What Constitutes an Ethical Response

The Consciousness Raising Model

The Consciousness Raising Model Abstract Consciousness raising model is a process of creating awareness in a new language, learning it and then using it in conversations. Generally, the first step in consciousness-raising model in relation to English language is creating awareness that the language exists, and then distinguishing it from other languages and lastly, using it to communicate. New language consciousness is important, as it helps in making communication easier.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Consciousness Raising Model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Even though people master their first language easily, it is also possible for them to master other languages, especially when the best strategies of consciousness-raising are adopted. In most cases, when learning strategies used match with the learners’ needs and preferences, the learning process becomes easier. Nevertheless, consciousness-raising strategies in second lan guage learning are usually based on motivation of learners, aptitude test, learner’s cognitive ability, and the styles used in learning. These strategies have been proved by personality and social psychologists to be among the factors that determine individuals’ cognitive abilities. Introduction Consciousness-raising model is used to promote and develop cognitive ability of a learner in acquisition of a second language. Second language acquisition is the process that allows learners to master a new language, which is usually different from their first language. Teachers play a big role in raising consciousness on new language by allowing them to recognize its form, meaning, and context, and then learning how to use it. For example, a learner may first learn phrasal verbs used in English and then try to distinguish them from other sounds in other languages before they can be able to communicate using the language. Generally, in raising consciousness about a new language , learners’ differences cannot be ignored, hence the need for discussing second language acquisition in relation to the psychology of the learners. Therefore, this paper will discuss consciousness-raising model and strategies, as well as the styles that can be used in promoting second language learning, specifically the English language. It will also discuss the various individual differences that influence consciousness in second language acquisition, including personality traits and mood of the learners (Robinson, 2002).Advertising Looking for term paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Individual Differences and Consciousness Raising in Language Acquisition In order to come up with the best strategies for consciousness-raising process in second language acquisition, it is important to consider individuals’ differences and characteristics, mainly because they give the basis about their l anguage aptitude, learning styles, and motivation, which are very important contributors in the process of learning a second language (DÃ ¶rnyei, 2005). Individuals’ differences and characteristics that have contributed largely towards raising consciousness in second language acquisition include personality, moods, and learning motivation strategies. Therefore, it is important to consider values, interests, learning coping styles and social identity and relationships of the learners (Johnson, 2004). In addition, their cognitive perceptions and psychological aspects of life including health and educational lifestyle should be given priority in the process of raising consciousness in second language acquisition. Besides, individuals’ characteristics such as attitudes, emotions, skills, socio-economic status, and gender should also be given enough emphasis in order to develop better strategies of learning a second language. Evidently, proper analysis of these qualities w ill give more genetic codes about an individual’s cognitive skills, interpersonal abilities, and emotional attachments, which are very important in acquisition of second language (Macaro, 2010) Individual moods and Consciousness Raising in Language Acquisition Individuals’ moods and personality play an important role in the way individuals communicate, as well as in their self-esteem and beliefs. Therefore, a teacher should be sensitive to these moods and personality traits when raising consciousness about a second language in order to prevent instances of anxiety and fear in the learning process (DÃ ¶rnyei, 2005). Again, personality, temperament, and moods go hand in hand in the learning process, hence the need to consider them in the second language acquisition and learning process. Given that a learner is being introduced to new ideas and sounds, it is important to ensure that they are in the best mood to recognize and internalize what is being taught in order for the learning process to be effective.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Consciousness Raising Model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Due to this important role that personality plays in the learning process, it is important to give it more emphasis in order to enhance effectiveness of second language acquisition and consciousness-raising process. One of the ways of studying personality involves the use of the big five model. This model involves controlling the use of common sense, hence determining an individual’s emotional stability and consciousness, which lead to good results and good performance in the learning process (Saville-Troike, 2005). Personality and Consciousness Raising in Language Acquisition According to social and personality psychologists, an individual’s personality has great effect on the process of his or her linguistic ability and second language acquisition (Ellis, 2003) . Again, personality plays a significant role in speech acquisition, which makes it important for personality aspects and applied