Risks Involved with The Human Genome Project Essay -- Argumentative Pe

Risks Involved with The Human Genome Project The man in the black suit solemnly steps out of the car. His wife scrambles to catch up with his swift pace. She offers an encouraging tone or two, but the man doesn’t listen. He plunges through the brass, a genetically altered combination of the common bush and grass species, both eyes set on his house. The next-door neighbors dash over to interrogate the deserted wife. The neighbors appear instantaneously in hot pink, plastic body suits, with tanks of oxygen attached to their backs. (This elaborate outfit, for those who may not know, is a common protection against identity impersonation. The decoding of the human genome inadvertently supplies criminals with an ideal method to steal another person’s identity; identity thieves need only a single cell from a person to detect everything about him or her. Body suits, in addition to setting a fashionable trend, safe-guard against this possibility by trapping all cells within the suit itself.) The wife struggles to suppress a deluge of tears as she warmly hugs her plastic encased neighbors. She briefly relates the day’s events. Her husband lost the court case. He was accused of harboring the gene for prostate cancer, and after a simple genetic test, the accusation was confirmed. Her husband had twenty-four hours to move into a quarantined house, located in an abandoned section of the city. He would live there indefinitely with other potential prostate cancer victims. By isolating all people predisposed to prostate cancer, officials hope to eliminate prostate cancer from the gene pool. The wife is purely devastated that reality is manifesting itself so harshly in her life. The neighbors attempt to console her, but they are quite reli... ...tter than another. It can be difficult to discern where exactly the comparisons should cease. The Human Genome Project deserves to have a few cautious skeptics. A breakthrough of this magnitude needs to be carefully examined before assimilated into our culture. Yet, at the same time, this breakthrough has become the very epitome of engineering feats for mankind. My mixed feelings parallel an exemplary quote from The Meaning of It All: Thoughts of a Citizen Scientist by Richard Feynman. â€Å"Trying to understand the way nature works involves a most terrible test of human reasoning ability. It involves subtle trickery, beautiful tight ropes of logic on which one has to walk, in order not to make a mistake in predicting what will happen† (15). Work Cited Feynman, Richard P. The Meaning of It All: Thoughts of a Citizen Scientist. Reading: Perseus Books, 1998.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 26

â€Å"Why so blue, Kincaid?† I looked up from the information desk's computer screen to see Doug leaning lazily over the counter's edge. â€Å"Am I?† â€Å"Sure. You have the saddest look on your face I've ever seen. It's breaking my heart.† â€Å"Oh. Sorry. Just tired, I guess.† â€Å"Well, then, get out of here. Your shift's over.† Glancing down, I read the time on the computer. Five-oh-seven. â€Å"I guess it is.† He eyed me askance as I rose listlessly from the chair and made my way out from behind the desk. â€Å"You sure you're okay?† â€Å"Yeah. Like I said, just tired. I'll see you around.† I started to walk away. â€Å"Oh, hey, Kincaid?† â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"You're friendly with Mortensen, aren't you?† â€Å"Sort of,† I conceded cautiously. â€Å"Do you know what happened to him? He used to be here, like, every day, and now he's been gone all week. It's freaking Paige out. She thinks we offended him or something. â€Å" â€Å"I don't know. We're not that friendly. Sorry.† I shrugged. â€Å"Maybe he's sick. Or out of town.† â€Å"Maybe.† I left the store, stepping out into the dark autumn evening. Friday in Queen Anne brought people in droves, drawn by the area's assortment of activities and nightlife. Ignoring them, lost in my own thoughts, I walked over to my car, parked a block away. Immediately, a vulture in a red Honda slowed down and put her signal on, realizing my spot was about to be vacated. â€Å"You ready for this?† Carter asked me, materializing in the passenger seat. I fastened my seatbelt. â€Å"Ready as I'll ever be.† We drove up to the University District in silence, a hundred questions on my mind. Since removing Seth from my apartment last week, the angel had told me not to worry, that he would see to the writer's recovery. I'd still worried anyway, of course, about both Seth and the deal I'd made with Jerome. I was about to become the single greatest source of chaos and temptation in Seattle; even Hugh's stellar track record wouldn't look so good†¦ er, bad, anymore. I would be more than the slave Helena had claimed I was. The very thought made me ill. â€Å"I'll be with you,† Carter told me soothingly as we approached Seth's door minutes later. The angel flickered briefly in my vision, and I realized he'd gone invisible to mortal eyes, though not to mine. â€Å"What does he know?