Athens And Sparta Essays - Ancient Greece, Sparta,

Athens and Sparta Athens and Sparta The country of Greece in 400-500 B.C. was led to greatness by two great city-states. These city-states were Athens and Sparta. These two states were as different as night and day. They were rivals and very diverse. As you read you will find out their differences between their form of culture and government. The city-state of Athens adopted a form of government which is now called democracy. Democracy is when the government is ruled by the people. This government consisted of an assembly , a jury , and there was a council of 500 men over 30 . The council decided such matters as to declare war or to spend money. The council was used to make decisions for the Athenian government. All men that were citizens were able to participate in an assembly , hold office , vote , and serve on a jury. Slaves could not do any of these things because they were not counted as citizens . The Athenian government was as similar as the American government today (Meigas 32). Unlike the government of Athens the government of Sparta flourished as an aristocracy . This type of government is when a place is ruled by a small number of people from the upper class . There was a Council of Elders , an assembly , and the five ephors. The Council of Elders was made up of two kings and 28 men over the age of 60. This council decided on making laws. The assembly was made out of all male citizens over 30. The assembly did many things. It elected government workers and voted on laws that were introduced by the Council of Elders. The ephors were selected by the assembly. The ephors were overseers. They controlled slaves , conducted business with foreign countries , and negotiated with the kings (Hornblower 35). The men of ancient Athens were very educated. From their childhood until the ages of six or seven the men were taught home by their mother or a male slave. After the age of seven they attended a normal day school. At school they learned drama, public speaking, reading, writing, and mathematics . When they reached the age of fourteen they attended a higher school for four more years. At the higher school they learned more math , more science , and things about the government. When the men reached the age of 18 the were required to attend military school for 2 more years. The Athenian men were skilled architects , poets , and artists. From them is where we get great works known as The Odyssey and The Iliad by the writer known as Homer (Meigas 123). The men of ancient Sparta were very cunning , slick , and strong. During their childhood the Spartan men were taken away from their parents. Being taken away at the age of seven , they were sent to military school. If a child was not strong , he/she was left on a cliff to die of exposure. In the military school they lived in barracks. They were taught survival skills , the endurance of pain , discipline , and toughness at the school. They were given little food and were encouraged to steal. If they were caught stealing they would get a beating. They were also beaten up by older children in fights , so they could become tough and strong. At the age of 20 the Spartan men finally became soldiers. Once they got married , they were only allowed to live in their own homes with their family at the age of 30. At this age they were considered equals. The military service for the Spartan men ended at the age of 60 (Connolly 230). The Athenian women were very literate and educated. The women were not counted as citizens and they were not allowed to hold property. The women received the same education as the Athenian men did. Although the education was the same, the women were not allowed to leave the household. They did not go shopping or to run errands. Their husband did most of these things. The main job of the women was to run the household. She managed the family's money , the children , and the slaves. She also spun wool and created artistic pottery (Hornblower 145). In Sparta the lives of women were unlike the lives of any other Greek polis. The Spartan state didn't take the academic education of a female seriously. The physical education that the women had was very tough and grueling.