linguistics to be largely considered in the process of teaching oral language including speech. Indeed, research shows these two aspects have an important impact on the theoretical aspects and application in raising consciousness in second language study and learning. Besides, it is important to consider language aptitude of the learner, since it has great influence on the cognitive aspect of second language acquisition. It is also important if the individual’s mental ability is considered in teaching some language styles and methodologies, since the reasoning and thinking skills should be well developed for consciousness-raising process to be effective. Nevertheless, psychologists believe that the process of acquiring new knowledge and processing information depends mostly on the mental abilities (Ellis, 2003). Motivation and Intelligence Developm ent According to research, it is clear that second language acquisition depends on an individual’s intelligence quotient. Hence, it is important to improve the intelligence of learners in order to facilitate the acquisition of English as a second language (Ellis, 2003). Modern language aptitude test, which involves testing numbering, phonetic script, and spelling clues, is also very important in the process of learning English as a second language; hence, the test should be used as one of the strategies of raising consciousness in learning second language.Advertising Looking for term paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, factors such as role learning ability, grammatical sensitivity, and phonetic coding ability should be put into consideration in the process of learning English as a second language. For an individual to learn more effectively, it is usually important that auditory ability, verbal intelligence, and inductive language learning ability of the learner be improved to gain more knowledge about the rules governing the use of English language (Ellis, 2003). The use of good motivational strategies has been regarded as some of the means and ways of improving second language acquisition, since it increases learners’ self-confidence, thereby giving them more courage to express themselves using the new language learnt. Motivation also gives learners, the courage to be involved in self-evaluation, hence leading to self-improvement towards learning of the second language (DÃ ¶rnyei, 2005). Styles Used in Raising Consciousness in Language Acquisition Theories such as task motiv ation theory can be used in order to improve awareness in English language acquisition. Parental influence, learner’s beliefs, and giving feedback to learners can also be effective in motivating learners to become more aware about the use of the new language (Lamb Reinders, 2008). Various styles can be used in raising consciousness in language acquisition such as the use of reflective observation as well as the use of divergence and convergence, including both active and concrete styles of learning. These styles will enable individual learners to develop their own thinking abilities and generate concrete ideas. It is also important that learners be allowed to involve in try-outs, which involve guessing meaning of phrases, verbs and other stylistic linguistics used in English language, followed by continuous and consistent practice. Deductive and inductive styles of learning should also be applied in raising consciousness about a new language in order to enhance faster learni ng of the second language (Robinson, and Ellis, 2008). Conclusion From the above discussion, it is clear that learning a second language requires raising consciousness about the new language and then using strategies that match an individual’s needs and preferences in order to produce positive results. Again, it is clear that personality and individual characteristics play a major role in influencing the effectiveness of consciousness-raising process in second language acquisition. In addition, various style of language learning should be considered in raising consciousness on acquisition of the second language, given that learning different languages requires different styles. From the paper, it is also evident that an individual’s moods and capabilities, including the intelligence level, determine the level of consciousness needed in acquisition of a second language. Cognitive ability must be well developed in order to accommodate the various complex rules and method ologies in second language learning. Moreover, since language promotes easier communication and relationships between individuals, it is important to establish the best strategies that will enhance raising consciousness about the new language and allow learners to use it effectively. Therefore, consciousness-raising strategies discussed above should be adopted in order to promote the acquisition of English as a second language. References DÃ ¶rnyei, Z. (2005). The Psychology of the Language Learner: Individual Differences in Second Language Acquisition. New Jersey, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers. Ellis, R. (2003).Second language acquisition. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Johnson, M. (2004). Philosophy of Second Language Acquisition. New Haven, CT, USA: Yale University Press. Lamb, T., Reinders, H. (2008). Learner and Teacher Autonomy: Concepts, Realities, and Responses. Amsterdam, Netherlands: John Benjamin’s publishing Company. Macaro, E. (2010). C ontinuum Companion to Second Language Acquisition. London, England: Continuum International Publishing. Robinson, P. (2002). Individual Differences and Instructed Language Learning. Philadelphia, USA: John Benjamin’s. Robinson, P., and Ellis, N. (2008). Handbook of cognitive linguistics and second language acquisition. New York, USA: Routledge. Saville-Troike, M. (2005). Introducing second language acquisition. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Cultural Diversity And Subcultures In The United States Essay

