Persuasive speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Persuasive speech - Essay Example More and more car accidents are declared to be cell phone related, worldwide. According to Vogel (2007), horrific dangers associated with text driving equal those associated with drink driving, in terms of inhibiting a person’s driving abilities. This is more commonly observed in teen drivers, among whom text driving is on a mind-blowing rise despite the continuous efforts of increasing awareness about this issue. This is a deplorable fact that only a minimal percentage of young adults consider text driving potentially capable of distraction leading to awful traffic problems. It is this defiant attitude that is an obstruction in the way of ensuring responsible driving. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration report (cited in Vogel, 2007), distracted drivers account for almost 80% of all crashes and 65% of near-crashes in the United States, only. The question is, when the public, especially youth, will finally open their eyes to the drastic effects of texting wh ile driving? Is the use of cell phone while driving in heavy traffic so important that one can feasibly ignore one’s own safety in addition to ruining the safety chances of other people’s lives? I cannot imagine anyone saying yes to the unjustified use of cell phones while in the midst of traffic, if the consequences of this action are seriously scrutinized. Car crashes due to calling and texting amidst traffic cannot be accurately evaluated or numbered, but this is a general consensus that cell phone use definitely leads to distraction which is the leading cause of car accidents. According to 2008 statistical data regarding the use of cell phones while driving, at any given moment, over 800,000 Americans were texting, making calls, or using a handheld cell phone while driving during the daytime. (cited in Edgar Synder and & Associates, 2010). Research studies of Strayer (cited in Cruz et al., 2009) show that most drivers tend to stare

Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Term Paper

Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) - Term Paper Example However, each improvement in the aviation industry has got a ripple effect that brings change all through the industry (Salas and Maurino, 2010). The demands for air travel have continued to grow, resulting to unprecedented growth within the industry. Growth in the aviation industry has resulted to an expanded workforce that has put pressure on aviation companies to reduce training period and quickly train qualified pilots (Salas and Maurino, 2010). At the same time, technological advancement is helping in implementation of highly complex, computerized systems that change the manner pilots and other personnel relate with other aircrafts. Similarly, there have been calls for broad improvements in traffic control system putting more pressure on industry professionals and researchers. All these influences, thus, have had a great impact on the industry and on the human factors. This present paper discusses the impact of NextGen will have on the human factors in the aviation industry. Nex tGen technology Despite program by Next Generation Air Traffic System (NextGen) being merely one of the many vehicles of transformation in aviation industry, presently, it stands for the most remarkable call for transformation in the aviation industry. ... Through the use of this new technology, the NextGen technology is bound to considerably improve service provision. For instance, projections by NextGen estimate that there is the need to reduce clogging in the air transports system of the US (FAA, 2007) NextGen has availed data equipment that has the ability to tap weather sources all over the airspace. This data has also enabled to provide accurate information on what lies ahead for any particular flight. This ability is also remarkably since aircrafts can access timely information from all dimensions (Salas and Maurino, 2010). The human factor through NextGen has totally overhauled earlier and outdated ways used by airspace bodies. This has significantly changed aviation sector since National Airspace System (NAS) of the US has managed to install better traffic loads. Moreover, it has also helped to project better means by reducing gridlock as well as maintaining safety in the aviation department. Essentials and Benefits Fundamenta l measures and improvements that NextGen has applied to refurbish human factor in the aviation sector include the inception of System Wide Information Management, Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, Next Generation Data Communications, Next NAS voice switch and Generation Enabled Weather. Through the use of, Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), NextGen (GPS) satellite signals offer efficient information to air controllers and pilots. Such information is much accurate and has increased aircraft safety through safe navigation in the sky. Besides, ground safety for airplanes has tremendously improved. In addition, NextGen has improved the human factor by fixing airplanes with special transceivers known as

Steven Spielberg, film analysis

Steven Spielberg, film analysis Steven Spielberg is a film director who has had a long career of about four decades. He has given the film industry some of the best films of many themes and genres. However, his filming style conveys his absolute regard towards action and adventure. His career gives us films that consist of action and adventure in different plots and a variety of stories. His concept of adventure films were archetypes of the blockbuster filmmaking in modern Hollywood. His essence of adventure has made him one of the most influential directors in the film industry. In the years of his career, he has won many awards and made his way towards fame and success. His most famous films that became record breaking are Jaws, E.T and Jurassic Park. Each of these was made under his original filmmaking style which portrayed action and adventure. They are known to be the best films in the history of cinema and were the highest grossing films of that time. The themes of these films revolved around science fiction but were directed using the best techniques to display pure action (Jackson 234). However, Steven Spielberg has achieved much of his success not only through his filming style and techniques, but his themes. Many recurring themes have been observed in his films. The theme in most of his films talks about ordinary people who discover extraordinary beings or circumstances. At many times during his interviews, Spielberg has admitted his imagination and interest that goes beyond the ordinary means of life. He says that his belief in the extra terrestrial surroundings is shown in the themes of the films he make. His films have been influenced by his fathers interests that he adopted while he was a child. His father was a science fiction fan and thus Spielberg was