Major Themes of the Quran

Introduction Various people have written about the Quran seeking to find out what it says about God. The Qur’an is an important book to the Muslim society. It provides guidance and directions about God or rather Allah according to Muslims. Muslims believe that the Quran speaks for itself.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Major Themes of the Qur’an specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Various interpretations that have been advanced by different people serve to join the ideas together. Therefore, the Qur’an is a book that contains God’s message to man. The paper delineates on Rahman’s book ‘Major Themes of the Qur’an seeking to explain the relationship between people and God, as well as the main principles that God expects from people. Relationship between people and God according to Rahman’s book â€Å"Major Themes of the Quran† Qur’an is a b ook that is aimed at communicating spiritual information to man. According to Rahman, the relationship between God and man is special and one that is above any other thing that God created. God is the creator of the universe and its composition that includes man to whom he provides guidance. In fact, Rahman says, â€Å"He is Creator and Sustainer of the universe and of man† (1). Accordingly, He will judge man both on individual and collective basis. Everything that goes in the mind of man is known to God because He is the maker and source of life to man. This is captured in the quote, â€Å"We created man and we know the negative whisperings of his mind are and we are near to him than his jugular vein† (Rahman 2). This shows that man is indeed close to God in terms of appearance and likeness. He is the only one who understands what is going to happen to man. God is a merciful God. His judgment to man is based on mercy after man having fallen short of His glory. God hav ing created man in His own image explains the reason behind His mercy. The relationship therefore between God and man is that of a master and a servant. Man is required to serve God besides being obedient to Him because He is the one who created him. â€Å"Qur’an is man and his behavior, not God’s’ (Rahman 2). Therefore, the relationship that exists between God and man is centered on judgment, either as individual, collective, or social existence. Qur’an is centered on the behavior of man, as it seeks to highlight the conducts of man and the need for man to respect and obey the teachings of God. Man has a duty to seek God to be able to find Him and know him. Man has this duty and should he be unable to find or seek God, he cannot find his grace and love. â€Å"If you cannot find God you will never prove him†, â€Å"the only straight path leads to God† (Rahman 2).Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, the relationship between God and man is based on seeking and finding. Man has needs/problems. To find a solution to the challenges, he is mandated to seek God’s indulgence. Rahman argues that God is infinite. He cannot be equated to any other thing that He created. Everything that is on earth is going to vanish except God. Human beings or rather man is one of God’s creations that will be taken away when the last day comes. â€Å"Everything thereon is vanishing†¦remaining only the Face of Your Lord† (Rahman 3). Therefore, man has the duty to continue serving Him to enter God’s kingdom. Those who discern Him or run away from Him will face His wrath. â€Å"Do not be like those who forgot God and [eventually] God caused them to forget themselves† (Rahman 3). According to Rahman, the purpose of man is to â€Å"serve God† (6). God has entrusted man with knowled ge and potentialities to use the armor of God and the nature that God has created him to serve Him. Man has the discretion to use the knowledge and everything that God has created in the universe to do according to His will. Man has the freedom of doing either good or bad. The decision is dependent on man’s choice that God has given him. God communicates with man through various messages that He sends to help in his judgment and choice of doing either good or bad. The relationship between God and man is based on faith in God. Man is required to have faith in God and besides abiding by His words. Therefore, those who deny the existence of God such as the materialistic atheists who do not believe in God have their places when God comes back to judge their deeds. The relationship of God and man comes into reality because God provides unity and value to man. God and man are friends. In fact, Rahman says, â€Å"God, then, becomes the friend of and cooperates with a person who has ‘discovered Him† (8). This friendship is only established when man seeks or finds God. When man searches for God and finds Him, they two form a positive/mutual relationship. Man can therefore find shelter and a home in God. He can therefore seek assistance from God. According to Rahman, God will not judge people based on all the lapses that they committed. However, He is gong to judge them based on their overall performance. If their performance is good, the other lapses that human beings or man has committed shall not be factored in during the judgment day. The Quran, as Rahman reveals, has various scriptures that â€Å"indicate that God will pardon or overlook men’s lapses provided the overall performance is good and beneficial† (21). This shows that the relationship of God and man is indeed not bad but one that is formed based on sympathy and mercy. This is also demonstrated in the quote â€Å"God does not require from any person what is beyond his or her power† (Rahman 21). God will only judge individuals based on their scope of knowledge and power.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Major Themes of the Qur’an specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Main principles that God is expecting from people according to Rahman’s book According to Rahman book, God expects man to follow and do according to His will. God has given man wisdom and knowledge. He has given him the mandate to rule over other creations in the universe. However, God expects man to serve Him by always doing well according to His will. Those people or human beings who go against the will of God are expected to face harsh treatment or punishment. This is quoted in the book, â€Å"for his real nature is to be exalted† (Rahman 15). Man has to struggle through thick and thin to find the path of life. God has done this intentionally and out of His mercy to ensure that Man do es not suffer or go into hell. Furthermore, God requires people to trust and believe in Him. He is the alpha and omega. Therefore, people should not go in their own ways. Any person who removes God in His/her conscience removes the purpose and the meaning of his/her life. He/she is classified as an unrighteous person. God expects man to follow His own nature as opposed to other creatures, which must follow their nature automatically. God has given man the privilege to choose from what is good and bad. There are many vicissitudes in the life of human beings. Therefore, man should be very careful to avoid falling away from God. God expects people to follow His commandants. When God created Adam and breathed in him life, He expected him to abide by the laws and the rules that he was given by God. However, he went against the will of God to commit sin. Rahman says, â€Å"they are contented to live their lives from day to day, indeed from hour to hour, â€Å"they are like cattle, indee d, worse† (14). God also expects people to respect and uphold the principle of equality. All human beings are equal before God. Therefore, they should respect one another. People should not be proud even after God uplifts them. People need to respect their fellow human beings. This is even agitated by the Quran, â€Å"the reason the Quran emphasizes essential human equality†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Rahman 31). Furthermore, God expects people to respect His commands because He is the creator of all the living things, people inclusive. God has created every living and nonliving thing with measure. Therefore, people need to abide by God and respect His commandments. â€Å"We have created everything with a measure†¦if things should break their laws and violate their measure; there would be not an ordered universe, but chaos† (Rahman 46). Rahman also asserts that men are selfish, pride, and narrow-minded, as they worship their gods instead of worshipping God who created them. Th ey run away from the truth by opting to shortcuts where they engage in activities or actions that are against the will of God. God however expects people to come near Him to know Him better besides worshipping Him to be set free. People get involved in falsehood. According to Rahman, men â€Å"†¦worship of false gods, the holy seems unholy, and vice versa† (Rahman 74).Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More God expects people to have fear of His name. The fear of God in literal sense means that people need to respect and recognize the existence of a supernatural being who is beyond them and one who requires honor and praise. God is the one who formed the universe and created man. Therefore, He has the mandate to command everything under the universe because it is through His name and powers that all the things under the universe came into being. Rahman refers it as the â€Å"fear of God, and piety† (Rahman 18). Muslims are discarding these words because they take the meaning of the words literary. Every person has the freedom to interpret the words in his/her own way. Hence, men have the right to interpret the words the way they wish. However, the words mean honoring and recognizing God as the only one requiring their praise and fear Conclusion Through his book, ‘Major Themes of the Qur’an’, Rahman has managed to simplify the meaning of the Qur’an. He has interpolated the relationship that exists between God and people. Besides, he has gone further to portray some of the principles that God requires people to uphold. Thus, the book is interesting and a must-read based on the way it provides a limelight of what Qur’an entails. Works Cited Rahman, Fazlur. Major themes of Quran. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2009. Print. This research paper on Major Themes of the Qur’an was written and submitted by user Sharon Kaufman to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