Cultural Diversity And Subcultures In The United States - Essay Example It is interesting to consider the process by which a subculture acclimates to life in the United States. Some may choose to hold fast to as many of their native values and traditions as possible while others may quickly forget who they used to be in exchange for adopting as American customs and value as quickly as possible. Still, others strive for that balance between being proud of their own heritage and accepting that they need to adapt to their new way of life in America. Much research has been conducted on this topic, particularly, in terms of how adolescents acculturate to American culture. Perhaps the two most dominant cultures forming a subculture in the United States would be those from an Asian culture and those of the Hispanic heritage. Since 1965, for example, there has been a steady increase in the number of Korean Americans residing in the country. They are predominately located in California and New York, forming their own subculture in many areas of Los Angeles and New York City, in addition to other pockets around the country as well. Koreans have very strong bonds with their family, and they have a strong sense of Asian values. Research has shown that they largely maintain these customs when living in America. Korean parents often teach their children Korean language, history, morals and general customs. As such, Korean youth is torn between accepting the values and mores of their host culture, while maintaining their strong Asian heritage that their parents are working so hard to protect. An interesting component of this is that South Korean has adopted many western values of their own, such as materialism that has made

Interview an agency administrator Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interview an agency administrator - Essay Example The case record in an agency has several purposes. One of the purposes is to provide information for quality improvement and evaluation of activities. It is also used for purposes of research as it provides a baseline for the research. The case record ensures transparency and accountability of the financial bodies of the agency. The content elements in the case record structure include the problem or diagnose including its cause. Another content element is the interventions which provide the way in which the problem is treated or solved. The outcome is the last content element in the case recording structure. It presents the progress of the case that is, whether it is fairing well or it is worse. Thus the structure is designed in that, the problem appears first followed by the intervention and lastly is the outcomes of the case. There are different purposes of content and structure in case recording. One of the purposes is to provide clear information about the client situation which is the problem. According to Kiser (2007), content and structure provide a clear flow of the assessment that was done on the client. They show the information about the services that are offered to the client hence accountability. They also provide details of case was implemented and also information about the end of the case.

The Government of the Russian Federation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Government of the Russian Federation - Essay Example The transformation in foreign policy thinking profoundly impacted policy making and was based on the realization that the real security threat to Russia came from the deteriorating economy due to excessive military spending. Rather than applying the overt exhibition of military power, Gorbachev chose to apply political influence. He improved diplomatic relations and economic cooperation by such actions as unannounced personal appearances at public events both within and outside Soviet borders. Gorbachev charismatically utilized the world media and made political concessions in the resolution of regional conflicts and arms negotiations that were previously unimaginable under the old regime. The ‘New Thinking’ aided the Soviet Union in garnering wide approval of many nations. Its peace-making policy that released Soviet control over Eastern Europe ultimately led to the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War. Its success would entail radical changes not only in t he way the economy functions, but in social and cultural policy, in Soviet political life, and ultimately, in the way in which the Soviet Union deals with the larger international community. By-products of the ‘New Thinking,’ perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) initiated far-reaching governmental policy changes that affected virtually every aspect of Soviet life. These new concepts were a distant departure from previous Soviet practices. This discussion will focus on the building of the Russia Federation, the competing ideologies within the government along with Russia’s new approach to foreign policy and how it was designed to tie in with internal reforms. It will briefly review recent political history leading up to this new way of thinking including how such a radical departure from past procedures and policies was accomplished and the subsequent consequences this reversal of political thought inspired as well as its far-reaching

