Contributions of Imam Ali to his Culture Essay -- essays research pape

The purpose of this is paper is to show how great the contributions of Ali were to his culture. Ali was born miraculously, his mother Fatima-bint-Asad, the wife of Abu Talib, was Divinely Guided with sudden labor pains to the Holy Kaaba. As her immense labor pains weighed her down, Fatima knelt before the Kaaba and began praying to Allah(GOD) to make the birth of her child comfortable and easy. Before she knew it, the walls of the Kaaba miraculously split open by the Will of Allah. Fatima entered the Kaaba, and then the Holy walls reunited and joined as one. She stayed in the Kaaba for three days, during which she gave birth to a virtuous baby boy. As the fourth day approached, the Kaaba doors reopened and Fatima walked out with her pride and joy in her arms. A few years after his birth,The Prophet asked his uncle, Abu Talib, to allow Ali to be under his care so he can raise him as if he were his own child. Ali had the honorable privilege of moving to and living with the Ho ly Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Ali learnt a lot from the holy prophet and then contributed to his culture by his broad knowledge. He was also a great warrior and he always fought for his culture, and he also protected the prophet and saved his life two times. He is also the successor of the prophet for the shia's and the fourth successor for the Sunnis. Therefore he was a very honored person. As described by the prophet ?I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.? Ali was very knowledgeable and he helped his culture a lot with his knowledge, he helped in making judgements, helped in answering other peoples questions and also gave advises to the people of what is right to do. Here are some examples of his knowledge. A person was about... ...overs because he wanted to see the Prophet's look before he was killed. As he removed the covers, to his surprise and the rest of the murderers with him, he discovered that it wasn't Prophet Muhammad. Instead, it was Ali, the cousin of the Prophet, the Prophet's right-hand man, the Prophet's savior. The assassin's were infuriated that there plan had failed. Therfore Ali was always ready to put his life at risk to save the Prophet's life because he knew the muslims needed the Prophet. In conclusion, it can be said that ali contributed alot to his culture and religion. he used his knowledge to improve his culture and used his strength to protect his religion. Nevertheless he saved the prophets life twice, and without the prophet Islam could not exist and therefore without Ali islam could not exist. Hence it can be said that Ali is the saviour of islam.

Digital Democracy Essay -- Politics Media Internet Technology Essays

Digital Democracy Over the years the media has made citizens major role players in politics. Ross Perot opened eyes by putting the 1992 Election in the media and thereby allowing voters to become directly involved in politics. The Internet, the new form of mass media â€Å"has turned into a major political and media industry† (Grossman 16). Because of the rise the Internet has taken, the idea of direct democracy has risen. The foundation of direct democracy is in self-government. The claim is that the presence of the Internet will increase citizens’ involvement in political issues by allowing them access to more information. This is significant because it takes a look at the impact of technology on society and politics, as well by looking at politics from the average persons’ perspective. It is my position, however that although the Internet will make citizens more informed this would actually work to deter people from participating in politics. Through the greater establi shment of community and trust among citizens will we find the desire to participate in government and politics. Currently, our government is based on a representative form of democracy, where citizens choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This is a type of self-government because â€Å"by choosing those who would govern them, the people would also, in effect, be governing themselves† (Grossman 40). However, with the coming of the Internet age and a higher prospect of self-government, representative democracy could soon become obsolete, being replaced by direct democracy. Direct Democracy was first introduced by The Athenians as a form of government back in fifth century BC. Direct Democracy allowed the citizens to make the rules as w... ...e nationwide disaster. Our best hope at creating a better democracy is to focus on rebuilding the community. Before we can put things in place that are meant to reconstruct society, we must first fix the foundation upon which this nation was built, and that is community. Works Cited: Bimber, Bruce. â€Å"The Internet and Political Transformation: Populism, Community, and Accelerated Pluralism.† Polity 31(1): 133-160. Davis, Richard. The Web of Politics. New York: Oxford Press, 1999. Davison, Donald E. New Democracy: A New Democracy means a more Direct Democracy. 1 April 2001. 27 September 2001. . Grossman, Lawrence K. The Electronic Republic. New York: Penguin Group, 1995. Kamarck, Elaine, and Joseph S. Nye, Jr. democracy.com: Governance in a Networked World. Hollis, NH: Hollis Publishing, 1999.

