Saturday, August 22, 2020

Life Writing Critical Memoir and Identity Formation

Question: Examine about theLife Writingfor Critical Memoir and Identity Formation. Answer: Presentation The journal Running in the family composed by Michael Ondaatje fits into the class of life composing. In the portion, I will consider the convincing story What we consider wedded life that falls under the rubric of Running in the family, wrote somewhere near Michael Ondaatje. While portraying the story, Michael Ondaatje investigates two intentions for example discernment of the world and to engage the artistic crowd. The piece, What we consider wedded life, composed by Michael Ondaatje, records the disagreements between his mom and father. His dad used to show up home alcoholic and feel sloshed for the duration of the day. In a shrill tone, his mom contended with his dad. The principle contrasts lay in the character characteristics of both the guardians. The mother talked in a disturbing voice and the dad was formed and hesitant. Through this fascinating piece, the creator ponders a significant part of the wedded life. He catches the nuanced shades of the family fight. In the task, h e cautiously investigates two motivations behind the existence composing for example the awareness of the world and to engage the scholarly crowd. In the story, the creator ponders certain parts of life, for example, memory, supposition about others, centrality of life and social desires. In the piece, I need to distinguish the tone of the creator. As per Susan Letham (2012), a British essayist, the tone of the writer talks volume. The tone mirrors the manner in which she composes, the kinds of words she pick and the organization of the sentences. In the specific piece, What we consider wedded life, the tone of the creator is extraordinary. The story rotates around the family fight and contradictions that occurred between his folks. The tone of the creator shows the direction of the story. With an extraordinary conveyance of discoursed, the story additionally accept a concentrated tone. The tone makes the scholarly individuals mindful of the substance of the story (Mack, 2014). The piece of Ondaatje thinks about the family contradictions and tussles. Here, I can relate the substance with my experience. My companions family has a heavy drinker father who normally gets back home alcoholic. His mom shouts as loud as possible and takes part in factious talk with his dad. This circumstance intently identifies with the issue that the writer needs to portray in his composition. I have picked a YouTube video that identifies with the above conversation. Here, a girl gives a passage of her alcoholic dad and the manner in which she holds over the issue. The issue of liquor addiction upsets the milieu of the household house (YouTube, 2017). It prompts savage tussles from the two sides of the guardians, in this way hampering the family setting. Reference Letham, S. (2012). Little girl. Distributions International Ltd. USA. Mack, N. G. (2014). Basic diary and character development: Being, having a place, turning out to be. Ondaatje, M. (2013).Running in the Family. Vintage Canada. YouTube. (2017). My father was a heavy drinker | BBC Newsbeat. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsfG1B53780 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2017].

Thursday, July 16, 2020

11 Books to Help Us Make it Through a Trump Presidency

11 Books to Help Us Make it Through a Trump Presidency This is a guest post from Erin Burba. When Erin was ten, she was grounded for trying to read while riding her bike. She is a lifelong bibliophile who embarks upon obsessive reading binges on subjects ranging from polygamous cults to Helen Keller. When not working or reading, she can be found hiking, watching Jeopardy!, and searching for the perfect fruit snack. She lives in Denver, CO with her husband and son. Follow her on Twitter @erinkseals. The last week has been tough. Like millions of Americans, I have been grappling with intense fear and anxiety as the prospect of four years of leadership under a racist, xenophobic, anti-feminist demagogue has become a reality. We have spent the last several days responding in many different ways. As election results came streaming in, Canada’s immigration website crashed. Over the past week, women across the country have made appointments for IUDs. Thousands of people have marched in dozens of cities to protest against Trump’s hateful rhetoric. As a new mom, I struggle under the enormous weight of responsibility now that I will raise my children in a country that knowingly elected a man who has bragged about sexual assault. As the shock begins to lift, many of us are starting to ask ourselves what we can do so as not to feel powerless in the face of despair. There are many important ways we can fight back, including: volunteering, community engagement, and donating to nonprofit organizations that work with women, Muslims, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQIA folks, and anyone else who will