Citizenship Essays

Citizenship Essays Citizenship Essay Citizenship Essay Name: Lecturer: Course: Date: Citizenship Paul Rogat Loeb’s book Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time is a classic work that buds veteran organizers, social activists and anyone who is interested in making a positive world change, be it small or big. This book has inspired numerous people to make actions count, and their voices heard by acting as a solution to despair and powerlessness, enabling them to continue their involvement in the long haul. Loeb highlights on issues that steer people who get involved in daily issues in the community, as well as where other individuals have a tendency of feeling uncertain or overwhelmed by the same issues (Vavrik,13). He goes further to speak about how they maintain their focus in the long-term, and how involving oneself in the activism of citizenship restores connection senses and purpose in a person’s life. He stresses that citizens should work towards a common goal in a citizenry form (grouped citizens). This book can prove to be helpful by givin g the reader an insight on matters related to citizenship, as well as offering advice on the impact of citizenship in community engagement. Loeb’s work is one that can assist both the younger and older generation, in coming together along the same thought in a common theme and belief of contributing towards a positive change in society. Loeb’s work looks to call each generation to become actively involved in strategies that are both ideal and realistic; strategies that enhance a balance between public and private needs, encouraging a small advancing step towards great impacts. Loeb’s purpose and argument are direct and outright; aiming to convince the interested parties to embrace the fact that the most serious encumbrances, public or personal, are mainly common problems affecting all of us. However, these problems can be solved through our own combined efforts, but not singly. According to him, sanctuary in privacy is a mere illusion that would only hamper our progress by dampening our larger sense in connection (Vavrik, 23). Loeb enforces his work through religious words, hope, compassion, as well as faith, and rightly so standing for his ideology. They accurately fit into the implicit social change theory that he is soliciting. Loeb’s passes his messages mainly through stories, telling us about how ordinary citizen’s endeavor in large issues mainly brought about by personal encounters involving a neighbor’s plight, because something they mostly cherish is under threat. In one scenario, Loeb talks about a woman who is compelled to involve herself social community efforts when her elderly neighbor died in preventable means (Vavrik, 36). Then there is Adam, a boy who is fascinated by the adventures of camping and hiking with his family. Adam is prompted to act when he witnesses his environment under threat. Then there is a housewife named Alison who hails from a small rural community town. She is immersed into the public eye when she identifies a developer with an ill will to drain all the water that boards her yard in a marsh. These and many other stories are incorporated into Loeb’s work as he attempts to persuade us against the saying that, ‘I cannot involve myself because I am not important enough to bring about change’. Real life scenarios like those of Adam and Alison play a big role in dismissing this petty argument. Loeb intends to affirm his attitude on towards involving yourself in positive activities and should often come because of self-interest. It should be a case of even getting involved in large arenas regardless of whether the party involved is something dear to us or not. By incorporating stories of ordinary individuals involved in local scenes, as a means of tackling issues that hamper development in the society. One issue in particular is the historical amnesia that mainly targets the younger generation. Loeb finds that students in the United States have a superficial understanding on pivotal issues, therefore posing a significant impact on their personal choices. In relation to historical amnesia affecting the young generation is in terms of the notion that an ordinary citizen is not endowed with sufficient education to foster or spearhead a change in societal views. Loeb refers to this as a perfect standard, a concept that he incorporated in his previous work. He explains on this concept by stating that many individuals are hampered from engaging in certain issues because they feel that they should first analyze, and then select the most appropriate issue that seems to suit them. It is only after they identify the most appropriate issue that they move on to act accordingly as long as they are permitted to get involved in the matter. Loeb brings out his ideology clearly; if at all we want to foster a world characterized by adequate justice, more compassion, equality, and one that all citizens are involved in, we therefore cannot permit ourselves from continually uphold false standards. Loeb provides his readers with his theories on social changes through appropriate stories and their pinpoint interpretations. According to him, change will always come about when ordinary people who deem themselves powerless, begin to embrace their self-interests. We can involve ourselves in these changes slowly yet confidently; in reasonable pace with a framework of one-step at a time, while adequately balancing our lives. This can be supported by communities or societies that share our passion as well as affirming our identity; while at the same time sustained core values, humanistic, or religious faith pivoted by better visions to improve the world, backed by desires to propel that vision (Maitles, 32). Nevertheless, changing the negative societal views is not as easy as some of us might think. There will most certainly be occasions despair and at the extreme frustration. Loeb is however helpful as he helps the reader to be in a position of identifying a potential threat, and comi ng up with effective and appropriate means of tackling that particular threat. As Loeb tells us, we need to assign ourselves visions constructed to sustain us. There is a need of acknowledging our anxieties and doubts, as the cure for the vice doubt is not certainty, but none other than commitment. He continues to say that the only way of sticking to endeavors of social change in the long haul is through tireless steadfast commitments in justice, and at the same time relishing the struggle (Vavrik, 42). As we take our small steps we enjoy the feeling of our progress, but it cannot be compared to the celebration feeling we encounter when we progress as a group. We will always gain strength from a communal vision that requires us to participate in any means we can, having in mind that there are other people in other places playing their roles in vouching for justice human dignity, and freedom. As Loeb says, we are a portion os something far greater than our individual selves. The main challenge lies to identify only what we are supposed to stand for, and act in o ur best manner and beliefs. Loeb’s work is as realistic as any can get. His ideologies are profound and straightforward. In his words, he opens our eyes on an area where we can all play a part in making the world a better place to live for us, and even for the next generations to come. Our current generation is being faced with different struggles and issues on careers, relationships, balancing between public and private arenas, tensions between religion-spiritual and social economic challenges, have all made their mark as factors that we should all consider. Some of these challenges are similar to those every generation has to face, but others dramatically differ mainly because the times have changed. I personally thought about these issues and wondered how my generation and the next would come up with relevant advice. Loeb himself has stepped forward and come up with valid solutions as to how we can achieve this. We can make the generation aware of these strategies, but the main question is, how to encourage them to get involved in these life-changing measures. Works cited Vavrik, Dawn. â€Å"Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time.† Journal of College and Character. 7.3 (2006). Print. Rogat, Loeb P, and Joerg Rieger. â€Å"Books – the Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time.† Cross Currents. 50.3 (2000): 420. Print. Loeb, Paul R. Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in Challenging Times. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2010. Print. Maitles, Henry. â€Å"Political Literacy: The Challenge for Democratic Citizenship.† The School Field. 11 (2000): 125-134. Print. Mather, Janet. â€Å"The Citizenry: Legitimacy and Democracy.† European Union Enlargement. (2004): 103-117. Print.

