Essay on The Ethics of Homosexuality - 1643 Words

â€Å"All men are created equal, No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words,† Harvey Milk. A homosexual, as defined by the dictionary, is someone of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex. Homosexuality is ethical, and I will provide rational arguments for, and irrational arguments against the topic. A few objections are as follows: It is forbidden in the Bible and frowned upon by God; It is unnatural; Men and women are needed to reproduce; There are no known examples in nature; and the most common argument that concerns homosexuality is whether it is a choice or human biology. My arguments will be ignoring a major element in factoring the morality of homosexuality,†¦show more content†¦You’re going to have to be nice to your boss to be successful at the business. Disregarding your parents’ advice, you give time and compassion, later to discover there’s nothing different with African Americans. Again, to make a final decision over the morality of homosexuality, it is essential to eliminate all of one’s prejudices. A major reason for the fear and objection towards homosexuality is organized religion. Whether we notice it or not, we as humans follow many everyday concepts from the Bible. Examples would be, to not steal, murder, or commit adultery in marriage. The Bible also states that homosexuality is unethical and should be avoided as other sins. These are all great to follow, if you conform to the rules of the Bible. Religious back up should not be used in order to deem something wrong or unethical. It is essential to understand, to deem homosexuality ethical or not, rational decision-making must occur. One must analyze the pros and cons; if the pros outweigh the cons, homosexuality is ethical, and visa versa. One who explicitly follows an organized religion must follow the rules of a higher power (God). Getting rid of this obstacle will leave room for autonomous decisions on homosexuality, and eventually its place in good ethics. Considering the biological/choice standpoint, one must again not let their beliefs give bias to their opinions. Each and every one of usShow MoreRelatedEthics of Homosexuality857 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Homosexuality Homosexuality has always been a controversial topic of ethical discussion. The morality of the subject depends completely upon a person’s views. A person is often swayed one way or another and religion often plays a very large role on the subject. There are those who believe in the divine command theory and those who believe in the natural law theory. In order to properly understand either theory it is important to know the meaning behind each. According toRead MoreThe Fundamental Mission Of The National Association Of Social Workers1630 Words   |  7 Pagesand competence (Parker-Oliver and Demiris, 2006; Elizabeth, 2012). NASW code of ethics Social work involves adherence to professional ethics. A social worker has the obligation to articulate the basic values, ethical standards and principles as he or she undertakes the social work duties. The NASW code of ethics provides the principles standards and values as a guide for the social worker conduct. The NASW code of ethics is relevant to all social professionals regardless of their professional functionsRead MoreEssay on Authority in Lisa Cahill’s â€Å"Homosexuality1169 Words   |  5 PagesLisa Cahill’s â€Å"Homosexuality The most difficult part of any modern theological debate is choosing the authority. With the variety of Christian denominations, individual thinkers, and outside influences, and it is often difficult to reach a general agreement. In her essay, â€Å"Homosexuality: A Case Study in Moral Argument,† Catholic theologian Lisa Cahill examines four major authorities and different ways to determine how they work together to produce a cohesive Christian ethic. Though she failsRead MoreSexual Ethics Essay1020 Words   |  5 Pagesdilemmas in sexual ethics such as homosexuality, marriage and divorce and pornography. For instance homosexuality is a major problem within sexual ethics because homosexual sex cannot lead to reproduction. However sexual ethic it differs between denominations compared to government law. Therefore these issues are a concern to religious belief; different faiths have different view on homosexuality or marriage and divorce. Many religious beliefs do not encourage homosexuality in fact it is severelyRead MoreEssay about Jewish Sexual Ethics1295 Words   |  6 PagesSexual ethics provide a framework for Jewish conduct so that the tradition may continue in stability and morality Evaluate the accuracy of this statement. Sexual Ethics are integral to Judaism because they provided direct guidance on how to behave morally and in accordance with the Torah and God. Although, over many years Jews were suffering from persecution, they are currently showing stability which can be attributed to the framework that is outlined through the strong ethics that theyRead MorePrejudice And Homosexuality And Sexual Love And Moral Experience1161 Words   |  5 PagesIsaiah Hines Phil. 2306-43430 05/14/2015 Prejudice and Homosexuality Sexual Love and Moral Experience For many years homosexuality and sex with out marriage has been condemned and debated most with in America . In all standards, homosexual men and women have been denied many rights within the land of the free and home of the brave. And if they have a(n) desire to want to be in the military then they are supposed to withhold their sexual orientation and preference, since this particularRead MoreEssay about Sexual Ethics: Gay Marriage Should Not Be Allowed1343 Words   |  6 Pagestopic of homosexuality and whether it is morally acceptable or unacceptable is brought up on a daily occurrence. Many individuals believe that homosexuality is a problem and ceremonies such as gay marriage should not be allowed. However, what is it that makes homosexuality considered wrong? Critics argue that homosexuality goes against the Bible—the word of God—and is immoral. The issue of homosexuality, however, is argued further when considering the topic of sexual ethics; homosexuality is not theRead MoreThe Debate On Sex Ethics Essay1410 Words   |  6 PagesUnder the topic of sex ethics, the morality of homosexuality is a widely debated and controversial issue. One side of the debate asserts that homosexual behavior is against God’s will, and is wrong because we are all obligated to do God’s will, God’s will is expressed in the Bible, and the Bible forbids homosexual behavior (Craig). This debate is called the traditional Christian argument. Although the argument is valid, I will argue against the conclusion that homosexual behavior is not against God’sRead MoreWhy Natural Law Theory Is an Inadequate Criticism of Homosexuality1147 Words   |  5 PagesNatural Law on these grounds, as well as proving that it is inapplicable when judging the ethical value of homosexuality, and discrediting homosexuality as a perversion. Act utilitarianism depicts the argument more clearly, because there are certain semantic inconsistencies with Kantian e thical Theory that will be discussed further on. Let us first consider the premise that homosexuality is contrary to Natural Law, because the Natural Law dictates that sexual relationships must be heterosexualRead MoreThe Moral View Of Homosexuality1708 Words   |  7 Pagesargument of homosexuality being considered moral or immoral has been an argument for as long as humans have been in existence. This argument has been viewed by philological experts and people all over the world for centuries and it continues to be a major argument today. The moral view of homosexuality has many arguments, but the arguments that are going to be mentioned are the normative ethics argument, the argument on why the moral law is true when it comes to homosexuality, and why homosexuality should

The Regulation Of Prostitution During The Victorian Period

During the Victorian era, women were classified as either being the stay at home mother, or a prostitute. This essay will critically review the statement ‘The regulation of prostitution during the Victorian period – through the contagious disease acts - symbolised a sexual double standard of morality. One that required different standards of chastity for men and women.’ This statement will be reviewed by drawing upon contemporary and historical and sexual double standards. The regulation of prostitution in Britain became a matter of urgency in the middle and later decades of the nineteenth century (Howell, 2000). Moeoever, this essay will also include a description of the Contagious Disease Acts, how it was implemented during the Victorian period, and how it affected the women, and those defined as prostitutes. There is no clear or simple definition of the term prostitution (Levine, 1993 cited in..). According to research, the nature of commercial sex work, and the policies that are implemented and linked to sex work do not have a clear status, especially when examined historically and geographically. However, in Britain, during the modern period, prostitution has become increasingly well defined by legal and medical services. A model of venereal female sexuality was implemented during the nineteenth century. This model informed social policies, which were designed to tackle what was considered to be prostitution’s dangerous, and disturbing ‘ill-effects’. The culmination ofShow MoreRelatedPro Legalization of Prostitution Essay1151 Words   |  5 PagesPro Legalization of Prostitution The world’s largest trade, prostitution, has always found ways to overcome the legal attempts to suppress it. Prostitution has become one of the most common trades throughout the world. Many poor countries have turned to prostitution as an outlet from their economic difficulties. It is the easiest from of labor for those who do not have a proper education or the economic background to join the legal labor force. Many men and women haveRead MoreSexual Nature And Sexual Differences1560 Words   |  7 PagesSeveral of the fundamental shifts in the ideas about the sexual nature and sexual differences occurred in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. During this period the new scientific knowledge is increasingly accepted concerning biological sex, gender, and sexuality, under which the belief that men and women are biologically different emerges. As the acceptance of this discovery grew it creates a new cultural system of proper behavior for men and women, and new constructions of gender. ThroughRead MoreA Report on Medical History, Law, Prostitution, and Public Health2063 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿Medical History Law, Prostitution and Public Health John Scott, in his paper, Prostitution and public health in New South Wales accurately describes the way that prostitutes are seen in this particular region and in the rest of the world. Prostitutes working in public spaces have been presented as sexual agents willfully engaged in criminal conduct and the spread of contagion (2003). This is clearly a more or less universal opinion of prostitutes and prostitution. However, as Scott pointsRead MoreMarriage Is An Institution That Is Important1455 Words   |  6 Pagesmarriage have changed throughout the years as well as ideas about sex and gender, for these concepts have been notoriously linked and effect one another’s evolution. The Eighteenth Century marked a period of changing attitudes of marriage and therefore sex and gender. For centuries before this period, the Catholic Church dominated the domain of marriage, controlling the sex lives and gender roles that existed within this institution. The accepted idea was that marriage was only intended for reproductionRead MoreSocial And Economic Role Of Women During The Nineteenth Century1786 Words   |  8 Pageschange in industrialisation alongside social change which affected a variety of people and classes. More background to prostitution Research questions Burstyn highlights that these changes altered the social and economic role of women during the nineteenth-century . She goes on to point out that there were great pressures on middle-class women not to work during this period and explains that ‘leisure women’ were symbols of the economic success of their male relatives . Burstyn suggests that marriageRead MoreEssay On Sexuality In The United States878 Words   |  4 Pagesconsidered taboo at home and limited in schools. Sex Education in the United States †¢ In the 1800s due to an outbreak of cholera and syphilis many public campaigns began to promote the regulation of sexuality. †¢ In 1835, adolescents throughout America learned about sexuality from religious brochures and books. †¢ During this time Rev. John Todd wrote a book title â€Å"Rev. John Todd’s Student’s Manual†. This book was written to discourage masturbation. †¢ In 1913, Chicago became the first city to launchRead MoreBrief History of Prostitution3302 Words   |  14 Pageshistory of prostitution Note by the author This document owes a lot to Max Chaleil’s work. His book, ‘Le corps prostituà © : le sexe dà ©vorant’ is the main reference of this file. This historical summary will mainly concern France, even though there are a few comparisons with the situation of prostitution in other countries. 1. The Beginnings : Sexual hospitality and sacred prostitution It is not so sure that prostitution is the oldest trade in the world; the Europeans admitted to it during the colonialRead MoreA Study on Metafictive Devices in the French Lieutenant’s Woman5819 Words   |  24 Pagesmetafictive devices, namely the intrusion of modern novelist-surrogate, the parody of Victorian romance and the creation of multiple endings. The last part will focus on the author’s profound aim in utilizing these techniques. Based on a careful survey of the original work and relevant materials, the paper holds the perception that through metafictive devices, Fowles has exp ressed his critical point of view towards Victorian era and woman emancipation. As a multi-faceted new woman in the novel, Sarah liberatesRead MoreWomen as Commodity8915 Words   |  36 PagesIn women in the story interprets Shakespeares viewpoint about women state before. That women were treated as commodities on the early modern marriage exchange has, of course, been well established. Numerous social historians of the early modern period have documented the value attached to daughters as a means by which to advance family name and social position. Although marriage formations differed widely according to social ranking, as B.J. Sokol and Mary Sokol note in Shakespeare, Law, and MarriageRead MoreWomen as Commodity8899 Words   |  36 Pageswomen in the story interprets Shakespeares viewpoint about women state before. That women were treated as commodities on the early modern marriage exchange has, of course, been well established. Numerous social historians of the early modern period have documented the value attached to daughters as a means by which to advance family name and social position. Although marriage formations differed widely according to social ranking, as B.J. Sokol and Mary Sokol note in Shakespeare, Law, and Marriage

