Addressing The Address Rhetorically Professor Ramos Blog

Addressing The Address Rhetorically In the year 1863, the American Civil War is at its midway point when the iconic â€Å"Gettysburg Address† is delivered by Abraham Lincoln. The address comes on the heels of a Union victory at the battle of Gettysburg, which is considered today to be the most important engagements of the American Civil War. The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famed pieces of literature in all of American history; it instilled the beliefs of Lincoln through great literary prowess and extraordinary delivery. The address has been analyzed countless times and still shows a direct relation to the events of today. Lincoln uses the appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos in his address to effectively appeal to the masses and ultimately to inspire the people of his young United States to come together as one. First off, it is important to identify the audience of the text and the author. The author of the Gettysburg Address is none other than Abraham Lincoln. The importance of this is the fact that Lincoln, to this day, is considered to be one of the most favored and influential presidents to ever hold office. His work during the civil war and his contributions in the freedom of slaves is indisputable. Those are factors that enabled the address to connect with its audience. In the address, Lincoln appeals to his audience ethically by saying, Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.He uses this part of the address to appeal with ethos. Lincoln is appealing to the audience’s moral obligation and sense of duty to honor the dead. This clearly displays his character and credibility. By appealing to his audience with an ethical approach, he is directly appealing to fact that he knows he is respected. By doing this, he is drawing for a sense of patriotism which, at the time, is in dire need. The audience is also very important in this text. Lincoln understands that he is not only speaking directly to many of his existing supporters, but also to his opposition. By using the appeal of ethos, it is possible for him to reach both sides, regardless of their position. Next, in terms of appeals it is important to discuss pathos. Lincoln uses a couple of different examples of this throughout his address. The first example of this is when he says, But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate we cannot consecrate we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. This is a very important example, because he highlights the fact that there has been such an outrageous amount of bloodshed that has yet to prove itself justified. The quote pries directly at the grief that lives have been needlessly sacrificed. This is where the next example come through. Lincoln continues with a quote that says, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. This is a direct appeal to the audience’s hope, willpower and devotion. It is meant to inspire the audience and rally them to support the Union in the war. Another part of this address and quote that is not often brought up is the fact that Lincoln wrote with religious implications in his writing. As stated in the quote, he relates religion to politics by saying â€Å"that this nation, under God†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This sentence directly mentions God, but in other parts of the address Lincoln found ways to imply religious virtue or belief. In an article called â€Å"Kings and Charisma, Lincoln and Leadership: An Evolutionary Perspective† by George R. Goethals, it is explained how Lincoln’s language usage and implications are directly related to religion. Goethals says that, â€Å"The speech then, is laced with religious, quasi-religious, and biblical wording. Such wording struck a familiar chord, creating a positive association. It helped produce a charismatic emotional reaction†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This is applicable to the time period because religion was very important in terms of what people believed in or supported. This allowed for a deeper connection, based on religion, to many of the Americans who are not in his support and may be won over to his side by that factor alone. To follow, the appeal of logos can also be found in the address. This appears when Lincoln says, The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. Although this could be argued as an ethos appeal, it can also be applied as logos, because Lincoln is explaining that future generations of the nation will not consider what was said in Gettysburg. That does not mean, however, that they will not consider what has happened. Through that, he is acknowledging the fact that their struggles are significant and that those who are living have the responsibility to conclude the war themselves and take up the reigns that the dead have left for them. His logos argument is that it is apparent on both sides that the lives lost are not meaningless and that there must be a resolution to all this bloodshed as soon as possible. This is a logos appeal because he is implying that it is logical for people to see that meaningless death is unnecessary. That is how Lincoln logically draws a conclusion of the bloodshed to the audience. Finally, it is important to discuss the reaction and impact that the address has had and why that may be. Simply put, the Address was an indispensable and irreplaceable moment for the Union during the American Civil War. It explains, in short, that Americans need to band together in order to prevent more bloodshed and loss of unity. An interesting thing to consider when reading and analyzing the address is that all of these appeals are so moving, yet they may be indirect. They show the clear emotional, logical, and ethical beliefs that Lincoln held. In an article by Harold Zyskind, called â€Å"A rhetorical analysis of the Gettysburg Address,† Orton H. Carmichael is quoted in saying â€Å"the address will last through time- because, in his words, ‘Truth only is eternal.’ He here obviously is treating the speech as political philosophy.† This approach to the address is very interesting. By looking at the address from a philosophical perspective, it is possible for the reader to understand Lincoln intentions clearly. This is where intentions become crucial. In the article, â€Å"The rhetorical situation† by Lloyd F. Bitzer, the importance of context in the address is clearly explained. Bitzer says that â€Å"Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address a most fitting response to the relevant features of the historic context which invited its existence and gave it rhetorical significance.† Bitzer is addressing the fact that context correlates directly to relevance and importance. Bitzer continues to explain that the Address, if held separated from the context, â€Å"becomes either poetry or declamation, without rhetorical significance.† That is how the context of the address directly influences is impact and significance. In conclusion, the Gettysburg Address is one of the most influential pieces of the United States’ history and evidently has transcended far beyond its intended audience. The appeals of Abraham Lincoln are clear, concise, and hard-hitting. Through Lincoln’s use of ethos, he is calling on the people of the nation to take a stand and fulfill their moral obligation to their country based on a call to action from President of the United States. The Gettysburg address proves time and time again to be an inspiration to those who read it. During his pathos appeal, Lincoln’s discussion of meaningless bloodshed helps to connect with the emotions of those who may have lost loved ones or may be on the way to the battlefield themselves. Then, by discussing the reality of the death toll and how it may be remembered, he logically explains that there will be repercussions for the actions that have occurred regardless of the longevity of his speech. Along with that, the application of ethos, pathos, and logos are apparent throughout and can be thoroughly analyzed. From a literary standpoint, the context of the address was crucial. The address allowed for Lincoln to use his platform as president to address the majority of the nation. His words rang true in the mind of countless Americans and helped to shape the rest of the American Civil War. The address was written and delivered over 150 years ago, but its relevance still shows true. That is why the Gettysburg Address has lived on. Based on the actions of the United States government that have transpired in the past twenty years, it apparent that Lincoln’s speech should still be heard and taken to heart. His message of unity and intent to inspire should be embodied by those who hold office today. With a more unified approach to politics as a whole, it may be possible to consolidate the nation and as a result be the great nation that Lincoln once spoke of. Works Cited Bitzer, Lloyd F. The rhetorical situation.Philosophy rhetoric(1992): 1-14. Goethals, George R., and Scott T. Allison. Kings and charisma, Lincoln and leadership: An evolutionary perspective.Conceptions of leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2014. 111-124. Zyskind, Harold. A rhetorical analysis of the Gettysburg Address.The Journal of General Education4.3 (1950): 202-212. â€Å"The Gettysburg Address.† Edited by Margaret Nichols, The Gettysburg Address, 2013, rmc.library.cornell.edu/gettysburg/good_cause/transcript.htm.

