The Holocaust Essay Example

The Holocaust Essay Example The Holocaust Essay The Holocaust Essay Reading Anne Franks Diary ND The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, can cause many to become intrigued about what could cause such an event to happen and devastated about the terrible things people unfortunately had to go through, if they didnt die beforehand. What many people havent thought about greatly until now is how it has affected society today. The question Analyses the impact that the Holocaust has had on society today will explore the thoughts and opinions that different countries, groups and/or Individuals have on the event, and how It has affected/ls affecting the second and third generations of Holocaust survivors today. For many people, the Holocaust caused them to lose their friends, families, homes and Jobs and for most others, It cost them their lives. We know that the first generation of survivors actually experienced the Holocaust and lived through the hardships but what many people dont know is that the Holocaust still lives on today, in the stories held in peoples hearts, told to them by parents or grandparents. Another question we must ask ourselves is the youth of today being told the Jews story? Are they aware of the devastating event that took place in the years between 1 933 and 1945? In this essay, the many ways that the Holocaust has impacted society today through the use of texts, aural stories, photos and even films will be explored. An explanation of how the aftermath of the Holocaust still lives on, and will do for many more years to come as it is not something that Is easily forgotten will also be given. It will explore different peoples thoughts and answers to the question. The Information In this essay heads to show that the Holocaust Is not something that has Just affected a handful of people and has been easily forgotten but that the devastation lives on through the world in many different forms and is something that most people regret. Essay The content within this essay will be analyzing the impact that the Holocaust has had on society today. It is already known all around the world that the first generation of Holocaust survivors went through a massive ordeal; losing their families, friends, homes, belongings and for many, unfortunately their lives. But what is not as clear to everyone Is how the Holocaust has affected society today. The second and third generations of survivors; the children and grandchildren of the victims, who are told and passed along stories and information that causes many to breakdown. Even how he children of today deal with the Information they are taught In History lessons at school. The Holocaust, led by Doll Hitler and the Nazis was one of the worst events race which consisted of blonde haired and blue eyed people), he near to exterminated the entire Jewish race. He stereotypically excluded them from public places such as shopping centers and theatres, forced them out of their homes, kicked them out of their Jobs and rounded them up like herds of sheep to live in places like ghettos; before sending them off to work camps or on a holiday where they would either be forced into slave labor or murdered. Many people say that the Holocaust was one of the worst genocides to be witnessed by the world. 67% of the total population of Jews in Europe, which equals to roughly 6 million Jews, were murdered in the Final Solution. The Final Solution, named due to the fact that it was Hitters last resort of getting Jews out of Europe, happened within World War II in 1945. When the Germans started to occupy the different countries within Europe they believed that they were the superior race and that no-one was greater than them. This does not dismiss the fact that they still felt threatened by the Jewish race and lived that the Jews were attempting to steal their Jobs and homes, thus starting the stereotypes surrounding Jews as the bad guys. Not only were Jews targeted but Gypsies, homosexuals and disabled people were also targeted. Hitler pretty much wanted to delete all abominations from under his rule. Jews were forced to wear yellow Stars of David and were soon distinguished from all other people in society. Jewish children were no longer allowed to attend school, the theatres or even play in parks. Jews begin to live in fear of what could happen at any time if they made one wrong move. All of these little things that began to happen could not even compare to what was to come. The work camps, portrayed as Holidays or Retreats where the Jews could escape to, although little did they know that these camps were Just another name for their death sentence. The Nazis would separate the Jews who were transported to the camps into women and men, adults and children and the strong and the weak. Those who were fit to work in the camps had their life spared the strong sides of these people were taken to factories and fields where they actually have people standing guard over them while they worked. The working conditions were extremely poor. They were hardly fed and had no health cares whatsoever. Through times like this, the Jews still believed that they could find ways out and many of them died trying. Most Jews believed that Hitler was behind it all and that he was the one and only evil person leading the race into the ground where what many people dont realism was that it actually was everyone. Although everyone might not have as much as a commercial and visual part as Hitler did, Jews had to be careful about who they trusted and who they didnt as they could be turned in at any moment. It takes one man to create a movement but takes his supporters to carry out the process. Even though the second and third generation survivors didnt actually go through the Holocaust, they still suffer the effects of that horrible time. Just knowing that this story is actually true and that their parents and grandparents survived it is enough to make anyone stop and think about how totally wrong the Holocaust actually was. Just through the use of textbooks, aural stories and experiences and what little evidence remains, todays society is reminded everyday of what total destruction happened within that time period. Many of these things, which can be seen at The Jewish War Museum, or passed down by relatives are ongoing humans can get. The impact that the Holocaust has had on society today is an eye- opening one. The people who are new to the Holocaust are shocked, devastated and horrified where other people who already know are Just regretful for what has happened. It has really opened up the eyes of many people to see Just what exactly can arise out of power, greed and influence. Another impact that the Holocaust has had on society today is the sincere apologies people give each other even for the implies things. People are trying to negotiate their problems peacefully rather than letting everything blow up and escalate to out of control. Society can sympathies with the victims and for the victims as well as give any support they can. One last thing that society today learns from the Holocaust is that it doesnt matter what hits you down, you keep fighting and fighting and eventually you will climb back up and none will ever know youre gone. An entire race was almost exterminated but they fought to survive and they have with a lot of costs buts they still managed to survive. The Holocaust has obviously had a major effect on todays society, opening our eyes to the cruelty and disgusting nature of humans. Not only this but the worlds ability to turn a blind eye at the time and not step in to stand up against what is wrong. But it has also shown a races ability to pick themselves up from the ashes and start anew which is extremely inspirational to many people. Overall, it has opened societys eye to the nature of the world and how sudden that nature can change with its surroundings. Bibliography Orgasms, Barbara, 1988, Smoke and Ashes: The Story of the Holocaust, Holiday House: New York. Blending a narrative of historical events with personal testimonies, Orgasms poses these questions: How did the Holocaust happen and why? Couldnt anyone stop it? How could the Jews let it happen? She also includes a chapter on non- Jewish victims. This book was helpful with explaining what the Holocaust was exactly and what happened within it. Abuzz, Robert H, 1985, Inside the Vicious Heart: Americans and the Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps, Oxford University Press: New York. Using the diaries, letters, photographs, and oral testimonies of American GIs and Journalists, Abuzz analyses the reactions of the first eyewitnesses who entered the concentration camps in Germany and Austria during the spring of 1945. This highly readable account is liberally illustrated with photographs. This source was helpful with getting an idea of how people reacted to the Holocaust. Gees, MIPS, and Gold, Alison L, 1988, Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family, Simon and Schuster: New York. MIPS Gees, along with her husband, was among the people who helped the Frank family while they were in hiding. Her story is an important supplement to Anne Franks diary as it adds historical background and an outside perspective to Ann.s story.