inspired by the concepts. He said he felt like an alien throughout his childhood and that is how the interest of talking and filming about aliens came to his career. This genuine interest was portrayed through his unique style of directing his films with action and adventure surrounding the plot. As he focused on the lives of the ordinary people, majority of his films displayed the family theme. His family themes were enlightened with the sense of faith and wonder. This is shown in his works such as E.T and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. These themes have been displayed using the specific technique of using low height camera tracking shots that eventually became Spielbergs trademark. He has used this technique in films that include children, for which it looks apparent, and also for films such as The Terminal, Saving Private Ryan and Munich. This kind of a shot is utilized very evidently in his films especially in Jaws where the low angle is used to show someone swimming (Gordon 93). More towards the family theme, parent child relationships are most persistently shown in Spielbergs films. His family theme focuses on ordinary family people, tension in relationships between parent and child, the entering of children in old age, and ignorance of parents etc. In his film Hook, the father is depicted as a workaholic parent with no time for his children, and throughout the film he strives to regain the respect and love of his children. The absence of the childs father in E.T is another example of this theme. In fact, it is evident that this theme is most closest to Spielbergs life since he belonged to a broken family where his parents were divorced. Throughout his childhood, he was deeply affected by the divorce and felt the absence of his father greatly. However, through the theme he has earned his place as the most influential director of all time (Edge 102). Spielberg has used these themes to apply his techniques of using the camera. These ordinary people and sentimental topics have been iced with adventurous scenes and plots. Action has also been his style for long until he turned 40 and decided not to do action movies anymore. His major career breakthrough was because of his action movies and touchy themes. He has continues to inspire and impress his fans. Sharks, dinosaurs and aliens have been some of the best pictured films including science fiction, action, adventure and a family theme. His films depict his imagination and life as a child with his father and later the absence of his father. Some of the technical details added to his films are the camera shots he chooses. Many of them have become his trademark and notable in his most famous films. He uses the camera to display his best shots. His over the shoulder shots, track in shots and sideways tracking shots are used more often. He has a specific style of shooting action and adventure. Graphics and sound effects are used side by side to complement his themes. His films also include violence as part of the action involved. He creates unthinkable climax scenes for the films using visual effects for example groundbreaking in A.I Artificial Intelligence (Morris 67). In E.T, the story revolves around a child who befriends an alien. The child in the film does not have a father and he is a lonely child. His innocence turned into maturity is shown in the film. The alien he befriends has been left out from a UFO that landed on the ground. The camera shots and visual effects have been used to show the UFO landing on the ground. Furthermore, the adventurous story of the boy and the alien comes to the point where the boy has to save the alien from people trying to catch him for other purposes. The story shows how the child protects and sends back the alien to his planet. The film is about scientific fiction yet it became one of the highest grossing films. When it is about Spielbergs concept of action and adventure, Jaws is the best film one could think of. It was shot using many perspectives but Spielberg managed to successfully create a masterpiece. The film was inspired by the bestselling novel of the same name. The story revolves around a roaring shark and scenes underwater. The exceptions in the film are that related to the family theme. Brody in the film is a family committed man. The main focus of the film remains to be the shark and the adventurous journey of the beachgoers to whom the man-eating shark attacks. Jurassic park is also a science fiction film which features dinosaurs. Spielberg has presented the theme with extraordinary filming techniques and shots. The storyline and the adventure of the journey, the surrounding and the imagination are outstanding. Spielberg has been able to successfully use graphics and visual effects to show the thriller on screen. It is the best example of Spielbergs style of direction and action. Spielberg has given his best through his films. He has proved to be one of the best directors in the history of cinema. His imagination, interests and thoughts have been accumulated together in various films. They have won the hearts of many and received praise worldwide. He has also been the winner of many awards for his films. His movies showed new style of action and adventure where there are twists and turns, relationships, extra terrestrial life, and many other effects that appeal to the viewer. Spielberg has reached new heights in his career because of his talent and ability to depict the fictitious stories into touchy sentimental stories maintaining the level of action and adventure. Work Cited Gordon Andrew. Empire of Dreams: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Films of Steven Spielberg. USA: Rowman Littlefield, 2008 Jackson Kathi. Steven Spielberg: A Biography. USA: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007 16 Edge Laura. Steven Spielberg: Director of Blockbuster Films. USA: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2008 Morris Nigel. The Cinema of Steven Spielberg: Empire of Light. India: Wallflower Press, 2007

Chillingworth is the Greatest Sinner in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarl

Chillingworth is the Greatest Sinner in The Scarlet Letter The world of Puritan New England, like the world of today, was filled with many evil influences. Many people were able to withstand temptation, but some fell victim to the dark side. Such offences against God, in thought, word, deed, desire or neglect, are what we define as sin (Gerber 14). Â   In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the reader is able to observe how one sin devastates three lives. Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth are all guilty of succumbing to temptation, anger, and desire, causing all to fit the definition of a sinner. Yet, Chillingworth's iniquities raise him up above Hester and Dimmesdale on the level of diabolic acts. Â   From the very moment Chillingworth is introduced, he is deceitful towards the Puritan society. Chillingworth appears in the novel, seeming to know nothing of the scene at the scaffold. He asks of a townsperson: "...who is this woman? - and wherefore is she here to set up to public shame?" (Hawhtorne 67). Yet, we find in the next chapter that he indeed knows who Hester is, because Chillingworth is the lawful husband of her. He decieves the people of Boston to avoid the humiliation his wife brought upon him. In this respect, Chillingworth sins against the eight commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour" (Gerber 26). Â   Now, one could state that Hester also sins against the eighth commandment. She never reveals the name of her daughter's father. And it is stated that one must always tell the truth. Yet, it also states that one must keep a secret whenever asked to do so, and not say anything to damage another's reputation (Gerber 27). So Hester, in fact, did not sin. She n... ...rth's crimes against the Lord are more malevolent than those committed by Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale. Chillingworth's quest for revenge and truth leads him down a path of sin, and in the Puritan perspective, down the path to Hell. Â   Â   Works Cited and Consulted: Â   Baym, Nina. Introduction. The Scarlet Letter. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York City: Penguin Books USA, Inc. 1986. Â   Gerber, John C. "Form and Content in The Scarlet Letter." The Scarlet Letter: A Norton Critical Edition. Eds. Seymour Gross, Sculley Bradley, Richmond Croom Beatty, and E. Hudson Long. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1988. Â   Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Boston: Ticknor, 1850. 3 Nov. 1999 Â   Smiles, Samuel. ""The Scarlet Letter."" The Critical Temper. Ed. Martin Tucker. New York City: Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, 1962. 266. Â   Chillingworth is the Greatest Sinner in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarl Chillingworth is the Greatest Sinner in The Scarlet Letter The world of Puritan New England, like the world of today, was filled with many evil influences. Many people were able to withstand temptation, but some fell victim to the dark side. Such offences against God, in thought, word, deed, desire or neglect, are what we define as sin (Gerber 14). Â   In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the reader is able to observe how one sin devastates three lives. Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth are all guilty of succumbing to temptation, anger, and desire, causing all to fit the definition of a sinner. Yet, Chillingworth's iniquities raise him up above Hester and Dimmesdale on the level of diabolic acts. Â   From the very moment Chillingworth is introduced, he is deceitful towards the Puritan society. Chillingworth appears in the novel, seeming to know nothing of the scene at the scaffold. He asks of a townsperson: "...who is this woman? - and wherefore is she here to set up to public shame?" (Hawhtorne 67). Yet, we find in the next chapter that he indeed knows who Hester is, because Chillingworth is the lawful husband of her. He decieves the people of Boston to avoid the humiliation his wife brought upon him. In this respect, Chillingworth sins against the eight commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour" (Gerber 26). Â   Now, one could state that Hester also sins against the eighth commandment. She never reveals the name of her daughter's father. And it is stated that one must always tell the truth. Yet, it also states that one must keep a secret whenever asked to do so, and not say anything to damage another's reputation (Gerber 27). So Hester, in fact, did not sin. She n... ...rth's crimes against the Lord are more malevolent than those committed by Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale. Chillingworth's quest for revenge and truth leads him down a path of sin, and in the Puritan perspective, down the path to Hell. Â   Â   Works Cited and Consulted: Â   Baym, Nina. Introduction. The Scarlet Letter. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York City: Penguin Books USA, Inc. 1986. Â   Gerber, John C. "Form and Content in The Scarlet Letter." The Scarlet Letter: A Norton Critical Edition. Eds. Seymour Gross, Sculley Bradley, Richmond Croom Beatty, and E. Hudson Long. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1988. Â   Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Boston: Ticknor, 1850. 3 Nov. 1999 Â   Smiles, Samuel. ""The Scarlet Letter."" The Critical Temper. Ed. Martin Tucker. New York City: Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, 1962. 266. Â  

Interracial Marriage

Introduction An interracial marriage is a marriage between members of different races, known as as Mixed marriage: marriage of two people from different races or different religions or different cultures. Miscegenation: reproduction by parents of different races (especially by white and non-white persons). Exogamy: marriage to a person belonging to a tribe or group other than your own as required by custom or law. Multiracial: made up of or involving or acting on behalf of various races, and Biracial: consisting of or combining two races. Interracial marriages are still a growing concern in the society. Over the time, the number of interracial marriage has been multiplied to a large number. After all these years, interracial marriage is still considered as a taboo according to some religious and cultural reason. Where at the same time, it is very common in some cultures, but whatever the situation maybe, interracial marriage has both pros and cons. Interracial marriage is the term used to describe marriages that take place between people who are from different racial or ethnic groups. Intercultural marriages are defined as marriages between people who come from two different cultural backgrounds. A marriage between a woman from China, whose culture emphasizes the needs of the family over the needs of the individual, and a man from the United States, whose culture emphasizes individual autonomy, would be an example of a intercultural marriage. Whereas relationships between people from different ethnic and cultural groups are becoming increasingly common, there are substantial increases in the number of individuals engaging in interracial or intercultural marriages. However, even though the number and societal acceptance of interracial marriages is growing, little has been written about these marriages, the reasons for their increase, or their strengths and liabilities. Interracial marriages have a hard go at it. They suffer not only from the prejudice of others, but also from inherent problems of differences between their respective cultures which combine with those already present in a marriage. Ethnic groups bring variety and richness to a society by introducing their own ideas and customs. Interracial marriages introduce such variety. In a perfect world, everyone should celebrate this. However, the world does not