Validity and Reliability of Selection Interviews

Validity and Reliability of Selection Interviews When Organisations are recruiting to find a suitable individual for a position they currently hold, it can be difficult to monitor and ensure that all possible steps are being taken to ensuring that each interview carries the same validity and reliability. This is to ensure that each individual who is being interviewed is given the same equal opportunity, alongside the organisation employing an individual who suits the job specification best. Validity and reliability of structured interviews can have a large impact on type of person that is employed and also affect the actual security that the person employed is the best suited from all the applicants. Selection interviews traditionally consist of a candidate interacting with one or more people from the organisation who have assessed the candidate as meeting the criteria which the role requires. The interviews generally last between 15 and 60 minutes and help the organisation decide whether or not an individual should be offered a job. In general, interviews follow one of three structures (Unstructured; Semi-Structured and Structured). The three vary by the amount of prior preparation for the interview in regards to questions to be asked and how the answers should be assed. Often the more specific answers required from an interview will be shown by the more structured approach an interviewer will take in preparation of the questions. Reliability of the interview is argued to often be low, in that interviewers do not follow the same methods of questioning or method of evaluating each individual interview. Additionally, it has been noted that interviewers support the end decisions on different criteras, different standards, and alter in the amount the final decision is based upon the original intended criteria (e.g., Graves, L.M. and Karren, R.J., 1996. The employmentselection interview: A fresh look at an old problem. Human Resource Management 35, pp. 163-180. Full Text via CrossRef | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (14)Timothy A. Judge, 2000: 384]). It has also been found that job performance is a lot more reliable and foretelling from structured interviews opposed to unstructured interviews. Research reviews of employment interviewing have concluded that carrying out an interview following a set structure can add to the reliability and validity of interviewer evaluations (e.g., Therese Macan, 1999: 2 09). Natural instinct to cast a first impression on a person is a major factor in trying to ensure an interviewer casts an unbiased decision which follows the original selection criteria. During interviewing it is vital that each applicant is each given a fair and open opportunity and the end decision on whether or not they are offered the place within the organisation is based entirely on how they performed against the role criteria. Ensuring that Gender, Race, Disability and appearance do not hold any restrictions on each individual interview. A study was carried out which looked into how interviewers can cast a bias opinion based on appearance, finding that applicants which were moderately obese (in particular female applicants) were less likely to be considered for employment despite meeting the required criteria of a role including required qualifications (Timothy A. Judge, 2000: 384). Further from this negative information often appears to become more memorable for an interviewer than positive information. Research has outlined that it often requires upto twice as much positive information to change any negative information the interviewer may have initially cast of an individual. . As a result, the unstructured interview has been labelled a â€Å"search for negative evidence (Timothy A. Judge, 2000: 384). This simply highlights the importance of an interview to have the ability to focus on information passed during an interview to ensure that each applicant is assessed following the same criteria to avoid natural instinct having a major impact on each applicants interview. With interviews being generally an unnatural environment applicants generally spend time preparing for the interview, looking into the company history, preparing answers for generic answers that are usually asked for job roles of that criteria. This would inevitably lead to the answers given being unrealistic responses of how an applicant may act in a role within an organisation. This simply highlights the importance of interview containing questions which are going to show a realistic response to show an applicants approach and ethos towards their working life. During the interview this can be achieved by adding unstructured questions which will allow the interviewer to add and expand on answers given to try and get a more realistic and honest response which will further add to the value of the responses given from a candidate. This can also work well within a structured interview situation, as having an opening for several unprepared questions, can give a candidate further chance t o show their true capabilities. Taking into account unavoidable effects (e.g. Anxiety, signs of being Nervous and body language) of environments like Interviews, consideration needs to be taken by the interviewer to account for these. Often anxiety levels can be raised for an applicant during interviews which can an effect on the responses and conduct during the interview which may result in the applicant not showing their full capabilities. A selection of Undergraduates took part in a mock interview model with peers, which shows sustained levels of raised anxiety before and during the interview, followed by a significant decrease directly after. (Therese Macan, 1999: 209). During an interview it has to be taken into consideration that responses given can sometime be not a true reflection of a candidates natural response in any other situation, so allowing time and a chance to develop an answer is crucial to maintaining a high level of validity from the responses given. All of the elements within this essay which highlight possible affects on an interview fall part of what can be seen as a ‘halo effect. With judgements and stereotyping being cast too easily without looking at each interviewee directly on how well they are suited to the role criteria of which their hiring for. Training for any interviewer is crucial, as they need to learn the ways in which they might cast these judgements subconsciously; avoiding these spontaneous biases is one of the most crucial parts of carrying out interviews to ensure that the most suited candidate is chosen. By following more structured interviews situations like the halo effect can be more easily avoided. By offering each candidate the same set of questions and time for their interview then they each will have as open an opportunity as possible to give their best response. In more recent years, human response management specialists have become more involved within the interviewing process as they have to ensure all interviews are following the orangisations equal opportunities policy. Following these latest changes it has opened more opportunities for minority groups which previous may have been of more of a disadvantage to have a fair and equal opportunity when applying for any role, and how they are assess during the selection interview stage. Overall trying to maintain a high level of validity and reliability within an unnatural environment can be difficult and hard to maintain. It is crucial within any interview environment to try and place measures which can both account for these abnormalities and a way to take them into account. If they are not fully considered then an organisation may end up employing an individual for a role which they are not the best suited from all the candidates. One of the most important factors to avoid is an interviewers personal opinion on a candidate as shown from the research in this essay; they often can cast subliminal opinions on candidates because of personal opinion, anxiety and from misinterpreting responses during an interview. The employment of any individual for an organisiation is timely and costly exercise, ensuring all steps are taken to make the right decision on choosing a candidate is important. Make the wrong choice due to errors during the selection interview stage and a n egative impact may be felt by the organisiation afterwards.

