Journal Entry Essay Example

Journal Entry Essay In the article â€Å"Urban and rural students swap places to learn about different lives†, which appeared on CNN.com on May 23, 2007, the issue of education and how students learn to overcome their differences through awareness. This particular news story deals with two groups of students from Alaska who are part of an exchange program to help bring awareness to students about the differences in the way each group lives. One group is from a tiny Eskimo village in Alaska, and the others from a suburb of Anchorage. Each group lives a completely different way of life despite the fact that they all live in the same state. The educators in this case felt that through the exchange program students could learn to appreciate the different ways of life that each lives and to learn more about the world around them and their neighbors. The rural teens were amazed at how many varieties of food there were in the supermarkets and how less expensive it was, and were amazed at the different s tores and even the indoor plumbing. The urban teens were shocked by the exact opposite in the rural village, yet they all learned to appreciate not only the way of life of the other teens, but to appreciate what is special about themselves and their life.I selected this article because it deals with education and how educators are trying to overcome some of the differences that exist in society and some of the social, political, and racial inequalities. Through the exchange program teens of different cultures get to learn about each other through their time with their host families and in the different area, and also get an education about people who are their neighbors, in a sense. The teachers responsible for this program are hoping to bring unity to Alaska and to connect it to classroom curriculum ranging from healthcare to economy. I was attracted to this story because it is a beautiful example of how education and understanding can lead to more acceptance amongst people of diff erent social groups, as in the case with the Eskimo children and the other Alaskan children. This is an important social issue because if more educators would adopt similar methods then we could foster more understanding amongst different groups within our own nation. This innovative approach shows a social solution that can help many other educators around the country if they were to implement this type of program to help children of different races, religions, income levels, and nationalities within our own country learn to appreciate and understand each other.Journal Entry # 2The article â€Å"Gold Star wives help a new generation of war widows† that appeared on CNN.com on May 26, 2007 is an interesting look at the way that our own suffering can be a basis for helping others in similar situations. The article deals with the social issue of war and how it affects not only the people in the midst of the war but the wives, husbands, and children that are left behind by the me n and women who die in the war in Iraq. I was attracted to it because of the closeness to Memorial Day and the fact that is encourages people to reach out to others going through problems.This article is about a woman named Marie Speer who lost her husband in WWII and how she founded this organization called Gold Star Wives, which was established to help war widows in many various ways, from friendship and compassion, to helping lobby for benefits for the wives and husbands of those lost in the war. The women of this organization have all lost husbands to war and know how it feels, but instead of doing nothing they reach out to others through the organization. This is an example of how we as Americans, no matter what our thoughts on politics and the war, can use our own compassion to help others, no matter our situation in life. It also shows how, no matter the generational difference, some things, like losing a spouse in the war, can link us to those who dealt with similar things b efore us. The war in Iraq is a major social issue right now, politically, but the social impact of this is felt greatly by the spouses of the men and women fighting in Iraq. This article gives us a look at how we can come up with solutions to some issues by reaching out to people who are in pain. While this organization is not a solution to the war, it is a help to people.Journal Entry # 3The article â€Å"The First Steps† by Alex Tresniowski, et al, appears in the May 7, 2007 issue of People Magazine and is a look at the healing process that is happening at the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia following the massacre that killed 33 students in Norris Hall on April 16th. This article is unlike many of the others because instead of dealing with the dark, brooding gunman or all of the mistakes and issues that led up to the shooting, it deals with how the students affected will take steps to heal and help create a better environment for all students on campus. This ar ticle was interesting to me because it was not just another doom and gloom article about the tragedy but point out what was being done right by the Virginia Tech students, faculty, and campus administrators to help the college heal. Violence has become such a huge social problem in our society and this issue was made even more glaring by this particular school shooting. The article’s look at the counseling being offered, the changes in the college, and most especially the way that the community, parents, and students are all reaching out to each other as a means of healing is incredible. It also shows how they are hoping to eliminate loners and outcasts like the shooter by reaching out to their fellow classmates in need. Instead of dwelling on the bad, they are looking for something positive to come out of the tragedy.I was attracted to this article because of the hopefulness that it leaves the reader with, especially concerning something as troubling as the Virginia Tech Mas sacre. This is such an important social issue because it is so prevalent in our nation and what makes people commit violence is