Achilles :: essays research papers

In the modern world, people, as a society, have always given themselves a goal or goals that they would like to attain at some point during their lifetime. Many people seek to attain riches, love, happiness or high stature within society. When we people set that goal, we tend to mold our lifestyles around it. As people work throughout their lives to achieve this ultimate goal, it becomes apparent to others what it is we are working so hard for. Just as this pattern is evident in modern society, it can also be seen in the times of Homer, particularly in the great Greek epic, the Iliad. This distinct pattern can be seen in Achilles, one of the most vital characters in the story. Achilles, being the ultimate most powerful warrior of all time, wishes for nothing in his life but to be the most glorious man alive, mortal or immortal. It is this profound desire for glory and honor, that in the end leads to his demise. Achilles speech, given while he is distraught over the death of his close st friend Patroklos, is an excellent example of Achilles’ desire (Iliad, 18.79). Patroklos is slayed by Hektor, the Trojans greatest warrior and Achilles’ main rival. Hektor, takes the armor (given to him by Achilles’) off of his dead body, and puts it on himself. Hektor is described as “riding around in all its glory';. After word of Patroklos’ death, the Achaians are intensely dejected. To show just how disheartened the Greeks are, Homer describes the men as lamenting. “(Then sighing heavily)… my dear companion has perished, Patroklos, whom I loved beyond all other companions, as well as my own life…Thetis spoke to him, letting tears fall'; (377, Iliad, 18.78). It can be sensed that, although in deep mourning for his lost friend, Achilles is just as well upset because he sensed a slight degree of failure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “Now, since I am not going back to the beloved land of my fathers, since I was no light of safety to Patroklos, nor to my other companions…';(378, Iliad, 18.101). This failure in the sense that, Achilles being the greatest warrior in all the land able to kill hordes of men at will, was incapable of saving the person that mattered the most to him. This insecurity is the source of Achilles “duty'; to exact revenge upon Hektor, the assassin of Patroklos. Achilles makes the decision to kill Hektor in spite of the fact that his fate will be to die.

Ernest Gaines’s novel Essay

Education is widely defined as the act or process of imparting knowledge of skill. But the primary function of education is the eradication of ignorance. Ignorance is multi-layered. A social awareness can be a camouflage for spiritual ignorance. An erudite thinking can be used to mask philosophical ignorance. A teacher can learn hither to unknown aspects of his teaching through the very act of teaching. Because Ignorance is like the mythical beast who can grow ten heads for each head that is slain. Education is the sword that accomplishes the eradication of social, spiritual and philosophical ignorance – but only gradually and by continuous application to daily life. That precisely is a powerful underlying theme of Ernest Gaines’s novel â€Å"Lesson before Dying† Though looked at different perspectives by different characters of the novel, Education is the ultimate aim of most of them throughout the novel. Tante Lou looks at education as the necessary ability to die like a man, aware of his actions, his fate and the courage needed to face it head on – the education she wants her nephew Grant to impart to Jefferson, the convicted black. For Jefferson, who awaits the date for his execution, education is the ability to dispel the images of being non-human, the opinion which his lawyer fosters on him while using it as his defense. For Grant, education, as it reveals itself is to be able to relate to the needs and emotions of others, the ability to look beyond himself, and the ability to deal with his perennial running away from his past. For the black community of the Louisiana, the education that results from this incident is an increased awareness of their oppression, and the realization of a reality greater than their squalid living would allow them to contemplate – honor in the face of adversity. The setting for the quest of education is set in the initial chapters when the defense attorney uses the weirdest of arguments to plead the case of Jefferson. â€Å"This skull here holds no plans,† the defense attorney explains. â€Å"What you see here is a thing that acts on command. A thing to hold the handle of a plow, a thing to load your bales of cotton, a thing to dig your ditches, to chop your wood, to pull your corn. . . What justice would there be to take this life? Justice, gentlemen? Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this. † This sort of defense has its impact on two people. Jefferson internalizes the argument and starts believing that he is in fact a fool, a hog. While his god mother Emma is determined to ensure that Jefferson does not die in a way to justify his description in court but with the dignity of a man. She enlists the support of Grant Wiggins’s aunt Tante Lou. They come to Wiggins’s place to convince him to educate Jefferson on human dignity before he is executed. Wiggins anticipates and deeply resents this task. Initially Grant is highly reluctant to perform what is required of him. He sees himself as symbolic of all black men who are constantly under the pressure of their folks to be heroic, to perform feats that defy their limitations of ability and social status. He sees Emma’s and Tante Lo’s expectations out of him and Jefferson as a perennial cross that burdens all black men. At the same time he is consumed by guilt – of his reluctant to help Jefferson, his desire to run away from the demands of his society. Vivian, his girl friend tells him that though he does not acknowledge it, he loves his folks and that is the reason he keeps returning to the same roots and past that he so deeply resents. He is at the same time angry and afraid. He is