Deontological Ethics Essay -- essays research papers fc

Deontological Theory of Ethics Introduction When ethics is explored, and an inquiry into its origin and sources are explored to find definition and clarity around ethics, one initial discovery will be that two main views on ethical behavior emerge. One of those theories is the deontological theory of ethics. Ethics and ethical decisions surround themselves around what is the goodness or badness of any particular choice or decision. When exploring ethics, it is necessary to explore what are the different thoughts surrounding what framework is used to weigh this goodness and badness. Deontological Theory explores this very point. Defining Deontological Theory Deontological theories of ethics are almost synonymous with Kantianism, after a philosopher, Immanual Kant. Although it must be noted that his views are simply one view of deontological theory, which will be explored later in this paper, it is important to note his powerful influences here. Deontologists base their evaluation of actions in and of themselves. In other words, deontologists view actions without regard to consequences or potential outcomes of any given choice or action. Ethical decisions are made simply by viewing the intrinsic goodness or badness of the act itself. In a simple example, if lying were deemed an intrinsically unethical act, deontologist would hold that lying would never be ethical, regardless of the potential outcome of telling a lie. (Cline n.d.) When viewing deontological thought, one of the first questions that will appear is what framework or system is used to judge the inherent features within actions that determine whether or not they are right. There are many different thoughts behind this question, but for the purpose of an initial definition of the concept, the influences that guide deontological thought come from various sources, such as "religion, biology, psychology, metaphysics, culture, language, etc. Considering the source of the foundation for the deontological thought an act's duty may be absolute (without exception), overridden by a more important duty, or only hold under certain circumstances. The following sections will explore the different types of thought and theories that drive the foundation of deontological thought. The first explored will be the most ... ...horoughly understand. It is a multilayered and multifaceted conceptual study that can controversial for some because of all the overlapping influences on the essence of ethics. It is challenging for ethics to be examined without influences such as religion, politics, culture, race or other highly volatile topics also being raised. It even becomes more challenging to decipher what viewpoint is right about the topic of making moral choices, or the choice that is right. Who is right about what is right? It can baffle the mind and find you thinking and speaking in circles. The deontological viewpoint of ethics is a theory that has tried to place definition on a theory that is indefinable. Although the criticisms are heavy and forthright in regards to deontological ethics, their foundation is truly essential in the discovery and exploration of ethics. Works Cited Action, H.B. Kant’s Moral Philosophy. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1970. Cline, A., (n.d.). Deontologica Ethics. Retrieved March 18, 2005, from http://atheism.about.com. Frankena, W.K., Ethics, (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1973). Warner, D.W., The Basis for Ethical Conduct, (Amberton University, 2002).