still not really understood. It is hard to remember that out of the pain of such an event there can come something wonderful and positive, like a new spirit amongst people or a greater awareness of the signs of mental illness. Also, just simply being out to reach out to others. It’s relation to the social issue of violence also attracted me because that is such a large problem in our society, and the solutions given are interesting and uplifting.Journal Entry #4The article â€Å"Global Fund Saves 1.8 Million Lives† appeared on the ONE.org website on May 24, 2007. The ONE is a new poverty campaign that aims at helping â€Å"to make poverty history†. Some new bills have been passed recently, including education-related issues, and it has become well-known in the press because of publicity gained from its appearance on American Idol and at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. in 2006. This particular article deals with the response from the American Congress and how much money they have given to the Global Fund in support of the various programs that are helping to end world hunger, poverty, and disease.In summary, this article is about the money grants given to ONE.org and the Global Fund, both of which are dedicated to ending poverty, hunger, and disease in third-world nations around the world. Because of the insistance of ONE.org and other organizations the United States has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars towards helping their cause and there has been some great progress, including many lives saved because of insecticides, medicine, food, and nets that help to protect people from the things that harm them in other countries.This story attracted me because I really feel strongly about ending world poverty and giving everyone in the world a chance at a good quality of life. I feel that we in th e United States are especially responsible for helping others who are less fortunate. The issue of poverty is an important social issue that is dealt with not only around the world, but in our own country as well; however, this article is especially interesting because it gives ideas on how we can help. The article talked about how just donating insecticide-treated nets to families with children can help to stop disease and that 3,000 people every day are saved just by this one program. One person can be saved simply by donating one net. It’s important to understand how we can get involved, even if we have limited means ourselves.Journal Entry # 5The article â€Å"U.N. Presses for Peace in Darfur† appeared on the Los Angeles Times website on May 27, 2007 and deals with the conflict in Sudan and how the U.N. is trying to create a change for the better in that country by encouraging peace within its borders. The article talks about the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the t ypes of terrible violence going on there, particularly amongst the militia and rebel groups. The article is about the U.N.’s push for Sudan to call a cease-fire and to start peace talks so that the violence can end. It also talks about the many peacekeepers who are proposed to go in and help create a more stable nation for the people who live there under violent conditions.The social issue that is happening right now in Darfur is critical. There has been genocide happening there fore years and many people live in refugee camps because their homes, land, and country have been filled with so much violence and war for so long. This article deals with the social issue of war, as well as poverty, and global inequality. The war going on there has created a global inequality unlike any other nation, and has caused so many people to descend into poverty and hunger. People are dying everyday because of the conflict and while the U.N. is taking notice they are not able to convince Darf ur to stop the violence and create a better nation for the men and women who live there.I was attracted to this article because it is about an issue that is really at the forefront of the minds of many right now because of the publicity it has gotten from celebrities and the media. This article also has some solutions in it that are interesting, pointing out what is being done by the U.N. to help bring peace to Darfur, including the unification conference between the African Union and the U.N. that has happened recently. While Darfur is still a social problem, the involvement of the U.N. in the peace process is encouraging.Journal Entry # 6The article â€Å"Trial set to begin in Mississippi civil rights-era case† by Jerry Mitchell appeared the USA Today on May 24, 2007 and deals with the case of a man who is facing charges for killing two African-American teenagers in 1964. In the past few years there has been a push in Mississippi to bring to justice former klansmen and othe r racists who killed civil rights workers and African-Americans during a time and in a place where discrimination was so abundant that no one would convict them. This case is one of these, and is an interesting look at how the justice system can be corrupt and yet, today, we can try to make things right.James Seale is 71 years old now, but in 1964 he was arrested and admitted to beating Henry Dee and Charles Moore, two black teenagers who were hitchhiking and picked up by a vehicle of klansmen, including Seale. They were beaten to death and then weighted down and thrown into the Mississippi River. Seale was arrested and interrogated and admitted to beating them and even admitted that God knew he killed them to an FBI agent, but told authorities they would have to prove it. In the deep south in 1964, he was never prosecuted and charges were dropped. Today, however, authorities in the South are looking to make right on the racial injustice that took place there by prosecuting the kill ers now in hopes of showing the world that the new South doesn’t let people go for killing another person just because of the color of their skin.This article attracted me because racial inequality has always been such a problem in the U.S. and the fact that so many people got away with murder in the South just because they killed black people has always haunted the nation. Now, as a social solution, prosecutors are setting out to change that by punishing these people now for the sins of the past in the hopes that the deaths of so many during the civil rights-era can be vindicated. The criminal justice system is looking past race in Mississippi and doing what is legally and morally right. Journal Entry Essay Example Journal Entry Essay The photographs of Ansel Adams can be considered impersonal—that of the ideal observer.   