Ethanol Alcohol Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethanol Alcohol - Research Paper Example It is not thus converted for supply to the tissues or cells. Only about 20% of the alcohol is directly absorbed into blood via walls of the stomach while the rest directly goes to the bloodstream by way of the small intestine (Dunlap). A very low dose of ethanol alcohol is just as powerful to affect the brain’s memory and make the processing of new information complicated for the hippocampus. â€Å"Somebody who drinks too much, the next day doesnt remember what happened during that time, but yet at the same time has the ability, unfortunately in certain cases, to drive home after drinking a lot† (Gislason 86). Ethanol affects the energy metabolism of carbohydrates which causes the glycogen level inside the muscles and the liver to recess. Ethanol causes loss of structural tissue because it is catabolic in nature. This effect causes an individual to lose more weight than what he/she may gain from the in-take of calories. This is one of the most fundamental effects sought by the consumers of ethanol alcohol. The fat rather moves over to the trunk and belly leaving the individual with a weaker and skinnier appearance. As a result of the accumulation of estrogen inside the body, men may experience an enlargement of breasts. The degeneration of body destroys their personality and turns a macho man into an irritated person. Consumption of ethanol alcohol can also cause many diseases to occur. Up to 80 percent of alcoholics, however, have a deficiency in thiamine (15), and some of these people will go on to develop serious brain disorders such as Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) (16). WKS is a disease that consists of two separate syndromes, a short–lived and severe condition called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and a long–lasting and debilitating condition known as Korsakoff’s psychosis. (NIAAA). Occasionally ethanol alcohol may be employed for

Foundation Of America Essay Example for Free

Foundation Of America Essay Christians in the united states of America would fully back up this argument in any given circumstance and they are neither right or wrong this is because they have everyone is entitled to his opinion. There are those who are for the view that Americas foundation is based on secular ideals of enlightenment. Christianity is linked to the formation of America because of the values in the declaration of independence document. This document i s not constitution in a America and has got no any legal bindings be more precise its as document that was drafted by the Americans fore fathers to the Britons on their grievances that they were subjected to during imperialisms this document cannot even be used as a source of evidence in any court of law. (Baldwin 34) In the early century Christianity was the predominant religion in America and still is because of its strong roots. With Christianity in full frontal position it permitted other things to accompany it like ecumenism is the act of many denominations coming together and pluralism hence unity of many churches. During this early century pilgrims flee away from Europe in order to escape religious persecution of them settled in America and hence the growth and expansion of Christianity. Christians believe that Americans was founded by Christian forefather who had a view of a government that would help it to rise to greater level. The founding fathers who worked on the Americas constitution were members of the orthodox church and further search shows that even the first continental congress was to open in Christian prayers. They believed that religion and government should actually go hand in hand hence they highly encouraged it. This view has been held in America for approximately 150 years (Dowel 42). In the 1980s during the civil war,protestants joined together for a reform with a purpose of constitution amendments was solely to declare America as a Christ nation. In a bid to spread Christianity to all,One particular Rev. M. Watson even went ahead to suggest that some coins should recognize Gods presence (Jean 56). This according to them America was meant to be officially a Christian state. Colonies had come up with churches and taxed all citizens to their support regardless of being a church m ember or not. unfortunately to those who evaded tax were imprisoned,tortured or even ended up in death. This brings us to the other persons that support the view that America is founded on secular ideals and enlightenment. The constitution is purely secular and apparently no Christ has been mentioned in it . The core founders rulers like Thomas Jefferson,Madison and their allies believed in themselves and were never Christians. With the persecution of those who evaded tax,these rulers helped pass law allowing religious freedom to all. These rulers were deists and never even concurred with the bible or anything in it. Thomass Jefferson one of Americas founding presidents rejected Christianity to a point that he actually thought that it produced fools and hypocrites belief was that religions are founded on myths. America is one of those countries that have actually set a pace when it come to democracy. Revealingly, democracy was first began in pagan Greece. This actually shows there could be a link between Americas and democracy and paganism. This is according to those who hold the view that it was never founded on Christianity. Religion is also another factor that holds on principals that make a country. Thomass Jefferson had earlier passed law allowing religious freedom to all. Religion clearly indicates that its not in their interest to simply it to join it. In the declaration of independence it talks of men being created equal. This is a value that the Christians uphold in their teachings but in the 1970s blacks and native Americans were not equal with whites,neither were men equal with women nor men with land equal to men who dint own land. probably this is a an argument point to those who do not concur with the fact that America was based on a Christian foundation. A constitution a legally binding document when it was enacted to become law it freed many on religion basis but since it did not render special treatment to Christians they argued that America would be unsuccessful on the contrary it emerged a super power. democracy is fully enjoyed by all in America regardless of their religion unlike in other countries where religion is a force to reckon with people are suppressed and oppressed if they don not abide by the founding religion. Christianity early roots do not ascertain it to be Americas foundation was not in the interest of Thomas Jefferson and his cronies to make it a Christian nation but they strived to separate the government and church. Works cited Dowel , Clem. Christian foundation in America. California:provident publishers limited, 2005. Jean, Mary L. America Christian History. Wyoming:secondary press, 2002. Baldwin,Michael. Declaration of independence . Boston:Point books,2001.

