Lessons in Writing That Work For Your Life Too

Lessons in Writing That Work For Your Life Too In his half-autobiography/half-instruction manual On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King notes that Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life. In these few words, he voices what many writers intrinsically understand after going through the process of completing a draftâ€"the lessons gained from writing are in many ways, life lessons, as well. Here are five lessons in writing that will work for your life, too.The lessons gained from writing are in many ways, life lessons, as well. Photo by Muhammad Haikal Sjukri on Unsplash.Persistence is importantAny writer who has been doing it long enough has experienced the dreaded blank page and absence of inspiration. Especially if you are a writer by profession, the combination of a blank page and looming deadlines can make the creative process even more difficult, which is why its important to keep goingâ€"to keep writingâ€"even when the going gets hard.Octavia Butler, noted African-American science fiction author and multiple recipient of both the Hugo and Nebula awards, put it like this: You dont start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking its good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. Thats why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.Even when inspiration is hard to find or rejections you get back from potential publishers have piled up, persisting in your writing will eventually pay off. This might include sitting back down with your manuscript and reworking it (or as Stephen King puts it, Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribblers heart, kill your darlings.) Or, it might include starting from the beginning with an entirely new story and putting your rejected manuscript to the side to self-publish.However you decide to persist, remember that life (as with writing) will have its difficult moments. There will be times when you want to throw in the towel and be done with it, but hard times are what teach us to be the best version of ourselves. So quitting is not an option if you want to growâ€"as a writer and as a person.Set a goal every day and stick to itFor Stephen King, a daily writing goal is one of the ways he has found success as a writer. In his On Writing, he speaks of the mornings being the best time for him to write, and the time of the day when he feels like he gets his best work done. The goal he sets for himself is about 10 pages a day (or approximately 2,000 words. His afternoons are reserved for naps and letters, while his evenings are for reading, family, revisions that cant wait, and Red Sox games on TV.Although 2,000 words might not seem like very much, it equals out to approximately a million words within a year and a half. One glance at Kings extensive work that has been published and youll see that his daily writing goal has played a large role in helping him write and publish prolifically.In life, as in writing, setting a daily goal for yourself does several things. First, it helps you accomplish larger tasks by breaking them down into much smaller chunks. This helps alleviate any overwhelm you might feel in needing to get something accomplished. For example, if you want to eat healthier and lose weight, setting a daily goal of healthy calorie intake and exercise is how to make that happen. This goal might be as simple as exercising for 5 minutes a day and cutting back on sodas, chips, and other unhealthy snacks but the important thing is sticking to it daily, for as long as it takes until youve reached the goal you set for yourself.Sometimes, you just need to sleep on itIf youve ever written something wellâ€"so well, in fact, that youre immediately ready to submit it as a draft of your workâ€"dont do it! Why? Because sometimes, you just need to sleep on it, and looking closely at your writing is one of those times.Youve likely heard the advice to not edit as you write and its good advice to follow. When you wr ite, you are using the right side of your brain to create. When you edit, you are using the left side of your brain, looking at the words on the page in a logical, rational, analytical, and objective way. Separating these two processes by a good nights sleep does several things. First, it resets your brain, allowing you to look at your work with the eye of an editor versus the eye of a writer. Second, it gives you a fresh perspective, potentially allowing you to see things you missed when you were in writing mode.The same is true for other facets of lifeâ€"sometimes, especially if youre overwhelmed by work, family, relationships, and deadlines, you just need to sleep on it and approach the topic with a fresh perspective in the morning. Whether through dreams or simply time to allow your brain to rest, sleeping on it can provide the reset you need to make more sense of a situation that looks a little less cloudy or convoluted after a good nights sleep.Be honestNo one knows your truth better than you and no one can write the story that you are uniquely qualified to write. Neil Gaiman puts it like this:Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because therell always be better writers than you and therell always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing thatâ€"but you are the only you.Tarantinoâ€"you can criticize everything that Quentin doesâ€"but nobody writes Tarantino stuff like Tarantino. He is the best Tarantino writer there is, and that was actually the thing that people responded toâ€"theyre going this is an individual writing with his own point of view.There are better writers than me out there, there are smarter writers, there are people who can plot better - there are all those kinds of things, but theres nobody who can write a Neil Gaiman story like I can.Neil GaimanWhen you consider writers like Ernest Hemingway, Charles Bukowski, Sylvia Plath, and Cormac McCarthy, the best and most mem orable writers of the present and throughout history are those who have told the truth and were honestâ€"sometimes brutally soâ€"in their work. These truths are part of what makes their novels or poetry so easy to read, because in them, we find words of wisdom that only honesty can produce.This lesson of honesty goes beyond the act of writing and applies to our lives, relationships, and personal interactions, as well. Honesty is an attractive quality in anyone and is one of the easiest ways you can have influence on others around you. People are drawn to honesty and integrity because we live in a world