The Gift of the Magi Quotes

'The Gift of the Magi' Quotes The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry is a holiday favorite. The cherished moments in this work have become a Christmas tradition both in the original and many iterations. Do you remember the quotes? Perhaps youve read or heard the lines without even realizing it. Here are a few quotes from the short story and here are some questions to think about. Quotes Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds.She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friendsa mammoth task.His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle o f two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

Christianity as Mediated by America's Entertainment Culture & Justin Essay

Christianity as Mediated by America's Entertainment Culture & Justin Bieber - Essay Example Consequently, it is why celebrities are marketed and angled to entice a larger devotion, exploring more possible target consumers. A prime example of this scenario is Justin Bieber and how he projects his image as a devote Christian. He even inked a portrait of Jesus on his calf. In an article entitled â€Å"Are young, religious stars like Justin Bieber and Tim Tebow making Christianity cool?† (Foxnews.com, January 10, 2012), Jo Pizza also mentioned other stars such as Demi Lovatto and NFL player Tim Tebow credit and praise their religion for their success in . Whether it is a packaging and publicity stunt to showcase Bieber as a devoted Christian in order to further his career, it is important to scrutinize the effects that in entails to society, to popular culture and its followings, and also the impact towards the Christian religion or simply just to religion. It is also critical to note that while Bieber’s influence does not generally include the adult population, h e rather has a strong hold of fan base on the youth who calls themselves as â€Å"Beliebers†, wherein the influence and impression is more potent and lasting to society, notwithstanding the support that it garners from the religious sector. Thus, there is also a need to explore the link between how pop culture transcends from an idolizing and cult-like following into a significant religious influence. To understand better the American society and how religion is practiced, the media and its proponents must also be discussed. It is also important to delve and examine how religion evolved in the United States and outline how the secular theory has adopted through time through the aid of mass media and technology. Understanding how religion is now availed by the community through means of cable televisions and especially the internet will give better grasps as to how pop culture has found a way and rooted itself through the religious diversities of America. Celebrities are Sales men and Religion is a Product When someone is propelled into the spotlight, directly or indirectly, they sell something. Whether it is in the form of movies, appearances, albums, advertisements, and the like, celebrities are vessels to sell something. In fact, in today’s culture, the celebrities are even the product themselves.1 Compared to the previous decades, the consumers demand to know everything about their lives. Noteworthy is the emerging unprecedented growth of paparazzi and gossip chasers who literally stalk celebrities in chase of the latest piece of conversation or controversy that can be made. In this age of technology and media, the interesting is defined by what is visible. Following on that premise; the invisible is uninteresting, thus unpopular, and ultimately unsellable. Therefore, celebrities must constantly reinvent and find ways to be more and more noticeable to the public eye in order to be successful salesmen of their products. Religion is no different than any commodity. It is also a product that is like any other where it needs to be marketed and sold to the consumer.2 After all, one needs to be convinced of a product before one purchases it or (in this case) adheres to it. It is worth highlighting that in this modern age, forms of religion are being marketed and advertised through the media. Evidence of these are the television channels

Sexual Abuse Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sexual Abuse - Article Example There are many signs that can point towards a child being sexually abused. A common sign is when a child has a difficult time walking. In addition, the child might refuse to socialize or engage in any physical activity. Furthermore, if the child experiences nightmares and experiences a rapid decrease in appetite. All these factors are well indicators that the child is or is continuing to experience traumatic sexual abuse. One of the most shocking aspects of sexual abuse is that they have been a commonality in religious atmosphere. This startling reality can be seen in the Vatican Church, which has been criticized for covering up the issue. Unfortunately, many priests have been not only accused but have engaged in sexual abuse, which is damaging to the Church, society, and alarms parents. The Vatican Church is shocked at this fact and has started an investigation that will hold the priests accountable for their shameful act. Reverend Federico Lombardi, the head spokesman of the Church, firmly states the Church will approach the issue with â€Å"rigor and transparency.† However, these assurances have not been adequate as more victims are getting the courage to speak out against the priests. The Church must hold the priests responsible for these heinous acts, but the rules do not implement any of the â€Å"lip service† that Reverend insisted on. For example, the rules of the Church lack st ature, as they do not make it obligatory for these crimes to be reported to officials even though the local law is clear and concise. Catholics globally are shocked at the fact that women are included in the list of grave acts. In addition, they were intrigued that the church believed pedophiles were the same as those who left the church or were heretics. Yet that was not the case as many priests accused, were still part of the church. This frustration of Catholics can be perfectly illustrated in this statement as Chritian Weisnar, one of the key members states, â€Å"It