Reasons Why Catalonia Wants Independence

Reasons Why Catalonia Wants Independence Catalonia’s Pursuit of Independence â€Å"No podem ser si no podem ser lliures.† This quote from Catalan poet Salvador Espriu roughly translates to â€Å"We cannot be if we can’t be free† a statement that rings true for over half of Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents. The people of Catalonia have long been in a struggle with Spain to gain independence and feel that they should be their own nation. Recently the separatist views in Catalonia have come to the forefront of national news as the state makes a push to secede but there are those who question the likelihood and feasibility of this move. If the people of Catalonia achieve what they desire, Spain will lose one of its most well known states as well as one that provides a great amount of economic stability, but if they do not they will continue to fight for independence and their struggle could turn violent. The struggle for independence dates back to the 19th century during the Romantic age when nationalism surged. Catalan separatist fee l they have multiple reasons to secede from Spain but the main reasons are that they have their own culture, history, and language; have experienced a history of persecution as a result of Spanish rule; and that they are responsible for a large majority of Spain’s economic success. Catalonia is one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions, each region having its own executive, legislative, and judicial branch. It is located in the northern part of Spain on the border of France and is divided into a few different regions: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. According to a census performed in 2012 the population is roughly 7.5 million accounting for just over 16% of Spain’s total population. The city of Barcelona is the regions capital and is also the second largest city in Spain with a population of about 1.63 million (Generalitat de Catalunya). Catalonia has its own history, separate from the rest of Spain, rich with culture and tradition. They also speak a language different than is spoken in the rest of Spain known as Catalan. Catalan is not a dialect of Spanish but rather a language that was developed on its own with Latin origins and is recognized as one of the four official languages in Spain. 93.8% of citizens living in Catalonia can understand Catalan (Generalitat de Catalunya) and around 9 million people worldwide speak the language. There are laws in place within Catalonia in order to preserve the language and makes sure it lives on. Some examples of such laws are that all businesses must display their material in Catalan or risk being fined, doctors are required to speak and understand Catalan, and there are quotas in place to regulate Catalan media (Miley). While it is true that 98.8% of Catalan’s understand spanish, children in public schools must be taught in Catalan and can only receive a maximum of three hours per week in spanish training (Govan). This is because the people of Catalan have realized that for their language to survive the test of time it must be heavily involved in education of the youth. Catalan’s feel that their own language and culture deserve to be recognized by national borders and wish to govern the land as they see fit.   Catalan’s rich history and culture has not always been welcome in Spain and the rest of the European Union and the people of Catalan do not feel they receive the respect they deserve. There have been several distinct attacks on Catalan language throughout history but the most recent took place during the rule of General Francisco Franco between 1939 and 1975. Franco gained power over Barcelona following the Spanish Civil War with a goal of uniting Spain and removing those that attempted to differentiate themselves, including those that speak a different language. Throughout the time of his rule Catalan speakers and academics were persecuted and repressed. The autonomy that the Catalan’s had come to know was stripped away from them and Catalan nationalism was subdued. The Catalan language was banned from being used and was completely removed from the educational system. Along with this all remnants of the language were sought out and changed including media and street na mes. There was also a wave attacks on nationalist resulting in several thousand being killed or exiled. This persecution continued until Franco’s death in 1975 but the legacy of his rule has not been forgotten. Following the death of Franco in 1975 a new ruler took the throne, King Juan Carlos. Carlos was a fair ruler to the people of Spain and pushed to democratize the country. In 1978 the Spanish constitution was written and in it Catalan was officially recognized as the official language of Catalonia (Barcelona’s Languages). To this day the people of Catalonia cherish this victory as it represents the fortitude of the Catalan people and their ability to stand up to oppression. The people of Catalan, while happy to be recognised by Spain, feel they deserve more and wish to be an official language of the European Union. Catalan is a language similar in prevalence to Castilian Spanish, Swedish, and Czech (Mari 1). As expressed in the preceding paragraph, the Spanish government has neglected to serve or even defend the people of Catalonia in the past and many Catalan’s feel they must do so individually. There are many organizations throughout Catalonia whose mission it is to spread the language and culture on an international scale. One of these is the Consortium for Language Normalization, a program which aims to help foreigners that have recently moved to Catalonia learn the Language(Mari 2).   