buy custom Chemical Weapons essay

buy custom Chemical Weapons essay Chemical weapons can as well be termed as weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). These weapons have the ability of killing masses and causing large-scale harm to the human race, man-made structures, and even mountains. The only country to have used such weapons of mass destruction was the United States against Japan during the World War II. The results were catastrophic with over 120,000 people perishing and a further 200 000 people dying due to cancer and other forms of infection due to exposure of the radiations (Prasad, 2009). In general, chemical weapons use the noxious properties of chemical substances relatively to their explosive properties in order to produce physiological effects on the enemy. Chemical weapons fall under three categories: Nerve agents, blister, and choking agents. Types of chemical material weapons: Sarin: This type of chemical mateials were once used by arum terrorists in 1995 to attack the Tokyo subway lines and left twelve people dead plus other 5000 wounded. Cyanides: cyanide is used in many plastic as well as chemical products. It is very toxic and has very high concentration which can lead to rapid death. The US vulnerabilities to chemical weapons Like any other first world country, the US has its own of enemies, and especially most of the terrorist groups. The director of central intelligence in the country once testified that United States was poorly equipped to defend itself against any form of terrorist armed with such chemicals or biological weapons (Prasad, 2009). Nuclear materials have found way into the black markets and that poses great danger to the nations homeland and national security. Terrorist attacks like the September 11th have prroven that the country is vulnerable from attacks either from sea or air. Terrorist developing chemical weapons Its believed some terrorist groups like the al-Qaeda may poses some chemical weapons. This is a great dander to many nations who are in fight against terrorism and a danger to countries who are allies to the US to. During the Iran-Iraq war in 1991 its believed that Iran used some chemical nerve agents against Iraq. With attacks in Tokyo subways by the Arum terrorist group, whereby chemical materials were used it shows the great length these people can god to distort a nations security and harm people (Prasad, 2009). Chemical weapons are therefore very dangerous and should not be used in any situation. Any form of warfare involving the use of such weapon can result in catastrophic effects, deaths, destruction of nature and even man-made features. Buy custom Chemical Weapons essay

Jerusalem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Jerusalem - Essay Example Being at the center of the Israel – Palestine dispute, the city has been besieged twenty-three times, destroyed twice, attacked 52 times and captured and recaptured about 44 times, its status still an unresolved matter at the core of the two disputing countries (Bard, 2009). The annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel has been criticized by the United Nations (UN) and other international bodies, while Palestinians demand East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, creating the now stalemate status of the conflict (ibid.). A UN Security Council Resolution 478 passed in 1980 gave the signal for most foreign embassies to move out of Jerusalem, and, on October 28, 2009, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized on the need for Israel and Palestine to agree on having Jerusalem as their mutual capital to achieve peace in the region (UN News Center online, 28 October 2009). Jerusalem must remain an undivided city, and the eternal capital of Israel under the Israeli control, since it rightfully belongs to the Israelis by historical and by religious significance as well as based on political and socio-demographic accounts. Politically, Jerusalem has been declared as Israel’s own. In the 1993 Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles (DoP), the status of Jerusalem is left open, but that Palestinian Council’s jurisdiction does not include the city, as confirmed by the Prime Minister Rabin statement that Jerusalem is not included in any sphere of the prerogatives of any body that will conduct Palestinian affairs in the territories, leaving Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty (Bard, 2009). Further, the same agreement states that the final status of Jerusalem will be based on the UN Security Council’s Resolutions 242 and 338, which both do not mention and refer to Jerusalem in any way, as it deliberately omitted by the UN Security Cou ncil (Ibid.). Likewise, historically