Night World : The Chosen Chapter 13

Rashel knew she had to stop the guard before he could make a sound. The vampires' mansion was on the farther cliffs, overlooking open sea rather than the harbor, and the music ought to help drown outside noises-but the greatest danger was still that they would be heard before the girls could get away. She launched herself at the werewolf, throwing a front snap kick to his chest. She could hear the air whoosh out as he fell backward. Good. No breath for howling. She landed with both knees on top of him. â€Å"This is silver,† she hissed, pressing the blade against his throat. â€Å"Don't make a noise or I'll use it.† He glared at her. He had shaggy hair and eyes that were already half-animal. â€Å"Is there anybody on the boats?† When he didn't answer, she pressed the silver knife harder. â€Å"Is there?† He snarled a breathless â€Å"No.† His teeth were turning, too, spiking and lengthening. â€Å"Don't change-† Rashel began, but at that moment he decided to throw her off. He heaved once, violently. A snap of her wrist would have plunged the silver blade into his throat even as she fell. Instead Rashel rolled backward in a somersault, tucking in her head and ending up on her right knee. Then, as the werewolf jumped at her, she slammed the sheathed knife upward against his jaw. He fell back unconscious. Too bad, I wanted to ask him about the client. Rashel looked shoreward, to see that Daphne, Annelise, and Nyala were on the pier with her. They were each holding a rock or a piece of wood broken from the jagged pilings of the wharf. They were going to help me, Rashel thought. She felt oddly warmed by it. â€Å"Okay,† she said rapidly. â€Å"Annelise and Keiko, with me. Everybody else, stay. Daphne, keep watch.† In a matter of minutes she and the boating girls had checked the boats and found two with features they thought they could handle†¦ and with fuel. Anne-lise had removed a couple of crucial engine pieces out of the others. â€Å"Took out the impellers and the solenoids,† she told Rashel mysteriously, holding out a grimy hand. â€Å"Good. Let's set them adrift. Everybody else, get yourself on a boat. Find a place to sit fast and sit down.† Rashel moved to the back of the group where Fayth had her arms around a couple of the girls who looked scared of setting out on the dark ocean. â€Å"Come on, people.† She meant to herd them in front of her like chickens. That was when it happened. Rashel had an instant's warning-the faint crunch of sand on rock behind her. And then something hit her with incredible force in the middle of the back. It knocked her down and sent her knife flying. Worse, it sent her mind reeling in shock. She hadn't been prepared. That instant's warning hadn't been enough-because she had already lost zanshin. She no longer had the gift of continuing mind. She had lost her single purpose. In the old days she'd been fixed on one thing-to kill the Night People. There had been no hesitation, no confusion. But now†¦ she'd already faltered twice tonight, knocking the werewolves unconscious instead of killing them. She was confused, uncertain. And, as a result, unprepared. And now I'm dead, she thought. Her numbed mind was desperately trying to recover and come up with a strategy. But there was a wild snarling in her ear and a trail of hot pain down her back. Animal claws. There was a wolf on top of her. Rudi had gotten loose. Rashel gathered herself and bucked to throw the wolf off. He slipped and she tried to roll out from under him, arms up to keep her throat protected. The werewolf was too heavy-and too angry. He scrambled over her rolling body like a lumberjack on a log. His snarling muzzle kept darting for her throat in quick lunges. Rashel could see his bushy coat standing on end. She felt fire across her ribs-his claws had torn through her shirt. She ignored it. Her one thought was to keep him away from her throat. Keeping an elbow up, she reached for the knife with her other hand. No good. She hadn't rolled far enough. Her fingertips just missed the hilt. And Rudi the wolf was right in her face. All she could see were sharp wet teeth, black gums, and blazing yellow eyes. Her face was misted with hot canine breath. Every snap of those jaws made a hollow glunk. Rashel only had one option left-to block each lunge as it came. But she couldn't keep that up forever. She was already tiring. It's over, she thought. The girls who might have helped her-Daphne and Nyala and Annelise were at the far end of the wharf or on the boats. The other girls were undoubtedly too scared even to try. Rashel was alone, and she was going to die very soon. My own stupid fault, she thought dimly. Her arms were shaking and bloodied. She was getting weaker fast. And the wolf knew. Even as she thought it, she missed a block. Her arm slipped sideways. Her throat was exposed. In slow motion she saw the jaws of the wolf opening wide, driving toward her. She saw the triumph in those yellow eyes. She knew, with a curious sense of resignation, that the next thing she would feel was teeth ripping through her flesh. The oldest way to die in the world. I'm sorry, Daphne, she thought. I'm sorry, Nyala. Please go and be safe. And then everything seemed to freeze. The wolf stopped in midlunge, head jerking backward. Its eyes were wide and fixed. Its jaws were open but not moving. It looked as if it might howl. But it didn't. It collapsed in a hot quivering heap on top of Rashel, legs stiff. Rashel scrambled out from under it automatically. And saw her knife sticking out of the base of its skull. Quinn was standing above it. â€Å"Are you all right?