Ken Folletts Master Class for Novelists

Ken Folletts Master Class for Novelists Ken Folletts Master Class for Novelists Ken Folletts Master Class for Novelists By Maeve Maddox According to Forbes Magazine, Ken Follet is one of the worlds ten most highly-paid novelists, with an annual income of $20 million. Follett wrote several not-so-great novels before Eye of the Needle made him rich and famous in 1978. Since then, every novel he publishes becomes a best seller. Many have been made into movies. You may have seen these film versions: 1981 Eye of the Needle (Donald Sutherland) 1985 The Key to Rebecca (Cliff Robertson) 1986 On the Wings of Eagles (Burt Lancaster) 1994 Lie Down With Lions (Timothy Dalton) Folletts historical novel about the building of a cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth (1989), has been translated into 30 languages and has sold 14 million copies worldwide. It didnt hurt that Oprah chose Pillars as her 60th Book Club selection in 2007. If your ambition is to write a sprawling historical novel, this is a good one to study. The sequel to Pillars, World without End (2007) spent 26 weeks on the NY Times Best Seller List. Follett has a generous spirit that makes him willing to share what hes learned about writing successful novels with other writers. You can examine Folletts changing outlines for The Man From Saint Petersburg in Albert Zuckermans Writing the Blockbuster Novel (1994). Online, you can take advantage of Folletts Master Class. Here youll find practical suggestions for: Starting out Putting pen to paper Research The outline The first draft Completing the novel Finding a Publisher Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Types of Narrative ConflictAt Your Disposal45 Idioms with "Roll"

Topic in Environmental Chemistry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Topic in Environmental Chemistry - Essay Example 2). They are usually made of 60-90 different congeners. PCBs with high number of chlorine tend to be more stable and resistant to biodegradation and favored by many industries, thus higher health and environmental risks. It is used by industries as insulation fluid in capacitors, transformers and electrical systems. Due to industrialization and constant dumping of PCBs by the factories surrounding the river, it is accumulated deeply into the sediments found at the bottom, can easily spread though out the river once disturbed and caused bioaccumulation in the food chain, from the aquatic plants, microorganisms, fishes then to humans. PCBs are harmful to human health and it is believed to cause several diseases to those who consumed contaminated fishes and water such as male sterility, birth defects and reproductive disorders, liver dysfunction, headache and fatigue (Barbalace par. 3-4). Sources of PCBs in the Hudson River were traced using analytical chemistry techniques that provided congener specific analysis of Aroclors. Aroclors are trade name of some commercial PCB mixture and can be used to trace their company manufacturer. This method provided information to the scientists on how PCBs behave in various media, a cutting edge scientific technique was used to determine the sources and destinations of PCBs (Manning part 1 par. 7). Aside from recycling mills with a dumping rate of 2.3 kg/year, General Electric Company, having two manufacturing plant in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, New York, was the major source of PCBs with a dumping rate of 5000kg/yr into the Hudson River. For twenty five years, (1952 to 1977) GE has been dumping PCBs into the Hudson River, which made the PCBs accumulated in the seabed through the years and contaminating the fishes and other aquatic resources which people consume and considered a great health and environmental risk (Manning par t 1 par. 8-10). Contrary to the people in the community think, the

