Lean on Me Movie Reviews

Introduction Lean on Me is a movie which was produced in 1989 and written by Michael Schiffer. It is about a high school principal whose school was at a risk of being taken over by the government since the students were not performing well in their tests. Task role In the movie, Joe Louis Clark was a high school principal. His school faced numerous problems especially those ones which were dealing with drugs and gang violence. His student’s were also receiving low test scores. He therefore had the obligation of devising mechanisms in order to improve the performance of his school or else it be taken by the government. Social role The principal Mr. Clark is dedicated to the school and is ready to do anything just to realize the good progress of the school. He does not listen to what the community tells him for as long as he feels that whatever he is doing is for the benefit of the school and the students in the school. On several occasions, the principal clashes with the community about the decisions he makes. On one instance, he clashed with parents of the expelled students and the mayor about his controversial decisions to expel the students. He is arrested but students demonstrate in order to have him back to the school as the principal. He is later released and the mayor becomes the one on the losing side. Anti-group role The principal was against the group of students in the school that was involved in abusing drugs.   He decided to expel all the students who were involved in the vice. The decision was greatly opposed by the parent’s whose children were expelled. Some teachers also tried to oppose him but were served with dismissal letters. However, there was an instance of his purported sacking that was reversed by the superintendent.   Mr. Clark’s continual strictness on the group of students who were degrading education in the school helped shape up the school and the performance of the students also increased. Kind of leadership in the group Mr. Clark exercised a dictatorial kind of leadership whereby he said something and he wanted it done just as he said it without any form of opposition. It is evident that he did not accept any form of opposition especially from the teachers. He sacked the teachers who opposed him. Type of structure in the group The structure in the group is hierarchical. The principal is above everyone in the school but the superintendent is above the principal. The kind of leadership structure can be seen from the way commands were being issued. The principal had powers to sack teachers especially those ones who opposed him. However, the superintendent had more powers than the ones possessed by the principal. This can be seen when the superintendent reversed one of his actions of sacking a teacher. Conclusion The movie gives a clear insight on how dictatorial leadership can help shape up a society. It also shows us on how education mixed with politics, drugs and other amoral behaviors usually deteriorates. Mr. Clark’s strictness helped the school improve in its performance and also helped in stamping out the vice that was rampant in the school of drug abuse. The involvement of the mayor did not bring any good as the students were ready to have Mr. Clark as their principal which we can see them achieve as the movie ends. Work Cited List The movie Lean on Me by Michael Schiffer, directed by John G. Avidsen and Satarring Morgan Freeman

Different Creation Views Among Native Americans and Europeans

The Native Americans and Europeans had many influences that affected their outlook when they first encountered one another. These influences have different stories and views that pertain to the origin of life and how the earth was created. For example the Native Americans had stories that were passed down from generations that would be reshaped in different tellings. On the contrary the European Christians obtained their stories from books that had been written in earlier years such as the bible and Aristotle’s work. Despite their differences all of their beliefs were affected by the accounts which then made their encounter with each other and the relationship with human beings. The creation story in Aristotle’s views affected the†¦show more content†¦The relationship of men and women by one another was greatly influenced when Natives and Europeans encountered each other. From these stories men are in higher position than women for example God was a man who cre ated the entire earth. In the previous creation stories â€Å"A women who fell from the sky† her father the chief was in charge of heaven who was also a man and then in â€Å"Ramon Pane† there was four men left who were not exposed to the sun and were left to continue man kind. Although the stories told by the Native Americans had a man or men being the start of the earth or creation they did have a woman helping in some parts. As in the Europeans story only God being a man created everything. This could affect the way the Europeans and Native Americans treated each other in there first encounter because the Europeans had men in charge of things and the woman did what they were told or what benefited the men. As in the Native culture the men were still in charge but the women had more responsibility and were used more. Both of these cultures would have thought the others were unusual and this would affect the way they would interact. The most affected part of the encounter between the Europeans and Native Americans would be the relationship between different groups of human beings. This relationship would be affected because ofShow MoreRelatedThe Creation Of The Iroquois Creation Story974 Words   |  4 PagesThe Iroquois Creation Story is set before the existence of humans as we know them, but not absent of a physical place, or other beings. The Iroquois Creation Story has a very supernatural setting with many mythical and magical elements. The first lines of the story stated, â€Å"Among the ancients there were two worlds in existence. 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These are the names given to the Indigenous peoples of Native North America so that they may be classified together as one group, a single entity, to define thousands of years of multifaceted cultures, many of which have unfortunately been lost. Prior to European contact, many of these Native groups encompassing present day Canada to Mexico lived their lives ruled by political systems, a complex use of resources available, social stratificationRead MoreThe Slavery Of The United States1121 Words   |  5 PagesBefore the 19th C, literature in the United States (US) was largely characterized on the basis of its diverse nature. Using different forms of documentations such as travel accounts and journals, early European explorers noted down their different experiences in the New World. Owing to the fact that these new Explorers were very religious, most of their writings were defined by their religious convictions especially the Puritan faith. In addition to the se writings being shaped by religion, most of