† He was breathing quickly, but he looked calm. Moonlight shone on his black hair. The entire world was huge and quivering and oddly bright. Rashel still felt as if she were moving in slow motion. She stared at Quinn, then looked toward the wharf. Girls were scattered all over, as if frozen in the middle of running in different directions. Some were on the decks of the two remaining boats. Some were heading toward her. Daphne and Nyala were only fifteen feet away, but they were both staring at Quinn and seemed riveted in place. Nyala's expression was one of horror, hate-and recognition. Waves hissed softly against the dock. Think. Now think, girl, Rashel told herself. She was in a state of the strangest and most expanded consciousness she'd ever felt. Her hands were icy cold and she seemed to be floating-but her mind was clear. Everything depended on how she handled the next few minutes. â€Å"Why did you do that?† she asked Quinn softly. At the same time she shot Daphne the fastest and the most intense look of her life. It meant Go now. She willed Daphne to understand. â€Å"You just lost a guard,† she went on, getting up slowly. Keep his eyes on you. Keep moving. Make him talk. â€Å"Not a very good one,† Quinn said, looking with fastidious disgust at the heap of fur. Go, Daphne, run, Rashel thought. She knew the girls still had a chance. There were no other vampires coming down the path. That meant that Rudi had either been too angry to give a general alarm or too scared. That was one good thing about werewolves-they acted on impulse. Quinn was the danger now. â€Å"Why not a good one?† she asked. â€Å"Because he damaged the merchandise?† She lifted her torn shirt away from her ribs. Quinn threw back his head and laughed. Something jerked in Rashel's chest, but she used the moment to change her position. She was right by the wolf now, with her left hand at the exact level of the knife. â€Å"That's right,† Quinn said. A wild and bitter smile still played around his lips. â€Å"He was presumptuous. You almost surrendered to the wrong darkness there, Shelly. By the way, where'd you get a silver knife?† He doesn't know who I am, Rashel thought. She felt both relief and a strange underlying grief. He still thought she was some girl from the club- maybe a vampire hunter, but not the vampire hunter. The one he'd admitted was good. So he's unprepared. He's off his guard. If I can kill him with one stroke, before he calls to the other vampires, the girls may get away. She glanced at the wharf again, deliberately, hoping to draw his gaze. But he didn't look behind him, and Daphne and the other stupid girls weren't leaving. Refusing to go without her. Idiots! Now or never, Rashel thought. â€Å"Well, anyway,† she said, â€Å"I think you saved my life. Thank you.† Keeping her eyes down, she held out her hand. her right hand. Quinn looked surprised, then reached out automatically. With one smooth motion, like a snake uncoiling, Rashel attacked. Her right hand drove past his hand and clamped on his wrist. Her left hand plunged down to grab the knife. Her fingers closed on the hilt and pulled- and the sheath with its attached silver blade stayed in the werewolf's neck. Just as she'd planned. The knife itself came free, the real knife, the one made of wood. And then Quinn tried to throw her and her body responded automatically. She was moving without conscious direction, anticipating his attacks and blocking them even as he started to make them. It transformed the fight into a dance. Faster than thought, graceful as a lioness, she countered every move he made. Zanshin to the max. She ended up straddling him with her knife at his throat. Now. Fast. End it. She didn't move. You have to, she told herself. Quick, before he calls the others. Before he knocks you out telepathically. He can do it, you know that. Then why isn't he trying? Quinn lay still, with the point of the wooden knife in the hollow of his throat, just where his dark collar parted. His throat was pale in the moonlight and his hair was black against the sand. Footsteps sounded behind Rashel. She heard rapid light breathing. â€Å"Daphne, take the boats and go now. Leave me here. Do you understand?† Rashel spoke every word distinctly. â€Å"But Rashel-â€Å" â€Å"Do it now!† Rashel put a force she hadn't known she had behind the words. She heard the quick intake of Daphne's breath, then footsteps scampering off. All the while, she hadn't taken her eyes off Quinn. Like everything else, the green-black blade of her knife was touched with moonlight. It seemed to shimmer almost liquidly. Lignum vitae, the Wood of Life. It would be death for him. One thrust would put it through his throat. The next would stop his heart. â€Å"I'm sorry,† Rashel whispered. She was. She was truly sorry that this had to be done. But there was no way out. It was for Nyala, for all the girls he'd kidnapped and hunted and lured. It was to keep girls like them safe for the future. â€Å"You're a hunter,† Rashel said softly, trying for steadiness. â€Å"So am I. We both understand. This is the way it goes. It's kill or be killed. It all comes down to that in the end.