that, unfortunately, experiences a dearth of both.Writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, and Charles Bukowski have always been known for their honesty in writing. Photo by Joshua Coleman on Unsplash.Learn to appreciate criticismIn his movie, Midnight in Paris, writer and director Woody Allen resurrects Ernest Hemingway, who holds a conversation with the main character of the movie, Gil (who is also a writer). In one memorable scene, Gil asks Hemingway to read his script:Gil: Yah, its like 400 pages long and Im just looking for an opinion.Hemingway: My opinion is that I hate it.Gil: You havent even read it yet.Hemingway: If its bad, Ill hate it because I hate bad writing. If its good Ill be envious and Ill hate it all the more. You dont want the opinion of another writer.Midnight in ParisWhile Hemingways reasoning for not offering criticism is witty, Gil was on the right path by looking for feedback for his workâ€"particularly from someone whose opinion he respected. Feedback is useful for any writer and the right kind of criticism can help you sharpen your skills. While you probably dont want to solicit feedback from just anyone, receiving feedback from professional editors and others who know the industry well can help you hone your writing and cut out the unnecessary parts (or kill your darlings).The most important part of being open to honest feedbac kâ€"both in your writing and in lifeâ€"is to avoid over-reacting when you receive criticism. If youve asked the right critic to help you, you could find his or her advice to mean the difference between success and failure in getting your work published.

Stratification Systems And The Stratification System

To develop a comparative analysis of stratification, one must first be aware of all the stratification systems. A stratification system is the demonstration of all the social aspects within the ambit of the society. Social processes might be simple or complex, depends on the society we view. It is a widely accepted fact that society has inequalities and there is multiplicity of reasons for the following. Thus, when these factors intersect, they give rise to stratification. Also, one cannot just grade stratification as bad. The most important feature of stratification is that it ‘sorts, ’ and thus, it helps in bringing society forth, stepping into change as it is inevitable. Objective Indicators are the factors that are generally studied to†¦show more content†¦The average income of this group is about 60000$ and about thirty-four percent people belong to this group. †¢ Working Class: Thirty percent of the U.S. populace fall inside of this class stratum and have a normal salary of around $36,000 every year. The instruction level for this gathering is a secondary school confirmation. †¢ Working-Poor Class: Fifteen percent of the U.S. populace has a place with the working poor. Individuals from this group have some secondary school training and gain a normal salary of $20,000 every year. They act as administration specialists, workers, and in occasional job. This gathering meets all requirements for nourishment stamps and welfare now and again. Their biggest trepidation is that they could get to be destitute. †¢ Underclass: Five percent of Americans end up in the underclass stratum. They have gone to secondary school (some have graduated, some have not) and procure not exactly $12,000 every year. They are low maintenance laborers or get welfare. This gathering is a pool of untalented work that in the past could discover business in plants, ranches, or as workers on different development ventures. The social mobility is movement between the strata or the intra strata movement. Thus it can be said after the analysis that the mobility is directly proportional to the class. So, if one talks about the Upper class, one can easily declare that he can find high social mobility there. But as we goShow MoreRelatedSystems of Social Stratification2682 Words   |  11 Pagesthe systems of social stratification. The main aim of this essay is to compare and contrast these systems as well as indicating their advantages and disadvantages to development. The essay begins with defining the key term s which include comparing, contrasting and development. It further goes on to define as well as explain social stratification itself, the caste, the class and the colour-bar systems respectively. The essay further talks about the advantages and disadvantages of these systems of socialRead MoreSocial Stratification As A System Of Inequality Essay2084 Words   |  9 Pages Social stratification is a system of inequality in which one’s wealth, power, and rank in society are looked at to create social hierarchy (Larkin, 2015). A better way to understand this system is by looking at â€Å"The Larkin Stratification Diagram†. This shows the structure of stratification where it starts with the social differentiation, then social inequality, social order, social stratification, organizing principles of stratification, social structure, social institutions, and the life optionsRead MoreSocial Stratification And The Caste System Essay1342 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Stratificat ion Social stratification is an important component of society, as it helps individuals determine their proper place in society by creating a form of social hierarchy (Larkin, 2015). Many analysis use the social stratification system to help determine the inequalities, and this system of organization is found in every society across the world, though it will differ from one society to another (Larkin, 2015). Sociologists group different and diverse people into different levelsRead MoreSocial Stratification, Class System And Ethnocentrism703 Words   |  3 PagesSocial stratification, class systems, and ethnocentrism are all parts of our society that influence our thoughts of what is normal and what is outlandish. Social stratification is a system in which society ranks and organizes people into ranks to identify them. A class system is a system which classifies people based on their social position at birth and their achievements later in life. Ethnocentrism is the view that oneâ€℠¢s own culture is â€Å"normal† and other cultures are odd; through ethnocentrismRead MoreSocial Stratification Is A Society Wide System949 Words   |  4 Pages What is Social Stratification? Social Stratification refers to a society’s categorization of it’s people in to rankings from middle, lower, and upper class. Many aspects referring to social standings reflects ones wealth, income, race, and education. In most cases