Tuesday, December 10, 2019
The Conquest of America by Tzvetan Todorov free essay sample
Todorov brings about an interesting look into the expeditions of Columbus, based on Columbus’ own writings. Initially, one can see Columbus nearly overwhelmed by the beauty of these lands that he has encountered. He creates vivid pictures that stand out in the imagination, colored by a marvelous descriptive style. Todorov gives us an interpretation of Columbus’ discovery of America, and the Spaniards’ subsequent conquest, colonization, and destruction of pre-Columbian cultures in Mexico and the Caribbean. Tzvetan Todorov examines the beliefs and behavior of the Spanish conquistadors and of the Aztecs. Initially, I thought of Columbus as someone primarily seeking gold for the glory of the King and Queen. This is a driving force, primarily because the gold will serve as a future funding for the grand ideas of Columbus. It is interesting to consider that one of the primary goals, especially when encountering the native population, is the conversion to the Christian faith for the glory of God. God and money go hand in hand in Columbus’ exploration. Crimes against humanity in the name of any god seem to be a constant part of the human psyche. Columbus lays claim to any island he can see, claiming it for the glory of God and the King and Queen. Everything instantly becomes property of the Spanish Empire. The natives initially have no understanding of the events that Columbus and his entourage perform when they lay claim to a new land. Religious dedication and a greed for gold caused Columbus to exaggerate his claims of the amount of gold available and the cowardly nature of the native population. Columbus describes the natives in near animal or beast of burden terms, because of the nature of the culture of the natives. The natives are dressed simply, if dressed at all, and have no religion that is apparent to Columbus. Based on first appearances, these people should be easily conquered and ready for conversion to the Christian Faith. Sometimes it is uncomfortable to look back through history and see the atrocities that have been committed by those that are thought of as civilized. The advanced civilizations of Columbus’ age were enlightened, making great progress in the sciences and humanities, but only according to their narrow world view. They were fully engaged in an air of cultural and moral supremacy. Those that were different, in dress, culture, or religious beliefs, were beneath them and destined to be conquered or converted. So many atrocities were committed in the name of God, especially in the name of Jesus Christ. Todorov delves deeply into the dark consequences (intended and unintended) of the European discovery of the Americas and represents the first important study of the influence of religious belief on the interactions beginning with Columbus with the savage â€Å"Other. Todorov puts forth one way of linking communication and conquest when he argued that Europeans conquered the Amerindians through their superior ability to understand the â€Å"Other. †More generally, he contended that western Europeans had a general â€Å"superiority in human communication,†demonstrated by the fact that they used alphabetic writing (Todorov 251). For Todorov, Europeans displayed â€Å"remarkable qualit ies of flexibility and improvisation,†characteristics that allowed them to be more effective in imposing their ways of life on others (Todorov 247–8). They were so successful, Todorov argues, that in the centuries following the initial encounter between Europeans and Amerindians, Europeans were able to gradually assimilate the â€Å"Other†and eliminate alterity. While many people attempt to dismiss the religious aspect of this relationship, but as Todorov shows, it is central to understanding the dynamics of European conquest and the ultimate fate of the New Worlds native inhabitants. Both in his letters and in his diary, Christopher Columbus repeatedly expresses his primary purpose as a religious one. Perhaps, due to the obvious problems for the Catholic Church that this represents, this motive has taken a backseat to the supposed thirst for gold that has overshadowed the religious roots of this horrific tragedy ever since. An important aspect of Todorovs thesis is his well-supported claim that it was precisely the claim to European racial superiority that Christianity strongly reinforced and provided justification for the actions of the Spanish, even in its most severe manifestation. In fact, Todorov invokes the unimaginably horrible image of Catholic priests bashing Indian babys heads against rocks, allegedly to save them from damnation to hell, which their savage culture would have otherwise consigned them to. The logic of this deed and others like them illustrates the destructive influence of Christianity in the Colonial project, which lies at the root of the hegemonic self-image of Western experiencefirst defined from the perspective of Columbus and Cortes. If eligion was a guiding principle in the lives of the conquerors, as Todorov points out, so too was it for the conquered, especially in the case of the Aztecs. Baffled by the paradox of the famous story concerning Cortes and his several hundred Conquistadors ability to defeat the entire Aztec empire, which numbered at least several million, Todorov reveals that it was primarily due to Montezumas belief that Cortes and his party were Gods, which led to his reluctance