Buying gold during a rescission its a good idea Research Paper

Buying gold during a rescission its a good idea - Research Paper Example At the same time gold prices are raising sharply and many of the current investors believe that investments on gold may bring better returns to them in future. This paper argues in favor of buying gold as the safe investment option during a recession period â€Å"When you see the Fed start buying their own treasuries from China and Japan, hyperinflation and default will be just around the corner. Gold and Silver provide the peace of mind one will need whenever that day arrives† (Eberhardt, p.26). Even though the prices of gold and silver experienced certain ups and downs in the past, no major collapse of gold prices has been reported yet. Most of the emerging countries like China and India are purchasing more gold and keeping a good gold stock. When we compare the current stock market conditions and the conditions of the banking industry against the current gold industry trends, investments in gold seems to be the right option. â€Å"When it came to the extreme stock market c onditions, people ran to the safe haven of gold† (Eberhardt, p.146). In order to learn more about the potentials of gold as a safe investment option, it is necessary to identify the differences between money and currency. Many people are of the view that both money and currency are the same things. This is an illusion. â€Å"A currency does not store value in and of itself.

Preparing a business case - health care centre in Sydney Coursework

Preparing a business case - health care centre in Sydney - Coursework Example ..13-14 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..16 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..16-17 Appendices†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.18-20 1.0 Executive Summary The need to improve on the availability of affordable and reliable health care services for the city residents is an issue of paramount importance considering that few health care facilities are available in the city. The few health care facilities cannot cater for the city population, which stands at over two million and continues to double every d ecade. Upon completion, Royal health centre will be in the capacity to serve this population. Royal Health Centre’s main goal is to offer affordable medical services to the city dwellers in order to solve the problem of congestion on the available health facilities. The centre will mainly focus on providing quality health care and prescription medication to the middle and low-income residents. Royal health centre will provide both inpatients and outpatient services on a small-scale basis. A community elected board consisting of six individuals will manage the health centre. A Chief Executive Officer who will report to Board of Directors will manage the health centre as the head of the facility. The office of the Board of Directors is elective and shall consist of individuals residing in the city. The Chief Executive Officer is an appointee of the Board of Directors and should be a qualified doctor. The board shall also employ nine more employees to help in the day to day runn ing of the facility. The Chief Executive Officer is Dr. Franklin. He will be charged with the responsibility of maintaining high medical standards in addition to creating a feasible cost-effective medical practice. He will also be in-charge of diagnosis and treatment of ailments whilst focusing on preventive medication and general wellness of patients. The facility will make use of modern medical equipment as well as highly trained medical personnel. 2.0 Introduction Royal health centre will endeavour to provide optimal health care and well-being of individual patients, for instance, a nutritionist who will be employed shall advise on recommended diet. Complicated health conditions that require complex procedures shall be attended after a careful analysis of risks and benefits which must be in written consent. Where treatment of a complication is not possible at Royal health centre, Dr. Franklin will give referral to specialists for further diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Franklin will be assisted by five other doctors, a nutritionist, a medical lab specialist, a cleaner and a receptionist. It is worth noting that marketing is a matter of paramount importance bearing in mind the need to serve the large population. The strategy combines the use of two media; print and electronic. It will in future explore the possibility of using promotional events. On financial matters, the health centre will depend on funding from the National Medical Service. The funding will cater for initial operational cost as well as staff remuneration and payroll taxes. Our anticipation is to have patient influx increase with time this will increase the revenue.

