Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet Essay Example

Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet Essay Example Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet Essay Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet Essay An unhealthy lifestyle means more illness and more expense to treat those illnesses. This means a bigger burden on an already challenged healthcare system. Poor health also means more time lost at work, less quality recreational time, and even shorter lifespan. But the people in this modern day have a mindset that takes good health for granted. One can suffer from years of aches and pains, and would just ignore them, and then feel so surprised when one finds out one has developed a serious chronic disease. Majorities would usually leave their health to the hand of the doctors, relying on the advance medical technology, medical drugs when the fall sick. We have the choice to live a healthy lifestyle, but many chose to live just for today, enjoy life, and most of the time end up suffering in pain with chronic diseases and illnesses. Unhealthy Lifestyle There are many factors contributing to the degeneration of health among many people today. We live in a terribly polluted world. We are all exposed to thousands of toxins and chemicals every day at work, home, in the air, and in the food that we eat and water we drink. In addition, we are eating more processed foods than ever before in human history and we constantly abuse or bodies with pharmaceuticals We are constantly bombarded by fast food at every corner. And video games have led the majority of teens to spend countless hours in front of the television being sedentary. And, as a result of all of this, there exists a generation that is out-of-shape, overweight and obese. Many would spent hours on a couch in front of the picture box watching their favorite TV programs, together with several packets of snacks like potato chips and other junk food, and they don’t get up from your butt to move around for the next couple of hours, and that’s alright. Too much junk food being put into childrens hands. Children were introduced to fast food restaurant at a very young age by their parent, having been brought up in this environment, they grew up spending long hours of their free time there ,chatting with friends, galloping burgers, French fries and cups of Coke, without thinking of how nutritionally deficient foods would intoxicate their body, But do children understand that junk food or snacks like potato chips, burgers and fries have high levels of fat, sugar or salt and are simply unhealthy? Junk food which contains saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels and therefore increases your risk of heart disease and some cancers. Smoking and drinking are two big habits that can affect your health and the way you feel. Smoking, in particular, is one habit to quit if you havent already because it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. Alcohol can be fine in moderation, but when you are with some good buddies in a party, you may drown yourself with glasses of them without realizing how intoxicated your body is, it also can contribute to sleep problems and suppress your appetite, preventing you from eating well. Life is full of stress. Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. Work can be a stressful place, whether in an office, a factory, or a school. For many people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. Some stress is good, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But too much stress is bad, when you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. The stress response also helps you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes. But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life. Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. Public are generally dependent on medical drugs and are not aware that medical drug side effects are dangerous to their health. In the world today, Many people seems to think that they just want medicines and drugs to solve their health problems, they believe they can always seek medical assistance,. But what they are not aware of is that these pharmaceutical medications may have potential adverse reactions. Some of the most popular prescription drugs on the market are used for the treatment of arious conditions such as high cholesterol to depression to rheumatoid arthritis to sexual enhancement. Some of these pharmaceuticals drugs can cause serious problems such as liver damage, muscle pain and in some cases severe muscle breakdown and even death. When you go to a medical doctor and he gives you many packs of pills and capsules in various colours, shapes and sizes, drugs which are toxic to your liver and do crazy things to your health and metabolism, perhaps you obediently swallow t hose little poisons without considering what they are doing to your body. Polluted Environment The industrial revolution, technological advancement and modern transportation have seriously depleted oxygen levels in our atmosphere. Our obsession with carbon-based fuels for power generators, planes and automobiles consumes vast amounts of oxygen daily. Coupled with this is the huge reduction of our forested areas and all plant life as the need for timber and paper continues beyond our production capacity. At the present time, scientists have determined that our atmospheric oxygen concentration levels are being reduced by about 0. 8 percent every 15 years or so. Regrettably, at the moment, there is no reason to believe that this trend is going to change. Toxic stress, toxic chemicals and air pollution (all of which are becoming more prevalent in our industrialized cities), as well as increased use of antibiotics, emotional stress (which produces adrenaline and adrenal-related hormones that use more oxygen), physical trauma (reduces circulation and oxygen supply) and infections (the body uses oxygen to fight bacteria, fungi and viruses). Frequent use of drugs also depletes your oxygen supplies at the cellular level. A shortage of oxygen in the blood could very well be the starting point for the loss of the immune system and the beginning point of health problems like cancer, leukemia, AIDS, seizures, nerve deterioration and candida. Future research will clarify the links between poor oxygen levels and disease. Initial symptoms of oxygen deficiency may include overall weakness, fatigue, circulation problems, poor digestion, muscle aches and pains, dizziness, depression, memory loss, irrational behavior, irritability, acid stomach and bronchial complications. When the immune system is compromised by a lack of oxygen, the body is more susceptible to opportunistic bacteria, viral and parasitic infections, colds and the flu. Oxygen deprivation can also trigger life-threatening diseases, as underscored by Nobel Laureate Dr. Otto Warburg’s assertion that cancer and other infections or diseases cannot live in an oxygen-rich environment. Poisonous agents from the household items. Our bodies are absorbing the harmful chemicals surrounding the environment today. It is thus imperative that we clean up our living environment as much as possible. Those regular detergents, soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and perfumes that we uses today contain many chemicals which are toxic to our bodies, some even carcinogenic. Although we dont directly ingest them, these chemicals are absorbed by our skin, other harmful chemicals such as turpentine, arsenic, insecticides, paints, etc. Again, even though we dont ingest them, we are constantly breathing in their gaseous fumes. Lack of Exercise. You just put in a good 10 hour day in front of your computer screen, and the last thing you want to do is exercise. Lets see, exercise, and improve your fitness level, or sit down with a glass of wine and watch your favorite evening television show. What would you do? Seventy percent of individuals know they should exercise, but choose the wine and the television program instead. Do you know this simple daily decision can end up being detrimental to your health? Effects of irregular eating or skipping meals Mouth ulcers Acidity and heart burn Nausea Constipation Lowered blood pressure Elevated uric acid (kidney disease) stresses brain and body Fat Storage Eating breakfast primes your metabolism and helps set its pace for the day, says Michelle A. Gordine, M. D. , author of the book Reclaiming Our Health: A Guide to African-American Wellness. By contrast, skipping breakfast puts your body in starvation mode, an energy conservation setting of your bodys metabolic machinery that promotes fat storage and discourages calorie-burning. Blood Sugar Skipping meals, particularly breakfast, can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. After fasting overnight, your blood sugar levels may be at their lowest ebb of the day. Skipping this meal can result in hypoglycemia dangerously low blood sugar which can cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy and overeat to compensate. A spike in blood sugar from a large afternoon meal leads to a late afternoon blood sugar drop, sending you on a blood sugar roller coaster, according to Roberta Larson Duyff, author of the American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. Instead, try cutting back on dinner and shifting the bulk of your calorie intake toward the first half of the day. You may find that eating this way gives you more energy when you need it the most. After doing this for a few days youll naturally become hungry at breakfast time. Malnutrition Older adults who experience decreased appetite as a function of aging may be in danger of malnutrition from skipping meals, according to nutritionist Sari Edelstein, Ph. D. , R. D. , author of the book Life Cycle Nutrition: An Evidence-Based Approach. Aging also brings with it decreased nutrient absorption. The combination of the two is a recipe for potential nutritional deficiencies. Early intervention can prevent weight loss and other serious health consequences, such as osteoporosis and decreased immune function. Brain Function Maintaining even-keeled blood sugar levels ensures that your brain and muscles receive a steady supply of glucose, their preferred fuel source. Eating regular meals results in better mental acuity, learning and memory, improved work performance and better strength and endurance. Your attitude toward work or school may also improve and you might find that your dem anding boss or that irritating co-worker arent as unreasonable as you previously thought. Blood Sugar Drops and Spikes One of the most important reasons that skipping meals is unhealthy is due to the affect this has on your blood sugar. When you eat a meal, your body breaks up the food. Some of this food is stored as fat, while other parts of it enter your bloodstream as sugar, and work to provide you with energy throughout the day. When you skip a meal, your blood sugar drops dramatically. This not only can make you feel sluggish and tired, but it can also wreck havoc with insulin in your body. If you chronically skip meals, you can be setting yourself up for the development of diabetes later in life. Inadequate Nutrition Another important reason why skipping meals is unhealthy is due to the fact that you are more than likely not receiving adequate nutrition. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats helps not only to ensure that your body functions properly, but can also help in the treatment and prevention of a number of serious conditions. Some conditions that can be improved with proper nutrition include cardiovascular disease, strokes, and some types of cancer. You may believe that you can skip meals and still achieve optimal nutrition by supplementing your diet with multivitamins. And while multivitamins do have their place, research has shown that these pills arent as effective as real food at providing your body with what it needs. For good health, try to eat as naturally as possible. Altered Metabolism You  typically  skip meals for two main reasons. One,  you are ultra busy and dont have enough time to grab a quick snack, or two, you are trying to lose weight. If you are one of the people who are trying to lose weight, you may be actually sabotaging yourself by skipping meals. When you eat, your metabolism, which is one of your bodys functions, works to break the food down into smaller, usable parts. When you skip a meal, your metabolism has nothing to do. In a way, your metabolism is like a muscle. You must use it, or you will lose it. When your metabolism does not have to work to break down food, it begins to slow down. Then, the next time you do actually eat something, your metabolism is not able to break the food down as quickly, and as a result the food is stored as fat. Therefore, in order to maintain a healthy weight (or even lose weight), it is essential that you eat regularly throughout the day. Recent research has found that five to seven small, regularly timed meals eaten over the course of a day works best when trying to maintain a healthy weight. The Effects of Sleep Deprivation Neurologic Effects Sleep deprivation mimics the effects of drinking alcohol you may experience slurred speech and uncontrolled reflexive movements of the eye called nystagmus. You may also develop a slight shakiness or tremor in your hands. Some people even have a more pronounced droopiness in their eyelids, called ptosis. Various other neurological reflexes can change in sleep deprivation. These are unlikely to causes symptoms you would notice. However, if your doctor were to test them, you may have sluggish corneal reflexes, a hyperactive gag reflex, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes. In addition, you may have a reduced threshold for seizures. As a result, people with epilepsy are at greater risk for seizures when theyre sleep deprived. One thing that you may notice right away is an increased sensitivity to pain. Studies have shown our sensitivity to heat and pressure pain is especially enhanced when we don’t sleep enough. Also, there is reported to be an increased sensitivity to pain in our esophagus, as might occur in the setting of nighttime heartburn Vital Sign Changes Research studies have demonstrated that sleep deprivation may cause subtle changes in your vital signs. Vital signs are important physiological markers that are often tracked as part of a general health assessment. These include: Body temperature Blood pressure Heart rate Breathing rate Reduced decision-making skills Poorer memory Reduced concentration Reduced alertness Shortened attention span Slower than normal reaction time Poorer judgment Reduced awareness of the environment and situation Reduced work efficiency smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and drinking too much increased the risk of dying by such a large degree that it was the equivalent to being 12 years older.