likely be disenfranchised by a Trump presidency. Here are 11 books that will complement acts of solidarity and activism. Now is the time to break the election-cycle narrative. Tuesday night, we saw that our nation is more deeply divided than many of us had realized. Empathy and curiosity will be integral as we determine what comes next. Read these books to understand what happened, who is impacted, and what we can do to inspire change. White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg What It’s About A large part of Trump’s success on election day came as a result of tapping into white working class workers’ beliefs that he can create jobs and increase their socioeconomic standing. Isenberg’s social history of class in America challenges our nation’s myth that hard work and grit is rewarded by social mobility. Isenberg discusses America’s history of disparaging and mocking poor whites, from the country’s founding through the rise in popularity of shows such as Honey Boo Boo. Why You Should Read It To provide context to many of the concerns faced by people with whom Trump’s message resonated. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie What It’s About Adichie’s essay, based on her Tedx talk of the same name, explores feminism in a simple and conversational manner. She describes the chauvinism she has experienced and provides straightforward anecdotes of sexism to which many of us can identify. Why You Should Read it For countless women, Trump’s victory is a harsh reminder of how often our experiences with sexism and societal inequality are brushed aside or met with disbelief. This book reminds us that we’re not alone. The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race by Jesmyn Ward What It’s About About a year after Trayvon Martin’s death, National Book Award-winning author Jesmyn Ward found comfort in a copy of James Baldwin’s 1963 essay collection A Fire Next Time. Ward then decided to invite writers to craft projects as an homage to Baldwin’s collection and as a modern-day reflection on race. The resulting anthology is a compilation of essays, poems, and stories examining black life in America today. Why You Should Read It In Ward’s words, this book is a message that: “You matter. I love you. Please don’t forget this.” I Speak For Myself: American Women on Being Muslim by Maria M. Ebrahimji and Zahra T Suratwala What It’s About One of the fundamental truths that Trump tends to ignore is that no demographic group is a monolith. I Speak For Myself, a compilation of essays edited by Maria Ebrahimji and Zahra Suratwala, showcases stories that celebrate the incredible diversity among Muslim-American women. The essays tackle a variety of topics and the writers hail from different backgrounds, professions, nationalities, and value systems. Why You Should Read It To celebrate individuality and the complexity that exists within self-identity. Just Like Us: The True Story of Four Mexican American Girls Coming of Age in America by Helen Thorpe What It’s About In the same speech in which Trump announced his candidacy, he also used distorted and hateful language to describe Mexican immigrants. He continued to stereotype and make outrageous accusations throughout his campaign. Helen Thorpe’s Just Like Us profiles four high-achieving Denver high school students from Mexico two who are in the country legally and two who are not. This story follows the four girls through the end of high school and into college. Thorpe highlights the challenges two of the girls face as a result of immigration laws. Why You Should Read It After an election cycle filled with gross misrepresentations and fear-mongering, it is important to remember the humanity we share. Sex Object: A Memoir by Jessica Valenti What It’s About One of the defining moments of the election cycle was the release of Access Hollywood tapes in which Donald Trump can be heard saying, among other lewd comments, “Grab her by the p*ssy”. The subsequent dismissal of those comments by Trump’s campaign as “locker room talk” was nearly as sickening as the initial statement. Jessica Valenti’s memoir Sex Object explores the question posed in her book’s introduction: “Who would I be if I didn’t live in a world that hates women?”. Her book begins with a description of the subway flashers Valenti routinely encountered as a young girl and ends with a list of some of the things trolls have written to her online. In between, Valenti examines her life and relationships through the lens of constant misogyny. Why You Should Read It Before we can effect change, we have to recognize what it is, exactly, we’re trying to change. We must envision a world without micro and macro aggressions while staying firmly rooted in reality. The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas What It’s About On September 21, 2001, Raisuddin Bhuiyan was working at a Dallas gas station when he was shot in the face by Mark Stroman. Stroman, who falsely claimed that he had lost a sister in the World Trade Center attack, erroneously believed there was a connection between people working at gas stations in his area and terrorists. In total, Stroman shot three food mart attendants. The other two died. The story follows Bhuiyan as he forgives his attacker and fights to have Stroman saved from execution. It delves deeply into the lives of both men, showing their humanity and the circumstances that helped shape them.   