the higher your social class the more opportunities are available to you. For instance, think of it as a pyramid. The people who have wealth, power, and prestige, represent the top layer of the social stratification while other groupsRead MoreSocial Stratification Can Be Defined As A System In Which1024 Words   |  5 PagesSocial stratification can be defined as a system in which groups of people are divided into layers according to their relative property, power, and prestige. Social stratification can affect the way people interpret life. There’s four major systems that makes up social stratification slavery, caste, estate, and class. Slavery refers to the aspect that people can own other people. This has been around since ancient times of history, and still do this day occurring. Slavery is based upon three factorsRead MoreSocial Construction Of Gender Is A Process, Stratification System And Structure1838 Words   |  8 Pages Tamara Treasure March 1, 2016 Midterm Exam 1. Social Construction of Gender is a process, stratification system and structure. The day to day interactions emphasize gender as opposites. Take for instance, conversations, formalities of daily life, sayings, and so on. The social construction of gender is created through social interaction – through the things we do and say with other people. This means that gender it is not a fixed or inherent fact, but instead it varies across time and placeRead MoreHow Stratification Creates Inequalities Within The Criminal Justice System2145 Words   |  9 PagesHow Stratification Creates Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System The population at large in the United Stated is very different than the population of the prison system. Racial inequality in the criminal justice system is often ignored because it does not affect most people. If there is to be a change in racial inequality, this issue is one that must be addressed. According to Inequality and Incarceration, â€Å"497 out of 100,000 Americans are imprisoned.† This means there is â€Å"less than oneRead MoreSocial Stratification864 Words   |  4 PagesSOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND SOCIAL MOBILITY IN THE CARIBBEAN Presenter Ms. N. Lewis What is social Stratification? ï  ¬ This refers to the ranking of social groups according to one or more criteria deemed important to society. ï  ¬ The ranking indicates that some groups have more and others have less of what society values- for example, money, power and prestige. Types of stratification Systems There are two types of stratification systems: 1. Closed system of stratification 2. Open system of stratificationRead MoreThe Concept of Social Stratification1290 Words   |  5 PagesSocial stratification can be simply defined by stating that it is a system in which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy (Macionis, page 224). The concept of social stratification is based on four central principles, which are social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences, it carries over from one generation to the next, while it is universal, it is also variable, and social stratification involves not only inequality but beliefs as

Sense Of Nostalgia In Hemingways Novel - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1714 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/05/31 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Hills Like White Elephants Essay Did you like this example? Hills Like White Elephants is a short story by Ernest Hemingway that offers a brief glimpse into the lives of expatriates during the pre- World War 1 time-frame. Hemingways personal experience as an expatriate living in Europe during the 1920s can be seen throughout the images so keenly described in his short story Hills Like White Elephants and is an accurate piece of literature based on experiences that were common amongst other expatriates of that generation this story reflects many trends popular with expatriates who had traveled to post-WWI Europe. The story can be interpreted through the exploration of the cause of those trends and ideals held by that (lost) generation. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Sense Of Nostalgia In Hemingways Novel" essay for you Create order Through this opening passage we are able to understand the location of where our characters are traveling. The beginning of our story sets a scene for the reader: The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of the station there was the warm shadow of the building and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door into the bar, to keep out flies (Hemingway). The Ebro is a river in Spain Northeast of Madrid, much closer to the border of France. The two characters of the story, the American and the girl are traveling towards Madrid, the central hub of Spain, a place that could solve problem they are having. We understand towards the end of the story, that the couple is discussing the possibility of an abortion, something that was highly illegal in the 1920rs, especially in a catholic country such as Spain. To understand the mentality, outlook and understanding of life the characters have, presented to us through dialogue, we must first understand the life that an expatriate experienced in the early 20th century. The reason we can rely on this story as one that is accurate to the real experiences of an expatriate in Europe is because the writer, Ernest Hemingway, was an expatriate himself. Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1899. At the age of eighteen he volunteered as a Red Cross ambulance driver during World War 1 and was sent to France. This choice is what gave Ernest much insight and relation that helped him develop his works later in life. A large reason of expatriates in Europe during the 1920rs is due to the result of World War 1 and the exposure that many young Americans experienced when there. In Matthew Boltonrs essay on Hemingway as an expatriate, he states: In the wake of World War I, a combination of cultural and economic factors conspired to make the city an attractive destination for footloose Americans. The United States involvement in the war meant that some five million young men had been exposed to life in Europe. With the war over, some of these veterans found that France held far more attraction for them than did their American hometowns (Bolton). We understand that, World War I resulted in a cultural movement, exposing many Americans to the expatriate life of Europe the added effects of the war resulted in the generation that fought it to be lost to