Argumentative Paper Free Essays

string(87) " about half of it to train, equip and support Iraq’s military and police forces\." American dollars into the Iraqi infrastructure. 1) Military and police force trained at the hands of American taxpayer dollars. (2) Facilities that have been built by American’s and gone to waste. We will write a custom essay sample on Argumentative Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now (3) Global understanding of foreign aid. (4) Iraq’s capabilities of taking care of their own financial aid. (5)Statistics in regards to dollars spent on what projects to Iraq become a better nation. IV. America’s public school system. A. Budget cuts to the educational budget. B. Classroom growth. C. Educational cut back programs. (1) City of Phoenix cut backs. 2) Educational Job market flooded with teachers and no positions available. 3) Interview with Kerry. Help V. American’s need to tighten the purse strings and take care of the issues at home. Too Much Foreign Aid in America’s Budget The act of charity is something that most people are raised on; if a person has been blessed with wealth, it is always good to help those less fortunate. However, there comes a time when too much is too much. The United States, among other countries, developed the practice of foreign aid after World War II. It was designed to help those countries in desperate need of temporary help when they could not manage on their own. Foreign aid is something that has been in effect over the last few decades and some say has been used to excess and argue the point that if our own country is in debt and suffering, how can there be so much money spent on foreign aid. Others say that we are prosperous and should help those that need it no matter what. Whichever side of the argument is brought up, there are certain facts that do not change. The United States has spent too much money taking care of other countries financial disasters despite the trouble within its own borders. The United States of America has long been considered one of the most remediable countries in the world leading the pack of economic growth, democracy, innovation and financial dominance. However, lately it seems that the United States is in as much financial strain as the other countries it helps regularly. American’s are experiencing the pinch of billions in budget cuts on education programs, eliminating teaching positions and higher taxes to fund a war with Iraq. Even through all of these financial hardships, the United States still manages to give billions of dollars in financial aid despite the economic crisis of their own. A country that receives a large portion of American foreign aid is Haiti. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and is one of the countries that recently, receives the most financial aid world wide. In mid-January of this year, Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake that destroyed most of the county. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without homes, clean drinking water or electricity, with debris and rubble making it unsafe territory. Bret Stephens, a Journalist for the DOD Jones Company, uncovered news from the World Bank and exactly how much additional aid was going to be allotted to Haiti for relief efforts. Stephens article states: The World Bank–now about to throw another $100 million on Haiti–on what it achieved in the country between 1986 and 2002: The outcome of World Bank assistance programs is rated unsatisfactory (if not highly so), the institutional development impact, negligible, and the sustainability of the few benefits that have accrued, unlikely. Stephens goes on to quote that the Bank noted, â€Å"Haiti has dysfunctional budgetary, financial or procurement systems, making financial and aid management impossible. The Bank makes the claim that the Haitian government does not take ownership and initiative for formulating and implementing assistance programs. A breakdown of foreign aid by country, provided by Guardian, a United Kingdom based awareness blob, shows a grand total of 3. 5 billion dollars already donated and another 1. 1 billion dollars pledged to help with this disaster (Guardian). America, leading as the highest donor, among other countries such as United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. Many countries making absolutely no contribution whatsoever during this time. American’s are going broke and continue to keep giving. In fact, the United States has only been debt free for two years, 1834 and 1835, according to Marie Clammiest. Clammiest states in another article that, â€Å"†¦ The federal governments $14 trillion debt as an emergency that demands big cuts in domestic programs†¦ The majority of this debt is said to have come from the war in Iraq, heavily financed by borrowing from China to fund the war. Lira Logan reported, â€Å"The problem for America is that its greatness has always been rooted in its economic dominance and that debt has forced the U. S. To keep borrowing from foreign countries. † According to statistical ATA provided by the Bureau of the Public Debt , in 1991, the national debt for the United States was under $3 Trillion , even though a large amount, it was still within the realm of being paid off. However now in 2011, the debt recently went over the $14 trillion mark, a number that is in no way obtainable (Madame). Logan also quoted Aaron David Miller of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, saying, â€Å"Can the world’s greatest power remain the world’s greatest power and also be the world’s greatest borrower? I don’t think so. † Over the past four years fighting the war n Iraq, the United States has spent $500 billion dollars on Just the war alone (Skeletal). In addition to the funding of occupying this country, the United States has spent over $50 billion in reconstruction costs, that unfortunately, most say will be wasted dollars due to Iraq’s incompetence and capabilities to utilize the reconstructions. As a country, the United States has invested hundreds of billions of dollars on equipment, buildings, infrastructure, electricity and water facilities in third world countries. In an article recently published by USA Today written by Matt Kelley, mints out that, â€Å"The