Why You Should Read It This book serves as a reflection of what can happen when we begin to vilify those we consider to be “other”. It is also a meditation on the extraordinary power of forgiveness. Nobody: Casualties of America’s War on the Vulnerable, From Ferguson to Flint and Beyond by Marc Lamont Hill What It’s About Hill’s powerful examination of race and class in America addresses the people he posits are considered “Nobody” within contemporary America: People of color who are often treated by society as exploitable and disposable, who are consistently exposed to systemic injustices, and who are intentionally denied access to fundamental rights and freedom. Hill thoroughly recounts the tragic events leading up to the deaths of Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, and many other black and brown people who have died unnecessarily. He considers the policies, political corruption, and misjudgment that led to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Why You Should Read It This is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the race and class issues facing millions of Americans today. Bettyville: A Memoir by George Hodgman What It’s About George Hodgman leaves Manhattan for his hometown of Paris, Missouri to care for his aging mother. Betty is a witty and strong-willed woman who has never accepted the fact that her son is gay. As George tries to convince his mother to move into assisted living, he also confronts a town that is his past, but is not reflective of his current world. Hodgman’s memoir is told with humor and empathy. Why You Should Read It It often seems as though there is a wide political and cultural chasm between the Midwest and the coasts. Hodgman tells a nuanced story of two people who transcend this divide in order to truly know and love one another.   The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Their Own by Veronica Chambers What It’s About Over the last 8 years, Michelle has been a role model for the entire country with her intellect, humor, and down-to-earth demeanor. Her powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention captivated millions and demonstrated many of the reasons we will miss having her in the White House. In The Meaning of Michelle, 16 writers (including Roxane Gay and Phillipa Soo) explore what the First Lady means to them. Why You Should Read It Because Michelle Obama. Read this when you want to feel inspired. When We Fight, We Win: Twenty-First-Century Social Movements and the Activists That Are Transforming Our World by Greg Jobin-Leeds, Dey Hernandez-Vazquez, and Jose Jorge Diaz What It’s About This book highlights some of the remarkable movements that have inspired social change over the last several years. Jobin-Leeds explores #BlackLivesMatter, End the New Jim Crow, and Occupy Wall Street, as well as movements supporting same-sex marriage and the DREAM Act. He speaks with activists and artists involved in these moments to capture stories, tactics, and philosophies that have helped to make these movements a success. These conversations are recorded side by side with powerful pictures and graphics. Why You Should Read It Many people are asking themselves how they can implement social change in the face of a Trump administration. This book provides suggestions from diverse voices and serves as a reminder that we can make a difference.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

25 Essay Topics for American Government Classes

If you are a teacher searching for essay topics to assign to your U.S. government or civics class or looking for ideas, do not fret. It is easy to integrate debates and discussions into the classroom environment. These topic suggestions provide a wealth of ideas for written assignments such as  position papers, compare-and-contrast essays,  and  argumentative essays. Scan the following 25 question topics and ideas to find just the right one. Youll soon be reading interesting papers from your students after they grapple with these challenging and important issues. 25 Topics Compare and contrast what is a direct democracy versus representative democracy.  React to the following statement: Democratic decision-making should be extended to all areas of life including schools, the workplace, and the government.  Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans. Explain how these led to the Great Compromise.Pick one thing about the U.S. Constitution including its amendments that you think should be changed. What  modifications would you make? Explain your reasons for making this change.What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he said, The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants? Do you think that this statement still applies to todays world?  