Future Concerns - Gattaca and Fahrenheit 451 Essay Example for Free

Future Concerns Gattaca and Fahrenheit 451 Essay Popular fictions texts expressing views of the future educate audiences about current issues and the dystopias that develop from them. Texts such as the film ‘Gattaca’, directed by Andrew Niccol and novel ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury explore futuristic societies and the implications that become of their innovation. Although entertaining, texts such as these are didactic and must be taken seriously, as they communicate messages to audiences regarding prevalent concerns and possible futures based on society’s choices. Gattaca’ (1995) directed by Andrew Niccol, follows the story of the underdog Vincent, who is challenged by genetic discrimination against ‘in? valids’ like himself. Through an elaborate identity switch and the help of ‘genetically advantaged’ Jerome, Vincent prevails to achieve his dreams and find his place at Gattaca Space Station. Niccol utilises conventions of film to convey messages to the audience by highlighting issues relevant to the context of production. Gattaca’ incorporates many themes which highlight the corruption and inequality in this strange, new world. Niccol explores concepts such as elitism, perfection, inequity and modernism. This film opens with two contrasting epigraphs, which entices viewers’ interest into moral themes in ‘Gattaca’. The first quote reads: â€Å"Consider God’s handiwork; Who can straighten what He hath made crooked? † Ecclesiastes 7. 13. An interpretation of this quote is that life is intended to be left alone to take its course, which is contradictory to many ideas in ‘Gattaca’. The quote following reads: â€Å"I not only think that we will tamper with Mother Nature, I think Mother wants us to. † Willard Gaylin. This presents audiences with differing opinions to contemplate as they consider what scientific advancements their own future holds, watching Vincent in his. The opening scene is an extreme close up shot of Vincent’s fingernails, hair follicles and loose skin, against a blue cubicle. The extreme close up shot suggests importance as the camera focuses in on the subject matter, emphasising the significance of Vincent’s DNA. Sterility and cleanliness is suggested by the use of cold, deep blue hues. The use of blue is constant throughout the film, as is the significance in detail. These concepts tie to other scenes, such as ‘The Eyelash’, where Vincent’s own ‘invalid’ eyelash is discovered during a murder investigation. This concept highlights the precision of technology in the future, and that life with such structure becomes complicated. Audiences can learn lessons from examples such as these scenes s they can relate the situations Vincent is put in with possible futures based on the direction society is heading in present times. Another effective technique demonstrated by Niccol is the first person narration by the central character, Vincent. This is important for the development in the movie, as Vincent is the protagonist we are encouraged to empathise with. Therefore, the use of bias narration and perspective is effective in supporting the ideas presented in the film. Following the opening scene is ‘The Not Too Distant Future’, which cuts to a low angle shot looking up to the bold, symmetrical lines of the building. In this shot, Gattaca is shaded in black and grey tones, also indicating the power and formality of the institution. As the camera tilts down, the strong lines and colouring remain constant as view of the staff are also brought into the frame. Directors have dressed actors in blue business suits, again, enforcing the concept of formality, conformity and sterility. The uniformed staff are very bland and indistinguishable from one another in their uniformed clothing. Silence is broken by the rising volume of diagetic sound effects, such as the beeping sound of accepted ‘valids’ through the turnstile, as well as an anonymous greeting by a placid female voice: â€Å"Welcome to Gattaca†. These techniques develop the idea that society has become lifeless and ‘black and white’, as Gattaca presents characters as clinical and robotic products of genetic modification, teaching audiences about social issues that relate to futures.