United States has spent $44. Billion in taxpayer funds on rebuilding Iraq, about half of it to train, equip and support Iraq’s military and police forces. You read "Argumentative Paper" in category "Argumentative essays" † Kelley also quotes Rusty Barber, the head of the Iraq program United States Institute of Peace, â€Å"There has been some significant progress, but there’s a long way to go before Iraq can really be a stable, secure count ry that’s able to provide for its people’s basic needs. † Iraq is a country that has undergone massive abuse over the past 10 plus years, with no end in sight, and has been rebuilt about ten times over. The amount of money that America has spent in rebuilding Iraq, by all means a country that has minimal interest in being rebuilt, is atrocious. American tax payer dollars are being spent to fund many projects in Iraq, such as schools, hospitals and prisons, instead of spending those same dollars on the same problems at home. According to Timothy Williams, many of these facilities have remained empty after completion because there were not enough Iraqis trained to operate them. Williams goes on to state that â€Å"†¦ 4 million maternity hospital built by the Americans is open, but the staff members cannot operate much of its equipment†¦.. Sinai Hospital in Baghdad, which had been the American military’s largest medical center in the country, has been closed because the Health Ministry lacks the staff and equipment to reopen it, though the American military said it left $7. 9 million in equipment behind†¦ † He also states that there was a $165 million child ren’s hospital that was delayed by more than four years and $115 million over budget (Williams). When a country is in desperate need of help, it is up to others to step up and give aid. When that aid is given, it is under the understanding that the money is going to e used to go towards the rebuild of the crisis. However, what happens when the country receiving large portions of aid do not need that aid? For example, according to James Gland and Campbell Robertson’s article in August of 2008, by the end of 2009, the Iraqi government ended up with a surplus of almost $80 million dollars. The article stated that, â€Å"The United States has spent $23. 2 billion in the critical areas of security, oil, electricity and water since the 2003 invasion, but from 2005 through April of 2008, Iraq has spend Just $3. Billion on similar services. † Another report room the Government Accountability Office estimates Iraqi oil revenue from 2005 through the end of this year [2008] will amount to at least $156 billion dollars. † So what this is stating is that the Iraqi government is not only holding their oil money in a United States bank collecting somewhere in t he range of $400,000 in interest, but for some reason they are collecting foreign aid when they are capable of funding and fixing their own problems. Carl Levin, a chairman of the Senate Armed Services was quoted saying, â€Å"The Iraqi government now has tens of billions of dollars at its espousal to fund large-scale reconstruction projects. It is inexcusable for U. S. Taxpayers to continue to foot the bill for projects the Iraqis are fully capable of funding themselves We should not be paying for Iraqi projects, while Iraqi oil revenues continue to pile up in the bank. † Very well said and a statement many American citizens support full hardheartedly. However, we are still sending foreign aid to Iraq, building Iraqi schools, hospitals, prisons, and fortifying their country’s security but it does not look like the money is going to stop going into Iraq. If the United States spends 165 million dollars on one hospital, one can only imagine the cost of rebuilding schools during war time; as well as imagine how many of those schools were destroyed intentionally and unintentionally during or after their construction because of said war. America’s public school system drastically needs help and no one is coming up with any solutions but budget cuts. The American public school system is already the victim of systematic budget cuts are now getting ready for another huge blow to their financial status; one some say that is going to cripple our youth’s outlooks on a better education. † Education Weekly reported that â€Å"the spending bill that President Barack Obama signed into law March 2 severed current fiscal-year funding for several literacy programs at the Education Department as a part of a government- wide reduction of $4 billion† (Rose). For an example, Arizona has taken hard drastic cuts recently. Classroom sizes have grown from 24 children per teacher to roughly 30 plus children per classroom. After school and during school education enhancement studies to help children who fall below the average or have special learning needs eve all but been eliminated. In previous years, children who may not have passed a subject were allowed the opportunity to attend intercession, a program during the school breaks where they attend class for a few hours a day over a two week time frame intended to get them back on track. Unfortunately, as of the 2009-2010 school year, Circle Cross Ranch, a local elementary in San Tan Valley Arizona, now requires parents pay $25 per class session if a child fails at any point in time the classes are mandatory. In Phoenix, they are experiencing even more of an unnecessary set back. The city as had a drastic decline in their hiring for the 2010-2011 school year. Roughly 7,400 public-school teaching positions have been eliminated across the state because of budget cuts proposed by the Legislature, according to Arizona Educators Association spokesman John Heartfelt (Quinn). With the amount of children that are still enrolling and moving into the Phoenix area, this only bodes ill for the amount of attention each child will receive. Education is important to the growth of any society and if that keeps getting hit time and time again with no solutions on how to fix that budget crisis, things will only get worse. The amount of educational Jobs are decreasing but the amount of applicants only increase. The educational Job market is being flooded with teachers that have experienced the layoffs and cut backs, while schools hiring, go for the more seasoned experienced teachers. Internships have been eliminated across the board for new teachers because the Jobs Just are not readily available eliminating many of the opportunities for young teachers. Kerry, a 4th grade teacher for xx Elementary in xx, has felt the pinch of educational budget cuts along with thousands of other teachers. XX teaches a very owe-income community with children that speak more