Chinese Mythology Essay

Mythology is a collection of myths or the study of ancient traditional stories of gods or heroes, giving an explanation to an unexplained event. For Plato, the fist known user of the term, muthologia meant know more than the telling of stories (Kirk 8). Mythology is an important aspect to the world, today. Through the study of myths help us develop an idea of what the cultures were like. It includes hints that exhibit how they lived their lives. Myth is its serious purpose and its importance to the culture (Lansford 1). Every culture has its own myth that explains about the nature of that particular culture. The Chinese culture has been around for many centuries, its myths have accumulated into varies stories of gods and their culture. China is the world’s oldest continuous civilization (Cotterel 9). Evidence show the earliest Chinese civilization to be found around 1650 B. C. The beginnings of Chinese mythology, started around the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Influenced by alchemist ideas, Taoist and Buddhist superstitions, various writers created storied about their enigmatic surroundings. The beginning of the Chinese civilization is based on mythology. One of the creation myths is about the beginning of the world. In it, the world began as an egg and cracking open, the top of the shell grew to be the sky, the lower shell became the Earth, and in the middle stepped a man named P’an-gu. Mythology of the ancient Chinese is apparent through art, music and literature. Since, there is no explanation of how the Chinese civilization began; mythology has been a way of explanation to the Chinese culture and other cultures around the world, today. Chinese mythology, as with many other cultures, has many gods and goddesses that are in charge of various things. In the Ancient Chinese culture, there are gods and goddesses for every important aspect of the people’s life, even things as unlikely as the stove god and the door god. Other deities that were important to the Chinese people were the gods of the elements such as Chu Jung, the fire god, Lei Kun, the thunder god, the wind god, and the lightning goddess. Most of the element gods devoted themselves to punishing criminals and keeping evil spirits away. There were also important gods in charge of fields such as Kuan Ti, the god of war, Kuan Yin, the goddess of compassion, T’Shai-shen, the god of wealth and Tsao hsang, god of the hearth. Although there gods were very important to the Chinese people, one of the most important gods was Nu wa, the mother goddess. She was a compassionate goddess who created mankind and bestowed love and creation to them. She helped her people when they were in need, like when she created rice from her own milk and blood in order to feed her people. She was very humble and a modest goddess, not wanting credit for her benevolence. The gods and goddesses of Chinese mythology were basically deities that symbolized the good and just qualities that people should imitate in their everyday life. The basis of Chinese life was a belief in harmony and balance (Williams 20). The Chinese believed in harmony with nature, and sometimes honored the spirits with gifts, feasts, and rituals. The Chinese believed the souls of the dead returned (Williams 20), a concept of Buddhism. The family held Chinese society together (Williams 20). In China, many generations of families lived together, even in the same house, and the children were taught to respect and obey their elders (Williams 20). As in all cultures, men were ? superior’ to women in China. Parents believed they would become gods after they died, if they had a son (Williams 21). This belief was taken fiercely to the point that the parents would kill a newborn female. A custom that the upper-class women followed was of foot binding, which was believed to make the foot appear tiny, since the culture considered small feet feminine and delicate. The most important festival in China was the Chinese New Year, it is held in the spring of each year. During this festival, offerings were given to the sprits. In China, the color white is considered the mourning color and the children showed respect for dead parents by fasting and wearing thick clothes (Williams 21). Most beliefs and customs of the Chinese culture appear from the religions of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The Chinese culture has a long history of beliefs and customs, which are used by the generations before and now. It is highly unlikely that the generations to come would not be following the same beliefs and customs of the ancient Chinese. The origin of religion goes back to prehistoric times when the earliest people of China sought answers to the same basic questions that have baffled primitive men over the world: what is the unseen force that brings darkness and light, winter and summer, drought and rain, life and death; what must men do to appease this force? (Schafer 57) Ancient China has three main religions Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Confucius was concerned mostly with laws made by people, and whether people were naturally good or naturally evil. In contrast, the followers of Lao-tzu believed people were guided by universal laws, not human ones. This was the basis of Taoism (Williams 18). Taoists tried to live a life of simplicity and meditation close to nature. Taoism was mystical and influenced by ancient Chinese folk religion. Its followers used magic as well as prayer and diet to seek eternal youth (Williams 19). Taoists were peaceful people who generally lived peaceful lives. Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha (born 563 B. C. ), a north Indian prince who devoted his life to a search for personal peace, or enlightenment. The name Buddha means â€Å"enlightened one†. He believed that by giving up worldly desires, such as for fine food and clothes, a blissful state called nirvana could be achieved. In nirvana there was freedom from sorrows of the world. Indian belief as that time held that people were reborn many times. Persons who had lived badly in former lives might be born in an animal or insect form. Buddha said that by reaching nirvana, this endless cycle of rebirth could be broken (Cotterell 27). Buddhists follow an â€Å"eight-fold path,† this is like a code by which they live. Confucianism came in earlier than Taoism and Chinese Buddhism. The so-called Confucian classics were, in fact, complied long after the death of Confucius by disciples of his disciples, and were edited and interpreted in Han times by government scribes; but they purport to reflect the views of the great sage of antiquity on history, religious rites, morals, and standards of behavior. The state officers of Han times accepted these interpretations and associated them with the standardized pagan nature worship of state cult as a part of the acceptable way of life for a Han gentleman. We in the west sometimes call this way of life, which includes both reverence for the ? ancient’ books and the ? ancient’ gods, ? Confucianism’ (Schafer 60-61). Confucianism flourished in China as so did the other religions. The Chinese were inquisitive people, always inventing and always wondering how things worked. It is only logical for them to generate religions that explain how life is and how it will be in the afterlife. In Chinese mythology, myths and legends deal with aspects of human nature, human relations and social life (Owens). Chinese myths use human traits, like emotion, to convey lessons. The myth on the creation of man clearly depicts the basics of a Chinese myth. After P’an-gu, creator of the world, died and his body transformed into different elements of the Earth, Nu wa, the dragon goddess, came down from heavens and admired P’an-gu’s creation. In order to honor P’an-gu’s sacrifice to the Earth, Nu wa decided to create humans. She started to make them out of yellow clay, but since it took much of her strength, she dipped a rope into the mud and when she took it out, the drips became people. Her clay and mud people were not alive, so her heart took pity and she breathed her divine breath into them. She also whispered thoughts of love and creation into their ears and told them to reproduce. The people made of yellow clay became the rich and the people Nu wa made of mud became the poor. This myth explains many aspects of human life. It explains how the social classes came to be and also human emotions. Nu wa shows human emotions like honor, when she was determined to let P’an-gu’s death not be in vain; in compassion, she breathed her divine breath into each and every human. This myth represents human relations because Nu wa put ideas of love and procreation into the human race’s mind. These Chinese myths explain how the good and bad came to be and how a person should live a happy a fulfilling life. Mythology is not a subject that should be ignored. It is an important subject that should be learned and understood by all cultures so that as a world, we can come to understand each other better. The first step in hatred is fear. Fear of the unknown can generate more hate than anyone could possibly fathom. If everyone became educated about other culture, there would be little to know unknown, and there would probably be less hate in the world. Mythology, the study of myths, gives people an insight to others dreams, hopes, and their fears. We all have hopes, dreams, and fears. By learning about other cultures’ hopes, dreams, and fears we can feel more connected to each other and reach out. Mythology is a key element in keeping peace without shedding blood. Work Cited Cotterel, Arthur. Ancient China. Kirk, Geoffrey Stephen. Myth: its meaning and functions in ancient and other culture California; University of California Press. 1970 Lansford, Tyler. â€Å"Mythology† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2002. Microsoft Corporation, 2002 Owens, D. W. â€Å"Ancient Chinese Mythology: Gods and goddess folklore† Google. com. November 5, 2003 Schafer, Edward H. Ancient China. New York; Time Inc. 1967 Williams, Brians. Ancient China. Middlesex, England; Reed Educational and Professional Publishing, Ltd. 1996.