Freedom from Fear and Want in the Context of International Human Essay

Freedom from Fear and Want in the Context of International Human Rights Law - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is freedom from fear and want that appear to be unattainable aspirations. It is perhaps unreasonable to expect to live a life free of fear and want, unless the individual shares the upper echelons of society. The connection between freedom from fear and want with human rights is based on concepts of human security and human welfare. Essentially freedom from fear is a manifestation of the trend toward aligning human security with fundamental human rights at international law. Likewise, freedom from want adds to existing international human rights by extending fundamental liberties to include welfare as an arm of fundamental human rights. On its face, the inclusion of human security and welfare as an arm of international human rights is certainly consistent with developments in modern times particularly with respect to international poverty and international conflicts and terrorism. However, making human security and welfare a fundamental human right poses some problems with respect to protecting welfare and security and safeguarding other fundamental freedoms which may necessarily be contravened in the interest of promoting freedom from want and security. It may be misleading to think of international human rights as an international Bill of Human Rights because in the absence of a centralized system of enforcement, the recognition and enforcement of an international Bill of Rights are only as good as the national state’s implementation and enforcement of those rights. ... nternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1976 (CCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 1976 (CESR) (Meron, 1986). The International Bill of Human Rights has been expanded via a number of subsequent declarations, covenants and protocols internationally and regionally (Smith, 2007). It may be misleading to think of international human rights as an international Bill of Human Rights because in the absence of a centralized system of enforcement, the recognition and enforcement of an international Bill of Rights are only as good as the national state’s implementation and enforcement of those rights. It is one thing for a national government to recognize an international Bill of Human Rights and quite another for a national government to implement and enforce an international Bill of Human Rights. Even more uncertain is the economic ability of a national government to guarantee that citizens within its territories are accorded freedom from fear and want as legitimate arms of the international Bill of Human Rights. Be that as it may, it has been argued that the idea of international human rights was initially articulated by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his â€Å"Four Freedoms† address to Congress on December 10, 1948. During that address, Roosevelt stated that his political aspirations were built around pursuing a social and political environment in which the â€Å"world† would be secure enough to safeguard four specific freedoms: the freedom of expression, religion, from want and fear (Power & Allison, 200, p. 4). Freedom of religion and freedom of expression are more easily achieved as the cost of enforcing free expression and free religion is arguably quite low compared to the cost of ensuring freedom from fear

Fast Food Nation Essay Example for Free

Fast Food Nation Essay In this nation, fast food is filling up every ounce of our daily lives. An industry that started with a small innocent number of hamburger and hot dog stands has spread to every corner of the nation and the world. When we are to tired or have no time to make dinner after a long and extremely busy day, fast food restaurants is where we go to get our meals. Not only that, but fast food is now sold at airports, cruise ships, universities, high schools, elementary schools, and even hospitals. With the amount of money spend on fast food increasing every year, many Americans still are not aware or simply just do not care how our beloved fast food is prepared and how it is bad it is for our health. However, after reading the novel, â€Å"Fast Food Nation,† by Eric Schlosser, there is definitely one less American buying fast food for a long while. This book has made me disgusted with not only the food but how Americans could eat fast food with the way it is prepared. Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined. Schlosser describes the growth of the fast food industry as being driven by fundamental changes in American society. From the 1970s onwards, with a steady decline in the hourly wage (adjusted for inflation) of the average US worker, more and more American mothers were working outside the home. In 1975, about 1/3 of US mothers with young children did this. Today, almost 2/3 of such mothers are employed. A generation ago, three-quarters of the money used to buy food in the US was spent to prepare meals at home. Today, about half of that money used to buy food is spent in restaurants mainly fast food restaurants (in 1968, McDonalds had 1,000 restaurants; today it has about 30,000, and 2,000 new ones each year). http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schlosser-fast.html.