Analysis on Tristram Shandys Paradox

Analysis on Tristram Shandys Paradox Tristram Shandys Paradox According to an Encyclopedia entry on NationMaster.com (2009) it is generally considered that the publications of Laurence Sternes The Life and Opinion of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman had a dominant effect on literature of that time. Like his contemporary writers, Sterne debated publicly upon the boundary between literature and philosophy, thats why his book is filled with allusions and references to philosophers, critics and writers of the 17th and 18th centuries namely: Pope, Locke, and Swift. It seems that those leading thinkers influenced Sternes The Life and Opinion of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman immensely. For instance, sagacious â€Å"Lockes Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) contributed ideas and frameworks that Sterne explored throughout his novel, thus showing his engagement with the science and philosophy of his day: Pray, Sir, in all the reading which you have ever read, did you ever read such a book as Lockes Essay upon the Human Understanding? Dont answer me rashlybecause many, I know, quote the book, who have not read itand many have read it who understand it not:If either of these is your case, as I write to instruct, I will tell you in three words what the book is. It is a history.A history! of who? what? where? when? Dont hurry yourselfIt is a history-book, Sir, (which may possibly recommend it to the world) of what passes in a mans own mind; and if you will say so much of the book, and no more, believe me, you will cut no contemptible figure in a metaphysick circle. (Tristram Shandy, ch. 1 XXVII, p. 40) Many people believe that Sternes novelThe Life and Opinion of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman differs drastically from the contemporary literature of both Defoe and Richardson by his methods of narrative construction and exploration of the external world. Tristram Shandy is presented in the very act of creation and change by rejecting realism, but examining inner states of consciousness. In addition, what sets Tristram Shandy apart from its contemporary fiction is the use of language. It appears to me that this novel is an example of â€Å"process writing to the moment† where time is tied to and belongs to the protagonist. That kind of process writing in Lawrence Sternes novel, where the persona of author is trying desperately to write his autobiography, leads to one of the time paradoxes. It takes Tristram Shandy one year to record the events of a single day of his life. Tristram laments that, at this rate, he will never finish. I am this month one whole year older than I was this time twelve-month; and having got, as you perceive, almost into the middle of the fourth volume–and no farther than to my first days day–‘tis demonstrative that I have three hundred and sixty-four more days to write just now, than when I first set out; so that instead of advancing, as a common writer, in my work with what I have been doing at it–on the contrary, I am just thrown so many volumes back–was every day of my life to be as busy as this–And why not?–and the transactions and opinions of it to take up as much description–And for what reason should they be cut short? at this rate I should just live 364 times faster than I should write–It must follow, an please your worships, that the more I write, the more I shall have to write–and consequently, the more your worships read, the more your worships will have to read (Tristram Shandy, ch. 2 XVLIII, p. 126) In order to link Tristram Shandys writing process with time paradoxes, I will briefly outline the background to Bertrand Russells theory. In his book The Principles of Mathematics,chapter XLIII on the philosophy of the infinite his analysis consists of the inquiry â€Å"whether any contradiction can be found in the notion of infinite.† In this specific chapter Russells crucial points are focused on the semantical and set-theoretical paradoxes or â€Å"antinomies† as he calls them. The twentieth century philosopher, Bertrand Russell claimed that if Tristram Shandy were immortal he would be able to finish his autobiography. Russells assertion that Tristram would be able to complete this seemingly impossible task is the source of the Tristram Shandy paradox. And thus Russell concludes: Tristram Shandy, as we know, took two years writing the history of the first two days of his life, and lamented that, at this rate, material would accumulate faster than he could deal with it, so that he could never come to an end. Now I maintain that, if he had lived for ever, and not wearied of his task, then, even if his life had continued as eventfully as it began, no part of his biography would have remained unwritten. This paradox, which, as I shall show, is strictly correlative to the Achilles, may be called for convenience the Tristram Shandy. (Russell, p. 358) Russells theory consists of two powerful components in the Tristram Shandy paradox—the number of days that Tristram lives and the number of days required writing about those days. The sum of those two quantities will logically give us the number of days Tristram needs to complete his autobiography. Assuming that Tristram were indeed immortal, then the number of days in his life would be infinite. If that were the case, the second quantity, the number of days it takes him to write about his life, would also be infinite as well as the sum of those two quantities. Thus we can conclude that, Tristram needs an infinite number of days to finish his autobiography. Given he were immortal, he would have an infinite number of days in which to write. Therefore, the key aspect of Russells argument is the capability of an immortal Tristram Shandy finishing his autobiography, since the number of days in his life is equivalent to the number of days required to write about his life as they ar e both infinite. As far as Russells argument is concerned, it is not totally accepted. Many of his critics contend that Tristram Shandy could not possibly finish his autobiography even if he were immortal. Again, assuming that it takes Tristram one year to record the events of one day of his life, then each day that Tristram lives adds a year to the time needed to complete his task, thus causing him to fall another year behind with each passing day. As a result, in this situation the amount of time needed for Tristram to write his autobiography is increasing faster than the amount of time he actually has in which to write. It would simply cause him to fall infinitely far behind. Hence, according to critics of Russells argument the immortality would not allow the protagonist, Tristram, to complete his task. I strongly believe that both arguments outlined above are consistent as well as logically valid due to the case of the Tristram Shandy paradox. Nevertheless bearing in mind the previous points it could be said that the paradox discovered by Bertrand Russell in 1901 suggested that actual infinity was not an issue to dismiss due to the uncertain nature of infinity. I suppose that Tristram Shandys paradox emphasizes the basic problem in getting to grips with infinity which has always been a remarkable enchantment for great philosophers and writers throughout history in its notion of unending space and distance, God and eternity, time and duration. â€Å"To understand what time is aright, without which we never can comprehend infinity, insomuch as one is a portion of the otherwe ought seriously to sit down and consider what idea it is we have of duration, so as to give a satisfactory account how we came by it. What is that to any body? quoth my uncle Toby. (Vide Locke.)† (Tristram Shandy, ch. 2 XI, p. 84) It is necessary to note that Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, provided a main key by introducing the terms actual infinite and potential infinite in an attempt to distinguish between the two. He strongly believed that the completed or actual infinite could not exist. While on the other hand, potential infinite might be represented as a manifest in nature. There has been debate as to whether infinity is a reality or an idea. Rucker in his chapter 1 on Infinity helps us in characterizing it as follows â€Å"Aristotle would say that the set of natural numbers is potentially infinite, since there is no largest natural number, but he would deny that the set is actually infinite, since it does not exist as one finished thing.†(p. 3) Later on Rucker ends up suggesting that Aristotles belief is a â€Å"doubtful distinction† agreeing with Cantors opinion that â€Å"†¦in truth the potentially infinite has only a borrowed reality, insofar as a potentially infinite c oncept always points towards a logically prior actually infinite concept whose existence it depends on.†(p. 3) In other words an actual infinite is not like a potential one which is growing to the infinity as a limit, although giving a collection which is finite in time at every point. If this is the case that potential infinite is growing to the infinite limit then I do believe in its existence. But as far as completed infinite is concerned, my supposition will be negative. I oppose to the fact that actual infinite exists. The concept of actual infinite seems to me as an idea or a succession of ideas in our mind while the notion of potential infinite is represented by the future. Granted that Tristram Shandy wrote one day of his autobiography for 365 days then in general what this will indicate is the sum of the two equivalents which would be constantly finite but increasing to the infinity as a limit. Thus I assume that a profound analysis of the Tristram Shandys paradox explained by Russell proves my suggestion that the narrator, Tristram Shandy, would never reach the completed or actual infinite. Hence he would never finish his autobiography.