† She paused to breathe. â€Å"Do you understand?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"If I don't stop you, you'll be a danger forever. And I can't let that happen. I can't let you hurt anyone else.† She was aware that she was shaking her head slightly in her attempt to explain to him. Her lungs ached and there were tears in her eyes. â€Å"I can't.† Quinn didn't speak. His eyes were black and bottomless. His hair was slightly mussed on his forehead, but he didn't show any other sign of just having been in a fight. He's not going to struggle, Rashel realized. Then make it quick and merciful. No need for him to feel the pain of wood through his throat. She switched her grip on the knife, raising it over his chest. Holding it with both hands, poised above his heart. One swift downward stroke and it would be over. For the first time since she had killed a Night Person, she didn't say what she always said. She wasn't the Cat right now; this wasn't revenge for her. It was necessity. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she whispered, and shut her eyes. He whispered, â€Å"This kitten has claws.† Rashel's muscles locked. Her eyes opened. â€Å"Go on,† Quinn said. â€Å"Do it. You should have done it the first time.† His gaze was as steady as Fayth's. She could see moonlight in his eyes. He didn't look wild, or bitter, or mocking. He only looked serious and a little tired. â€Å"I should have realized it before-that you were the one in the cellar. I knew there was something about you. I just couldn't figure out what. At least now I've seen your face.† Rashel's arms wouldn't come down. What was wrong with her? Her resolve was draining away. Her whole body was weak. She felt herself begin to tremble, and realized to her horror she couldn't stop it. â€Å"Everything you said was true,† he said. â€Å"This is how it has to end.† â€Å"Yes.† Something had swollen in Rashel's throat and it hurt. â€Å"The only other possibility is that I kill you. Better this way than that.† He looked exhausted suddenly-or sick. He turned his head and shut his eyes. â€Å"Yes,† Rashel said numbly. He believed that? â€Å"Besides, now that I have seen your face, I can't stand the sight of myself in your eyes. I know what you think of me.† Rashel's arms dropped. But limply. The blade pointed upward, between her own wrists. She sat there with her knuckles on his chest and stared at a scraggly wild raspberry bush growing out of the cliff. She had failed Nyala, and Nyala's sister, and countless other people. Other humans. When it really counted, she was letting them all down. â€Å"I can't kill you,† she whispered. â€Å"God help me, I can't.† He shook his head once, eyes still shut. She was open to attack, but he didn't do anything. Then he looked at her. â€Å"I told you before. You're an idiot.† Rashel hit him under the jaw the way she'd hit the guard. The hilt of her dagger caught him squarely. He didn't move to avoid the blow. It knocked him out cold. Rashel wiped her cheeks and got up, looking around for something to tie him with. Her whole life was torn to pieces, falling around her. She didn't understand anything. All she could do was try to finish what she'd come here for. Action, that was what she needed. Thought could wait. It would have to wait. Then she glanced at the wharf. She couldn't believe it. It seemed as if at least a week had passed since she yelled at Daphne, and they were all still here. The boats were here, the girls were here, and Daphne was running toward her. Rashel strode to meet her. She grabbed Daphne by the shoulders and shook hard. â€Å"Get-out-of-here! Do you understand? What do I have to do, throw you in the water?† Daphne's eyes were huge and blue. Her blond hair flew like thistledown with the shaking. When Rashel stopped, she gasped, â€Å"But you can come with us now!† â€Å"No, I can't! I still have things to do.† â€Å"Like what?† Then Daphne's eyes darted to the cliff. She stared at Rashel. â€Å"You're going after them? You're crazy!† Looking frightened, she grabbed Rashel's hands on her shoulders. â€Å"Rashel, there are supposed to be eight of them, right? Plus Lily and Ivan and who knows what else! You really think you can kill them all? What, are they all just going to line up?† â€Å"No. I don't know. But I don't need to kill them all. If I can get the guy who set this up, the client, it will be worth it.† Daphne was shaking her head, in tears. â€Å"It won't be worth it! Not if they kill you-which they will. You're already hurt-â€Å" â€Å"It'll be worth it if I can stop him from doing this again,† Rashel said quietly. She couldn't yell anymore. She didn't have the strength. Her voice was quenched, but she held Daphne's eyes. â€Å"Now get somebody to throw me some rope or something to tie these guys with. And then leave. No, give me five minutes to get to the top of the cliff. Six minutes. That way maybe I can surprise them before they realize you're gone.