Tourism in Antarctica

Tourism in Antarctica Antarctica has become one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations. Since 1969, the average number of visitors to the continent has increased from several hundred to over 34,000 today. All activities in Antarctica are heavily regulated by the Antarctic Treaty for environmental protection purposes and the industry is largely managed by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). History of Tourism in Antarctica The first expedition to Antarctica with travelers was in 1966, led by Swedish explorer Lars Eric Lindblad. Lindblad wanted to give tourists a first-hand experience on the ecological sensitivity of the Antarctic environment, in order to educate them and promote a greater understanding of the continents role in the world. The modern expedition cruise industry was born shortly after, in 1969, when Lindblad built the worlds first expedition ship, the MS Lindblad Explorer, which was specifically designed to transport tourists to Antarctica. In 1977, both Australia and New Zealand started to offer scenic flights to Antarctica through Qantas and Air New Zealand. The flights often flew to the continent without landing and returned to the departure airport. The experience was an average 12 to 14 hours with up to 4 hours flying directly over the continent. The flights from Australia and New Zealand stopped in 1980. It was due in large part to the Air New Zealand Flight 901 accident on November 28, 1979, in which a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 aircraft carrying 237 passengers and 20 crew members collided into Mount Erebus on Ross Island, Antarctica, killing all onboard. Flights to Antarctica did not resume again until 1994. Despite the potential hazards and risks, tourism to Antarctica continued to grow. According to IAATO, 34,354 travelers visited the continent between 2012 and 2013. Americans contributed to the largest share with 10,677 visitors, or 31.1%, followed by Germans (3,830/11.1%), Australians (3,724/10.7%), and the British (3,492/10.2%). The remainder of the visitors were from China, Canada, Switzerland, France, and elsewhere. IAATO The IAATOs original visitor and tour operator guidelines served as the basis in the development of the Antarctic Treaty Recommendation XVIII-1, which includes guidance for Antarctic visitors and for non-government tour organizers. Some of the mandated guidelines include: Do not disturb wildlife either at sea or on landDo not feed or touch animals or photograph in a way that will disturbDo not damage plants or bring invasive speciesDo not damage, destroy, or remove artifacts from historic sites. This includes rocks, bones, fossils, and content of buildingsDo not interfere with scientific equipment, study sites, or field campsDo not walk onto glaciers or large snowfields unless properly trainedDo not litter There are currently over 58 vessels registered with the IAATO. Seventeen of the vessels are categorized as yachts, which can transport up to 12 passengers, 28 are considered category 1 (up to 200 passengers), 7 are category 2 (up to 500), and 6 are cruise ships, capable of housing anywhere from 500 to 3,000 visitors. Tourism in Antarctica Today Most ships depart from South America, particularly Ushuaia in Argentina, Hobart in Australia, and Christchurch or Auckland, New Zealand. The principal destination is the Antarctic Peninsula region, which includes the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Certain private expeditions may include visits to inland sites, including Mt .Vinson (Antarcticas highest mountain) and the geographic South Pole. An expedition can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Yachts and category 1 ships generally land on the continent with a duration lasting approximately 1 - 3 hours. There can be between 1-3 landings per day using inflatable crafts or helicopters to transfer visitors. Category 2 ships typically sail the waters with or without landing and cruise ships carrying more than 500 passengers are no longer operational as of 2009 due to concerns of oil or fuel spills. Most of the activities while on land include visits to operational scientific stations and wildlife sties, hiking, kayaking, mountaineering, camping, and scuba-diving. Excursions are always accompanied by seasoned staff members, which often includes an ornithologist, marine biologist, geologist, naturalist, historian, general biologist, and/or glaciologist. A trip to Antarctica can range anywhere from as little as $3,000-$4,000 to over $40,000, depending on the scope of transportation, housing, and activity needs. The higher end packages typically involve air transport, on-site camping, and a visit to the South Pole. References British Antarctic Survey (2013, September 25). Antarctic Tourism. Retrieved from: antarctica.ac.uk/about_antarctica/tourism/faq.php International Association of Antarctica Tour Operations (2013, September 25). Tourism Overview. Retrieved from: http://iaato.org/tourism-overview

Unconventional Warfare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unconventional Warfare - Essay Example Guerilla warfare was first referred as a war of revolutionary nature by Mao Zedong who used it widely in his operations in China1. However it is used in modern insurgencies as a part of an integrated process with all the sophistications associated with an organized operation including propaganda capabilities, doctrines and specialist skills. 2 Kennedy Hickman, Fabian Strategy : Wearing Down the Enemy , 2007, About.com: Military History, The Medieval myth of Roland borne out of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass was won by the Basque due to the effective utilization of guerilla tactics3. 15th century saw the Vietnamese insurgency against the Chinese where as the 19th century saw the Balkan people using the same tactics to fight against the Ottoman Empire4. World War I and World War II also saw a number of guerilla warfare in the name of resistance movements and other insurgent activities. Guerilla warfare continues in many parts of the world post the II World War as well. However, the most common feature associated with unconventional warfare is its nationalist fighting nature which was evident in the rebellions. One key exception was the Columbian FARC which gave up armed rebellion following its electoral defeat only to resume it later and associate with the drug lobby against the traditions it followed6. 3Kennedy Hickman, Charlemagne: Battle of Roncevaux Pass, 2007, About.com: Military History, 4Walter Laqueur, Guerrilla Warfare - A Historical & Critical Study, 1998, (Transaction Books) 239-277 5 Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Warfare Conduct Of, Guerrilla Warfare," 1984 ed, p. 584 6Walter Laqueur, Guerrilla Warfare - A Historical & Critical Study, 1998, (Transaction Books) xi Two of the major victories of the guerilla warfare happened in Afghanistan and Chechnya, both of which coincided with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The victory is mainly attributed to the fact that though the enemy was powerful, lacked the political will. Afghanistan war also gave a topographical advantage to the rebels which led to the evacuation of the Soviet troops in 1989. Guerillas failed to achieve decisive victories in a number of countries like Turkey, Algeria, Israel, Sri Lanka and Sudan, though they succeeded in causing sizeable harm to their enemies. Considerable help has been provided to the guerillas from abroad to keep the momentum going in the operation as in the Arab countries support given to the Palestinians and Afghans and the Indian Tamil support to the Sri Lankan Tamils7. The key forms of insurgency that is expected to control the modern era are likely to be driven by problems caused due to the increasingly commercialized and modernized world. This is expected to dominate the Third World countries with

Artist report paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Artist report paper - Essay Example His father, Ser Piero da Vinci is a prominent notary of Florence and had a great grange left from their ancestry. However, da Vinci was born to unmarried parents because his mother, Catarina was not from a rich family. After few years later da Vinci was born, Catarina left her own son and married to someone else. This caused da Vinci to not have any connection with any female in his life other than work. Moreover, from the one of famous art piece â€Å"The Mona Lisa† illustrates the idea woman for As a son of notary, da Vinci had been well educated in his childhood from his father, uncle, priest and self-study because he is an illegitimate child. Even so, it did not affect da Vinci’s intelligences still surpassed those people who have been educated in school. He can play a lot of instruments, sing, and study mathematic also nature, due to the large grange he had near his house. Other than the large grange near his house, da Vinci also spends most of his time in outdoor observing nature during his childhood which influenced the future of his art style. Until the age of fourteen, da Vinci’s father sent him to be an apprentice of a great artist, Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence because of talent in art. As an apprentice, he helped Verrocchio to finish one of the angels in â€Å"Baptism of Christ† and the landscape. His ability was amazed Verrocchio because da Vinci understood how to use the color to demonstrate the light and distant. Moreover, he also known the environment will affect the vision such as the rain, cloud and dust. A great person is not only what he is good at, is also what he did to benefit people. Da Vinci is the first artist who combined Science, Mathematics, anatomy, and engineering into an art piece. He demonstrates the divine proportion of a human body that all the living things have follow the specific ratio, divine proportion. He is also the first person to draw a dissected human body and studied the human structure.