look at all marriages as love between two people without regard to their race. The Three Stages of Marriage Regardless of the race of the parties involved in a marriage, the marriage usually undergoes three distinct phases. These three phases either aid the couple in developing a stronger bond or the stages simply contribute to weakening or breaking the marriage. The phases may be distinguished by the following categories: the honeymoon stage, the setting-in phase, and the resolution phase. The first stage of marriage is the honeymoon stage. This is the stage when everything is new and wonderful. Both parties are optimistic and confident about their future together, they believe they can overcome any obstacle. They value their differences, and they work together to try to make the most out of everything and anything. In this stage interracial couples are at ease with each other, they face minimal if any problems between themselves. Unfortunately, this stage must and does end. This stage ends with the intrusion of an outsider who strains both persons. The outsider is usually somebody in the immediate family. If there is no outside intruder, then the marriage moves into the second phase when the individuals in the marriage stop valuing each other's differences and begin to see their differences as obstacles. The couple begins to realize what each difference means in terms of spending their lives together. The second stage of marriage is the setting-in phase. In this phase both members of the marriage expose their behavior. The politeness between the couple is reduced and the couple finds it constantly arguing because they have begun to defend their own ideas, and disregarding the ideas of their partner. The different types of qualities the individuals bring to the marriage are visible to each person during this stage. There is a revelation of love vs. compatibility in this stage, which relates to differences vs. similarities. The more differences the less compatibility, the more similarities the more love. In this stage interracial couples face more obstacles than couples of the same race, because there are more elements that need to be discussed. This is the stage where couples either make it or break it. The third phase in the marriage is called the resolution. In this stage couples have either mutually agreed to stay together and ignore each other's differences as well as each other, or they pretend nothing is wrong, or they are in a constant state of anger towards each other and the issues they face. Many nterracial marriages don't make it past the end of stage two and the beginning of stage three, unless they make arrangements that they can both understand and respect. Pros of Interracial Marriages There are plenty of benefits that accrue from an interracial marriage. The first and foremost is that the children of this relationship are likely to be better global citizens than those born from marriages/ relationships of the same race. There is more tolerance towards the diversity o f religion because the partners learn to respect the differences and nuances of each religious tradition they follow. Their children would grow with a broad outlook on God and the importance of religion. Again, this is the need of the day. More people have died as a result of religious hatred than all the wars put together. Religious tolerance and sensitivity is sorely needed in today’s world. One of the most positive aspects of this type of marriage is that each of the partners gets the opportunity to learn and experience another culture and racial aspects, which other people are deprived of. Interracial marriages also provide an opportunity to know other cultures and learn how similar most of the races and cultures are. Many times a person from an interracial marriage finds it easier to get adjusted with his or her in-laws, compared to his or her family, race or culture. Another positive thing about interracial marriage is that children born out of this marriage are tending to be healthier, which is an evidence of increase genetic diversity. Cons of Interracial Marriages There are potential pitfalls in any marriage whether the couple is interracial or not but there have been some common trouble spots that interracial couples have identified in their marriages. Some of the common trouble spots include: values, eating habits, sex, gender roles, friends, in-laws, and raising children. Some of these issues overlap, but there are some specific distinctions between each. Although these are potential trouble spots for any type of marriage, the degree to which they affect interracial marriages is greater. Value is what is seen as good or bad, right or wrong, true or false, important or unimportant. Values tell us a lot about who a person is. Couples from the same racial group sometimes have different value systems, and couples from different racial groups almost always have different value systems. Value differences cause disagreements and misunderstandings between the couple, which may lead to many conflicts. In order for interracial couples to overcome value differences, there needs to be tolerance from both parties. It helps when there are more similarities than differences in their value systems. Food and drink also become a problem in some interracial marriages. Food and drink does not only consists of what is going to be consumed, it also takes into account how the meal is prepared, what time the meal is served, where the meal is eaten, and how it is eaten. People from different races usually prefer different types of foods, even people from the same race who are from different locations have a problem with food, imagine what people from different races go through. How would an American feel about eating tortillas with all their meals, or how would a Mexican feel about eating rice with all his meals? Eating customs from different races can cause problems. In some races the time a woman takes to prepare a meal is significant of how much she loves her spouse, and in other races the spouse won’t care if the wife picked up the meal at the drive through as long as he gets fed. So if food is really the way in to a man's heart, what is a woman to do when the man does not like her specific choices of meals, and she doesn't like his, should she sacrifice herself and eat what he prefers? For some races mealtime is family time, yet for some others mealtime may just be whatever time the person gets hungry. If the person is used to eating at specific times during the day and making a feast out of every meal, they may find themselves in trouble when the spouse is eating at random times of the day, not in the dinner table, but on the sofa watching TV, or the spouse simply does not eat at home but instead takes it on the go because his busy schedule does not permit him time to sit down and eat with the family. What if the couple does not share the same manners or etiquette at the dinner table, who is to say which one is the