One example of this is the black and white depiction of the Moon and Half Dome (1960).   The individual is not actively engaged with the surroundings at all, but assumes a more passive role given the distance from the subject.   Looking at the angle, the sunlight reflected from the rock is contrasted with the moon overhead.   Given the relative lightness of the sky, it was obviously taken during the day.   The snow on the ground and the interaction of light and shadow illustrates the majesty of nature—a majesty that does not necessarily require a human observer.  Ã‚   Robert Franks, on the other hand, takes an approach he characterizes as friendly, â€Å"[denying] that picture-taking is in any way an aggressive act†(p. 123).  Ã‚   In the Americans, he photographs a black and white road in New Mexico stretching out to infinity (1956).   The light reflecting of f the road contrasting with the darkness on the sides illustrates the clear path the traveler must take to his ultimate destination.   The road is the only manmade structure in the photograph—an instrument that renders the world smaller as travel is quicker.   At the same time, it speaks of the vast emptiness of the desert road.   An expanse of land that could easily overcomes the spirit.   Sontag mentions the   â€Å"Photography is the paradigm of an inherently equivocal connection between self and world—its version of the ideology of realism sometimes dictating an effacement of the self in relation to the world, sometimes authorizing an aggressive relation to the world which celebrate the self†(p. 123).   This photograph clearly expresses it by the use of the traveler’s vantage point, and what a journey looks like to him. For the general public, photography is one of the most effective mediums of communication, to show, rather than tell a story.   No matter what level of education the viewer attains, the nature of a photo is such that it etches itself on the mind in a rather powerful way.   It is something that can be seen easily; one does not have to be literate in politics or letters in order to understand its emotional significance and the sheer reality it conveys.   Also, photography is unrivalled in its ability to capture discrete portions of â€Å"real time.†Ã‚  Ã‚   Susan Sontag mentions that the camera neither judges nor describes the subject†¦there is a certain lack of emotion in the photographic process†¦a form of a detachment if you will.   One example she submits for consideration is the comment of Sander, a German photographer, â€Å"’It is not my intention either to criticize or describe these people.’   Sander’s complicity with everybody also means a distance from everybody.   A cretin is photographed in exactly the same dispassionate way as a bricklayer, a legless World War I veteran like a healthy young soldier in uniform†(p. 61). We will write a custom essay sample on Journal Entry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Journal Entry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Journal Entry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Because it is by and large a realistic medium, photography, more than any other art form, has been able to memorialize moments in history in powerful ways, whether or not the events are positive or catastrophic. In modern times, the photograph had replaced painting as an art form and eventually had evolved as an impartial witness to the world of human events, more immediate and more effective than any verbal account.   Amazingly, the photograph was never replaced by video, even though the video allows everything to be seen in sequence. However, with the invention of television in the post-modern era, the video feeds offered on the news would often be quickly forgotten since the human memory operates in a much more photographic manner, confining itself to a certain time or place.   The media would often capture the atrocities people inflict on one another every day displaying video feeds of racial skirmishes, international wars, and the smoking ruins of a city besieged by natural disaster.   Usually, the station would include a panoramic glance at the surrounding destruction.   Many stories like that happen every day at any corner of the globe.   Unfortunately, none of it seemed quite real to the witnesses.   After the liberation of the death camps in places such as Treblinka and Auschwitz, several photographs were released to the newspapers that would shock people all over the world. Cold, fatigued, and dying slowly of starvation these images showed how badly human beings suffer because of the depravity o f the few and the complicity of the majority.   These images tend to stay with the viewer for a very long time indeed. nbsp; The images in the Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Collection are among the most famous documentary photographs ever produced, chronicling the lives of Americans during the Great Depression and World War II.  Ã‚   One of the most famous pieces in this collection was Dorothea Lange’s â€Å"Migrant Mother† series (1936), showing a destitute 32-year-old woman and her children struggling to survive in a hastily constructed lean-to.   This epitomized the hunger and economic desperation many others in the country were experiencing at the time.   As a propaganda piece, it helped to encourage voters to grant the government more power to implement large-scale social programs, including giving jobs to the unemployed farmers and tradesmen.   Perhaps these photographs were used to incite compassion for one’s fellow citizens and to get everyone thinking of solutions to the national problem.   