Some Things That Contributed To Sarah free essay sample

Some things that contributed to Sarahs attitude towards her curfew was peer pressure. I think that if it wasnt for the peer pressure, Sarah would not have went out at all and would have stuck with her curfew. Peer pressure I think is the main cause of what teenagers do and what they do not do. A lot of teenagers are follow what is popular and sometimes they do not think of the that consequences can happen after they do something.I think that Sarah went with the peer pressure as they will all trying to get her to stay and liking to Jake, I believe did not help with making the right decision of not going home one time. I think that Jake was attracted to her because of the person she is and he liked that kind of person. They seemed to get along good and had something in common, which is a Start Of attraction. We will write a custom essay sample on Some Things That Contributed To Sarah or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Another reason is that he could have been drinking but I do not think that this is the case in this situation. The fight was a social interaction of the night. Usually hen you are interacting and at a party someone always thinks that they are the big shot and has to be tough and thats when fights start. When certain people at a party always try and be the central of attention and it always ends up with a fight or drama. Sarahs behavior was influenced by the throughout the night as she was enjoying her night of being out and that they kept begging her to stay. As, when she saw Jake and started talking to him is when her responsibility went out the window and she was influenced by pressure f her peers.Sure Sarah could have made better decision on how her night ended up but I think that when you are restricted all the time to certain times is when you act out. Also with her being a good kid and doing good in school gave her more of a reason why she thinks she should have stayed past her curfew, not thinking she would get in to trouble. As someone that is always a good kid never thinks of the consequences and thinks that it would be easy to get out of trouble.

Understanding Good Customer Service free essay sample

This is when they ask for something and they expect a certain level of service Customer satisfaction- This is when customers feel like you’ve given them a good service Main characteristics of typical customers- Typical customers purchase goods/services, make queries and ask for advice. Exceeding customer expectation- Providing good value for money, giving advice and information quickly, providing additional help and support and good discounts. Falling short of customer service- Being unable to meet customers’ expectations, unable to deliver services/goods and being rude. Different responsibilities in customer service Supervisor- training, day to day responsibilities, supervision and a source of advice Line manager- more supervision, more responsibility, and auditing. Customer service roles- Receptionist, shop assistant, delivery driver and accounts manager. Different kinds of information- Informative, instructive, directive, warning and safety. Common sources of information- Brochures, leaflets, internet, press reports and from your customers. Customer’s service experience is affected by the behaviour they receive from customer service practitioners Showing concern- Sympathy Listening- Nodding, saying yes Positive body language- Keeping eye contact Indentifying the reason for dissatisfaction- Faulty goods, no delivery. We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding Good Customer Service or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Apologising- Saying sorry, explain the reasons Remaining calm and in control- Not losing temper Typical customer service problems- Complaints, faults, deliveries and not fit for purpose Reporting customer service problems- To your supervisor, to your manager and to the supplier. Teamwork: To customer- Consistent service and effective cover for absences To organisation- Consistency and effective cover for absences To self- Help, support and an impact on motivation Organisational practices and procedures- Keeping accurate records, answering phones, staff appearance and dress, refunds policy and complaint handling. Importance- Ensuring consistent and reliable service, customer satisfaction, efficient operation and corporate identity. Reffering to someone in authority when? Outside own expertise, outside own authority, seeking advice and unable to deal with customer. Reffering to someone in authority how? Face to face, in writing, over the telephone and via text or email. Security of customer and their property- Compliance with health and safety laws, ensuring hygienic work practice and having a security alert. Security of customer information- Data protection laws and credit and debit details. Health and safety- Compliance with health and safety regulations, control of substances hazardous to health regulations 1994 and fire safety regulations. Treating customers equally- equal opportunities, racial and gender discrimination and compliance with regulations act. Importance of confidentiality to customer- making sure name, address, debit and credit card and details of purposes are secure. Importance and confidentiality to staff- making sure names, address’s are secure. Also making sure it is compliant with the data protection act- access limited to authorised personnel and computers need a password to be accessed. Legislation- Working time directive 1999, working with computers, equality act 2010 and the disability discrimination act. Effect of external regulations- organisational procedures and the trade body codes of conduct.

Meddling with Mettle

Meddling with Mettle Meddling with Mettle Meddling with Mettle By Maeve Maddox Another of Daniel’s great words of the day, mettle, provoked readers’ comments that have in turn prompted me to get into the act. Reader’s Comment 1 Mettle can also mean the â€Å"stuff of which a person is made.† So if I say I’m made of mettle, people won’t think I’m a robot (or, more likely, delusional)? I know that Peter was joking, but I just wanted to point out that although the word means â€Å"the stuff of which a person is made,† to say â€Å"I’m made of mettle† wouldn’t make sense. Most commonly the word mettle is used with a verb like show, test, or prove: Miami proves its mettle in win over Oklahoma Bilo rugby boys show their mettle NCC cadets test their mettle Other idioms with mettle: to be on your mettle:  to be determined to prove that you are good at something, especially in a difficult situation Nancy coach Paul Fischer knows his team must be on their mettle as they seek Study puts stents on their mettle. (in this case an inanimate object is being put on its mettle. Probably not an apt use of the expression.) Here’s a headline that plays on the same pronunciation (and same original meaning) of mettle and metal: Scrap thefts: Cops on their mettle The adjective mettlesome means â€Å"lively, high-spirited, courageous.† . . . M. Epailza, one of our most mettlesome adversaries The word seems to have some specialized meaning for gamers: Copy this simulator to the mettlesome directory†¨Run the Trainer. Start the mettlesome with this trainer.†¨ I certainly can’t figure out what â€Å"mettlesome† is supposed to mean in this paragraph on a gaming site: Buy wow characters, you are ensuring you can freely mettlesome without the hornlike slog. Theres no requirement to intend on the mettlesome an distance early than customary so you can conjoin for eve accounts you can go on at your connatural instance and savor the mettlesome to its flooded possible ness the aforementioned way thousands of others do. INWOWGOLD.COM Reader’s Comment 2 How about one who mettles in someone else’s business to the detriment of the relationship or the business? One meddles in someone else’s business. The usual sense of meddle these days is â€Å"to interfere,† as in these headlines: Building chief tells politicians not to meddle in Olympics Avoid the Temptation to Meddle in Haiti How insurers meddle in your medical care The word meddle comes from French and Latin words meaning â€Å"to mix.† The meaning â€Å"to concern oneself,† usually in a negative sense, dates from 1415. From 1340-1700 it was used as a euphemism for â€Å"to have sexual intercourse.† Shakespeare draws on this meaning in this exchange: Third Servingman: How, sir! do you meddle with my master? Coriolanus: Ay; ‘tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress. Coriolanus: IV, 5 Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Because Of" and "Due To" The Possessive ApostropheApostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns

Hard Sales and Hard Sells

Hard Sales and Hard Sells â€Å"Hard Sales† and â€Å"Hard Sells† â€Å"Hard Sales† and â€Å"Hard Sells† By Maeve Maddox Lilach Alkony wonders about the difference between â€Å"hard sales† and â€Å"hard sells.† The noun phrase hard sell is a U.S. coinage dating from the 1950s. It means â€Å"aggressive salesmanship or advertising.† An example is the late night â€Å"infomercial† that keeps pounding the viewer with â€Å"and wait, there’s more!† Hard sell can be used as an adjective and a verb, as well as a noun. The OED hyphenates the word as hard-sell and offers these examples: 1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 13 Nov. 662/3 One does not see any examples..of what is called ‘hard-sell’ advertising. 1961 Economist 14 Jan. 114/2 The need for the ‘hard sell’ is evident. 1963 Guardian 16 Nov. 14/7 It is difficult to hard-sell the honest song the way they do the contemporary counterfeit. The phrase â€Å"hard sales,† on the other hand, can have various interpretations. It can mean simply â€Å"sales transactions that are difficult to achieve,† as in this headline: Making the Hard Sales, Your Career Depends on It Some headline writers, however, confuse hard sales with hard sell: Sales Training Tip 10 Reasons Why Hard Sales Tactics Never Work The wording of the first reason suggests that the headline was probably not written by the author: People hate being sold to: hard sell will bring out the worst in people. When aggressive sales techniques are used this will prompt the prospective buyer to be aggressive as well and act negatively to the sales person. Pretty soon they are ready to argue with you and you know the sale is completely lost. A web search does turn up many examples of hard sales used with the meaning of hard sell. It seems to me that if the intended meaning is â€Å"aggressive selling,† then the established, unambiguous term is to be preferred. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†25 Russian Words Used in English (and 25 More That Should Be)10 Types of Hyphenation Errors

Critical thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Critical thinking - Essay Example In our case, the child is so young to face such kind of situation where one of his hands is injured and he has to go for radiographic tests. The radiographer needs to make the child feel relaxed and stress-free in order to do radiography. Some of the nonverbal ways which radiographer can use to provide comfort o the child include putting a hand on the back of the child while explaining him the procedure of tests, giving smiles to the child, using hands in order to explain the procedure more effectively, and maintaining eye contact during communication. Use of kinesics and paralanguage can be very helpful for the radiographer to make the child feel comfortable with the procedure. Sending of nonverbal signals plays a very expressive, meaningful, and effective role in communication (Ehrlich & Daly, 2008). Therefore, use of nonverbal communication along with verbal communication can be very effective for the radiographer to make Adam feel comfortable and ready for the test. There can be a number of urgent situations, which may require a doctor or a medical professional rapidly retrieve information from the patient’s chart. â€Å"A Patient Chart is opened using the Patient Selection process, or by selecting a patients name from the Calendar or the Patient Tracker† (Anonymous, n.d.). Doctors need to provide proper treatment to the patients based on accurate analysis of the medical history of the patients. Without sufficient information or proper analysis of information, a doctor cannot provide required treatment to a patient (Ehrlich & Daly, 2008). In these urgent situations, a doctor really needs to retrieve information from the patient’s chart as soon as possible in order to avoid the occurrence of any kind of risk to the health of the

Traditional medicine vs alternative medicine Research Paper

Traditional medicine vs alternative medicine - Research Paper Example Health and well-being has been among the top priorities of humanity from ages with a common objective to meet people’s inevitable requirements for emotional and physical curing. The role of religious values and community structures cannot be ignored in the evolution of medicines. Today, there is an increasing awareness of CAM in industrialized nations. Though the western medicine is scientifically based, and its popularity, supremacy, and guarantees are comparatively high, a large number of populations cannot afford its benefits. For instance, studies suggests that majority of people (80%) or more in developing nations can barely have enough money for the most fundamental medical dealings, drugs, and vaccines (Debas et al., n.d). Traditional medicine (TM) as the word suggest â€Å"refers to health practices, approaches, information and values incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, used individually or in addition to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being†. TM has gained popularity in countries such as Africa, Asia and Latin America for their basic health care requirements as it is more economical and is integrated with the societal values. There are data that suggests that 80% population in Africa is depending on traditional medicine for health care. When the indigenously developed TM moves out of its local boundaries and is practiced in other nations particularly the developed ones, it is known as â€Å"Complementary† or â€Å"Alternative medicine† (CAM) (Photius Coutsoukis, 2008). Hence it can be said that both TM and CAM have similarities in various aspects. Since the vocabulary complementary and alternative medicines exemplify practices and products that common people decides as additions to or as substitutes to Western allopathic therapeutic approaches, these terms are being used indiscriminately (Straus 2004). In the industrial or the so called developed nations such as the United States, an amazingly great percentage of people go for a combination of treatments suitable for them. They also take great care of safety and efficacy of these practices. The medical practices that are followed from ages and that advanced amid indigenous peoples has gained popularity in other countries. For instance, there are several tourists from different countries visiting India basically for the treatment using Ayurveda which is a traditional medicine developed over the years in India. Today, alternative medicine is popular in developing countries, and its recognition in developed nations is growing tremendously. In India, the most popular alternative medicines were recognized as Vedic medicines or Aired that has evolved through ages. The main aspire of Ayurveda medicine is harmonizing the mind, soul and body. Ayurveda takes the advantage of the rich biodiversity in India and mainly includes products from herbs, vegetables, fruits and natural minerals. There are chronological facts that even invasive procedures were practiced in ancient Ayurveda. Some of the practitioners of Ayurveda in modern society have integrated yoga and meditation processes and massaging techniques to overcome various health challenges. This makes it a part of alternative medicine. Traditional beliefs such as a strong mind and body could never fall sick have lead to the development of Chinese treatments. The Chinese treated the human mind and not the disease. Techniques such as Acupressure and Acupuncture were basically developed in China. This traditional medicine was accomplished for centuries and its idea is based on Taoist philosophy. These practices also extended to Japan and Korea and came to be known as the Oriental branch

Quinte Magnetic resonance imaging Essay Example for Free

Quinte Magnetic resonance imaging Essay Brenton-Cooper Medical Centre (BCMC) has outsourced its MRI operations to Quinte MRI, a seasoned and highly recognized MRI service provider. Unfortunately, after six weeks of operations Quinte MRI’s leased MRI machine is not meeting its expected outputs as projected and is causing concern to both Quinte MRI and BCMC which has begun to lose revenue via referrals away from its clinic. Further, BCMC’s reputation is now at risk which could result in additional loses to the centre. The root cause of the problem appears to lie with the scheduling of the scanning operations. Dr. Syed Haider, the owner of Quinte MRI, has tasked his business development coordinators with finding a solution to this problem and to report back within 2-days. Acting as David Wright and Kevin Saskiw, the business development coordinators, my solution to these issues are to regain control of the scheduling process as this is an integral part of the operations. Streamline the scheduling process to reduce variability and improve reliability. Introduce the use of technology to remove manual processes, improve process efficiencies, minimise errors and improve communication across the business lines of operation. I would also hire a new employee to support the scanning operations as there is no backup or adequately trained support for the only Technologist running the operations. Issues Identification Brenton-Cooper Medical Centre (BCMC) has outsourced its MRI operations to Quinte MRI, a seasoned and highly recognized MRI service provider. Unfortunately, after six weeks of operations Quinte MRI has not lived up to expectations and is not fulfilling its contractual obligations. Quinte MRI’s leased MRI machine is not meeting its expected outputs as projected and is causing concern to both Quinte MRI and BCMC which has begun to lose revenue via referrals away from its clinic. Further, BCMC’s reputation is now at risk which could result in additional loses to the centre. Quinte MRI is well aware of this as it stands to lose in both areas as well. If the firm cannot meets its contractual obligations and have its leased machine produce its expected output the loss of revenue would surely spell business failure and a subsequent loss of reputation. As well, the firm would probably be sued for breach of contract. On another level Quinte MRI has also identified potential issues with a stressed out, overworked employee whom is critical to the success of their business. Potentially, this employee could actually be one of the reasons of the problem that the firm is experiencing. He has identified issues surrounding the scheduling of patients for scanning and has indicated that the process needs to be fixed as it is not working. He further went on to indicate that the expectations from the radiologist for speedy delivery cannot be met due to the time it takes for him to process the patients’ MRI films. Environmental and Root Cause Analysis In my opinion there are several operational issues causing problems in the MRI scanning process. First, I believe that there is a problem with the scheduling of patients in that it lacks accuracy, consistency and clarity. Since this operation is being handled by BCMC, Quinte MRI is finding itself at a disadvantage in terms of being able to control this part of the operation. The operation appears to be purely manual, handled by several persons and is prone to input and interpretive errors. Since patients can be sent for scanning via two means (scheduled and same day(unscheduled)) some amount of variability will result. It is therefore imperative that the scheduling function be properly controlled and managed to reduce variability to minimum possible levels. Variability and uncertainty in the scheduling operation is negatively impacting capacity utilization resulting in an overall reduction of efficiency in the scanning process. Quinte MRI must balance the flow and increase capacity for greater efficiencies and to remain competitive. The bottleneck of the scanning process is the MRI machine and the time it takes to do each scan. Each scan may have different times associated with it depending on the type to be performed, limiting the capacity of the overall process. Each step in the scanning process is dependent upon the previous one therefore improvements need to start at the beginning. The objective here is to improve the process flow up to the point that the actual scan will take place. I also believe that patients are not being properly screened prior to arrival which is causing Quinte MRI losses in revenue and time. If a patient turns up and has to be turned away, or rescheduled for misdiagnosis there is a resulting disruption in the flow of patients which will impact the schedule and process and ultimately the pocket and reputation of the company. Further, it appears that the technologist is engaged in performing pre-screening services and this is a highly paid employee who should not be pre-screening patients. This tasked could best be left to a lower paid trained staff. From an operational perspective it appears that the initial implementation process of the new machine had a learning curve. This resulted in longer lead times for processing patients during the first few weeks until Jeff had found a rhythm. It appears that Jeff was either not properly trained or did not have sufficient experience in the use of that model machine. Communication, and barriers to, seems to be a fundamental problem in the whole scanning process. People and processes are not talking to each other in an efficient and effective manner. The patients are unsure of the process and what is expected of them resulting in missed dates, tardiness, improper attire, rescheduling, lost revenue, lack of confidence, etc. Responsibilities appear not to be clearly defined, or assigned, leading to inefficiencies in the process. As well, expectations of persons are not clearly defined and communicated ahead of time leading to missed schedules, frustrations and delays. Alternative and Options In my opinion Quinte MRI could request the transfer of the responsibilities of the scheduling process over to their firm. This could benefit the firm in that they would now have ultimate control of the scheduling process from start to finish. As it is the firm has to rely on BCMC to manage this function and this is causing many issues. I believe that an MR Technician could be hired to perform the scheduling tasks and also provide support to Jeff Sinclair. Quinte MRI is already paying for these services but not receiving value. Revenue loss from turn-aways alone (1.2 p/day) could adequately cover the costs of hiring someone to provide these services. Additional benefit would be backup support for Jeff during vacation or other away days. Training would be provided on the job to support Jeff and add additional new skills to the technician. Screening could be done well ahead of time before the patient arrives because someone with the knowledge and expertise is handling this. Quinte MRI could invest some capital in technology to support the scheduling and communication functions. The technology would be able to support scheduling combinations for more efficient processing of patients in the scanning process. Many persons (from BCMC and Quinte MRI) could have visibility into the system with relevant authority to administer or make changes. This technology would be able to eliminate some amount of confusion and errors based on interpretation as is currently happening. Savings from a smooth flowing process with no disruptions would easily cover upfront costs as well as any operating costs.

