Martin Luther King Jr. Essay -- American History

Martin Luther King Jr. On the first day of school, sophomore year, my history teacher presented me with the question of "Who is your hero?" I didn’t have a hero, and until then I hadn’t thought about the subject. Later in the year, my eyes caught a quotation from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the bulletin board which stated somewhat to this effect, "Do not merely be a thermometer that records the ideas and principles of popular opinion; but rather a thermostat that transforms the mores of society." Out of all the quotes that had been posted over the year, it was this one that caught my attention and captured my emotion. When I would read it, I felt as if something inside me had been sparked. Little did I know that this man whom I had come to know for the "I have a dream speech" and civil rights would come to be my hero. After reading "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence" while studying the civil rights movement I became intrigued in the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolence seemed like such a radical concept to me, yet I found myself agreeing with every point that he made. The va...

Analyze the impact of geography and economic Essay

Geography and economic activity often determine the future of any civilization. Here, one is forced to admit that most of the obvious differences among the ancient civilization can be drawn based on their geographical location and, of course, their economic history (Wells, 561). Let us take the example of Roman and Mesopotamian civilizations. Roman civilization is centered on a powerful city situated on the Capitoline Hills. In the beginning of Rome’s history, most of the people were either farmers or small-scale traders. When Rome expanded into central and southern Italy at the beginning of the Punic Wars, its policy-makers were faced with this fundamental question, â€Å"How do we protect our trade interests? † The answer was expansionism. Rome acquired territories in the East either by conquest or forced capitulation of kingdoms (for example, Bithynia and Pergamum). Rome’s economic interests led to the expansion of the Roman Republic. When this republic was becoming larger and larger, the need for a more despotic, efficient form of government was becoming a reality. From 88 B. C. to 31 B. C. , the Republic became an avenue of power struggle between powerful public officials. (Such necessity was never a probabilistic tendency, rather a deterministic one) Rome, in 100 B. C. was not yet a center of trade and commerce. As such, only by expansion can Rome protect its economic interests (Wells, 585). The Mesopotamian civilization is situated on the so-called ‘Fertile Crescent’ or the junction of the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers. Its geographical location was suited for trade and commerce. In fact, it was the center of trade in the Middle East, controlling the flow of goods from the ‘Far East’ to the Pillars of Hercules (Toynbee, 266). Hence, most of the city-states founded on the Fertile Crescent were prosperous and relatively peaceful. Wars usually occurred as a means of settling disputes among rulers of city-states. Expansionism was never an important issue. Unlike Rome, most of the city-states preferred to negotiate rather than engage in costly wars. For example, when Uruk defeated a powerful city-state in 1560 B. C. , it was faced with an important fundamental question, â€Å"Is it necessary to occupy the city-state? † The answer was an obvious no. Occupation only entailed increased cost and resentment from the local population. It was more rational to keep the city under constant political surveillance than to actually occupy it. Only at the time of Sargon that was political view radically altered. 2. What do surviving works (art or architecture) tell us about culture? Compare pagan art to Christian art and Greek art to Roman art. Art and architecture define the ideology and prevailing beliefs of particular historical periods (Zaide, 419). Historical periods here do not simply refer to space and time, rather to actual events conforming to specific ideologies (Zaide, 420). Art and architecture also define the way of life of particular groups of people located in specific milieu. Hence, one may argue that works of art generally reflect the exterior and interior tendencies of people; that is, works of art define the psychology and behavior of peoples. For example, the painting ‘The Night watch† (by Rembrandt) reflects the ideological resistance of the Dutch nation against Spanish imperialism. Christian art is essentially different from pagan art in two respects. First, Christian art rests on the twin principles of equality (not to be confused with the ‘equality’ espoused by the French Revolution) and simplicity (Zaide, 549). Early Christian art depicted the symbolic reign of Christ on earth; this is symbolic of the simplicity of Christian life. During the reign of Constantine the Great, Christian art (although still rests on the concept of simplicity) became the emblem of imperial authority and the Divine Trinity (note that early Christian art only depicted the image of Christ). Constantine the Great ordered the construction of great basilicas to proclaim this new interpretation of Christian art. Second, Christian art centered on a single set of ideology. Christian art and philosophy centered on the nature of the Divine Trinity, the simplicity of Christian life, and the majesty of the Roman Church. Pagan art was a ‘hot spot’ of eastern, Greek, and Roman religious philosophy. Pagan art was simply the result of the mixture of pagan philosophies. Roman art is different from Greek art in two respects. First, Roman art was generally a modification of Greek art. The invention of concrete during the 1st century A. D. greatly advanced Roman art and architecture. For example, the simple amphitheatre of the Greeks was transformed into a colosseum. Concrete allowed the construction of more complex structures. Second, Greek art was essentially religious in character (this is assertion is debatable for some historians). Roman art and architecture was a mixture of religious and political philosophies. Works Cited Toynbee, Arnold. A History of the World. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1964. Wells, Herbert. An Outline of History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1947. Zaide, Gregorio. History of Art. Manila: Manila Publishing Company.