Compare and contrast mandates and conditions of aid regarding the federal governments relationship with states. For example, how has the Federal Emergency Management Agency delivered support to states and commonwealths that have experienced natural disasters?Sho uld individual states have more or less power compared to the federal government when implementing laws dealing with topics such as the legalization of marijuana  and abortion?  Outline a program that would get more people to vote in presidential elections or local elections.What are the dangers of gerrymandering when it comes to voting and presidential elections?Compare and contrast the major political parties in the United States. What policies are they preparing for upcoming elections?Why would voters choose to vote for a third party, even though they know that their candidate has virtually no chance of winning?  Describe the major sources of money that are donated to political campaigns. Check out the Federal Election Regulatory Commissions website for information.Should corporations be treated as individuals regarding being allowed to donate to political campaigns?  Ã‚  Look at the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling on the issue.  Defend your answer.  Explain the ro le of social media in connecting interest groups that have grown stronger as the major political parties have grown weaker.  Explain why the media has been called the fourth branch of government. Include your opinion on whether this is an accurate portrayal.Compare and contrast the campaigns of U.S. Senate and  House of Representatives candidates.Should term limits be instituted for members of Congress? Explain your answer.Should members of Congress vote their conscience or follow the will of the people who elected them into office? Explain your answer.Explain how executive orders have been used by presidents throughout the history of the U.S. What is the number of executive orders issued by the current president?In your opinion, which of the three branches of the federal government has the most power? Defend your answer.Which of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment do you consider the most important? Explain your answer.  Should a school be required to get a warrant b efore searching a students property? Defend your answer.  Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail? What kind of campaign could be run to see it passed?Explain how the 14th Amendment has affected civil liberties in the United States from the time of its passage at the end of the Civil War.Do you think that the federal government has enough, too much or just the right amount of power? Defend your answer.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Anabolic Steroids Essay - 1671 Words

Anabolic Steroids In today’s society, athletes are revered as heroes. There is immense pressure to be the best. Athletes are willing to do whatever it takes to gain an edge, even if it means compromising their health. For almost three decades, athletes have been supplementing their strength program with anabolic steroids to enhance their performance. To be sure, anabolic steroids are effective supplements to strength training programs, but there is no doubt that the consequences can be deleterious. What are Anabolic Steroids and how do they work? Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. Most healthy males produce 2-10 milligrams per day of testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for†¦show more content†¦Users often utilize a dangerous practice known as stacking, the combination several different types of steroids to maximize their effectiveness (http://www.nashville.net/~acarney/8html). Protein Synthesis Anabolic steroids cause enzymes, such as RNA polymerase, to promote two important biochemical reactions, creatine phosphate synthesis and protein synthesis. Creatine phosphate is a molecule that can be metabolized in the absence of sufficient oxygen as a short term energy source. Increased creatine phosphate synthesis enables athletes to train harder and for longer periods of time. Protein synthesis is increased as the newly formed receptor-steroid complex migrates to the nucleus and initiates transcription. The production of RNA is elevated, causing an increased rate of protein synthesis (http://www.bigsport.com/steroids/steroids/roidb11a.txt). Nitrogen Retention Anabolic steroids increase the body’s ability to retain nitrogen. By allowing for better utilization of the nitrogen in ingested protein, anabolic steroids help athletes to build body mass (http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hsr/hsr/winter97/steroid.html). In order for an athlete to accumulate extra muscle mass, his or her body must temporarily be in a state of positive nitrogen balance; more nitrogen must come into the body than is lost. During strenuous exercise, the release of glucocorticosteroids creates a negative nitrogen balance in the body. Anabolic steroids can