himself consumed by serious doubts about the purpose and the method of his living and now is bewildered how he can teach somebody how to die when he himself does not know how to live. Slowly, Grant begins to understand the enormity and the importance of his task. He is required to transform Jefferson’s execution as an educating experience for a lot of groups of people. To Jefferson himself, he needs to educate the concepts of human dignity. To the blacks of his neighborhood, Jefferson’s death needs to be a spiritual education of revolt against suppression. To the whites, the oppressors, Jefferson’s death needs to be an education in Christian concept of martyrdom. He, the reluctant teacher, who always wanted to follow the advice of his teacher Professor Antoine and leave Bayonne for good (chapter 13), starts realizing the immediacy of his duties. Grant starts to warm to the task at hand. More than Jefferson, this experience gives him lessons on living. His girlfriend Vivian is a case in point. She teaches him the virtue of hope. She is afraid that their affair might become public knowledge leading her to lose custody of her children from the previous marriage. At the same time she has the courage to be led by her heart. She visits Grant at his place, they make love under the sky in a field. She allows herself to be questioned by Grant’s aunt about her religious affiliations. All these instances provide Grant with a counter point to his own world view. His girlfriend has a lot of problems to deal with> But she never gives in to cynicism. She never gives up her religious beliefs but, when questioned, has the clarity of thought to say that she will give up her religious affiliation to be united with Grant. Throughout the novel she is a good sounding board to Grant’s rants of cynicism and is a constant source of an alternate point of view. This teaches Grant though very subtly, that his cynicism is a cloak to hide his fears. There builds an uneasy camaraderie at first between Grant and Jefferson. Gradually both men start feeling that the other is helping them deal with their predicament or their life in general. Grant gets Jefferson a radio and book to write his thoughts in. This book starts exerting all the pressure of being an educated and aware man in Jefferson. He confesses that he has never had to think so much in all his life. He had spent all his life doing hard menial labor, pandering to the whites and grinning. If it was meant to be different, he never knew it. This realization that he had the potential to become somebody else which he never actually had the opportunity of becoming makes Jefferson both sad and poignant at his life’s prospects. The change in the attitude of all his friends and the community as a whole is in itself an educating experience. This teaches Jefferson that though they might not have been overtly good to him before, his community identified itself with him and adored him as one of their own. His execution was not just an event of individual pain. His suffering was a point of reference for his family, his friends and his community. In regards to religion, Grant is an unbeliever. He loses faith when in college. But upon Reverend Ambrose’s insistence he does talk to Jefferson about religion. Grant is unable to accept a God who seems to accept and encourage the vast differences in man based entirely on his skin color. His overwhelming cynicism takes him away from religion for which Reverend Ambrose chastises him that he was â€Å"uneducated because he never learnt to care for others†. Though Grant does not regain his faith in organized religion, his mind starts looking for the mercy he wants out of a God who can correct the wrongs of his society. He so desperately wants to get his society to a better station, but feels so powerless to do anything. â€Å"I want you to show them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be. † This is Grant’s demand from Jefferson, and slowly Jefferson internalizes this demand and acquires a composure and dignity worthy of a highly educated man, somebody who is capable of viewing his life philosophically. By behaving with utmost dignity towards his white captors, the sheriff and people around him even the day prior to his execution, he provides valuable lessons in human decency to the bigoted community of whites. The night before his execution, Vivian comes to visit hm and her behavior towards the Jefferson is exemplary. She sets to rest Jefferson’s shame that he is ugly and unclean by kissing his face. This act of compassion helps boost the self-image of Jefferson and enables him to meet his destiny with great equanimity. â€Å"Good by mr wigin tell them im strong tell them im a man† – This entry in Jefferson’s notebook, with all its spelling mistakes is the ultimate grade given to Grant the teacher. He succeeds in making Jefferson an example of Christian charity and dignity. When Paul shaves Jefferson’s head, wrists and ankles before the execution, he calmly entrusts him with his book, his radio and presents him a marble. This act of compassion makes Jefferson the strongest man in the novel and makes Paul realize the gravity of education Grant could provide Jefferson in such a short while. That is the reason he feels proud to shake Grant’s hand in the last chapter of the novel. Martyrdom of an ignorant person which seems to light up the sense of hope of a large community is so replete with religious symbolism. At the same time it is a praiseful hymn to education, not as a system of teaching skills or imparting knowledge, but as a method of eradicating the darkness in its various forms from man’s heart – loss of hope, cynicism, self centeredness, bigotry. Education is also the method of erecting monuments for virtuous qualities in human heart after it has succeeded in eradicating the grossness of vilifying emotions- monuments of forgiveness, selflessness, sharing, and dignity in the face of death and danger. Lesson before Dying is about Lessons in Living. Works cited Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel. Vancouver: Vintage Books, 1994.