During the 1930’s, there were many photograph s showing the apartheid of the American South separate entrances, hotels, drinking fountains and restrooms for â€Å"white† and â€Å"colored† people.   Perhaps it was a jab at the American claim of equality for all, or just the handy work of some curious Yankee tourists.   With the FSA photos, the Depression pieces were meant to spur the audience into action   (perhaps activism in government?) in highlighting the hardship of people who are very similar in looks and lifestyle to the target audience.   The photographs of Southern segregation look more like a National Geographic interests piece, showing the lifestyles of a foreign people.   There is greater distance from the subjects, which leaves the viewer to draw his or her own conclusions.   At the same time, Europeans subscribed to the Photomontage in art and propaganda.   Artists such as Salvador Dali and Johannes Baader would place well-known cultural symbols in a collage meant to reach below the con scious mind to convey a particular message.   In the case of the Photomontage movement, it was a left-wing, anti-war stance against World War I and fascism.   Modern commercials use a sort of moving photo montage to entice customers to buy.   The images by themselves make no sense, but when fused and linked to other media such as music, they take on a life of their own.   Those working for the government often used these techniques to incite an aimless population such as 1930’s Germany, Russia, and Italy. nbsp;

Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Example

Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Example Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Is Odysseus a Hero? What is a hero? In my opinion, a hero is someone who accomplishes spectacular feats and puts others before himself. According to my definition, Odysseus, the main character in the epic poem The Odyssey, deserves the title of hero. This is due to three reasons; he is skilled in battle, ingenious and loyal. One way a hero accomplishes feats of valor is to have physical prowess, which Odysseus does. Odysseus’ skill in battle was shown throughout the course of the Trojan War, in which he was a military commander.To have survived the entire ten year war, Odysseus must have been very strong and battle hardened, else he would have perished due to his enemies. Another instance where Odysseus’ battle skills were shown was when he blinded the Cyclops with a spear. Not only did he have to be brave to take on the task, he also had the strength and skill to stab the Cyclops in the eye and blind him, ultimately allowed he and his men to escape. If Odysseus did not have the strength to plunge the spear all the way into the Cyclops’ eye, then he wouldn’t have been totally blinded as he was.Odysseus’ strength was exhibited when he strung the bow and killed all of the suitors in his hall after he returned to Ithaca. The bow was so hard to string, that none of the suitors could do it. Odysseus on the other hand, strung the bow without breaking a sweat. He then went on to punish the suitors for attempting to take his kingdom by taking their lives without suffering a single wound. This is the ultimate display of Odysseus’ skill in battle, which can be an instrumental part of being a hero. Being clever and ingenious is another way a hero, such as Odysseus, can accomplish extraordinary feats.A textbook example of the use of intelligence to accomplish a feat is the ending of the Trojan War with the Trojan Horse. Odysseus’ plan was so creative, that the Trojans had no idea that the horse could have been housing enemy forces. It is due to Odysseus’ plan that his forces were able to burn the city of Troy to the ground. Another example of Odysseus’ cleverness is when he told the Cyclops his name was Nhbdy. This way, when the Cyclops wailed that he was blind, the other Cyclopes would think that he was actually blinded by nobody, arousing no suspicion.If Odysseus had told the Cyclops his actual name, the other Cyclopes would have come to aid the blinded Cyclops, which would have been the end of the soldiers. When Odysseus disguised himself as an old man in his own house when he returned to Ithaca, he was definitely using his brain to his advantage. Had he tried to waltz in as himself, the suitors would have evicted, or even killed Odysseus in fear of him. However, Odysseus realized this and disguised himself so he would be of no interest to the suitors as he wasn’t a threat and was later able to retake his throne.Heroes have the responsibility of putting others before themselves and Odysseus does this on occasion by being loyal to his men. For example, when the Cyclops asked Odysseus where his ship was, he lied about its actual location. This is because he did not want to put any more men in danger than he already did. Had he told the Cyclops were his ship actually was, Odysseus’ soldiers could have been endangered but instead he took their lives into account. Another example of Odysseus’ loyalty is when he rescued his scouts from the Lotus Eaters.Odysseus could have chosen to leave the men behind, but he felt it was his responsibility to save them; he was putting their lives ahead of his and risked his own life for his men’s. Loyalty on Odysseus’ part was exhibited once again on the island of Circe. When Circe turned his men into pigs, he chose to stay with Circe and save his men rather than just leave without them. If he wanted to, Odysseus could have left his men behind and continued to Ithaca, but he was loyal and refused to leave the island without them.This proves that he valued their lives over his own and is therefore considered a hero in this regard. Through his skill in battle, intelligence and loyalty, Odysseus has proven to be a hero in all regards. In fact, Odysseus is referred to as a Greek Hero after all. If society didn’t find heroes fit to be looked up to, then there wouldn’t be stories written about them. In reality, heroes are the ones who uphold society for all others and we should be grateful for them.