Spanish than English and she struggles some days to provide the best educational experience she can. â€Å"The school just can’t afford what we need and its sad. I have children that come to school almost every day hungry because they don’t have proper meals at home. They come to school with no supplies because their parents can’t afford them. As a teacher, how can I sit by and watch my students go with out the fundamental things that they need to get an education? † XX stated that she spends over $500 every year on school supplies that she does not get reimbursed for, â€Å"l have to do it. If I don’t, no one will and these children don’t deserve to suffer because of our budget cuts. How can they learn if they have no paper to write on or a pencil to write with? † When asked about the financial crisis the schools are experiencing, she replied, â€Å"Its sad and disturbing at the same time. How can I teach properly without the books and tools required to teach!? I know this sounds selfish, but doesn’t they saying go, you need to help yourself before you can help others? If we [Americans] keep giving everything away, there’s not going to be anything left for us to help ourselves. We could have so much more for our own kids! America’s future are its children, those children are not educated properly, who’s fault is that going to be? No matter who’s fault it is, the problem needs to be corrected sooner rather than later. The United States has received a hazardous blows over the past few years with several crippling hurricanes, oil spills and a continued economic and financial crisis. The United States is falling further and f urther into debt with the war in Iraq and an economic crisis that has America considered ‘rich nations’ among one of the poorest (Belittler). If the United States cut back some of the foreign aid given to the same countries regularly, then those countries receiving the public assistance will have no choice but to learn how to support themselves. By continuing to give aid and support them without teaching them how to figure out how to do it for themselves, the problem only gets worse. It Just seems that the United States is giving a lot of more hand outs while its own citizens are suffering. When that happens, that is when its time to close the purse strings to take care of American’s with American tax dollars. How to cite Argumentative Paper, Essays Argumentative paper Free Essays The aim of the paper is to look at the problem of forced elf labor from the viewpoint of the two different moral theories – Kantian and Utilitarian. It is essential to argue, whether forced elf labor is supposed to be moral or immoral in the light of both theories. First of all, it will be beneficial to equal elf labor to the child labor; it will not be changed, but will be implied through the paper. We will write a custom essay sample on Argumentative paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Several sources have discussed this issue in relation to the opinions of Kant and utilitarian theory’s supporters, but as child labor. This is why this explanation is necessary at the beginning of the work. Utilitarian and Kantian theories seem to be absolutely opposite if applied to the discussion of the forced elf labor. They do have similar features, for example, both of them are based on judging the action and not the subject of this action, but while the Utilitarian theory looks at the consequences of this action, and is thus considered to be consequential, Kant based his judgments on the intentions of actions, which were more important for him than consequences. The attitudes of Utilitarian theorists to the issue of elf labor would be seen as positive. (Rawls, 2000) Though there is ardent argument as for the real basis for such statement, but assuming that Utilitarian theory in itself approves striving for the mass welfare and maximal profit; some theorists argue that justification of the elf labor use might lay in the need for progressing and developing. In the light of the Utilitarian statements, the benefits which society receives as a result of using elf labor will overweight the harm which elf may experience through the participation in the forced labor. (Cornman, 1992) Utilitarian theory may be also used for the justification of the elf labor, assuming that the denial of the labor participation of elf is the violation of the right of the elf to be autonomous and to make the choice in life, (Lyons, 1965) However it is hardly related to the issue of forced labor, and thus no choice can be mentioned here. Utilitarian theory does not mention the issue of elf labor directly, and the assumptions of the present paper are based on the general principles of this theory, this is why it may seem that it is easy to deny them; however, it is difficult to state that Utilitarian theory does not use the principle of maximal profitability (utility) in all actions of a person, and the morale of the action is based on the intention of the person to achieve maximal utility. If elf labor is used for the maximal utility achievement, this labor is totally justified by the theory and is considered moral as long as it serves for this maximal welfare. (Singer, 1981) Kantian theory may be supposed as absolutely opposite to that of Utilitarian character, as through it also makes action its central object, but Kant bases morality in rational considerations; thus respecting human rights is the integral part of Kantian theory. (Beck, 1960) This assumption is drawn from the one of basic Kantian statements, in which he makes accent on the necessity and morality of treating human beings as ends, and not as means. (Linden, 1988) His idea is though, argumentative and can easily be based by Utilitarian theory’s supporters – Kant keeps to the idea that not only it is moral to respect one’s autonomy, but to give human beings freedom of making choice and decision-making. Thus prohibition of elf law even through the Kantian perspective may be seen as violation of the elf’s rights to choose. (Martin, 1970) However, Kant is rather clear and determining in his attitudes towards forced labor about which we speak here. The Kantian would object to child labor because such practices violate our duty to treat children with respect. We violate the rights of children when we treat them as mere means to the ends of production and economic growth. We are treating them merely as means because, as children, they are incapable of rationally and freely choosing their own ends’ (Kelly, 2002) Thus, according to the Kantian theory, forced elf labor is immoral. It is interesting to note, that the argumentative sides of these moral/ immoral attitudes in both theories are mainly related to the elf labor which is not forced; in the issue of the forced elf labor the morale of the action is clear and meaningful in both Kantian and Utilitarian theories. It is possible to argue that for the general welfare of the world forced elf labor is not a significant issue to be taken into account (if based on the Utilitarian principles); but how maximal should welfare be in order to overweight the disadvantages and sufferings of elf it still under question – the theory does not give any answer to it. (Feldman, 1999) Kant supports the meaning of any action and the possibility of performing this action as long as the person making someone else perform it understands that he (she) would perform the same action in the same situation – this is why elf labor is absolutely denied and justified by Kant on the basis of his theoretical drawings.