Reflections in the Times of Vietnam essays

Reflections in the Times of Vietnam essays The time is spring, the year is 1961 and president Kennedy has sent 400 special forces into South Vietnam. This was the start of a new era in United States history as well as the beginning of a literary revolution. A time when books had powerful views, and songs were of peace or of governmental corruption, and plays or movies were about gruesome wars in strange jungles. This was a time to express reality in words. Then came the press. All of the governments secrets and lies were exposed. Only a free and understanding press can effectively expose deception in government. [Justice Hugo L. Black 1] on the release of The Pentagon Papers. The people were torn. Some wanted to know, and some liked their own worlds of denial. Still even today there are people who say that we never entered into the Vietnamese conflict. Others are living proof, walking aftershocks in the form of P.O.Ws and victims of the chemical agent orange. All of these people were changed forever. People who wake up in fear due to flashbacks of seeing their friend shot and killed two feet away from them. This is Vietnam, and these are reflections of the times. One of the most influenced areas of literature is drama. Movies that show portrayals of the conflict in Vietnam flood the box offices. For instance 1995s Dead Presidents depicts the gruesome truths of the war. All the drugs and deaths are shown in raw, uncensored reality. This movie paints a picture of how people were turned into killers, boys fresh out of high school forced to kill or die. This is as dark as it gets in American history. Another look at Vietnam is Winston Grooms movie Forest Gump (1994). It illustrates how many people entered the army thinking that it was all fun and games. They come to realize that it is much more than that. The characters are shown spending their days cleaning out foxho ...

What if Toward Excellence in Reasoning by Hintikka & Bachman Thesis Proposal

What if Toward Excellence in Reasoning by Hintikka & Bachman - Thesis Proposal Example The statements have been distinguished under the following headings:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"And you don’t have to be a sociologist to recognize that the prime motivation for virtually everything Americans do is entertainment; remove the entertainment motive, and you make the prospect of learning to read resemble an exercise in stoicism.†Ã‚  The premise is the part of a statement that serves as a support to the conclusive part of the whole statement; on the other hand, the conclusion is the part that expresses the final theme of the statement with the help of premise. The argument analyses of the given passage are as under Statement: â€Å"If you want an explanation for declining literacy rates in the U.S.†Ã‚  Explanations: These lines explain that it is not only entertainment, which is sought out by the masses. Rather, books provide the readers with knowledge, wisdom, and information too. Thus, television may be a source of amusement, but it is not true that books have been re placed by television because of seeking entertainment only.  Statement: â€Å"look no further than the boob tube.† (Intermediate Conclusion)  Explanations: This part of the statement speaks out television as the root-cause of falling literacy rate. The writers have used the slang phrase i.e. boob tube to mention television. As this part is based on conclusive assumption and does not emphatically prove the truth and validity of the real picture, it is, therefore, it can be stated as the intermediate conclusion.  Statement: â€Å"Spend all the money you choose on studies in an attempt to address the problem, but if you want my advice, you’d be better off unplugging the TV set.† (Final Conclusion)  Explanations: These lines disclose the conclusion of the argument, where the writers have refuted the idea that television has led to low literacy rate. Moreover, they do not agree to the notion that unplugging TV might increase trend towards reading.

Assessing Learning and Achievement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Assessing Learning and Achievement - Essay Example For college students I based mostly on observations, presentations and project work. The complete opposite is for work based learners where the most appropriate methods are witness testimonies, products of work and accreditation for prior learning. With regards to the issues I intend to address are as follow: The advantages and disadvantages of criterion-referenced assessment, the assessment of validity and reliability (where demand from the government to meet targets forces from the colleges, to employ assessors lacking in competence, making assessment value to be questioned). Also I would like to address the current issues in assessment policy bureaucracy, the measuring and recording of assessment results reduces time spent with the learner, 'bums on seats' model forces colleges to accumulate quantitative achievement rather than qualitative ones. As result this makes the value of qualifications and achievement questionable. In the initial assessment, computer tests are used to identify the literacy and numercacy level of potential applicants, At the diagnostic assessment, the applicants are again tested on the computer, yet compared to previous ones, the applicants are to diagnose; going into the details to diagnose which are the areas that need to be addressed and then identify the support. For formative assessment, it is on going throughout the year both whether it be in lessons or at visits for WBL. Finally for summative assessment was used at the end of the unit or the whole course. It is also at the end of the unit, learners have to complete the underpinning knowledge test to prove their knowledge competence, norm referenced, criterion reference or ipsative assessment; Identify and discuss range of concepts, definitions and principles covered in learning and assessment within your professional practice In the initial assessment, computer tests are used to identify the literacy and numercacy level of potential applicants, At the diagnostic assessment, the applicants are again tested on the computer, yet compared to previous ones, the applicants are to diagnose; going into the details to diagnose which are the areas that need to be addressed and then identify support . For formative assessment, it is on going throughout the year both whether it be in lessons or at visits for WBL. Finally for summative assessment was used at the end of the unit or the whole course. It is also at the end of the unit, learners have to complete the underpinning knowledge test to prove their knowledge competence,norm referenced, criterion reference or ipsative assessment; Formal and informal assessment. I encounter informal assessment throughout the course by means ofinformal discussions and feedback; Self assessment and peer assessment Peer assessment is used more in college environment, and self assessmentis used at the end of the lessons or in tutorials Analysis of your assessment