Characters in Charles Dickens´ A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens had a way of writing amazing characters. He was known for his passion in writing and his way of words. A man once said that Charles was the greatest story writer of all time. He was able to craft fully make a character that was both memorable and taught you a valuable lesson on how to be a better you. In this book I spotted a few characters that stood out to me. It was either their courage or loyalty that stuck out the most. The biggest lesson I wish to share from these characters that I learned in this novel is that it is important to study a person and get to know them before you make assumptions on their life based on their outward appearance. The first character I thought of was Lucie Manette. Lucie is a woman that most definitely showed immense girl power. First off she is able to visit her father that has been assumed dead for years with a calm disposition. She also managed to cure some of his crazy and nurse him back to sanity. Her love was able to bring he r family together. If you were to guess she is the heroin then you would be correct. She displays all the elements of an archetypal character. She displays all that is good and is â€Å"Wise beyond her years†. Because of her goodwill and loving nature a man named Charles Darney falls in love with her and they begin courting, they are later married. A man named Sydney Carton also falls in love with Lucie because of her kindness and her love for her father. As you can see, she is pursued by a groupShow MoreRelatedMinor and Major Characters in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens650 Words   |  3 Pages A Tale of Two Cities In the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, he compares many characters by including similar and contrasting characteristics between a minor character and a major character. Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton are characters who exemplify this comparison because at the beginning of the novel Carton is portrayed as a drunken, careless man while Darnay on the other hand is the example of what Carton should to be, successful, polite and respectable. While Darnay is consideredRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pagescritical acclaim, A Tale of Two Cities occupies a central place in the cannon of Charles Dickens’ work. A Tale of Two Cities, published in serial form starting on April 30, 1859, is a historical fiction novel. A dominant theme in this historical novel is the duality found in many of Dickens’ characters. Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is somewhat autobiographical; emphasizes the key elements of theme, plot, and character; and has received extensive criticism. A Tale of Two Cities is told in three partsRead MoreCharles Dickens A Great Writer1105 Words   |  5 PagesOctober 2015 Remembering Charles Dickens Charles Dickens is a famous author who wrote numerous books which were enjoyed by many throughout the years. His books are known xquisite characters and real-life settings. Charles experienced difficult times as a young boy (â€Å"Charles Dickens† par. 7). These difficult times followed him throughout his life. He uses ideas from these struggles to express his feelings through the books he writes. The many struggles of Charles Dickens’ early childhood greatlyRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens987 Words   |  4 PagesIn a Tale of Two cities. Dickens juxtapositions suspense and humor in a intricate tale of love and loyalty. The book takes place in the late 18th century, during the french revolution. the book is set in England and France, more specifically London and Paris. These are the two cities that the book centers around. In the city of London, the neighborhood of SoHo, and Paris, the french countryside, and city of Dover. b city houses, palac e of Versailles. The house in Paris where the Darnay s stayedRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1024 Words   |  5 PagesAt the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens writes, â€Å"every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other (14).† Throughout the novel, Dickens incorporates the theme of secrets to connect characters and add mystery to the story. The three characters with the significant secrets are Charles Darnay, Alexandre Manette, and Madame Defarge. Darnay, Manette, and Defarge are all of French blood, living in either France or England in the heat of the FrenchRead MoreTale Of Two Cities Juxtaposition Analysis980 Words   |  4 PagesJuxtaposition is the comparison of two things put close together. It is evident that the stylistic element of juxtaposition plays a pivotal role in Charles Dickens’ world renowned novel, A Tale of Two Cities. In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens utilizes juxt aposition to add a depth of meaning, specifically to illuminate socioeconomic disparities and unrest during the French Revolution, which is evident through the first chapter, the excessiveness aristocrats and the anguish of the peasants,Read MoreCharles Dickens was one of the Brightest and Most Influential Writers of His Time1325 Words   |  5 Pages The British writer Charles Dickens was one of the brightest and most influential people of his time. His many writings, including Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol, have been efficacious in many lives and have created a legacy of classics that will be read forever. Dickens, who was born in Portsmouth, England, was raised in a poor family, in which he had to work instead of attending school. Although not being able to go to school was detrimental to Charles, it gave him a chance to begin hisRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter and a Tale of Two Cities: a Comparison Essay1275 Words   |  6 PagesThe Scarlet Letter and A Tale of Two Citi es: A Comparison The ninth commandment tells man not to give false witness.