† Daphne was crying steadily now. Before she could say anything, Rashel went on. â€Å"Daphne, any minute now they could realize that. Someone's bound to check the cellar before midnight. Every second we stand here could make the difference. Please, please, don't fight me anymore.† Daphne opened her mouth, then shut it. Her eyes were desolate. â€Å"Please try to take care of yourself,† she whispered. She let go of Rashel's shoulders and hugged her hard. â€Å"We all know you're doing it for us. I'm proud to be your friend.† Then she turned and ran, herding the others ^^ toward the boats. A moment later she threw Rashel two pieces of line. Rashel tied up Quinn first, then the werewolf. â€Å"Six minutes,† she said to Daphne. Daphne nodded, trying not to cry. Rashel wouldn't say goodbye. She hated that. Even though she knew perfectly well that she was never going to see Daphne again. Without looking back, she loped up the hiking trail.

Whether or not the civil rights movement has achieved equal rights for black people in USA and if so, to what extent

In this essay, I will aim to establish whether or not the civil rights movement has achieved equal rights for black people in USA and if so, to what extent. In order to do this, we must compare the situation for blacks in USA currently, to that of blacks many years ago. Absolutely no one would even try to argue that Black Americans had equal rights during, or even directly after the abolition of slavery. This would be ridiculous bearing in mind that many were forced to work from sunrise to sunset, an eighteen hour day in some places, with few, if any rights at all. At one point, slave owners were even given specific rights to brand, maim, whip or even burn disobedient slaves. This hardly indicates any sort of equal rights. They were unable to vote, serve on juries receive an education and work in certain trades. The fact that they were unable to serve on juries almost made certain that any black man could be tried and convicted even though totally innocent. Also, no voting meant no black politicians, and no politicians meant no say in government. There were a few lucky blacks living in the south who had managed to obtain freedom, some by purchasing their liberties and others handed their freedom after their masters had passed away. However, these blacks were constantly living in the fear that they could once again be taken into slavery. Most blacks had now been freed, yet they were not compensated for past labours, leaving them jobless and almost pennyless. Many â€Å"white supremacy† organisations such as the Ku Klux Klan were formed solely to intimidate the black population. Public lynchings and public beatings became common place and very rarely was anything done about it in the courts as it was supported by many officials. After slavery was abolished, many years of black campaigning followed and gradually, the campaigning became more and more succesful. In 1870, the fifteenth ammendment was passed declaring the right for all to be able to vote regardless of race. This was seen as a real breakthrough yet celebrations were proved to be far too premature. At first everything seemed fine. States which had black majorities soon began to have black politicians who were more understanding to their plight. Free education was introduced and the system of having to own land to be able to have the right to vote was also scrapped. All seemed well and good until 1877, when the army decided that it was time to pull out of the southern states. This immediately left the blacks vulnerable to attack from the various groups which had been formed who had a great hatred towards the blacks. These secret organisations began using violence in order to prevent blacks from voting and this led to an almost immediate change. The lack of the black vote led to all white governments once again being elected and this in turn saw the re-introduction of many laws against those African Americans. Once again, control of the blacks was firmly in the hands of their white rulers. ‘Jim Crow' laws were introduced enforcing segregation in various araes of life. Transport saw separate seating for blacks and whites. Separate schools and hospitals were also introduced. The segregation even went as far as having different cemetries for deceased whites and deceased blacks, even in church, they were sat seperately. The much lower wages that the blacks were being payed meant that they could only afford housing in more run down neighbourhoods, again leading to a seperation, with â€Å"black only† towns. This residential segregation was even made compulsory in some states. Inter-racial marriages became a massive target for groups such as The Ku Klux Klan. They felt that this would lead to a society where racial categorization would become difficult and white dominance would become hard to maintain. Again violence was used to ensure that no inter-racial marriages could take place. If any kind of recession came round, black employees were always the first to be fired regardless of experience