Regional Geography Essay Example for Free

Regional Geography Essay The reaction has been disjointed and slow, and results seen are even harder to find. Hillstrom and Hillstrom agree that â€Å" Pollution is a particularly insidious form of habitat degradation, fundamentally impacting fragile ecosystems in myriad ways, some of which are invisible to the naked eye† (17), mentioning specifically acid rain, and farm pesticide use as a couple of the not so quickly identifiable sources of habitat degradation. The authors of World Regional Geography point out that Environmental degradation in one place is often the result of demands for resources or goods in other places, and air and water pollution can flow across borders(18). The authors also note that Small farms are now being replaced by corporate farms and high tech operations such as shrimp farms, most of which, ironically cause environmental degradation and yet receive government assistance(19). Degradation also results when the vast expanses of concrete, in highly developed areas of urban sprawl, during heavy rains, sends tumultuous, unrestricted flow of groundwater to run amok. The water washes soil and impurities along with the run off, salts from road maintenance, as well as chemicals used by various processing plants. It is a vicious cycle, As economic prosperity expands, peoples consumption of goods and resources increases, and environmental degradation is usually the result, even when aware, to make the dollar, degradation processes are too often ignored as long as possible (20). Degradation can involve loss of plant life, and biodiversity, as well as pollution of soil and water sources. We need to become more active in defense of animal habitats, because realistically we too are animals, and the biodiversity that is important to wildlife, is equally important to humans. (17) Hillstrom Kevin, Hillstrom Laurie Collier. North America: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues. Edition: illustrated, Published by ABC-CLIO, 2003. P. 43. (18) Hapke Holly M, Goodwin Conrad Mac, Pulsipher Lydia Mihelic, Pulsipher Alex. World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives. Edition: 3, illustrated, Published by Macmillan, 2005. p. 13. (19) Ibid. p. 169. (20). Ibid. P. 455. 7 Johnson and Klemens warn us that Sprawl is leading to the loss of rare and common species and possible species extinction. It is also leading directly to the loss of our natural environment, of ecosystem functioning(21). The ecosystem is a delicate balance, and we can not continue to disregard the warnings. If the ecosystem were to stop functioning the world could become a science fiction movie stage. Imagine a world without birds and bees, our major natural pollinators, and the resulting plant species extinctions that would follow. Plant extinctions would be soon followed by animal extinctions, right on down the food chain. This stark truth could very well come true in the not so distant future, if humans do not make changes to accommodate the animals we share the earth with. One of the biggest changes that could occur, that would help slow the detrimental progress of urban sprawl, would be to adopt more compact development planning. Instead of subdivisions spread across hundreds of acres, connected by a network of roads to the strip malls a few miles in one direction, and the factories a few miles in the opposite direction, plan more considerately, keep the sprawl to a minimum. Also when in the planning process, demand developers leave larger buffer zones, as well as intact habitat corridors to allow wildlife unrestricted movement between the islands of adequate habitat. Stricter oversight, and regulation of corporations discharging waste into the environment is a must, for wildlife and their habitat, and for humans as well. It is a shame that in this age of technology, the scientific community seems to have thought of everything geared towards production and convenience, and yet neglected to foresee the destruction of our environment that has resulted. Works Cited: Emel Jody, Wolch Jennifer. Animal Geographies: Place, Politics, and Identity in the Nature-culture Borderlands, Edition: illustrated, Published by Verso, 1998. Hapke Holly M, Goodwin Conrad Mac, Pulsipher Lydia Mihelic, Pulsipher Alex. World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives. Edition: 3, illustrated, Published by Macmillan, 2005. Hillstrom Kevin, Hillstrom Laurie Collier. North America: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues. Edition: illustrated, Published by ABC-CLIO, 2003.