Mononucleosis :: essays research papers

ITION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical syndrome that can be characterized by a multitude of symptoms. They include malaise, headache, fever, pharyngitis, pharyngeal lymphatic hyperplasia, lymphadenopathy, atypical lymphocytosis, and mild transient hepatitis. This disease occurs most often in adolescents and young adults. Mononucleosis is one of these diseases that are grouped into a class known as a viral infection; more specifically it is caused by the Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is a herpes virus. In vitro, EBV only infects human B-lymphocytes. This viral infection results in lymphocyte proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion. The virus usually remains dormant, but can be activated using certain chemicals or when subjected to certain bodily conditions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To understand how this virus affects the body, we must first have a brief overview of the body and it’s immune system. OVERVIEW The body’s defense mechanisms can be split into two groups; non-specific and specific defense mechanisms. Non-specific mechanisms basically are the barriers that keep pathogens from penetrating the body. For example the epithelial membranes that cover the body, the strong acidity of the stomach killing pathogens before they have the opportunity to infect the system, these are just a couple, there are many others. Specific mechanisms help the individual acquire the ability to defend against specific pathogens by prior exposure to these pathogens. This is a function of the lymphocytes, which will be discussed later on in depth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mononucleosis affects the epithelium of the mouth where it is first introduced to the body, but that is the extent to which it is involved in the nonspecific defense mechanisms. The place where it does the most damage is the B-lymphocyte, which is a key component of specific immunity. To understand better what the infection does to the body we must look at the role of lymphocytes in the body briefly and how they do their work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B-lymphocytes are the ones that are affected directly upon when the body is subjected to this type of infection. Their role in the body is vital for immunity. They are grouped into five subclasses, depending upon some of the polypeptides in their makeup. The basic role of B-lymphocytes is to secrete antibodies that they have made due to them coming into contact with an antigen. Each B-lymphocyte has two sites where specific antigens can combine, and this binding is what promotes the body’s reaction to the infection. The B-lymphocyte is involved in what is called humoral immunity.

Harley Davidson Essay

What are the key elements of Harley Davidson’s efforts to build relationships with its customers? The main element of Harley Davidson’s success with its customers is idea that owning one of their bikes gives you an elite status and let’s you join an exclusive community. Some of the ways they have built this image is by offering events where the owners can meet each other and form friendships. They also offer services directly through the Harley Davidson Company such as insurance, theft rewards and shipping, and even an exclusive apparel line. Harley Davidson has also continued to produce its bikes in the United States and portrays itself – and in turn, its buyers- as patriotic. It has become an icon of American freedom and consumers want to be a part of it. Can you think of other companies that create such strong relationships with their customers? How do they do that? Rolex is another company that offers its customers an elite product. Like Harley Davidson they have built an elite community and offer special services to owners of Rolex watches. One of their famous services is the registration of the serial number, which not only helps trace stolen watches, but once helped identify a body in a murder case. In 1996 a murder victim was found in the English Channel- it was so decomposed that it could not be identified. Then a Rolex was found on the victims arm and the serial number was used to indentify the victim. In a twist, thanks to the precision works of the watch and its waterproof feature, the time of death was also determined within a few hours. Rolex has always been a company that provides customer service above and beyond any regular level. To own a Rolex means that you have reached a certain level of success. How else can Harley Davidson build or deepen its relationships with its customers? For a long time, Harley has been a man’s world with women being little more than the icing on the back of the bike. Today more and more women are being attracted to the riding experience. Many of them come because they have husbands or boyfriends who ride and they have found they enjoy the experience. Harley Davidson needs to expand on this interest and start offering incentives for female riders, such as bike fests targeting females and female biking apparel similar to the men’s lines. Perhaps a campaign showing real female riders in their day jobs or with their families, and then with their bikes would bring the appeal to the attention of other women that may be interested and would play on the duel role most women have.

Classification of Fish

Whitney East Mr. Beall Speech 1200 October 24, 2012 Outline: Topical Classifying Fish Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the different classifications of fish. Central Idea: Fish are classified by their different characteristics which sorts them into different classes like Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, and Osteichthyes. Introduction I. Classification of living things helps people to understand how living organisms may or may not be related to each other. A. The system of classification we use today was invented 200 years ago by Carl Linnaeus.B. Carl Linnaeus system of classification groups organisms by their characteristics or features they have in common. II. According to the book Vertebrate Biology by ORR Robert; Fish, mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians are classified together as vertebrates because they all have an internal backbone. III. In researching this particular topic, I learned that the most important characteristics used in fish classification are the type of bone in their skeleton, the gill structure, the number and shape of fins, and the type of scales. IV.Now I will introduce you to the characteristics and the three different classes of fish. â€Å"Jawless (Agnatha), Cartilaginous (Chondrichthyes), and Bony Fish (Osteichthyes). Body I. The Agnatha class is the oldest group, similar to fish but with some different characteristics. A. As explained in The Evolution of Vertebrate Design, certain characteristics like lacking jaws is what classified fish to this class. 1. The Agnatha class lacks an internal bone skeleton, jaws, and paired fins. 2. Instead of jaws, they have circular toothed mouths called cyclostomic. Which they use to suck blood from the side of their prey. . They have a smooth, scale less skin which is soft to the touch. B. There are two living groups of Agnatha the lampreys and Hagfish 1. Lamprey have a single dorsal nostril, a pineal eye, three fins (anterior, posterior, and caudal fin), and a long row or circular gill pouch openings. They make a living being a parasite that eventually kills the prey they latch onto. 2. Hagfish have long eel-like bodies, no eyes, no true fins, a single nostril, up to eight barbels (like whiskers/tentacles for fish) and have rows of horny teeth used to grasp food and draw it in. II.Chondrichthyes fish today include both fearsome predator characteristics and harmless characteristics. A. As explained in Vertebrate Biology, all Chondrichthyes lack true bone. 1. The Chondrichthyes fish have full cartilage skeletons. 2. They have teeth that are made of calcium which grow in rows throughout the fish’s life. 3. They have a regular pattern of fins and there external skin is entirely cartilaginous. B. Sharks, skates, and rays make up the Chondrichthyes class. 1. Sharks have pointed snouts and crescent shaped mouths with several rows of sharp triangular teeth.They have five gills on each side that have individual gill slits shown externally. 2. Skates are rounded to d iamond shaped. They have large pectoral fins extending from the snout to the base of their tail. The mouth and gills are on the underside of their bodies. Skates are bottom dwellers and trap their prey by dropping down on their prey from above. 3. Rays can be classified into the following groups: electric rays, sawfish, skates, and many families of rays that have slender whip like tails. III. The Osteichthyes (bony fish) is the largest class of vertebrates with over 20,000 species.A. Stephen Savage states in the book Fish that, Osteichthyes have skeletons made of bone, flat scales, and gills. 1. Bony fish have a much stiffer skeleton because it is reinforced by calcium salts. 2. Bony fish also have acute eyesight unlike other classes of fish 3. Bony fish have a special organ called a swim blatter housed under their bony skeleton is a gas filled chamber that allows the fish to remain floating in the water. B. Tuna and Seahorses are examples of bony fish (Osteichthyes) 1. The tuna is stout in the middle and tappers to points at both ends.The tuna had two closely spaced dorsal fins on its back. The tuna is generally metallic dark blue color on its sides and silvery on its underside. 2. The seahorse has a heavy bony armor which makes them poor swimmers. They mostly anchor themselves with their tails to things like seaweed or other kinds of plants. They have a transparent dorsal fin on its back that propels them forward. Conclusion I. An animal is not a fish unless it has all the right characteristics II. No matter how different fish are, most fish share several basic characteristics: fins, gills, scales, and hatch babies from eggs. III.Fish classification is sometimes confusing and difficult, but it is a useful way of learning about different groups of fascinating fish around the world.Bibliography Animal Planet. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://animals. howstuffworks. com/fish/fish-info5. htm>. ORR, ROBERT T. VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY. FOURTH ed. PHILADELP HIA: W. B. SAUNDERS, 1976. Print. Radinsky, Leonard B. The Evolution of Vertebrate Design: Leonard B. Radinsky. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1987. Print. Savage, Stephen. Fish. Austin,Texas: Raintree, 2000. Print. Wallace, Holly. Classification. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2000. Print.