Tiresias in Ovids Metamorphoses

Tiresias in Ovids Metamorphoses Tiresias was a mythological blind seer who plays a significant role in Greek tragedy involving the House of Thebes. Shakespeares comedy Midsummer Nights Dream, Boccaccios Decameron, Chaucers Canterbury Tales, the Thousand and One Arabian Nights, and Ovids Metamorphoses are among the most famous collections of stories in which one story surrounds another. The outer stories provide little more than a framework or rationale for the more interesting, frequently bawdy, shenanigans within. The frame of Ovids Metamorphoses is a history of events from the days of creation to Ovids present, but with a twist: All stories told must involve physical transformations (metamorphoses). Verifiably historical figures are limited to the emperors Julius and Augustus whose transformations are from mortals to gods. Other transformed figures come from Greco-Roman myth and legend. The House of Thebes Book Three of Ovids Metamorphoses relates the story of the House of Thebes but not in a straightforward chronological manner. Instead, there are digressions and inset stories. Members of the House of Thebes include: Cadmus: Cadmus created the sown men (Spartans) by sowing dragons teeth. He is the founder of Thebes.Oedipus: An oracle warned Oedipus parents that their baby would grow up to murder his father and marry his mother. The parents thought they had had their baby killed, but he was saved and lived to carry out the prophecy.Dionysus: Dionysus was a god who made mortals see things other than as they really were. In this way he caused one of his unbelievers to be torn apart by his own mother.Semele: Semele was the mother of Dionysus, but when she asked Zeus, her mate, to reveal himself in his full glory, it was too much for her and she burned up. Zeus snatched the unborn Dionysus and sewed him into his thigh. The Story of Tiresias One of the important peripheral figures in the House of Thebes legends is the blind seer Tiresias, whose  story, Ovid is introduced in Metamorphoses Book Three. Tiresias tale of woe and transformation began when he separated two mating snakes for no apparent reason. Instead of poisoning Tiresias with indignant viper venom, the snakes magically transformed him into a woman. Tiresias  wasnt too happy with their new transgendered metamorphoses  but lived as a woman for seven years before figuring out a technique that would either kill her or reverse the operation. Since striking the snakes had worked before, she tried it again. It worked, and he became a man again, but unfortunately, his life story came to the attention of two of the most contentious of the Olympians, Juno (Hera for the Greeks) and her husband Jupiter (Zeus for the Greeks). A Womans Pleasure Juno claimed she was doing little more than servicing Jupiter, while Jupiter claimed he wasnt getting enough bang for his buck, so to speak. Like a bolt of lightning, inspiration hit the thunder god. He would consult the one person who could resolve their argument. Only Tiresias knew both sides of the coupling argument. Tiresias didnt have much choice this time. He had to answer. Jupiter was right, he said. The pleasure woman derives from sex is greater. Juno was outraged. In her anger, she made the man blind, but Jupiter, gratified, rewarded Tiresias with the power of seeing the future. Other Legends of Tiresias Tiresias appears in the Oedipus legends and dramas, including Euripides Bacchae, and in Odysseus underworld adventure, but in Ovids Metamorphoses, he shares his gift in two additional, transformational stories, those of Narcissus and Echo, and Bacchus and Pentheus.

Apple Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Apple - Essay Example issues affecting business; technological changes; environmental factors in business; and finally legal issues influencing organization’s operations. For us to get a an understanding of the macro environment affecting Apple Inc, then a deep study of the overall technology industry must be done (Kotler Phillip and Gary Armstrong, 2006). The first factor influencing operation of Apple Inc is the technological force; the company continuously experiences changes in technology, each year the computer electronic components became faster, cheaper and convenient hence computer design frequently changes. Apple is affected by changes in the technology industry; hardware producers like Intel and competing software producers like Microsoft are always innovative in their designs, and therefore Apple must be creative and innovative to ensure superior products and differentiation (RodgerRafter, 2002) Microsoft is a major software producer for Intel computers, and the major competitor of Apple; continuous innovation by Microsoft in software product (especially new versions of windows) has created pressure on Apple to continuously upgrade software like MacOS. Economic factors which affect computer sector include market competition. There is a lot of competition in the technology industry because of low entry barriers; which allows easy entrance by competitors hence increased industry competition. Also, the bargaining power of suppliers is limited due to the limited number of hardware and related software suppliers like Intel and Cyrix. On the contrary; the bargaining power of customers is strong because of the low costs of switching and searching (Jobs, S., 2005). Marketing strategy during entry should take into consideration the purchasing powers of potential consumers; the purchasing capability of developed states is high, while that of developing countries especially in Africa is low. Social change includes the dynamic lifestyle of customers that make apple to be