correct form, and how will the argument be settled? For many eating is a common and non-threatening event of their daily lives, for others, especially interracial couples, eating can become a form of pitfall in the relationship. Even sex can become an issue in interracial marriages. Some of the issues that arise in sex matters are: contraception, menstruation, masturbation, number and importance of children, virginity and chastity, family honor, machismo and femininity, hygiene, premarital relations, marital fidelity, sexual practices, homosexuality, incest, dating, dancing, romance, holding hands, using cosmetics, and the way an individual dresses. One of the biggest reasons that sex can become an issue in interracial marriages is because the young couples don't expect it to be an issue, so they don't discuss many of the previously mentioned issues before marriage. If anything they are both under the impression that sex will be one of the few things they won’t have problems with. Unless the multiracial couple holds the same moral values the topic of sex will usually become an issue. Gender roles will cause problems when each individual holds different beliefs about how the other person should behave. In western societies women are given more liberties and freedoms, but in non-western societies the female is heavily expected to serve the man. When the races from these different societies unite some problems arise, especially if the man of a western society is marrying a woman of a non-western society and he is under the impression that she is going to serve him when no other women from his same race would do this, and the woman from the non-western society is marrying him because she believes he is going to offer her more liberties and freedoms, like no other man in her race can offer. Usually men and women want to take on the roles from the other race that they benefit from, and this becomes the problem. Outside expectations and pressures from family members can contribute to the problems. If a man from a non-western society marries a woman of a different race from a western society and accepts her liberties and freedoms, his family will usually become judgmental of the circumstances until they convince him to be different and thus he begins to have problems with his wife, and the woman's family may find it rare for their daughter to become a â€Å"servant† to the man. The gender role expectations and pressures from outsiders have a great influence on the decisions and actions of each individual in an interracial couple; it helps lead the couple into conflict and problems. Last but not least, in-laws are a frightening issue in any marriage. Disapproving in-laws are an issue in the majority of interracial marriages. The problem with in-laws is that depending on their race; they hold different views regarding what rights they have over their children, even after their children marry. In some races the parents believe their children are owners of their life and have the right to decide anything for themselves once they marry or turn a certain age. In other races parents hold the belief that since they raised and took care of the children when they were young, the children owe them eternal respect and gratitude, part of this respect and gratitude is conceived as parents having the authority over their child and the spouse of the child. Patriarchal authority becomes an issue if one person holds customs where their parents do not have any say in their children's married life. Interracial families find it beneficial to move away from both of their families to avoid this type of problem. Distancing themselves from the family may help alleviate the in-laws problem, but it can also contribute to issues of separation from a main source of support. Couples need to take into consideration the pros and cons of being away from the in-laws before they make the final decision to move away. Types of People Who Choose to Marry Interracially There are many types of people who chose to marry interracially. The most common people who choose to marry interracially share the following traits: highly educated, professional middle class or working class, marry at an older age, similar status, other interracial marriages exist in their family, and they are people who have been married before. Many of the people who marry interracially are placed into a category to try to explain their reasoning for marrying interracially. The types of categories include but are not limited to: outcasts, rebels, mavericks, compensators, adventurers, escapists, and unstable. The outcasts are those people who do not feel comfortable with their race because they don't agree with the norms. They are often questioning why they have to do certain things, and are not happy because they don't fit in with the social groups of their race. The outcast will usually find a culture within another race that appeal to their needs. This provides the outcasts with the opportunity to marry interracially and begin a family within a different racial context. The rebels are those people who disagree with the basic values, beliefs, and politics of their race. For them marrying outside of their race is not only a form of a long-life commitment to another person, but it is also a long life commitment to a form of protest. They disagree with one or more aspects of their race and they don't care what anyone around them might think if they marry outside of their race. The maverick may be seen as the non-conformist. People in this group are usually independent. Although the people within their race usually accept them, they would rather not belong to the â€Å"in group. For the majority of the time these people are sufficiently detached to the different aspects of their race that they are happier not belonging to it, much less belonging to the â€Å"in group. † Marrying interracially allows the maverick to feel freed of the pressures to join and conform to the values, beliefs, politics, etc. of a race that they do not accept. The compensator is the person who is always looking for their â€Å"other half. † These are the people wh o feel incomplete by themselves, who do not want to be alone, and long for a loving relationship. This may not sound exclusively for people who marry interracially, but it is because this type of compensator is under the belief that they can only find what they need with a partner from a different race. The compensator attributes the deficiencies in their life to their race. Many times the compensator belongs to a broken family where neither of the parents is present, physically nor emotionally. The compensator is not negative about their own race they are just under the impression that someone from a different race can provide what they feel they are missing. The adventurer is the person who is always daring to be different. Adventurers marry interracially because they need the excitement from those who are different to them. They are risking their