Development of an Entrenched Constitution

Development of an Entrenched Constitution How Entrenched or rigid should a states Constitution be? A constitution is defined as a frame of political society, organised through and by law; that is to say one in which law has established permanent institutions with recognised functions and definitive rights (Wolf-Phillips, 1972:7). Thus a Constitution in itself is a legal framework through and by which a state is governed. This essay will asses factors that benefit and hinder constitutions based upon their depth of entrenchment. An entrenched constitution will usually be derived from a single codified document which will itself set special procedure Different from that needed to amendment of extra constitutional law, (Wolf- Philips, 1968: xiv) to allow amendments to be made. These codified constitutions are thus often difficult to amend due to the checks and balances built into the constitutional amendment procedure, to protect existing systems and institutions from radical short term ideas. Conversely less entrenched constitutions are demonstrated through uncodified constitutions. These constitutions that outline the rules by which government and society function are not contained within a single document but are instead set out in a variety of forms, from statute law, to general conventions and also respected and influential academic writings. Here it is the case that no special procedures are required for amendment (Norton, 1982:9). This essay will attempt to argue that equilibrium needs to be established between entrenchment and flexibility, to ensure that basic civil rights of citizens are outlined and entrenched, but that ultimately the hands of democratically elected persons should not be tied when taking important decisions by an overarching entrenched document smothering any political or societal advancement. A major and frequent criticism of an entrenched constitution derives from their very defining factor, namely that they are difficult to change and amend (Hague, 2007:261). This Critique is based upon the fact that as society changes, new challenges are faced by politics and that untimely a constitution constructed in some cases centuries before will not adapt and evolve to these needs and thus may become constrictive to generations requiring decision not explicitly contained within the document. An example of a constitutional principle that illustrates this immovable nature of entrenched constitutions is the Basic Law of Germany where any proposed changes to articles, one and twenty are inadmissible. Thus it is both theoretically and practically impossible for any changes to be made to these two articles that ensure Germanys Federal system and outline basic human rights of the German citizens. This explicit entrenchment although may be critiqued due to its cemented nature has to be taken in the context of the specific state to evaluate whether this ultimate entrenchment is justified. The German constitution was formed following the defeat of Hitlers fascism throughout Europe. Following this time of great instability it was agreed that the principle of decentralised administrative and governmental authority, (Wolf- Phillips, 1968:24) should be the key principle of any future German political system. This entrenched federalism was designed to stop future authoritarian governme nts taking power as power would now be distributed throughout the state. In this case the entrenchment of certain clauses within a constitution may be Justified due to the individual provenance of a state thus possibly undermining the critique that cementing certain clauses prevents organic evolution of a states political system. Instead entrenchment aids in protecting and guaranteeing certain standards government and society and thus ensuring if not political development, political stability. Although the above example highlights an instance where entrenchment of certain clauses may be beneficial in maintaining stability of government, not all clauses seem as rational to be entrenched as the ones described above. A Constitution that may be critiqued for its apparent outdated nature due to its arguably over entrenchment is the United States Constitution. The second article amending the Constitution affirms citizens rights to keep and bear arms (Wolf- Philips, 1968:213). This example highlights the exact problem with having a too entrenched constitution. When this specific article of the constitution was framed into law in 1791, the need for the individual to protect themselves against attack from others or indeed an over powerful state was no doubt a legitimate reason to allow for citizens to carry firearms. However, many would argue that this article is outdated and also irrational not least due to Americas stature as proprietor of modern day democratic values. Although in theory this article could be changed through a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and approval by three-quarters of the states (Hague, 2007: 263), this type of amendment is very unlikely to take place however due to the separated American political system with three branches of government, often of different ideological stances vowing for influence cou pled with notoriously weak party allegiances making the legislative process very inefficient. In this case a too entrenched document can be seen as protecting irrational out of date clauses thus weakening the argument for entrenched constitutions. On the other hand however this feature of entrenched constitutions as housing outdated yet immovable clauses can be seen as a great strength in ensuring law abides to civil rights of individuals. For example the first 12 amendments to be made to the Constitution of the United States are known as the Bill of Rights, these amendments guarantee freedoms and explicit rights of all Citizens of the Union (Mckeever, 1999: 46). A constitution containing explicit rights to citizens entrenched in the same way as the US Constitution ensure that it would be virtually impossible to neglect these rights in any laws proposed by government. This entrenchment of rights within a constitution may be particularly useful in states with very diverse populations where the rights of many different groups need to be protected both from government and others by an entrenched constitution outlining protection of minorities. Flexible Constitutions however often lack this explicit definition of human rights. Britain lacks a bill of rights, (Norton, 1982: 245) thus in theory, parliament has the legal ability to sacrifice rights of citizens due to the lack of an entrenched document protecting liberty of citizens. Therefore for many human rights activist groups an entrenched bill of rights is paramount to any modern state to outline citizens basic rights and to limit government power over the individual, thus strengthening the argument for more entrenched constitutions. Another potential strength of entrenched constitutions is their ability to be interpreted and thus viewed in a more flexible light. This occurs through processed