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœTo treat someone as a means or as an object is to deny to them this distinctive and essential human characteristic; it would be to deny to them their very humanity’. (Auxter, 1982) Conclusion It has been seen, that the view of the forced elf labor is different according to the Kantian theory of morale and according to the Utilitarian theory. It is interesting to see, that though forced labor is generally accepted as being immoral, there are theories which base their judgments on the different values. Ultimate maximal benefit (welfare) often prevails, and becomes a rational choice for using forced elf labor; the benefits are considerable, and the costs are high, but these cists are usually ‘paid’ by elf workers themselves, giving the user of their rights total freedom. Kantian theory denies morale of using forced elf labor, but with even being so clear and determining in the views on elf labor, some of its statements can be used to support the possibility of using this kind of labor. Thus, both theories are highly argumentative; none of them supports only one side of the issue. It is important to create argument to come to the relevant conclusions as for the possibility of using forced elf labor. Works cited Auxter, T. Kant’s Moral Teleology. Mercer University Press, 1982 Beck, L. A Commentary on Kant’s Critique of Practical Reason. University of Chicago Press, 1960 Cornman, James, et al. Philosophical Problems and Arguments – An Introduction, 4th edition Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Co., 1992. Fred Feldman, ‘Kant’s Ethics Theory: Exposition and Critique’ from H. J. Curzer, ed Ethical Theory and Moral Problems, Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Publishing Co. 1999 Kelly, T. The Rationality of Belief and Some Other Propositional Attitudes. Philosophical Studies, 110 (2002): 163-196 Linden, H. Kantian Ethics and Socialism. Hackett Publishing Company: Indianapolis and Cambridge, 1988 Lyons, David. Forms and Limits of Utilitarianism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1965 Martin, Michael, â€Å"A Utilitarian Kantian Principle,† Philosophical Studies, (with H. Ruf), 21, 1970, pp. 90-91 Rawls, J. Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy. Harvard University Press, 2000 Singer, Peter. The Expanding Circle: Ethics and Sociobiology, New York: Farrar, Straus Giroux, 1981 How to cite Argumentative paper, Essay examples Argumentative Paper Free Essays The United States has spent too much money on other countries financial disasters despite America’s own economic crisis. L. American foreign aid. We will write a custom essay sample on Argumentative Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now A. Why foreign aid was implemented and how it was meant to be used. B. America and its status. C. Budget cuts. II. American foreign aid to Haiti. A. Wait’s reliance on financial aid. B. Statistical data on the amounts of aid Haiti has received. II. America and its debt. A. 1991 debt verses 2011 debt. B. The war on Iraq and its cost to national debt. C. American dollars into the Iraqi infrastructure. 1) Military and police force trained at the hands of American taxpayer dollars. (2) Facilities that have been built by American’s and gone to waste. (3) Global understanding of foreign aid. (4) Iraq’s capabilities of taking care of their own financial aid. (5)Statistics in regards to dollars spent on what projects to Iraq become a better nation. IV. America’s public school system. A. Budget cuts to the educational budget. B. Classroom growth. C. Educational cut back programs. (1) City of Phoenix cut backs. 2) Educational Job market flooded with teachers and no positions available. 3) Interview with Kerry. Help V. American’s need to tighten the purse strings and take care of the issues at home. Too Much Foreign Aid in America’s Budget The act of charity is something that most people are raised on; if a person has been blessed with wealth, it is always good to help those less fortunate. However, there co mes a time when too much is too much. The United States, among other countries, developed the practice of foreign aid after World War II. It was designed to help those countries in desperate need of temporary help when they could not manage on their own. Foreign aid is something that has been in effect over the last few decades and some say has been used to excess and argue the point that if our own country is in debt and suffering, how can there be so much money spent on foreign aid. Others say that we are prosperous and should help those that need it no matter what. Whichever side of the argument is brought up, there are certain facts that do not change. The United States has spent too much money taking care of other countries financial disasters despite the trouble within its own borders. The United States of America has long been considered one of the most remediable countries in the world leading the pack of economic growth, democracy, innovation and financial dominance. However, lately it seems that the United States is in as much financial strain as the other countries it helps regularly. American’s are experiencing the pinch of billions in budget cuts on education programs, eliminating teaching positions and higher taxes to fund a war with Iraq. Even through all of these financial hardships, the United States still manages to give billions of dollars in financial aid despite the economic crisis of their own. A country that receives a large portion of American foreign aid is Haiti. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and is one of the countries that recently, receives the most financial aid world wide. In mid-January of this year, Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake that destroyed most of the county. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without homes, clean drinking water or electricity, with debris and rubble making it unsafe territory. Bret Stephens, a Journalist for the DOD Jones Company, uncovered news from the World Bank and exactly how much additional aid was going to be allotted to Haiti for relief efforts. Stephens article states: The World Bank–now about to throw another $100 million on Haiti–on what it achieved in the country between 1986 and 2002: The outcome of World Bank assistance programs is rated unsatisfactory (if not highly so), the institutional development impact, negligible, and the sustainability of the few benefits that have accrued, unlikely. Stephens goes on to quote that the Bank noted, â€Å"Haiti has dysfunctional budgetary, financial or procurement systems, making financial and aid management impossible. The Bank makes the claim that the Haitian government does not take ownership and initiative for formulating and implementing assistance programs. A breakdown of foreign aid by country, provided by Guardian, a United Kingdom based awareness blob, shows a grand total of 3. 5 billion dollars already donated and another 1. 1 billion dollars pledged to help with this disaster (Guardian). America, leading as the highest donor, among other countries such as United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. Many countries making absolutely no contribution whatsoever during this time. American’s are going broke and continue to keep giving. In fact, the United States has only been debt free for two years, 1834 and 1835, according to Marie Clammiest. Clammiest states in another article that, â€Å"†¦ The federal governments $14 trillion debt as an emergency that demands big cuts in domestic programs†¦ The majority of this debt is said to have come from the war in Iraq, heavily financed by borrowing from China to fund the war. Lira Logan reported, â€Å"The problem for America is that its greatness has always been rooted in its economic dominance and that debt has forced the U. S. To keep borrowing from foreign countries. † According to statistical ATA provided by the Bureau of the Public Debt , in 1991, the national debt for the United States was under $3 Trillion , even though a large amount, it was still within the realm of being paid off. However now in 2011, the debt recently went over the $14 trillion mark, a number that is in no way obtainable (Madame). Logan also quoted Aaron David Miller of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, saying, â€Å"Can the world’s greatest power remain the world’s greatest power and also be the world’s greatest borrower? I don’t think so. † Over the past four years fighting the war n Iraq, the United States has spent $500 billion dollars on Just the war alone (Skeletal). In addition to the funding of occupying this country, the United States has spent over $50 billion in reconstruction costs, that unfortunately, most say will be wasted dollars due to Iraq’s incompetence and capabilities to utilize the reconstructions. As a country, the United States has invested hundreds of billions of dollars on equipment, buildings, infrastructure, electricity and water facilities in third world countries. In an article recently published by USA Today written by Matt Kelley, mints out that, â€Å"The United States has spent $44. Billion in taxpayer funds on rebuilding Iraq, about half of it to train, equip and support Iraq’s military and police forces. † Kelley also quotes Rusty Barber, the head of the Iraq program United States Institute of Peace, â€Å"There has been some significant progress, but there’s a long way to go before Iraq can really be a stable, secure country that’s able to provide for its people’s basic nee ds. † Iraq is a country that has undergone massive abuse over the past 10 plus years, with no end in sight, and has been rebuilt about ten times over. The amount of money that America has spent in rebuilding Iraq, by all means a country that has minimal interest in being rebuilt, is atrocious. American tax payer dollars are being spent to fund many projects in Iraq, such as schools, hospitals and prisons, instead of spending those same dollars on the same problems at home. According to Timothy Williams, many of these facilities have remained empty after completion because there were not enough Iraqis trained to operate them. Williams goes on to state that â€Å"†¦ 4 million maternity hospital built by the Americans is open, but the staff members cannot operate much of its equipment†¦.. Sinai Hospital in Baghdad, which had been the American military’s largest medical center in the country, has been closed because the Health Ministry lacks the staff and equipment to reopen it, though the American military said it left $7. 9 million in equipment behind†¦ † He also states that there was a $165 million child ren’s hospital that was delayed by more than four years and $115 million over budget (Williams). When a country is in desperate need of help, it is up to others to step up and give aid. When that aid is given, it is under the understanding that the money is going to e used to go towards the rebuild of the crisis. However, what happens when the country receiving large portions of aid do not need that aid? For example, according to James Gland and Campbell Robertson’s article in August of 2008, by the end of 2009, the Iraqi government ended up with a surplus of almost $80 million dollars. The article stated that, â€Å"The United States has spent $23. 2 billion in the critical areas of security, oil, electricity and water since the 2003 invasion, but from 2005 through April of 2008, Iraq has spend Just $3. Billion on similar services. † Another report room the Government Accountability Office estimates Iraqi oil revenue from 2005 through the end of this year [2008] will amount to at least $156 billion dollars. † So what this is stating is that the Iraqi government is not only holding their oil money in a United States bank collecting somewhere in t he range of $400,000 in interest, but for some reason they are collecting foreign aid when they are capable of funding and fixing their own problems. Carl Levin, a chairman of the Senate Armed Services was quoted saying, â€Å"The Iraqi government now has tens of billions of dollars at its espousal to fund large-scale reconstruction projects. It is inexcusable for U. S. Taxpayers to continue to foot the bill for projects the Iraqis are fully capable of funding themselves We should not be paying for Iraqi projects, while Iraqi oil revenues continue to pile up in the bank. † Very well said and a statement many American citizens