The differences in ethical and Christian views concerning homosexuality Essay Example for Free

The differences in ethical and Christian views concerning homosexuality Essay Homosexuality is a subject, which is forever being raised in todays media and society. It is constantly brought to the attention of many to be somewhat reassessed in terms of ethical and religious view points, whether through the newspapers or the television. While religious view points used to manipulate society in all matters, it now seems to be the media which influences and guides social attitudes towards homosexuality. For many years, it has been seen as intrinsically wrong to everybody, religious and secular. However, it is fast becoming more and more accepted by a larger number of people. Just the mention of homosexuality in a Roman Catholic Church is bound to be frowned upon or combated with a quick fire of biblical references to show you that homosexuality is wrong in the eyes of God. Catholicism has often been blamed for the development of homophobia, particularly in the West. While this may seem a little unfair, it is most certainly true that homophobia is ubiquitous within this Christian denomination. Many Catholics often refer to what few references there are in the Bible to the subject of homosexuality. For example, the story of the town called Sodom (Gen. 19-21) is one of the most famous indications that people often refer to. Here, a man named Lot is greeted by two of Gods divine messengers, who wish to warn Lot that God is displeased with the terrible behavior. He then receives men at his door saying that they wish to commit sexual acts with these divine messengers and in response to this, God burns the town to the ground. Christians believe that this was because of the men wishing to commit homosexual acts. They feel that there is no necessary analysis of this story as the message is quite clear. Jack T. Chick is a publisher of fundamentalist Christian leaflets and comic books. In one of his childrens comic books, entitled Birds and Bees, he wrote, The worst city was Sodom. These Sodomites worshipped Satan, were possessed with devils and they hated God. Their stink reached heaven and God was fed up with them. He planned to destroy them to keep their filthy lifestyle from spreading. As soon as they got Lot and his family out of Sodom, God firebombed the cities and turned them into ashes. Today, those same kinds of people are back, but now theyre called Gays! This opinion is shared by many Christians today and is often the message, which is portrayed through Christian propaganda such as this. From looking at this sort of publication, it is easy to see why Catholics are so frequently blamed for the development of homophobia. However, many Catholics today argue that this was simply a misinterpretation of the biblical reference itself. John Macquarrie and James Childress wrote in the New Dictionary of Christian Ethics To the extent that the Sodom story focuses on homosexual acts, the judgment is on the homosexual rape of divine messengers, and its larger judgment appears to be against social injustice and inhospitality to strangers (see Ezek. 16:49-50). They clearly state that the passage in the bible is not about the homosexual acts themselves, but the wish to do it without consent, implying that homosexual acts are perfectly okay as long as they are with two compliant adults. Not only this, but God was displeased with how the men acted towards guests when they should have been hospitable in a more Christian and loving way. There are many other examples of homosexual references in the bible, such as the Levitical Holiness Code (Lev. 18:22; 20:13), which prescribes the death penalty for homosexual acts. The NT (New Testament) calls homosexual acts idolatry (Rom. 1:26-27) and suggests that certain homosexual activity will deny you entry into Gods Kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9-10, 1 Tim. 1:9-10) But yet again, Macquarrie and Childress argue the same thing. They wrote, The references in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy quite clearly take the sordid and dehumanizing dimensions of Greco-Roman pederasty as their image of homosexual relations. Macquarrie and Childress argue that the reference in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy are in reference to relations between men and boys and not in fact between two grown men. This changes the meaning entirely of the supposed reference to homosexuality, as we know very well that relations between men and boys is still found highly unacceptable and illegal even in todays society, not just in the religious circles. This is a highly different interpretation to what most Catholics would agree with, however, as times change many Catholics are actually considering these alternative interpretations to meet with the ever changing ethical views of society. There were many others to follow Macquarrie and Childress in re-interpreting the Bible and its rules on homosexuality. Many criticized Catholics for ignoring other rules that suited them but sticking to the rules about homosexuality because they didnt like the idea. In his book, Ethical Studies, David Bowie wrote The bible condemns hypocrisy and greed, but no one died at the stake in medieval times for these offences, while homosexuals perished. This view was shared by the likes of John Boswell (1982) and Gareth Moore (1992). Moore wrote, in his book The Body in Context: Sex and Catholicism (1992), that Christians dont follow the rule in Leviticus 19:19 that states that wearing garments that are made of two types of material is forbidden. He goes further to say that we ignore the laws, which are convenient to us while pursuing those that attack minorities that we dont like (pp. 184-186). He too agrees with the interpretation of the Sodom story, which states that God was troubled by the failure to meet the responsibility of hospitality, as oppose to disapproving homosexuality (p. 191). St. Paul wrote that homosexuality often comes from godless people who lead a precarious lifestyle. In 1 Corinthians he lists all kinds of unrighteous people including male prostitutes and sodomites. He says that people engaging in same sex actions are dishonoring their bodies. He also writes about men committing shameless acts with men. Moore also criticizes this idea from St. Paul. Moore argues that, whilst this may have been true in St. Pauls lifetime, it certainly isnt true now; with the fact there are many holy, Christian homosexuals around today who just want to be accepted. This doesnt fit into St. Pauls argument of godless homosexuals. While biblical references are very powerful to Catholics as Gods spoken word, there are also many modern day references that are used by Catholics such as the Declaration on Sexual Ethics (1975) which states In Sacred Scripture homosexual acts are condemned as a serious depravity and even presented as a sad consequence of rejecting God. This judgment of scripture does not, of course, permit us to conclude that all those who suffer from this anomaly are personally responsible for it, but it does attest to the fact that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and cannot be approved of. This seems to express the general view of conservative Catholics and provides another reason for practicing Catholics to be against homosexuality even if it is not entirely what they think. If it is written in something as serious as the Declaration on Sexual Ethics, people feel that they must follow it no matter what simply because they dont want to go against their religion. Disagreeing with this documentation would be opposing what the modern day Catholicism is requiring them to do and therefore many Catholics see it as intrinsically wrong to be homosexual, no matter what the reasons or circumstances. As well as actual textual references that say homosexuality is wrong, there are many other arguments that are always put forward by Catholics. Perhaps the most famous was that developed by Thomas Aquinas, called The Natural Law. This is the idea that sex is only for pro-creation, that is having children. He argues that this is why God gave us the sexual organs and using them for anything other than reproduction would be to misuse our bodies. Of course, this includes any form of homosexual activity and many Christians stick to this rule explicitly. This means, however, that some Christians find it perfectly acceptable to be homosexual but remain celibate throughout their entire lifetime. There are several Christian denominations that do find forms of homosexuality acceptable. Quakers say that homosexuality is no more deplorable than left-handedness and that it is the nature and quality of the relationship that matters. This means that as long as the relationship is a loving and caring relationship then it is perfectly acceptable no matter who is involved. This view is shared by the Methodist denomination of Christianity, which states that For homosexual men and women, permanent relationships characterized by love can be an appropriate and Christian way of expressing their sexuality. Many Christians believe that the most important teaching of Jesus was that you must love each other and treat each other how you would like to be treated. In this case, we must treat homosexuals with respect and not judge them for their way of living. We must show compassion for every human being, no matter what his or her race, creed or sexuality. While these religious views are still seen as highly acceptable, it is fast becoming the ethical views that are dominating the societys opinion of homosexuality. Due to the investigation into the cause of homosexuality, many people now believe that being a homosexual is something that you do not choose to be, something that you cannot change about yourself. The causes of homosexuality can often be split up into different categories; biological, psychoanalytical and social learning theories. And of course many doctors and psychologists seem to go for a combination of all three. However, despite the general consensus that we do not know the cause of homosexuality, there have been certain aspects of it that people agree on. For example, we know that it seems to become fixed in early childhood, usually by the age of seven. This is said to be not of the individuals own choice. Another agreement is that while efforts to change ones sexual practices may be successful, it will not change the sexual orientation of the individual and things such as feelings and desires. And finally, people agree upon the fact that most people are neither exclusively heterosexual nor homosexual but that they have leading predispositions towards either orientation. With these ethical considerations in mind, many people take these into deliberation when making judgments or decisions about homosexuality. People often question whether homosexuality actually is a moral issue. Not all Christians would find these biblical references useful or even relevant to the modern day debate as to whether homosexuality is right or wrong. We also have to consider the views of those who dont follow the Christian tradition at all. At which point does homosexuality become a moral problem for people in society? Surely sexual acts that occur between two consenting adults, homosexual or heterosexual, are perfectly okay in the privacy of their own homes. True, people shouldnt be exposed to things that they may find offensive in their opinion but it doesnt mean that they can stop other people from doing so. Of course there has been the issue of homosexuality in the law. What is legal is not necessarily the same as what is moral. Up until 1967, it was illegal to perform sexual acts at any time in any place. However, the 1967 Sexual Offences Act legalized homosexuality but many people still think it should be against the law. J.S. Mill claimed The only purpose for which power can be rightfully be exercised over any member of a civilized community against his will is to prevent harm to others. This opinion was shared by John Rawls who stated every person has a right to the maximum amount of liberty compatible with allowing liberty for all.(Ethics: Homosexuality by Reg Luhman p.20) This means that every individual, homosexual or heterosexual has the right to do whatever he or she want as long as it doesnt harm other people. He questions why people think they have the right to deny some human beings of their right to be homosexual and happy at the same time. However, Lord Devlin challenged this. He stated in his lecture on the reinforcement of morals, that homosexuality could damage our societys status and that allowing homosexuality to exist legally could jeopardize this. He believes that a society must do what it takes to preserve its own existence even if this means illegalizing homosexual acts in private between consenting adults. H.L.A. Hart criticized Devlin for this, drawing divisions between what is immoral and what is an upset to public civility. It brings attention to the fact that sexual acts between husband and wife would be seen as perfectly okay as long as it was in private but if it public then it would be considered immoral. However, sexual acts between two homosexuals would be considered immoral whether it was private or in public. He says The idea that we may punish offenders against a moral code, not to prevent harm or suffering or even repetition of the offence but simply as a means of venting or emphatically expressing moral condemnation, is uncomfortably close to human sacrifice as an expression of religious worship. The fact that humans can punish other humans for doing nothing but expressing their sexuality seems morally wrong in itself. To punish someone for something which they cannot help and did not choose is a far greater and unchristian way of dealing with the issue than allowing them to be homosexual in the privacy of their own homes etc. Joseph Fletcher argued that any of the 10 commandments or moral values could be broken if the circumstances required people to do so. He proposed the idea of situation ethics, which suggested that acts should be committed depending on what would be the most loving thing to do. The obvious problem with this is that we cannot know the outcome of any action and so we cannot determine what the most loving thing to do would be. But in the situation where two people love each other very much and feel that they must find a way to express their love, Fletcher would argue that they should be allowed to express it simply because they are acting out of love for each other and not causing any harm to anybody. With these considerations in mind, people still find homosexuality immorally wrong, whether theyre religious or not. Many people call it unnatural and against what man was made to do, so to speak. Natural would be to preserve the human race and of course, homosexual relationship do not do this. Charles Darwin proposed the idea of Naturalistic Humes Law which said that just because things are natural does not mean they are good and just because things are artificial or unnatural does not mean they are evil or bad. If we put this into modern day perspective we can see that, while homosexuality may be considered unnatural (which it may or may not be depending on ones opinion), it does not mean it is necessarily wrong. This seems to suggest that the question of whether homosexuality is natural or unnatural is irrelevant because that factor doesnt contribute to whether it is right or wrong, moral or immoral. In conclusion, it seems that there will probably always be an issue with homosexuality and religious groups until religious leaders are willing to see alternative interpretations of their sacred texts. However, it does seem that many people are beginning to accept homosexuality into society without the consideration of religion. The media has heavily influenced the acceptance of homosexuality as well as the legalizing of it in 1967. In a few years times, homophobia should be almost non-existent, excluding the religious groups who arent willing to change their views with the modern day times. We could argue forever which view is more right in terms or morals and religious aspects but in the end it depends entirely upon personal opinion and we cannot force people to be okay with something as controversial as this. Homophobia should be something, which will diminish given time. Bibliography Ethical Studies David Bowie (2001) Groundwork of Christian Ethics Richard G. Jones (1984) A New Dictionary of Christian Ethics Edited by John Macquarrie and James Childress (1986) Religious Studies Sarah K. Tyler and Gordon Reid (2002) On Liberty J.S. Mill (1859) The Body In Context: Sex and Catholicism- Gareth Moore (1992) Rediscovering Gay History: Archetypes of Gay Love in Christian History John Boswell (1982) Ethics: Homosexuality Reg Luhman (1999)