Hard work vs Easy money Essay Example for Free

Hard work vs Easy money Essay The film industry is a very influential force in our society today because through it our choices, likes, beliefs, values and ideas are somehow affected and changed. It is so strong that sometimes it already affects our decisions and way of life. According to Supreme Court officials, the motion picture is a significant medium to convey ideas and beliefs so that in order for people who adheres democracy to make informed judgments on debatable issues or questions, they must be appropriately exposed to a fair and just representation of the ideas on all sides of said issues or questions. Americans value their freedom to express their thoughts and ideas, their freedom of speech that’s why the only reason why the constitutional rights to free speech is applied to film is because the movies or motion pictures are important medium for communication, for conveying information. Through this industry, a lot of people are educated, informed, and even transformed to better and useful individuals of the country because whether we like it or not, movies really inspire and motivate people. It touches their lives. However, movies are not created for mere entertainment only. Good or bad, they are still considered as important sociological and cultural documents of our times because they do not only record and reflect our values and ideas at the time the movie was created, they also shape them. For years, movies or films helped structure the American culture, the values, beliefs and traditions of the American people. Hollywood during the 1930s up the late of 1960s for example, helped in shaping up a shared concept of the American history and its role to other countries. Hollywood kept the American’s values and traditions alive during the Great Depression. Unfortunately though, after 1960, it produced films that targeted a smaller segment of the American population. Instead of producing and creating films that depicts the American’s common set of values, it began to venture and produce films with more conventional values. Movies do not only reflect social values of one’s country, it also shapes them. It reflects views about gender such as masculinity and femininity, about manners and/or ethics, language and some other characteristics that make up the society. Movies appeal to all classes and all levels in the economic ladder of one’s country. This is so because movies represent the values, aspirations, frustrations, and fantasies of these people. Movies definitely show the good and bad sides about life and about the world we live in. American History through Film During the Great Depression, between 1930s up to 1939, the American people were so devastated with the economic condition of the country. Money was scarce and life became difficult. To be able to cope with the new economic changes of their lives, the Americans began to patronize fictional movies to make their selves happy and alive. Movies, big bands, and all sorts of parlor and board games became a popular means of entertainment. Film production was accordingly organized on an industrial model and manufactured a mass-produced output aimed at capturing a secure audience share and thus realizing a substantial profit. As a commercial enterprise, American film developed as an entertainment industry, rather than as an educational instrument or art form (Horkheimer and Adorno 1972). Consequently, American dreams were turned into nightmares and bad dreams. What was once considered as the land of promise and of opportunity, of hope and of optimism, became the land of great desperation and depression. People began to question their leaders, their system of government and democracy. Some people moved to agricultural places to find a living. It was during this time that the people’s goal was that of survival instead of advancement. Other countries were also undergoing the same difficulties but the Americans were able to cope such that democracy prevailed in the country. To be able to help the people cope with their present situation, Hollywood created fictional films that entertained them. Popular movie stars played an important role in Hollywood cinema and became fantasy figures for idealized romance and desire (Dyer, 1979). Matinee idols such as Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Greta Garbo, Errol Flynn and Shirley Temple became popular. One of the top grossers during this time was Gone with the Wind (1939) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Consequently, Hollywood films were divided into the most popular types of genres like the western, melodrama, crime drama, costume film, horror film, and, with the coming of sound, the musical (Schatz, 1981). Film soon became the most popular and influential form of media culture in the United States (Sklar, 1975; Jowett, 1976). It became a source of leisure and socialization providing trends in fashion and designs, guides to love and relationships, marriage and professions. Some Americans thought that early films were produced largely for working class, immigrant and urban audiences, and some critics of the movies thought that they had negative or subversive effects (Jowett, 1976). Some others believed that these films help Americanize immigrants, to teach their audiences how to be good Americans, and to provide escape from the cares of everyday life (Ewen and Ewen, 1982). More theoretical approaches to Hollywood began emerging in the 1960s, including the ideological analyses of Cahiers du cinema and the extremely influential work associated with Screen that translated many key Cahiers and other works of French film theory, including Roland Barthes, Christian Metz, and others which generated much more sophisticated formal approaches to film (see Metz, 1974 and Heath, 1981). Some researchers believe that during this time feminism was considered to be important among the gender and that the construction of dominant ideologies of masculinity and femininity were a central aspect of Hollywood film (Kuhn, 1982; Kaplan, 1983). Studies also began appearing in the 1970s of the business of film, dissecting the political economy of the Hollywood studio system (see Balio, 1976 and 1985; Gomery, 1986; and Wasko 1994). Then the succeeding years became a turning point for Hollywood Films. Movie making became more of a business venture rather than an aid to promote entertainment and relaxation to people. During the past years globalization has made Hollywood film a popular business icon throughout the world. If Hollywood films became the most popular and well respected film company in the early years, dominating the world market, it became more so today with American global corporations promoting and distributing its products throughout the world. Hollywood films are the most capital and profit intensive and thus have the most advanced technological effects for every product released; they are marketed worldwide and patronized by all races around the globe. To this day, Hollywood movies are created not only to gain money but to also influence or change the beliefs and ideas of its audience. Some are produced with the purpose of arguing for the acceptance of some behaviors and lifestyles so that these become parts of the film maker’s concept of cultural morality. As concluded by the Barna Research Group, the single most influential profession in society today is the film business. Unfortunately, some producers, investors and film makers neglected or seem to forget their roles and responsibilities to the viewing public. Some create projects without understanding the basic principles on how this industry works and how it affects the lives, behaviors and values of its audience. Hard work vs. Easy money in Film making industry Film makers have an important role and a great responsibility when creating or producing films. They should be very careful especially when making stories that deals with history and with people’s lives. Although the film industry is not in business just to lose money, it should not be that its goal is to only gain money. There has to be some kind of balance between responsible film making, one that entertains and educates people and that which enables the business to keep going. According to some experts, this could be attained without losing either way. But how are they going to do this? Do they have to exert more efforts to be able to attain both objectives? Or they just have to forget that ‘role- and- responsibility thing’ and focus instead to earning more money? Film making is actually lots of hard work and more had works. Lack of talent according to recent research findings, is irrelevant to success in the film making world. According to Geoffrey Colvin, senior editor-at-large of the Fortune Magazine, â€Å"Talent doesn’t mean intelligence, motivation or personality traits. It’s an innate ability to do some specific activity especially well’. British-based researchers Michael J. Howe, Jane W. Davidson and John A. Sluboda concluded in an extensive study, â€Å"The evidence we have surveyed does not support the notion that excelling is a consequence of innate gifts. † Hard work and practice combined actually makes an individual a master of his craft. No one made it to the top without putting so much work on it. There’s no such thing as ‘born champion’ without going through a lot of work or effort. Greatness can never be achieved without hard work, hard labor. Hard work combined with practice equals work of high level performance and quality. Consistency too is important. Make quality movies all the time, hard yet worth the efforts. People patronize movies created by makers who adhere to the policy of producing high quality films. Filmmaking is making money consciously. Money is a resource material important to everybody, to businesses most especially. Businesses operate with the aim of gaining profits. Film making industry is not an exception. However, it should not be the main reason why the business exists. The role of movies Films have an important role in the lives of its viewers. It connects one generation to the other. It provides an image, concepts, and ideas of how people coped and dealt with their lives in the past; how families are formed or transformed and how it fell apart. It informs us past events, good or bad. It helps us realize that all human beings undergo turmoil and calamities throughout life. It helps us understand why we are here, why we are created, and why we exist. Films are stories about people, their experiences and how they go through life. Films are reflections of our past, present and future lives. Films do not only mirror the social and cultural backgrounds and attitudes of people in the past. It also provides evidences and records them for the future generation to see. Films are good sources of history, of culture and of people. Conclusion: Our world is very much structured by differing thoughts of both politicians and film makers in our society today. These thoughts and ideas are easily and quickly passed through the media that sometimes are readily accepted without thorough investigation for truth. Modern media are so powerful that they are able to deceive people. They can influence your thoughts and views about life. Film making is more than just a business or a calling; it is about influencing and transforming to be able to change the world. It is more than the value of money. Money is just an end. It won’t compensate to the changes that good films bring to its viewers. The visions created by prominent people in the industry has a profound or tremendous impact in our society, inspiring, motivating, and transforming people’s lives for the better. This is one of the few industries that are gifted with the opportunity and responsibility to change our society and our world. Therefore, film makers should be responsible enough to create films or movies that inspire people to do well and to make a difference in their lives. This is possible if they thought of film making as more than just an arena to make profits, to become rich and famous. We, as responsible citizens on the other hand, should be vigilant and exert influence over the cultural impact of the media. We should not patronize films that portray or show violence, subversive activities, and morally degrading stories to its viewers most especially the younger ones. We have a responsibility to protect our society too, that, we should not forget. Institutions, schools and other agencies need to exercise their cultural and social influence on these types of films too. They should condemn companies and personalities that market violence and immorality to viewers, young and old. This is the only way that we can declare war to irresponsible investors and artists. When we are vigilant to these types of propaganda and activities, we can’t certainly be affected or influenced by the film maker’s thoughts, values, ideas and beliefs and our traditional culture will not be in any way, structured by their concepts of the Modern American Culture.