Using an event case study of your choice, discuss and analyse the role Essay

Using an event case study of your choice, discuss and analyse the role and evolution of events and their impact on society - Essay Example They were competing in 43 events. As from the year 1994, the Olympics of summer and winter have been done separately and have been alternated after every two years. The Olympic Games were closely related to the religious festivals of the cult of the Zeus. It was not the Integral part of the right. Indeed, they had a unique behavior and their aim was to show the physical qualities and the tremendous performance of the young generation. In addition, it was aimed at fostering good relations between the cities in Greece. According to the views of the specialists, the games had vital importance to the religion and owed them their purity. The Olympic Games are the sole and complex scheme, and its extent, range and complexity are like no other. Therefore, following this reason, for a town to host a fruitful Olympic games, many years of keen and precise planning is required, with all the relevant authorities, organizations and stakeholders working in unity together. Many games are played in the Olympics. These games include Rugby, athletics, Badminton, Judo, Olympic, Swimming, Boxing, Table tennis and many others. The beginning of the Olympic games is buried deep in the ancient times. Historical records show that a weird Olympic was played in Egypt 3,000 years ago and Ethiopia it was played 1000 BC. Several museums give evidence of this event played in Greeks and Romans. In South Africa, history states that Olympic was played in Aztec Indians before Columbus landed in the new universe. The current game of Olympic advanced in England in the early 18th century. It evolved mainly in the schools of England. The first competition done for Olympic for men was in 1908 games in London Olympics, in England. Ireland, Scotland and England were the main competitors. Olympic had many controversies since it was started. After appearing for the first time in 1908, it was subsequently dropped in the 1912 event. It then appeared in 1920, in

Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency: Carbon Isotopic Composition

Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency: Carbon Isotopic Composition Determination of intrinsic water use efficiency of different Mediterranean forest species by carbon isotopic composition Abstract An experiment will be conducted to study the C-13 composition in the tissues of Pinus halepensis, Quercus ilex and Arbutus unedo under different water availability conditions. C-13 composition will be determined using elemental analyser. An ANOVA will be conducted to analyze the composition of C-13 within the plant tissue of plants in different water availability conditions. We will compare the C-13 compositions in the plant tissues of the species within same year with relation to water availability. The relationship between the C-13 composition in the plant tissue and water use efficiency (WUEi), different strategies to couple water stress will also be discussed. Introduction The Mediterranean landscape has low precipitation and humidity, and high sun intensity with less productive soil (FAO, 2010). Previous studies show that changes are occurring in the amount, intensity, frequency and type of precipitation with climate change. Mediterranean Forests are generally composed of broadleaf and pine species. All the species have different water requirements. It is needed to determine the intrinsic water use efficiency of main species (Pinus halepensis, Arbutus unedoandQuercus ilex) of the landscape for better compositional management of the landscapes keeping in view the water demands of the species. Literature review The Mediterranean region has limited and unevenly distributed water resources with only 1.2% of total renewable water resources (FAO, 2010). The basin has high sun light and low humidity. The freshwater resources are expected to decrease upto 20-30% in 1950 due to global warming. The mediterranean region is most vulnerable to the climate change (Milano et al., 2012). The region is rich in biodiversity. Quercus (broad leaf) is well-represented genus, with a great range of species including Q. ilex (FAO, 2010). Oak is also a heritage plant in Portugal (Galmà ©s et al., 2007). Pinus halepensis and Arbutus unedo are the two other prominent species of the Mediterranean region (Molina et al., 2012). P. halepensis has water saver behavior and Q. ilex behaves like water spender (Baquedano et al., 2006). Water stress affects the vegetation production by a reduction of the leaf area, the stomatal conductance and the CO2 uptake and hence of the photosynthesis, and by a slowdown of root elevati on and development (Verstraeten et al., 2006). Under water stress conditions, plants exhibit several short to long-term adaptive responses. Reduced stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration (E) due to closing of stomata (gs) is the first functional adaptations to water shortage (Galmà ©s et al., 2007). The adaptive responses are related with carbon splitting and create changes in vegetative and fruit growth (Chalmers and Ende, 1975: Hsiao, 1973). The intensity and duration of water stress, whether imposed via irrigation or resulting from natural drought, may affect leaf gas exchange and nutrient uptake (Boyer, 1996 and Flexas and Medrano, 2002). Oak tree minimizes water potential of the leave to extract water from a region of higher water potential that is soil (Guehl and Aussenac, 1987; Lo Gullo and Salleo, 1988). Plant takes carbon (C-12 and C-13) during photosynthesis. In normal water conditions, Plants prefer carbon 12 during photosynthesis (Farquhar et al., 1989). This is called carbon-12 discrimination (Craig, 1957). The discrimination takes place in two levels. Firstly, it takes place during gas exchange through stomata. Secondly, the discrimination is by RuBisCO enzyme (Farquhar et al., 1989). In stressed conditions, plants tend to minimize water loss through closing stomata. This will also decrease the gaseous exchange through stomata. In this condition, there is not adequate carbon dioxide in the leave tissue for photosynthesis. So plants have no more preference for carbon-12. They take both carbon-12 and carbon-13 (Ferrio, 2003). Problem statement Mediterranean ecosystems are strongly limited by a long and intense drought period that coincides with the hottest period. Moreover, in the next decades, the Mediterranean region of the Iberian Peninsula is predicted to face a 20% decrease in precipitation, and an increase of 2–3 °C in temperature (MARM, 2009), all of which will lead to higher water stress. Plant growth in the region is strictly limited by drought in recent scenario (Rey and Alcà ¡ntara, 2000, Quero etal., 2008andGonzà ¡lez-Rodrà ­guez etal., 2011). The field simulations suggest that in future, this will become even more problematic (Matà ­as etal., 2012) due to climate change (Milano et al., 2012). The pressure on freshwater resources will also increase because of tourism, tanning, food and textile industry and agriculture sector. Possible future changes in water resources availability in this densely populated region may have dramatic societal and environmental effects (Gracia-Ruiz et al., 2011). With shortage of water, we have to face desertification, erosion and food security problem. Both broad and narrow leaf species are inhabited here (FAO, 2010). All species of the landscape vary in their water requirement. Some species consumes more water than the others. So we have to identify the species with lower water requirement and better strategies to cope the water scarcity problem. It is needed to determine the intrinsic water use efficiency of main species (Pinus halepensis, Arbutus unedoandQuercus ilex) of the landscape for better compositional management of the landscapes keeping in view the water demands of the species. Research Questions: Which one is the best suited species among P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex for the water scarced Mediterranean landscape? Specific Objectives: To analyze the intrinsic water use efficiencies of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex over space. To analyze the intrinsic water use efficiencies of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex over time to determine the best species for the future landscape composition to minimize the water consumption. To determine variability in water requirements of the P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex Hypothesis: Intrinsic water use efficiency of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex is same and they consume same amount of water. There is no variability in the water requirement of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex over space. Limitation The time to analyze the temporal and spatial changes is short. Materials and Methodology Plant samples of three species will be collected from botanical garden, arboretum of University of Lleida, Spain. The water supply will be artificially varied. Carbon-13 composition of collected samples will be analyzed by Europa Scientific 20-20 IRMS coupled to a Europa Scientific elemental analyser. Plant C-13 analyses are currently used for a diverse range of applications including environmental (Ferrio, 2003) and ecophysiological studies (Arens et al., 2000; Kohn, 2010). The data will be analyzed by ANOVA. References Arens NC, Jahren AH, Amundson R. 2000.Can C3 plants faithfully record the carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide? Paleobiology 26:137–164. Boyer J. (1996). Advances in drought tolerance in plants. Adv. Agron., 56 (1996), pp. 187–218 Chalmers D.J., and Ende B.V.D. (1975). A Reappraisal of the Growth and Development of Peach Fruit. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 2(4) 623 – 634 Craig H. 1957. Isotopic standards for carbon and oxygen and correction factors for mass-spectrometric analysis of carbon dioxide. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 12: 133–149. FAO (2010).Aquastat–Systà ¨me d’information de la FAO sur l’eau et l’agriculture Farquhar G.D., Ehleringer J.R., Hubick K.T., 1989. Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 40, 503-537 Ferrio J.P., Voltas J., Araus J.L. (2003). Use of carbon isotope composition in monitoring environmental changes. Management of Environmental Quality 14, 82-98. Flexas J., Medrano H. (2002). Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants: Stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited. Ann. Bot., 89 (2), pp. 183–189. Galmà ©s j., Medrano H., Flexas J. (2007). Photosynthetic limitations in response to water stress and recovery in Mediterranean plants with different growth forms. New Phytol. 175 (1), pp. 81–93 Guehl JM, Aussenac G (1987). Photosynthesis decrease and stomatal control of gas exchange in Abies alba Mill. in response to vapour pressure difference. Plant Physiol 83:316–322 Hsiao T.C. (1973). Plant responses to water stress. Annu. Rev. Plant. Physiol., 24 (1) (1973), pp. 519–570 J.L. Quero, L. Gà ³mez-Aparicio, R. Zamora, F.T. Maestre (2008). Shifts in the regeneration niche of an endangered tree (Acer opalus ssp. granatense) during ontogeny: using an ecological concept for application. Basic Appl. Ecol., 9, pp. 635–644 J.M. Garcia-Ruiz, J.I. Lopez-Moreno, S.M. Vicente Serrano, T. Lasanta-Martinez, S. Begueria (2011). Mediterranean water resources in a global change scenario. Earth-Science Reviews, 105, pp. 121–139 Kohn MJ. 2010. Carbon isotope compositions of terrestrial C3 plants as indicators of (paleo) ecology and (paleo) climate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 107: 19691–19695 Matà ­as L., Quero J.L., Zamora R., Castro J., (2012). Evidence for plant traits driving specific drought resistance. A community field experiment. Environ. Exp. Bot., 81, pp. 55–61 Lo Gullo MA, Salleo S (1988). Different strategies of drought resistance in three Mediterranean sclerophyllous trees growing in the same environmental conditions. New Phytologist 108:267–276 M. Milano, D. Ruelland, S. Fernandez, A. Dezetter, J. Fabre, E. Servat (2012). Facing climatic and anthropogenic changes in the Mediterranean basin: What will be the medium-term impact on water stress? Comptes Rendus Geoscience. 344(9), pp. 432-440 P.J. Rey, J.M. Alcà ¡ntara (2000). Recruitment dynamics of a fleshy-fruited plant (Olea europaea): connecting patterns of seed dispersal to seedling establishment. J.Ecol., 88, pp. 622–633 Quinta Comunicacià ³n Nacional de Espaà ±a (2009). Convencià ³n Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climà ¡tico Diciembre, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. V. Gonzà ¡lez-Rodrà ­guez, R. Villar, R. Casado, E. Suà ¡rez-Bonnet, J.L. Quero, R. Navarro Cerrillo (2011) Spatio-temporal heterogeneity effects on seedling growth and establishment in four Quercus species. Ann. For. Sci., 68, pp. 1217–1232 Baquedano F. J., Castillo F.J. (2006).Comparative ecophysiological effects of drought on seedlings of the Mediterranean water-saver Pinus halepensis and water-spenders Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex. Trees. 20:689–700.