For Esme- With Love and Squalor Essay -- J.D. Salinger Literature Essa

For Esme- With Love and Squalor 1) In â€Å"For Esme- With Love and Squalor,† J.D. Salinger addresses a part of every person’s life. Everyone experiences periods in their life when they question the world and what is happening around them. Most people probably do not experience it quite as dramatic as the writer of the story, Sergeant X, does. He finds himself in the middle of the pure madness of war, and is having a hard time coping with the realities of the situation. Eventually, people find their way of dealing with these moments. Sergeant X relies on his memories of Esme to help him. The theme of the story is that the innocence of youth can serve as a healing power in times when the world seems to be falling apart. 2) â€Å"For Esme-With Love and Squalor† is essentially a story within a story; this is important to the theme of the story because the writer attempts to remove himself from the story (in first person narration) for the purpose of examination (in third person). This use of point of view makes the reader wonder what is â€Å"real† and what the author (inside the story) is â€Å"making-up.† This sounds strange because the whole story is fictitious, but Salinger makes us contemplate this and it adds to the effect of the story. 3) The first part of the story is told from first person narration. We are told the reason for writing is â€Å"†¦to edify, to instruct†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the man that Esme is about to marry. Throughout the first half of the story we are given the impression that the writer is admiring Esme for her youth and innocence, or love as the title suggests. Before the change to third person narration, we are told that this is going to be the squalid or repulsive part of the story. The writer then â€Å"disguis... ...d period of his life. 8) Innocence in a world of death, tyranny, and oppression seems ridiculous. The world has a way of destroying and making one numb to the ideals and values we once held in our youth. In Stephen Crane’s novel â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage,† we are told a story of a young man’s journey into manhood in the backdrop of the Civil War. Henry, as did Sergeant X, had a difficult time coming to terms with the realities of war. Sergeant X dwelled upon his experiences and allowed them to haunt him. We are told at the end of â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage† that Henry is able to â€Å"†¦rid himself of the red sickness of battle.† Crane writes that he turns â€Å"†¦ with a lover’s thirst to images of tranquil skies, fresh meadows, (and) cool brooks.† In â€Å"For Esme- With Love and Squalor,† Sergeant X turns to the tranquil memories of innocence triggered by Esme.