life with a race that is unknown to them, they don't want a predictable relationship instead they want a marriage that will stimulate their life and make them feel special. Many adventurers cross all boundaries: race, class, religion, age, etc. Each additional difference makes the marriage and their life more exciting. The escapist is the person who marries outside of their race in order to improve the quality of their life. The escapist may be marrying a different race to move up the social or economic ladder, they marry for the benefits. The majority of interracial marriages include some type of trade off between the parties involved. Unstables can be described by deviance. They marry outside of their race to defy authority. The authority they are usually trying to defy is their parents. Once they marry outside of their race the family will consider them to be abnormal and unstable people. Not many people marry under this type of circumstance, but it does happen. Outside of these seven categories where people can be placed to explain why they choose to marry interracially, exists love. Some people do marry outside of their race because they have simply â€Å"fallen in love. † Love can sometimes become a problem because in the cultures of many races, romantic love is simply not a valid reason to join lives in matrimony and begin a family. Yet love is usually all it takes for many people to undergo marriage. Are People Still Marrying Interracially? Yes, people are still marrying interracially. Actually interracial marriages are in an increasing state of being. Over the last few centuries' interracial marriages have more than multiplied. Between 1970 and 1994 the number of interracial marriages increased from 310,000 to 1. 3 million. Of the 1. 3 million interracial marriages of 1994, 296,000 were Blacks with Whites. Although these numbers may seem significant they are less than 3 percent of the total marriages population in the U. S. But they are evidence of a changing America. The reasons interracial marriages have gained popularity include an increasing social acceptance, as well as an increase in interactions between the different races, family influences, and the media. Social acceptance began to grow once laws against interracial marriages were abolished and people began to understand that what matters are how people feel and not how people look. Increase in interactions has developed through many institutions; the most popular is college or the educational sector. A decrease in family or outside influences has also been recorded, which alleviates some of the problems interracial couples may face. The media is an important source of information in our society, and it has also played and important role in the development of interracial marriages or relationships. A wider acceptance of interracial relationships has been registered in the media through their advertising. Advertising is commonly known for depicting couples of the same race, especially if they are addressing the issue of romance. Yet depicting interracial couples in advertising is gaining popularity. Some well known brands who are gaining popularity for depicting interracial couples include: Diesel, Club Monaco, Ikea, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Perrier. With the growth of interracial relationships there has been the development of interracial support groups. These support groups have started all across the country, and since they represent a community in the making, their outlook on survival is very optimistic. Examples of these interracial support groups include the following: Kaleidoscope at the University of Virginia, Students of Mixed Heritage at Amherst College, Interracial Family Club in Washington D. C. , Half and Half at Bryn Mawr, and Mixed Plate at Grinnell. These are definitely not the only ones, and many more are in development. The growth of interracial marriages is slowing among U. S. -born Hispanics and Asians. Still, blacks are substantially more likely than before to marry whites. The number of interracial marriages in the U. S. has risen 20 percent since 2000 to about 4. 5 million, according to the latest census figures. While still growing, that number is a marked drop-off from the 65 percent increase between 1990 and 2000. About 8 percent of U. S. arriages are mixed-race, up from 7 percent in 2000. The latest trend belies notions of the U. S. as a post-racial, assimilated society. Demographers cite a steady flow of recent immigration that has given Hispanics and Asians more ethnically similar partners to choose from while creating some social distance from whites due to cultural and language differences. Although the numbers of interracial marriages in the United Sta tes have increased steadily since the Supreme Court struck down bans against them in 1967, they are still far from commonplace. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Black-White marriages have increased from 65,000 in 1970 to 422,000 in 2005. When considering all racial combinations, less than 10% of all marriages in the United States today could be considered interracial. Mississippi had the fastest growth in mixed marriages from 2000-08, a sign of closer ties between blacks and whites though it still ranked second to last in overall share of mixed marriages. Mixed marriages jumped from 2. 25 million to 3. 7 million, or 65 percent, from 1990-2000, as such unions became more broadly accepted in Southern states. Among U. S. -born whites, about 0. percent married blacks in 1980; that figure rose to about 1 percent in 2008. About 0. 3 percent of whites married Asians in 1980 and about 1 percent in 2008. About 2 percent of whites married Hispanics in 1980, rising to about 3. 6 percent in 2008. Conclusion The main problem among interracial marriages is not: their history, their race, their marriage, or their children, the problem is soc iety. If society were not so judgmental and concerned with race, people would live more happily. Relations among groups would be easier to develop if they didn't have to face the strains from society. Many things still have to be done throughout the entire world to allow race relation in the world, especially among marriages, to take another path, a positive path. Bibliography Websites http://zebratalesbyhelenwillis. blogspot. com/2010/06/pros-and-cons-of-interracial-marriage. html http://www. hubbynet. com/interracial_marriage. htm http://weddinghopes. com/Interracial-Marriage. php Book We’ve Heard This Before: The Legacy Of Interracial Marriage Bans and The implications For Today’s Marriage Equality Debates by: Greg Johnson Interracial Marriage Interracial Marriage Interracial marriages have been a growing issue in our society. Some think that interracial marriages and relationships are socially wrong. Some believe that it harms children of mixed races because of the stares, discrimination, and being criticized. One should not have to feel the pain from being stared at or criticized, or