Magic :: essays research papers

Doing this research paper didn’t really help me find anything extraordinary about the word magic. I pretty much knew what the word magic meant, from the comic books I read and the television I watch. It did however, make me view the word in more depth. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not implying in any way that the word magic, is dull, because it is just the opposite. I’m simply stating that because of my fascination with the subject of magic, I am already familiar with its background and capabilities. I chose the word magic because the concept of any human being possessing unexplainable, supernatural powers intrigues me to the point where I wish I had been endowed with those powers. If I had to choose a favorite; I would have to go with the two poems I obtained from the Concordance to Shakespeare and the Granger’s Index to Poetry. It all started when we received our word list. I looked for a word that I interested me, and that I thought would be easy to f ind information on. I guess, for the most part I was right. All the references available in our school library were pretty easy to find; such as the Roget’s Thesaurus, the Unabridged Dictionary, and surprisingly the Book of Quotations and the Concordance to the Bible. On one day there, at the St. Paul library four were down and there were four to go, which wasn’t too shabby for the first day. I figured I was doing well getting half of my list taken care of before Christmas vacation, and then during vacation I would finish the job.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Well as any normal teenager would agree the plan of doing work during vacation vanished as soon the final bell rang to start vacation. On the first day back to school I took a trip to a local library near my house. I already knew that I wouldn’t find everything that I needed, but I checked it out any ways. I was only able to find the Oxford English Dictionary, but luckily I bumped into my wonderful English teacher Ms. Frausto who informed me that the Uptown Whittier Library would have the sufficient amount of information I needed to complete my research. In deed, my very wise mentor was right. I did find the rest of the items I was in search of, which were a periodical, a poem, and an excerpt from a Shakespeare play.