The Benefits of Cloning Essay -- Cloning Argumentative Persuasive Argu

The Advantages of Cloning      Ã‚   People often question whether or not cloning is morally acceptable in our society, and also if it is worth all the money that we spend on research for cloning.   It is hard to believe that not to long ago many people believed that joining a sperm and an egg in a test tube was considered to be morally wrong.   It is now used by millions of doctors around the world.   Cloning is at the beginning stages of being considered morally unacceptable and will soon move to be just like in-vitro fertilization.   Soon everyone will understand the benefits of cloning in agriculture, medicine, and social parenthood.   It is quite obvious that cloning has many social, agricultural, and medical benefits which outweigh its social and ethnic disadvantages.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First I want to talk about the many benefits that cloning has to offer our society.   The goals and purposes of cloning range from making copies of those deceased, to bettering engineering the offspring in humans and animals.   Cloning will insure a stable mixture of robustness and productivity in all agriculture and commercially important livestock.   Cloning can provide the ability to add new genes to an animal's repertoire and to precisely modify its existing genes.   Cloning could have a powerful impact on agricultural efficiency.   Cloning selective types of breeds can help to produce a much healthier and stronger animal by giving it all of the strongest genes possible.   The goal of transgenic livestock is to produce livestock with ideal characteristics for the agricultural industry, ad to be able to manufacture biological products such as proteins for humans.   With the knowledge we have gained about cloning,   we can produce ... ... always be a topic of controversy no matter how much evidence you supply to support each side.   Cloning in America and in the world has the chance to enhance our culture and enrich our society through all of its major benefits discussed. Works Cited Woodford, James.   "Scientists urge cloning for spare human body parts."   http://www.smh.com.au/news/9903/17/pageone/1.html   (28 March. 2003) "Why We Should Use Cloning."   http://vetc.vsc.edu/vuns/apolo/clone/right.htm (5 April. 2003). Woodward, Kenneth.  (1997, March).   Today the Sheep, Tomorrow the Shepherd.   Newsweek, v129, 60. Fee, Rod.   (1997, May-June).   WellÉ..Hello, Dolly!   Successful Farming, v95, 49. Beddington, Rosa.   "Cloning."   www. Nimr.mrc.ac.ulc/mhe02/cloning.htm.   "Human Cloning and Re-Engineering."   http://cac.psu.edu/~gsg103/qs/enctre.html.