The Four Sounds of the Spelling OU

The Four Sounds of the Spelling OU The Four Sounds of the Spelling OU The Four Sounds of the Spelling OU By Maeve Maddox In response to the post on all a rouse, Paul Wilkins wrote I am wondering why people are misusing rouse to mean ruse. What other spellings of common words are there that would cause them to think that rouse is pronounced in the same was as ruse? The only only one that comes to mind is the -use word ending for words such as hypotenuse. Actually, there are several English words in which the spelling ou represents the /oo/ sound: you, your, tour, crouton, group, coup The reference on which I most rely for discussing the sounds and spelling of English is Romalda Spaldings The Writing Road to Reading. Spalding based the teaching guidelines in her book on the work of Samuel Orton and his student Anne Gillingham. Both the Spalding Method and the Orton-Gillingham Method organize the sounds and symbols of English into 46 sounds (phonemes) and 70 written symbols (phonograms). In the Spalding method phonograms that represent more than one sound are presented in order of frequency. That is, if a letter or letter combination can represent more than one sound, the first sound is the most common, the second less common, and so on. When encountering an unfamiliar word, the beginning reader is taught to try the first sound first. If that doesnt produce a recognizable word, then the second sound is to be tried. In Spalding the four sounds of the phonogram ou are presented in this order: 1. /ow/ as in found about, house, shout, mouse, count, loud, sound, hound 2. long o as in four pour, course, court, gourd, mourn, fourth 3. /oo/ as in you your, tour, crouton, group, coup 4. /uh/ as in country cousin, double As one might expect, American pronunciation has undergone changes since Orton and his students did their research back in the 1920s and 1930s. Television has spread many pronunciations and words that were once considered regional rather than standard. For example, the word tour [tÊŠr] is often heard pronounced to rhyme with chore. In answer to the readers question, the bloggers who spell the word ruse with the phonogram ou have never seen the word in print. They are associating the spelling ou with its third sound and not its most common sound. As the writing population continues to read less, many conventional spellings will be lost. They will be replaced by forms that look right to writers who are not used to seeing them in print. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:36 Adjectives Describing LightWhat is Dative Case?Affect vs. Effect

Know Your Prepositions! (As, At and By)

Know Your Prepositions! (As, At and By) Know Your Prepositions! (As, At and By) Picking the right preposition can be tricky. After all, there are so many to choose from! But prepositions can be vital for building a grammatical sentence. As such, you’ll need to know how these terms work if you want to avoid errors in your writing. And in this post, we’re taking a closer look at three common prepositions you need to know: â€Å"as,† â€Å"at,† and â€Å"by.† What Are Prepositions? Prepositions are linking words. In particular, they show us how a word is related to other words in a sentence. For example: The man came from Scotland. â€Å"From† here is a preposition that tells us the relationship between â€Å"man† and â€Å"Scotland† (i.e., that â€Å"Scotland† is where the man originated). Most prepositions work like this, coming before a noun or pronoun. But how about the prepositions â€Å"as,† â€Å"at,† and â€Å"by†? What do we use these words for when building a sentence? Lets take a look. As (Function and Character) The word â€Å"as† has several uses. In fact, it isn’t even a preposition most of the time! Usually, it is either an adverb (when making comparisons) or a conjunction (when linking clauses). However, it can also be a preposition. In this case, you would use it before a noun or noun phrase to express the function or character of something: Monique works as a proofreader. Alan was difficult as a child. In the first sentence above, for instance, â€Å"as† points to the type of work Monique does (i.e., proofreading). In the second, â€Å"as† tells us who Alan was when the speaker considered him difficult (i.e., a child). At (Location, Position and State) The good news is that â€Å"at† is always a preposition, which is simpler than â€Å"as.† Unfortunately, it also has many uses as a preposition, so it is still tricky! We won’t try to list all its functions here, but key uses include indicating: A location (e.g., They will be at the party later) When something takes place (e.g., We will get there at 8pm) A point on a scale or in a process (e.g., We’re at the halfway point) A state or condition (e.g., I’m good at basketball) The object of an action or attention (e.g., He keeps staring at the clock) Most of the time, then, we use â€Å"at† to indicate a location, position, or state. By (Responsibility and Means) Finally, we have â€Å"by,† which is almost always a preposition. This term has many uses, but some of the most common include indicating: Who performed an action (e.g., The goal was scored by Viduka) The means by which something was done (e.g., I travelled by bus) The size or amount of a difference (e.g., We improved output by 25%) A deadline or the end of a time period (e.g., We need it finished by Tuesday) That something is next to something (e.g., She found it by the side of the road) The time during which something happens (e.g., Most owls hunt by night) As with â€Å"at,† the variety of uses here can seem confusing. But if you practice using the prepositions above, you should get the hang of them before long!

To his Coy Mistress Poem Reflections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

To his Coy Mistress Poem Reflections - Essay Example Am I to sit here in a single room waiting to be graced by your presence? Shall I sit and wait for you to take me out or am I to be hidden away until you aren’t interested in me? I think not dear one. How am I to amuse myself as you live the other part of your life? Certainly visions of rolling about with you cannot be what you expect me to substitute for an honest relationship. As you aptly recognize death, you must also realize that life, before I become a rotting carcass, must be lived and enjoyed. Thus, in your next correspondence do write as passionately of my financial protection as you do of consummation and then you will find yourself in the garden of eden. I interpret this piece as rather typical. It is the basic mating dance that men engage in when they are trying to entice a woman to go to bed with them. It is clear that he is governed by lust which is understandable. Oftentimes, that which we cannot obtain becomes irresistible and we pine after it. It should be noted that it is not that he wants â€Å"her†. He merely wants her body. His desire is akin to the desire that anyone feel when they want something. This can apply to a sexual dalliance or obtaining a video game. One can play a video game for hours when they first obtain it. Likewise, one can enjoy sexual relations for hours at a time as well. This does not mean that there is an actual love exists. Any chance that the suitor has of getting his mistress to actually go to bed with him is substantially diminished by the fact that he explains to her that if she doesn’t, she will wind up old and unworshipped. It is actually amusing because in today’s society, he would not have made it past the second verse of his poem. The tone and diction of the speaker remind me of one who is spoiled and accustomed to having their way. I would presume that the speaker was rather unattractive because he only speaks of her beauty and with his arrogance would

United States involvement in Afghanistan Research Paper

United States involvement in Afghanistan - Research Paper Example In their book, Myths, Illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East, authors Ross and Makovsky (2009) explore a range of myths and illusions that underpin the challenges that the United States has faced in dealing with the Arab world. The two authors trace the challenges of the United States policy on the Middle East from the Cold War era to the current age. Illustrations are made regarding on how faulty assumptions developed into wrong approaches regarding the interests, perspectives, and political objectives of the Middle East. For instance, the United States wrongly interpreted the response of the Middle East to the rise of Communism. The US policy makers were under the impression that the Middle East would automatically reject the Soviet ideologies because of their inconsistency with the faith of Islam. Understanding the complexities, successes, and challenges of the United States involvement in Afghanistan acquires clearer insights when analyzed together with the core arguments propounded by Ross and Makovsky (2009). The authors make general and specific claims and arguments about the nature of the US foreign policy in the Middle East and its ramifications in the aspects of peace, balance of power, democratization, and religious extremism. The impact of the US foreign policy on the Middle East can have either positive or negative results depending on its capacity to interpret, predict, and relate with the challenges in the Middle East. Policies that have tended to demonstrate preferential treatment towards the State of Israel as particularly cited as problematic (Duncan, 2004). According to the argument, regional interests, nationalism interests, and Islam are essentially dissimilar. As such, they tend to manifest themselves in region in different forms in accordance with multiple factors. Cases have been pointed out where the pursuit of Islamic interests appears to contradict established interests. Hierarchies of interests vary and manifest themselves in multiple forms in accordance with the stakes of the region’s governments, strategies of various groups, and cultural factors (Hudson, 1996). Rigid structures and frameworks that apply across time and space cannot be developed to assess the nature of realities in the region. Therefore, the existing policies cannot apply in the interpretation of the political and social realities of the Middle East. Lack of comprehension of these forces has led to futile strategies in the formulation of peace plans in the region (Hudson, 1996). The traditional American policy for the Middle East, according to the authors, anchored on the myth of Arab Unity. The United States handled the region as a homogenous entity that relied on common interests and goals. The authors single out the case of the poor handling of the re gion’s peace proposals by former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat by the administration of former President Carter as a case in point where the United States failed to capitalize on the opportunity of the moment. The mistake, according to the authors was the belief that Sadat could never act alone outside the bracket of the Arab worldview. Myths that control the Arab approaches on matters, according to the authors, lead the United States policy makers to make poor judgments of situations that often prove to be very costly. The authors argue that such approaches generate a mismatch between the guiding ideology and the methods applied in the practical terms. Ideologies are equally explored in the manner in which they cloud the judgments on matters of regional balance and other issues that appertain to the relationship between the United States and the Middle East. Ross and Makovsky (2009) contend that relationships that are more productive are possible and the pursuit of peace ac hievable if the United States reworks its policies in the region in ways that correspond with the fluid nature of Middle East politics, religion,