Dealing with Difficult Clients and Opposing Essay

The State Bar of California and the Office of Section Education and Meeting Services are approved State Bar of California MCLE providers. Points of view or opinions expressed in these pages are those of the speaker(s) and/or author(s). They have not been adopted or endorsed by the State Bar of California’s Board of Governors and do not constitute the official position or policy of the State Bar of California. Nothing contained herein is intended to address any specific legal inquiry, nor is it a substitute for independent legal research to original sources or obtaining separate legal advice regarding specific legal situations. Dealing with Difficult People by Steven G. Mehta There seems to be no shortage of difficult people in the practice of law. Perhaps there is something in the water, or perhaps it is the economy. But no matter where you go, difficult clients or opposing counsel seem to be popping up out of nowhere. Indeed, take the case of the hypothetical mediator who had a recent encounter with an extremely difficult party who wanted to sabotage the mediation from the very beginning. The client insulted her own attorney, wouldn’t let the other parties speak, accused her attorneys and every attorney in the world of having no heart or emotions and being liars and accused the mediator of lying about the merits of the case. To top off her venom, she had already reported her attorneys to the bar and at every turn was trying to avoid resolving the case. At one point, one of her attorneys walked out of the mediation. In short – she was the mother of all nightmare parties. Unfortunately for mo st attorneys and mediators, they have met this type of client/party at some point in their career. Therefore, it is critical to understand how to deal with such difficult clients and opposing counsel. First, this article will identify some of the different types of difficult clients. Second, it will discuss general strategies on how to deal with difficult people. Finally, it will provide specific tools on how to deal with difficult clients or opposing counsel. The following are the most common types of clients that can walk into your office. Usually, this angry client will be very hostile towards you and others. Your staff may dread dealing with this person. Sometimes, it is unclear why the person is so angry. Be assured that this person’s anger will only get worse during litigation. Moreover, some or all of that anger will spill over to you and your staff. †¢ The vengeful or zealous client. Typically a vengeful or zealous client will be vengeful about many things and not just the cause for what you are being hired. This person will usually make it known that they are bringing â€Å"the fight† based on principle. Many times this desire for vengeance will overcom e any sense of rationality. †¢ The obsessed client. This client cannot stop thinking about the case, the injury, the wrong, and what can be done to address this problem. This client could easily call you several times a day to make sure that you are on top of the case. You could likely get too much information rather than too little. †¢ The emotionally needy client. This client is often emotionally fragile and insecure. Many times this person will be in a co-dependent relationship and is seeking to embroil you in another co-dependent relationship. This person may find it very difficult to make decisions. Mediation Offices of Steve G. Mehta 25124 Springfield Court, Ste. 250, Valencia, CA 91355 Tel: (661) 284-1818 Fax: 661 284-1811 Email: Steve@mehtamann.com Offices: Valencia & Los Angeles ÂThe angry or hostile client. †¢ The dishonest or deceitful client. Often this client will not tell you all the information they know to be relevant or will tell you the wrong information. †¢ The unresponsive client. This client often wants the appearance of an attorney who is providing independent advice but in reality doesn’t want your advice. This client simply wants you to rubber stamp his or her actions. Often, this client will reject your advice because it is contrary to her own. As stated by Sheila Blackford, author of Recognizing Difficult Client Types, â€Å"Clients often come to lawyers to determine the consequences of actions they have already taken or have decided to take.† Often these clients don’t want you as a lawyer, but are â€Å"forced† by others or circumstance to hire a lawyer. Beware that just as they are unwilling to accept your advice, they may also be unwilling to pay the bill for advice they do not want. Finally, there may be a combination of these t ypes of clients. You could end up with an angry, vengeful client that is obsessed. If that is your client, turn in the other direction and run. If this ends up being your opposing counsel, then in the famous words of the Robot in Lost in Space, â€Å"Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!† Now that difficult clients have been identified, it is helpful to look at some strategies that attorneys can use to combat both difficult or nightmare clients and opposing counsel. First, start out by examining yourself. Everyone can be difficult to deal with at times. Before you can determine whether the other person is the problem, make sure that you aren’t the problem. Are you over overreacting? Are you having a bad day? Why is this person affecting you? What buttons of yours are being pushed, and why? After examining whether you may be part of the communication problem or that you have misinterpreted the comments made towards you, then you will have a better idea as to whether this person is being offensi ve or difficult or whether it is you. In examining yourself, it is important to understand that everybody has an instinctual reaction to act when attacked. This is hardwired in our brains from the stone age days where we had to either react to a threat (fight) or flee from the threat (flight). In modern days, the threat is usually not physical, yet the body still gives issues the same fight or flight reaction. People end up having an immediate need to affirmatively right a wrong or injustice against them. More likely, a person can end up wanting to immediately defend his or her actions or position. This is partially because the attack against a person is affecting his or her internal observation of self worth that person’s standing in the community or amongst his peers. Often people feel the need to show that they are correct and that the other person is wrong. This knee jerk reaction, however, can do more damage than good. Indeed, when having such a reaction, most people perceive that it makes them feel good; but shortly thereafter, they regret having said and done what they did in the heat of the moment. The strategies listed hereafter are not in chronological order; but instead are different strategies that can be employed depending on the situation. First, PRESS THE PAUSE BUTTON. In sports after a particularly difficult call by the referee the commentators will press the pause button on the action and show an instant replay at a slower pace. This tool is not just beneficial in sports. The pause button can be very powerful in helping to deal with difficult people. The length of the pause can depend on the situation. In the case of a minor issue, you might treat the matter with a small pause, giving yourself just enough time to think. Indeed, this is exactly what attorneys tell their clients in preparation for deposition. After the question is asked, wait for a brief second before answering. That pause can help to avoid making a huge blunder by saying the wrong thing. In other cases, you might need a longer pause. You could simply ask for a five-minute break or ask to use the restroom; whatever excuse you need to give to allow yourself a moment to think. Once you have hit the pause button, you can then consider the comment or action, its impact on the scheme of things, and what you might want to do in response. Take for example, the case of one mediator. In one particularly nasty mediation, when a party insulted the mediator’s integrity to its foundation, the mediator simply took a moment to pause in the mediation to let the sting of the initial insult pass. Then he asked take a five-minute break while he digested the information just conveyed. Then when he returned, he simply moved the mediation forward as if the comment had never been made. Once the party realized that she couldn’t get a reaction to her insulting comments, she was forced to stop making them. Another rule to consider is that â€Å"You don’t have to win every argument.