A Defense Of Ethical Relativism Essay

Ethical Relativism Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethical relativism is the stance that there are no moral codes, no moral wrongs or right. Right or wrong is based on social customs. Ethical relativism implies that people’s morals are dynamic, subject to times and environment. Ethical relativism accommodates and enables the presence of many different cultures and practices. It offers people the freedom to adapt and practice their socialized ethics and cultures. This means that there is no static culture or ethics. Morals are dependent on the society preferences, technology, logic, emotions, experience and rules among other factors. Morality is very vital since it holds the society together. The rationale of this paper is to explain the effect of ethical relativism on the morality bond that brings the society together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In ethics, the notion that nothing is objectively wrong or right and that the definition of right or wrong relies on the existing perception of culture, an individual or history. The existence of morality is not relative to individuality. Thus some of the relativists’ arguments are invalid. Ethical relativism is a knotty theory since there are various differences within cultures. People’s preferences may not for all time be ethically correct choices. Thus what is culturally acceptable might not always be morally right. Ethical relativism by definition is a premise that maintains that there are no generally accepted ethical codes. Ethical relativism is usually affected the disagreement between right and wrong due to social and personal ethical relativism as well as the natural law premise (Lukes, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Personal ethical relativism holds that different people have diverse moral beliefs. Social ethical relativism holds that different societies have distinct code of ethics. On the other hand, the natural law presumes that there is a general set of moral values that opposes ethical relativism, however it is faulty. Ruth Benedict believes that morals are defined by culture. Benedict also proposes that normal is a variant of the concept of good. According to Benedict, behavior will depend on what the general culture that is accepted by the society. On contrary, Christina Hoff Sommers proposes that there are some human qualities that are not relative to place, time, situation or circumstance. Ruth and Sommers have different propositions on ethics. Descriptive ethical relativism states that ethical beliefs and judgments are the expressions of the moral attitudes and outlook of individual persons (Lukes, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I faintly agree with Christina Sommers since people have their own personal set of moral values. For example, an individual may belief that it is morally wrong to have sex on the first date. Another person might not have any issue with sex in any context. Someone else might not believe in sex before marriage, or maybe not at all. In order to judge these views as right or wrong, moral standards are very crucial. However, there is no general set of ethical codes which can be used to judge the views. This example proves differences in ethical virtues between people and hence signifies ethical relativism. There are flaws in ethical relativism because it does not mean that everyone accept to a notion simply because one group in the society find a given action to be acceptable. What is publicly acceptable is extensively variable. If moral standards do not go beyond social principles, no action would be regarded as right or wrong (Arrington, 1983 ).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I totally agree with Benedict that rules of the society serve as a standard. Ethical relativism considers how other cultures tolerate other cultures. Ethical relativism brings societies together because it allows for great variance in regard of what is seen as good or bad. Ethical relativism elaborates how one action can be regarded as correct in one culture, but wrong in the other (â€Å"Ethical Relativism†, 2014). All rudiments of the culture are put into consideration when determining whether an action is wrong or right. Ethical relativism confuses the reforms to be carried out considering what is being done currently. People are forced to tolerate some actions that might be unbearable if there are no socially accepted habits. I disagree with Sommers since human behaviors depend on the time, place, situation or circumstance. Morality, ethical standards and the position of wrong or right are based on culture and hence subject to i ndividual preferences. Social institutions are very vital since they are richly endowed with customs, norms and manner of thinking. Appropriate management of the school-community culture will ensure that it will influence the young children in the society based on the attitudes and dispositions they acquire at school. Though moral relativism have been widely criticized for being pernicious, incoherent and sophomoric, but it is a plausible doctrine and it has significant influence on how people live, interact and organize the society (Lukes, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Morals fluctuate across place and time. Children learn values when they are growing, even before they can reason efficiently. Moral relativism is linked to emotional attitudes since values are acquired through emotional conditioning. People decide the position of an action by examining their feelings. Emotions are very necessary in making moral judgments. Ethics and morality shape personality. The capacity to determine whether a practice is correct or immoral develops from life and the environment that people are exposed to. Society and family are the first exposure where moral system is created. Benedict view social institutions as communities with common virtues and practices that have become sophisticated patterns of practices and ideas. Benedict arguments reveal how diverse cultures employ different moral principles in an endeavor to survive as a culture. Benedict is more correct in her analysis regarding the differences among cultures . There are some features of cultures that are not based on any universal moral standards. There is no general rule that moral cultures must abide to a given code to survive, and that the cultures that do not follow a code are not moral (â€Å"Ethical Relativism†, 2014).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Benedict states that morality differs in all societies and is a suitable term for socially accepted habits. Opponents of ethical relativism argue that, if ethical relativism is right, there can be no general construction for resolving ethical dispute or for realizing agreement on ethical issues among affiliates of different societies. Many ethicists oppose ethical relativism since they argue that although moral practices in the community differ, the values underlying those actions remain unchanged. Societies might deviate in their application of the elementary moral ideologies, but they agree on the principles. It can be argued that some ethical beliefs are culturally relative whereas others are not. Some practices such as customs concerning dressing mode may depend on local traditions, while other practices such as political repression or slavery might be determined by general ethical standards and judged incorrect regardless the various other differences that persist among cultures (Arrington, 1983).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The notion that some cultural practices are relative does not mean that all moral practices are relative. Ethical relativism may also be criticized on the basis of its effect to personal ethical values. It may be argued that if morals entirely depend on social norms, it follows that if a certain society believes in racial practices, its members must admit to racism as morally right. Members of a given community have different opinions regarding a given practice. Ethical relativism believes that culture is the standard to examine whether a practice is right or wrong. Ethical relativism might be criticized, but it helps people to acknowledge that communities have different moral values and that these beliefs are subject to culture. Ethical relativism also encourage people to explore reasons as to why communities have differing beliefs, and also challenge people to scrutinize their reasons for the beliefs and values they support. Benedictâ₠¬â„¢s argument about how morality is relative is sound. Benedict uses an example of Kwakiutl society regarding murder. Kwakiutl practice of murder is intolerable in the modern society, but it was acceptable in Kwakiutl. Kwakiutl cannot be judged for their acts because they that was a social norm when one of their relatives died. Today such practice would be regarded as murder and is unlawful and a crime that is absolutely penalized by the society and the law (â€Å"Ethical Relativism†, 2014).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Benedict concludes that â€Å"moral relativism is the correct view of moral principles† which imply that right or wrong is determined by culture and environmental events. For instance people might accept capital punishment and oppose abortion. Capital punishment is regarded as wrong and hence punished with death. On contrary, opposing abortion is like denying women their freedom of their body. According to Benedict, regardless of the consequences behind an abortion, if the society opposes it implies that abortion is morally wrong hence it will maintain the truth worth of moral relativism. The notion that abortion is wrong is due to the fact that people’s behaviors are shaped by their history, culture and environment. Therefore the right worth of their ethics relies on what is more rational to social structures. On the other hand if people believe that capital punishment is a way of attaining justice, they will consider it mor ally right. Morals are shared amongst people and the community, and it is seen as a normalcy condition of morals (Lukes, 2008).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, I agree with Benedict argument of ethical relativism where she holds that people change their opinions and principles depending on the majority rule. I agree that morals vary with time, culture and environment. However, I do not agree that any practice is morally right or wrong depending on the majority. Benedict adds that the conception of the normal is accurately a variant of the notion of good. Behaviors will depend on the cultural norms. Ethical relativism allows a wide variety of practices and cultures. It will enable people to adapt morally as technology, culture and knowledge change in society. This is an excellent and a type of relativism. Ethical relativism faces the challenge because people find it hard to adapt to new morals, new ideas and their own culture. The word is increasingly becoming culturally diverse thus making people find it hard to accept something different. Culture is a standard for assessing the po sition of a practice, whether it is right or wrong. References Arrington, R. L. (1983). A Defense Of Ethical Relativism. Metaphilosophy, 14(3-4), 225-239. Ethical Relativism. (n.d.). CARM. Retrieved September 22, 2014, from http://carm.org/ethical-relativism Lukes, S. (2008). Moral relativism. New York: Picador. Source document