† â€Å"Not much. He's been awake more and more these last couple of days, and I've told him a little, but really†¦ I think he's been waiting for you.† Sighing, I nodded and stared at the door. Suddenly I felt unable to move. â€Å"You can do this,† Carter said gently. Nodding again, I turned the door handle and stepped inside. Seth's condo looked much the same as when I'd last been here, the kitchen still bright and cheery, the living room lined with boxes of unpacked books. Faint music drifted from the bedroom. I thought it was U2, but I didn't recognize the song. Moving toward the sounds, I reached Seth's bedroom, pausing in the doorway, afraid to cross the threshold. He was in bed, half sitting up, propped up by pillows. In his hands he held The Green Fairy Book, looking to be about a third of the way through it. He looked up at my approach, and I nearly sagged in relief to see how much better he looked. His color was back, his eyes bright and alert. Only that facial hair looked ragged and unkempt, the result of no shaving for a week, I guessed. That answered my question about whether or not Seth had maintained the thin, neat beard on purpose. He reached for a remote on the bedside table and turned the music off. â€Å"Hey.† â€Å"Hey.† I took a few more steps into the room, afraid to get any closer. â€Å"Do you want to sit?† he asked. â€Å"Sure.† Cady and O'Neill's faces scrutinized me from the bulletin board as I brought a chair alongside Seth. I sat down, looked at him, and then looked away, unable to handle the depth of those amber-brown eyes after seeing into his mind. Our old silence fell between us, the progress we'd made in conversation banished to the winds. Seth would not take the lead this time. As Carter had observed, the writer was waiting for me. I looked back up, forcing myself to meet his eyes. I had to do this. I had to do the explaining here, but I balked at it. It was ironic, I thought. Me, who half the time didn't know when to shut up. Me, famed for always having some catchy quip at the ready. Knowing it would never get any easier, I took a deep breath and let it all out, conscious of the weight of heaven at my back and the hell I'd just consented to stretching out before me. â€Å"The truth is†¦ the truth is, I don't really work in a bookstore. I mean, I do, but that's not really why I'm here, what my purpose is. The truth is that I'm a succubus, and I know you've probably heard of us before – or think you've heard of us before, but I doubt what you've heard is correct†¦Ã¢â‚¬  On I went. I told him. I told him everything. The rules of the succubus lifestyle, my dissatisfaction with it, why I wouldn't date people I liked. I told him about other immortals, angels and demons walking among us. I even explained about nephilim, hinting that Roman's presence in my apartment had been part of a lure on my part, but mostly skimming over the embarrassing circumstances Seth had found us in. On and on, I talked, not even knowing what I said half the time. I only knew I had to keep talking, keep trying to explain to Seth that which defied explanation. I finally reached the end, my stream of discourse exhausted. â€Å"So. So, I guess that's it. You can believe it or not, but the forces of good and evil – as humans perceive them, at least – are alive and well in the world, and I'm one of them. This city is filled with supernatural agents and entities; humans just don't realize it. It's probably just as well, really. Otherwise, if they knew too much about us, they might find out how pathetic and fucked up our lives actually are.† I shut up, thinking if Seth hadn't seen what he had already seen, he probably would have thought I was crazy. Hell, even after it all, he still probably thought I was crazy. He would be justified. Those brown eyes weighed me and my words in silence, and an annoying wetness welled up in my own eyes. I looked away to hide it, blinking rapidly, because while succubi might be accused of doing all sorts of bizarre things around mortal men, I was pretty sure crying wasn't one of them. â€Å"You said†¦ you said you used to be human.† He spoke the words awkwardly, no doubt trying to grasp the whole concept of mortal and immortal. â€Å"How then†¦ how did you become a succubus?† I looked back up at him. I could refuse him nothing in that moment, no matter how painful. â€Å"I made a bargain. I told you before that I was married†¦ that I had cheated on my husband. The consequences of that were†¦ not pleasant. I traded away my life – becoming a succubus – in order to repair the damage I had caused.† â€Å"You gave away eternity to fix one mistake?† Seth frowned. â€Å"That doesn't seem equitable.† I shrugged, highly uncomfortable with the topic. I had never spoken of it to anyone. â€Å"I don't know. It's done.† â€Å"Okay.† He shifted slightly in bed, the soft swishing of fabric the only sound between us. â€Å"Well. Thanks for telling me.† I recognized a dismissal when I heard one, and it dug into me like a blade. That was it. Done. Seth was through with me. We were finished. After everything I had told him, there was no way things could return to how they'd been, but really, wasn't that for the best? I hurriedly stood up, suddenly not wanting to be there any longer. â€Å"Yeah. Okay.