Final Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final - Term Paper Example Nobody knows for sure how change will turn out. To a certain extent, nothing is permanent except change itself. This should perhaps remind all of us how to cope with change and adopt to it. Some people adopt to change quite remarkably well, while others flounder and get left behind because of a different attitude towards change. Management scholars, change experts, and talented academicians have studied change and its effects on people, on how to manage the change process to make it a positive outcome, or on how to teach people to adapt and accept change as a positive event that will bring new options or opportunities for those quick enough and astute enough to embrace change as beneficial. The conventional wisdom is that people resist change because it implies chaos and uncertainty. However, a paradigm shift is needed to make people realize how change brings with it a new set of opportunities, the chance to start afresh and the option to wipe the slate clean, so to speak. Some peopl e definitely thrive when exposed to change because they are quick enough to grab the chances presented by change when old rules no longer apply and new ones are just now being implemented. The change process can be managed efficiently only if people open up their eyes and their minds to the benefits that change brings. Change can be a positive event because it brings progress for humankind in ways unimaginable but only if it is steered in the right ways. Discussion Since change is inevitable and oftentimes unavoidable too, people should be ready at all times to adopt and adapt to whatever changes are coming their way. Human recorded history is a continuum of constant changes over the centuries and cumulatively, all those changes can now be seen in the way human civilization has progressed over several millennia. Change itself can be evolutionary (gradual) or revolutionary (abrupt) depending on the circumstances but change is happening all around sometimes without people consciously knowing how change is proceeding. Some people will resist change because they prefer to stay in their comfort zones and be happy with the present way of doing things while some people embrace change for new opportunities it brings. This dichotomy in people's responses is starkly illustrated in the two groups of friends who discovered their cheese was missing; Sniff and Scurry were able to adapt and went about searching for new cheese, while another group (Hem and Haw) just waited for the cheese to just re-appear somewhat magically for them, without them doing anything (Johnson, 2003). Change can be managed actively and steered towards a desired outcome if people will be strong enough to do so. In other words, people can influence change in ways that are positive for them in the long run if they want to, all it takes is just personal willpower and political will to achieve positive change. It means people need to be proactive for change to succeed for them or otherwise, change will f orce people to adapt or wither away. This had been the case of most of ancient civilizations in the world, which achieved their heights and peaks of development but in the process, an unexpected change or event came along to which these civilizations were not able to adapt and caused their decline while new societies came along which prospered with change. Put differently, a person can be an active participant by being a change agent himself or choose to be a passive bystander watching all the change events affecting his own

Moving away from hatred Essay Example for Free

Moving away from hatred Essay â€Å"On Saturday in the Serbian Town of Cacak (which is located in the Western-Central part of the country), fans of the local team Borac Cacak were conducting racial chants and wearing KKK attire aimed at one Mike Tamwanera. Usually when you have fans chanting or hissing at a player he usually plays for another team, but Tamwanera who is from Zimbabwe, plays for Borac Cacak. While arrests were made by Cacak police and the club has stated that these fans will be banned from future games, the act itself is extremely disgraceful. It is extremely disappointing to see Serbian people do this type of action The problem lies in the fact that these small group of fans who donned the garments known for extreme racism do not realize that the Ku Klux Klan have also been known to hate all minority groups including Slavic people who we Serbs are a part of. By wearing the white-cloth attire, these fans are showing that they support the hate done to their own people; its the same if Serbs wore Nazi uniforms and paraded around the town (Kross. 2006)† Looking back at these incidents, I am made to reflect on the acts of racism that I have seen and heard of here in America. One case here in America that has definitely struck a bone in me is the Jena Six (6) incident. As we know this is with regard to six (6) black teenagers beating up a white teenager and being charged with attempted murder and conspiracy. Looking at this incident, I am led to believe that the root of the case is rather complicated and is in fact rooted in decades of violence and aggression between Black and White Americans, which has led to a vicious cycle between the two. As Todd Lewan wrote in his article, â€Å"Clearly, something bad occurred in Jena, population 2,971, an old sawmill town in LaSalle Parish that, once upon a time, was Ku Klux Klan country. And, as most white and black residents readily agree, there is no good reason for embracing what unfolded here. † However, digging deeper into the story we see that the issue at heart is basically spawn by misunderstanding and hatred. Hatred that is drawn from differences we refuse to see beyond as human beings. This coupled by the fact that numerous injustices have been made in the past only add up to the existing problem. Racial acts are no longer the only scope of the norms and mores groups become socialized into but aggression and violence become a legitimate way by, which such groups express themselves. Looking back at the incident it is history repeating itself as Black Americans get back at White Americans for disputes and vice versa. In addition to this, the fact that racism is a group privilege as pointed out earlier only compounds the matter. This is since it bolsters the behavior and even perpetuates violent and aggressive acts such as the Jena 6 incident and even the beating of the gypsies in Europe. Moreover, the group does not see that such acts are wrong. Certain acts to them are merely a way by which they can express themselves and the like. Yet to think that even such actions are spawned from misunderstandings or inaccurate interpretations leads me to think that so much pain and suffering can actually be avoided if we simply open our minds. Taking into account the Jena Six incident as taken from Newsweek: â€Å"Decades of suppressed racial hostility spilled forth at the appearance of those swaying nooses. Word spread quickly that day; before long, scores of black students congregated under the tree. As black students, we didnt call it a protest, says Robert Bailey Jr. , one of the Jena Six. We just called it standing up for ourselves. School officials convened an assembly in early September, where local District Attorney Reed Walters appeared, flanked by police officers. I can be your best friend or your worst enemy, he told students, warning them to settle down. With a stroke of my pen, I can make your lives disappear. A visit to the school, along with the fact that the three white boys who admitted to hanging the nooses were only dealt a few days suspension, further inflamed the African-American community. It felt like they were saying, We can do what we want to those ns, says Marcus Jones, Bells father. Things reached a boil later in the semester. During the Thanksgiving holiday, someone set fire to the school, reducing the main academic wing to rubble (no one has been arrested, and though a link between what was ruled an arson and the racial discord hasnt been proved, many suspect there is one). The following day, Bailey was punched and beaten with beer bottles when he tried to enter a mostly white party in town. The white kid who threw the first punch was later charged with simple battery and given probation†¦ (Flores and Kovach. 2007). † We can see that the escalation to the whole incident could have been avoided if it was approached with more understanding from both races. It should not have been about White or Black but rather of what was socially and morally right or wrong. We have to realize that racism not only is morally wring but is also legally wrong. According to UN International Conventions, the term racial discrimination shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life. Although it is defined and seen in a sociological standpoint as being a group privilege and can in a certain sense cause a debate as to whether or not such behavior exhibited by a group is deviant; the fact remains that it has moral, ethical and legal ramifications. Racism, be it in the form of a racial slur or an actual physical act (whether in retaliation or not) is just plain wrong. Yes there have been numerous indignations between various races in the past but we have to learn to bridge beyond differences in ethnicity and culture. Perhaps the next step in a progressive and linear development in achieving true equality is for us to start relearning the concepts we have learned. To unlearn what it is to hate and to start seeing others as being our equal. Of course this is easier said than done. In his article entitled â€Å"Racism in America: What has to happen for black and white to unite? † Jeff Hickman sites that a greater problem or obstacle to hurdle in overcoming racism is ignorance. In his words, â€Å"As we all know it takes only a very short time to teach a person to hate, and yet you can spend a lifetime in vain attempting to repair the misguided web of lies racism encompasses†¦One of the most difficult tasks in life to accomplish is to overcome the core fundamental principles that you are taught as a child. Parents, Grandparents, and role models, yield an enormous amount of influence in the moral development of a child (Hickman. 2007). † Taking this into account we can see that norms and mores carried from one racist group can actually be passed on to the next generation. Furthermore, studies have also shown the relationship of peers and role models in reinforcing a behavior. Such is the contention of Alfred Bandura, a psychologist who formulated the Social Learning Theory. According to his theory we learn basic skills and behaviors by observing what others or rather role models do. Given the case of racism the more alarming aspect is that violence and aggression are also passed on and reinforced. Rick Van Acker â€Å"the development of chronic aggressive and violent behavior is complex and appears to involve the interplay of multiple risk factors†¦factors related to family functioning, peer associations, and the community in which the child resides, however, probably account for the greatest variation in the learning and expression of aggression and violence† (pars. 3). Hence we have a vicious cycle that we must break. As they say, hate breeds hate. Going back to what Joseph Addison said, â€Å"If men would consider not so much where they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling in the world. † This is something we must all take into heart. The problem raced by racism and the ignorance it has bred is not unique to White Americans, Black Americans, Serbians or what ever other race. The connotations we have and the diversity between races should not be viewed as taboo or dreadful. Instead we should learn to respect the diversity we have cross culturally and see it as part of what makes us beautiful. Moreover, we have to see beyond the differences and realize that we are all the same†¦that we are all human beings. Racism has always been both an instrument of discrimination and a tool of exploitation. But it manifests itself as a cultural phenomenon, susceptible to cultural solutions, such as multicultural education and the promotion of ethnic identities (Sivanandan pars. 1). It is not a hopeless scenario. We can change it through continuous education and culture sensitivity. We must remember that in the end, the world we live in does not shape our society but we as human beings are the ones that create, maintain and change the very fabric of the society we live in. References Fraser, Angus. The Peoples of Europe: The Gypsies. Blackwell Publishing P, 1995. Hickman, Jeff.â€Å"Racism in America: What has to happen for white and black to unite? † The People’s Media Company. 1 May 2007. 25 September 2007. http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/221501/racism_in_america_what_has_to_hap pen. html? page=3 UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. 7 March 1966. New York. Kovach, Gretel C. and Campo-Flores, Arian. â€Å"A Town In Turmoil. † Newsweek Society. (20-27 August 2007 Issue). 25 September 2007. http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/20218937/site/newsweek/page/0/ Kross, Final. â€Å"Racism in Serbia and Kezman. † Fox Sports. 18 October 2006. 25 September 2007. http://community. foxsports. com/blogs/FinalKross/2006/10/18/Racism_in_Serbia_and_Kezman Lewan, Todd. â€Å"Black and white becomes gray in La. Town. † The Associated Press. 2007. 24 September 2007. http://news. yahoo. com/s/ap/20070922/ap_on_re_us/a_place_called_jena Race and Ethnicity. 31 March 2003. Elaine Leeder and US2 Design. 24 September 2007. http://www. sonoma. edu/users/l/leeder/index. htm Racism. 25 September 2007. Wkimedia Foundation, Inc. 25 September 2007. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Racism Shah, Anup. â€Å"Racism. † Global Issues. 20 December 2004. 24 September 2007. http://www. globalissues. org/HumanRights/Racism. asp#RacismagainstGypsies Sivanandan, A. â€Å"Poverty is the New Black. † The Guardian Unlimited. 17 August 2001. 25 September 2007. http://www. guardian. co. uk/globalisation/story/0,7369,538225,00. html World of Quotes. com. 2007. 2003 – 2006 Roy Russo. 24 September 2007. http://www. worldofquotes. com/topic/Difference/1/index. html. Van Acker, Rick. â€Å"Aggression and Violence: Factors Related to Their Development. † T/TAC. 1 May 1997. 25 September 2007. http://www. wm. edu/ttac/articles/challenging/aggression. html.