Capstone final project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Capstone final project - Essay Example I find that many teens also have more than one addiction in addition to sexual addiction: they may be smoking, drinking or using drugs. Currently, there are 22.6 million teens who are dealing with some form of addiction and about 35 million families who have children who are at risk for some form of addiction (Christian Broadcasting Network, 2008). This means that teenagers are in trouble and that something must be done to help them. This problem is important for me as a researcher because I understand that there needs to be a social change in order to help teenagers. If this was a problem 30 or so years ago, it did not seem to be as prevalent as it is today. This does not mean that it was not there, it just means that people were not as focused on it as they are today. I also am interested in this topic because so many children are in trouble with the law because their behavior has made them act out in sexual ways that have included rape and violence against women and others. Unfort unately, there is not a sure way to understand when a teen is addicted to porn and there are only a few empirical students that talk about what pornography addiction does to a child; most are about sexual addiction. For this research, I had to concentrate on sexual addiction and bring in the aspects of pornography addiction as I found them. ... By the time children reach puberty, they have been inundated with sex talk by their friends and they may have even seen a few pornographic pictures that their friends showed them. In the old days, before the Internet, the most sexually explicit photos that children saw were in the National Geographic Magazine. Pictures of tribes of people who wore no clothes were seen as exciting because they were naked. However, today, with the ability of the Internet to capture anything, anywhere, and anytime, children are exposed to way more than naked people; they are exposed to some of the most disturbing pornography imaginable. We cannot only blame the Internet, because cable TV has also given children access to hardcore pornography (porn). Children are able to find porn sites using only a few mouse clicks, and if parents have not locked porn sites on cable or satellite services, children can have access to porn 24 hours a day. The effect of porn on children is a gap in the literature for many reasons. Children and teens are often brought up on homes where talking about sex is taboo which makes them reluctant to talk about their sexual thoughts or their habits. Also, empirical studies have not been done because of the ethical and dilemmas in setting up a study where children and teens are shown porn (Haney, 2006). In a Canadian study, Stock (2004) found that pornographic sites and movies that show explicit sex create problems for children (they defined children as anyone under the age of 18). They found that children had a distorted view of sex which caused them to act out sexually in ways that were beyond their years of maturity. As an example, they found that â€Å"12-year-olds who watched

Racial profiling is not beneficial despite expert's findings Term Paper

Racial profiling is not beneficial despite expert's findings - Term Paper Example It suggests that profiling undermines social cohesion, is unjust, and should be stopped. Introduction Racial profiling is a controversial subject that is increasingly on the minds of both minorities and the police. This is a common practice by which people of a certain ethnic background are targeted by the security apparatus on the belief that they are more likely to commit or be involved in illegal activity. There is no other probable suspicion except for their skin colour, and because of it they are subject to search or even detention. There are some that suggest this needs to be done in order to protect our security and to cut down on costs. However, racial profiling is inherently unjust and unAmerican. It is not a useful or acceptable practice and it may even have negative consequences for security. Background To properly understand the role played by racial profiling in the criminal justice system it is important to take a step back and look at the various theories that underlie the system we live in. There are two main models that are used to frame the criminal justice system. These two models are excellent illustrations of the thinking behind a great deal of the policy discussion relating to racial profiling. The first model is called the Due Process model. In this system, the standard to arrest and convict a person is very high. There are numerous safeguards in place to ensure that no innocent person is ever subject to any sort of invasive treatment. Everyone, no matter what the crime or the nature of the evidence, is treated with kid gloves. Not until the judge weighs in with the final conviction is the suspect sent to prison. Trials, under this model, last for a very long time and every scrap of evidence is reviewed. The problem with this model is that it is impracticable. It is very expensive and time consuming. It uses up a lot of resources in a system with limited or finite resources already. It may also permit guilty people to game the system to s ome extent. This system is often promoted by people on the left of the political spectrum. There is a second model called the Crime Control model. Under this system, the police have a great deal of power to act as they see fit. They are empowered to stop people without suspicion and hold people without charge. The prosecutors are usually presumed to be right. The presumption of innocence is somewhat limited. There are few protections regarding the civil rights of those accused under this model. An accusation is similar to a conviction. Trials and investigations are short; everything is aligned against the suspect. Suspicion is akin to guilt. Criminals have few rights and little evidence needs to be presented in order to convict someone. This model is often promoted by people on the right. These two models are good illustrations of the politics behind racial profiling. They also represent two poles, neither of which are an appropriate way to run a criminal justice system. We see that racial profiling falls into the Crime Control model, where suspects have fewer rights, but community security is the ultimate good. Preserving limited resources is important. Rather than randomly searching people, under racial profiling ethnic background is taken to imply a likely disposition to commit a crime or type of crime. Race is used as an investigative shortcut. This is an unfortunate extreme. A much better position is between the two models. Problems with Racial Profiling There are many possible reasons why