† I moved toward the door, suddenly pausing to look back at him. â€Å"Seth?† â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Do you understand? Why I do what I do? Why we can't – why we have to – † I couldn't finish the thought. â€Å"It's impossible. I wish it were different†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yeah,† he said quietly. Turning, I fled his condo for my car. When I got into it, I buried my face into the steering wheel, sobbing uncontrollably. After a few minutes, gentle arms wrapped around me, and I turned toward Carter, crying into his chest. I'd heard reports of people who had angelic encounters, witnesses talking about the peace and beauty experienced by such moments. I'd never given any of it much thought, but as minutes passed, the terrible pain in my chest abated, and I grew calmer, finally lifting my head up to look at the angel. â€Å"He hates me,† I choked out. â€Å"Seth hates me now.† â€Å"Why do you say that?† â€Å"After everything I just told him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I suspect he's troubled and confused, yes, but I don't think he hates you. Love like that doesn't turn to hate quite so easily, though I'll admit the two intertwine sometimes.† I sniffled. â€Å"Did you feel it? His love?† â€Å"Not like you did. I sensed it, though.† â€Å"I've never felt anything like it. I can't match that. I like him†¦ like him so much. Maybe I even love him too, but not in the same way he loves me. I'm not worthy of that love.† Carter made a soft, chastising click. â€Å"No one is beyond being loved.† â€Å"Not even someone who just agreed to spend the next century hurting humans, corrupting souls, and leading them to temptation and despair? You must hate me for that. Even I hate me for that.† The angel watched me, expression steady and calm. â€Å"Why did you agree then?† I leaned my head back against the seat. â€Å"Because I couldn't stand the thought of me†¦ of that love being wiped out of his head†¦ of not being remembered.† â€Å"Ironic, huh?† I turned toward him, hardly surprised at anything anymore. â€Å"How much do you know about me?† â€Å"Enough. I know what you got for becoming a succubus.† â€Å"I thought it was the right thing then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I murmured, my mind's eye turning to a faraway time and place, another man. â€Å"He was so sad and so angry at me†¦ he couldn't go on, knowing what I'd done. I just wanted to be blotted from his mind forever. I thought it would be better if he – if everyone – forgot about me. Forgot I'd ever existed.† â€Å"And now you don't agree?† I shook my head. â€Å"I saw him†¦ years later, when he was an old man. I shape-shifted to the form he'd known me in – that was the last time I've worn that face, actually – and approached him. He looked right past me, though. Didn't know me at all. The time we'd had together. The love he'd had for me. All gone. Gone forever. It killed me. I felt like one of the walking dead after that. â€Å"I couldn't let that happen. Not again. Not with Seth, after experiencing what he felt for me. Even if that love is ruined†¦ marred by what he thinks of me now. Even if he never speaks to me again. It's still better than that love never having existed at all.† â€Å"Love is rarely flawless,† Carter pointed out. â€Å"Humans delude themselves by thinking it has to be. It is the imperfection that makes love perfect.† â€Å"No riddles, please,† I told him, suddenly feeling tired. â€Å"I just lost the one person I might have loved again after all these years. Really, truly loved too. Not just pure excitement either, like with Roman. Seth†¦ Seth had it all. Passion. Commitment. Friendship. â€Å"Not only that, but I've agreed to go on ‘active duty' again as a succubus.† I closed my eyes, swallowing the bile in my throat. I thought of all the nice guys in the world, men like Doug and Bruce. I did not want to be their downfall. â€Å"I really do hate it, Carter. You have no idea how much I hate it, no idea how much I don't want to do this anymore. But it's worth it. Worth it if Seth can keep his memories.† I looked over at the angel uncertainly. â€Å"He can, can't he?† Carter nodded, and I exhaled with relief. â€Å"Good. At least there's one spot of hope in all of this.† â€Å"Of course there is. There's always hope.† â€Å"Not for me.† â€Å"There's always hope,† he repeated more firmly, a commanding note in his voice that startled me. â€Å"No one is beyond hope.† I could feel tears coming to my eyes again. Lord. I seemed to be crying all the time lately. â€Å"What about a succubus?† â€Å"Especially a succubus.† He put his arms around me again, and I gave way to my sobs once more, a damned soul taking momentary respite in the embrace of a heavenly creature. I wondered if what he said was true, if it was possible that there was still hope for me, but then I remembered something that made me half laugh and half choke all at once. Angels never lied.

