (2008) explains gender differe nces in attraction partner as based on an evolutionary psychology approach. According to this approach, people’s preferences have roots in evolution where men prefer young, attractive, healthy-looking women who are likely to pass on men’s genes to the next generation. On the other hand, women are drawn to men who are economically stable to ensure that their future children are well provided for (Matlin, 2008). Women were also found to value a partner’s ambition, industriousness and social dominance as well as emotional

Le corbusier Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Le corbusier - Research Paper Example During his life, he received two prestigious awards for his immense development of human life housing standards (Gans 12). He greatly, influenced urbanization in France through his designs that were used to house important departments for the French government. Moreover, he helped curb the increase of slum dwellings through the designing of ultra modern houses of improved standards (Corbusier 9). He died in August 27, 1965 at the age of seventy-seven after taking a swim at the Mediterranean Sea due to a presumed heart attack. This paper will take a broad look into Le Corbusier history, his remarkable work, and his unique architectural style. It will, also cite his most important architectural works that are used as points of reference in today’s house designing field. Le Corbusier initial publications were in French leading to the publication of the first English translation in 1927 by British author Fredrick Etchells. According to, Etchells mass and volume were relatively the same, which was not the case in the original French version of the book. His linguistic style was also desirable, as his choice of words to describe his designs was difficult to paraphrase even to well educate scholars (Wogenscky 54). Arguably, his designs drew inspiration from nature and the environment at large to bring out its unique characteristics. They involved the use of indefinite shapes and sizes to strike an amazing balance of design. His journals were instrumental in the facilitation of acknowledgement of integral architectural reforms. Initially, he kept his work to himself but after gaining exposure through mingling with other established artists, he saw the need to venture into it commercially. In the end, his expansion took a slow turn due to the hefty financial burden imposed on him. His book collection was on drawings and journals that he had done through his traversing of Europe. Subsequently, he was a prophet in the architectural world as his designs are visible in today’s structures. In other words, he foretold the building of the more than one storey building. In addition, this great architect took notice in the work of engineers who built bridges that connected one area to another. In relation to his designs, the people of the lower class would have a better quality of life through living in better-built homes. Controversially, he disregarded The Gare d’Orsay and the Grand Palais buildings on grounds of them not being recognizable architecture (Corbusier 13). In his words, Paris was becoming wasteland architecture wise. Comparisons what he used to describe his pieces as at some point he compared houses to ocean liners as the only difference between the two would be that one is mobile while the other is not. This led to the invention a staircase design borrowed from the ocean liners concept of access. In many of his journals, he exhibited his keen eye in visualizing houses to other objects for example airplanes. He cited the airplanes ability to stay in the air and its mobility at the same time. This is where he decided to use the concept of suspension from the ground for his designs. In that, possibilities were right before people’s eyes but it was hard for them to read the lines. Over the years, his work was the backbone in the building of many town structures. Essentially, the establishment of various cultural heritage sites in his honor was inevitable due to his contribution to modernization. To date, there are