The people of Catalonia have long been in a struggle to make their voices heard on a national and international level and believe they have not been fairly represented by Spanish rule.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The third and final reason Catalan’s wish to separate from Spain is that they are one of the wealthiest regions in Spain and believe they are not fairly compensated for the amount of money they generate for the country. Catalonia is known to be one of the wealthiest and advanced regions of Spain accounting for nearly thirty percent of Spanish exports and although its GDP per capita is slightly below average compared with other nations in the European Union, it is still about twenty percent higher than the rest of Spain (Alexopoulos). It is also estimated that Catalonia makes up for around twenty percent of Spain’s total GDP (Goodman), a contribution that would be sorely missed by the Spanish Government. Catalonia’s most popular export locations are too surrounding countries in the EU including Portugal, Germany, France, and Italy. There is also a large amount of products that are imported to the rest of the country which would make Spain one of Catalonia’s main importers if they succeed in independence. In recent years, Catalonia has grown its export rate by more than Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and in the technology sector saw an increase in exports of about 9% (Wharton University of Pennsylvania). Catalonia also asserts that it pays more in taxes to the central government of Spain than it receives back in spending on infrastructure and its citizens. Those pushing for independence say that Catalonia would be better off in the long run if it kept the money that is currently being sent to the Central Government and instead spent it themselves and provide its people with the necessary social and security services. Furthermore, a study performed by the Universit y of Edinburgh claims that independence could shift the competition for firms within Catalonia. If Catalonia were to become independent, firms would be protected from direct competition with Spain and those that would normally be pushed out of the market may be able to survive and thrive (Comerford). Although some experts believe an independent Catalonia is fiscally possible, there are many consequences that will be difficult to overcome for the people. Currently, the central government of Spain located in Madrid is opposed to any sort of independence and claims that Catalonia already has more autonomy than most places in Europe. The region is the only one in Spain that operates its own police force and also has a reasonable amount of control over other factors such as culture, transportation, education, and health (Goodman).   In recent years however the people of Catalonia have grown restless and are pushing harder and harder to gain independence. In 2006 the central government of Spain and the Catalan authorities agreed to transfer more power to the region, a move which was agreed upon by the Spanish National Parliament. In 2008, however, Spain entered an economic crisis during which many Catalan’s believe their wealth would be better served if it was only supporting the people of Catalonia and not the rest of Spain. In 2010 the constitutional court of Spain moved to strike dow key parts from the 2006 agreement stirring up the independence movement and causing over 1 million people to take to the streets of Barcelona in protest. This sparked pro-independence parties to win the regional elections. On November 9th, 2014 Catalonia held a referendum for independence, they later scrap the plan saying the vote was just an opportunity for Catalan’s voice their opinions regarding independence. Although less than half of all registered voters ended up casting ballots, more than 80 percent were in favor of secession which the national government dismissed as propaganda. In the fall of 2015 Catalonia’s pro-independence party won the majority of the regional seats and draft a pro-independence resolution. Later this same year, Spain’s constitutional court rules the resolution to be unconstitutional. In 2017 the fight for independence heats up as the national government bans the former Catalan president Artur Mas from holding any sort of public office, this coming two years after the 2014 vote. In June of 2017 Catalan President Carlos Puigdemont sets