World War 1

â€Å"Le feu tue† (‘Firepower kills') Henri-Philippe Petain – 1916 Verdun. World War 1 is often called â€Å"the first modern war†. During World War 1 many new kinds of weapons and technology were invented and improved. Some of these weapons included tanks, chemical gases, grenades, and machine guns. Chemical Warfare was used for the first time on a large scale in World War I. many advancements were made during the war; in the air, on the ground, and in the sea. World War 1 started by a conflict and was fought between countries that were equipped with modern weapons. Some of these weapons rose and were very powerful like machine guns and others declined like bayonets. Both weapons and technology made a drastic impact on World War 1.Land battles were mostly fought on both the Western and Eastern fronts. Soldiers were surrounded by new technology and weapons that helped throughout the battlefield but also caused danger/death. Soldiers experienced a great deal of hardship while fighting on the fronts. The western front consisted of small parts in Europe, most of the fighting took over in France and Belgium. The eastern front was made up of battlefields in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia.†But on the last day an astonishing number of English field guns opened up on us with high-explosive, drumming ceaselessly on our position, so that we suffered heavily and came back only eighty strong† (1.4). Land war started by the use of Machine guns. Machine guns were the first and most famous weapon used in war, they are claimed to be the most dangerous weapon because the killed numerous lives during the war. Machine guns were invented by the Americans, however the idea was stolen by the Germans. Machine guns at the time could fire up to 500 rounds per minute, but they were very heavy and they were very heavy. They had to be used by well trained men who knew how to setup a gun and operate it quickly. Tanks were armored steel plated, belt tired, and heavily armed combat vehicles. First use of tanks on a battlefield was the use of british mark 1 tank at the battle of flers courcelette in 1915. The french soon followed the idea and created renault FT, which established the look of tank we see today. The germans never got to producing their own tanks in WW1. The only german design of war was the A7V. Flamethrowers were first invented by a German inventor named Richard Fiedlar. The flamethrower was designed to be carried on soldiers backs. It had two tanks, one that carried flammable liquid and the other that carried propellant gas. The squeeze of the trigger would send shooting flammable liquid up to 18 meters away, it was a weapon used to shoot big flames of fire against its enemies. It was used to burn soldiers and wooden obstacles such as bunkers. The germans used these flamethrowers to attack more than 650 soldiers, mainly the British and French. Small bombs thrown by hand or shot by a rifle attachment were called grenades/bombs. Germans are the ones who created and mostly used these grenades during war. The British made their own model of a grenade but it needed more work. By the year of 1917 all troops were required to carry extra grenades to capture and hold them against their enemies. Poisonous gas was introduced by the Germans in 1915. It is toxic smoke that can be very deadly if inhaled by humans. When the gas is inhaled it burns and liquidizes your lungs which causes death. If wind currents occurred while soldiers threw the gas at their enemies then it could easily be brought back to them and kill them. The only way to avoid the poisonous gas was to urinated on a cloth and hold up to ur mouth and nose. However over time gas mask kits were provided to the soldiers. Airplanes were very recent they were invented by the wright brothers 11 years ago. Airplanes were simple machines, more like to birds than anything else. The first missions were carried out as observation. Most airplanes at the time were slow/flimsy contraptions with barely enough power to lift a single pilot and perhaps one passenger. Airplanes technology developed throughout war they became very important/useful.In the beginning of the war most soldiers used the planes to spy on their enemies strategies. These planes usually carried a pilot and a photographer who would photograph the soldiers positions. The use of planes became very popular during war, it became a crucial part in achieving victories. One of the first contributions in the war was at the first battle of marne were reconnaissance planes spotted a gap in the german lines. The allies attacked the gap and were able to split the german army and drive them back. Fighter planes came into the war when they wanted to stop the reconnaissance planes. With more planes in the skies, enemy pilots began to fight each other in the air. At first, they tried throwing grenades at each other or shooting with rifles and pistols. It was useless and it didn't work very well. Pilots soon found out that the best way to shoot down an enemy is to mount a machine gun to the plane. However because the machine gun was mounted to the front of the plane the propeller would get in the way of the bullets. Soon a new invention called the â€Å"interredur† was invented by anton fokker, it allowed the machine gun to be synchronized with propeller, all planes started using this invention. As the war progressed, both sides began to use airplanes to drop bombs on enemy locations. The first planes used for bombings were made by the russians and could only carry small bombs and they were very powerless to attack from the ground. By the end of the war, faster long range bombers were built that could carry much larger weight bombs.Germany used zeppelins to drop bombs on targets from far away. These were slow moving but could carry a large load of explosives. Zeppelins were filled with hydrogen, so a small spark could blow up the entire aircraft. As the war continued it became useless because of the fast fighter planes that were used.The battles at sea were known as naval battles. These battles mainly took place in the northern sea and the atlantic. World War 1 World War 1 was different than any other wars that came before it by that it was the first war fought in on many continents, as well it was the first war where chemical weapons were used, and it was the first total war. The total number of casualties in World War 1 was 37 million. There were 9 million killed, 20 million wounded and others that weren’t were most likely dead. The expectations before the war started was a reason why the war began because people thought it was going to be a short, bloodless war and that there was going to be easy victory.According to Nial Ferguson, millions of Europeans saw war as the way to save their honor, as well as to solve internal and international problems that needed to be resolved. What were the major causes of World War 1 and could it have been avoided? The major causes of World War 1 were economic, intellectual, political, and geographic causes. If they could’ve avoided the war they would’ve avoided it because if they wou ld’ve thought about the consequences that the war was going to bring to them, they would’ve never been involved in it. Document # 1 is a chart of comparison of France’s, England’s, and Germany’s naval forces from 1890-1910.Document # 1 shows a political, economic, and geographic cause for World War 1. All three countries believed in militarism. Militarism is the belief that a country should maintain capability and be prepared to use it to defend their country. Governments were in conflict and militarism was a way to become superior to other countries. Tension was building up between some European countries. When one country saw that another’s country’s military was becoming stronger, the country would become â€Å"scared† and work on getting their military stronger. The chain went on and on like that with several countries.From 1890-1910, France went from 2 million tons to 10 million tons, England went from 10 million tons to 5 0 millions tons, and Germany went from 1 millions tons to 43 million tons. In order to build there naval forces, it takes a lot of money. The countries would use their colonies and what they’ve been able to gain from the industrial revolution. Not only that, but the navy had to fight in different parts of the world. Document # 2 is a map of Europe on the eve of World War 1. Document # 2 shows a political cause for World War 1. There was two different alliance systems.There was the triple alliance system and the triple entente system. The triple alliance system was a treaty between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, these countries were known as the Axis. The triple entente system was an entente between Great Britain, Russia, and France, these countries were the central powers. Since these countries had treaties with each other, that meant that, they would have to back each other up in case of a war. As this happened, more and more tension stimulated between the counties tha t they weren’t even thinking what could happen if the were to really occur.Everyone expected the war to be short, bloodless, but eventually they would find out whether that was going to be true or not. Document # 3 is an excerpt that outlines accusations against Serbia by Austria-Hungary. Document # 3 shows an intellectual cause for World War 1. The authors of this document are Austro-Hungarians, and they’re criticizing Serbian nationalism. Nationalism is a patriotic feeling for your country, it was the big idea of the war. Nationalism can be seen in two different ways, a bomb and a magnet. A magnet symbolizes unification, which in this case is Serbia uniting.A bomb symbolizes destruction, which in this case is Austria-Hungary’s imperial power, which could be destroyed. The spark to World War 1 was when a Serbian assassinated Franz Ferdinand and his wife. Of course there was a lot of criticism from Austria-Hungary. â€Å"[T]he Royal Serbian Government has done nothing to repress these movements. It has permitted the criminal machinations or various societies and associations directed against Monarchy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Document # 4 is a quote. Document # 4 shows an intellectual and political cause for World War 1.This quote shows how nationalism and resentment was a cause that led to the war. â€Å"The French wanted revenge for the loss of territory to Germany†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"Russia resented the growing influence of Germany in Eastern Europe. † and â€Å"Germany resented the desire of France and England to keep Germany week and underdeveloped. † Each country had a lot of pride in their country, and would eventually lead to hating the other countries and not trusting them. Each and county and its government were willing to do anything to make their country look superior.You can say that all countries were very ethnocentric. Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group. Document # 5 is a political cartoon. Document # 5 shows a political and geographic cause for World War 1. The cartoon shows John Bull representing Great Britain, and he’s holding all the colonies that Britain has colonized. Next to him are other figures representing counties like Russia, USA, Italy, France, Turkey and Germany, they’re starting at him almost with hatred. Colonies were a great source of raw materials and market for goods.All of these countries governments were in competition for colonies, it was all about imperialism. Imperialism was the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries. As other countries saw Britain expand, they as well wanted to do the same, therefore resulting in completion, eventually even turning out to be war. Document # 6 is two quotes from two secret treaties, one from Bismarck and the other from Nicholas the second. Document # 6 shows a political and geographic cause for World War 1.Governments were uniting with other governments, forming alliances, promising to support each other. Countries kept trying to get other territories on their side, which would case a lot of tension. In one of the quotes, Germany claims that they just simply want to protect themselves from Britain, Russia, and France. Austria-Hungary was a very multi-ethnic country and in the second quote they were claiming that they would defend all Slavic peoples, because they were cousins to them. It was like each country started taking sides, creating a lot of tauten.Document # 7 is a chart showing colonial possessions in Africa in 1914. Document # 7 shows a geographic, political, and economic cause for World War 1. Germany was very resented with how many colonies France and England had taken over, they felt as though they were getting the â€Å"leftovers†, which resulted in them feeling humiliated and being angry. All the countries wanted to colonize because colonies were a great source of raw materials and market for goods. Germany wanted an empire, and Germany and Italy got late because at first they were divided into city-states.Later on in the mid-19th century, Germany and Italy, alone united their countries, but unfortunately France and Britain had already colonized many countries. As the chart shows, France had colonized 7 countries and England had colonized 9 countries. Germany was left with 4 counties and Italy was left with 3 countries. In conclusion, the powers that fought the war didn’t really know what the consequences of the war would be. Millions of people ended up dead and wounded because of World War 1. The economic consequence was that the countries were so destroyed that there was starvation.The consequences for the Tsar of Russia and his country were that, he was killed along with his family and there was a socialist revolution. Empires like Austria-Hungary and Germany collapse. There as a legacy for the world from the Armenian massacre, it was the first time that g enocide was committed against them. The intellectual cause for the lost generation was that they all loose the will to live and they’re afraid of another war. The war sew the seeds for another world war, because of the unfair treaty of Versailles, there was a lot of anger and Hitler used it to gain power, eventually leading to World War 2.