Europe the lost generation. The reactionary decade that followed the war gave way to many institutions to American culture that dissuaded much of the lost generation to return to American. Prohibition noble experiment in outlawing the manufacture and sale of alcohol, had gone into effect in January of 1920. Mainstream American culture, and the legal apparatus that supported it, was resolutely bent on reintegrating the veterans of the Great War into a life of temperance, family values, and the Protestant work ethic (Bolton). Following Hemingwayrs understanding of post-World War I America, we can expect that the writer did not want to return to a land of ?godliness, propriety, and respectability were of paramount importance (Bolton). The buying power of the dollar to the Franc also was a large deciding factor to the average expatriate. In an article Hemingway wrote to the Toronto Star, for which he worked as a foreign correspondent in Paris, he stated: An American or Canadian can live comfortably, eat at attractive restaurants and find amusement for a total expenditure of two and one half to three dollars a day (Reynolds 5). Hemingway was an expatriate himself and through the experiences he gained through World War I, as well as working as a foreign correspondent among many other things and experiences throughout his life we are able to peer into the life of an expatriate (the life of an expatriate is divulged less through Hills Like White Elephants than it is through Hemingwayrs other works, such as The Sun Also Rises, but if we can understand the authors background, or have at least read any of his other works, we are able to acknowledge the meaning of the story and the underlying stories that are not written). The story of Hills Like White Elephants is one that is built on the curiosity of the reader. The subject of abortion in the story is never directly divulged by the characters, but is hinted upon throughout. The main characters, only known as the American and the girl, are seen to be expatriates experiencing a life of exploration through Europe them presently being in Spain. They are in a train junction and the express from Barcelona would come in forty minutes. It stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to Madrid (Hemingway). The full written story takes only eight or so minutes to read and at the end of the story we read that the train comes in five minutes (Hemingway). This shows us, through the lack of information and the state-of-fact writing that Hemingway is praised for, that there was much silence during that time period. This helps us understand the setting further. The man in the story seems to push for the girl to receive the procedure. The girl is rel uctant, but through the setting we can say that, though reluctant, the girl is also unsure of what to do because they are at a junction which tells us that the couple has travelled this far already in order to get to Madrid where this procedure could be done. The man in the story is very matter-of-fact, realistic, and shows a lack of remorse towards the situation. The girl, someone he says he loves, is the opposite. Because of the manrs pressure, she is considering to not proceed with the abortion. The choice of the man is reason enough for her to understand that this is the life that the man chooses to proceed with a life of adventure, experience and excitement not one that involves starting a family and taking care of a child. As an expatriate, experiencing a life that is freeing and exciting is something that is expected, but through the story we can see that even if this life is something that the man wants and maybe it was something that the woman wanted at a certain point it is not that same now. In the text, we read: Thats the only thing that bothers us. Its the only thing thats made us unhappy. The girl looked at the bead curtain, put her hand out and took hold of two of the strings of beads. And you think then well be all right and be happy. I know we will. You dont have to be afraid. Ive known lots of people that have done it (Hemingway). In this excerpt, we see that the man still believes that through this procedure happiness will return. The idea that happiness will return is something that is frequent in the ideals of an expatriate, the belief that after devastation, there will always come happiness after the abortion, happiness will return. This can relate back to World War I and how many young soldiers found comfort in the aftermath and the beauty of Europe, while back in America, the country was bracing for the aftermath of many young Americans returning home. Throughout the short story of Hills Like White Elephants we are provided with little informational text aside from descriptive elements of setting and such. We are required to rely on our own understanding in order to decipher the subject and meaning of the story. Through the research, explanation and understanding of the trends of expatriates in Europe and what cause so many young people to decide on a life as an expatriate we can understand the story better. It seems to be one that shares with us the mentality of expatriates. Many focusing on the good life, the freedom and expressionistic ideals that are not present in America this plays a huge roll on the choices of many expatriates in Europe. In conclusion, a work like Hills Like White Elephants is one that evokes a sense of nostalgia and melancholy once we understand the trends and ideals of the subjects involved. The life of freedom, happiness, wealth, adventure and relaxation is a powerful pursuit and one that, once held, is something that is hard to let go of. With an understanding of life in the post-war 20th century, we are able to relate to a lifestyle that we have dreamt of one we have imagined to be just a fantasy but one that is not simply happiness and comfort. The depths achievable by man in pursuit of self-discovery and freedom may be deep but the heights that can come may be worth the turmoil and risk. This story explains that through less than enough words and we are the ones who need to unearth the true meaning of the work. Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Ed. R.V. Cassill. New York: Norton Company, 1995. 443-447. Bolton, Matthew J. An American in Paris: Hemingway and the Expatriate Life. Critical Insights: The Sun Also Rises, edited by Keith Newlin, Salem, 2010. Salem Online. Reynolds, Michael. Hemingway: The Paris Years. 1989. New York: W. W. Norton, 1999. Kennedy, J. Gerald.Imagining Paris: Exile, Writing, and American Identity. New Haven, CT: Yale UP, 1993.