the date for a new independence vote stating that a new republic will be formed within 48 hours if a pro-independence vote wins regardless of voter turnout. One September 7th, about one month before the vote is set to happen, Spain’s constitutional court rejects the ballot following a challenge from the central government. Later that same month about a dozen Catalan leaders were arrested for organizing the referendum. Police also capture around 10 million ballot papers and the Constitutional Court of Spain tells Catalonia it will fine the electoral board daily for disobeying the court orders. On September 29th Spanish government pledges to block the referendum while Catalan leaders reaffirm their position to proceed forward with it. Protesters occupy schools to be used for voting while police tell them to either leave by the following morning, October 1st,   day of the vote,   or face the consequences. The following day, hundreds of people are injured as national police close in on polling locations but defiant Catalan voters still manage to cast their ballots. On October 3rd Spanish King, Felipe VI, accuse secessionists of tearing apart Spain but hours later Puigdemont responds claiming Catalonia will declare independence once all votes have been counted. Puigdemont does not make a formal declaration and instead enters into talks with Spanish central government. At this point Spain takes control of Catalonia and dissolves its political autonomy, firing the elected government and forcing an entirely new election. On October 27th Catalonia moves to declare independence from Spain in defiance of the central government. The move is seen as mostly symbolic as neither Spain or the international community is likely to view Catalonia as its own nation. Since the vote, Spain has taken complete control over Catalonia and has also arrested and jailed nine former Catalan separatists on charges of rebellion. It wasn’t until March 25th, 2018, however, that Puigdemont was arrested in Germany after an international warrant for his arrest was made. He will be charged with rebellion and sedition and embezzlement. In my opinion, Catalan should remain a part of Spain not only as a benefit to the rest of Spain but as a benefit to the people of Catalonia themselves. The economic consequences of leaving Spain will tear Catalonia apart. The first reason for this is that Catalonia will lose its EU status as well as all the protections that come with it. The EU has already made it clear that it will not accept an independent Catalonia and if Catalonia wishes to continue trading with member other members of the EU they will face trade tariffs that are not currently present. Furthermore it is expected that businesses headquartered in the region would be forced to move since they would no longer be able to benefit from the policies of the EU. One such example is the EU has eliminated all import/export duties between its members. There are no trade barriers and workers are free to move around without restriction. These policies are in place to promote a unitary marketplace where capital is free to move b etween states (Moussis n.pag). All Catalan companies would automatically lose these freedoms and may would most likely choose to relocate. Another economic consequence is trade with the rest of Spain. In other secessionist movements, such as Czech and the Slovak Republics or Slovenia and Croatia, it was noted that trade fell between the freshly separated nations by about 33 percent to 66 percent in the first few years after seperation (Alexopoulos). Catalan exports to the rest of Spain make up for nearly 36% of exports from Catalonia and if the past trend continues, which it has no reason not to considering the tension between the two, it can be expected that Catalonia will instantly lose a large segment of its export market. If trade falls and businesses decide to leave, unemployment rates will skyrocket and people in the area will suffer one firm, Credit Suisse, estimates that secession would cause the Catalan GDP to fall by roughly 20 percent which would greatly reduce the per capita income (Alexopoulos). Although I understand the plight of the Catalan people who wish to have their culture respected, I believe there is room in Spain for multiple cultures to thrive and flourish. The central government of Spain does not wish to destroy the Catalan culture but rather to protect the people living in the region from making emotionally charged decisions without first weighing all of the negative consequences. Catalonia is a region of Spain full of culture and tradition. They speak their own language, celebrate different holidays, and choose their own rulers. For many years throughout history Spanish rulers were not kind to the people of Catalonia attempting to suppress their culture in an attempt to create a unified Spain. What these rulers did not understand is that one of the reasons Spain is such a beautiful country is that it has such a diverse background. In recent years, however, this has not been the case and Catalonia has had political autonomy and freedom to practice their own traditions. For a large group of Catalans this freedom is simply not enough and they wish to become an independent nation. In the past few years the central government of Spain has blocked these moves citing the constitution and more recently has even taken away the political freedom Catalonia once had. While I understand the plight of the Catalan people who wish to have their culture respected by becoming its own nation, the decision is emotionally driven and the economic consequences would be to great for the nation to bear.