discriminated against because of the color of skin or being with the one they love of a different race. The marriages and relationships that are interracial have multiplied within the past century. It is hard to believe that there used to be laws that banned interracial marriages.In years to come, interracial marriages and relationships will probably only become accepted in the world. Although laws have changed, interracial dating and marriages are still a controversial issue. In the past, fear and mistrust of such unions were more openly criticized, but in today’s culture where political correctness is more of a concern, people tend to hide their discrimination. Interracial marriages have become more socially accepted. However, some think it is completely wrong and that one should marry within their own race. Interracial marriages were illegal until the Supreme Court made them legal on June 12, 1967(Head).One could have been imprisoned for mating outside of white race. Laws against interracial marriages were overturned because they were ruled unconstitutional. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, black and white marriages increased from 65,000 in 1970 to 422,000 in 2005(U. S Census Bureau). In America today 35 percent of Americans have a family member or close relatives in a different race relationship (Talbot). Interracial marriages have become more common as the years have gone by, but there are still plenty of problems that people have with interracial marriages.Religious beliefs make some people think that interracial marriage is sinful and unbiblical. Black men marry outside their race at a far higher rat e than black women. The opposite is true of Asians; women marry outside the race at a higher rate than Asian men. Hispanics and Asians are the top ranking intermarriages. Blacks and Hispanics who marry outside of their race are most likely to receive college degrees, and make the most income out of diverse groups of marriage (Maxwell). Many interracial marriages face problems of racism. Couples in interracial relationships tend to face stares, criticism, and discrimination in housing.They also have a harder time when trying to find a job. People against interracial marriages believe that they corrupt cultures and ethics. Numerous people still believe that interracial marriages are unacceptable and should be made illegal again. Based on The Huffington Post an online reading site, many mixed-raced couples in the South are still struggling to feel safe and be accepted in their communities (Lai). There are potential pitfalls in any marriage whether the couple is interracial or not but t here have been some common trouble spots that interracial couples have identified in their marriages.Some of the common trouble spots include: values, eating habits, sex, gender roles, friends, in-laws, and raising children. Some of these issues overlap, but there are some specific distinctions between each. Although these are potential trouble spots for any type of marriage, the degree to which they affect interracial marriages is greater. Mixed race children are at risk for identity crisis such as, not knowing who is accepting of their race or what crowd to hang out with is a struggle for many mixed-race children in today’s society.Mixed-race children face not being accepted by both races that they are but instead a stranger in both worlds. For instance, if a child is mixed with White and Hispanic they may not speak Spanish so they do not fit in with many Hispanics. This could be the case with other races as well. There is still too much racism in the world! For a mixed-rac e child this can be more difficult because they want to be accepted by each race they are a part of, and yet in many situations they stand apart from both.Depending on the location this could be more of an issue than other places. If the location is in an area where there is not a lot of diversity it would be much harder than big cities where there is a huge diverse population. Children normally do not know how to handle racism so it is much worse on them than it is on the adults that deal with it, because children do not get to choose their race. Racial identity, a product of racial prejudice, is something these kids have to deal with.Everyone is equal and should have the same rights; however this is not the case in today’s world. One benefit being in an interracial marriage is the opportunity to explore another culture. Mixed-race children tend to be healthier due to an increase in genetic diversity. The children have an opportunity to learn about two entirely different cul tures, which in turn can make a difference in their everyday knowledge. According to The New York Times interracial couples are more likely to live in the West because concentration of immigrant minority groups there (Saulny).The fear and prejudices of the older generations have given way and have made young people believe that they has the right to marry anyone if they’re in love with each other. Some people have not accepted the fact that race should not be an issue in marriages or relationships. In today’s society there are always going to be people who don’t agree with the things that people do in their everyday lives. In the world today the younger generation tends to have more friends of different ethnic or racial groups. They are also more willing to be in relationship with a different race.Television has a big effect on the younger generation, with movies that make interracial interaction seem to be normal and not something wrong to do. Acceptance is not only difficult in our families but many members of our own cultures tend to offer some of the most damaging opinions. The main problem among interracial marriages is not: their history, their race, their marriage, or their children, the problem is society. Having difficulties in interracial marriages makes the marriage hard, but a strong willed couple who has faith in their love for each other can overcome many of the obstacles they face.Not fitting in because of the person one plans to spend the rest of their life with can be hard, but also knowing how certain people or establishments are, are a definite eye opener to seeing how many small minded people there are in the world. Nobody should have to be worried about if the person they choose to fall in love with or laws that could separate them. The children of interracial marriages will eventually blend with the other children of mono-racial families. Works Cited Head, Tom. â€Å"Interracial Marriage Laws History. About. com. N. p. , n. d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. . â€Å"Interracial Tables. † U. S Census Bureau. N. p. , n. d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Lai, Jennifer. â€Å"Interracial Marriage. † Huffington Post 3 Nov. 2012: n. pag. Print. Maxwell, Lesli A. â€Å"Marriages across Racial Ethnic Lines on Rise. † Education Week 16 Feb. 2012: n. pag. Print. Saulny, Susan. â€Å"Interracial Marriage Seen Gaining Wide Acceptance. † New York