carried out by Supreme and Constitutional courts. For example the Supreme Court in the USA makes decision based upon the interpretation of the constitution in modern day circumstance. This process to some extent can provide a constitution that although may have been framed centuries earlier, relevance to modern day circumstance through interpretation. This interpretation allows a historic document to act as a relevant legal framework with application to modern society. Within American political institutions the Supreme court is the final arbiter of the meaning of the Constitution (McKay, 2005:281), this strengthens the concept of an entrenched constitution as ultimately the constitution, although entrenched still allows flexibility and relevance through open interpretation by a supreme law interpreting body. (McKay, 2005:51) The British Constitution is largely regarded as one of the most flexible or least entrenched constitutions largely due to its uncodified nature. The British Constitution requires no special amendment procedure and can be altered by any piece of statute law. This has led the British constitution to be labelled as a living organism of perpetual growth and change (Norton, 1982:23). This fluid nature allows the constitution to grow and react to changes in society which allows the constitution to directly combat short term problems that may face the state. An example this organic nature can be derived from legislative procedure following the London terrorist bombings in July 2005. Here members of parliament voted to extend the detention of terror suspects to 28 days. This action in many states with entrenched constitutions would have been in opposition to principles set within the Bill of Rights. For example the USA Constitution stipulates that No person shall be held to answer for a capital and be informed of the nature and cause of their accusation. (Finer, 1995: 117). Thus any changes that are to be made to detention time without charge in the USA would be subject to great scrutiny to assess whether any increase is accepted within the nature of the constitution. Here we can see one of the possible weaknesses of an entrenched constitution in reacting to new threats as cases where supposed terror suspects may need to be held for longer gaining protection from a constitution failing to evolve to meet modern day threats, thus providing potential strength for a less entrenched and more reactionary constitution. Despite this ability for less entrenched constitutions to react to short term issues within society, many defenders of more entrenched documents see the ability to place civil liberties under threat so easily through a simple change in ordinary legislation as a terminal flaw of flexible easily modified constitutions. The stability and uniform nature of age old, entrenched documents has the same effect on law and society that is not too be too reactionary and volatile. Many groups have critiqued the 28 day detention without charge holding period as fundamentally against individuals civil liberties but have little formal ways to attack such policies due to the none entrenchment of civil liberties within the constitution. Overall we can see that both Entrenched and more flexible constitutions have strengths and weaknesses. Entrenched constitutions can become outdated and restrictive on dealing with current issues through a difficult amendment procedure. However, their entrenchment can provide a state with stability which is especially useful after revolution or war. Entrenched Constitutions have the benefit of protecting the explicit right of citizens within a Bill of Rights. On the other hand a more flexible constitution can evolve and grow as society changes around it. This helps politicians to not feel constrained to deal with current issues that face society. Despite this a flexible constitution may be reactionary and dangerous if not employed in the right type of system resulting in the possible abuse of civil liberties for short term reactionary policies. Here it is arguable that the type of Constitution a state employs largely depends on the circumstances within that individual sate. For example it is easy to see that post World War Two Germany required an entrenched constitution which guaranteed the separation of powers and human rights for citizens. On the other hand however Britain has arguably been a great promoter of democratic values where a more flexible constitution is seen as a virtue through the ability to change and amend the direction of the state without the need for ultimate written entrenchment. In conclusion it will be offered that although a state should always have some written and entrenched articles largely relating to the human rights of citizens, constitutional formulation should always based upon individual circumstance that dictates the extent a constitution should be entrenched. In an entrenched constitution however it must always be the case that a supreme court is present to interpret the Constitution for application to individual cases to keep the constitution relevant and living in modern society. References Finer S E, Bogdanor Vernon, Rudden Bernard (1995), Comparing Constitutions, New York: Oxford University press. Hague Rod, Harrop Martin (1982) seventh edition (2007), Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. McKay David (1983), Sixth edition (2005), American Politics and Society, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. McKeever Robert, Zvesper John, Maidment Richard (1999), Politics USA, Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Norton Philip (1982), The Constitution in Flux, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Phillips-Wolf Leslie (1968), Constitutions of Modern States, London: Pall Mall Press. Phillips-Wolf Leslie (1972), Studies in Comparative Politics: Comparative Constitutions, London: Government and Opposition. Bibliography Finer S E, Bogdanor Vernon, Rudden Bernard (1995), Comparing Constitutions, New York: Oxford University press. Garner, Robert. Ferdinand Peter. Lawson Stephanie (2009), Introduction to Politics, New York: Oxford University press. Hague Rod, Harrop Martin (1982) seventh edition (2007), Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. King Anthony (2007), The British Constitution, New York: Oxford University Press. McKay David (1983), Sixth edition (2005), American Politics and Society, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. McKeever Robert, Zvesper John, Maidment Richard (1999), Politics USA, Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Mount Ferdinand (1993), The British Constitution Now: Recovery or Decline, London: Mandarin Paperbacks. Norton Philip (1982), The Constitution in Flux, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Phillips-Wolf Leslie (1968), Constitutions of Modern States, London: Pall Mall Press. Phillips-Wolf Leslie (1972), Studies in Comparative Politics: Comparative Constitutions, London: Government and Opposition. Sunstein Cass (2001), Designing Democracy: What Constitutions Do, New York: Oxford University Press.