Reaction to Shrines and Temples of Nicco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reaction to Shrines and Temples of Nicco - Essay Example The Shinto religious outlook of Japan embodies a unique concept as it emphasizes man’s relationship with nature. Mountains and forests are regarded as objects of spiritual worship and accordingly temples have been constructed in nature’s background. From very early days, the Nikko mountain has been worshipped in the country. During the late 8th century, Shodo, a Buddhist monk constructed the first temples on the slopes of the Nikko mountain. The Nikko temples gained further importance as a sacred shrine in the Kanto region during the end of the 12th century when the Kamakura Shogunate was established in the same region. Gradually, the temples and Shrines of Nicco became a symbol of national sovereignty. In 1871, the Meiji Government decided to divide the Nikko religious buildings site into three divisions representing three different religious groups. These were the Futarasan-jinja and the Toshogu of the Shinto faith and the Rinno-ji belonging to the Buddhist ideology. This decision involved the movement and restoration of certain buildings at the Nikko shrine1. The Imperial Palace of the Forbidden City in Beijing is almost like a statement of the power and grandeur of the Ming dynasty. The formal structure of the Palace is a reflection of the strong authority of the rulers of this lineage. The Chinese civilization is one of the oldest civilizations of the world and the Imperial Palaces of both Beijing and Shenyang are a testimony to that grand cultural heritage. The Forbidden City is located at the centre of Beijing, to the north of the Tiananmen Square. The Imperial Palace is now known as the Palace Museum, since UNESCO has converted into a world heritage site. The Forbidden City bears the look of a formal place. Most of the important buildings in the palace complex are symmetrically arranged and are built down the centre, north and south of the City. In

Job Satisfaction Survey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Job Satisfaction Survey - Essay Example It presents a well-rounded picture of our current workforce and can offer some insight into improving employee job satisfaction. While this survey focused on job satisfaction, this approach could have many applications to our business. A similar survey could be used to design benefits packages or incentive programs. A wider range of options could be offered that would be more appealing to different age, gender, and demographic groups. In addition, it may serve to uncover the sources of dissatisfaction, which could be addressed and corrected. An example would be if a future survey were to reveal that single parents were less satisfied due to a lack of day care, the firm could consider adding that as a benefit. However, the company must keep in mind the legal requirements for hiring and not discriminate against any particular demographic group. Some of the highlights of the survey revealed some interesting factors about our workforce. Currently we have a workforce that is comprised of 62% females and 38% males. Most of these employees (59.6%) are employed in the administration department. The information department has 36.4% of the workforce with the remaining 4% employed in human resources. The administration department has a greater percentage of male employees. While males only comprise 38% of the total workforce, they make-up 41% of the administration department. ... Eighteen percent of the female workforce has tenure greater than 5 years, while males in the same category are 16.8%. The percentage of females and males with less than 2 years tenure is roughly equal with 59.4% and 60% respectively. In the area of job satisfaction, male and females are similar in their overall job satisfaction rating. Males had a mean overall score of 4.2 while females had 4.3. However, there was some variance in the intrinsic and extrinsic portion of the survey. Males had a higher mean score for intrinsic satisfaction outscoring females 4.8 to 4.3. However, females scored extrinsic satisfaction higher by a mean score 5.4 to the male's 4.9 rating. The benefits portion was females 4.9 mean rating and males 5.1. It should be noted that 10.7% of the workers employed less than 2 years had an overall satisfaction of 6 or higher, while this number reduced to 6.8% of the workers who had greater than 5 years tenure. If we were to select one person at random from the workforce, there is a 66.4% chance that the person would be between 22 an 49 years of age. Of the workforce, 153 members rated the overall satisfaction at 4.7 or less. This represents 61.2% of the total employees. Again, if were to pick a person at random there is a 13.2% chance that the employee will be male and in the information department. In the category of intrinsic satisfaction, 14% of the hourly employees rated the category at 6 or higher. In conclusion, these results can be useful in designing programs and facilities that will improve the job satisfaction for the workforce. It may be helpful to understand why females have a higher mean score on extrinsic satisfaction, while

The Second Amendment Essay Example for Free

The Second Amendment Essay America has given many rights and has offered protection to US citizens. Like the second amendment states, â€Å"The right of people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. † However many riots and shootings have recently broke out in the last couple of years. So therefore the right to bear arms has been taken advantage of and as lead to many malicious events like The Columbine Shootings, Virginia Tech, Aurora Shooting, and New Town Shootings. In 1999, a failed bombing which turned into a shooting occurred at Columbine High School. This event is known as the Columbine Shootings in which two high school seniors, by the name of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, were involved. According to an article â€Å"7 Myths about the Columbine Shooting† by Trevin Wax, both convicts seemed like regular teenagers that, â€Å"attended football games, dances, and school plays†¦ [they were not] part of a street gang or known to dress in gothic style,† but they had been arrested a couple of months before for stealing. They also seemed to be part of the Trench Coat Mafia, which were a group of students dressed in black coats that were against school bullies. Since Eric and Dylan were targets of bullying, they both decided on a