to raise an army in opposition. As Todorov observes, It is as a consequence of this perfected system of information that Cortes quickly gains a detailed knowledge of the existence of internal dissensions among the Indians. (Todorov 103). What Cortes discovered was that the Tlaxcalans, a tribe which had been subsumed under the Aztec Empire, were still hostile enemies of the Aztecs. As a result, Cortes was able to convince them to wage war against the Aztecs as the allies of the Spanish. Controlling information about the enemy was crucial as evidenced in both examples. Generally, it was only the Spanish who had the interpreters and therefore an understanding of their opponent, which gave them a distinct military advantage. Therefore, translators played an important role in the conquest; one which some scholars argue was the key factor in the Spanish victory. Todorov claims that the effective conquest of information leads to the ultimate collapse of the Aztec empire. (Todorov 103). In the middle section of the book Todorov gives a detailed analysis of this stunning historic event and shows that Cortes victory was not necessarily due to any great military achievement, instead it was mostly the result of the Aztecs refusal to mount any kind of an effective defense until it was too late. Therefore, it was Montezumas uncertainty, born of his own religious belief that led to the sudden collapse of the Aztec empire. The problem of translation was another which caused much dispute as to whether indoctrination should be done in Indian languages. Many words, especially in the religious vocabulary, represented concepts which simply did not exist in the native language. The missionaries concern for the correct transmission of the Cathohc faith, correct meaning their own interpretation, was hard to reconcile with the fact that some of the basic words of the faith were untranslatable into the Indian tongue. How could the word God be translated when what the Indians meant by their word for God and the Catholic definition of God were two totally different concepts? Sahagun, who attempted a faithful chronicle, the Indians history by recording oral testimonies in Nabuatl, substituted the word devil for the Nahuatl God in his translation of the work. (Todorov 232). Sahagun is another example of a historian and chronicler who carefully recorded original accounts of their history in his monumental work The Florentine Codex. He interviewed Indians who were eyewitnesses to the conquest and used native scribes to record and illustrate what was said in Nahuatl. It would seem that his method would be a close reflection of the original view of his own history and culture. This was not the case. The organization of the work is entirely European, as all is mediated through Sahaguns eyes. The questionnaires which he used to organize the accounts are one way of controlling the information. Todorov notes that Not only do the questionnaires impose a European origin on American knowledge, and sometimes keep the relevant information from passing through. They also determine the themes to be treated, by excluding certain others. (Todorov 233). Apart from Sahaguns presence in the Nahuatl material, the accompanying Spanish translation to the Nahuatl text includes notes, prologues and digressions, which according to Todorov, frame the entire work. (Todorov 227) In the final part of the book, Todorov investigates the impact that these events have had on the subsequent writings on the subject. In particular, he focuses on the work of three writers, all Spa nish, but among the first generations of Europeans native to South America. These works that are primarily only known to scholars in the field offer many surprises to the contemporary reader, showing that there was a far more open view of the non-European Other expressed by those who lived among them in the waning days after conquest. Perhaps, that is one of the most dangerous luxuries of victorythe ability to show compassion for the defeated, but always, yet always too late. After reading this book, I discovered that Columbus Day and all that it necessarily represents will never be seen in the same way again. This is because, people who haven’t read Todorov’s book, are obviously unaware of who the person behind the mask really was. Columbus is declared a so called â€Å"hero†to the Americans for discovering America. That’s mainly what the average person knows about it. When you really think about it, every year when Columbus Day is celebrated, people celebrate and dedicate the holiday to him, but people don’t really know what they’re really celebrating. These people don’t know that he really wasn’t the good guy that he was claimed to be. It was just a myth. All Columbus cared about was gold and spreading the Christian religion, which he believed he was destined to do. If anyone was considered different to him, such as the Indians, they would be declared as inferior and be conquered or assimilated. Now, how can you call that type of a person a herowhen all he did was make others suffer? In the 2nd half of the book The Conquest of America by Tzvetan Todorov, Todorov discusses Bartolome de Las Casas and Bernardino de Sahagun. Bartolome de Las Casas was one of the best known missionaries in Spanish America. Todorov uses the terms â€Å"distributive†and â€Å"assimilationist†to portray Las Casas’s approach towards the American Indians. (Todorov 190-191). The ideology that he created to