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   References Generalitat de Catalunya. Catalonia. n.pag. Web. 21 February 2014 . http://web.gencat.cat/en Miley, Dr. Thomas Jeffrey. The Constitutional Politics of Language Policy in Catalonia, Spain. Adalahs Newsletter. October 2006. p 1-2. Web. 20 February 2014 . https://books.google.com/books?id=S6Ie_HYgjUwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=general+francisco+franco+catalonia&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP6K_Xt97aAhUBr4MKHaFjDckQ6AEINDAC#v=onepage&q=catalonia&f=false Barcelonas Languages. Barcelona.de. n.pag. Web. 21 October 2013   Barcelona.de Mari, Bernat Joan I. The Cornerstones of Language Policy in Catalonia. Language Policy at the Government of Catalonia. p 1-2. Web. 20 February 2014 . Alexopoulos, Yiagos, et al. Catalonias Choice. Credit Suisse. 19 November 2012. p 2-11. Web. 24 February 2014 . Goodman, Al. Catalans to Link Up in Human Chain Today in their Call for Secession. CNN. 11 September 2013. n.pag. Web. 18 October 2013 Wharton University of Pennsylvania. Is Secession the Answer? The Case of Catalonia, Flanders and Scotland. 2 December 2013. n.pag. Web. 25 February 2014   Comerford, David, Nicholas Myers, and Jose V. Rodriguez Mora. â€Å"Measuring Costs and Benefits of Independence.† University of Edinburgh. 9 October 2012. p 15-20. Print. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/catalonia-s-bid-independence-spain-timeline-developments-n815091 Moussis, Nicholas. The EU Common Market. n.pag. Web. 27 February 2014  

Communist Controversy over Film Salt of the Earth Essay -- Politics Mc

Communist Controversy over Film Salt of the Earth Salt of the Earth was released in 1954, during the anticommunist McCarthy era by a collection of blacklisted individuals, including screenwriter Michael Wilson, producer Paul Jarrico, and Hollywood 10 director Herbert J. Biberman. Salt is based on the Empire Zinc strike of Local 890 in Bayard County, New Mexico that took place from 1950-1952. In many ways, Salt of the Earth resembles the archetypal American dream by presenting the triumph of ordinary, working class Americans over the forces of discrimination, inequality, and injustice. Salt enjoyed widespread acclaim in Europe, and won prestigious awards in Czechoslovakia and France. Yet in the United States, its production encountered violent opposition from agencies such as the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Labor and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. What particular element of Salt made it seem so threatening and subversive? According to film critic Pauline Kael Salt was nothing more than "shrewd propaganda for the urgent business of the USSR." (Kael, 331-332) She unhesitatingly asserts that Salt is "as clear a piece of communist propaganda as we have had in many years" (Kael 331-332). In short, Kael argues that Salt is fundamentally subversive, threatening and un-American. Yet what does it mean to be subversive in the context of the McCarthy era? The Oxford English Dictionary defines the noun subversive as wishing to "overthrow a regime" (OED). Kael’s argument seems to be congruous to this definition. Does Salt of the Earth intend to overthrow the existing political order and replace it with a communist form of government? Several scholars have responded to Kael’s communist reading of Salt. Lorence... ...d English Dictionary. Accessed 2. June.2003 9. Rosseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution. Hunt, Lynn & Censer, Jack. University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press (2001) 10. Rosenfelt, Deborah S. Salt of the Earth: commentary by Deborah Silverton Rosenfelt and Screenplay by Michael Wilson New York: The Feminist Press, (1978) 11. Salt of the Earth. Dir. Herbert J. Bibberman. Produced by Paul Jarrico. Screenplay by Michael Wilson. Video recording. Independent Productions Corporation and the International Union of Mine. (1954) 12. Wilson, Michael. Salt of the Earth: commentary by Deborah Silverton Rosenfelt and Screenplay by Michael Wilson. (The Screenplay) New York: The Feminist Press, (1978)

Death and Afterlife Beliefs Essay