plan to get revenge on the people who were mean to them last year. So for that whole year, both teenagers gathered up materials to carry out their plan. They had been researching, building pipe bombs, and purchasing guns from their older friends who were unaware of what the consequences could lead to. Their plan for revenge was to blow up Columbine’s cafeteria by placing â€Å"explosives to kill about 100 people. † However that was not enough for their plan. They decided that once the explosives go off inside the school, they would be waiting outside and shoot the remaining students and teachers that would come out of the school, trying to escape. However, everything didn’t go as they expected. The bombs that they had placed inside school never went off, so therefore Eric and Dylan just decided to go in and shoot whoever they could. They had no specific range; everyone was a target to them. After killing twelve students, one teacher, and injuring 24 others, Eric and Dylan pointed their weapons towards hemselves and committed suicide. They were both found dead on the floor, fully armed, and with their explosives around them. According to Eric and Dylan’s journals, they didn’t expect to come out of there alive. They knew they would end up dead from either police bullets or by their own hand. So committing suicide or ending up dead was part of their risky plan. The Columbine Shooting in April of 1999 is one of the most violent and memorable shootings to occur in American’s high school. It is heart-breaking to see how far bullying can reach to. Because Eric and Dylan had such high temper, they felt as if they needed to get revenge on everybody who ever brought their confidence down by killing them, and illegal weapons were their first reaction. Even though teenagers aren’t allowed to purchase guns, Eric and Dylan had access to them due to irresponsible private gun sellers. Now a day, people are trying to argue that placing restrictions on the 2nd amendment is against the US Constitution and that it’s violating their rights. However risky behaviors and actions, like the Columbine Shootings have shown that restrictions over gun control are needed for safety reasons due to the fact that it has gotten out of control. Society, in the few previous years, has shown how they cannot be trusted with illegal weapons. If every single person owned a gun in the US, then this country would not be a safe place to live in. When an individual is mad, they usually react in a violent way and can make irresponsible decisions, like pull out a gun on somebody. So placing restrictions on the right to bear arms is necessary. The government should make it clear that the second amendment was written for self-defense and not to motivate society to kill each other. Another event that will forever be etched in the memory of all Americans is the day of April 16th, 2007. On April 16th, 2007 32 people lost their life’s and 17 others were left severely injured in the hands of the gunmen Seung-Hui Cho. Today this incident is known as the Virginia Tech Shootings. The Virginia Tech shooting is known as the deadliest mass murder by single gunmen. The event happened as follows: The first killings began at 7: 15 a. . in West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall, two people in the same dorm as Cho, were the victims. At 9:26, more than two hours after the first killings began did the school decide to notify the students via email that the shootings had occurred. By that time it was too late for the students and teachers having class to escape the fury of Cho. Cho chained the doors shut in the building known as Norris Hall; he also decided to leave a bomb threat if anyone decides to come in. The shootings took place on the second floor of the building. The second shooting left 30 people left and over fifteen injured. The victims were caught off guard and killed by a senseless act of evil. After the damage had been done the police break into Norris Hall, police officers not only find the bodies of the victims but they also find the body of the perpetrator. Cho had taken his own life after noticing that the officers were coming into the building. With the killer dead many questions of why the massacre took place were left unanswered. As it turns out Cho mailed a package to the NBC network between the first and the second shooting. The package contained many irrelevant towards the massacre that is except one letter. That letter basically said that he was tired of the rich kids around him; he blames them for what took place. Cho also compares himself as being like Eric and Dylan from the Columbine Shootings. Ironically like Eric and Dylan Cho also went through bullying as a teen himself. In fact Cho was considered mentally ill, but when applying to Virginia Tech he did not inform the school about his special needs. Virginia Tech is a perfect of how The Second Amendment has failed to do what it was intended to do. As stated before The Second Amendment clearly states as follows: A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. † Most people will interpret The Second Amendment differently than what it truly was meant to mean. A lot of people are very protective of their right to bear arms but the truth of the matter is that the second amendment was meant to prevent the government from becoming a threat to society. The Second Amendment has allowed almost anyone to be in possession of a gun and in return has caused deadly massacres to ccur. It is obvious that Cho was mentally ill yet he was not denied the right to have a gun. The second Amendment was made to fit the time period of 1791 and it should respectively be altered to today’s day and time. It is not fair to the public to be on guard all of the time in case of another mass shooting. There should be extensive background checks in order for a person to come in contact with a gun. No mentally ill person or any criminal should be allowed to be in possession of any firearms for the safety of everyone around them. The Second Amendment should not be omitted but it definitely needs to be altered in order to prevent any extensive damage than what has already been done. Gun Control laws are desperately needed to stop these crimes from taking over. In 2012 the Aurora and Newtown Shootings, to name a few, have taken the life of innocent people. The Second Amendment has done the opposite of what it was originally meant to do, which was just for defense. How many more Newtown’s and Columbines need to happen in order to see