support full hardheartedly. However, we are still sending foreign aid to Iraq, building Iraqi schools, hospitals, prisons, and fortifying their country’s security but it does not look like the money is going to stop going into Iraq. If the United States spends 165 million dollars on one hospital, one can only imagine the cost of rebuilding schools during war time; as well as imagine how many of those schools were destroyed intentionally and unintentionally during or after their construction because of said war. America’s public school system drastically needs help and no one is coming up with any solutions but budget cuts. The American public school system is already the victim of systematic budget cuts are now getting ready for another huge blow to their financial status; one some say that is going to cripple our youth’s outlooks on a better education. † Education Weekly reported that â€Å"the spending bill that President Barack Obama signed into law March 2 severed current fiscal-year funding for several literacy programs at the Education Department as a part of a government- wide reduction of $4 billion† (Rose). For an example, Arizona has taken hard drastic cuts recently. Classroom sizes have grown from 24 children per teacher to roughly 30 plus children per classroom. After school and during school education enhancement studies to help children who fall below the average or have special learning needs eave all but been eliminated. In previous years, children who may not have passed a subject were allowed the opportunity to attend intercession, a program during the school breaks where they attend class for a few hours a day over a two week time frame intended to get them back on track. Unfortunately, as of the 2009-2010 school year, Circle Cross Ranch, a local elementary in San Tan Valley Arizona, now requires parents pay $25 per class session if a child fails at any point in time the classes are mandatory. In Phoenix, they are experiencing even more of an unnecessary set back. The city as had a drastic decline in their hiring for the 2010-2011 school year. Roughly 7,400 public-school teaching positions have been eliminated across the state because of budget cuts proposed by the Legislature, according to Arizona Educators Association spokesman John Heartfelt (Quinn). With the amount of children that are still enrolling and moving into the Phoenix area, this only bodes ill for the amount of attention each child will receive. Education is important to the growth of any society and if that keeps getting hit time and time again with no solutions on how to fix that budget crisis, things will only get worse. The amount of educational Jobs are decreasing but the amount of applicants only increase. The educational Job market is being flooded with teachers that have experienced the layoffs and cut backs, while schools hiring, go for the more seasoned experienced teachers. Internships have been eliminated across the board for new teachers because the Jobs Just are not readily available eliminating many of the opportunities for young teachers. Kerry, a 4th grade teacher for xx Elementary in xx, has felt the pinch of educational budget cuts along with thousands of other teachers. XX teaches a very owe-income community with children that speak more Spanish than English and she struggles some days to provide the best educational experience she can. â€Å"The school just cant afford what we need and its sad. I have children that come to school almost every day hungry because they don’t have proper meals at home. They come to school with no supplies because their parents can’t afford them. As a teacher, how can I sit by and watch my students go with out the fundamental things that they need to get an education? † XX stated that she spends over $500 every year on school supplies that she does not get reimbursed for, â€Å"l have to do it. If I don’t, no one will and these children don’t deserve to suffer because of our budget cuts. How can they learn if they have no paper to write on or a pencil to write with? † When asked about the financial crisis the schools are experiencing, she replied, â€Å"Its sad and disturbing at the same time. How can I teach properly without the books and tools required to teach!? I know this sounds selfish, but doesn’t they saying go, you need to help yourself before you can help others? If we [Americans] keep giving everything away, there’s not going to be anything left for us to help ourselves. We could have so much more for our own kids! America’s future are its children, those children are not educated properly, who’s fault is that going to be? No matter who’s fault it is, the problem needs to be corrected sooner rather than later. The United States has received a hazardous blows over the past few years with several crippling hurricanes, oil spills and a continued economic and financial crisis. The United States is falling further and f urther into debt with the war in Iraq and an economic crisis that has America considered ‘rich nations’ among one of the poorest (Belittler). If the United States cut back some of the foreign aid given to the same countries regularly, then those countries receiving the public assistance will have no choice but to learn how to support themselves. By continuing to give aid and support them without teaching them how to figure out how to do it for themselves, the problem only gets worse. It Just seems that the United States is giving a lot of more hand outs while its own citizens are suffering. When that happens, that is when its time to close the purse strings to take care of American’s with American tax dollars. How to cite Argumentative Paper, Essays

A Study of a Dionysiac Sarcophagus Essay Example For Students