or quality of work and no blacks were allowed to join unions. This of course meant that in the event of any strike action, the blacks would continue to work arousing yet more hatred and hostility from their fellow white compatriots. After the white governments had been firmly re-established, the power of blacks was continually undermined. Successful black businessmen were attacked and any attempts to form black protection groups were quickly quashed. The KKK also introduced lynching for those blacks accused of commiting crimes, many of whom were completely innocent. This was seen as not really a form of punishment for criminals, but more a way of intimidating the local black population into accepting the rule of the whites. Yet again, the blacks were forced to accept the inhumane ways in which they were being treated and once again there was nothing they could really do about it. One hundred years on, to what extent have civil rights been achieved for blacks? On visiting America now, and comparing life to that of a hundred years ago, the most apparent difference is desegregation. Whereas blacks and whites were forced to attend separate schools, take part in leisure activities seperately, use separate transport and forced to be segregated in the supreme court, there is now no lawful segregation in the USA. Blacks have been given equal rights as far as voting goes and it has been this way for many years now. However, this did not mean that all Blacks were suddenly voting. There was still the problem of persuading blacks to register although, this has now been rectified with very public registration campaigns. The result has been a huge increase in the proportion of blacks registered to vote. There have been monumental chnages in attitudes towards blacks which has meant the uprising of many black celebrities which would have been unthinkable until recent years. A prime example of this could be that of black boxer, Mohammed Ali. His refusal to participate in the Vietnam War because of his personal beliefs, and being prepared to go to jail rather than back down, earnt him world wide respect. This went along with the respect that he had already gained from his doubtless talent in the ring. To this day, Ali is one of the most highly respected sportsmen throughout the world. Various blakc musicians have reached stardom also. Examples include Stevie Wonder, Tupac Shakur, Billy Halliday and Bessie Smith, who had to fight adversity throughout her career. However, even here there is the possiblity of racial discrimination having taking place as it is widely claimed that, after a car crash Bessie Smith was refused treatment due to the colour of her skin and as a direct result, died from excessive blood loss. Blacks have also been very successful in Hollywood, with both Will Smith and Samuel L. Jackson being among the top ten earners. This does not even take into acount Denzel washington, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg and many others. The major turning point as far as civil rights were concerened, was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This finally insured equal oppurtunity for all, in terms of employment and otherwise. There were also affirmative acion programs set up to help those blacks, who through no fault of their own, were given very poor educations. Some blacks have even made a success of themselves by writing or talking about their difficulties in achieving liberation. Maya Angeou is one such person. The political influence of blacks is always rising and I have already spoken about the rise in blacks registered to vote. Recently, we have also seen the rise to prominence of some black politicians. Namely, Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell. Jackson ran for presidency in both the 1984 and 1988 elections and although he failed on both occasions, his skills as a negotiater have been proven on many separate occasions. His current title is Washington's special envoy to Africa. Colin Powell has come into the limelight much more after the very tragic events of September 2001. Much praise has been heaped on the Secretary Of State for the way in which he has handled the cris. He was often referred to as â€Å"the face of America† in the aftermath of the attacks. There have also been great strides made in the way of economic progress. Many blacks have managed to break through into the middle classes. â€Å"The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air† is a popular, black sitcom in which one such family is portrayed. The father is a well respected lawyer and the family is shown to be living in great luxery. Similarly, there have been other very successful â€Å"black† shows such as â€Å"The Cosby Show. There are now many, many black homeowners also, in complete contrast to the slavery which existed a century earlier. As yet, I have talked about the great amount of change and progress which has been achieved for blacks in USA, however, in the same period of time there have been many incidents and there are many facts which suggest that not too much has really changed. For example, many people argue that there is a continuity in attitudes of discrimination