the reality. The NRA (National Rifle Association) needs to be aware of the intensity of the situations that are taking place. Omitting the Second Amendment would be against the Constitution yet altering it for the safety of the public is not. Gun Control is a crucial thing and not unconstitutional! Another example of why The Second Amendment has failed to do what it was intended to do is the incident now known as the Aurora shooting. On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred at a movie theater during a midnight screening of the dark knight rise, in Aurora, Colorado. Killed 12 people and leaving 58 injured. The police identified him James Eagan Holmes, as the shooter. It is said that he bought a ticket and entered the theater. He sat in the front row and after 20 min into the film he exited the building through an emergency exit door and kept it slightly open with a rock. Then to return 30 min later into the film around 12:38, the police say, from his car that was parked near the exit door, he changed into protective gear wearing a gas mask. The audience didn’t at first considered him a threat because they assumed he was wearing a costume also like the others that dress up for the screening. Some also thought that he was playing a prank or he was part of a special effects installation set up for the films premiere as a publicity stunt. The gunman then threw a canister releasing a gas obscuring the audiences’ vision. He then started to fire a shot gun, semi-automatic rifle and finally a Glock 22 handgun at the audience, first at the back, then toward the people in the aisles. Around 12:45 am, police detained Holmes behind the cinema next to his car. He even told the police that his apartment was booby-trapped with explosive devices, so if anyone tried to open his door, the entire apartment would explode. James Holmes was described by those that knew him as a doctoral student, who was quiet and responsible; an image that confuses us with the man that opened fire at the movie theater. Holmes was a scholarship student who attended the University of California, Riverside, in 2006 and graduated with highest honors with a bachelor’s degree in 2010, later enrolling at University of Colorado School of medicine, as a doctoral candidate. The university police state that they have no record of having contact with him but only for a speedy summons. The biggest mystery around the 24-year-old doctoral student was why he did it, as a police allege. Holmes didn’t appear to have any social media contact. A along time neighbor told the authorities that he was to believe that he were just a â€Å"normal kid†. â€Å"You would never guess he was a violent guy,† Mitchell said describing Holmes as a â€Å"nerdish† and â€Å"a book-smart type guy. † Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist who treated accused Colorado theater gunman James Holmes, stated that Holmes made a remark on June 11, about fantasizing about killing â€Å"a lot of people,† six weeks before the shooting. He rejected the offer to be confined for 72 hours. No one knew that he was actually mentally ill other than the psychiatrist that treated him. After the shooting the Colorado gun sales spiked, with number of background checks for those who seek to purchase a firearm, the increased also occurred in Washington, Florida, California and Georgia. The shooting reignited the political debate on gun control with one of the issues being â€Å"easy Access. † â€Å"There is a common thread that we see in these massacres,† said State Representative Rhonda Fields, a Democrat from Aurora who sponsored both pieces of legislation and whose son was shot to death in 2005. They’re using high-capacity magazines so they can unleash as many bullets as they can, to kill as many people as they can, in our schools, our theaters and our churches. † It is sad that as a country we have come to the point of self destruction. We have seen over the years the violence getting worse there need to be some kind of stop to it all, somekind of control taken by the government. The right to bear arms has now effected the new generation. About three months ago there was a shooting in Newtown Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elementary school . A act done in revenge to Adam Lanza mother, ended up killing twenty children and six adults. On December 14, 2012 a gun man named Adam Lanza came into sandy hook elementary and began to open fire towards the classrooms . The principle ran out once she heard gunshots once Lanza spotted them he then approached them and killed them. He then made his way into the office while an office administration was on the intercom telling the kids and faculty to take cover. He makes his way in and shoots them and all the kids hear it. He then makes his way into a first grade class where there was a sub and although she attempted to hide the children he killed all of the students besides a six year old girl. It has been told that the only way the little girl made it thru the shooting was playing died and stayed still till she heard no nose. The gunman then went into another first grade class with a teacher by the name of Victoria told the gun man that her kid where in the auditorium. Many of the kids ran out of the hiding place trying to escape the room and Lanza the shot them dead. Out of that class only six children were able to escape. Many of the teachers and faculty along with kids had a near death experience. One of the teachers saw two kids in the hallway on their way to the office and pulled those kids to safety. Along with the Liberian helping saved fourteen kids life by putting them in a lock that had a door that no one could get in without the lock. Although most of the kids and faculty was in first grades this sad day took a toll on not only the school, city but the whole nation. After this many students did not feel safe going back to school as parents were scared to send them back. The debate over whether to enhance restrictions on firearms has become a contentious focal point of state legislative sessions around the country this year. The Aurora shooting is a perfect example on how restrictions on gun control would have helped prevent anything related to that matter from ever happening. Yes although the second amendment states we have the right to bear there should be gun control laws that prevent any mentally ill person from purchasing any fire arms. If that had taken place Virginia Tech, Newtown and the Aurora Theater shooting would have been prevented.