Importance of Home in the Wind in the Willows

WillowsThere’s No Place Like Home: An Analysis of Two Characters’ Journeys in â€Å"The Wind in the Willows† As discussed in this course, classic children’s literature often involves some kind of journey for a character, in which they temporarily leave home, only to discover a self-truth and a new appreciation for that which they often took for granted. Kenneth Grahame’s â€Å"The Wind in the Willows† is no exception. The two animals that most notably go through a transformation as a result of leaving home are Mole and Toad. While their reasoning and experiences along the way differ, they both prove changed characters, and for the better. The Wind in the Willows† begins with a busy Mole, caught in his spring-cleaning daze, and within the first paragraph he has decided to leave the work behind as â€Å"something up above was calling him imperiously† (Classics of Children’s Literature, pg. 637). Mole’s home is undergr ound, and as soon as he breaks the surface, the nature around him is described as very positive with words like â€Å"sunlight†, â€Å"warm†, â€Å"caress†, and â€Å"happy† (pg. 637). He takes in his surroundings and is pleased to â€Å"be the only idle dog among all [the] busy citizens† (pg. 637).He quickly comes across the river, something that he’s never seen before, and makes friends with Rat, a loyal and happy member of the River Bank. The experience on a boat is grand, and Rat doesn’t have to say much to convince Mole that venturing out was the best idea: â€Å"Absorbed in the new life he [Mole] was entering upon, intoxicated with the sparkle, the ripple, the scents and the sounds and the sunlight, he trailed a paw in the water and dreamed long waking dreams† (pg. 639). Rat goes on to teach Mole all the necessary â€Å"animal etiquettes,† different things about the inhabitants of the Wild Wood, and how to do river tasks, like rowing.Even though he fails in first attempts to fit in, Moles spirits are easily lifted by the comfort of his friends. Mole stays with Rat through the summer and continues learning and growing as a character. The pair goes to visit another friend, Toad, who is all too eager to travel and go on a journey with his horse drawn carriage. The night before they are supposed to leave, Mole says that he’ll do whatever Rat wants, but asks, â€Å"Shall we run away to-morrow morning, quite early-very early- and go back to our deal old hole on the river? † (pg. 647). Here, he mentions home for the first time, and seems to miss it.However, Rat declines, which suggests that Mole has not learned all he needs to and is not ready to return. The journey with Toad comes to a quick end, and Mole and Rat go back to the river. However, Mole does something out of character when he decides to set out on his own to meet Badger, an â€Å"important personage† (pg. 650). Agai nst Rat’s previous warnings, Mole goes into the Wild Wood and becomes afraid of noises and unfamiliar sights. Rat quickly comes to his rescue and says that even Toad â€Å"wouldn’t show his face here alone,† which suggests that Mole has become braver.After meeting Badger, Mole and Rat decide to return back to the river and Mole is very excited, â€Å"eagerly anticipating the moment when he would be at home again among the things he knew and liked† (pg. 663). When they begin their journey back, Mole feels summoned â€Å"like an electric shock† and he realizes where he is. â€Å"Now, with a rush of old memories, how clearly it stood up before him†¦the home had been happy with him, too, evidently and was missing him, and wanted him back† (pg. 665). Mole wants to see his old home, but at first Rat doesn’t think it’s a good idea and convinces Mole to move on. Emotion overcomes Mole, and he sobs.At this point, home is everything to him, and he finally does deserve to go back. Rat realizes that the trip back is very important to his friend, and they turn back to find Mole’s old dwelling place. They find it and begin making a fire, welcome in some friends, and eventually settle down to dinner. It is a splendid time, and Mole, upon going to bed, realizes â€Å"how much it all meant to him, and the special value of some such anchorage in one’s existence†¦[however] he did not at all want to abandon the new life and its splendid spaces†¦it called to him still, even down there, and he knew must return to the larger stage† (pg. 671).It is in this moment that Mole appreciates his home, but realizes that he has changed for the better, and is ready to go back up and out to see what great, new experiences await him. Toad is not so easily moved by his home/away/home journey. Before he is introduced officially in the story, Rat says that Toad is â€Å"always good-tempered, always glad to see you, always sorry when you go,† and goes on to add â€Å"perhaps he’s not very clever†¦it may be that he is both boastful and conceited† (pg. 644-645). There are many instances when Toad is a bit too proud, whether it be talking about his house or his heroic deeds at the end of the story.The fact that Toad is wealthy seems to go along with him being obsessed with the latest craze, as he can afford to indulge in them. However, because of his boastful attitude and unawareness of consequences, it seems fitting that when he becomes infatuated with cars and driving, he never really succeeds at mastering it. Toad is more than happy to leave his fine estate for â€Å"the open road† (pg. 646). Travel and the like excite him, and it seems that he takes his home very much for granted at this point. Later on in the story, his friends, in hopes that he might be cured of his â€Å"poop-poop† daze, hold him under house arrest.This sheds a negative light on his home, making it a prison from which he escapes. Toad’s version of freedom is finding a new car, dressing the part and driving like a maniac. He even steals several cars (stooping to a new low) and crashes them. Toad’s freedom, his escape, is reckless and irresponsible and therefore it is essential that he come to a resolution to change. When Toad is finally placed in jail, he begins to reflect on his mistakes, calling himself a â€Å"stupid animal† (pg. 684). He even thinks about Toad Hall and his friends and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel: â€Å"the cure was almost complete† (pg. 85).Not quite. Toad lucks out quite a few times, and several people take pity on him-the jailer’s daughter, the engine driver, the driving couple-even though he doesn’t really deserve it. Grahame uses these people to remind the reader that Toad isn’t all-bad, he’s just going through some kind of crisis. He even says that ità ¢â‚¬â„¢s when he’s at Toad Hall with his friends that he’s â€Å"at his best† (pg. 686). It is also interesting that as soon as Toad starts to think about how clever and amazing his actions are, karma finds him and he is once again running away from a pursuit.He is much like a child, throwing tantrums and being stubborn. When Toad ends up in the woods, he is finally finding his way back, feeling free in the wilderness. After being rescued from the river by Rat, Toad is excited to reveal all his adventures and cleverness. He even pledges to â€Å"lead a quiet, steady, respectable life†¦just as [he] used to in the good old days, before [he] got restless† (pg. 710). This proud moment is put on hold when he learns that Toad Hall has been seized. Suddenly, when he realizes his home is in danger, a fire is lit inside Toad, and he is ready to fight for it.Toad seems to have come to a breaking point, and the fact that he has to win his home back makes the ch ange in him more obvious. Although Toad, after the battle, still wants praise and to give speeches and sing songs (on his behalf), there is finally a complete turn around. Toad has a few last conceited moments, but it is only between him and his home. He sings to a room with empty chairs, which shows just how important the home was to his transformation. It was the last thing that would see him in his old ways, and the thing in which he would build a new life and character.At earlier instances, the reader may not be convinced of Toad’s change, but Grahame assures us saying, â€Å"He was indeed an altered Toad! † (pg. 724). Both of these animal characters in â€Å"The Wind in the Willows† have human qualities of wanting something more, something new to spark interest and passion. Grahame, through Mole and Toad, has shown the benefits of leaving home at some point so that it might be better appreciated upon return. Change is necessary to both these characters, and results in them both being much happier and satisfied with their lives.