“After twenty years” by O. Henry Essay

The short story â€Å"After twenty years† is a classical story written by O. Henry. The story is about the two characters that were actually best of friends. They grew up in New York until lost sight of each other. One of them leave the place and tried to live in West to make easy money, thus he ended up being a criminal in Chicago while the other man felt that his place in his hometown is better and he ended up as a policeman. The two friends made a promise that after twenty years both of them will meet again at the same restaurant for the purpose of knowing each achievements that they have done after those years. those years. The story began at the specific place of their appointed place and time. It is nearly 10 o’clock at night and really dark out there. A policeman making his rounds, rattling door knobs to make sure everything is secure on his beat. In the doorway of a hardware store that is closed, he comes across a man who has an unlit cigar in his mouth. Before the officer can begin to question him, the man assures him that he is not a burglar that he is merely waiting for a friend. He goes on to light his cigar and tell the officer why he and his friend are meeting at such a dark and desolate place. The man, who is Bob, told him that he was waiting for a friend he has not seen for twenty years. Years before he and his friend had agreed to meet at the very spot to discuss how their life had turned out. The man keeps on telling to the policeman how his life turned out good that he actually became rich and successful. Talking about his best friend, he told the policeman that Jimmy will never fail to appear in their agreement for he has been a constant good companion. After saying all these to the policeman, the latter dismisses himself. Twenty minutes after the policeman left, another man went to greet his friend Bob. Both of them cheered and make themselves comfortable with each other as they try to unleash the gap on their acquaintance. Shortly, as they approach the front door of the drug store, Bob realizes that this man is not his old friend Jimmy as his nose looks completely different. After the confronting scenario, it turns out that the man has just pretended to be Jimmy and that Bob has under arrest for ten minutes. The man then gives a note to Bob explaining that the first patrolman had been Jimmy and that he went because he did not have the nerve to arrest his old friend, s o he had left before he  could be recognized and found a plainclothes officer to arrest him. Friendship is at the heart of â€Å"After Twenty Years.† The character who does the most talking, Bob, seems to be indisputably fervent about seeing his old friend Jimmy. He speaks glowingly about what a great friend Jimmy was and relates that he has travelled across the country, over a thousand miles, to see him again. However, the story is indeed quite of surprise especially at the conclusion where it greatly shows how Jimmy Wells portrayed a noble act both to the law and to his friend. I find him loyal in coming to the arranged appointment with his friend and in apprehending into the law where he took an oath to serve in just and humane way. The conflict indeed is between Jimmy and his inner being where he was stocked in a very sensitive situation. Either he will let Bob go away and forget the crime he has done or arrest him and stay true to his society under his duty. It seems very impossible but the dilemma has solved well on a clever decision of Jimmy. Moreover, the scene where Jimmy sends another man to arrest Bob is my favourite part. Although, it was difficult for him I view this as an act of courtesy to Bob. It simply shows how strong their sentimental bond is. Jimmy also shows great sympathy and honour to his friend despite of the circumstances. Life is indeed unpredictable. You cannot deeply fathom how things really work on its unique way. Sometimes people turn bad and sometimes others were naturally made good. However life is once again a matter of choice. What happened to Bob’s career and future was primarily his choice and Jimmy couldn’t do about it. On the other hand, Jimmy Wells made a good catch in himself as he remained in his hometown, got a noble job and performed well in realizing his duty. Thus, he never compromises the built friendship between him and Bob. After all a choice can be good or the other way around. One may choose to follow a good path by working on the side of the law and the other may choose to follow a bad path by breaking the law. The most important thing is you did the very thing that God wants you to do and I felt it in the story. Jimmy did a right thing and he solved the dilemma well. The last part of the story which is a note for Bob really moved me. His note is terse and offers no apology for having Bob arrested, but that is the best that Jimmy can do when he and a man who was once his best friend are on opposite sides of the law.

Women Judges essays

Women Judges essays The article, Will Women Judges Really Make a Difference?, is an analysis on a major characteristic of the judging profession. Appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, Madame Justice Bertha Wilson investigates the validity of the claim that judges must be unbiased when deciding cases before the court. Madame Wilson states that change in the law comes slowly and incrementally; that is its nature. Describing that she has began an era being a woman appointed to the SCC, Madame Wilson begins to examine the fact that the biases presented by courts world-wide may be significantly different from hers. The article points out that it is the values, experiences, and assumptions imbedded in the courts which create the jurisprudence that affect the decisions, further altering society. Wilson continues in her analysis by stating that the belief that the justice system is fundamentally neutral may be slightly skewed. Though the principals at the root of the justice system are inherently neutral, many beliefs and viewpoints of women are excluded, creating biased in the laws. She continues to develop the concept that with women in judiciary office, their concepts will only offset those of their male counterparts if biases are apparent in the courts. To solve the problem of gender bias gaps, Mad ame Justice states that education programs will be held to help reach an understanding and vanquish any problems before they arise. Madame Justice Wilson also says that many feminists feel that women are connected to each other, thus, with female judges, the courts will more effectively manage disputes, and promote gender neutrality. Madame Wilson concludes her argument by posing statements that with duality in courts, the law system may finally achieve the neutral duality which it attempts to maintain. The only problems with the article are those that Madame Justice Wilson posed, being that the judicial system may not be neutral....