There remains no scientific evidence or facts which can prove the existence of the after life. Such concepts like reincarnation, salvation, and near-death experiences have been very controversial topics of debate over the years. However, different religions, philosophies and spiritual beliefs from different cultures amazingly provide very detailed and meticulous explanation about the concept of death and the afterlife. These explanations vary as their core of ideologies and philosophies vary as well. The Mesopotamian civilization has been known for its very rich culture and tradition. During the reign of the civilization, a lot of discoveries and inventions have been made which eventually led to some modern advancement as well. In addition to this, the Mesopotamian culture also had a very interesting view of death and eternal life. According to the ancient Mesopotamian belief, the world can be divided into three different layers: these are the heaven, the netherworld and the living world (Cornell University [CU] academic site, 2004). The divine beings or the gods and goddesses are believed to reside the heavens. This place is said to be exclusive for these holy beings. The netherworld on the other hand was believed to be the â€Å"imprisoning† place after death which is also described as the house of darkness and a place, where no one, to any further extent, can escape. According to Mesopotamian myths in relation to King Gilgamesh’s adventures and stories about Ishtar, the descent to the netherworld is really frightening but inevitable, and that in fact, even Gilgamesh himself went on his adventures in trying to escape this place. Lastly, the living world was described to be the world where all living beings reside and survive the days with their humane and worldly needs. Although this culture recognizes the existence of death and afterlife in the netherworld, Mesopotamians believed that a man can still escape the course of death and the dark netherworld by being righteous and trying to connect and have an intimate relationship with God. The Egyptian tradition and beliefs of death and the afterlife on the other hand, can also be considered one of the most culturally rich traditions in the world. Deaths of Egyptians are rather commemorated and venerated than mourned. They were more focused on the preservation of the body as a positive ritual in giving the dead a pleasant afterlife state. Ancient Egyptians would also design the tombs of the dead with scriptures, holy verses, poems, and beautiful sculptures of scenes of the afterlife in the hope that the spirit of the dead will be at a peace and be granted prosperity in the afterlife. The tomb of the dead is also packed with necessities that the owner might need or want to bring with him/her in the afterlife. The afterlife in Egyptian culture was described as a place where there are beautiful canals, dams, and farms where the yield of the fruit-bearing trees and crops is never-ending (Williams, 2008). Life in ancient Egypt in general has been blessed being resided along the banks of the Nile River where people always have sufficient resources. This somehow explains why Egyptians also looks forward to a blessed afterlife. They have been used to living life bountiful with resources that is why they would always hope to find the same bountiful afterlife like the life of the living. On the other hand, the culture of the Greeks and the Romans (Greco-Romans) was rather more personified and mythical. Concepts of death and afterlife were incorporated with very detailed descriptions of gods and goddesses. The life of ancient Greeks was always bounded and guided by these gods and goddesses who were believed to have the ability to talk and live with them. According to the ancient Greek mythology, as a person dies, his/her psyche or soul is being release through a puff or breath of wind (Metropolitan Museum of Art). Death in ancient Greek tradition also had very elaborate rituals that were divided into three parts: the prothesis, ekphora and the internment. During the prothesis, relatives and loved ones of the dead come and pay respect. And during the ekphora, the dead shall be brought to the cemetery through a procession which happens before dawn. And then finally, the deceased will come to its final rest through the internment. The concept of afterlife for the Greeks was clearly described through the stories of the Iliad and Odyssey which was able to write a very detailed account of the Greek mythology. Homer noted in the Odyssey the early description of the underworld where the dead people all go. The place was described as a place underneath the earth where Hades, the brother of Zeus and Poseidon reigns. A person who enters the underworld can never go back. However, there were also stories told about great people who were able to go to the underworld to talk to their deceased loved ones and were able to go back to the world of the living. But the success of these people required trickery and deception of the king of the underworld, Hades. Hercules was one of the great Greek characters, who was able to return from the underworld. But knowing that Hercules was half-immortal, it was also understandable that he could do such a thing. And because the life of the Greeks has been closely guided by several gods and goddesses, it was also believed that a person