reverse thisShow MoreRelatedAnabolic Steroid Use And Anabolic Steroids1335 Words   |  6 Pagesathletes get so hooked on this so called â€Å"Steroid† ? I’m interested in this question, because that’s the question that truly caught my attention the most and, also keeps me wondering. If people who use it have seen improvement, why do they keep using it. The anabolic steroid also known as the anab olic-androgenic steroid is a drug that athletes use to give more muscle mass to the body and create more testosterone in the body. If traced back to the 1940’s steroids first appeared in Germany. Athletes hadRead MoreAnabolic Steroids. Anabolic Steroids Are A Complex Molecule1377 Words   |  6 PagesAnabolic Steroids Anabolic steroids are a complex molecule used to trick the mind into thinking that testosterone is being produced. An American doctor in the 1930s developed anabolic steroids for the use of â€Å"building body tissue and preventing the breakdown of tissue† (â€Å"Athletes and Steroids†). An FDA review later failed to find evidence that these anabolic steroids had positive effects for those purposes. As time went on people found that steroids increase muscle mass significantly, and theyRead MoreAnabolic Steroids Are Known As Anabolic Androgenic Steroids940 Words   |  4 PagesAnabolic Steroids are known as anabolic-androgenic steroids. A drug that is structured to relate to the cyclic steroid ring system. Anabolic steroids can many similar effects to testosterone in the body. What anabolic steroids do is increase the protein in the cells. The increase in these cells most happens in the skeletal muscles. Anabolic steroids can also have Androgenic and virilizing propert ies, that includes the development and the maintenance of masculine characteristics. With that, exactlyRead MoreAnabolic Steroid Abuse And Anabolic Steroids2005 Words   |  9 PagesAnabolic steroids will either help a person or break a person. Anabolic Steroids affect the body,emotions, hormones, and cause deadly infections. Anabolic Steroids also help people with body conditions. A guy from Germany figured out what the side effects for anabolic steroid abuse in 1849 taking by taking off and testing a male birds testicles. Steroid abuse did not take action until the 19th century. â€Å"Anabolic steroids were first developed in the 1930s in Europe in an effort to produce a drugRead MoreAnabolic Steroids And Substance Steroids1814 Words   |  8 PagesMerriam-Webster Dictionary anabolic steroids are any of a group of usually synthetic hormones that are derivatives of testosterone, are used medically specially to promote tissue growth, and are sometimes abused by athletes to increase the size and strength of their muscles and improve endurance. The main purpose of anabolic steroids is to gain strength and muscle very quickly and faster than any other drug enhancement. There are many types of models that relate to anabolic steroids. One model is high schoolRead MoreAnabolic Steroids And Steroids Use1525 Words   |  7 Pagesbeans and hype (Steroids and their). All of these words are slang for the illegal substance known more commonly as anabolic steroids and HGH (human growth hormone). The controversy surrounding anabolic steroids and HGH in sports has stormed to the forefront of the many problems that plague America today. Anabolic steroids are synthetic chemicals that mimic the effects of the male sex hormone testosterone. Some athletes seeking increased muscular strength and size abuse anabolic steroids (Ricki Lewis)Read MoreEssay on Anabolic Steroids1716 Words   |  7 Pages Anabolic Steroids nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Anabolic steroids are synthetic coumpounds formulated to be like the male sex hormone testosterone. Many athletes use anabolic steroids male and female alike, such as body builders , weightlifters, baseball players, football players, swimmers, and runners. They do so because they mistakenly believe that they will gain strength and size. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In a male testosterone is released by the leydig cells in the testes. The testosteroneRead MoreThe Drawbacks Of Anabolic Steroids1384 Words   |  6 PagesThe Drawbacks of Anabolic Steroids and Why They Should Stay Illegal Anabolic steroids have been used and taken by humans for over half a century. The effects they provide have developed large ongoing debates as to whether these substances should be allowed to the general public. Anabolic steroid in short provide the human body a much grander potential to build muscle by helping the cells within the body produce more muscle fibers at an astonishing rate that could never be achieved naturally. ManyRead MoreAnabolic Steroids : A Fatal Attraction1734 Words   |  7 PagesAnabolic Steroids in Sports The market for top performing athletes in sports in the 21st century is a competitive one. Athletes are pushed to, be stronger, an heal from injuries faster. With the pressure to do well and get picked up by a professional team of sorts goes without saying that hard work is a must to