† As noted above, often the reason a person jumps into the fray is because she wants to prove that she is right. This is difficult for lawyers because they are trained to advocate their position. However, proving that you are right with a difficult person can simply entrench that person even further; and even though you may feel that you are right, the other person will never agree. Sometimes the best response is to let it go and have the satisfaction that you know that you are right. Another important strategy is to employ ACTIVE LISTENING skills. An important sign of respect for another person is to actually listen to what that other person has to say. How many times have you been in a situation where someone has said:â€Å"You aren’t listening to me.† One of the most powerful tools in addressing difficult people is using active listening skills. Active listening skills include avoiding any distractions – such as that pesky Blackberry – and really trying t o understand the other person’s positions and concerns. All too often attorneys are already working on their response while the other person speaks. clarify what you understand about the other person’s statements. Ask whether your restatement is an accurate version of what the other person feels. Sometimes, depending on the person, you might mirror some of the nonverbal cues the person displays. Studies show that by mirroring non-verbal gestures, the other person will feel more connected with you. Ask questions that elicit more information from the other person. Depending on the person, you may have to spend a considerable amount of time using active listening skills. However, at the end of such a process you might find that the difficult person is much less difficult. It is also important when dealing with difficult people that you try not to give that person an excuse to be even more difficult. As such, when you communicate your concerns or feelings try to avoid using terms that target the other person, such as â€Å"you† phrases which target the other person’s behavior. Instead, talk about your experience s using â€Å"I† phrases, such as â€Å"I was upset when I heard the comments.† This approach helps to avoid attacking the other person or accusing the other person of something. Match communication styles. Generally, people fall into three categories: Audio learners, visual learners, or Kinesthetic (or touch) learners. You can tell which style a person favors by the language she uses. Think about whether the other person is using visual language such as color, seeing, and pictures or whether the person is using audio language such as hearing, sounds, vibrations, etc. Then try to match their language by using words that relate to those styles in your responses. For example, with a visual person you might comment, â€Å"I see your position,† but with an audio person you might say, â€Å"I hear what you are saying.† If the difficult person puts you in a position where you are required to respond, ask that person what exactly he is upset about. This will help to demonstrate that you are interested in solutions rather arguing. This strategy then can allow you to incorporate active listening once the person explains to you their concern (irrational or otherwise). Finally, if after an unreasonable attack against you, consider agreeing with a small portion of the statement. This can accomplish several things. First, it can help you avoid jumping in to defend yourself and continuing the unhealthy communication. More importantly, however, it can allow you to create something in common with the angry person and may appease their irrational anger. These general strategies can be very useful in dealing with all types of difficult people. But what about the difficult client or lawyer? There are several specific strategies to work with these individuals. First, there is a saying that the best client you will ever have is the one that you don’t take. In other words, sometimes it is far better to not take a client than to take a client and have nightmares wondering if you are going to be called by the Bar or se rved with an unjustified malpractice suit. matter how lucrative, are just not worth the risk and the stress. Many times if the client is difficult as a prospective client, that person will only get worse during the representation. If you don’t have the luxury of refusing to represent a certain person, establish boundaries. You can limit your involvement to specific interactions. You can also establish boundaries for when and how many calls you might take on a particular topic. One lawyer has a written guideline for all of his clients which establishes what the lawyer will and won’t do in the legal process, including responding to calls on the weekend. Third, you can establish specific requirements for your clients in the very first meeting and before you sign the retainer. Along those same lines, one of the major frustrations for attorneys is clients that have unreasonable expectations of the result and process. By providing the clients with a detailed explanation of what they can expect, and what you expect, y ou can minimize difficult communications. This principle can also work very effectively with opposing counsel. If counsel is abusive to you or your staff, you can set down ground rules for future communications. If those ground rules are not honored, then you can limit your communications. For example, one lawyer lets the opposing counsel know that if there are any further abusive phone calls, then all further interactions will have to be in writing. Moreover, if the opposing counsel persists in his or her actions, then all writings will not be by fax or email, and will only be accepted and given in the mail. One lawyer has gone so far as to require that all conferences be videotaped. Unfortunately due to the nature of the practice of law which involves conflict scenarios, there will continue to be difficult people in the practice of law. There are many strategies for dealing with difficult people. This article has only addressed a few of them. However, armed with these strategies, it is possible to substantially decrease the number of difficult interactions and the stress related to those interactions. Research sources: http://www.abanet.org/lpm/magazine/articles/v36/is4/pg41.shtml Pyschology Today. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200609/dealing-difficultpeople Steven G. Mehta, Esq. is a full time mediator based in Los Angeles with offices in Downtown and Valencia and specializes in emotionally complex cases involving elder law, injury cases, and employment disputes. He can be reached through his website at www.stevemehta.com. Mediation is a tool to help people recognize their responsibility for things, to negotiate a solution and to move on with their lives. My role is to allow them to present their side, to ensure that they are heard and to help them achieve a resolution.† What, exactly, is Mehta’s magic? Understanding human dynamics. â€Å"Anyone can learn the law,† he points out. â€Å"Understanding people is where my expertise lies. There are two sides and two emotions to every story. I care about them both.† But there’s a huge chasm between understanding human dynamics and getting two frustrated, angry parties to agree. Mehta is very definitive about what it takes to bridge that gap and bring the parties together. â€Å"My ability to connect with each participant and develop trust is absolutely essential,† he says. â€Å"Then, I need to be creative about solutions. Finding a mutually satisfying settlement is as much art as it is law. Finally, I never give up. Nothing is impossible. The impossible just takes a little longer.† In the end, there is almost always an answer. When it’s over, it’s a solution the parties chose. â€Å"They feel empowered. Grateful. Relieved,† Mehta says. â€Å"Most importantly, they feel free to move on with their lives.† Now, that’s a masterful job.