can possibly escape the deep and frightening walls of the underworld by having a close and intimate relationship with the gods. Through this, people to whom gods and goddesses are mostly pleased are sometimes brought to the heavens (Olympus) to live an immortal life with them. The most popular story about death and afterlife in Christianity is probably that of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, it was taught that Christ died on the cross, then after three days he rose from the dead and eventually rose up to the heavens, body and soul. This story has been the inspiration for the spiritual lives of all Christians. The resurrection of Christ from the dead has been the greatest affirmation to Christians that there really is life after death. And from this story, a lot have already been told in Christian bible about the life after death. This concept has been argued by the apostle Paul to the disbelievers, he said: â€Å"Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. † (1Corinthians 15. 12-14 qtd. in Houben). For Christian believers, every person has a soul (dualism) and that soul is what lives after the person dies. The soul can either rest in heaven or continuously suffer in hell depending on how s/he was able to live his/her life. These concepts of heaven and hell have been the guiding idea of the Christians to how they live their lives. According to teachings, one shall be accepted in heaven if s/he was able to follow the commandments of the Lord, and if s/he was able to be righteous in his life in accordance to the word of the Lord. On the other hand, one shall suffer the pains of hell if s/he did bad things in considerably most of his/her life and s/he chose to live against the will of the Lord and his teachings. Over the years, this has been the main teaching to Christians about heaven and hell. Christians would describe the heaven as the place where there are golden roads and castles. A place where there are bountiful trees and crops that never runs out of yield, and also, a place where there is no more suffering. The heaven was indeed taught as a paradise after death, where hell on the other hand was described as the complete contrary and was further depicted as the worse place one can ever be in. The burial and commemoration rights for the dead among Christians are also somewhat detailed. They would lament and pay respect to the dead for a couple of days, gathering the family, and offering flowers and prayers to the dead and to the family. During these gatherings, the dead is often remembered and prayed for. The prayers were believed to help the soul of the departed reach to the heavens easily. After the lamentation, the dead shall now be brought to its last venue where flowers and significant items to the dead are being buried with it into the grave. And the commemoration of the dead does not end there because Christians celebrate the life of the dead on the same day of their deaths every year which is called their death anniversary. Looking at these different perspectives about death and the afterlife, we can observe that there are several similarities and differences among the religions or spiritual beliefs discussed. The Mesopotamian, Greco-Roman and Christian cultures all believe in the concept of heaven or paradise and hell or underworld after death. This concept of a very beautiful and peaceful place after death has been evident in the teachings of the three cultures. All of them also taught that only righteous people can ascend to the heavens and be with the gods. The Mesopotamian and Greco-Roman cultures similarly described the underworld as the place where the dead inevitably go. These two cultures also described the underworld as place where people cannot escape anymore once they are there. While the Christians believed in the concept of hell as a frightful place where people who chose to be bad shall go after they die. The Egyptian culture also shared that similarity with that of the Christians and the Greco-Romans in terms of lamentation and burial rights. All these three cultures lament or commemorate the death of their loved ones in belief that this would please the dead. These cultures also practice very detailed burial rights in order to give the dead a peaceful cross over. There may be similarities in the practices of these religions or cultures; however their core beliefs are completely different from each other. Over the years, we have relied on spiritual and religious teachings to find hope and explanation if there really is life after we die. We as human beings have that natural urge to find out what can possibly happen to us after death, but even how different or similar religious teachings might explain death and afterlife; we must understand that the answer will always depend on what specific religious belief we stick to and what beliefs we have about life itself. These religions or spiritual beliefs may vary in explaining the concepts of death and afterlife, but these differences come from the differences they have with their ideologies.