elevate ones professional athletic career, but what if one has reached a plateau or hit a wall in a training regimen and just can not seem to push through? When some athletes hit the proverbialRead MoreAnabolic Steroids And Its Effects On The Brain1608 Words   |  7 PagesBrief History Anabolic steroids are directly related to steroids, and both have similar effects, however anabolic steroids intensify protein production in cells, leading to enlarged muscles, rather steroids contain various hormones including testosterone. Both, however exert the chemical dopamine into the blood stream, negatively effecting the brain driving addiction and abuse. The steps and action foreshadowing steroids can be traced back to 1849, when a German scientist named Arnold Adolph

1984 fifty years on †in what respects has the fictitious future vision of George Orwell “come true” Free Essays

George Orwell wrote his famous novel Nineteen Eighty-Four between the years 1945 and 1948. Although the title is ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, the novel wasn’t meant to be a detailed description of the exact year of 1984 but a critical, futuristic novel. In Orwell’s criticism of a perfect society, his novel became known as one of the greatest anti-utopian novels of all time. We will write a custom essay sample on 1984 fifty years on – in what respects has the fictitious future vision of George Orwell â€Å"come true†? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although the novel starts out as a story of a neurotic man, it quickly turns into a protest against a totalitarian government. The novel seems to be a satire at the start, similar to novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, but quickly the reader will discover that it is not wholly satire. Nineteen Eighty-Four is not only criticism of what Orwell saw happening in his country with the coming of English Socialism, but a warning of the consequences of contemporary government actions and what they were threatening to cause. Perhaps the novel seems so bleak because it was written in the conditions and environment in which Orwell lived in 1948, straight after the Second World War. Perhaps people would be more comfortable with the novel if they could forget the thought of the possibility of the prediction becoming real. In year 1984 it seemed to be a huge trend to discuss which aspects of the novel had come true, although the title of the novel was only acquired by switching the last two numbers of the publishing year the other way round. The most obvious feature in the novel that existed -and still exists for example in Cuba – is the totalitarian government. Although Stalin’s Soviet Union and Hitler’s Nazi Germany obviously gave the model for Oceania, Orwell and no-one else in the end of the 1940s knew what exactly was happening inside these states. For example the truth of Stalin’s government came up only after 1952 when the head of the country died. KGB could be linked to the Thought Police in the sense of â€Å"vaporising† people who were against the leader mysteriously during the night. In this sense, Orwell interpreted in his novel quite well the secret actions inside the totalitarian government. Also Orwell’s view of television seems to have partly â€Å"come true†. The television was a quite new invention in the end of the 1940s when Nineteen Eighty-Four was published, and therefore Orwell developed the idea of an unswitchable TV, telescreen, for his novel. Although the modern TV’s can be switched off and the Party members can’t observe us through them, Orwell wouldn’t probably have been surprised by the fact that in 1984 the average American household spent over 7 hours in front of the television every evening. The number is even greater for those families who happen to have a cable TV. As Winston in the beginning of the novel is a middle-aged man living alone, and working only because everyone has to, his position resembles the one of a modern, marginalised man. He can’t remember his childhood or even his mother clearly. It is possible to see here one Orwell’s insight more, even though it is quite unlikely that he actually predicted in 1948 that marginalisation would become a problem fifty years later. The theme of Newspeak and the destruction of language was also one aspect of the future that George Orwell saw in advance. Although the governments of today are not trying to eliminate more and more words from our vocabularies in order to eliminate our ability to unite or conspire against them, the language is changing. Words that sound as if they were the purest Newspeak already exist, for example the word ‘infomercial’ (information + commercial) could be straight form Oceania. Also new words come to existence at the same time when old words almost disappear. The disappearing, or forgotten words are usually names of old objects that are not used anymore. New technology in turn brings new products that need new names. No other work of the 20th century has inspired people with such love of liberty and hatred of tyranny. Because of the many predictions of the future that Orwell made over fifty years ago and which later on have actually â€Å"come true†, Nineteen Eighty-Four remains one of the great novels of the previous century. How to cite 1984 fifty years on – in what respects has the fictitious future vision of George Orwell â€Å"come true†?, Papers