Mind Match :: essays research papers

Mind Match Host (Kevin): Welcome back to "Mind Match." After Round 1 Jerry's in the lead, he's got Timmy, Suzie, Ramon, Vanessa, and Carlo and Susan is right behind with Amy, Shelly, Tom, and Danny. So Jerry, you're a computer programmer from Boston. How do you like Beantown? Jerry (Tom): Um, when I came on the show, I was under the impression that you could win prizes or money. Not orphaned children. Host: Oops, looks like someone didn't read the fine print. Susan, you're a computer programmer also. Susan (Kerri): Um, I have a very small apartment. I don't know what I would do with four foster children. Host: Well, figure it out because you're their legal guardian and it's time for Round 2, where the orphan points double. Okay, the first question is: "Mick Jagger is the lead singer of the Rolling ....." (ding!) Jerry? Jerry: Bears? The Rolling Bears? Host: Oh, I'm sorry, Jerry, that's incorrect. The correct answer is stones, the Rolling Stones. So Susan you win that round and here are Matt and Timmy. Susan: I didn't say anything. I mean, I didn't answer. You must've- Host: A smart move. A wrong answer could have cost you the lead. (Bell) Hey, that bell means it's time for our Double Dare question! Jerry, how many of your orphans are you willing to wager? Jerry: All- all of them. Host: Hey, it looks like Jerry is looking to double his orphans. Susan, how many will you bet? Susan: Well, uh, all of them. Host: Well, now, it looks like it's make-it-or-break-it time for our contestants! Okay, Jerry's behind so he gets the first question. And the question is, "Name a form of transportation?" (ding!) Host: Jerry? Jerry: Blue? (buzzer) Host: Oh, Jerry I am so sorry. Blue is not a form of transportation. And that will cost you your orphans. Oh, so close Jerry. So close. Susan, now's your chance to win it all. Name a form of transportation! (ding!) Host: Susan? Susan: Wooden? Host: Hmm? Can we accept "wooden"? You can make a car out of wood, boats are wood--(ding!) Boats are wood! Yes! Susan you've doubled your orphans!

What is love?