Human Nature and Dauntless Essay

In the book Divergent, there were five factions. The names were abnegation, amity, dauntless, erudite and candor. Each faction was formed by a group of people who blamed human’s nature for destroying the earth. Erudite was formed by those who blamed ignorance for the war that had occurred in the past. Abnegation was formed by those who blamed selflessness for human natures fault. Candor was formed by those who blamed duplicity and deception for human nature’s faults. Amity was formed by those who blamed war and fighting for human natures faults, and dauntless was formed by those who blamed cowardice for human natures faults. The dauntless protected the city from the inside and outside. They formed Dauntless around the principle of eliminating fear believing bravery will lead to a more perfect society. Every faction had a role in the city the dauntless had 3 main things, characteristics, physical traits and functions that made them different from the others. The dauntless have bizarre characteristics. They were the only faction that made their members choose to be factionless or die if they couldn’t be able to become dauntless. That is one of the reasons that this faction didn’t have any old members, they could be leaders at a very young age. Every member gets a certain amount of points to spend per month. They can spend those points on clothing, tattoos or other things. The dauntless also acknowledge the death of a person as soon as he/she dies. The funeral is more of a celebration because many people drink. They also call suicide a brave thing to do. The physical traits of the dauntless show that they are dauntless because no other faction is like them . The Dauntless always dress in black. The women wear skin-tight pants, tights, tight dresses, and black boots and shoes. The men wear black pants and form-fitting shirts. Dauntless like to tattoo and pierce their bodies. Girls might wear dark eyeliner and makeup. They might also dye their hair unusual colors and shave their heads. |This is the only faction that allows this. The functions of this faction are that they have to protect the city from inside and out from any threat. Their main task is to guard the fence that surrounds the city. It is considered a dangerous job, but it is also a necessary one and it seems likely that this is part of the reason no other faction has a disagreement with Dauntless because they are the only ones capable of doing this task. They also maintain the city gate which is locked from the outside. Despite being the most warlike faction, Dauntless appears to have a neutral relationship with the other factions. While Erudite and Abnegation fight for government control and Candor and Amity fight over peace and deception, Dauntless are seen as the fighters. They prove to be good partners as they are trained in the art of fighting and practicing physical skills. They also like being this way because that way they don’t have to do extra stuff. This is what makes them different from the other factions; this is why they are independent.

Telling Time in Japanese

Telling Time in Japanese Learning numbers in Japanese is the first step toward learning to count, handling cash transactions and telling time.   Heres a dialogue to help beginning Japanese students learn the language conventions of how to tell time in spoken Japanese: Paul: Sumimasen. Ima nan-ji desu ka. Otoko no hito: San-ji juugo fun desu. Paul: Doumo arigatou. Otoko no hito: Dou itashimashite. Dialogue in Japanese : : : : Dialogue Translation:   Paul: Excuse me. What time is it now? Man: It is 3:15. Paul: Thank you. Man: You are welcome. Do you remember the expression Sumimasen㠁™ã  ¿Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€ºÃ£â€šâ€œ? This is a very useful phrase which can be used in various situations. In this case it means Excuse me. Ima nan-ji desu kaä »Å Ã¤ ½â€¢Ã¦â„¢â€šÃ£  §Ã£ â„¢Ã£ â€¹means What time is it now?Heres how to count to ten in Japanese: 1 ichi 2 ni 3 san 4 yon/shi 5 go 6 roku 7 nana/shichi 8 hachi 9 kyuu/ku 10 juu Once youve memorized one through 10, its easy to figure out the rest of the numbers in Japanese.   To form numbers from 11~19, start with juu (10) and then add the number you need. Twenty is ni-juu (2X10) and for twenty one, just add one (nijuu ichi). There is another numerical system in Japanese, which is the native Japanese numbers. The native Japanese numbers are limited to one through ten. 11 juuichi (10+1) 20 nijuu (2X10) 30 sanjuu (3X10) 12 juuni (10+2) 21 nijuuichi (2X10+1) 31 sanjuuichi (3X10+1) 13 juusan (10+3) 22 nijuuni (2X10+2) 32 sanjuuni (3X10+2) Translations for Numbers to Japanese Here are a few examples of how to translate a number from English/Arabic numerals into Japanese words. (a) 45(b) 78(c) 93 (a) yonjuu-go(b) nanajuu-hachi(c) kyuujuu-san Other Phrases Needed to Tell Time Ji時 means oclock. Fun/pun分means minutes. To express the time, say the hours first, then the minutes, then add desu㠁 §Ã£ â„¢. There is no special word for quarter hours. HanÃ¥ Å  means half, as in half past the hour. The hours are quite simple, but you need to watch out for four, seven and nine.   4 o clock yo-ji (not yon-ji) 7 o clock shichi-ji (not nana-ji) 9 oclock ku-ji (not kyuu-ji) Here are some examples of mixed time numerals and how to pronounce them in Japanese: (a) 1:15(b) 4:30(c) 8:42 (a) ichi-ji juu-go fun(b) yo-ji han (yo-ji sanjuppun)(c) hachi-ji yonjuu-ni fun

Nelson Mandela - A Biography