Middle East Democracy Free Essays

string(100) " of what the American government has to say, a new democratic creation must take this into account\." The idea of installing a full scale democratic government in Iran is something that has undoubtedly crossed the mind of many prominent American politicians, but it has yet to come to fruition because of a number of reasons. For the most part, the promotion of democracy in the Middle East has been a well tried, but failed venture. While many nations in other parts of the world have been especially quick to pick up democracy, those people in Iran and other parts of the Middle East have not been so willing to embrace the idea yet. We will write a custom essay sample on Middle East Democracy or any similar topic only for you Order Now This has occurred because of the fundamental problems that seem to get lost in translation when western nations try to impose a government on the people in the Middle East. In order for democracy to ever work in Iran or elsewhere in that area of the world, these basic, fundamental differences must be addressed appropriately and ultimately be bridged, so that a common accord can be reached in the best interests of the Iranian people. The primary obstacles to democratic reform in Iran are many and they are tall obstacles. In short, these are basic problems that the people of Iran have with western governments and they are the sort of problems that will keep democracy from coming to Iran at this point. The main thing standing in the way is a difference in religious theory. Though democracy itself purports to support all religions and in effort to promote religious freedom, it is built upon Christian principles and has been a primarily Christian outfit since its inception. When the founding fathers designed the documents that started the nation, they opened up their Bibles for consultation. This is not a fact that is lost on the Iranian people, nor is it lost on the Iranian government. According to NationMaster.com, the statistics on religion in Iran are staggering. According to that website, 98% of the people in Iran are practicing Muslims (NationMaster.com). This in itself is something that creates major issues with democracy and stands as a barrier in the way of every having an active democracy in that country. Of that 98% clip, more than 89% of the Muslims are Shi’a, which creates an added problem. That sect of Islam has been particularly harsh in regards to American policy and democracy. In addition to the problem surrounding religion, there is a problem that exists over control of the country. The controlling party in Iran worked very hard to gain control of the country and they now have a system in place that rewards those who support them and cracks down on those that oppose them. This is done because the country is set up to allow this theocracy to have full and complete control over just about every aspect of the country, including the economy. Since their control is so widespread, there is lots of vested interest in keeping the controlling party in office. If they were to be booted out of office in favor of some new leaders, lots of angry people would be missing out on the benefits that they were used to receiving. According to MapsoftheWorld.com, â€Å"The chief of the state is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khomeini. The head of the Iran government is President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad. The Cabinet consists of Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval† (MapsoftheWorld.com). This alone shows the near complete control that the leader of the government has over the country. Though the head of the government is an elected official, there is little to suggest that any elections are conducted in a fair manner. Though the government in Iran is technically considered a democracy because of the fact that they hold elections, one would be hard pressed to find anyone that would consider their system a clear representation of the people’s rights. A former American government official has even said in the last month that the democracy effort in Iran is one that will be tough to come by given the current state in the country and America’s current relationship with the leaders of that country. In a New York Sun article by Eli Lake, a former presidential assistant is quoted as saying, â€Å"There is not the expertise, there is not the energy for it. The Iran office is worried about the bilateral policy. I think they are not committed to this anymore† (Lake). If that quote is any indication, then the democracy effort in Iran has a tough future ahead of it. Overcoming the barriers to democracy will not be easy in Iran, but they are doable with the right policy. One thing to consider is that the religious preferences of the Iranian people are longstanding and they are not likely to change any time in the near future. As such, Western nations must understand that they are going to be dealing with an Islamic nation and they must make allowances for that. Though pure democracy in an American sense will never come off as being an Islamic idea, the proponents of such an Iranian democracy movement must make sure to bridge the gap that exists within perception between the two nations. They must paint democracy in its most positive light to the people of Iran, to make them understand that it is not something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced. If the basic differences in religious preference are going to be conquered, then democracy must appear to them as something that can be incorporated with their Islamic values. Having them adopt Judeo-Christian values is not an option, so if democracy is going to head to Iran, then it must be taken closer to their preferences. As far as power is