Abstract Apple Inc

Abstract Apple Inc. is one of the world’s largest technology companies dealing in computers and consumer electronic products. Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniack Apple is now a multinational corporate empire who recently boasted a $15. 7 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2010.This study’s objective is to carry out a strategic analysis of Apple Company using different analysis tools. The study aims to cover factors that exist in its internal and external environment and also evaluate how the company utilizes its resources to maintain competitive advantage in the market.Three different descriptive strategic tools will be used in this study includes SWOT Analysis, PESTLE Analysis and Resource Based View (RBV). The findings from these analyses are used in making conclusions on the study question.From this study it’s clear that Apples extensive brand equity, strong leadership of CEO Steve Jobs, Innovative research & development, fashionable & tre ndy image of its products and the strong branding & customer loyalty forms a great part of its strengths.However this study highlights the rushing of products into the market followed by quick product recalls and the many legal cases the company has been involved in as the major threats. Apple’s ‘iphone’ is the company’s attempt to utilize the available opportunity resulting from the increasing demand for ‘smart phones’.Apple Inc is threatened by poor quality output from its suppliers and the tight market for personal computers. The study recommends product testing be speeded up and the company to find alternatives ways to settle these legal cases to ensure Apple Inc maintains its competitive advantage in the technology market.

Historical Events essays

Historical Events essays In the Baroque Period, there were many changes in belief, science, art, and music. Up to this period, the church controlled everything. The church had an influence over everything. This period could be described as the period when people start to change their ways. Now I will tell you about some of the very important people of this period. Sir Isaac Newton was a very important person in our history. Newton discovered how gravity and inertia work together to keep planets in their regular orbit in space. Also, Newton had a very mathematical mind. He was always solving math equations that had others baffled. Plus, he made new equations, which have helped our society by giving us better education and technology. That is enough about Sir Isaac Newton, now I am going to tell you about architects. There were many famous architects during this period. The first architect I will mention is Carlo Maderno. Maderno is famous for the Santa Susanna building in Rome, Italy. Giacomo Della Porta was famous for the Vignola building also in Rome, Italy. The last one I have to tell you about is Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Bernini did the Palazzo Chigi-Odescalchi that also stands in Rome, Italy. I am sure there were many other architects than what I mentioned in this paragraph, but these are a few of the standout architects of the Baroque Period. The Baroque Period was very much a changing time and turning point for culture in Europe and the colonies. There will probably never be a period like this again. ...

Coming of Age Novels Essays

Coming of Age Novels Essays Coming of Age Novels Essay Coming of Age Novels Essay Coming of age novels, Cold Sassy Tree and To Kill a Mockingbird introduce readers to 14 year old Will Tweedy of Cold Sassy, Georgia and 5 year old Jean Louise â€Å"Scout† Finch of Maycomb County, Alabama. Both characters were brought up in small, close-knit southern towns, with false views of the world, and ignorance to knowledge and experience. As the stories progess however, the two gain a new type of knowledge and realization of the world. Experiences dealing with love, death, racism and discrimination helped the character’s child-like ideas of the world blossom into a more adult-like perspective. Will and Scout had changed in ways both . My paper will further discuss the traits that Scout Finch and Will Tweedy share. Will Tweedy is a teen-aged free spirit, living in Cold Sassy at the beginning of the twentieth century. On July 5, 1906, scandal breaks in the town when Will’s grandfather, Rucker Blakeslee, marries Miss Love Simpson; who is half his age. Rucker married Miss Love barely 3 weeks after his wife Mattie Lou, had died. Scout Finch was only 5 years old when her father, Atticus Finch, took on the role of lawyer for a negro man named Tom Robinson, during the Great Depression. Atticus was talked negatively about throughout the white community of Maycomb. He was thought of as a traitor, and â€Å"nigger lover† (p. 108) Both Will’s and Scout’s families were centers of attention in their towns. Atticus and grandpa Rucker gave them similar adive. Atticus told Scout to pay the name calling no mind, and to stop fighting her classmates when they called him a bad name, or said a bad thing about him. Rucker tells Will to discard the social constraints of Cold Sassy. With the help of these two men, Scout and Will were able to learn how to handle the gossip that spread around town, about their families. Another issue the children were exposed to was discrimination. The blacks in Cold Sassy and Maycomb County, were treated as an inferior race. The blacks of Cold Sassy that worked white households used different dishes for their meals, as Will and Miss Love talked about one morning in the kitchen. â€Å"I mean colored cooks know white people don’t want them using their dishes and things. That’s why they all drink out of jars and eat off of old plates or pie pans. † (P. 205) Scout was first introduced to discrimination with Tom Robinsons trial. On the trial’s ending, Scout learned that blacks are treated differently then whites because they’re a different kind of â€Å"folk†. She also learned that Atticus had no problem defending Tom; and even proved his innocence. But since Tom is black, he was found guilty in the eyes of the white jury. Will Tweedy also has a lesson on love when his relationship with Lightfoot McClendon doesn’t work out. The first time he kissed her, while they were in the cemetary driving his dad’s car, he realized the kiss was a mistake. Lightfoot was a mill girl, and mill town people were looked down upon by the other members of Cold Sassy. After she ran away, Will started to worry about her. It was then that he realized, he had feelings for her in a deep kind of way. The last time he had seen Lightfoot, had been when she came by the store to tell about her engagement to Hosie Roach. Not only was the girl he loved getting married, she was also getting married to Hosie Roach, his enemy. He was saddened about the engagment, but still wished her the best. This lesson on love Will learned was that, love doesn’t always work out the way you might want it to. Scout learns the true meaning of getting to know someone by â€Å"getting in their skin and walking around in it. † (P. 30) Scout used this way of thinking for Boo Radley. Many people in Maycomb thought Boo was a crazy, evil man because of a trial he went through as a teenager. Scout found out however that, that wasn’t the case at all. Boo had done many things for Scout and her brother Jem such as; leaving them gifts in the hollowed tree, stitching up Jem’s pants when he ripped them on the fence, putting a blanket over Scout’s shoulders while she watched the fire, and saving both her and Jem from Mr. Ewells. With all of these nice deeds done for them, Scout concluded that the neighborhood had the wrong idea about Boo, and after walking him home the night he saved them, Scout took a minute to stand out on the porch, and try to see Maycomb the way Boo saw it from his window. Will and Scout both experienced death, but in two different ways. Will’s experiences with death happened with first his grandmother, and then later with his grandfather. Miss Love Simpson had a baby on the way, that Rucker did not know about. Since Will had spent so much time with his grandfather, it was now his job to help take care of the baby, and make sure his grandfather’s legacy is not lost. Scout had experienced death in the forms of her mother and Tom. Scout’s mother had died when she was a baby, so she didn’t remember her much, but her mother’s death affected the way Scout was raised. With her mom dead, Scout was brought up in a household ran by a widowed father, and a colored cook. Both Scout Finch and Will Tweedy learned important lessons at early ages. These lessons are what shaped their now, adult-like perspectives on life, world, people and themselves. Those are some similarities and differences between the two characters.