(Exodus 20:16) Nathaniel Hawthorn and Charles Dickens in their novels The Scarlet Letter and A Tale of Two Cities, respectively, both use punishment for deception as a recurring theme. Although they do so to different degrees and in dissimilar manners, both authors agree that deception is a sin that requires punishment. In The Scarlet Letter, the heroine, Hester Prynne conceivedRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities: The Victorian Era and the Abandonment of Spirituality865 Words   |  4 PagesJoshua Wohlgemuth A Tale of Two Cities: The Victorian Era and the Abandonment of Spirituality Throughout the early to mid 19th Century, a new and cultural age took hold of Europe, specifically Great Britain with the commencing of the Victorian Era. Marked by impressive achievements such as the Industrial Revolution, La Belle Epoque, and the beginnings of an urban middle class, this era was also plagued with child labor, poor hygiene, prostitution, the constant class distinctions, and a bloody revolutionRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens1426 Words   |  6 PagesRevolution was a trying time for all involved, even the characters crafted by Charles Dickens’ imagination. Charles Dickens’ strongly enforces the hardships of this arduous era in his remarkable novel, A Tale of Two Cities, while exhibiting his keen ability to leave hints for the readers, allowing them to predict upcoming events in his skillfully fashioned plot. Dickens utilizes vivid imagery to construct menacing settings. He presents his characters as impulsive to indicate the possibility of their future

Why Should Students From A Respected University Cheat

Whenever a cheating scandal pops up in the news, a majority of the people always wonder why. Why would students from a respected university cheat? Who should we put the blame on? A lot of people are quick to assume that it is the student s personal morals, which causes them to cheat. I realized why a lot of student’s cheat, and how certain articles that I read, proposed we fix the cheating issue. The main goal is to prevent future cheating, and you start preventing cheating by looking at what the source of that cheating is. In the articles, â€Å"Harvard Students in Cheating Scandal Say Collaboration Was Accepted† by Richard Perez-Pena and â€Å"Cheating in the Digital Age: Do Students Cheat More In Online Courses,† written by Watson and Sottile,†¦show more content†¦An entire class at Harvard was accused of cheating, however the students fought to validate their cheating actions due to the rigor and misunderstanding of the course. For instance, â€Å"S tudents said they were tripped up by a course whose tests were confusing, whose grading was inconsistent, and for which the professor and teaching assistants gave contradictory signals about what was expected† (Perez-Pena 1). The students cheated because they were confused as to what was expected from them. They needed to pass the class and there did not seem to be any other way but to cheat. This kind of cheating is triggered due to the environment the student is in. Contradictory signals and inconsistent grading can definitely push a student to cheat. This cheating doesn’t stem from personal ethical issues or gender, it comes purely from the confusion of the tests and expectations. The students couldn’t even see their actions as wrong or cheating, since everyone, even teaching assistants, who were giving out the definitions of words during a test, were supporting the cheating behavior. For example, I was just someone who shared notes, and now I’m implic ated in this, said a senior

Sexual Assault in the Military Essay - 1316 Words

US Armed Forces is historically an organization lead by men, for men. It is comprised of about 14.5 % female and 85.5% male according to a 2011poll (CNN U.S, Jan 2014). In an organization with a rich history and legacy of obedience and restraint, it is hard to imagine the secret society of â€Å"The good ol boys†. It has been acceptable for men to â€Å"work hard, play hard†. We have all seen the movies where the men come back from overseas, invade the bars, have a good time, take a girl home, and it is acceptable behavior. What happens after they leave the bar? What happens when she says no? In November of 2013, there were 3,553 reported sexual assault cases (ABC News, 2013). The Military is very diverse. Gender, race, and sexual†¦show more content†¦Paula Coughlin is an attractive female Naval Aviator and in 1992 there were only a hand full of female aviators, remember the first female aviators to join the navy were in 1974 and to date female aviators consist of 13%. This was, and still is, a male dominant work force. The problem has surfaced repeatedly as an organizational