Nelson Mandela - A Biography Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president of South Africa in 1994, following the first multiracial election in South Africas history. Mandela was imprisoned from 1962 to 1990 for his role in fighting apartheid policies established by the ruling white minority. Revered by his people as a national symbol of the struggle for equality, Mandela is considered one of the 20th centurys most influential political figures. He and South African Prime Minister F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their role in dismantling the apartheid system. Dates: July 18, 1918- December 5, 2013 Also Known As: Rolihlahla Mandela, Madiba, Tata Famous quote:   I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. Childhood Nelson Rilihlahla Mandela was born in the village of Mveso, Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918 to Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and Noqaphi Nosekeni, the third of Gadlas four wives. In Mandelas native language, Xhosa, Rolihlahla meant troublemaker. The surname Mandela came from one of his grandfathers. Mandelas father was a chief of the Thembu tribe in the Mvezo region, but served under the authority of the ruling British government. As a descendant of royalty, Mandela was expected to serve in his fathers role when he came of age. But when Mandela was only an infant, his father rebelled against the British government by refusing a mandatory appearance before the British magistrate. For this, he was stripped of his chieftaincy and his wealth, and forced to leave his home. Mandela and his three sisters moved with their mother back to her home village of Qunu. There, the family lived in more modest circumstances. The family lived in mud huts and survived on the crops they grew and the cattle and sheep they raised. Mandela, along with the other village boys, worked herding sheep and cattle. He later recalled this as one of the happiest periods in his life. Many evenings, villagers sat around the fire, telling the children stories passed down through generations, of what life had been like before the white man had arrived. From the mid-17th century, Europeans (first the Dutch and later the British) had arrived on South African soil and gradually taken control from the native South African tribes. The discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa in the 19th century had only tightened the grip that Europeans had on the nation. By 1900, most of South Africa was under the control of Europeans. In 1910, the British colonies merged with the Boer (Dutch) republics to form the Union of South Africa, a part of the British Empire. Stripped of their homelands, many Africans were forced to work for white employers at low-paying jobs. Young Nelson Mandela, living in his small village, did not yet feel the impact of centuries of domination by the white minority. Mandelas Education Although themselves uneducated, Mandelas parents wanted their son to go to school. At the age of seven, Mandela was enrolled in the local mission school. On the first day of class, each child was given an English first name; Rolihlahla was given the name Nelson. When he was nine years old, Mandelas father died. According to his fathers last wishes, Mandela was sent to live in the Thembu capital, Mqhekezeweni, where he could continue his education under the guidance of another tribal chief, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. Upon first seeing the chiefs estate, Mandela marveled at his large home and beautiful gardens. In Mqhekezeweni, Mandela attended another mission school and became a devout Methodist during his years with the Dalindyebo family. Mandela also attended tribal meetings with the chief, who taught him how a leader should conduct himself. When Mandela was 16, he was sent to a boarding school in a town several hundred miles away. Upon his graduation in 1937 at the age of 19, Mandela enrolled in Healdtown, a Methodist college. An accomplished student, Mandela also became active in boxing, soccer, and long-distance running. In 1939, after earning his certificate, Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts at the prestigious Fort Hare College, with a plan to ultimately attend law school. But Mandela did not complete his studies at Fort Hare; instead, he was expelled after participating in a student protest. He returned to the home of Chief Dalindyebo, where he was met with anger and disappointment. Just weeks after his return home, Mandela received stunning news from the chief. Dalindyebo had arranged for both his son, Justice, and Nelson Mandela to marry women of his choosing. Neither young man would consent to an arranged marriage, so the two decided to flee to Johannesburg, the South African capital. Desperate for money to finance their trip, Mandela and Justice stole two of the chiefs oxen and sold them for train fare. Move to Johannesburg Arriving in Johannesburg in 1940, Mandela found the bustling city an exciting place. Soon, however, he was awakened to the injustice of the black mans life in South Africa. Prior to moving to the capital, Mandela had lived mainly among other blacks. But in Johannesburg, he saw the disparity between the races. Black residents lived in slum-like townships that had no electricity or running water; while whites lived grandly off the wealth of the gold mines. Mandela moved in with a cousin and quickly found a job as a security guard. He was soon fired when his employers learned about his theft of the oxen and his escape from his benefactor. Mandelas luck changed when he was introduced to Lazar Sidelsky, a liberal-minded white lawyer. After learning of Mandelas desire to become an attorney, Sidelsky, who ran a large law firm serving both blacks and whites, offered to let Mandela work for him as a law clerk. Mandela gratefully accepted and took on the job at the age of 23, even as he worked to finish his BA via correspondence course. Mandela rented a room in one of the local black townships. He studied by candlelight each night and often walked the six miles to work and back because he lacked bus fare. Sidelsky supplied him with an old suit, which Mandela patched up and wore nearly every day for five years. Committed to the Cause In 1942, Mandela finally completed his BA and enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand as a part-time law student. At Wits, he met several people who would work with him in the years to come for the cause of liberation. In 1943, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC),  an organization that worked to improve conditions for blacks in South Africa. That same year, Mandela marched in a successful bus boycott staged by thousands of residents of Johannesburg