Mobile Analysis Business Model

This paper focuses on the strategic uncertainties, where a large number of actors are trying a number of strategic approaches to position themselves in the most favorable position in the value system. As a consequence, they are experimenting with a number of innovating business models. We argue that successful business models are likely to be the ones that best address the economic peculiarities underlying this industry, like mobility, network effects and natural monopolies.The paper presents the principal classes of actors that will participate In the mobile business Industry and give an overview of their business models based on a formalized ontology. Many definitions of mobile business focus on enabling business transaction through airless devices, confusing mobile commerce and mobile business. A commonly adopted definition, by Drencher, defines mobile commerce as â€Å"any transaction with a monetary value that Is conducted via mobile telecommunication network† (M;leerines s, 1999).Similar to e-commerce, the focus Is on the exchange of products and services, but without the constraint of a stationary user using wired infrastructure. We prefer to adopt a broader view of mobile business, which includes â€Å"all activities related to a (potential) commercial transaction through communications networks that Interface with mobile devices† (Treacheries, 2002).Mobile business is a very recent, but promising Industry created by the emergence and widespread adoption of wireless data networks, that enable the convergence of the Internet, e- business and the wireless world (Oklahoma, 2002). Similar to other emerging industries, mobile business is characterized by a continuously changing and complex environment, which creates important uncertainties at the levels of technology, demand and strategy (Porter, 1980).At the technological level, uncertainties are typically caused by rapid technological development and the cycle of an industry which is born than ks to a technological innovation. Concerning emend, despite a generalized consensus about the huge potential of mobile business services, nobody actually knows how to exploit the new possibilities brought by technology to create valuable services that the customers are willing to pay.Finally, strategic uncertainties are a common situation in emerging industries, whose essential characteristic from the viewpoint of formulating strategies is that there are no established rules of the game. As a consequence, actors must experience with a variety of strategic approaches and constantly reposition themselves in order to find the most favorable competitive position in the industry. Based on these observations, we developed a general research framework inspired by the works on the Balanced Scorecard (figure 1).Our objective is to conceive a market observation tool for the mobile business industry. The underlying idea is that we can better understand the reality by taking views from differen t complementary perspectives and putting them all together. The perspectives are chosen to cover all the different uncertainties mentioned above. Each perspective focuses on certain aspects of the mobile landscape and requires specific observation tools. The innovation Focus Observed objects Observation tools