Nursing Reflective Essay using Driscoll’s reflective cycle The WritePass Journal

Nursing Reflective Essay using Driscoll’s reflective cycle Introduction: Nursing Reflective Essay using Driscoll’s reflective cycle Introduction:ReferenceRelated Introduction: In this reflective account essay, I will be describing nursing skills that I undertook during my practice placement, using Driscoll’s (2000) reflective cycle, a recognised framework for reflection to demonstrate my ability to reflect on different nursing skill.  Ã‚   According to Driscoll’s (2000), there are three processes when reflecting on one’s practice. They are: What (what happened), so what (what were you feeling, what was good/bad about the experience and Now what (if it happens again what you would do differently). The application of Driscoll’s reflective cycle will enable me link theory to practice. As outlined, in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2004), the practice of reflection will allow me to explore, through experience, area for development in providing the necessary quality of care (Taylor, 2006). Reflection is a significant part of attaining knowledge and understanding, to reflect on experiences which could be positive or negative allowing for self criticism (Bulman and Schutz, 2004). My 1st skill will explores how communication can be enhanced for clients with communication impairments which I raised in one of the multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT). I will be   drawing from knowledge and experience gained from that meeting which involve social workers, speech language therapist, adult nurse, mental health nurse and a carer experience. Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality (NMC, 2007) 1st skill: I discover the level at which nurses and support worker communicate with service user are not up to standard simply because they have an impairment see Appendix 1 This now lead me to carry out a research on this issues which I discover that it has been estimated that there are 2.5 million people in the UK with communication impairment (Communications Forum, 2008).   It is estimated that 50% to 90% of people with intellectual disabilities have communication difficulties and about 60% of people with intellectual disabilities have some skills in symbolic communication using pictures, signs or symbols (Fraser Kerr, 2003). The World Health Organization’s classification of impairment, disability and handicap relating   to communication disorders are impairment which disruption the normal language-processing or speech production system e.g. difficulty with finding the right words or with reading sentences, reduced spelling ability and reduced ability to pronounce words clearly (World Health Organization, 2001). Communication is ‘a process that involves a meaningful exchange between at least two people to convey facts, needs, opinions, thoughts, feelings and other information through both verbal and non-verbal means, including face to face exchanges and the written word’. (DH, 2003) Communication is a two-way process, involving at least two people who alternate in sending and receiving messages (Ferris-Taylor, 2007).   When the message is received, it is interpreted and normally a response is given. In some people there may be a delay in response time as result of communication impairment. This was the problem encountered by Mr Kee whilst I felt frustrated sometimes as I felt nurses/support workers were not patient enough with him. I propose both verbal and non verbal communication is important when dealing with Mr Kee as it is important to ensure the message put across is clear. There is a need to devise a strategy to communicate that would promote empowerment, building on existing strengths so as not to reinforce a sense of helplessness and power imbalance. Studies have showed that by using verbal and non verbal communication techniques appropriately can help us nurses/carers and families to communicate and enhance the communication experience for Mr Kee.   For example we should   create conducive environment,   listen carefully to what he is trying to say, observing his body language, using positive body language to convey warmth and reassurance, speaking slowly, using short and simple words,   give Mr Kee opportunities to talk in indirect ways and to express himself, I tried emphasis the need for us nurses/support worker to be creative, adaptable and skilful to avoid disempowering Mr Kee because of his communication impairment (Allan 2001, Feil DeKlerk-Rubin 2002 and Alzheimer’s Association 2005). ‘One of the ways in which people with dementia are disempowered in communication is that of being continually outpaced, having others speak, move and act more quickly that they are able to understand or match’ (Killick and Allan, 2001, pp. 60–1) The MDT experience has emphasised the importance of interprofessional working together as it encourages holistic care to be delivered.   The learning gained from this experience will impact my future practice in various areas which include communication and empathy. I am mindful of the challenges faced by Mr Kee and this has increased my knowledge in clinical practice where I have observed that mental illness can impair patient’s ability to communication, for example dementia, schizophrenia, depression and psychosis cause’s cognitive impairment which can interferes with a persons ability to think clearly, to distinguish reality from fantasy, to manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others, which often hinders the development of a therapeutic relationship. I have learnt a lot about The Mental Capacity Act, 2005 provides guidance as to what factors should be taken into consideration when making a decision in someone’s best interest. As a qualified nurse my role would be to ensure decisions are made on behalf of the service user after much consultation with the service user as communication advocacy is universally considered a moral obligation in nursing practice as it is the crucial foundation of nursing (McDonald, 2007) Effective advocacy can transform the lives of people with learning disabilities enabling them to express their wishes and make real choices. In Mental health nursing, empowerment usually means the intent to ensure that conditions are such that the individual can act as a self advocate (Webb, 2008)] This experience has highlighted the difficulties that may be encountered in communicating and gaining valid consent which I will be aware of in future practice. In conclusion steps towards better health care can be made by providing encouragement and support to improve communication between nurses/support workers and carers with communication disabilities [Godsell and Scarborough, 2006]. In order to battle any restriction for Mr Kee to access good health care and prevented anything against his wellbeing. Introduction In this reflective account essay, I will be describing nursing skills that I undertook during my practice placement, using Driscoll’s (2000) reflective cycle, a recognised framework for reflection to demonstrate my ability to reflect on different nursing skill.  Ã‚   According to Driscoll’s (2000), there are three processes when reflecting on one’s practice. They are: What (what happened), so what (what were you feeling, what was good/bad about the experience and Now what (if it happens again what you would do differently). The application of Driscoll’s reflective cycle will enable me link theory to practice. This 2nd skill will define the concept of dignity and its important in relation to Mr   Moses, an elderly patient, has difficulty hearing, frail, require assistant to walk, his trouser and shoes wet with urine and the smell of faeces. Actions and support according to the Code of Professional Conduct (Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2008) as suggested to be used in rendering care to Mr Moses. Also, the Nursing actions that will promote and maintain Mr Moses dignity during his care will be described. 2nd Skill The way Mr Moses was treated by the staff gave me concern see appendix 2 This now gave me an interest into this topic as to acquit myself before escalating the matter. I was involved in the care for Mr Moses who has diagnosed with dementia. Dementia is a chronic lifelong condition that causes memory loss, communication problems, incontinence and neglect of personal hygiene (Prime, 1994 p, 301). Mr Moses neglect of his personal hygiene was profound due to his incontinence condition Dignity   mean â€Å"Being treated like I was somebody† (Help the Aged, 2001).Relating dignity in the care Mr Moses, dignity will be define as care given to Mr Moses that will uphold, promote and not degrade his self respect despite his present situation (being wet with urine and smell of faeces), frail or his age (SCIE, 2006). Mr Moses despite his present circumstance should feel value before, during and after his care (Nursing Standard, 2007). The concept of dignity has to do with privacy, respect, autonomy, identity and self worth thereby making life worth living for them (SCIE, 2006). However, each patient needs is unique, the level of these concept will varies on individual service user, such as the privacy that other service user need will be different from what Mr Moses require at the time of His care. When dignity is not present during his care, Mr Moses will feel devalued, lacking control, comfort and feel embarrass and ashamed (RCN, 2008). Things that emerged in my observation for Mr Moses to be provided with care in a dignified way involves, delivery Mr Moses personal care in a way that maintain his dignity, having support from team members and an up to date training in delivering care, and supportive ward environment (NHS evidence, 2007). I did raise some issues with my mentor that was missing when attending to Mr Moses which includes: Respect, Privacy, Self-esteem (self-worth, identity and a sense of oneself) and Autonomy (SCIE, 2006). Respect is a summary of courtesy, good communication and taking time (SCIE. 2006). It is the objective, unbiased consideration and regard for the right, values, beliefs and property of all people (Wikipedia, 2006).Mr Moses being   particularly vulnerable because he   solely dependent on staff to provide his personal care because of his age , frail and needing assistant to walk (Help the Aged, 2006)   should be treated as an individual. He should not be discriminated. Emphasised should be on Procedures during care should be explained to Mr Moses and his care should be person centre rather than task-oriented (Calnan et al, 2005). The dignity of Mr Len must be respected and protected as a person who is born free, equal in dignity and has basic human right (Amnesty international, 1999).Health service will need to recognise the specific needs of older people in caring for them, demonstrating respect for Mr Len autonomy, privacy during Mr Len care and avoiding poor practice that will deify Mr Moses dignity, such as: allowing him to remain wet and soiled or scolding him   (Age Concern, 2008). The NMC (2008) code of conduct state that the care of Mr Moses should be the nurse first concern, respecting Mr Moses dignity and treating him as an individual. Mr Moses will be approached in a dignified manner, he should be given choice to decide whether or where he want his care to be carried out, demonstrating appropriate communication, sensitivity and interpersonal skill during interaction. Dignity is defy when there is a negative interaction between staff and Mr Moses when freedom to make decision is taken from him (BMJ, 2001). Mr Moses appearance is essential to his self respect; Mr Moses will require support in changing his wet cloth. Mr Moses should not be neglected based on his appearance rather supported to maintain the standard he is used to (SCIE, 2006). The NMC (2004), also instruct nurse to promote and protect the interest and dignity of service users irrespective of gender, age, race, ability sexuality, economic status, lifestyle, culture and religion or political beliefs. Mr Moses being an elderly man will not be problematic, because according to the code, care should be delivered, his culture preference , such as preferring a male staff to assist with his care . Treating Mr Moses fairly without discrimination is part of the Code, Mr Moses should not be discriminated against because he smells of faeces and trouser wet with urine Quot   but should be respected while attending to his needs. Privacy is closely related to respect (SCIE, 2006). Mr Moses care should be deliver in a private area, ensuring Mr Moses receive care in a dignified way that does not humiliate him: Discussion about Mr Moses condition should be discussed with him where others are unable to hear and curtain or doors are closed during Mr Moses care (Woolhead et al, 2004). Not giving Mr Moses the privacy that he needs makes feel that he was treated as incontinent because he was wet of urine and smell of faeces( which was stated in Mr Moses case not at the end of that shift â€Å"incontinent of urine and faeces). Incontinence is not uncommon; it may be cause by various reasons. It affects all age group (Godfrey and Hogg, 2002). Incontinent is defined to be an involuntary or inappropriate passing of urine or faeces thereby having impact on social functions or hygiene of client (DOH, 2000). There are various types of incontinent such as: stress incontinent (this can occur when coughing, or during physical activities), urge incontinent (overactive bladder), reflex incontinent (incontinent without warning) and mixed incontinent (both urge and stress incontinent) (Chris, 2007). Mr Moses may have be a victim of any of the above. In conclusion my knowledge about the concept of dignity and its importance to health care and the benefit to service users increased. NMC has made dignity clearer to understand by including dignity among its codes. This easy has also clarified that dignity has different meaning to various people. Introduction In this reflective account essay, I will be describing nursing skills that I undertook during my practice placement, using Driscoll’s (2000) reflective cycle, a recognised framework for reflection to demonstrate my ability to reflect on different nursing skill.  Ã‚   According to Driscoll’s (2000), there are three processes when reflecting on one’s practice. They are: What (what happened), so what (what were you feeling, what was good/bad about the experience and Now what (if it happens again what you would do differently). The application of Driscoll’s reflective cycle will enable me link theory to practice. This 3rd Skill will look at the assessment I did. One week into my placement at the community I was told by my mentor that I will be carrying out an assessment for a new patient that was referred to our service. To prepare for this I started to read the assessment note of other patient and doing research on the best method to get information from the patient. Barker (2004) defines mental health nursing assessment as ‘the decision making process, based upon the collection of relevant information, using a formal set of ethical criteria that contributes to an overall evaluation of a person and his circumstances’. Assessment is a continuous process which includes collecting information in a systematic way from a variety of sources. Assessment can be describe as a two stage process of gathering information and drawing inferences from the available data and decisions made regarding a person’s need of care. (Norman and Ryrie, 2007).   The purpose of assessment include judging and understanding levels of need, planning programmes of care and observing progress over time, planning service provision and conducting research (Gamble and Brennan, 2006) Meaningful and accurate assessment is essential if a person’s needs are highly complex so as to streamline the service user care requirement (DOH 2004). Assessment of person’s strengths and needs in social functioning is a fundamental stage in developing planned care that is familiar to practitioners. Making an accurate assessment of social functioning provides valuable information about the range of activities that a person can undertake on his or her own as well as those activities where a person requires support (Godsell and Scarborough, 2006) During our (Mentor and I) brainstorm to identify the main communication needs of the new service user based on the referral letter/note that I need to use the open question as this will give the patient the opportunity of expressing himself as supported by crouch and Meurier (2005). I observed differences in perception of needs between disciplines. This was beneficial to the group as it enabled us to achieve a holistic view of possible needs. Reference Age Concern.(2008). Help with continence. England. www.ageconcern.org.uk. Help Centre assessed on the 13/05/2011 @ 18:23. Amnesty international (1999).Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amnesty International UK, London. Barker, P.J. (2004) Assessment in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: In search of the whole person. 2nd edition. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. British Journal of Community Nursing (2001). Maintaining the dignity and   autonomy of older people in the healthcare setting. Downloaded from bmj.com on 12 April 2011 doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7287.668 BMJ 2001;322;668-670 Kate Lothian and Ian Philp Calnan, M, Woolhead, G, Dieppe, P. Tadd, W. (2005) Views on dignity in providing health care for older people. Nursing Times, 101, 38-41. Chris brooker, Anne Waugh   (2007). foundation. In foundations of nursing practice. fundamentals of holistic care (p. 92). Philadelphia: mosby elsevier. Communication Forum (2008)   www.communicationforum.org.uk accessed on the   15 April 2011 @ 16:03 Department of Health (2000). Good Practice IN Continence Services. DH, London Department of Health (2003) Essence of Care: National patient-focused benchmarking for health care practitioners. London: DH. Fraser, W Kerr, M.   (2003). Seminars in psychiatry of learning disabilities. 2nd ed. London: The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Ferris-Taylor, R. (2007) Communication. In: Gates, B. (Ed) Learning Disabilities: Toward Inclusion. 5th edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Gamble C and Brennan, G. (2006) Assessments: a rationale for choosing and using. In:   Gamble, C and Brennan, G (Eds) Working with Serious Mental illness: A manual for clinical practice. 2nd Edition.   London: Elsevier Limited. Godfrey H, Hogg A (2007).   Links between social isolation and incontinence. Continence –UK. 1(3): 51-8. Godsell, M. and Scarborough, K. (2006) Improving communication for people with learning disabilities. Nursing Standard 20(30) 12 April : 58-65 Help The Aged.(2006). Measuring Dignity in Care for Older People. Picker Institute Europe. MacDonald, H. (2007) Relational ethics and advocacy in nursing: literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 57(2): 119-126 Nursing and Midwifery Council (2004) Code of professional conduct: standard for conduct, performance and ethics. NMC, London. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2007) Code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics.NMC London. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics. NMC London. NS401 Matiti M et al (2007). Promoting patient dignity in healthcare settings. Nursing   Standard. 21,45,46-52. Date of acceptance: June 15 2007. NHS Evidence (2007). Caring for Dignity: A national report on dignity in care for older people while in hospital. Healthcare   Commission. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008). The NMC Code Of Professional Conduct: Standard of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. NMC, London Royal College of Nursing (2008). Defending Dignity: Opportunities and Challenges for Nursing. RCN, London. Social Care Institute for Excellence (2006). Dignity in care. Great British. Steven Richards, A. F. (2007). Working with THE MENTAL CAPACITY ACT 2005. Hampshire: Matrix Training Associates Ltd. Webb, J. U. (2008) The application of ethical reasoning in mental health nursing. In: Dooher, J. (ed) Fundamental aspects of mental health nursing. London. Quay Books. Woolhead, G, Calnan, M, Dieppe, P. Tadd, W (2004) Dignity in older age- what do older people in the United Kingdom thinks? Age and Ageing, 33, 165-169.