in protest of high bus fares. As he grew more infuriated by racial inequalities, Mandela deepened his commitment to the struggle for liberation. He helped to form the Youth League, which sought to recruit younger members and transform the ANC into a more militant organization, one that would fight for equal rights. Under laws of the time, Africans were forbidden from owning land or houses in the towns, their wages were five times lower than those of whites, and none could vote. In 1944, Mandela, 26, married nurse Evelyn Mase, 22, and they moved into a small rental home. The couple had a son, Madiba (Thembi), in February 1945, and a daughter, Makaziwe, in 1947. Their daughter died of meningitis as an infant. They welcomed another son, Makgatho, in 1950, and a second daughter, named Makaziwe after her late sister, in 1954. Following the general elections of 1948 in which the white National Party claimed victory, the partys first official act was to establish apartheid. With this act, the long-held, haphazard system of segregation in South Africa became a formal, institutionalized policy, supported by laws and regulations. The new policy would even determine, by race, which parts of town each group could live in. Blacks and whites were to be separated from each other in all aspects of life, including public transportation, in theaters and restaurants, and even on beaches. The Defiance Campaign Mandela completed his law studies in 1952 and, with partner Oliver Tambo, opened the first black law practice in Johannesburg. The practice was busy from the start. Clients included Africans who suffered the injustices of racism, such as seizure of property by whites and beatings by the police. Despite facing hostility from white judges and lawyers, Mandela was a successful attorney. He had a dramatic, impassioned style in the courtroom. During the 1950s, Mandela became more actively involved with the protest movement. He was elected president of the ANC Youth League in 1950. In June 1952, the ANC, along with Indians and colored (biracial) people- two other groups also targeted by discriminatory laws- began a period of nonviolent protest known as the Defiance Campaign. Mandela spearheaded the campaign by recruiting, training, and organizing volunteers. The campaign lasted six months, with cities and towns throughout South Africa participating. Volunteers defied the laws by entering areas meant for whites only. Several thousand were arrested in that six-month time, including Mandela and other ANC leaders. He and the other members of the group were found guilty of statutory communism and sentenced to nine months of hard labor, but the sentence was suspended. The publicity garnered during the Defiance Campaign helped membership in the ANC soar to 100,000. Arrested for Treason The government twice banned Mandela, meaning that he could not attend public meetings, or even family gatherings, because of his involvement in the ANC. His 1953 banning lasted two years. Mandela, along with others on the executive committee of the ANC, drew up the Freedom Charter in June 1955 and presented it during a special meeting called the Congress of the People. The charter called for equal rights for all, regardless of race, and the ability of all citizens to vote, own land, and hold decent-paying jobs. In essence, the charter called for a non-racial South Africa. Months after the charter was presented, police raided the homes of hundreds of members of the ANC and arrested them. Mandela and 155 others were charged with high treason. They were released to await a trial date. Mandelas marriage to Evelyn suffered from the strain of his long absences; they divorced in 1957 after 13 years of marriage. Through work, Mandela met Winnie Madikizela, a social worker who had sought his legal advice. They married in June 1958, just months before Mandelas trial began in August. Mandela was 39 years old, Winnie only 21. The trial would last three years; during that time, Winnie gave birth to two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. Sharpeville Massacre The trial, whose venue was changed to Pretoria, moved at a snails pace. The preliminary arraignment alone took a year; the actual trial didnt start until August 1959. Charges were dropped against all but 30 of the accused. Then, on March 21, 1960, the trial was interrupted by a national crisis. In early March, another anti-apartheid group, the Pan African Congress (PAC) had held large demonstrations protesting strict pass laws, which required Africans to carry identification papers with them at all times in order to be able to travel throughout the country. During one such protest in Sharpeville, police had opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing 69, and wounding more than 400. The shocking incident, which was universally condemned, was called the Sharpeville Massacre. Mandela and other ANC leaders called for a national day of mourning, along with a stay at home strike. Hundreds of thousands participated in a mostly peaceful demonstration, but some rioting erupted. The South African government declared a national state of emergency and martial law was enacted. Mandela and his co-defendants were moved into prison cells, and both the ANC and PAC were officially banned. The treason trial resumed on April 25, 1960 and lasted until March 29, 1961. To the surprise of many, the court dropped charges against all of the defendants, citing a lack of evidence proving that the defendants had planned to violently overthrow the government. For many, it was cause for celebration, but Nelson Mandela had no time to celebrate. He was about to enter into a new- and dangerous- chapter in his life. The Black Pimpernel Prior to the verdict, the banned ANC had held an illegal meeting and decided that if Mandela was acquitted, he would go underground after the trial. He would operate clandestinely to give speeches and gather support for the liberation movement. A new organization, the National Action Council (NAC), was formed and Mandela named as its leader. In accordance with the ANC plan, Mandela became a fugitive