Strategic Management Essay -- essays research papers

Strategic Management QUESTION The study of the external environment is a crucial step in the mapping of business strategy for an organization. Discuss how the assessment of external forces can be performed with business examples to support your analysis. CONTENT PAGE 1. Question Paper 2 2. Introduction 3 3. PEST Analysis 4 (3.1) Political Legal Environment 4 (3.2) Economic Environment 4 (3.3) Social Environment 5 (3.4) Technological Environment 5 4. Industry Analysis 5 5. The Michael Porter Five Forces 6 (5.1) Threat Of New Entrants 7 (5.2) Rivalry of existing firms 7 (5.3) Threats of substitutes 7 (5.4) Bargaining power of buyer 8 (5.5) Bargaining power of suppliers 9 6. Conclusion 9 7. Bibliography 10 8. References 10 Introduction Business environment is an element that will affect all the activities of an organization. Beside, it will bring firms both opportunities and threats because of its uncertainties. Business environment is uncertain, complex & dynamics; organization should apply more flexibility & discontinuity ways to manage them. A firm cannot control the environment because it is unpredictable in its direction and speed of change, such as interest rates, rate of inflation and exchange rate. Business environment can classifies in two categories that are internal environment and external environment. Internal factors close to the company that have a direct impact on the organizations strategy, these factors include employee, customer, suppliers, shareholder, banker etc. External environment comprises those factors and trends outside the organisation that might have an influence upon an organisation and its future. Many external factors can have an effect upon an organisation - from changes in government legislation to the entry of new competition into a market.... ...; more the fact that your supplier realizes you can do it and so needs to respond accordingly Bibliography : http://IMBA 702 Cases.htm Strategic Management and Business Policy Entering 21st Century Global Society (Sixth edition) ?Thomas L. Wheelen & J.David Hunger http://www.Marketing Environment.htm References: Strategic Management and Business Policy Entering 21st Century Global Society (Sixth edition) ?Thomas L. Wheelen & J.David Hunger Business Policy and Strategic Management (Fifth Edition) ?Lawrence R. Jauch & William F.Glueck. Management of Business for GCE A Level & LCCI (2nd Edition) ?Vincent Gabriel Management (Third Edition) ?Kathryn M Bartol & David C Martin Strategic Management Awareness and Chance (Third Edition) ?John L Thompson Strategic Management Theory and Pratice ?G.A.Cole BA MA MIPD MIMgt, Strategic Management (International Edition) ?Alex Miller Gregory G.Dess Strategic Management (McGRAW-HILL International Edition) ?Gregory G.Dess & Alex Miller http://www. Porter's Five Forces.htm http://www.IMBA 702 Cases.htm http://www.Marketing Environment.htm http://www. Business Competition.htm http://Activity 1 - PESTEL analysis.htm

Issues Raised by Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software :: Plagiarism Detection Software