concerned, this looks like a problem that might not have a solution. Given the fact that the controlling party is not likely to give up any of their stake in the nation regardless of what the American government has to say, a new democratic creation must take this into account. You read "Middle East Democracy" in category "Essay examples" Though there is no way to truly overcome this obstacle, some progress can be made by insuring that the people in control right now understand that they will not be thrown to the dogs in a new democracy program. They will still have the chance to be in power if they are elected fairly by the people of their country. This will not likely be enough to pacify those in power, but that might not be possible in the long run. The primary supporters of democratic reform in Iran are mostly from Western nations and their interest is two fold. For American leaders, the establishment of democracy in Iran helps promote that sort of movement all over the world, and it helps to protect American interests abroad as much as possible. The hope of such a government would ultimately be to get rid of the tyrannical leader that runs that government. When tyrants are eliminated from office, the entire world is better off for it, according to American policy. According to a 2005 New York Times article, the American government is taking great measures to help this happen. They are being helped by leaders in other democratic governments. In an article by Steven R. Weisman, it is stated, â€Å"The Bush administration is expanding efforts to influence Iran’s internal politics with aid for opposition and pro-democracy groups abroad and longer broadcasts criticizing the Iranian government, administration officials say† (Weisman). This widespread support from the American government has been continued, although it has been reformed since to meet its goals more effectively. The main opponents of democratic reform in Iran are fairly predictable, given the current set of circumstances in that country. The controlling party that runs the government has no interest in changing their ways, as it was the old system that allowed them to gain power and influence. They are the most powerful and influential group standing in the way. Almost as important in this stance against democracy are the religious leaders in Iran. They have a huge measure of control over the population since it is their job to give clarity on religious matters. Under the current theocracy, which is run with a great deal of religious emphasis, they have lots of control and economic swing in the country. This group is probably more important to influence, since it is their interpretation of the Islamic gospel that helps create the prevailing thought of the Iranian people. Given the fact that the deep rooted Christian values in democracy are no secret, it is highly unlikely that the Islamic leaders of Iran are going to relent on their position. In order to influence these political leaders in Iran, there is only one real solution that the American government can use. Since economic sanctions and threats of war do not seem to be working, the U.S. government has to take the initiative to establish some rewards for the leaders if they were to go along with democracy. Economic rewards are very powerful bargaining tools, because the Iranian leaders can get rich if they play their cards right. If the Western governments made it clear that they would provide clear support to any democratic reform, it may influence the Iranian leaders to make some changes to their current working system. Though the basic premise of democracy would indicate that any group should be allowed to jockey for position atop the government, Iran has to be handled somewhat differently. Given the previously mentioned statistics on religion in the country, it would be extremely unwise to allow any anti-Islamic groups to push for control of the nation. It would be unwise for a couple of different reasons. On one hand, they would have no chance of gaining control of the country and would therefore just be stirring the pot. This leads to the second conclusion, which indicates that such pot stirring would only have a negative impact on the reception of democracy. Since democracy has to be brought to Iran in conjunction with Islam, this is a recipe for disaster. One thing that must be considered when a person thinks about American influence in Iran is what kind of broad impact it will have on a number of different people. If America and other western nations were to make a push for democracy in Iran, it might endanger those people in the country that are there in order to do other good in the country. According to an article in the Washington Post by Karl Vick and Daniel Finkel, â€Å"Prominent activists inside Iran say President Bush’s plan to spend tens of millions of dollars to promote democracy here is the kind of help they don’t need, warning that mere announcement of the U.S. program endangers human rights advocates by tainting them as American agents† (Vick, Finkel). This means that the mere announcement of any such effort would immediately put people in danger within Iran. This is not important on the basis that it would endanger a few human rights workers. It is important on the basis that if such widespread distaste for America exists among the people, then there is virtually no chance of American-led policy to stick in the country. Other factors must be considered, though. If America wants to keep Iran from becoming the next big Middle Eastern super power, then something must be a done. While the foreign policy of the United States should not include the right and prompting to go to war on a whim, it should help protect American interests. The United States has spent countless dollars and thousands of lives