Soundtrack to a Schizophrenic Mind :: Psychology Loneliness Essays

Soundtrack to a Schizophrenic Mind "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the sky." ~Jack Kerouac On the Road Track 1: Ryan Adams>> "Back beat the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out..." Next door and two flights up an unknown woman sings scales, melancholic and operatic, ghostlike, she vocalizes the sorrows that haunt me. Music has always been my salvation. A feeling rolls in, filling the empty vibration of my atmosphere. Rain, softly at first, then steadily. The universe weeps. It feels like God mocks me, showing off by crying when I can't. In retrospect, maybe he was empathizing, like a parent leading by example, gently nudging me to follow suit. But presently, I am bitter, completely incapable of seeing optimistically. Perception is inseparable from state of mind. There is a huge difference between being alone and feeling lonely. The former is bearable, even enjoyable, when a person is actually physically alone. The latter, being surrounded by the people who care, yet separated by an invisible distance, a magnetic charge of pride and insecurity, repelling love despite closeness of its proximity and the friendliest of intentions, tortures the soul. In Thailand, halfway across the world, I missed the people I love, but in a happy nostalgic way. Alone yet never lonely. Home again, I see them every day, smile at them, converse with them, yet cannot connect psychically. There is no heart in my friendships here. Surrounded by the people I once missed, I feel only empty. 58 moonstones arranged on links of tarnished silver wrap loosely around my bony fingers. I am not catholic, or even Christian, but on this night I slide my fingertips over the smooth rosary beads. Drowning. Sometimes it is just so painful to be alive. Screams, trapped with the tears somewhere inside, build a dam of hopelessness and frustration to protect society from the unsightly emotions: anger, sadness, grief. Freud called it melancholy: loss unmourned. Modern society calls it depression, apparently a phenomenon common amongst students returning from extended travels in "developing" countries. "You'll readjust in a month or so", they consoled me.