buy custom George Eliot essay

buy custom George Eliot essay The word silly in George Eliots essay Silly Novels by Lady Novelists is, as she herself puts it, impertinent in all its variants: provocative, assuming, intrusive, etc. If there is any- quite likely- initial angry response to it, then it is also likely that such a response will turn to a kind of sympathetic permission once the real identity of George Eliot is revealed. But once one reads her contextual definition of this term, then one is bound to pay attention, to discard any such anger or sympathy, and consider the likeliness of silly lady novelists. Eliot uses silly to refer to the mediocre enlightenment of certain women novelists as reflected in their writings. It is a mediocre enlightenment in the sense that while the writers are educated, or undereducated, and they seek to prove this smartness, their intellectual exposure, as symbols for their trampling of the stereotypes against them, deep down they seem to be stuck in those very archaic notions of themselves and their writings reveal and confirm them. The feminine silliness of certain womens literary forms is the fact that they confirm the common prejudice and stereotypes against their [the womens] solid education. The heroines of such Silly Novels reflect the gender stereotypes against women in the Victorian society. The heroine is mostly pious and beautiful, wealthy and stylish, and if she starts from a humble beginning, meaning poor background, she will get rich in the end by securing herself a rich husband (Shelton). The female characters worry themselves over ball dresses and bonnets, giggling over sweet love-confidences acrid gossip (Eliot). For instance, the heroine in Compensation is mostly described as possessing a remarkable original mind, and can read Hebrew, Sanskrit and Greek, while also managing to maintain her beautiful small head (Shelton). In the end, while these stories are meant to flaunt how intelligent these writers are, they instead betray their ignorance. They imply that knowledge is unattainable to women. Instead they romanticize it as a people who are deprived of it. These women are said to be educated to the level of absurdity (Shelton). That is, their attainment of knowledge has only been superficial, perhaps only for show-off, but it does little to change their perceptions of themselves: the acquisition does not pass into culture (Eliot). In this paper I will attempt to trace Eliots theory as reflected in Joyce Carol Oates Black Water, with the aim of confirming her [Eliots] arguments. Discussion Oates Black Water, believed to have been inspired by the Chappaquiddick incident, tells of Kellys reflection on her life in the last minutes before she dies. Kelly and her lover, a senator, are in a car when the senator, who is driving, loses control and the car is forced into a river. The senator, fearing for his political career, leaves Kelly in the car drowning. And as Kelly faces imminent death, she looks back at her life, at her life with her lover, the senator (Seal). Oates does not prefer to be seen as sexist. Her part in exploring feminist discourse is mostly to attempt to assess how male definitions of women make and unmake them. Her female characters are normally threatened from all directions of the worlds in which they live, surrounded by violence explicitly linked to contexts socially realistic and founded in the chaos in which they find themselves growing up (Kirubahar 110). As in many of hr works, in Black Water, Oates explores the woman and how the world views her, and how as a result of that view, she becomes a victim to it. Kelly becomes a victim of a mans ambition. Oates does not go into possibilities; that perhaps if the senator had only tried to save Kelly, then perhaps she would have survived. But then the reader wonders if perhaps Kelly would have survived had the senator made the move to save her. But this going ahead of ourselves. It is important to assess how Oates explores both gender and finally, to what extent her approach falls within Eliots Silly Novel. In this story we come into contact with two modes of invasion: the masculine and the feminine. The masculine invasion is crudely assertive (Seal). It is blunt, unreserved and unapologetic. Kelly recalls many times how the senator, for instance, forces his tongue into her mouth. In fact, it is the senators driving, his crude turns and unchecked accelerations that finally force the car off the road and into the water. The feminine invasion, on the other hand, is represented by the metaphor of the water. Kellys invasion is formally connected by the way that her narration of her recollected life lap at and finally immerse her whole consciousness, as well as the way that water laps at her body and finally immerses it (Seal). Oates choice of making the male character a politician is intentional. Politics is the stereotypical symbol for a mans assertiveness: a politician ever makes himself a part of ones life, thrusts himself into other peoples existence so as to claim their attention and support (Seal). We encounter Kellys assertiveness in the exchange that she and the senator have when he refers to a man as the political animal. She takes note of the word man and asks him why women cant be referred to as political animals. At this, the senator attempts to pacify her assertive boldness in this debate by admitting, rather sympathetically, that some women could, except they [women] find politics boring. When Kelly shows no signs of relenting the senator kisses her forcefully in an attempt to conclude the talk. She kisses him back boldly as if it is her due. There are two explicitly notable instances of boldness on the part of Kelly here. And in both instances, Oates comments on the unusuality of it. But these instances of boldness on Kellys part are both questionable. The first boldness is ambiguous; is Kelly bold in her approach to the argument or on her take that women should also be considered as political animals? Either way, this boldness is sort of nullified under the spell of the senators kiss. First, if she is bold in the challenge that she presents the senator with, that is, arguing for the sake of winning the argument, then she fails in that bid when she falls for the senators kiss. But it is also notable that if she is arguing for arguments sake, then this is akin to Eliots argument on women flaunting their intelligence; mental pocket mirror (Eliot) just so those who witness it can praise it and make the women feel proud of themselves, rather than to influence an ending. Two, it is obvious that her take does not change the senators mind on what he has just said. Of course, it is not expected that the senator will suddenly be changed by Kellys opinion. But it should be expected that if Kelly believes what she is saying as much as Oates would like us to believe, then she should be able to take her stand firmly and make the senator and the readers see that confidence and that she means what she is saying. Innstead, it all crumbles when she gives in to the senators kiss, which is an intentional move by the senator to end the debate. In other words, Kellys boldness is overshadowed by the stronger assertiveness of the senator. Kelly is being invaded by the senator and shes taking it all in like it just the most natural thing for her to do (Seal). Oates would like us to believe that Kellys readiness to take this kiss is a good thing. But it is not. Or atleast, the distinction between Kelly knowing what she wants and going for it, and simply being vulnerable to the senators assertiveness is not so clear. Furthermore, the little dignity that the reader may carve out of this behavior on Kellys part is killed by Oates insistence to mention its unusuality and account for it. Oates takes it upon herself to remind us that Kelly is not usually as bold. Whatever Oates wishes that this revelation provokes in the readers not so clear; should it provoke sympathy or admiration? Oates wishes that the reader admire the boldness of Kelly as that of an enlightened woman. Yet she insists on emphasizing Kellys feminine piety that the society expects of women. But this raises an important question. If this boldness is unusual of Kelly, then what is usual of her? Oates takes note of minute details: fragmentary thought and micro-sensations that should be read as warning of Kellys coming death. Not only is Kelly being invaded by the senator, but also by Oates herself. Kelly is positioned in such a way that invading her seems natural for anyone who is willing. Even Oates her admits that this invasiveness upon Kelly is there. By distinguishing what a novelist can reach in a characters mind and what he/she cannot reach, Oates exposes her intentional, conscious attempt to invade Kellys mind. The ultimate question that this story seems to ask is which one between the senators and Kellys invasion is worse. Oates does not wish to take any clear sides here. Although she unambigouosly blames the senator for the accident, she seems to give the reader the task of going back a little bit and try to pick out how Kelly may also have decided her wn fate. Here are the senatorss irresponsibility as wel as Kellys naivete. Seal sees this as blaming the victim. But perhaps the most appropriate argument would be blaming the woman. I see this as Oates attempt, just as the whole book shows, to look at the woman as an independent entity responsible for herself, rather than as an appendage or accessory to the needs of the men, so that their misfortunes are blamed on the men. Yet Kelly seems to do just that, blame the senator for her death. Conclusion Through Kelly, Oates reveals- may be not generally, but in this specific work- her double standard understanding of womens enlightenment and how it can be put to work. Kelly is intelligent enough. But that intelligence does little to alter her feminine gullibility to passion. Many have argued used Oates underlying sensibility to feminism in most of her fiction to defend her as a feminist. According to Marilyn C. Wesley, Oates works strongly challenge chauvinistic gender ideology. However, a few things in this story interrogate this argument (eNotes). Oates admires Kellys boldness. Yet she also fears others will see it as immoral of Kelly, and as such offers an absolution. By being conscious of this mistaken immorality, Oates herself falls in the bandwagon that is societys psychology on the expected piety of women. Buy custom George Eliot essay