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Midterm What is Virtue Essay Example Essay Example

Midterm: What is Virtue Essay Example Paper Midterm: What is Virtue Essay Introduction The question is, can someone be virtuous? If being truly virtuous means one is perfect, many religions such as Christianity refutes the idea of a being having the ability to be perfect without being God. There are large issues that make one question how one can be virtuous, what path to take and discovering how that decision was made in the first place. This essay will discuss the idea of virtue and how it relates to the controversial topic of euthanasia. The debate on whether or not virtue is inborn or acquired is as employ as the nature versus nurture and even the which came first, the chicken or the egg? To understand how one can get to be so virtuous, one must decide whether or not they were born with the virtue or had grown and been taught into such virtue. But it is much more complex. â€Å". Moral virtue is a state of character concerned with choice and choice is deliberate desire. † (Nice. Ethics, Book IV 2). This means that ultimately when faced with a decision, one w ill choose whichever is subconsciously more desired. Midterm: What is Virtue Essay Body Paragraphs If this decision is subconscious thought then this would prove that the irate of the person is inborn, meaning since day one this person was virtuous. When a child misbehaves by not sharing a toy, by Aristotle standpoint this shows the child is being omnivorous and therefore has no inborn virtue. But as the child grows and they are taught that sharing is caring, they begin to act in a more virtuous way, thus making acquired virtue the way to be virtuous. But what about all those psychopathic serial killers out there? Children born with no empathy are omnivorous for not caring about their behavior or showing forms of generosity. These children were like this from birth. Of course learning about the psychology of people is fairly new compared to the ideas Aristotle published. The way one becomes virtuous is far too complex to just put in a category. There are more factors that come into play, such as environment. Sigmund Freud was considered by many to be the father of psychology. He b elieved that every choice made in life is made on the subconscious thought of one’s own parents and their relevance on past decisions that were made that may have ended undesirably. CTD. In Sigmund Freud). One can not learn to be virtuous if they have nothing to learn by, I. E. Virtuous parents. Psychiatrists caution that there is no one type of youthful killer. But murderous children often come from families where they see or experience much violence. † says Bryce Nelson of The New York Times (Nelson, 1983). Whether one admits it or not, the idea of following a virtuous life is the goal for everyone. It is important to strive for virtue because it gives meaning to a meaningless life. This is why people set goals for themselves to achieve every year, to give themselves something to work towards. Aristotle used virtue as a goal for the human race. Garth Smelling discusses the idea of using irate as a motivator since being truly virtuous is the guide to happiness accordin g to Aristotle. (Nice. Ethics XX). â€Å"Genuine happiness lies in action that leads to virtue, since this alone provides true value and not Just amusement. Thus, Aristotle held that contemplation is the highest form of moral activity because it is continuous, pleasant, self-sufficient, and complete. ( Smelling, 2011) Many religions use the same idea as virtue to set goals for the ones who follow the religion. Muslims have the five pillars of Islam; to live a balanced and healthy life. There is the Shaded, devoting one’s life to God and their oath, Salad, prayer, Katz, giving to the needy, Swam, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and lastly Hajj], a pilgrimage to Mecca. (R. E. Saudi Arabia, 2013). Euthanasia is a topic that is sensitive to everyone. Death in general makes people feel uncomfortable. The idea of a doctor assisting in the suicide of a person is even more uncomfortable. Many are against the idea of having the choice to end one’s life with the help of a doctor because of religious views. Many believe that those who think that those who agree with having the choice will live an omnivorous life. But is that true? Brittany Maynard carries a prescription in her wallet. It was written by a doctor in Oregon, one of five states with legal protections for terminally ill patients who want to end their suffering. And in three weeks, she plans to use it to die. † (Fever, 2014). The story of Brittany Maynard has been all over the news and has been a very