Irving Washington, The History of New York Essay examples -- LIterary

Irving Washington was born in 1783 in New York into a large family where he was the youngest of eleven children. He started his career from a law office feeling that it was a job not to his heart content. Being light-hearted and sardonic in his nature he attempted to write for the journal of his brother Peter called â€Å"The Morning Chronicle†. Later Irving and Peter thought of creating a high-quality literary mockery. Originally the text intended nothing else but a satire upon the â€Å"Picture of New York† by Dr. Samuel Mitchell whose text was rather boastful of erudition and pedantry; however, it turned out to be different from the original perspective broadening the scope of interpretative thinking over to history and philosophy as two great narratives. The text was published December 6, 1809 in New York when Irving Washington was 26 and brought him considerable critical acclaim. Worth mentioning are the two timelines: the actual historical timeline of the story which embraces the first two decades of the XVII century. Literary selection suggested revolves around a historical episode of purchase of New York (namely Manhattan Island) from the Indians and further life of the Dutchmen. In 1626 Peter Menuit arrived at the colony called New Amsterdam to govern as well as take part in educational and religious activities of the settlers. The first priority for the governor to realize was a purchase of the Island of Manhattan. The estimated sum of transaction was twenty-four dollars, which Irving Washington calls â€Å"a measure almost unparalleled in the annals of discovery and colonization† (Tuttleton, 1993, p. 209-212). The second timeline is actually tangible through the author’s voice within the frame of narration, as he comes from two... ... The other side of the conflict is never articulated, thus suppressed, kept silent and, therefore, eliminated, which makes the entire concept of conflict as a productive means of history. Irving Washington wrote the text looking back two centuries. Apart from being a satire it deconstructs the concept of history by devaluation of the conflict via removal of one of its constituents or dehumanization of it which is one of the main implied themes of the story. Works Cited Aderman, Ralph. M. Critical Essays on Washington Irving. // John G. Lockhart. Review of Knickerbocker’s History of New York. G.K. Hall & Co., 1990. P. 50. Irving, Washington. A History of New York: Washington Irving: History, Tales and Sketches. NY: the Library of Congress, 1983. P. 449-55. Tuttleton, James W. Washington Irving: the Critical Reaction. AMS Press, 1993. P. 209-212. Irving Washington, The History of New York Essay examples -- LIterary Irving Washington was born in 1783 in New York into a large family where he was the youngest of eleven children. He started his career from a law office feeling that it was a job not to his heart content. Being light-hearted and sardonic in his nature he attempted to write for the journal of his brother Peter called â€Å"The Morning Chronicle†. Later Irving and Peter thought of creating a high-quality literary mockery. Originally the text intended nothing else but a satire upon the â€Å"Picture of New York† by Dr. Samuel Mitchell whose text was rather boastful of erudition and pedantry; however, it turned out to be different from the original perspective broadening the scope of interpretative thinking over to history and philosophy as two great narratives. The text was published December 6, 1809 in New York when Irving Washington was 26 and brought him considerable critical acclaim. Worth mentioning are the two timelines: the actual historical timeline of the story which embraces the first two decades of the XVII century. Literary selection suggested revolves around a historical episode of purchase of New York (namely Manhattan Island) from the Indians and further life of the Dutchmen. In 1626 Peter Menuit arrived at the colony called New Amsterdam to govern as well as take part in educational and religious activities of the settlers. The first priority for the governor to realize was a purchase of the Island of Manhattan. The estimated sum of transaction was twenty-four dollars, which Irving Washington calls â€Å"a measure almost unparalleled in the annals of discovery and colonization† (Tuttleton, 1993, p. 209-212). The second timeline is actually tangible through the author’s voice within the frame of narration, as he comes from two... ... The other side of the conflict is never articulated, thus suppressed, kept silent and, therefore, eliminated, which makes the entire concept of conflict as a productive means of history. Irving Washington wrote the text looking back two centuries. Apart from being a satire it deconstructs the concept of history by devaluation of the conflict via removal of one of its constituents or dehumanization of it which is one of the main implied themes of the story. Works Cited Aderman, Ralph. M. Critical Essays on Washington Irving. // John G. Lockhart. Review of Knickerbocker’s History of New York. G.K. Hall & Co., 1990. P. 50. Irving, Washington. A History of New York: Washington Irving: History, Tales and Sketches. NY: the Library of Congress, 1983. P. 449-55. Tuttleton, James W. Washington Irving: the Critical Reaction. AMS Press, 1993. P. 209-212.