Communism and its fall essays

Communism and it's fall essays The shocking fall of communism in Eastern and central Europe in the late eighties was remarkable for both its rapidity and its scope. In each of the nations, the communist regimes in power were forces to transfer that power to radically different institutions than they were accustomed to. Democracy had been spreading throughout the world for the preceding two decades, but with a very important difference. In Europe, the shift from communism was taking place in a different context then that of the Soviet Union. The peoples involved were not looking to affect a narrow set of policy reforms, rather what was at stake what the shift from communist ideology to a more western plan for governmental and economic policy development. It seemed that the sole reason that the downfall of communism took so long was the veto power of the Soviet Union. Due to Eastern Europes longtime adherence to communist policies, these nations faced great difficulty in making the transition to a market economy without being forced to unite with another economic system. Mikhail Gorbachev was a different kind of Soviet leader. He recognized that communists in the Soviet Union could not remain politically and economically isolated and that the Soviet system had to be changed if it was to survive. The key pieces to his plan was a series of reforms that included Glasnost - an openness and greater form of expression for the people, Perestroika - a restructuring as to decentralize the soviet economy with market reforms all of which were designed to reform, not abolish socialism, and the renunciation of the Brezhnev Doctrine. Central planning in a modern economy brought many inefficiencies. The socialist system was ineffective in that communism promised a classless society with collective ownership but instead it produced a new class of communist party functionaries. In addition, the soviet state could not longer afford the high defense spending tha...

Measurement of the force of typical and jerking impact on a horses Essay

Measurement of the force of typical and jerking impact on a horses mouth by the snaffle bit used in equestrian sports - Essay Example The key issue addressed is the defining of regular and maximum rein tension and bit pressure, which is applied by riders in the case of punishing the horse. The report describes a laboratory experiment with several selected training techniques that are used in this modern age. The amount of pressure that was actually applied by six riders of different qualifications to the mouth of the horse by pulling the reins was determined with a dynamometer attached to the reins. The experiment tested â€Å"typical† and â€Å"jerking† forces applied by the rider, and the subsequent impact of the bit (common snaffle) on the horse’s mouth. The maximum impact force of the reins upon the horse head mannequin was fixated at the levels of 179kg. Mechanical impacts of mentioned intensity, registered during experiments, might lead to various damage of oral cavity tissues. The authors are of the opinion that the bit punishment represents pain and cruelty, and after the experiment, all participants were interviewed. Common methods of bit punishment, the amount of rein tension, and why they were applied to the horse’s mouth were di scussed and analysed. Data was presented in tables, and statistical principles were applied. Attention was raised that all training methods used across equestrian disciplines could jeopardise equine welfare. While it was proven that the bit is a cause of many diseases, disorders, and injuries (Cook, 2003), it is still used in equine sports and recreation. The term ‘cruelty’ is still not attributed to physical punishment, harm, pain or injury that may happen in the equine sport. McGreevy (2007) addressed the issue of the horse’s welfare in his review of Equitation Science. It is an emerging discipline that combines learning, theory, physics and ethnology to evaluate current training techniques. Up to now, arguments concerning the horse’s welfare rely

Man on the Moon Real or Hoax Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Man on the Moon Real or Hoax - Essay Example However, along with this arose innumerous numbers of controversies regarding the legitimacy of the claim. Various theorists and scholars claimed that the entire plot was hoax, and a considerable proportion of people claimed that the whole chapter was genuine. On February 15, 2001, the FOX television network broadcasted the program named Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon? The program provided considerable amount of evidence to show that NASA cheated the world by faking moon landings. In We Never Went to the Moon: America’s Thirty Billion Dollar Swindle, Bill Kaysing pointed out that it is irrational to believe that the landing on moon actually took place because according to estimates in late 1950s, the possibility of successfully landing on the moon was just 0.0017%, that is, approximately 1 in 60,000; and in fact, this estimate was done by the Rocketdyne Company that took into account the efficacy of technology that existed at that point of time (7-8). Another serious allegation comes from Ralph Rene, the author of NASA Mooned America. He points out that all American missions before Apollo 11 were detected to have multiple numbers of defects. The scholar points out that the earlier projects had so many technical errors that would have forced American to drop the idea of moon landings and to fake it instead (as cited in Eisen, 378). Similar is the allegation that the poor quality of the images of moon landings is a deliberate effort to prevent others from examining them. Still, the photos available were sufficient to initiate controversy. For example, the pictures presented the astronaut saluting the American flag, and unfortunately, the flag was waving as if in a wind. The point in consideration here is the fact that there is no air or wind on the moon. Yet another major allegation came that when a camera was fitted to the astronaut’s chest, how would this be possible to take such excellent photographs that