large topic for debate. Maynard has terminal brain cancer and is getting worse by the day. She does not want to go through the pain of slowly losing her ability to control her body as it decays. She wants to die on her terms. Oregon is one of the five states that eave doctor assisted suicide legal. Surprisingly however, 67% of doctors across America are against euthanasia. (Fever, 2014). In the case of Brittany Maynard, her private life has been televised for the world to see and her pri vacy invaded by the media because of how her case is seen as controversial. Everyone is offering their opinion on what is her decision because they suddenly know everything about cancer and assisted suicide is not the answer Brittany should have. But this is Britain’s decision not the publics and certainly not the government’s . 86% of Americans believe in euthanasia as an ethical practice. Statistic Brain, 2014). If this is the case why is it not legal in more than five states? People wanting others to live a virtuous life should be the ones open to having the choice to decide on one’s fate rather than be close minded and refute that it is okay for people on life support or who are terminally ill to have assisted suicide. These people of course believe that they are virtuous themselves, thus proving that they are not virtuous. If a person is dying of an illness that will cause them a slow and painful death, should they not have the option to a more peaceful way to go? Suggesting that one should not have this option is depriving another of that decision and opportunity and that is omnivorous. No one can truly be virtuous. People make mistakes, there are times when one may say something they didn’t mean that hurts another person. Everyone makes mistakes. No one can be perfect in every aspect of life. That does not mean striving for a virtuous life is a waste of time. Every person has their own interpretation of virtue and that is how the confusion sets in. What one person may find virtuous the other may not. Going back to Brittany Maynard, she has received pleas to not end her life. She ignores them because she knows exactly what she is going to do and she has accepted it as virtuous. If she did not find it virtuous she would not be going through with it. â€Å"The amount of sacrifice and change my family had to go through in order to get me to legal access to death with dignity – changing our residency, establishing a team o f doctors, having a place to live – was profound,† [Brittany Maynard] told People. â€Å"There’s tons of Americans who don’t have time or the ability or finances and I don’t think that’s right or fair. † (Fever, 2014) Helping others leads to a virtuous life. That is why with the little time she has left, Maynard will be raising awareness and try to help those who may not be able to afford the move to another state to use euthanasia. Virtue may be easily defined by Aristotle as a balanced life, however today it is far more complex to decipher between what is virtuous and what is not. Virtue is both inborn and acquired over time, this is true because of how children act and learn. Religion is another way to look at following a virtuous life. Brittany Maynard will be committing doctor-assisted suicide on November 1st. Practicing euthanasia may be questionable to some on how riotous it may be, however denying the right to euthanasia is omn ivorous for it is making the decision for another person and giving one’s self too much pride in their own opinion to listen to anyone else. No one can be truly virtuous, but that does not mean that one should not try to be as virtuous as possible and bring goodness into the world rather than hatred and closed mindedness. Work Cited The Internet Classics Archive I Encroachment Ethics by Aristotle. The Internet Classics Archive I Encroachment Ethics by Aristotle. Web. 16 Cot. 2014. Let;http://classics. MIT. Du/Aristotle/monomaniacs. 6. Vi. HTML. Smelling, Garth. Aristotle: Ethics. Aristotle: Ethics. The Philosophy Pages, 12 Novo. 2011. Web. 16 Cot. 2014. http://www. Philosophies. Com/why/as. HTML. Fever, Lindsey. Cancer Patient Brittany Maynard, 29, Has Scheduled Her Death for Novo. 1 . Washington Post. The Washington Post, 8 Cot. 2014. Web. 16 Cot. 2014. http://www. Washington’s. Com/news/morning-mix/WAP/2014/10/08/terminally-ill- Brittany-Maynard-29-has-scheduled-h er-death-for-novo-1 /. Euthanasia Statistics. Statistic Brain IRS. Statistic Brain, 14 July 2014. Web. 16 Cot. 2014. http://www. Statistician. Com/euthanasia-statistics/. Nelson, Bryce. quotCHlLDREN WHO KILL: PERSONALITY PATTERNS ARE IDENTIFIED. The New York Times. The New York Times, 10 cot. 1983. Web. 16 cot. 2014. wry. Anytime. Com/1983/10/11 [science/children-who-kill-personality-patterns-are- identified. HTML. The Five Pillars Of Islam. The Five Pillars Of Islam. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, 1 Feb. 2013. Web. 16 Cot. 2014. http:// www. Sedimentary. Net/about/country-information/LULAS/ five_pillars_of_LULAS. Asps. 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