As each one of us may come to agree, love is just a simple four-letter word, yet it can have different meanings as much as it can be perceived in different ways. For some people, love is a simple expression of affection, while others may find it as a deep and genuine term that encompasses their feelings and emotions towards their loved ones. Moreover, as common knowledge, love is somewhat an entity that is felt by most, if not all, people through their parents, spouses, children, friends, and the so-called â€Å"divine love† from God. Nevertheless, while some people are certain that they know and feel the essence of love, others are still puzzled and are still not able to discern the exact meaning of love in their lives. Hence, this paper aims to have a substantial presentation of established facts and definitions pertaining to love, based on relevant and reputable references. LOVE†¦ LOVE†¦ LOVE†¦ What really is love? Let us try to look at Webster’s definition of love. According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, love is: strong affection for another [person] that rise out of kinship and personal ties; an attraction based on sexual desire, a concern for another individual and an affection; tenderness felt by lovers; a warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion for a person or object; a fatherly concern of God to humankind; a person’s adoration of God. (â€Å"love†) Based on the above definition, love is fairly defined as an expression, a behavior that is communicated b y one person to other people as a result of feelings and emotions that sprouted from relationships and ties. Also, love is a substantiation of faith and adoration of God, in response to how the supernatural being had shown His divine concern to humanity through His love. On the other hand, love can also be associated with sexual desires which must have originated from the attraction between lovers. Thus, the Merriam-Webster’s definition clearly depicts love as actions (expression and behavior) that are carried out by individuals as social beings and as creations of God. Perhaps, the most reliable and the most genuine definition of love can be found inside the bible, specifically the 13th chapter in the book of 1st Corinthians, which is widely known as the â€Å"love chapter†. And, the most significant parts of it are quoted as follows: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, [and] it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, [and] always perseveres. Love never fails†¦ †¦And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. (New International Version, 1 Cor. 13. 4-8, 13) Indeed, the bible’s definition of love categorically elaborates the distinct and laudable characteristics of genuine or true love, thereby highlighting the selflessness, trustworthiness, and genuineness of love. Consequently, tr ue to its purpose, this paper was able to exemplify the meaning of love through utilization of the most reliable literatures. For this reason, we can now therefore discern what love is†¦ Works Cited â€Å"love.† Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 21 April 2009 New International Version of The Holy Bible. Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1984. What is love? Love is defined in one Raymond Carver's famous short story entitled â€Å"Beginners†. Published in 1981 it is considered a s a timeless and influential piece of modern literature as it gives love a different kind of meaning. It is a collection of short stories of people falling in love, currently in love and wanted to go out of love. The masterpiece is written in such a way that readers will think as to what extent love can make or break lives and how to deal with this four letter word that makes the world go round. The book tackles different scenarios of love presented through series of stories which produces linkage to the meaning of the word love in the end. Though the plot revolves on a casual drinking conversation of two couples, it really does make sense in giving love different meanings. Love was illustrated in the short story in many profound ways. Characters presented in the story are different in terms of profession and personal background but they are all speaking about one thing, love. Men are from Venus and girls are from Mars as it may seem when readers try to digest the concept of Carver's story as a whole. He gives various instances that women are desperately being submissive to men to the extent that they are being hurt and abuse just to prove how they love their partners. I say this in the case of Carl who overly abused his partner. Terri on the other hand does not mind being victimized by love. Love can kill in the case of Carl who kept on beating his partner because this is his way of showing love. Terri on the other hand is blinded by emotion that is why she let her partner hurt her thinking that it is always about love. She is so selfless to the point that part of her being anorexic is caused by too much beating to her by Carl. Herb McGinnis on the other hand is a cardiologist that can cure the heart both literally and figuratively. He is described in the book as someone that can mend even the deepest wound caused by Carl in Terri's life. He has his own share of sentiment about love as he continuously supports his first wife and kids. His paternal love is described by Carver in the story as an undying devotion to give even his last single penny for the sake of love and support to raise his children. Dumb as it may seem since Herb is not only givinf support to his children financially but also to his first wife's lover as well. He cannot refuse doing it because the woman might deprive him from seeing their children. But the love story of Laura and the narrator himself tells another aspect of love on the other hand. Since they are just newly weds and are on the early part of their relationship, the perks and joys of feeling love is still at its best. But they kept on showing persistence in proving how they value each other everyday. In order to cultivate love to the younger couple, Herb narrated the story of the elderly couple who were both injured due to a car accident. The love story of the two elderly made the Beginners a story of love well defined. Love can be selfless or selfish, giving and forgiving, healing and forgetting. These are few of the underlying tones of the short story if we will dissect the whole concept of Beginners by Raymond Carver. It is indeed a story that is made for readers to value the meaning and live the feeling of love. What is love? Love is defined in one Raymond Carver's famous short story entitled â€Å"Beginners†. Published in 1981 it is considered a s a timeless and influential piece of modern literature as it gives love a different kind of meaning. It is a collection of short stories of people falling in love, currently in love and wanted to go out of love. The masterpiece is written in such a way that readers will think as to what extent love can make or break lives and how to deal with this four letter word that makes the world go round. The book tackles different scenarios of love presented through series of stories which produces linkage to the meaning of the word love in the end. Though the plot revolves on a casual drinking conversation of two couples, it really does make sense in giving love different meanings. Love was illustrated in the short story in many profound ways. Characters presented in the story are different in terms of profession and personal background but they are all speaking about one thing, love. Men are from Venus and girls are from Mars as it may seem when readers try to digest the concept of Carver's story as a whole. He gives various instances that women are desperately being submissive to men to the extent that they are being hurt and abuse just to prove how they love their partners. I say this in the case of Carl who overly abused his partner. Terri on the other hand does not mind being victimized by love. Love can kill in the case of Carl who kept on beating his partner because this is his way of showing love. Terri on the other hand is blinded by emotion that is why she let her partner hurt her thinking that it is always about love. She is so selfless to the point that part of her being anorexic is caused by too much beating to her by Carl. Herb McGinnis on the other hand is a cardiologist that can cure the heart both literally and figuratively. He is described in the book as someone that can mend even the deepest wound caused by Carl in Terri's life. He has his own share of sentiment about love as he continuously supports his first wife and kids. His paternal love is described by Carver in the story as an undying devotion to give even his last single penny for the sake of love and support to raise his children. Dumb as it may seem since Herb is not only givinf support to his children financially but also to his first wife's lover as well. He cannot refuse doing it because the woman might deprive him from seeing their children. But the love story of Laura and the narrator himself tells another aspect of love on the other hand. Since they are just newly weds and are on the early part of their relationship, the perks and joys of feeling love is still at its best. But they kept on showing persistence in proving how they value each other everyday. In order to cultivate love to the younger couple, Herb narrated the story of the elderly couple who were both injured due to a car accident. The love story of the two elderly made the Beginners a story of love well defined. Love can be selfless or selfish, giving and forgiving, healing and forgetting. These are few of the underlying tones of the short story if we will dissect the whole concept of Beginners by Raymond Carver. It is indeed a story that is made for readers to value the meaning and live the feeling of love.