and they point to certain events to support this. Accusations of police brutality and heavy handiness towards blacks are constant and the Rodney King incident seems to justify this. Rodney King was a drunken, black driver, who after being stopped by police, was brutally assaulted by four police officers. The whole incident was video-taped by an on looker. Because of the video-tape, there was a resulting trial in which all four police officers were accused of using excessive force. However, the entirely white jury judged all four to have been not guilty of all charges and the result was the largest riots in Los Angeles' history. Many people were injured during these riots. Consequently, there was a second trial, in which two officers were again acquitted and the other two received minimum jail terms. There were fears of a second round of rioting which never materialised. Other such incidents include an African refugee being shot 24 times by police officers. To this day, there are still more blacks than whites on death row, which again leads to calls of discrimination by the police force and law courts. Earlier, I spoke about black successes in politics, pointing to Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell as examples. However, there has still been no black president, and it still does not even seem like a possibility in the foreseeable future. Even, with the prominence of Jackson and Powell, it can still be said that there is an exclusion of blacks in politics. The poverty trap of many years earlier also still exists in many parts of America, where the idea that if a black person was forced to live in a ghetto due to poor wages, there was really no way out and achieving something for their children as opportunities and resources were greatly limited. In conclusion, I think it is obviously clear that change has been achieved and progress has been made as far as civil rights are concerned and there will always be isolated incidents, which suggest otherwise. A great distance has been traveled on the road to achieving equal rights and hopefully, the last few miles will also be covered in the near future.

Canterbury Tales Analysis

Physically the two characters appear extremely different. The knight is dressed in a fustian tunic, â€Å"Stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left mark† (Chaucer 5). Although he is a distinguished man, he dresses humbly and does not give the appearance of arrogance. It is also apparent that he carries a sword, which would match his profession as a knight because he is able to fight. The Sea Captain’s attire matches his occupation. He wears a â€Å"Woollen gown that [reaches] his knee† (Chaucer 15); he is tan and has a large beard. He carries a dagger, implying that he knows how to fight and defend himself like the Knight. Considering their occupations, one can find many similarities. They are both very proficient at their jobs. The Sea Captain is described as having no competition: â€Å"None from Hull to Carthage was his match† (Chaucer 16). He is experienced and knows the seas better than any captain. He is known for his skill at commanding his ship, the Maudelayne. He frequently travels the sea. Similarly, the knight is a traveler, except on land. He is an experienced fighter, as he has been in many battles. He was present at the battle where Alexandria was taken in 1365 by the King of Cyprus. In fifteen mortal battles he had been† (Chaucer 5). According to the examples of battles given in the text, the knight rarely loses a battle. He owns fine horses and is skilled at riding horseback. However, behavior is what really sets these two characters apart. The knight is a chivalrous man. He believes in truth, honor, and generosity. People look up to him; he is â€Å"Ever honoured for his noble graces† (Chaucer 4). A Christian and a virtuous man, he is even more humbled by his position as a knight. His many victories did not permit him to lose his modesty; instead, they led him to be wise and honorable. The Sea Captain, in contrast, is a fearsome character. When dealing with prisoners, â€Å"The nicer rules of conscience he ignored† (Chaucer 16); they walked the plank. Not a virtuous man by any means, he has a reputation of stealing goods from traders while they sleep. Those who fight him fear him. He does not have a high position in society, but his brutality and prudence make him successful in battle. He is revered for his skill and success, but people do not look up to him. In summary, the use of foil by Chaucer enables the reader to notice differences and similarities between the Knight and the Sea Captain. They have similar occupations, but different roles in society as well as nearly opposite personalities. The foil emphasizes their characteristics to make them even more prominent to the reader. For example, the knight’s Christian values make the Sea Captain seem extremely harsh and lowly in comparison. The reader will be able to gain more out of the story these characters tell because of how detailed their character sketches are. Specifically, the characters are given more depth by their similarities and differences to other characters in the tale.