Essay on Omid Safi Memories of Muhammad Why the Prophet Matters

Essay on Omid Safi Memories of Muhammad Why the Prophet Matters There are currently about 1.5 billion Muslims who consider Muhammad as the reliable messenger of God and link to divinity. After the bombing of twin towers, there have been a lot of negative publications about Prophet Muhammad.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Essay on Omid Safi Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They depict Muhammad is a polygamist who started a religion that does not value women, and it embraces violence. He has been likened to Osama bin Laden. In fact, one of his portraits shows that he has hidden a bomb under his turban. A lot of violence has been linked with Islam leaving the non-Muslim in search of information about this religion. Dr. Safi a professor of Islamic studies recognizes that Prophet Muhammad is the center of all the confusion. He has written this book to aid the Muslim and non-Muslim understand his impact on Muslim religion. This essay will support the thesis that, Islam is about dignity and obedience to God, not oppression of women, extremism or terrorism. Mohammad was born at a time when communities worshipped idols rather than God. Most of their common practices revolved around superstition. Muhammad was sent by God to teach the people his will. The reason why people needed to obey God is to have an everlasting life in paradise. His ultimate message to mankind was that, there exists a supreme being with great authority and immense power. The author emphasizes the necessity of obeying and worshiping God, when he says After birth we envision God to be improved edition of ourselves, then the provider of comfort and all that is absent in our lives. Later we see him as a sovereign being, afterwards we discover that God is Love and magnificent (174). In addition to that, he says, One needs to know God to understand life(76). This emphasizes that humans cannot realize their purpose on earth, unless they seek God. â€Å"Re garding women, Muhammad said that of all the precious things in the world, there is non that is precious as a righteous woman† (205). Muhammad did not regard women any less than men.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is shown when he said that if a woman obeyed God’s law, such as praying five times a day and fasting in the month of Ramadan, she can choose to enter heaven, in whichever door she likes. These are the same requirements a man needs to fulfill in order to get to heaven. He also urges men to protect women, because if they do so, they would end up in heaven with Muhammad. Some of the Muslims have been associated with acts of terror. They claim that Muhammad teaches violence and spread of terror. During Mohammad’s lifetime, he was exiled and mocked. Even one of his neighbors used to throw rubbish on him every day in the morning. Over a nd over again he forgave his persecutors, even when he had the opportunity to revenge, for example, when Mecca was conquered. The relationship between Muhammad and the neighbor who used to throw rubbish at him changed for the better, after realizing the prophet’s kindness and concern. When she failed to throw rubbish on Mohammad one day, the prophet went up to see if everything was alright. The woman was touched by Muhammad’s care and, she became one of his followers. â€Å"This clearly demonstrates that Mohammad had no hatred for his enemies instead; he showed them love and kindness† (207). Some Muslims associate themselves with Mohammad through rage rather than sympathy. Speaking more on war, Safi quotes the Quran saying, â€Å"Do not attack those who propose to fight you and do not be violent, for God hates aggressors. Quran 2:190 (27). Regarding Muhammad’s polygamy marriages, there are certain aspects that people should know. During those days, it wa s alright for the Semitic and Arabs to practice polygamy. It was a normal practice, particularly among the leaders and dignified men. David, Solomon, and Abraham of the biblical times also practiced polygamy. On the peak of his life, Muhammad was married to Khadija only. After she died, that is when Muhammad married many wives. â€Å"Social and political motives to form alliances were the reason he married some women† (143). To the non-Muslim, Muhammad considered all human beings as God’s children. One of Muhammad’s religious practices was connecting social life with internal meditation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Essay on Omid Safi Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the core messages of Muhammad was that no one is more significant than the other. He quotes the words of the prophet from the Quran 2:177, Food for a single person satisfies tw o people, and food for two people satisfies four people, and food for four people satisfies eight people† (197). In his book, Safi tells the non-Muslim people that Muhammad was sent by God for the sake of humanity. He says, â€Å"Muhammad stands for the potential in humans because he embraces what it means to be a perfect human† (174). Safi says that Quran does not accommodate other religions â€Å"†¦..but simply conveys the idea of one God and one leadership spread by many messengers to a multitude of people† (264). Although Muslim’s believes are different from other religions, they consider everybody in this world to be equal in God’s eyes. The author does not agree with Muslims who go out causing terror in the name of Muhammad. He says If a Muslims deserves to be called a Muhammads person, then it is up to a Muslims to embrace the qualities of compassion and fairness that Muhammad had. If Muslim is not to be merely a past description or deve lopment sign but a holy sign of hopeful to the morals of Muhammad, then it is critical to live by the divine example that Muhammad placed (Quran 33:21) (267). It is such a pity how bad the extremist Muslim make other law abiding Muslims look. Lastly Safi emphasizes on direct obedience, admiration of beauty, hospitality to strangers, high esteem of life, modest life, family and worship of Allah. Safi, Omid. Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters. New York: HarperOne, 2009. Print.