Mandatory Life without Parole for Juveniles Essay

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Currently, over 2,500 people are serving a life sentence without the option of parole for crimes committed as adolescents. Fortunately, this policy is not considered in all states. Twelve states have discontinued life sentences without the option of parole for juveniles. Almost two- thirds of life without parole sentences for juveniles (JLWOP) happens in five states. Seventy-three children were ages 13 or 14 at time that their crime was committed. Research has been conducted that proves the vast difference in brain development of a child compared to an adult. Society does not allow minors to purchase cigarettes or alcohol, enlist into the military or enter into a legal binding agreement such as an apartment lease until the age of 18 or older because of the knowledge that minors are not mature enough to make certain decisions. However, when a minor commits homicide we allow them to be sentenced as an adult and disregard their partial brain development and decreased culpability. It is the responsibility of society to protect our children from cruel and unusual punishment such as juvenile life without parole sentences. The policy brief will give a history of the juvenile justice system, trends, and current state. Brief will also address importance of the problem and recommendations for reform of this policy. CONTEXT AND IMPORTANCE OF THE PROBLEM Almost everyone would agree that children are the core of our future. Therefore, it is imperative that we have laws/policies in place that will protect them from cruel and unusual punishment in any capacity. However, much debate continues to arise concerning mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders. In attempting to change a social policy concerning the juvenile justice system it is important to address the concern in its context. Therefore, reviewing the history of the juvenile justice system is imperative when attempting to understand the system in its current state. The attitude of society towards juvenile offenders has drastically changed over the years and therefore impacted the overall goal of the system. The juvenile system was established in the late 1800s with the goal to reform and rehabilitate. During this time it was the  belief that â€Å"bad environments caused bad children†. Consequently, specialized institutions called reformatories were formed to inseminate home like environments. The main belief that motivated this structure of the system was that children were far different from adults and would have unique individualized needs. Contrary to the gentle idea of reformatories children were often subjected to harsh labor conditions in factories and farms. Often, children who reached fifteen years of age were seen as children with little to no hope of rehabilitation and as a result were transferred to adult prisons. During this era the system was not prepared to address serious offenses committed by juveniles and therefore lacked execution of formal due process rights. In 1899 the first juvenile court system was created and soon after in 1906 the first federal system followed. By 1925, almost all states established juvenile court systems and probation services. Due to a case in 1966 the Court decided that juveniles had the right to have procedural protections and due process rights. In the late 1980s violent crimes committed by juveniles dramatically increased. The increase in crime resulted in stricter crime legislation all through the nation. The new legislation was said to be motivated by fear due to frequent incidents of school violence. This legislation formed the belief that adult crimes should be addressed with adult punishment. Consequences to juvenile crime seemed to be more punitive, contrary to past ideas of rehabilitation and reform for juveniles. The number of juvenile offenders being imprisoned enlarged and the cruelty of sentencing began to include life without parole. More recently, it seems that the overall attitude of society has changed again towards juvenile offenders. Society has begun to focus on the obvious differences between children and adults and children’s ability to mature and change. Recent studies on adolescent brain development confirm that children are different from adults in ways that are important when attempting to identify appropriate sentences for juveniles. In addition, recent Supreme Court rulings have banned the use of capital punishment for juveniles and also limited life without parole sentences to homicide offenders. Furthermore, in 2012 the Court ordered judges to consider each individual child’s mitigating circumstances. This ruling prohibited mandatory sentences of life without parole for all juveniles. In 2005, Roper v. Simmons, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles can no longer be sentenced to death for  crimes committed when they were younger than 18 years of age. This ruling stated that a death sentence was cruel and unusual punishment for juveniles as they are immature and therefore less culpable. Consequently, this ruling affected 72 juvenile offenders in twelve states. Before this decision 22 people were killed for crimes committed as minors. Following the Roper decision the harshest sentence for a minor was life without parole. In 2010 Graham v. Florida, the Court prohibited life without parole sentencing for minors not convicted of murder. The ruling immediately affected the sentencing of 123 prisoners. Following this ruling it was recognized that crimes that do not end in murder were less deserving of the most serious punishment. After the rulings that prohibited the death penalty for minors and restricted the sentence of life without parole to murder crimes almost 2,500 prisoners were serving sentences of life without parole for crimes committed as minors. However, in 2012 Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs, the Supreme Court ruled that for minors the life without parole sentence was a direct violation of the Eighth Amendment. This ruling required that judges consider the juveniles character and extenuating circumstances in an attempt to give a fair sentence. As stated previously, a number of professionals have reported that adolescent brains are not fully developed and therefore over time will develop and provide capability for change as children mature. Adolescence is known to be noticeable by â€Å"transient rashness and inability to assess consequences.† In addition, people serving life without parole sentences lives vary but usually have been plagued with difficult upbringings, exposure to violence, and direct abuse. It is important that when determining sentencing for a juvenile that family and home environment are considered. Moreover, racial inequality seems to factor into the burden of this sentence. â€Å"While 23.2% of juvenile arrests for murder involve an African American suspected of killing a white person, 42.4% of JLWOP sentences are for African-American convicted of this crime. White juvenile offenders with African American victims are only half as likely to receive JLWOP sentences†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Approximately 2,000 prisoners who are currently serving juvenile life without parole sentences may be affected by this decision. The most recent ruling, Miller v. Alabama affects mandatory sentencing  policies in 29 states and the federal government. There are currently no guidelines about how states should implement retroactivity of this ruling. As a result, there have been very different reactions to the way that states will handle retroactivity of this ruling. Some state Supreme Courts have decided that Mille implies retroactively and other states have decided that Miller is not retroactive. However, most states have not changed their statues and therefore have left many prisoners anxiously waiting for possible resentencing. Currently, fifteen states do not have prisoners serving life without parole sentences and the remaining 35 states have less than 100 prisoners serving life without parole sentences for crimes committed as juveniles. Furthermore, the monetary cost for JLWOP is astronomical. Housing cost for juveniles serving LWOP requires decades of public expenditures. It is estimated that the annual cost for incarceration per inmate is approximately 31,000. Due to increased medical expenses after the age of 55 the annual cost raises to 65,000. Therefore, a lifetime sentence for a juvenile will cost taxpayers almost 2 million dollars. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS There have been great strides concerning cruel and unusual punishment for sentencing of juvenile offenders. Removing juvenile life without parole for all juveniles would not guarantee release of offenders. However, it would provide the opportunity for the offender’s case to be reviewed once he/she has served a realistic amount of their sentence. During this review the offenders individual circumstances, such as their family and home environment would be considered when decided to grant the possibility of parole. In several other countries a mandatory review is completed once the offenders serve 10 to 15 years of their sentence. However, if sufficient rehabilitation has not occurred the individual will remain in prison and another review be granted in the next five years. There is growing support for this method of reform concerning JLWOP. The state of California now provides offenders a realistic opportunity at parole after 15-25 years if their crime was committed while they w ere minors. Also, requiring Miller’s retroactivity for all states would be a great stride  in the area of policy reform. Opponents to retroactivity argue that Miller did not ban life without parole for juvenile offenders but instead required that a judge follow a particular process when imposing the penalty. Those against retroactivity also highlight the significant cost of requiring this. They also dispute that resentencing could take resources from current cases in order to focus on old cases where facts may not be available or non-existent. Furthermore, this could activate the right to counsel for offenders who wish to challenge their sentence which would also add to the cost of retroactivity. Opponents strongly insist that funds would be better directed at reforming juvenile sentencing for sentencing after Miller. On the contrary, proponents of retroactivity argue that the court meant for its ruling to be retroactive. Opponents state that â€Å"once a new rule is functional to the defendant in the case announcing the rule, evenhanded justice requires that it be applied retroactively to all who are similarly situated.† For that reason, when the Court reversed Jackson v. Hobbs it also authorized the retroactivity of other cases similar positioned. Replacing mandatory life without parole with lesser sentences such as life with the possibility of parole or eliminating juvenile life without parole altogether is also another recommendation for reform of this policy. The best solution seems to be individualized sentencing for juvenile offenders. This solution would require individual sentence hearing for minors with crimes of murder and individual evaluation. However, if this law was required to be retroactive family of the victims would directly be affected by this change. Families may have to endure the potential impact of parole board hearing for the offender. In addition, community members who have a financial investment in the business of prisons would also be directly affected as their revenue would greatly decrease over time. Lastly, schools and Social workers can work to identify children who may be experiencing difficulty in the family and home environment and offer services in an attempt to prevent the child from committing a crime and therefore having to be introduced to the juvenile justice system. REFERENCES The End of Mandatory Juvenile Life without Parole. Kennedy, Megan. Criminal Justice Policy Review. Sep. 2014, Vol. 25 Issue 5, p553-578. 26p DO1: 10. 1177/0887430341. Review for Release: Juvenile Offenders, State Parole Practices & the Eight Amendment. Russell, Sarah French. Indiana Law Journal. Winter 2014, Vol. 89 Issue 1, p373-440. 68p. Just Grow Up Already: The Diminished Culpability of Juvenile Gang Members After Miller V. Alabama. Kellogg, Sarah A. Boston College Law Review. 2014, Vol. 55 Issue 1, p265-299. 35p. Branded for Life: The Unconstitutionality of Mandatory& Life time Juvenile Sex Offender Registration& Notification. Parker, Shannon C. Virginia Journal of Social Policy& the Law. 2014, Vol. 21 Issue 1, p167-205. Criminal Law-Juvenile Life without Parole Sentences-Eleventh Circuit Holds that Miller Is Not Retroactive. Harvard Law Review. Feb. 2014, Vol. 127. Issue 4, p1252-1259. 8p. Mitigating After Miller: Legislative Considerations & Remedies for the Future of Juvenile Sentencing. Fiorillo, Sara E. Boston University Law Review. Dec 2013, Vol. 93 Issue 6, p2095- 2129, 35p. Symposium: Bombshell or Baby step? The Ramifications of Miller V Alabama for Sentencing Law& Juvenile Crime Policy. Litton, Paul. Missouri Law Review. Fall 2013, Vol 78 Issue 4, P 1003-1014. 12p.