Issues Raised by Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software This past week, I worked with a couple of other members of the Writing Department at GVSU to prepare a position statement on plagiarism detection software. GVSU only recently acquired a subscription to Turnitin, and myself and the other teachers were concerned that teachers in other disciplines would be unware of the issues surrounding plagiarism detection services. The following is the full text of the statement which has been distributed on our campus. Note: CCCC-IP has begun a resource page on plagiarism detection services. Issues Raised by Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software Overview Recently, Grand Valley State University purchased a site license to plagiarism detection service Turnitin.com. Faculty members who use this service can require students to submit writing assignments electronically to Turnitin, which compares student texts against Turnitin’s database of Internet sites, academic journals index, and previously student submitted papers and prepares a report indicating where in the text plagiarism has been detected. Writing submitted to Turnitin is maintained in the database for comparison against future submissions by other students. Scholars and teachers in the field of Rhetoric and Composition, as well as other academics, have discouraged the use of plagiarism detection services. We recommend that before using this service, faculty members consider several important issues raised by the use of Turnitin. Turnitin Discourages Good Pedagogical Practices Concerning Writing Because Turnitin compares student writing against a database of articles, previously submitted student writing, and web pages, it’s most easily used as a plagiarism detection service. Such use emphasizes the policing of student behavior and texts over good-faith assumptions about students’ integrity, and can shift attention away from teaching students how to avoid plagiarism in the first place. In â€Å"Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices,† the Council of Writing Program Administrators urges teachers to â€Å"use plagiarism detection services cautiously,† for they should â€Å"never be used to justify the avoidance of responsible teaching methods.† We recommend that teachers work toward implementing the WPA’s best practices as a long-term solution to eliminating plagiarism and building a culture of responsible participation in the creation and circulation of academic knowledge. The Writing Department and the Fred Meijer Center for Writing will be happy to host a workshop on sound pedagogical practices for eliminating plagiarism. Turnitin Can Be Ineffective for Detecting Plagiarism Experimentation by researchers and instructors has indicated that Turnitin can be ineffective in catching student plagiarism of Internet sources or can produce otherwise inaccurate results (e. Issues Raised by Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software :: Plagiarism Detection Software Issues Raised by Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software This past week, I worked with a couple of other members of the Writing Department at GVSU to prepare a position statement on plagiarism detection software. GVSU only recently acquired a subscription to Turnitin, and myself and the other teachers were concerned that teachers in other disciplines would be unware of the issues surrounding plagiarism detection services. The following is the full text of the statement which has been distributed on our campus. Note: CCCC-IP has begun a resource page on plagiarism detection services. Issues Raised by Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software Overview Recently, Grand Valley State University purchased a site license to plagiarism detection service Turnitin.com. Faculty members who use this service can require students to submit writing assignments electronically to Turnitin, which compares student texts against Turnitin’s database of Internet sites, academic journals index, and previously student submitted papers and prepares a report indicating where in the text plagiarism has been detected. Writing submitted to Turnitin is maintained in the database for comparison against future submissions by other students. Scholars and teachers in the field of Rhetoric and Composition, as well as other academics, have discouraged the use of plagiarism detection services. We recommend that before using this service, faculty members consider several important issues raised by the use of Turnitin. Turnitin Discourages Good Pedagogical Practices Concerning Writing Because Turnitin compares student writing against a database of articles, previously submitted student writing, and web pages, it’s most easily used as a plagiarism detection service. Such use emphasizes the policing of student behavior and texts over good-faith assumptions about students’ integrity, and can shift attention away from teaching students how to avoid plagiarism in the first place. In â€Å"Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices,† the Council of Writing Program Administrators urges teachers to â€Å"use plagiarism detection services cautiously,† for they should â€Å"never be used to justify the avoidance of responsible teaching methods.† We recommend that teachers work toward implementing the WPA’s best practices as a long-term solution to eliminating plagiarism and building a culture of responsible participation in the creation and circulation of academic knowledge. The Writing Department and the Fred Meijer Center for Writing will be happy to host a workshop on sound pedagogical practices for eliminating plagiarism. Turnitin Can Be Ineffective for Detecting Plagiarism Experimentation by researchers and instructors has indicated that Turnitin can be ineffective in catching student plagiarism of Internet sources or can produce otherwise inaccurate results (e.