Inca Star Worship and Constellations

Inca Star Worship and Constellations The stars in the sky were very important to the religion of the Inca. They identified constellations and individual stars and assigned them a purpose. According to the Inca, many of the stars were there to protect animals: every animal had a corresponding star or constellation which would look out for it. Today, traditional Quechua communities still see the same constellations in the sky as they did centuries ago. Inca Culture and Religion The Inca culture thrived in the Andes Mountains in western South America from the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. Although they started out as one ethnic group among many in the region, they embarked upon a campaign of conquest and assimilation and by the fifteenth century, they had achieved pre-eminence in the Andes and controlled an empire which stretched from present-day Colombia to Chile. Their religion was complicated. They had a pantheon of greater gods which included Viracocha, the creator, Inti, the Sun, and Chuqui Illa, the thunder god. They also worshiped huacas, which were spirits which could inhabit just about any remarkable phenomenon, such as a waterfall, large boulder or tree. The Inca and the Stars The sky was very important to the Inca culture. The sun and moon were considered gods and temples and pillars were laid out specifically so that heavenly bodies such as the sun would pass over pillars or through windows on certain days, such as the summer solstice. The stars played an important role in Inca cosmology. The Inca believed that Viracocha had planned for the protection of all living things, and that to each star corresponded a particular sort of animal or bird. The star grouping known as the Pleiades held particular influence over the lives of animals and birds. This group of stars was not considered a greater god but rather a huaca, and Inca shamans would regularly make sacrifices to it. Inca Constellations Like many other cultures, the Inca grouped the stars into constellations. They saw many animals and other things from their daily lives when they looked to the stars. There were two sorts of constellations for the Inca. The first are of the common variety, where groupings of stars are linked in connect-the-dots fashion to make images of gods, animals, heroes, etc. The Inca saw some such constellations in the sky but considered them inanimate. The other constellations were seen in the absence of stars: these dark blotches on the Milky Way were seen as animals and were considered living or animate. They lived in the Milky Way, which was considered a river. The Inca were one of the very few cultures who found their constellations in the absence of stars. Mach’acuay: The Serpent One of the major dark constellations was Machacuay, the Serpent. Although snakes are rare at the high altitudes where the Inca Empire thrived, there are a few, and the Amazon River basin is not far away to the east. The Inca saw serpents as highly mythological animals: rainbows were said to be serpents named amarus. Machacuay was said to oversee all snakes on Earth, protecting them and helping them procreate. The constellation Machacuay is a wavy dark band located on the Milky Way between Canis Major and the Southern Cross. The constellation serpent emerges head-first in the Inca region in August and begins to set in February: Interestingly, this mirrors the activity of real snakes in the zone, which are more active during the Andean rainy season of December to February. Hanp’atu: The Toad In a somewhat surprising twist on nature, Hanpatu the Toad chases Machacuay the Serpent out of the Earth in August as that segment of the Milky Way becomes visible in Peru. Hanpatu is seen in a lumpish dark cloud between Machacuays tail and the Southern Cross. Like the snake, the toad was an important animal to the Inca. The nocturnal croaking and chirping of frogs and toads were listened to attentively by Inca diviners, who believed that the more these amphibians croaked, the more likely it was to rain soon. Also like the snakes, the Andean toads are more active during the rainy season; in addition, they croak more at night when their constellation is visible in the sky. Hanpatu also had the added significance that his appearance in the night sky coincided with the beginning of the Inca agricultural cycle: when he showed up, it meant that the time to plant had come. Yutu: The Tinamou Tinamous are clumsy ground birds similar to partridges, common in the Andean region. Located at the base of the Southern Cross, Yutu is the next dark constellation to emerge as the Milky Way becomes visible in the night sky. Yutu is a dark, kite-shaped spot which corresponds to the Coal Sack Nebula. It chases Hanpatu, which makes some sense because tinamous are known to eat small frogs and lizards. The tinamou may have been selected (as opposed to any other bird) because it exhibits remarkable social behavior: male tinamous attract and mate with females, who lay their eggs in his nest before leaving to repeat the process with another male. Males, therefore, incubate the eggs, which could come from 2 to 5 mating partners. Urcuchillay: The Llama The next constellation to emerge is the llama, perhaps the most important of the constellations to the Inca. Although the llama is a dark constellation, the stars Alpha and Beta Centauri serve as its â€Å"eyes† and are the first to emerge when the llama rises in November. The constellation consists of two llamas, a mother, and a baby. Llamas were of great importance to the Inca: they were food, beasts of burden and sacrifices to the gods. These sacrifices often took place at certain times with astronomical significance such as equinoxes and solstices. Llama herders were particularly attentive to the movements of the celestial llama and offered it sacrifices. Atoq: The Fox The fox is a small black splotch at the feet of the llama: this is appropriate because Andean foxes eat baby vicuà ±as. When they foxes come by, however, the adult vicuà ±as gang up and attempt to trample the foxes to death. This constellation has a connection to earthly foxes: the Sun passes through the constellation in December, the time when baby foxes are born. Significance of Inca Star Worship The Inca constellations and their worship - or at least a certain respect for them and an understanding of their role in the agricultural cycle - are one of few aspects of Inca culture that survived the conquest, colonial era and 500 years of forced assimilation. The original Spanish chroniclers mentioned the constellations and their importance, but not in any great detail: fortunately, modern researchers have been able to fill in the gaps by making friends and doing fieldwork in rural, traditional Andean Quechua communities where people still see the same constellations their ancestors saw centuries ago. The nature of Inca reverence for their dark constellations reveals much about Inca culture and religion. To the Inca, everything was connected: The universe of the Quechuas is not composed of a series of discrete phenomena and events, but rather there is a powerful synthetic principle underlying the perception and ordering of objects and events in the physical environment. (Urton 126). The snake in the sky had the same cycle as earthly snakes and lived in a certain harmony with the other celestial animals. Consider this in contrast to traditional western constellations, which were a series of images (scorpion, hunter, scales, etc) that really didnt interact with one another or events here on Earth (except for vague fortunetelling). Sources Cobo, Bernabà ©. (translated by Roland Hamilton) Inca Religion and Customs. Austin: the University of Texas Press, 1990.Sarmiento de Gamboa, Pedro. (translated by Sir Clement Markham). History of the Incas. 1907. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1999.Urton, Gary. Animals and Astronomy in the Quechua Universe. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. 125, No. 2. (April 30, 1981). P. 110-127.