directly after the trial. He went into hiding at the first of several safe houses, most of them located in the Johannesburg area. Mandela stayed on the move, knowing that the police were looking everywhere for him. Venturing out only at night, when he felt safest, Mandela dressed in disguises, such as a chauffeur or a chef. He made unannounced appearances, giving speeches at places that were presumed safe, and also made radio broadcasts. The press took to calling him the Black Pimpernel, after the title character in the novel The Scarlet Pimpernel. In October 1961, Mandela moved to a farm in Rivonia, outside of Johannesburg. He was safe for a time there and could even enjoy visits from Winnie and their daughters. Spear of the Nation In response to the governments increasingly violent treatment of protestors, Mandela developed a new arm of the ANC- a military unit that he named Spear of the Nation, known also as MK. The MK would operate using a strategy of sabotage, targeting military installations, power facilities, and transportation links. Its goal was to damage property of the state, but not to harm individuals. The MKs first attack came in December 1961, when they bombed an electric power station and empty government offices in Johannesburg. Weeks later, another set of bombings were carried out. White South Africans were startled into the realization that they could no longer take their safety for granted. In January 1962, Mandela, who had never in his life been out of South Africa, was smuggled out of the country to attend a Pan-African conference. He hoped to get financial and military support from other African nations, but was not successful. In Ethiopia, Mandela received training in how to fire a gun and how to build small explosives. Captured After 16 months on the run, Mandela was captured on August 5, 1962, when the car he was driving was overtaken by police. He was arrested on charges of leaving the country illegally and inciting a strike. The trial began on October 15, 1962. Refusing counsel, Mandela spoke on his own behalf. He used his time in court to denounce the governments immoral, discriminatory policies. Despite his impassioned speech, he was sentenced to five years in prison. Mandela was 44 years old when he entered Pretoria Local Prison. Imprisoned in Pretoria for six months, Mandela was then taken to Robben Island, a bleak, isolated prison off the coast of Cape Town, in May 1963. After only a few weeks there, Mandela learned he was about to head back to court- this time on charges of sabotage. He would be charged along with several other members of MK, who had been arrested on the farm in Rivonia. During the trial, Mandela admitted his role in the formation of MK. He emphasized his belief that the protestors were only working toward what they deserved- equal political rights. Mandela concluded his statement by saying that he was prepared to die for his cause. Mandela and his seven co-defendants received guilty verdicts on June 11, 1964. They could have been sentenced to death for so serious a charge, but each was given life imprisonment. All of the men (except one white prisoner) were sent to Robben Island. Life at Robben Island At Robben Island, each prisoner had a small cell with a single light that stayed on 24 hours a day. Prisoners slept on the floor upon a thin mat. Meals consisted of cold porridge and an occasional vegetable or piece of meat (although Indian and Asian prisoners received more generous rations than their black counterparts.) As a reminder of their lower status, black prisoners wore short pants all year-round, whereas others were allowed to wear trousers. Inmates spent nearly ten hours a day at hard labor, digging out rocks from a limestone quarry. The hardships of prison life made it difficult to maintain ones dignity, but Mandela resolved not to be defeated by his imprisonment. He became the spokesperson and leader of the group, and was known by his clan name, Madiba. Over the years, Mandela led the prisoners in numerous protests- hunger strikes, food boycotts, and work slowdowns. He also demanded reading and study privileges. In most cases, the protests eventually yielded results. Mandela suffered personal losses during his imprisonment. His mother died in January 1968 and his 25-year-old son Thembi died in a car accident the following year. A heartbroken Mandela was not allowed to attend either funeral. In 1969, Mandela received word that his wife Winnie had been arrested on charges of communist activities. She spent 18 months in solitary confinement and was subjected to torture. The knowledge that Winnie had been imprisoned caused Mandela great distress. Free Mandela Campaign Throughout his imprisonment, Mandela remained the symbol of the anti-apartheid movement, still inspiring his countrymen. Following a Free Mandela campaign in 1980 that attracted global attention, the government capitulated somewhat. In April 1982, Mandela and four other Rivonia prisoners were transferred to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland. Mandela was 62 years old and had been at Robben Island for 19 years. Conditions were much improved from those at Robben Island. Inmates were allowed to read newspapers, watch TV, and receive visitors. Mandela was given a lot of publicity, as the government wanted to prove to the world that he was being treated well. In an effort to stem the violence and repair the failing economy, Prime Minister P.W. Botha announced on January 31, 1985 that he would release Nelson Mandela if Mandela agreed to renounce violent demonstrations. But Mandela refused any offer that was not unconditional. In December 1988, Mandela was transferred to a private residence at the Victor Verster prison outside Cape Town and later brought in for secret negotiations with the government. Little was accomplished, however, until Botha resigned from his position in August 1989, forced out by his cabinet. His successor, F.W. de Klerk, was ready to negotiate for peace. He was willing to meet with Mandela. Freedom at Last At Mandelas urging, de Klerk released Mandelas fellow political