in establishing a semblance of normalcy in Iraq. According to some people, any action in Iran would destroy the work already done in its neighboring country. A United Press International article by Claude Salhani reads, â€Å"However, any attack on Iran would reverse any gains made in Iraq. This point was repeated to the U.S. secretary of defense by various Gulf officials† (Salhani). The government of the United States has to be very careful in this case, as they are playing with fire, to an extent. The only way that the American government should put dollars and effort forward in an attempt to reform Iran is if they have a clear idea of how to get things done. Any plan that is devoid of such a clear objective would fail miserably. The objectives must be to help end tyranny in Iran and to protect American interests on a security level. They must be handled diplomatically, as a military conflict in Iran at this time would be a recipe for disaster, given the nuclear implications that exist. A Steven Erlanger article in the New York Times indicates the thinking of Israel on the matter of nuclear weapons in Iran. In his article, Erlanger writes, â€Å"Israel thinks that an American National Intelligence Estimate about Iran’s nuclear weapons program, published in an unclassified version last week, is unduly optimistic and focuses too narrowly on the last stage of weapons development – the fashioning of a bomb out of highly enriched uranium† (Erlanger). This means that some uncertainty exists over whether or not the country has any real, threatening weapons. If they were to possess advanced nuclear capability, then America and other nations must make sure to tread very lightly in enemy territory. Works Cited Erlanger, Steven. New York Times. Israelis Brief top U.S. Commander on Iran’s Nuclear Activities. 11 December 2007. http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/12/11/israelis_brief_us_commander_on_irans_nuclear_activities/ Lake, Eli. The New York Sun. ‘This Pretty Much Kills the Iran Democracy Program’. 8 November 2007. http://www.nysun.com/article/66065 Maps of the World. Iran Government. http://www.mapsofworld.com/iran/about-iran/government.html Nation Master. Iran: Religion. http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ir-iran/rel-religion Salhani, Claude. United Press International. Analysis: Iran is Still a Threat for U.S. 10 December 2007. http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Emerging_Threats/Analysis/2007/12/10/analysis_iran_is_still_a_threat_for_us/3136/ Vick, Karl, Finkel, David. Washington Post. U.S. Push for Democracy Could Backfire in Iran. 14 March 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/13/AR2006031301761.html Weisman, Steven. The New York Times. U.S. Expands Aid to Iran’s Democracy Advocates Abroad. 29 May 2005. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/international/middleeast/29iran.html    How to cite Middle East Democracy, Essay examples

Essay on The Life of Jeannette in The Glass Castle Essay Example For Students

Essay on The Life of Jeannette in The Glass Castle Essay â€Å"I wanted to let the world know that no one had a perfect life, that even the people who seemed to have it all had their secrets.† The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a memoir about a young girl and her dysfunctional life. Jeannette and her family live a very tough life, constantly leaving to go somewhere new. However, along the way, Jeannette decides she wants to escape her family and move to New York. Throughout her life, she and her sister work on moving to New York to better their lives. The Glass Castle will become a classic because it includes hard times of life, contains lessons from parents, and allows the reader to be inspired by Jeannettes escape plan. â€Å"We were always doing the skedaddle, usually in the middle of the night.† (Walls 19) Jeannette and her family were running from the law. They would never pay the bills on time, and would constantly have to leave, as soon as someone expected money from the Walls family. The first time the did the â€Å"skedaddle† was when Jeannette was three years old. She was making hot dogs, on her own and was burned badly. Her parents took her to the hospital, and she was there six weeks before the doctor started asking for money. One night, Rex Walls, her father, picked her up and ran away. Another hard time of life was when Jeanettes mother had a miscarriage. â€Å"Mom never seemed upset about Marry Charlenes death.Dad, however, wouldn’t talk about Mary Charlene.† (Walls 28) The family never talks about Mary Charlene but Jeannette believes that is why her father has a drinking problem. â€Å"As we fought, they called me poor and ugly and dirty, and it was hard to argue at this point.† (Walls 140) Later on, when the family moves to 93 Little Hobart street, Jeannette is bullied because she can. .sually work out in the end. ‘What if they don’t?’ That just means you haven’t come to the end yet.† (Walls 259) Jeannette started to lose faith in her parents after they could no longer provide for her, and swore that she would make a better life for herself. â€Å"I swore to myself that it (her life) would never be like Mom’s†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Walls 208) Jeannette has the idea to move to New York to escape her parents, and pursue her dream of being a journalist. She decides that her older sister, Lori, will have to escape with her, because Jeannette would never leave Lori alone with her parents. The next day, Jeannette buys a piggy bank to start an â€Å"escape fund†. To make money, Lori would draw and paint posters for kids at school and sell them for a dollar fifty. Jeannette would babysit and do other kids homework. She made a dollar per assignment and and babysat for a dollar an hour.