How to Apply for a Patent for Your Invention

How to Apply for a Patent for Your Invention Inventors who have created a new product or process can apply for a patent by filling out a patent application, paying a fee, and submitting it to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Patents are meant to protect creations that solve a specific technological problem - be it a product or process - by assuring that no one else can produce and sell a product or process similar to the one patented. Because the patent application is a legal document, inventors hoping to complete the forms need to have a certain level of expertise and preciseness when filling out the proper paperwork - the better written the patent, the better the protection the patent will produce. The patent application itself has no fill-in forms available on the most complex parts of the paperwork, and instead, you will be asked to submit  drawings  of your invention and fill out a series of technical specs that make it different and unique from all other inventions that have already been patented. Undertaking a non-provisional utility patent application without a  patent attorney or agent  is very difficult and not recommended for beginners to patent law. Although only  the inventor may apply for a patent, with certain  exceptions, and two or more persons making  an invention  jointly must apply for a patent as joint inventors, all inventors must be listed on the patent applications. Getting Started With Filing Your Patent It is highly recommended that you draft a first copy of the patent application and do a preliminary search for prior art yourself before bringing the paperwork to the patent agent you hire for a final proof. If you must self-patent for financial reasons please read a book such as, Patent It Yourself and understand the risks of self-patenting. Another alternative - which comes with its own set of  drawbacks  - is to file a provisional patent application, which provides one year of protection, allows patent pending status, and does not require writing claims. However, before one year expires you must file a non-provisional patent application for your invention, and during this year, you can promote and sell your product and hopefully raise the money for a non-provisional patent. Many successful experts advocate provisional patents and other alternatives as a better path to follow. Essentials of Non-Provisional Utility Patent Applications All non-provisional  utility  patent applications must include a written document which comprises a specification (description and claims) and an Oath or Declaration; a drawing  in those cases in which a drawing  is necessary; and the filing fee at the time of application, which is the fee when the patent is issued, as well as an  Application Data Sheet. The descriptions and claims are very important to a patent application as they are what the patent examiner will look at to determine if your invention is novel, useful, nonobvious, and correctly reduced to practice as it relates to whether or not the invention is  patentable  in the first place. It takes up to three years for a patent application to be granted, and because applications are often rejected the first time, you may need to amend the claims and appeal. Make sure that you meet all  drawing standards  and follow all patent laws that apply to design patent applications in order to avoid further delay. It will be a lot easier for you to understand how to apply for a design patent if you look over a few issued design patents first - check out  Design Patent D436,119  as an example before proceeding, which includes the front page and three pages of drawing sheets. Optional Preamble and Mandatory Single Claim A preamble (if included) should state the name of the inventor, the title of the design, and a brief description of  the nature  and intended use of the invention that the design is connected to, and all the information contained in the preamble will be printed on the patent if it is granted. Using an Optional Preamble: I, John Doe, have invented a new design for a jewelry cabinet, as set forth in the following specification. The claimed jewelry cabinet is used to store jewelry and could sit on a bureau. You may choose not to write a detailed preamble in your design patent application;  however, you must write one  claim  like  Design Patent D436,119  uses. You will submit all bibliographic information such as the inventors name by using an  application data sheet  or ADS. Using a Single Claim: The ornamental design for eyeglasses, as shown and described. All design patent application may only include a single claim that defines the design which the applicant wishes to patent, and the claim must be written in formal terms, where as shown relates to drawing standards included in the application while as described means that the application includes special descriptions of the design, a proper showing of modified forms of the design, or other descriptive matter. Design Patent Title and Additional Details The title of the design must identify the invention that the design is connected to by its most common name used by the public, but marketing designations (like Coca-Cola instead of soda) are improper as titles and should not be used. A title descriptive of the actual article is recommended. A good title helps the person that is examining your patent know where to or not to search for prior art and helps with the proper classification of the design patent if it is granted; it also helps the understanding of the nature and use of your invention that will  embody the design. Examples of good titles include jewelry cabinet, concealed jewelry cabinet, or panel for a jewelry accessory cabinet, each of which gives specifications to items already known colloquially, which could increase your chances of getting your patent approved. Any cross-references to related  patent applications  should be stated (unless already included in the application data sheet), and you should also include a statement regarding any federally sponsored research or development if any. Figure and Special Descriptions (Optional) The figure descriptions of the drawings included with the application tell what each view represents, and should be noted as FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, etc. These items are meant to instruct the agent reviewing your application to what is being presented in each drawing, which can be demonstrated as such: FIG.1 is a perspective view of eyeglasses showing my new design;FIG.2 is a front elevational view thereof;FIG.3 is a rear elevational view thereof;FIG.4 is a side elevational view, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof;FIG.5 is a top view thereof; and,FIG.6 is a bottom view thereof. Any description of the design in the specification, other than a brief description of the drawing, is generally not necessary since, as a general rule, the drawing is the designs best description. However, while not required, a special description is not prohibited. In addition to the figure descriptions, there are many types of special descriptions that are permissible in the specification, which include: A description of the appearance of portions of the claimed design which are not illustrated in the drawing disclosure; a description  disclaiming portions of the article not shown, that form no part of the claimed design; a statement indicating that any broken line illustration of environmental structure in the drawing is not part of the design sought to be patented; and a description denoting the nature and environmental use of the claimed design, if not included in the preamble.

Observing Global Warming & the Harm of It Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Observing Global Warming & the Harm of It - Essay Example Like many are already aware of, carbon dioxide plays a major role in its own right as it comes to the warming of the Earth and the resulting weakness of the global inhabitants that comes as a result of that warming. Another culprit is the continued robbing of the forests through the means of deforestation. Those trees are meant to act in a way that turns the CO2 into breathable oxygen for human consumption. Most importantly, the industrial nature of the modern world has served as a means of killing the natural world that is forced to co-exist with it. The technological desires of mankind have forced the Earth into a tailspin that, if not caught, will continue to force it into a continued destructive phase that will ultimately tear it apart at the core. With the increase in human population and other expansion, it has increased the need for a building that has taken small cities and built them into metropolises of great grander. These Cities feed the advancement of man, without any kind of thought to the environmental damage which is inflicted upon the Earth. As many knows, greed itself sells. Humanistic nature overwhelms, as well as strangles, in most cases, the needs of those things around them, especially in the precious environment that is drowning as each day goes by. The desire of people for their own self-serving interests takes hold and crushes anything in its surrounding path that may interrupt that. As the analysis shows within the presentation, human nature is at the root of the current state of the environment. Humans need shelter to survive and as such trees need to be cut down for the construction of those dwellings. Only those trees are what create the breathing oxygen. Charcoal aids in cooking food, and so much  mo re.