Quiz Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Quiz - Research Paper Example Allen transferred the possession of the car to the parking garage, while he retained the ownership of the car. The relationship established between Mr. Allen and the Hyatt Regency-Nashville parking garage is not a gift relationship. This is because, it is only the possession of the car which was transferred from Mr. Allen to the parking garage, while the formation of a gift relationship requires that both the ownership of the chattel or property is also transferred, when the possession is transferred from the owner of the property to the trustee (Powell, 273). There are several conditions that must be fulfilled for the establishment of a bailment relationship between the owner and the possessor of the property, for the relationship to qualify as a bailment. First, it is required that the bailee (possessor) of the property must intend to posses the property or the chattel (Powell, 272). Secondly, it is required that the bailee(possessor ) must actually and physically possess the property or chattel that has been transferred from the owner, as opposed to the gift relationship, where the physical chattel can remain with the owner, but the rights and ownership transferred to the trustee (Powell, 272). Therefore, according to the facts of the case Allen V Hyatt Regency-Nashville, a bailment relationship was created between Mr. Allen and the Hyatt Regency-Nashville parking garage, considering the fact that the parking garage had indicated the intention to possess the car parked by Mr. Allen, through the notice "Welcome to Hyatt Regency-Nashville" together with a sign marked "Parking." This way, the public was invited to utilize the parking, an indication of the intent of the commercial parking garage to possess the car. Secondly, the facts of the case meets the second requirement of the law for the fulfillment of a bailment providing that the property or the chattel must be physically possessed by the

Johann Sebastian Bach Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Johann Sebastian Bach - Research Paper Example Although Bach did not receive recognition as a composer during the period, the 19th century led to a revival of performances and interests in his music, which upon closer examination have made him be regarded as one of the greatest composers in history. Discussion Period of Composition Johann Sebastian Bach made his famous compositions during the Baroque period. This was an era of European music that was between 1600 and 1750. The word Baroque is used in reference to extravagance, abnormality and strangeness. The music played during the Baroque period was highly ornate, intense and lavishly texturized. The composers of this era, such as Johann Sebastian Bach, were able to express feelings and emotions in their compositions. Moreover, the compositions made during the Baroque period had an emphasis on contrast of texture, pace and volume in the music, which was not witnessed in the late renaissance, when the music played, did not concentrate on the aforementioned elements2. Bachâ€℠¢s rise to greatness The rich musical history of Bach’s family was instrumental in ensuring that Bach became the greatest composer in history. Christened father of classical music, Bach demonstrated a deep understanding of phrasing and musical forms. Following Bach’s graduation from St. ... However, the relationship between Bach and the authorities at Arnstadt deteriorated with Bach voicing his dissatisfaction with the singers of the church’s choir3. In 1706, Bach was offered the position of an organist at a church in Muhlhausen, which he decided to take up the following year. This position provided Bach with an opportunity to improve his skills as it included incentives such as a good choir, improved conditions and better remuneration. Bach convinced the city government and the church to refurbish the organ at the church after which Bach repaid them with a festive composition for the incumbent council in the location. The composition became a major success, which compelled the council to reward Bach handsomely4. Bach returned to Weimar as an accomplished concertmaster and organist. He enhanced his prowess by working with professional musicians. Bach was able to spend most of his time composing orchestral and keyboard works. This dedication made him to attain the required confidence and proficiency that enabled him to enhance the existing structures and attain substantial influence in foreign countries. Furthermore, during this time Bach was able to make dramatic openings and use the harmonic schemes and dynamic rhythms, which were synonymous with Italians musicians such as Torelli, Vivaldi and Corelli. The stylistic aspects from the aforementioned Italians enabled Bach to make works, which are played in concerts even to date5. Historical Events in Bach’s Life There are some major events in Bach’s life that influenced and shaped his musical career. When he was 14 years old, Bach was awarded a scholarship that enabled him to study at St. Michaels School. This prestigious school was