Financial Theories Overview free essay sample

costs of capital to a firm would remain the same no matter what combination of financing sources the firm actually chose (Miller, 2001, p. 185). The dividend proposition overcomes objection to leverage proof. | 3. Agency Cost Theory I Michael Jensen and William Meckling define agency costs as the costs associated with cooperative effort by human beings, which arises when the principal hires an agent to carry out duties Oensen, 2005). Conflicts of interest between management and shareholders are inevitable and can cause a potential loss in value of public corporations (Chew, 2001). For example, shareholders may want management to increase shareholder value, but management may grow the business to increase personal power and wealth (Chew, 2001). | Enrons company was worth $30 billion and senior managers tried to defend a $40 billion of excess valuation. Ultimately Enron executives destroyed the company by trying to fool the markets through accounting manipulations, hiding debt through off-balance sheet partnerships, and over hyped new ventures such as their broadband futures effort Oensen, 2005, pp. We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Theories Overview or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 10-11). John Roth, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Nortel, wrote off most cquisitions, when stock price crashed and closed down activities, which resulted in the destruction of not only the corporate value but also the social value of the company Oensen, 2005). Finance scholars found a reduction in conflict of interest between management and shareholders because of: (1) product market competition and a market for executive labor

The Taming of the Shrew play Essay Example

The Taming of the Shrew play Essay Example The Taming of the Shrew play Paper The Taming of the Shrew play Paper Essay Topic: The Taming Of the Shrew Commedia dellArte played a great part in the way that Shakespeare wrote his plays. The 16th century society were great supporters of Commedia dellArte, which influenced Shakespeare and his comedy plays. Commedia dellArte originated in Italy in the mid 1550s when pros formed companies. They all took after each other and formed larger groups. One of the initial companies was known as Gelosi. As the years wore on, further companies Unite, Desiosi and Fideli formed. Zannis were a main feature of Commedia dellArte in The Taming of the Shrew; Tranio would be an example. The Taming of the Shrew is revolved around disguises and deception. Straight away, this concept is highlighted as the fat drunkard is deceived and tricked into thinking he is a noble. Later in the play, Hortensio dresses as a music teacher, Lucentio as a latin teacher. Tranio as Lucentio and pedent as Vincentio. This, as well as being amusing, adds dramatic irony. For example, when Tranio meets the real Vincentio when Tranio is dressed as Lucentio this is dramatic irony and is humorous for the audience. Such role swaps and elaborate dress is derived from Commedia dellArte. Throughout the play, there is much wordplay and punning to heighten the comedy. The more sophisticated members of the audience particularly the upper classes and especially royalty such as Queen Elizabeth would have understood and found them funny. Also this punning appeals to modern audiences. Pet: Here, sirrah Grumio, knock I say. Gru: Knock sir? Whom should I knock? Here, the word knock is being played upon. The word was understood by Grumio the dim-witted servant to mean insult someone, where Petruchio meant it as to knock on the door. This simple misunderstanding via wordplay would have been humorous to both Elizabethan audiences and modern day audiences. The subject of marriage in the Elizabethan era could also be a very humorous subject. In The Taming of the Shrew, it not only challenges the stereotypical marriage ceremony but creates irony and humour. This is shown on many occasions. Straight away, Petruchio makes a mockery of the marriage ceremony by attending the marriage in comical rags which also embarrasses Kate in public, wearing her down once again. Soon after, he punches the priest in the face, while providing comedy; this also underlines the disrespect shown for the marriage ceremony. Marriage was generally seen as the underlining statement that made a woman the husbands possession, something which Katherine certainly despised. This is also where there is some irony, as the most unlikely of suitors: Petruchio a chauvinistic male, and Katherina a sworn feminist, turn out to have a successful marriage. The marriage of Bianca and Lucentio ends up as less successful than the marriage of Petruchio and Katherina. This could be because Lucentio sees Bianca as a trophy wife, as his possession. But as Petruchio and Katherina have sexual chemistry, they are able to work out their differences and become a successful couple. This is shown and re-enforced when Hortensio, Lucentio and Petruchio have a bet to see whose wife is the most obedient and shall appear on command. Lucentio and Hortensio are both overly confident and see Petruchio as a fool for making such a bet; however they are shamed when they both reject the order to attend to their respective husbands. Then Katherina appears on command with both Bianca and Hortensios wife in hand, and appears fully obedient. This scene shows faults in the marriage between Lucentio and Bianca, and shows the strength and the bond that is shared between Petruchio and Katherina, and also the obedience that Katherina has learned she has been tamed.