Creating a Professional Development Plan for advancement in the Industry

Creating a Professional Development Plan for advancement in the Industry Without setting goals an individual will not be able to measure his or her level of success. Late last year, as I reflected on my career path I began to feel unaccomplished and unfulfilled. I have been a nurse for over eighteen years and worked in long-term care nursing homes, acute care hospitals, and home care settings. My experiences working in medical surgical, telemetry, and critical care doing bedside nursing challenged me to further my career by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). My decision to go back to school was carefully thought about as I took into consideration my work schedule, family commitments, and the length of time needed to complete my degree. When I decided to become a nurse, I did not fully understand the different aspects of nursing as I was only ten years old. At that age, however, I knew that nursing was about taking care of people. As a result, I developed short-term and long-term professional goals which embraced my philosophy of nursing. Philosophy of Nursing My philosophy of treating people as I would like to be treated was instilled in me from my grandmother from an early age. With this in mind, I strive to provide the best care to my patients as I seek to connect and identify with their experience. According to Watson (2008), the human-to-human connection expands our compassion and caring and keeps alive our common humanity. Patients are depending on the nurse to give them the care that will enhance and improve their health physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As nurses, we do not only care for the sick but we also reach out to the families of individuals because they play a big role in helping to maintain their dignity and integrity. Role of the Baccalaureate Nurse The baccalaureate prepared nurse will have a more advanced education in leadership and management therefore will be better able to make more independent clinical decisions (Sara Ellis). After completing my nursing degree I will have a better opportunity in moving up the clinical ladder. Although I will not get an increase in pay for obtaining my BSN it will be self fulfilling and gratifying as this has always been one of the goals in my nursing career. With a degree, I will be more marketable and flexible as I broaden my horizons. This will allow me to seek employment in many health care settings such as community health, case management, and supervisory positions (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, Erb, 2006, p. 3). With the rising challenges of the health care needs in todays society, more and more nurses are graduating with a BSN as the minimum level education. Therefore, it is important to have a higher level of education to be competitive and stay abreast with the latest technologies in nur sing. Professional Role Transition Nurses are governed by a code of ethics as set forth by the American Nurses Association (ANA), which holds nurses accountable and obligated to protect patients rights and privacy. They are morally obligated to provide quality care that will maintain the patients optimal level of functioning. Nurses play a vital role in helping patients to improve their quality of life. Each decision the nurse makes contribute to the overall welfare of the patient. Thus, it is best if the nurse view each decision as a life changing decision, no matter how small it may seem. As a nurse, I must acknowledge each of my patients as having their own cultural backgrounds, needs, values, and beliefs (American Nurses Association, 2001). Therefore, I should treat them the way I would like to be treated, with the best care and respect. My patients family is a great source of support and influence in their well-being. Therefore, it is imperative to treat the patients family with extreme respect as well. Families are important in providing valuable information that will assist the nurse in giving quality care and improve patients level of functioning (Potter Perry, 1985, p. 441). Role of the Baccalaureate Having a BSN is not only rewarding but it prepares the nurse to advance from bedside nursing and to explore new opportunities as it pertains to management positions. It also allows me to use the knowledge, capability and skills that I have acquired to help others achieve quality lifestyles, health and well-being. The feeling that comes with knowing that I am making a positive difference in someone elses life is more than money can buy. Short-term Professional Goals The twenty-first century is without a doubt, a time period in which computer literacy is vital. Once upon a time, the use of computers was not an integral part of a nurses day to day activity. However, that is not the case today. Thus my short-term goals are to increase my computer literacy and become a nurse preceptor within the next six months. Currently my level of knowledge in regards to computers is on a beginners stage. I plan to reach the intermediate stage within the next six months by attending various computer classes and constantly practicing the different techniques that I learn. Mastering the basics of computer technology will enable me to research more efficiently, whether it is to complete an assignment or keep up-to-date with the changes in the health care arena. Furthermore, developing my computer skills will assist me in being an effective nursing preceptor. The use of technology is incorporated in various aspects of a nurses duties. Therefore, adequate computer knowledge will empower me to effectively mentor new nurses. In addition, I would need to attend training classes and demonstrate that I am a good communicator to be promoted to a nursing preceptor. Not having immediate access to a computer and my family commitments are several barriers that may prevent me from reaching my short-term goals. My commitment as a wife and a mother does not provide me with the flexibility to attend all the computer classes which are available. In addition, my family commitments may also prevent me from attending the necessary training classes to become a nursing preceptor. However, having my family as one of my biggest support system will assist me in overcoming these barriers. I will implore my children to teach me as much as they can when we are home. In addition, I will purchase a laptop so I can practice and develop my computer skills at my convenience. Furthermore, I will allocate different chores to the members of my family so that I will have free time to attend the various training classes. Long-term Professional Goals My long-term professional goals are to successfully complete the BSN program in a year and a half and become a Clinical Instructor in the next five years. Having a BSN is not only rewarding but it prepares the nurse to advance from bedside nursing and to explore new opportunities as it pertains to leadership and management. After completing my BSN I plan to continue my studies and pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. In doing so, I will achieve my ultimate long-term goal which is to become a clinical nurse instructor. A Clinical Instructor is required to have a vast amount of knowledge of nursing skills and techniques. Thus, my present experience as a Registered nurse and my enrollment in the BSN program is the stepping stone to achieving my ultimate long-term goal of becoming a clinical instructor. Even though my role as a Clinical Instructor takes me away from personally fulfilling my philosophy of nursing, I belief it will still be just as rewarding since Im empowering others to fulfill their philosophy of nursing. As with my short-term goals, my family commitments are barriers to achieving my long-term goals. My family commitments may force me to extend the time frame in which I hope to accomplish my goals. To get over these barriers, I will have to compromise some of my family activities such as vacation time and family time. In addition, my family is my biggest support system in achieving my long-term goals; their desire to see me succeed motivates me to do my best. Also, being a role model to my children motivates me to do well. In addition, having to work while Im enrolled in the BSN program is a challenge. However, the encouragement of graduates of the BSN program is a constant reminder that I too can successfully complete the BSN program. Thus, I requested the necessary days off from my job so I can attend classes. Conclusion In conclusion, providing quality care to patients is my personal philosophy of nursing. As a result, my short-term and long-term professional goals are centered on this philosophy. Therefore, I continuously seek to obtain higher education, skills and techniques to empower me to assist my patients in possessing optimal health. This will enhance my professional development and fulfillment as a nurse.