A Study of a Dionysiac Sarcophagus Essay In the Los Angeles County Art Museum a man dies. He winds his way down into the underworld to reach the banks of the river Acheron where he meets the ferryman Charon. He takes a coin from his mouth to pay the toll across. On the opposite bank he is greeted by a Maenad or perhaps Bacchus himself who offers him a kylix of wine. Drinking deep, the man is transformed and resurrected from death to a higher plane. Instead of living a miserable dream in the underworld he receives redemption from his god Dionysos, the Savior. In Roman imperial times there was a great resurgence of the Mystery cults of Greece fueled by the hope of a life after death. In funerary monuments there can be seen the tenets of the religion as well as how it views the afterlife. Within the Los Angeles County Art Museum stands such a vessel created to facilitate this journey to eternal bliss. A gift from William Randolph Hearst, the piece is a sarcophagus from the Severan period of the Roman empire near the end of the second century detailing a procession of Dionysos, the god of wine, and his followers. Such a procession could be from Dionysoss messianic journeys or from his triumphal return from spreading the wine cult. Originally in the mausoleum of a wealthy family in Rome, the sarcophagus was in later times used as a planter for a flower bedMatz, 3. This misuse of the piece explains the deterioration of the marble which necessitated extensive restoration in the 17th century4. It is tub shaped with dimensions of 2. 1 meters long and 1 meter wide, standing 0. 6 meters from the ground. The shape is similar to tubs used for trampling grapes which had spouts ornamented with lions heads to vent the wine3. Being shaped like a wine vat makes the sarcopagi a transformative force in its own right by symbolically turning the person interned within into wine ! bringing him closer to the god. Unlike other sarcophagi of the period the back of this piece has not been left unhewn, but instead a strigal pattern of repeating S shapes has been carved, suggesting that the piece may have stood in the center of the mausoleum. Unlike other more famous and elaborate Dionysiac sarcophagi, such as the Seasons sarcophagi and the Triumph of Dionysos in Baltimore which portray specific pivotal events in the mythos of Dionysos, this piece gives us instead a somewhat generic slice of Bacchic lifeMatz, 5. The style and portrayal of the figures, of course, predate the Roman empire; sarcophagi of this type were mass produced in shops based on patterns and drawings from Greek artisansAlexander, 46. Dionysos himself is in the center holding his scepter, the thyrsos, in his left hand and pouring wine with his right while riding a panther, a sacred animal closely associated with the godMatz, 4. Flanking him are two lion heads that represent Dionysoss attempts to escape death at the hands of the titans by transforming into a lion, among other animals, which then lead to his death and subsequent rebirthGraves, 103-104. To the right of Dionysos is Silenus, his tutor from his childhood, holding a vessel most likely filled with wine. The presence of Silenus reinforces the cults belief in eternal youth. Next to Silenus is a Maenad, or female raver, playing a flute above Pan the goat god of the forest. Below Pan and the right lion head are two cherubs, one wearing a mask of Silenus while the other rears back in frightMatz, 4. On the left of Dionysos are two satyrs and another smaller image of Pan holding a cup of wine. Further left is another Maenad, this one playing a tambourine, who is being followed by a satyr. .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a , .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .postImageUrl , .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a , .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a:hover , .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a:visited , .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a:active { border:0!important; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a:active , .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue8c5e941ace45e31b7c81ffa18ccab6a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child abuse EssayBelow the left lion head there is another cherub, or putto, and a young satyr. Rounding out the left side on the end is still another maenad followed by a satyr. On the right end there is a satyr, playing the cymbals, following a half nude maenad. Completing the piece, in the background behind the main figures there are two kidsan animal Dionysos often transformed into, another pan and a small panther. Through looking at the piece we can get some idea of what a gathering of the cult is like for the followers. The practice of the cult was entirely informal when compared to worship in the temples of the sanctioned gods. Unlike worship of the gods of the state-sponsored religion, Bacchic festivals took place outdoors far away from the crowded cities in the forests which harkens back to ancient times before man built temples. When they arrived in the forest, Dionysos gave them herbs, berries, and wild goats to eat and plenty to drinkHamilton, 57. Wine of course was ever present at these gatherings to honor the wine god. Wine was a sacramental representation of the god himself; drinking wine freed the initiate from the restraints of earthly matters to come together with the god through ecstasy which literally translated from the original Greek means outside the bodyMcann, 128. This individualistic nature of communion continually practiced gave the faithful a feeling ! of closeness with the god. The mask of Silenus on one of the putti is a nod to the importance theater played in the cult. The greatest poets of Greece wrote plays honoring Dionysos which were considered sacred to the cult. Both comedies and tragedies were performed, reflecting the dual nature of the god and of wine itselfHamilton, 61. Wine can inspire man to lofty endeavors and merry frolicking, but, it can also turn him into a savage beast. Like the Egyptian god Osiris, Dionysos suffered a violent death by dismemberment. Cult members would honor the god by frenzied dismemberment of bulls and sometimes unfortunate men rent with hands and teeth which were then devoured, symbolically taking Dionysos within themselves. This gruesome ritual, accompanied by loud music and the crashing of cymbals, was intended to propel the reveler even further into a state of ecstasy to achieve a liberation from the body. These rites of sacrament and communion stem from the myths surrounding Dionysos symbolizing his birth, life, death, and rebirth of the god through the eternal renewal of life in the natural world which give the faithful a promise of an eternal existence. Of great significance to the scholar is the window that sarcophagi and other funerary monuments give into the lives as well as the afterlives of the practitioners of the cult. In the case of the Bacchic cult it is especially important in that before the Romans became more open to the emerging prevalence of the cults of the second century little is known of their funerary practices due to the cloak of secrecy surrounding the mystery cult. In fact, the cultists were persecuted by the Roman state religion prior to the acceptance of the rediscovered cults by the aristocratic class as evidenced by increasing number of such sarcophagiLehman, 24,26 In using such sarcophagi containing the portrayal of their faith and creeds, the followers of the cult were assuring themselves divine protection and a faith-ordained afterlife.