Grandpa Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

Grandpa My grandpa was one of the most caring and understanding men that I have ever known. He always found a way to make us happy, whether he was dressing- up as Santa Claus, on Christmas Eve, or building us tree houses. His death greatly affected both my grandma and I. The shock of my grandpa’s death totally devastated me. I found out that my grandpa died one night after my mom picked my brother and I up from day care. We went over to our grandma’s house on a weeknight, which was unusual, because we always spent time with our grandparents on the weekends. When we got to our grandma’s house we saw that our dad and our aunt were sitting in the living room with our grandma. This was very unusual, because our dad lives in Prescott, and our aunt works on the other side of Phoenix from where my grandma lives. All three of them looked very somber. I was still pretty young, so I did not realize what was happening, and I asked where our grandpa was. The second I finished my question, dad started sobbing, and said â€Å"Son, grandpa is dead.† He said my grandpa died of a massive heart-attack at about three o’clock that morning. He said there was nothing that the paramedics could have done. I could see there was a spot of bl ood on the floor right where my grandpa died and the paramedics had tried to revive him to no avail. The truth hit me like a freight train, and I began to cry. I did not stop crying until I fell asleep at about two o’ clock the next morning. I did not know what ...

All Quiet on the Western Front by E.M. Remarque

â€Å"This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession†¦ It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war† states Erich Maria Remarque in the very beginning of his most known novel All Quiet on the Western Front. This book blames the war on damaging young people and states how they will never adapt back to normal life and accuses people who don't even fight in the war of starting it for no reason. The narrator of the story, Paul, talks about his experience with the war turning these sane men into heaps of madness, and how the war was completely unnecessary and does not do the country any good. Paul says while on leave, â€Å"Out there I was indifferent and often hopeless– I will never be able to be so again. I was a soldier, and now I am nothing but an agony for myself, my mother, for everything that is so comfortless and without end†.(p. 185) This evidence shows that the war causes the soldiers to feel uncomfortable with the world outside after the war. The war changes the soldiers into people who teach others to kill and don't even know the reason. For example, one night while Paul volunteered for patrol, shelling started so he got into a shell hole to take cover. A Frenchman later jumps into the hole with Paul but Paul has to stab him. While in the hole with the Frenchman's lifeless body Paul talks to him he says, â€Å"Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony–Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?†(p.223) this shows that even the soldiers don't like the fact that they fight these people for no reason, that they all have rights as people and they all show fear so why would they fight each other. While on leave Paul speaks to two gentlemen who offer him cigars, while talking to the gentlemen one says, â€Å"but this relates to the whole. And of that, you are not able to judge. You see only your little sector and so cannot have any general survey. You do your duty, you risk your lives, that deserves the highest honor–every man.†, this shows that people who don't even fight in the war think that they know more about what goes on than the soldiers who actually fight in the battle. Another way the book shows that the soldiers don't want the war and that it only helps a select few takes place on page 206. One quote on this page reads † every full-grown emperor requires at least one war otherwise he would not be famous†¦ there are other people back behind there who profit from the war, that's for certain.† this blames the government for needing a war because they believe it would make them go down in history as a great nation and that the war's only purpose consisted of a government wanting too much power. â€Å"I think it is more of a kind of fever no one, in particular, wants it, and then all at once there, it is. We didn't want the war, the others say the same thing– and yet half the world's in it all the same.†(p.206) this quote comes up when Paul and his comrades talked about the significance of the war and why they fought the war. It states that the people never wanted or needed the war in the first place the government wanted to show that they had power. Remarque accuses the government with this statement because he writes about the people and the soldiers not wanting the war for many reasons such as food, materials, and money, but yet the war still took place. All in all this book accuses the war and the government of the death of these young men and for ruining their lives. The war did not need to take place and many people did not like the war. The war caused young men to get drafted and not have proper training on the battlefield causing more casualties. All of these things make All Quiet on the Western Front what remarque said it wouldn't turn into, an accusation.