Civilization :: essays research papers

What is civilization? It actually involves the application of a world view, a particular vision of reality to a human collectivity. Today this definition has become quite ambiguous in the minds of many people because of the eclipse of religion in the modern world and the spread to the rest of the globe since the 19th century.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The importance of ethics. No civilization has not emphasized ethics. Actions have an effect on the soul. Actions are not indifferent. There is no exception, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity. The idea that the structures of society must be bound by certain ethical norms which ultimately affect us as human beings born for immortality. They are there to preserve certain values, the possibilities of certain attitudes, they are following certain religious life which itself is absolutely essential for human being to exist. In traditional civilization art was always an expression of the truths of religion. That is why we distinguish between religious are and sacred art. Religious art is simply an art whose subject happens to be religious. Sacred art is an art whose very forms reflect realities, principles, whose symbols are meta individuals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Khazali Khorasan he is one of the most important Islamic figures of Islamic history. â€Å"If civilization dialogue does not take into consideration the centrality of religion than everything else is secondary.† Fortunately in the West there still remains something of Judaism and Christianity. It has not totally died out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So this dialogue between Islam and the West, or the Hindu world and the West, I think must first of all address those people in the West who still believe in both the reality and an ethical system which is in fact very similar to our own. All religions are at the heart of civilizations. There are several elements all based one way or another on religion but not identically with it which must be taken into consideration in serious civilization dialogue. First of all the world view. Presiding ideas which the religion itself in its philosophical, theological understanding. What is our ultimate understanding of reality. It that which determines how we act, how we think, how we look upon ourselves whether it is positive or negative.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tension Is more evident in the oriental, non-western world because colonialism took several centuries. But those tension are also becoming more and more evident for people in the West, between those who want to go back and live traditional life and many of whom have embraced Islam, or Buddhism.