A Nazi In Auschwitz

A Nazi In Auschwitz Free Online Research Papers It was five a.m. when I awoke, I could smell the aroma of burning Jews in the furnaces. I had been awakening to this smell since I had been stationed at Auschwitz three months ago. I looked at my calendar and saw that it was August 19, 1941, just one more year until I would be relocated somewhere else. As I headed towards my post at the furnace, I wondered how we had been so fortunate to have a leader like Adolf Hitler. I conversed with the guards as I showed them my identification card that was required to pass through the gate. Rumor had it that we would have three or four groups of Jews to incinerate today, man I loved my job. At seven o’ clock a.m., a giant bell rung to wake-up all the Jewish slobs so they could ready themselves for the things we put them through during the day. Around the time the bell rang, I had slipped back into thought about Adolf Hitler. With him as our leader, there was no way that we could lose this war. He was smart, cunning, and extremely brave, it was my pleasure to have been selected as one of his soldiers. The only bad part was that I had been stationed at this foul place with Jews running around and contaminating everything. `â€Å"Toot Toot!†, the sudden sound of the train startled me as it reached the platform with the first load of passengers. Some Jews were selected for work while the others were sent to the gas chambers to be killed en masse. Later, some Jewish slaves came and picked up all the dead bodies around camp, and then delivered them to my group in the crematoria to be burned. We prepared the bodies for burning then incinerated them and buried the bones in a big pile. Occasionally, rapid bursts from machine guns broke the silence as they mowed down Jews. I had grown accustomed to these outbreaks, whereas a new recruit that had just joined our faction, was startled every time. This led to laughter and it lightened up our spirit during this boring work. I estimated about four hundred dead Jews today. It was eight p.m. when we were relieved from our duty by the night watch. As I headed towards my bed, I passed a lone Jew and shoved his face in the dirt and walked on his head. He got up and punched me in the back, so I whipped out my pistol and shot him in the head. Shooting people makes me hungry, so I stopped in for a quick snack at the main building and listened to the idle chatter and offered my input on how the war was going. I fell asleep around ten o’ clock, the quiet sounds of night lulling me to sleep. I dreamed of shooting hundreds of Jews as they were trying to run away from me. To my disappointment, I awoke to the same amount of Jews during their daily role count. Later that day, I was alone with one of the Jews that carried dead bodies. We were alone and he asked me my name. I had grown somewhat fond of this man and, seeing no harm in it, told him my name and asked him his. He said his name was David. Then the rest of my group came around the corner and I acted like I didn’t even know him and I took the bodies and prepared them for burning. The rest of my day was quite un eventful, but David and I exchanged secretive glances throughout the day. Somehow, David eventually softened me up and my hatred for his kind diminished a little and I felt that I had made a new friend. One day, David approached me as I was headed through his section of camp. He told me that he had heard talk about planning an escape and that he would keep me informed so I would not be targeted by the prisoners when they broke out. I thanked him and provided him with a couple of maps of the place so that I could stay on their good side and help make amends. A couple of days past before David contacted me. He asked if I could provide them with a couple of pistols and knives, we arranged a drop spot and away I went. That night I sneaked into the armory and put a couple of weapons into a duffle bag and then I was able to successfully sneak back outside and to the drop point. As I was falling asleep I wondered how I had gotten into this situation. I was helping the people I had previously hated with all my heart. I was glad to help them because it would mean that I would live and be able to return to my wife and kids. I had left them back in Berlin, and I hoped that they were doing well. Even though I had been here only six months it felt like a lifetime, and the bodies I burned were starting to haunt me. I figured that if I let the prisoners escape then I would get relieved of my duties and then I could return to my home. When I awoke, it was six in the morning so I ate, got dressed, and meandered over to my post at the crematoria. When I rounded a corner I ran into David and he told me that the escape would happen in two days. He told me that I should stay inside the crematoria since the escape would happen on the other side of Auschwitz, where there were forests to hide themselves. Te next day was uneventful and there were no unnecessary deaths in the camp. This left me wondering how the Jews could remain calm when they were about to escape a major death camp. When I awoke the next morning I headed to my post and tried to look busy, even though I was only waiting for the escape to occur. It was dusk when I heard a big explosion sound throughout the air, they had found explosives! The explosion was nearer to me than David had said, and I could see the shrapnel raining down. Then I heard machine guns and rifles gun down Jews. When my commanding officer told me to get my German butt down there and help kill Jews I shot him and anyone else who saw what happened. I couldn’t believe what had just happened, I shot one of my fellow soldiers over some Jews escaping. I looked around and couldn’t believe my luck. I saw that a car was parked near the crematorium I was at. I ran over then hot-wired it. I then proceeded to drive away from Auschwitz and towards Berlin. I needed to see my family and friends, I needed to look upon living people. The dead Jews I had killed filled my thoughts as I drove and I prayed that the Jews would live after their escape. Ten years later, I was driving past Auschwitz and into the nearby town. I was surprised when I saw all the Jews running around and I stopped at one of their stores to see what they had. When I walked inside , I saw the one man I never thought I would see again, David. We exchanged greetings and I asked how he had escaped from the forests. He told me a story filled with horrors and I was happy that I had the things I did. David and I were friends forever and always remembered that weird way we had met and helped each other achieve happiness. Research Papers on A Nazi In AuschwitzThe Spring and Autumn19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2The Hockey GameLifes What IfsWhere Wild and West MeetQuebec and CanadaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasResearch Process Part One