Suez Canal History and Overview

Suez Canal History and Overview The Suez Canal, located in Egypt, is a canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez, a northern branch of the Red Sea. It officially opened in November 1869. Suez Canal Construction History Although the Suez Canal wasnt officially completed until 1869, there is a long history of interest in connecting both the Nile River in Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It is believed that the first canal in the area was constructed between the Nile River delta and the Red Sea in the 13th Century B.C.E. During the 1,000 years following its construction, the original canal was neglected and its use finally stopped in the 8th Century.​ Napoleons Canal Plan The first modern attempts to build a canal came in the late 1700s when Napoleon Bonaparte conducted an expedition to Egypt. He believed that building a French-controlled canal on the Isthmus of Suez would cause trade problems for the British as they would either have to pay dues to France or continue sending goods over land or around the southern part of Africa. Studies for Napoleons canal plan began in 1799 but a miscalculation in measurement showed the sea levels between the Mediterranean and the Red Seas as being too different for a canal to be feasible and construction immediately stopped. Universal Suez Ship Canal Company The next attempt to build a canal in the area occurred in the mid-1800s when a French diplomat and engineer, Ferdinand de Lesseps, convinced the Egyptian viceroy Said Pasha to support the building of a canal. In 1858, the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was formed and given the right to begin construction of the canal and operate it for 99 years, after which time, the Egyptian government would take over control of the canal. At its founding, the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was owned by French and Egyptian interests. Construction of the Suez Canal officially began on April 25, 1859. It opened ten years later on November 17, 1869, at a cost of $100 million. Significant Impact on World Trade Almost immediately after its opening, the Suez Canal had a significant impact on world trade as goods were moved around the world in record time. In 1875, debt forced Egypt to sell its shares in ownership of the Suez Canal to the United Kingdom. However, an international convention in 1888 made the canal available for all ships from any nation to use. Conflicts Over Use and Control Shortly thereafter, conflicts began to arise over use and control of the Suez Canal. In 1936 for example, the U.K. was given the right to maintain military forces in the Suez Canal Zone and control entry points. In 1954, Egypt and the U.K. signed a seven-year contract that resulted in the withdrawal of British forces from the canal area and allowed Egypt to take control of the former British installations. In addition, with the creation of Israel in 1948, the Egyptian government prohibited the use of the canal by ships coming and going from the country. The Suez Crisis Also in the 1950s, the Egyptian government was working on a way to finance the Aswan High Dam. Initially, it had support from the United States and the U.K. but in July 1956, both nations withdrew their support and the Egyptian government seized and nationalized the canal so passage fees could be used to pay for the dam. On October 29 of that same year, Israel invaded Egypt and two days later Britain and France followed on grounds that passage through the canal was to be free. In retaliation, Egypt blocked the canal by intentionally sinking 40 ships. These events were known as the Suez Crisis. A Truce and Later Egypt Takes Control In November 1956, the Suez Crisis ended when the United Nations arranged a truce between the four nations. The Suez Canal then reopened in March 1957 when the sunken ships were removed. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Suez Canal was closed several more times because of conflicts between Egypt and Israel. In 1962, Egypt made its final payments for the canal to its original owners (the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company) and the nation took full control of the Suez Canal. 101 Miles Long and 984 Feet Wide Today, the Suez Canal is operated by the Suez Canal Authority. The canal itself is 101 miles (163 km) long and 984 feet (300 m) wide. It begins at the Mediterranean Sea at Point Said flows through Ismailia in Egypt, and ends at Suez on the Gulf of Suez. It also has a railroad running its entire length parallel to its west bank. The Suez Canal can accommodate ships with a vertical height (draft) of 62 feet (19 m) or 210,000 deadweight tons. Most of the Suez Canal is not wide enough for two ships to pass side by side. To accommodate this, there is one shipping lane and several passing bays where ships can wait for others to pass. No Locks The Suez Canal has no locks because the  Mediterranean Sea and the Red Seas Gulf of Suez have approximately the same water level. It takes around 11 to 16 hours to pass through the canal and ships must travel at low speed to prevent erosion of the canals banks by the ships waves. The Significance of the Suez Canal In addition to dramatically reducing transit time for trade worldwide, the Suez Canal is one of the worlds most significant waterways as it supports 8% of the worlds shipping traffic and almost 50 ships pass through the canal daily. Because of its narrow width, the canal is also considered a significant geographic chokepoint as it could easily be blocked and disrupt this flow of trade. Future plans for the Suez Canal include a project to widen and deepen the canal to accommodate the passage of larger and more ships at one time.

Litterature 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Litterature 2 - Essay Example This story is very engaging due to the fact that Baden does not only show actions; he inserts necessary inner thoughts of the narrator into the story line. Life and death are two central in the story as they are applied to the appropriate context. The plot is designed in a way to make the appearance of death unexpected. The closeness to death makes the feeling of suspense very intense. Defeated expectancy effect which creates the culmination renders the feeling of horror and despair. The story has a complex narrator. Obviously, it is told as a memory of the grown up narrator about his years in military. Differences between memories and present day comments can be identified by the use of tense. Recollections are written in the past tense while comments are inserted in the present tense. For instance, one can see this difference in the lines â€Å"At the time I was often preoccupied with my physical appearance† and â€Å"Until today I wonder just how during this time of fighting they had the time to greet me with smiles that I’ll never forget† (Baden). They correspond to different layers of time mixed in the story. The essay is told from the perspective of young and inexperienced soldier who takes the same position as the reader in the story. Limited narrative perspective intensifies feelings it evokes. Moreover, it helps to identify with the narrator in the story and participate in it for the reader. Increased attention to the green socks which attracted the attention of the narrator makes this effect even more dramatic. People do not talk about the dead in this way. The focus on this little detail shows makes all readers feel confidents that the soldiers are alive. Moreover, the socks are perceived as rather annoying objects because they are too bright for the gloomy and dark environment. The descriptions of the setting are very masculine. They are minimalistic in details and very laconic in verbal representation if