issue. More recently in 2012, news broke out about Sexual Assault scandal at Lackland Air Force Base basic training center. Just last year the director of the Air Force’s sexual assault and prevention program was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault (Winerp, 2013). Sexual assault is a counterproductive work behavior, it takes members out of the work centers so that they can attend PowerPoint-based training on how to avoid sexual assault or how to be a Wingman. This is what the Air Force considers buddy-up or collaborating mechanism to increase personal accountability and vigilance. The Wingman concept is used to ensure that you watch your friends closely when you go out to bars or parties. More importantly however, it is counterproductive for the victim for both professional and personal reasons. Uniform Code of Military Justice (USMJ) is what the military uses to prosecute and court-martial its members. Yet in the UCMJ, Commanders have the authority to overturn a guilty verdict in the caseShow MoreRelatedSexual Assault Of The Military2138 Words   |  9 PagesSexual assault in the military has been an ongoing problem for centuries. In the United States Armed Forces sexual assault is a crime that has just recently drawn a great deal of public attention and has placed pressure on the government to put a stop to the abuse. The department of defense under pressure and supervision from the government is going to great measures to address this ongoing problem. Although measures are in place to educate, protect the victims, and punish the offenders, the problemRead MoreSexual Assault of Women in the Military1409 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States Military today. The issues of sexual assault are affecting women serving in the battlefield which feminists would be concerned. The U. S. servicewomen in the military who have returned from war, the quantity of sexual assault they are forced to endure has not only been amplified, but disregarded and not picked up by military officials and fellow soldiers. Sexual assault is well-defined and occurs when a woman is not interested engaging, but forced upon to have a sexual activity withRead MoreRape And Sexual Assault Of The Military1328 Words   |  6 PagesRape and sexual assault are major issues in the military. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the issue of rape and sexual assault in the military. The number of attacks for rape and sexual assault in the military are at an all-time high. Women have recently been allowed to fight on the front line. While this may be a huge achievement for women-kind, for this woman, it is a very scary thought. I am a women with female relatives, with female friends. I may be forced to join the military one dayRead MoreEssay on Rape and Sexual Assault in the Military1094 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscuss the issue of rape and sexual assault in the military. The number of attacks for rape and sexual assault in the military are at an all-time high. Women have recently been allowed to fight on the front line. While this may be a huge achievement for women-kind, for this woman, it is a very scary thought. I am a junior at Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences; a school geared towards students wishing to enter the medical field. I may be forced to join the military one day if a war breaks out andRead MoreSexual Assault Is The United States Military953 Words   |  4 Pages In 2013, nearly 28,700 military members that were sexually assaulted (Cernak). Sexual assault is one of the largest issues in the United States military and it is being handled very poorly. All of the military’s time and money that is being put towards sexual assault is being used for repetitive training that is obviously not working due to the fact the numbers of sexual assaults going th e wrong direction every year. Due to this training, victims know the options available to them but, they areRead MoreImpact of Gender on Reactions to Military Sexual Assault and Harassment700 Words   |  3 PagesReactions to Military Sexual Assault and Harassment Date of article: February 2014 Author(s): Margret E. Bell, Jessica A. Turchik, Julie A. Karpenko Source (Please attach copy of article): Bell, M., Turchik, J., Karpenko, J. (2014). Impact of Gender on Reactions to Military Sexual Assault and Harassment. Health Social Work, 39(1), 25-33. ARTICLE SUMMARY: Social Workers have a need to advance an understanding of working with veterans especially women affected by the concerns of sexual assaultRead MoreEssay on Military Sexual Assault: The Invisible War by T.K. Barwlow1711 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout history, the United States Military has faced numerous scandals. From its role in the Vietnam War, to the Iran-Contra Affair, to the Iraq War, to the abuse and denial of due process rights to detainees currently held indefinitely at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; the Department of Defense has undeniably raised many questions about its ethics and treatment toward both civilians and fellow members of the Armed Forces alike. One recent scandal, which would now appear to beRead MoreSexual Assault And Assault Response And Prevention Program819 Words   |  4 PagesHistory Sexual assault has plagued the military since its inception. The chain of command (COC) is responsible for maintaining the good order and conduct of our service members (SMs). Unfortunately, the U.S. military has not been able to effectively combat the occurrences of sexual assault. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been thrown at the problem, programs have been implemented and task forces have been mobilized. To combat this epidemic, the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and PreventionRead MoreSexual Harassment And Assault Response Prevention1072 Words   |  5 PagesSexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention (SHARP) Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention (SHARP) is a going problem in the military and the world. The reason why SHARP is on the increase is that people are starting to report it. When SHARP first appeared in the many military people did not know how to report it. It is important that all soldiers and the civilians know the process how to report SHARP. According to the SHARP guide book Sexual Harassment is â€Å"Sexual Harassment is a form ofRead MoreThe International Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1628 Words   |  7 Pagesvictims of sexual assault in 2016 alone. Additionally, of these 960 cases, 1/4 reported the assault to a supervisor and 1/10 reported to the military police (Statistics Canada, 2016). This suggests there is a barrier preventing men and women alike from reporting their assault. Retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps attempted to bring more public attention to the issue and to drive the CAF to deal with the issue. This is unarguably a serious issue because, as Deschamps stipulates, sexual assault

Critical Analysis of Child Labor free essay sample

In a cramped, one-room home on the outskirts of Manila, Maryann Aroma, thirteen, and her two sisters glue the ears, earrings, and necklaces on stuffed toys made for export. Their mother has forced the girls to work since age eleven. In India, at the age of twelve, Mohammed Salahuddin works sixteen hours a day in a factory located just outside of New Delhi, embroidering elegant sequined jackets. It is a troubling image for a parent to realize the wrapped sweater or plastic toy that will excite their child’s little hands this holiday season may have another pair of little hands behind them. In China, Thailand, and other developing countries, children as young as five are working to produce toys or pack clothing that will be enjoyed by more privileged kids overseas. (Morris) In the short story entitled â€Å"Live Free and Starve† by Chitra Divakaruni, child labor is closely critiqued and examined. Divakaruni feels that labor could be a good thing because it keeps food on the table and a roof over their head. She argues that although it is true that they are only paid a small amount of money, it is just enough to get by. If these children were not working, they would be begging on the streets, hungry for food. Her conclusion on the matter is to leave the laws unchanged because she feels that the opposing life that these kids could have may be worse. Child labor in third world countries is similar to slavery. Although the course of the extent of abuse varies throughout each country, the majority of children are treated like slaves. The biggest difference between the lives of these children and slavery is the payment, which is usually around fourteen dollars a month. Abuse is common and even murder happens occasionally. It is true that the lives of these children will not change over night, but it is necessary to make laws towards improving the conditions in which these kids work so that change can eventually come. By analyzing the lives of these young foreign children, I have come to the conclusion that all governments should take steps towards banning labor. In the dictionary, child labor is defined as, â€Å"1. Work done by kids full-time under the age of fifteen. 2. Work that prevents kids from attending school, such as unlimited or unrestricted domestic work. . Work that is dangerous for kids and that is hazardous to their physical, mental, or emotional health. † (Child Labor Definition) There are many reasons why child labor should be stopped, but the most significant reason is to stop or slow the pain and suffering of these young and innocent children. This form of labor is not work, but abuse. â€Å"Overall, the government estimat es that 800,000 of Bolivia’s children work as laborers. Many work in hazardous conditions as prostitutes, drug-traffickers, in quarries and mines, or on farms and in factories† (Henne). As they strive for perfection, worried about getting fired, many injuries take place, but yet they must keep working. Ministers, attending a conference in the state-owned arts and crafts center in the medieval city of Fez, Morocco, drink coffee and sip tea. As they are relaxing, five-year-old girls and boys are working their fingers to the bone in the back room, weaving carpets for tourists. Because some are not tall enough to reach the tables, they must stand on wooden boxes. Their arms have cuts and scrapes where their scissors have missed the wool. They are timed, being continually reminded that they must keep weaving at a fast pace in order to get paid. For all of their hard work, their parents only receive the U. S. equivalent to ten dollars a