Why You Should Not Mix Alcohol and Bleach

Why You Should Not Mix Alcohol and Bleach Mixing alcohol and bleach is never a good idea, as the combination results in chloroform, a powerful sedative that can cause you to pass out. You should always be careful when handling these chemicals. Chemical Reaction Ordinary household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to produce chloroform (CHCl3), hydrochloric acid  (HCl),  and other compounds, such as chloroacetone or dichloroacetone. Unintentional mixing of these chemicals could occur from trying to clean up a spill using bleach or from mixing cleaners together. Bleach is highly reactive and forms dangerous compounds when mixed with any number of chemicals, so its best to avoid combining it with other products. Dangers of Chloroform Chloroform is a dangerous chemical that irritates the eyes, respiratory system, and skin. It can damage the nervous system, eyes, lungs, skin, liver, kidneys, and other organs and may even cause cancer. The chemical is readily absorbed into the body through the skin and through inhalation and ingestion. If you suspect that you have been exposed to chloroform, remove yourself from the contaminated area and seek medical attention. Chloroform is a potent anesthetic that can knock you out. It is also the cause of sudden sniffers death, a fatal cardiac arrhythmia some people experience upon exposure. Over time, chloroform in the presence of oxygen (as in air) naturally degrades to produce phosgene, dichloromethane, carbon monoxide, formyl chloride, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen chloride. Even once the chloroform has broken down, you should avoid these chemicals. Phosgene, for example, is a notorious chemical agent. It was responsible for around 85 percent of the deaths from chemical weapons during World War I. Disposing of a Bleach and Alcohol Mixture If you accidentally mix these chemicals and need to dispose of the waste, dont try to neutralize it. First, use caution and do not enter the contaminated area if you smell chloroform, which has a heavy, sweet-smelling odor. Once the smell begins to dissipate, dilute the mixture with large volumes of water and wash it down the drain as quickly as possible. Acetone and Bleach Although this is a less common mixture, do not mix acetone and bleach, either, as this reaction also produces chloroform: 3NaClO C3H6O → CHCl3   2NaOH NaOCOCH3 Ultimately, mixing bleach with any chemical except water is an extremely bad idea. Bleach reacts with vinegar, ammonia, and most household cleaners to produce toxic fumes.

Deutsche Bank Spying affaire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Deutsche Bank Spying affaire - Research Paper Example c, the affair struck at the heart of a country still struggling with its past identity where spying on citizens in the Communist East was a matter of course. How the bank will weather these latest charges is one question. What impact the investigations will have on stakeholders is another that affects not only the future of Deutsche Bank but also its reputation and credibility as a major player on the world financial stage. The four cases of surveillance concern a nuisance shareholder, an investigative journalist, a supervisory board member suspected of leaking information, four senior bank managers and a private person who sent threatening letters to Deutsche Bank board members. Among the targets of the surveillance were Gerald Herrmann, a former union leader and supervisory board member who was suspected of leaking sensitive company information to the media.  Michael Bohndorf, an activist shareholder who has been critical of the bank; and Hermann-Josef Lamberti, Deutsche Banks chief operating officer. The Bank launched its own investigation in the spring of 2009 and by mid-summer the affair had been turned over to BaFin, the German financial regulator. The investigative results were passed to the German data protection authority who has in turn submitted them to the German public prosecutors office. Tactics employed by the bank included media reports that detectives hired by Deutsche Bank were instructed to test Lambertis security consciousness by trying to plant a GPS tracking device in his car and sending a bouquet of flowers containing an inactive microphone to his home. Bohndorf, the activist shareholder, said that private investigators posed as vacationers and spied on his home on the Spanish island of Ibiza after he asked a number of provocative questions at a Deutsche Bank shareholders meeting in 2006. His contention was that detectives tried to determine if he had a weakness for women by setting up a "honey trap" operation that involved a chance

Civil Rights Legislation and the Return of Status Essay

Civil Rights Legislation and the Return of Status - Essay Example These students would become known as the "Little Rock Nine."2 In 1960, students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter. Their mistreatment was televised to the nation and prompted reflection. Also in North Carolina, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was founded at Shaw University to give black students direction in the civil rights movement.3 1963 was an active year on the Civil Rights timeline. Martin Luther King was arrested and jailed. There, he wrote his famous "Letter From the Birmingham Jail," voicing the familiar argument that is was a moral duty to disobey unjust laws. In May, Birmingham officials unleashed fire hoses and police dogs on black protestors, once again televised for the world to see. The Lincoln Memorial was the congregation point of 200,000 who joined the March on Washington, where King spoke his "I Have a Dream" speech. Violence continued in the streets of Birmingham when four young girls were killed in an explosion at the Sixteenth Baptist Church, the location of several civil rights meetings.4 Progress came in the form of the 24th Amendment in 1964, which abolished a poll tax designed to block blacks fro