prisoners without condition in October 1989. Mandela and de Klerk had long discussions about the illegal status of the ANC and other opposition groups, but came to no specific agreement. Then, on February 2, 1990, de Klerk made an announcement that stunned Mandela and all of South Africa. De Klerk enacted a number of sweeping reforms, lifting the bans on the ANC, the PAC, and the Communist Party, among others. He lifted the restrictions still in place from the 1986 state of emergency and ordered the release of all nonviolent political prisoners. On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was given an unconditional release from prison. After 27 years in custody, he was a free man at the age of 71. Mandela was welcomed home by thousands of people cheering in the streets. Soon after his return home, Mandela learned that his wife Winnie had fallen in love with another man in his absence. The Mandelas separated in April 1992 and later divorced. Mandela knew that despite the impressive changes that had been made, there was still much work to be done. He returned immediately to working for the ANC, traveling across South Africa to speak with various groups and to serve as a negotiator for further reforms. In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their joint effort to bring about peace in South Africa. President Mandela On April 27, 1994, South Africa held its first election in which blacks were allowed to vote. The ANC won 63 percent of the votes, a majority in Parliament. Nelson Mandela- only four years after his release from prison- was elected the first black president of South Africa. Nearly three centuries of white domination had ended. Mandela visited many Western nations in an attempt to convince leaders to work with the new government in South Africa. He also made efforts to help bring about peace in several African nations, including Botswana, Uganda, and Libya. Mandela soon earned the admiration and respect of many outside of South Africa. During Mandelas term, he addressed the need for housing, running water, and electricity for all South Africans. The government also returned land to those it had been taken from, and made it legal again for blacks to own land. In 1998, Mandela married Graca Machel on his eightieth birthday. Machel, 52 years old, was the widow of a former president of Mozambique. Nelson Mandela did not seek re-election in 1999. He was replaced by his Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki. Mandela retired to his mothers village of Qunu, Transkei. Mandela became involved in raising funds for HIV/AIDS, an epidemic in Africa. He organized the AIDS benefit 46664 Concert in 2003, so named after his prison ID number. In 2005, Mandelas own son, Makgatho, died of AIDS at the age of 44. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly designated July 18, Mandelas birthday, as Nelson Mandela International Day. Nelson Mandela died at his Johannesburg home on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95.

Gender Bias in Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gender Bias in Education - Essay Example This essay approves that in today’s world of visual communication a company uses the media as a tool in selling its products. Advertising agencies, as media options is often found to use the female image to sell off its clients products and to achieve rapid turnovers. The picture of women portrayed in the advertisement commercials have become of a stereotyped nature. It depicts each and every woman to be bold and extrovert in relation to the models portrayed with bold attires and appealing make up. Different commercials use women rather to fulfill the selling motives of the company’s products and services. It takes no concern while tarnishing the image of womanhood for which the need for censorship has risen as regards to advertisements. Further, women have started to occupy senior positions in the media houses. However, the unfortunate part of the game is that the qualitative approach at looking over the female work force has still not undergone any change. The gender bias is evident in the journalism profession as regards to the gender view of the sources gathering the information. This report makes a conclusion that women resorting to menial and low paid jobs are often the subjects of sexual exploitation. Even, the society as a whole views the women creed as items of sexual fervor. Thus commercials explicitly using the above female image do call for limited censorship. These practices must be curbed at the very outset so as to reduce the gender bias emanating from such and in bettering up the social environment.

Discussion board - research design class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion board - research design class - Essay Example 2. Distinguishing between authoritative sources and non-authoritative ones In order to write a good scholarly paper, one has to be aware of how to distinguish between authoritative sources and non-authoritative ones. One of the criteria that is used to distinguish between the two is the credibility of the author. In most authoritative sources, the authors’ credentials are normally given in detail. Other criteria that can be used to check the authoritativeness of source is evaluating the use of evidence and critical analysis of the evidence presented. 3. Examples of authoritative sources: Peer Reviewed journals UN research reports Audit reports for companies The information contained in these sources is normally based on evidence and through research. The authors of these documents are credible and the information contained in their findings is easily verifiable. Examples of non-authoritative sources: Personal blogs Social networks Free online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia Th ese sources normally do not contain substantive information. The information found in these sources in mainly personal opinion which in many instances is not backed by any hard evidence (MW Consulting, 2008). Response on Postings The first posting contains a brief and clear definition of an authoritative source.