month for working ten hour days. While the children are still working, the rich ministers pull away in their limos, thinking nothing about the life that these young people live. (Economist) By hearing this story, many people may have feelings of sympathy and heartache for the kids living this nightmare, but will never be able to comprehend the pain and suffering these children face every day. Two-hundred and fifty million children, aged five to fourteen are working, half of them full-time† (Harrison). These children work long hours in unhealthy conditions, but it is the only way for their families to survive. Many use hazardous pesticides, chemicals, or dangerous tools and machines. The children are beaten and left without a normal childhood or education, causing physical and psyc hological wounds. Attempts of banning child labor have been unsuccessful. Another reason child labor should be stopped is for the sake of education. Child laborers are at a disadvantage. The drop-out rate is four times higher in poor families compared to relatively better-off families (Access to an Education). The simple achievement of graduating is low, and extremely low in underdeveloped countries. â€Å"As compared to China, the coefficient of efficiency in school is ninety-four percent in the case of China, as compared to only sixty-six percent in the case of India† (Access to Education). Why are poor families or child laborers at a disadvantage? For starters, these kids are working long hours and it is hard to find the time to get an education. If they do find the time, many of the kids are too tired to attend school or to concentrate for long periods of time. It is true that the parents could force their children to attend school, and could improve their children’s marketable labor skills later in life, but their income can not afford this luxury. Although I feel education is important, some people feel differently. A frequently asked question is, â€Å"What is the point of an education when the current system produces 100,000 jobless graduates per year? † (International). They believe that if a child is just going to work in a factory the rest of his life, what is the point of wasting money on an education? This is a very reasonable argument, but education is the best investment a country can make. â€Å"It is not higher education alone that is important, but raising literacy levels among the population that makes for improvement† (Access to Education). Not only is the schooling important, but the atmosphere in which kids learn is also very important. It is essential for the normal development of the child. Spending all day working in these harsh conditions, social development will be lacking. â€Å"In the State of the World’s Children Report 1997, it reported that an estimated six billion dollars is needed annually to put every child in school by the year 2000. That may seem like an enormous sum, yet it is less than one percent of what the world spends every year on weapons. They recommend that donor governments set aside part of their official development assistance to other countries for children’s basic social needs† (Exploitative Child Labor). The final reason I believe child labor should be banned is because of the psychological effect it has on these young children. Child labor is not only physically abusive, but also very mentally abusive. Mental abuse is extremely hard to recover from, and affects many children for the rest of their lives. The intense working conditions, working without breaks, and the physical injuries, may cause intense stress and psychological wounds. A young mother who had children who worked as military laborers recalls, â€Å"My children couldn’t eat. They were always shaking and crying out in their sleep, thinking the house was on fire. They wouldn’t let us put the lights on in the evening because they were so afraid† (Gorvett). Following a traumatic event such as war or child labor, treatment is very necessary. The number of children seeking treatment is not enough. It is true that treatment is difficult, but it can be very successful. â€Å"One child in five shows deep disturbing symptoms such as insomnia, incontinence, and rejection of learning. That suggests need for deep psychiatric treatment† (Godoy). Of course the best solution would be to stop child labor all together; to stop the pain and suffering of these young and innocent children, but until something is done, we must try to keep the children in the best psychological health possible. Child labor causes much controversy around the world, and these three examples play a major role. It is important to protect children from physical damage, to provide an education, and to keep them in good mental health. With child labor existing, all three of these goals remain extremely hard to accomplish. These children are not slaves, but yet they are being treated as slaves. They have no opportunity to live a normal life. While American children are going to school and playing outside, less fortunate kids in other countries are working upwards of ten hours a day, being constantly reminded that they must work efficiently in order to receive their pay. While these children are working their fingers to the bone, we Americans are playing with the toys that other kids have spent hours making. Yet, we tend to think nothing about it.