Discussions Examples Essay

First Article: Sexed-up images in media hurt young girls: study   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The articles is regarding the strong precedent that media is making through projection of certain images of women, who are packaged in a negative sexual manner, which then shapes societal perception and acceptance.   This hence brings about the question of ethics in terms of marketing of casinos, hotels and restaurants of the image of women, as how this marketing is done impacts greatly on its patrons and the general public.   I believe that there is indeed moral obligation with regards to company responsibility in public imaging. Although it is in fact the prerogative of the consumer to filter ethical contents and considerations, there is still a moral and ethical responsibility on the part of the companies. Corporate social responsibility should not be confined to environmental concerns, but also social, like what the sexual images problem poses. This is not to say that there should be complete cessation of operations of such companies, but rather a mellow down in sexual marketing.   The impact of marketing women sexuality not only reaches out to the desired adult audience, but also to youngster and teenagers who acquire certain values and norms, and eventually would replicate it.   Curbing marketing is indeed a vast task, but it is something that must be done. Second Article: Survey reveals most satisfying jobs   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The survey conducted reveals the list of most and least satisfying jobs.   These are essentially important considerations, as psychological and emotional satisfactions are also factors to the person/worker’s efficiency and effectiveness in his/her employment.   Given that the least gratifying jobs are listed and identified, there should be ways to uplift and increase personal satisfaction, as such would positively increase on the person’s productivity.   Jobs like those identified that are the least gratifying should be made more conducive and satisfying for people, as these are important works which should not cause psychological distress.

Compare different possible readings Essay

Compare different possible readings of the characters of Gertrude and Ophelia. What impact would different interpretations have on the play as a whole? You might like in particular to consider what difference would be made to a production of the play if the female characters were presented as strong in themselves, or as weak and in the control of others. What would be your preferred reading? Why? It is inarguable that the two females with most influence throughout ‘Hamlet’ are Ophelia and Gertrude, they are, after all, the only females! Their position as the only two women in the play immediately marks them out as non-typical characters; ‘Hamlet’ is a play centred around a struggle for the throne of Denmark, and the fact that the strength and influence of these characters is a matter of some debate adds to the complexities that make ‘Hamlet’ the play that it is. Two fairly major characters within the play posses a seemingly small influence upon the eventual outcome. The characters have, at first glance, little effect upon the major events of the play, and it is only through their interaction with the male cast that they have any real influence. This is what makes the question of the strength of their character such a pivotal one; it is very easy to portray them as weak, and under the influence of their male peers, but if they are perceived as strong characters, it may become apparent that, through manipulation of the men around them, they have far more influence on proceedings than was first assumed. Often, particular in mid 20th century interpretations of the play, Ophelia is portrayed as a very weak character, fulfilling the basic role of women of her time; following the will of her father, and waiting on the words of her sometime ‘lover’, Hamlet. The relationship with between them is one of the defining points of the debate over Ophelia being weak (or not). This is particularly the case when considering the issue of her refusal of hamlet’s advances. When portrayed as weak, Ophelia is often visibly scared of hamlet when he is in the depths of his apparent madness. Her confusion at Hamlets reaction to her returning his ‘remembrances’ is an adequate demonstration of Ophelia fulfilling her role as an ear for the male characters to speak to. In this role she is little more than a plot device, with her death being the catalyst for the eventual conclusion of the play. If, however, Ophelia’s role is interpreted as that of a strong, and intelligent woman, the situation is suddenly rendered almost entirely different; whereas before, it would be assumed Ophelia was acting against her will, due to her father, either ending the relationship unwillingly, or ending a non-existent relationship (pretending that she was involved with Hamlet, when in fact she was not) in order to further her father’s pursuit of Claudius’ favour, she is now acting for herself, and ending her liaisons with hamlet for a personal motive. She is no longer confused and afraid of Hamlet’s reaction; merely playing out the role she feels she must. A differ Ophelia may still be seen as being influenced by those around her, this time she is following advice though, Laertes having already warned her of the fickle nature of Hamlet. In this case, she is merely taking matters into her own hands, and acting out of her own self interest, thereby asserting herself as a character who interacts with those around her, compared to merely taking orders and passing messages.