14 Popular Fantasy Tropes (and How to Revitalize Them)

14 Popular Fantasy Tropes (and How to Revitalize Them) 14 Popular Fantasy Tropes - And How to Make Them Feel New Again Fantasy tropes, like any other type of literary trope, are recurring images, themes, or devices that are used to the point of being common conventions amongst its genre.When writing a genre  such as fantasy  (with such well-known concepts), authors often feel the need to straddle a fine line: include too many tropes and readers will get  dà ©j vu; don’t include a single clichà © and you risk losing readers who have come to expect certain themes and touchstones from a fantasy novel.The thing is, conventions commonly crop up in stories because most of them contain some element of universal relatability - and people enjoy the familiar. Even the best fantasy novels make use of tropes.So embrace the balancing act by acquainting yourself with some of the most popular fantasy tropes out there, and by learning how to prevent your characters, plots, and worlds from becoming a complete clichà ©. 14 popular fantasy tropes - and how to make them feel new again. Character tropesAt their heart, all stories are about characters who represent some aspect of human nature - and fantasy is no exception. Many novels in this  genre feature  archetypes, which is not necessarily a bad thing - so long as your characters' development aligns with the narrative arc and doesn't rely on clichà © pitstops.Tropes: we love to hate them and hate to love them. What are some of your favorites, or most eye-roll-inducing fantasy novel conventions? Let us know in the comments below!

Discuss the role of social medias influence (Twitter, Facebook, and Essay - 2

Discuss the role of social medias influence (Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube) in the lives of children and young teens today - Essay Example The AACAP states that â€Å"60% of 13 to 17 years old have at least one profile on a social networking site† (Aacap 1). Social networking websites have several features and one of the most important features is news and information. Information available on these websites includes academic related information as well as news regarding current events (Strader 98). When children access these features they end up developing insight regarding what is happening in the world around them. This feature even helps them in learning more than what is offered at schools. Social media is even helping children develop and sustain social relationships. Social media such as Facebook allows children to communicate online with other individuals including children from their own schools. OKeeffe states that â€Å"social media allow teens to accomplish various tasks including staying connected with friends† (OKeeffe 1). This helps children in remaining in constant contact with friends at all times. This increase in time spent with friends even leads to increase in the sustaining of relationships with individuals who exist in the virtual as well as the physical world. Social media is even helping children in keeping themselves entertained. Social media such as YouTube allows children to share pictures, videos, music and projects with other social media users (Harlen 122). YouTube helps children in finding their favorite songs and movies and children access these entertaining elements to keep themselves busy and entertained. Children even share their own videos and songs over YouTube to express themselves in front of other social media users. OKeeffe states that social media helps in the â€Å"enhancement of individual and collective creativity through development and sharing of artistic and musical endeavors† (OKeeffe 1). There are