Julius Caesar Was Born On The Thirteenth Day Of The Month Quintilis In

Julius Caesar was born on the thirteenth day of the month Quintilis in the year of 100 BC. His full name was Gaius Julius Caesar, the same as his fathers. Gaius was his given name and Julius was his surname. He was a strong political and military leader who changed the history of the Greco-Roman world. This paper will answer the following questions: What happened during his early political career? How did he become a strong dictator of the Roman Empire? What events led up to the making of the first triumvirate? What happened during his reign as dictator of Rome? What events led up to his assassination? Julius Caesar is probably the most famous leader in history. (Grant, table of dates p.1, and foreword p.xxi) When he was young, Caesar lived through one of the worst decades in the history of Rome. The city was assaulted and captured by Roman armies twice. First, in eighty-seven BC by the leaders of the populares. (Caesars aunt and uncle, Marius and Cinna.) Cinna was killed the year that Caesar married Cornelia. The second attack against the city happened in eighty-two BC. Marius enemy Sulla, leader of the optimates, carried out the attack. On each occasion the massacre of political opponents was followed by the confiscation of their property. (Fowler, p.24) Caesar knew that his public speaking needed improvement, he therefore announced that he was leaving to study on the island of Rhodes. His professor was the famous Greek rhetorician, Apollonius Molon. When he was off the coast of Anatolia pirates kidnapped him. They demanded a large ransom for his return. Caesar broke free from the pirates and captured a large number of them. He then returned to Rome to engage in a normal political career. (Grant, p.9-11) In the Roman political world Pompey and Crassus challenged the dominance of the optimates. Quintus Latatius Catulus and Lucius Licinius Lucullus led the optimates. Sulla was responsible for creating their careers. Caesar married Pompeia after Cornelias death. Then, in sixty-five BC he was appointed aedile. The aedile was in charge of the programs of the city such as games, spectacles, and shows. As aedile, Caesar gained claim to the leadership of the populares. (Grant, p.12) Before leaving Rome to govern Spain for a year, Caesar divorced his wife because of an allegation that she had been involved in the offense of Publis Clodius. Clodius was awaiting trial for breaking into Caesars home the previous December. While on his trip to Spain, Caesar was very successful. He returned in a short time with considerable military glory and enough money to pay off all his debts. (Abbott, p.64) A short while after his trip, Caesar was elected for consul in fifty-nine BC. He joined a political alliance with Pompey and Crassus. This alliance was named the first triumvirate. Pompey possessed a great influence through his splendid abilities and military renown. Crassus was powerful through his wealth. Caesar developed a plan to reconcile them, and then of favoring himself with their united aid in accomplishing his own deeds. (Abbott, p.71) Caesars purpose in the triumvirate was to gain a large military command. Pompey wanted a part of the eastern settlement and land allotments for his discharged troops. An agrarian bill authorizing the purchase of land for Pompeys soldiers was passed in fifty-nine BC. This law did not go over well with the senators because they were selfish with the lands they had annexed to their estates. The Senators tried to block legislation with the help of Marcus Bibulus. He postponed the voting by declaring that the heavens were unfavorable to legislation. Caesar disregarded Bibulus behavior, and the remainder of the legislative program was carried out. (Thaddeus, p.116) Caesar had control of three provinces for five years. They were Cisalpine Gaul, Transalpine Gaul, and Illyria. Caesar became determined to conquer and rule the entirety of Gaul. After his defeat of the Belgic tribes in the north, and the submission of the maritime tribes on the Atlantic seaboard, he believed he had conquered the entire area of Gaul. Caesar then decided to make two expeditions, one across the Rhine and the second across the Straits of Dover to Britain. While in Britain, he received the submission of the supreme