This essay is about the life of Alexander the Great.

This essay is about the life of Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great's relation to triumph is obvious; he created an army which took over most of the known world. But what is not known widely is how tragic his life was. I cannot do full justice to his life but I will do my best to describe it.When Alexander was a child his parents were constantly fighting and his father was usually away on campaigns, so he rarely saw him when he was young. He therefore was usually under his mother's influence.When he was a young man his father was killed and he had to take over an entire country by himself which was in very bad shape. As he grew he had to deal with disputes, revolts and cruel neighboring rivals.When he was a grown man he killed many people, including some of his friends while in a drunken rage who had saved his life.Alexander Muir Public School, Toronto, 1902 [OHQ-P...At one point in his life he killed a life long friend while drunk and then realizing what he had done would have killed himself if his bodyguards had not restrained h im. He then went into seclusion for three days.This is most likely just a small number of things that shaped Alexander the Great's life and it is likely some of the memories tormented him through most of his life. Most of Alexander's life was one big problem after another. I personally think it would have been hard to live with the blood of so many friends deaths on my hands, but maybe he could.Apart from the immense increase of international trade and the fraternization of many nations, what were the results, temporary and enduring, of the career of this great man? Of supreme and lasting importance to the world was the extension of Greek culture; secondly, a...

Why US should keep sugar quotas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why US should keep sugar quotas - Essay Example This agreement came to benefit most countries, as they could readily export their sugar to the US where sugar price was higher than in the world market. When sugar from other countries flooded the US market, the availability was higher than the demand and the result was a drastic fall in the prices of sugar. To redress the situation, the government had to intervene to reduce the quotas to be imported from each country. Taking such a measure was to protect the sugar industry as well as the farmers and producers of sugar. The government also ensured that if sugar falls below a set price per pound, it would by the sugar so that farmers are guaranteed a minimum price. With the NAFTA agreement reached in 19942, there have been a number of analyses to show that if care is not taking, then the US would witness dumping in the sugar market. Particularly worrying about this is issue is Mexico. It has been shown that as trade barriers fell with the creation of the NAFTA, U.S. exports of high-fructose corn syrup would flow into Mexico, and soft-drink makers in Mexico would start using high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener instead of sugar.

Immigration in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Immigration in the United States - Essay Example Through out the world people strive to maintain and higher their standards of living and thus America being an attractive country for standards is a ideal place for people to immigrate to. These illegal immigrants are both beneficial and harmful to the United States of America. This article would further discuss the topic of illegal immigration in the United States of America. Neighboring countries of Mexico and Cuba have mainly created the wave of illegal immigration currently prevailing in the United States. These illegal immigrants have a great effect on the internal structure of the country and also have an effect on the economy of the country. People immigrating to the United States have a basic reason of maintaining their living standards or get united with their families currently living there (Dudley, 2002). Illegal immigrants have yet not been allowed by the government of United States to live and work on the land with their consent. This is mainly because of the damages caused by these immigrants through out the country. The immigrants currently living on the land of United States is increasing rapidly and is making the situation alarming for the authorities. The population of the whole country is increasing day by day and thus the problems in the country are increasing. Illegal immigrants have a direct impact on the employment rate of the Nativ e Americans. This is because of the cheap labor provided by these illegal immigrants to the employer. And naturally due to the cheap labor provided by these illegal immigrants they are preferred by the employers. It is estimated that these immigrants have dislocated 730,000 jobs in this process (Hazen & Lane, 1998). On the other hand these illegal immigrants add up to the already congested traffic in the United States of America. The required formalities before driving are not met by these illegal immigrants and thus these illegal immigrants are involved in more fatal accidents on the road. These illegal immigrants not only break the rules of the state but also destroy the image of the state. However on the other hand these illegal immigrants have been of a great benefit to the whole economy of the United States. The jobs done by the illegal immigrants through out United States are solely done by them and are not done by any other Native American. These illegal immigrants are specia lly being called upon by employers so that they can work on particular jobs which can only be done by them. This helps to fill the requirements of the United States in terms of labor. Similarly it is also commonly said that the illegal immigrants are not openly paying taxes to the government and are therefore affecting the whole economy of the United States. However with the help of a massive research campaign it was found out the illegal immigrants are paying taxes in accordance to the states policy. Illegal immigrants helped to make $428 dollars to the states gross domestic product in the year of 2006 (Newman, 2006). This shows that even without the documents these illegal immigrants are partially paying the taxes of the state. It is shown through extensive research that immigrants play a vital role in stabilizing the economy of the United States (Flash, 1965). They also play a varying role in different work fields and bring both skilled and unskilled labor to