The Hero And The Crown Part One Chapter 1

To Terri The Hero and the Crown takes place some considerable span of years before the time of The Blue Sword. There are a few fairly dramatic topographical differences between the Damar of Aerin's day and that of Harry's. Part One Chapter 1 SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER a time when she had not known the story; she had grown up knowing it. She supposed someone must have told her it, sometime, but she could not remember the telling. She was beyond having to blink back tears when she thought of those things the story explained, but when she was feeling smaller and shabbier than usual in the large vivid City high in the Damarian Hills she still found herself brooding about them; and brooding sometimes brought on a tight headachy feeling around her temples, a feeling like suppressed tears. She brooded, looking out over the wide low sill of the stone window-frame; she looked up, into the Hills, because the glassy surface of the courtyard was too bright at midday to stare at long. Her mind ran down an old familiar track: Who might have told her the story? It wouldn't have been her father who told her, for he had rarely spoken more than a few words together to her when she was younger; his slow kind smiles and slightly preoccupied air had been the most she knew of him. She had always known that he was fond of her, which was something; but she had only recently begun to come into focus for him, and that, as he had told her himself, in an unexpected fashion. He had the best – the only – right to have told her the story of her birth, but he would not have done so. Nor would it have been the hafor, the folk of the household; they were polite to her always, in their wary way, and reserved, and spoke to her only about household details. It surprised her that they still remembered to be wary, for she had long since proven that she possessed nothing to be wary about. Royal children were usually somewhat alarming to be in daily contact with, for their Gifts often erupted in abrupt and unexpected ways. It was a little surprising, even, that the hafor still bothered to treat her with respect, for the fact that she was her father's daughter was supported by nothing but the fact that her father's wife had borne her. But then, for all that was said about her mother, no one ever suggested that she was not an honest wife. And she would not have run and told tales on any of the hafor who slighted her, as Galanna would – and regularly did, even though everyone treated her with the greatest deference humanly possible. Galanna's Gift, it was dryly said, was to be impossible to please. But perhaps from the hafor's viewpoint it was not worth the risk to discover any points of similarity or dissimilarity between herself and Galanna; and a life of service in a household that included Galanna doubtless rendered anyone who withstood it automatically wary and respectful of anything that moved. She smiled. She could see the wind stir the treetops, for the surface of the Hills seemed to ripple beneath the blue sky; the breeze, when it slid through her window, smelled of leaves. It might very well have been Galanna who told her the story, come to that. It would be like her; and Galanna had always hated her – still did, for all that she was grown now, and married besides, to Perlith, who was a second sola of Damar. The only higher ranks were first sola and king; but Galanna had hoped to marry Tor, who was first sola and would someday be king. It was no matter that Tor would not have had Galanna if she had been the only royal maiden available – â€Å"I'd run off into the Hills and be a bandit first,† a much younger Tor had told his very young cousin, who had gone off in fits of giggles at the idea of Tor wearing rags and a blue headband and dancing for luck under each quarter of the moon. Tor, who at the time had been stiff with terror at Galanna's very determined attempts to ensnare him, had relaxed enough to grin and tell her she had no proper respect and was a shameless hoyden. â€Å"Yes,† she said unrepentantly. Tor, for whateve r reasons, was rather over-formal with everyone but her; but being first sola to a solemn, twice-widowed king of a land with a shadow over it might have had that effect on a far more frivolous young man than Tor. She suspected that he was as grateful for her existence as she was for his; one of her earliest memories was riding in a baby-sack over Tor's shoulders while he galloped his horse over a series of hurdles; she had screamed with delight and wound her tiny hands in his thick black hair. Teka, later, had been furious; but Tor, who usually took any accusation of the slightest dereliction of duty with white lips and a set face, had only laughed. But whenever she decided that it must have been Galanna who first told her the story, she found she couldn't believe it of her after all. Having told it for spite and malice, yes; but the story itself had too much sad grandeur. But perhaps she only felt that way because it was about her mother; perhaps she had changed it in her own mind, made a tragedy of nothing but sour gossip. But that Galanna would deliberately spend enough time in her company to tell her the story was out of character; Galanna preferred whenever possible to look vaguely over the head of the least of her cousins, with an expression on her face indicating that there was a dead fly on the windowsill and why hadn't the hafor swept it away? When Galanna was startled into speaking to her at all, it was usually from a motive of immediate vengeance. The tale of Arlbeth's second wife would be too roundabout for her purposes. Still, that it had been one of the cousins was the best guess. Not Tor, of course. One of the oth ers. She leaned out of the window and looked down. It was hard to recognize people from the tops of their heads, several stories up. Except Tor; she always knew him, even if all she had to go on was an elbow extending an inch or two beyond a doorframe. This below her now was probably Perlith: that self-satisfied walk was distinctive even from above, and the way three of the hafor, dressed in fine livery, trailed behind him for no purpose but to lend to their master's importance by their presence pretty well assured it. Tor went about alone, when he could; he told her, grimly, that he had enough of company during the course of his duties as first sola, and the last thing he wanted was an unofficial entourage for any gaps in the official ones. And she'd like to see her father pulling velvet-covered flunkeys in his wake, like a child with a toy on a string. Perlith's head spoke to another dark head, the hafor waiting respectfully several arms1 length distant; then someone on a horse – she could not distinguish voices but she heard the click of hoofs – emerged from around a corner. The rider wore the livery of a messenger, and the cut of his saddle said he came from the west. Both heads turned toward him and tipped up, so she could see the pale blur of their faces as they spoke to him. Then the horseman cantered off, the horse placing its feet very delicately, for it was dangerous to go too quickly across the courtyard; and Perlith and the other man, and Perlith's entourage, disappeared from her view. She didn't have to hear what they said to each other to know what was going on; but the knowledge gave her no pleasure, for it had already brought her both shame and bitter disappointment. It was either the shame or the disappointment that kept her mewed up in her rooms, alone, now. She had hardly seen her father or Tor for the week past as they wrestled with messages and messengers, as they tried to slow down whatever it was that would happen anyway, while they tried to decide what to do when it had happened. The western barons – the fourth solas – were making trouble. The rumor was that someone from the North, either human or human enough to look it, had carried a bit of demon-mischief south across the Border and let it loose at the barons' council in the spring. Nyrlol was the chief of the council for no better reason than that his father had been chief; but his father had been a better and a wiser man. Nyrlol was not known for intelligence, and he was known for a short and violent temper: the perfect target for demon-mischief. Nyrlol's father would have recognized it for what it was. But Nyrlol had not recognized anything; it had simply seemed like a wonderful idea to secede from Damar and the rule of Damar's King Arlbeth and Tor-sola, and set himself up as King Nyrlol; and to slap a new tax on his farmers to support the raising of an army, eventually to take the rest of Damar away from Arlbeth and Tor, who didn't run it as well as he could. He managed to convince several of his fellow barons (demon-mischief, once it has infected one human being, will usually then spread like a plague) of the brilliance of his plan, while the mischief muddled their wits. There had been a further rumor, much fainter, that Nyrlol had, with his wonderful idea, suddenly developed a mesmerizing ability to sway those who heard him speak; and this rumor was a much more worrying one, for, if true, the demon-mischief was very strong indeed. Arlbeth had chosen to pay no attention to the second rumor; or rather to pay only enough attention to it to discount it, that none of his folk might think he shunned it from fear. But he did declare that the trouble was enough that he must attend to it personally; and with him would go Tor, and a substantial portion of the army, and almost as substantial a portion of the court, with all its velvets and jewels brought along for a fine grand show of courtesy, to pretend to disguise the army at its back. But both sides would know that the army was an army, and the show only a show. What Arlbeth planned to do was both difficult and dangerous, for he wished to prevent a civil war, not provoke one. He would choose those to go with him with the greatest care and caution. â€Å"But you're taking Perlith?† she'd asked Tor disbelievingly, when she met him by chance one day, out behind the barns, where she could let her disbelief show. Tor grimaced. â€Å"I know Perlith isn't a very worthwhile human being, but he's actually pretty effective at this sort of thing – because he's such a good liar, you know, and because he can say the most appalling things in the most gracious manner.† No women rode in Arlbeth's army. A few of the bolder wives might be permitted to go with their husbands, those who could ride and had been trained in cavalry drill; and those who could be trusted to smile even at Nyrlol (depending on how the negotiations went), and curtsy to him as befitted his rank as fourth sola, and even dance with him if he should ask. But it was expected that no wife would go unless her husband asked her, and no husband would ask unless he had asked the king first. Galanna would certainly not go, even if Perlith had been willing to go to the trouble of obtaining leave from Arlbeth (which would probably not have been granted). Fortunately for the peace of all concerned, Galanna had no interest in going; anything resembling hardship did not appeal to her in the least, and she was sure that nothing in the barbaric west could possibly be worth her time and beauty. A king's daughter might go too; a king's daughter who had, perhaps, proved herself in some small ways; who had learned to keep her mouth shut, and to smile on cue; a king's daughter who happened to be the king's only child. She had known they would not let her; she had known that Arlbeth would not dare give his permission even had he wanted to, and she did not know if he had wanted to. But he could not dare take the witch woman's daughter to confront the workings of demon-mischief; his people would never let him, and he too sorely needed his people's good will. But she could not help asking – any more, she supposed, than poor stupid Nyrlol could help going mad when the demon-mischief bit him. She had tried to choose her time, but her father and Tor had been so busy lately that she had had to watt, and wait again, till her time was almost gone. After dinner last night she had finally asked; and she had come up here to her rooms afterward and had not come out again. â€Å"Father.† Her voice had gone high on her, as it would do when she was afraid. The other women, and the lesser court members, had already left the long hall; Arlbeth and Tor and a few of the cousins, Perlith among them, were preparing for another weary evening of discussion on Nyrlol's folly. They paused and all of them turned and looked at her, and she wished there were not so many of them. She swallowed. She had decided against asking her father late, in his own rooms, where she could be sure to find him alone, because she was afraid he would only be kind to her and not take her seriously. If she was to be shamed – and she knew, or she told herself she knew, that she would be refused – at least let him see how much it meant to her, that she should ask and be refused with others looking on. Arlbeth turned to her with his slow smile, but it was slower and less of it reached his eyes than usual. He did not say, â€Å"Be quick, I am busy,† as he might have done – and small blame to him if he had, she thought forlornly. â€Å"You ride west – soon? To treat with Nyrlol?† She could feel Tor's eyes on her, but she kept her own eyes fixed on her father. â€Å"Treat?† said her father. â€Å"If we go, we go with an army to witness the treaty.† A little of the smile crept into his eyes after all. â€Å"You are picking up courtly language, my dear. Yes, we go to ‘treat' with Nyrlol.† Tor said: â€Å"We have some hope of catching the mischief-one did not say demon aloud if one could help it – â€Å"and bottling it up, and sending it back where it came from. Even now we have that hope. It won't stop the trouble, but it will stop it getting worse. If Nyrlol isn't being pricked and pinched by it, he may subside into the subtle and charming Nyrlol we all know and revere.† Tor's mouth twisted up into a wry smile. She looked at him and her own mouth twitched at the corners. It was like Tor to answer her as if she were a real part of the court, even a member of the official deliberations, instead of an interruption and a disturbance. Tor might even have let her go with them; he wasn't old enough yet to care so much for his people's good opinion as Arlbeth did; and furthermore, Tor was stubborn. But it was not Tor's decision. She turned back to her father. â€Å"When you go – may I come with you?† Her voice was little more than a squeak, and she wished she were near a wall or a door she could lean on, instead of in the great empty middle of the dining-hall, with her knees trying to fold up under her like an hour-old foal's. The silence went suddenly tight, and the men she faced went rigid: or Arlbeth did, and those behind him, for she kept her face resolutely away from Tor. She thought that she could not bear it if her one loyal friend forsook her too; and she had never tried to discover the extent of Tor's stubbornness. Then the silence was broken by Perlith's high-pitched laughter. â€Å"Well, and what did you expect from letting her go as she would these last years? It's all very well to have her occupied and out from underfoot, but you should have thought the price you paid to be rid of her might prove a little high. What did you expect when our honored first sola gives her lessons in swordplay and she tears around on that three-legged horse like a peasant boy from the Hills, with never a gainsay but a scold from that old shrew that serves as her maid? Might you not have thought of the reckoning to come? She needed slaps, not encouragement, years ago – she needs a few slaps now, I think. Perhaps it is not too late.† â€Å"Enough.† Tor's voice, a growl. Her legs were trembling now so badly that she had to move her feet, shuffle in her place, to keep the joints locked to hold her up. She felt the blood mounting to her face at Perlith's words, but she would not let him drive her away without an answer. â€Å"Father?† â€Å"Father,† mimicked Perlith. â€Å"It's true a king's daughter might be of some use in facing what the North has sent us; a king's daughter who had true royal blood in her veins †¦.† Arlbeth, in a very unkinglike manner, reached out and grabbed Tor before anyone found out what the first sola's sudden move in Perlith's direction might result in. â€Å"Perlith, you betray the honor of the second sola's place in speaking thus.† Tor said in a strangled voice, â€Å"He will apologize, or I'll give him a lesson in swordplay he will not like at all.† â€Å"Tor, don't be a – † she began, outraged, but the king's voice cut across hers. â€Å"Perlith, there is justice in the first sola's demand.† There was a long pause while she hated everyone impartially: Tor for behaving like a farmer's son whose pet chicken has just been insulted; her father, for being so immovably kingly; and Perlith for being Perlith. This was even worse than she had anticipated; at this point she would be grateful just for escape, but it was too late. Perlith said at last, â€Å"I apologize, Aerin-sol. For speaking the truth,† he added venomously, and turned on his heel and strode across the hall. At the doorway he paused and turned to shout back at them: â€Å"Go slay a dragon, lady! Lady Aerin, Dragon-Killer!† The silence resettled itself about them, and she could no longer even raise her eyes to her father's face. â€Å"Aerin – † Arlbeth began. The gentleness of his voice told her all she needed to know, and she turned away and walked toward the other end of the hall, opposite the door which Perlith had taken. She was conscious of the length of the way she had to take because Perlith had taken the shorter way, and she hated him all the more for it; she was conscious of all the eyes on her, and conscious of the fact that her legs still trembled, and that the line she walked was not a straight one. Her father did not call her back. Neither did Tor. As she reached the doorway at last, Perlith's words still rang in her ears: â€Å"A king's daughter who had true royal blood in her veins †¦ Lady Aerin, Dragon-Killer.† It was as though his words were hunting dogs who tracked her and nipped at her heels.