Seven Years War Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Seven Years’ War The first true World War. †¦Cause and effects!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What would the state of the free world be today if the alliance of the war of the Austrian Succession had not reversed in the Seven Years’ War? Would we speak French, still be â€Å"New England†, or perhaps New Spain? The fact is that while we may not know for certain that today’s world would be different, you can rest assured that the Seven Years’ War set the tone in Europe, and more importantly in North America for the next half century. The history of the 18th century in Europe was always uncertain. In fact, the history of Europe will show that the fate of the continent, perhaps even the world, was always on the brink. Nations constantly were maneuvering for the upper hand looking to the highest bidder to choose sides with. The war of the Spanish Succession and the war of the Austrian Succession will show us that this new â€Å"world war† would be no different. The degree of uncertainty on the continent in 1755 is unparalleled. Russia, Bohemia, and even France and England could have swung in either direction. In fact France and England did change â€Å"loyalties† if you will between the Treaty of Aix-la-chapelle and Frederick’s invasion of Bohemia in 1756. Maria Theresa, although agreed to the aforementioned treaty to end the war of her accession, would always seek revenge on Frederick for the humiliation he had inflicted on her. If these loyalties or interests I should say hadn’t changed, what would the effect on the world be today? Would you or I be speaking some other language? French perhaps? The Enlightened Despots, Frederick? Was he? Maria Theresa? Hardly, Catherine had absolutely no impact whatsoever, and William Pitt, while he was an effective military strategist, was no despot, and surely not enlightened. Louis the XV, who was led around by the nose by Mme de Pompadour, was as ineffective as all the Kings of France would be after his grandfather. Britain obtained Prussia as her ally, but you might ask, why? Surely you can’t fuel Frederick’s massive army any more? Pitt the Elder argued though that while true... ... have none of that. The war would lead Prussia to the forefront on the European continent, however Britain clearly gained much more than any other did. France would not recover, and Louis knew all too well what lay in store when he said â€Å" After me, the deluge.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Works Cited 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anderson, Fred â€Å"Crucible of War†, The Seven Years’ War and the fate of Empire in British North America. Random House: New York, NY 2000 2. Durant, Will and Ariel â€Å"Rousseau and Revolution† The Story of Civilization. Simon and Schuster: New York, NY 1967 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kennedy, Paul â€Å"The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers† Random House: New York, NY 1987 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leckie, Robert â€Å"A Few Acres of Snow†, The Saga of the French and Indian Wars. John Wiley & Sons: New York, NY 1999 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Margiotta, Franklin D., Ed. â€Å"Brassey’s Encyclopedia of Military History and Biography†, Washington: Brassey’s, Inc. 1994

Qualitative Cation Tests Essay

Lab Report Assistant This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor. Observations Questions A. Write net ionic equations for all reactions that produce a precipitate. Ag+(aq.) + Cl-(aq.) —-ïÆ'   AgCl (s) 2 Ag+(aq.)+ 2OH- —ïÆ'   Ag2O (s) + H2O(l) 2 Ag+(aq.)+2NH3+ H2O(l) —ïÆ'   Ag2O (s)+ 2NH4+ (aq.) Pb2+(aq.)+2Cl- (aq.) —-ïÆ'   PbCl2(s) Pb2+(aq.)+2OH-(aq.) —-ïÆ'  Pb(OH)2 (s) Pb2+(aq.)+ 2NH3(aq.)+ H2O(l) —ïÆ'   Pb(OH)2 (s)+ 2NH4+ (aq.) Cu2+(aq.) +2OH-(aq.) —-ïÆ'   Cu(OH)2 (s) 2Cu2+(aq.)+SO42- (aq.) +2NH3(aq.)+2 H2O(l) —–ïÆ'   Cu(OH)2.CuSO4(s) +2NH4+ (aq.) Zn2+ (aq.)+ 2OH- (aq.) —-ïÆ'   Zn(OH)2 (s) Zn2+ (aq.)+2NH3(aq.)+ H2O(l) —ïÆ'   Ag2O (s)+ 2NH4+ (aq.) Fe3+ (aq.)+ 3OH- (aq.) —-ïÆ'   Fe(OH)3(s) Fe3+ (aq.)+ 3NH3(aq.)+ 3H2O(l) —ïÆ'   Fe(OH)3(s)+ 3NH4+ (aq.) Pb2+(aq.)+ CrO42-(aq.) PbCrO4(s) 2Cu2+(aq.)+[Fe(CN)6]4- (aq.) —–ïÆ'  Cu2[Fe(CN)6] (s) Zn2+(aq.) + S2-(aq) —–ïÆ'   ZnS(s) 4Fe3+ (aq.)+3[Fe(CN)6]4- (aq.) —-ïÆ'  Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 (s) Ca2+(aq) + ( COO)22-(aq) —–ïÆ'   Ca(COO)2 (s) B. Identify the cations that precipitate with hydrochloric acid and dissolve in the presence of ammonia. Ag+ C. Identify the cations that precipitate with hydrochloric acid and do not redissolve in the presence of ammonia. Pb2+ D. Identify the cations that precipitate upon addition of two or three drops of sodium hydroxide but redissolve upon addition of excess sodium hydroxide. Pb2+,Zn2+ E. Identify the cations that precipitate upon addition of two or three drops of sodium hydroxide and are not affected by additional sodium hydroxide. Ag+,Cu2+,Fe3+ F.Identify the cations that precipitate upon addition of two or three drops of aqueous ammonia but redissolve upon addition of excess aqueous ammonia. Ag+,Cu2+,Zn2+ G. Identify the cations that precipitate upon addition of two or three drops of aqueous ammonia and are not affected additional aqueous ammonia. Pb2+,Fe3+ H. What simple test would distinguish Ag+ and Cu2+ ? Upon addition of two or three drops of aqueous ammonia, Ag+ produces brown ppt, which is soluble in the excess reagent, resulting in clear, colorless solution. Upon addition of two or three drops of aqueous ammonia, Cu2+ produces blue ppt, which is soluble in the excess reagent but produces dark blue solution.