legitimize this diverse entity was the notion of perpetual peace or sulh-i-kul. This ideology, to use Todorov’s term, demanded a distributive rather than an assimilationist approach, because of its cross-religious or cross-cultural outlook. In terms of the built-in scale for valuing civilizations, then Indian civilization’s greatness lay in its ability to absorb diversity and make it its own. As a consequence of this approach the greatness of civilizations, which boasted of their unity of faith, was automatically suspect from an Indian point of view. Todorov highlights Las Casas’ love for the Indians. Las Casas was touched by the massacres committed towards the â€Å"Indians†and decided to attempt at protecting them. He did not, however, develop a great knowledge of them nor did he learn their language. He even attempted to justify the human sacrifices they were committing through arguing about â€Å"natural reason†and that it is their way to adore God, by giving the greatest sacrifice of all: human life. According to Las Casas, thus there is a universal love of God, but all religious expressions of this love are culturally specific, and as such relative. As a consequence, Christianity is not the only, nor the best way to God. Barbarism is a relative notion as well. One is always a barbarian to others and vice versa, as long as one does not recognize the language being spoken. Whereas for some the Christian principle of the equality of men ensues the assimilation of â€Å"Indians,†because they are similar to us, Las Casas tries to figure out the perspective of it. Las Casas’ political solution to the â€Å"Indians†is to maintain previous states with their Kings and governors, with catholic preaches but without the military, and if the Kings express this wish, to establish a sort of federation presided by the King of Spain. They must be given their original freedom back and be reinstated in their sovereignty. Todorov argues that in order to convert them, Las Casas had to conceive of them as equals: â€Å"It is not that Christianity is unaware of oppositions or inequalities; but the fundamental opposition here is the one between believer and unbeliever; Christian and non-Christian; yet each man can become a Christian †¦ equality is an unshakable principle of the Christian religion†(Todorov 161). â€Å"The three axes on which we can locate the problematic of alterity†(Todorov 185) as proposed by Tzvetan Todorov. The construction of this typology along axes rather than levels is important, because it preserves the independence of each kind of experience of the other: Todorov writes, â€Å"There exist, of course, relations and affinities between these three levels, but †¦ we cannot reduce the to one another, nor anticipate one starting from the other †¦ Knowledge does not imply love, nor the converse; and neither of the two implies, nor is implied by, identification with the other†(Todorov 186). This places Las Casas on the positive axiological axis. In fact, Las Casas often appears to view the Indians as superior to the Spaniards. However, Las Casas’ knowledge of the other (along the epistemological axis) is inferior to that of Cortes: this is Todorov’s point that these modes of perceiving alterity are distinct. By assuming the Indians’ equality, Las Casas fails to recognize their differences. On the praxeological level, Todorov argues that Las Casas and Cortes are essentially equal. Both always ground their distance from the Indians in the latter’s distance from their own identity. Even if Las Casas identifies the Indians with the Hebrews and the Spaniards with the Devil (Todorov 165-166), we can still see that everything is relative to his own Christian identity: â€Å"Las Casas is content to maintain an egocentric position with regard to time as well as space. If he admits that there are differences between Spaniards, and Indians that would function to the latter’s disadvantage, he does so in order to reduce them immediately by evolutionary scheme: they (over there) are now even as we (here) were once †¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Todorov 166-167). Las Casas, also, ultimately rejects the idea of difference by illustrating that the Indians are potential Christians. He insists that the Indians possess Christian traits; in fact, he professes that their â€Å"most characteristic feature is their resemblance to Christians†by using such descriptors as â€Å"humility,†â€Å"obedient,†and â€Å"peaceful†(Todorov 163). The Indians demonstrate little interest in material wealth not because they are lazy (as the Spanish ironically claimed), but rather because they possess a Christian morality (Todorov 165). Yet if the Indians are potential Christians, then they are fundamentally no different from the European Christians sent to convert them. According to Tzvetan Todorov, then, while Las Casas refuses to condemn the Indians because they are different, he simultaneously refuses to admit that they are different (Todorov 167). Consequently, Las Casas is able to justify colonization on spiritual grounds, and maintains that it should be carried out by priests instead of soldiers. (Todorov 171). When it comes to the topic of war, Valladolid debates between Sepulveda and Las Casas to gain insight into some of the questions facing just war theorists today because the debates lay bare the logic for expanding jus ad bellum in the case of those perceived to be barbarians, and a compelling counter-argument. Sepulveda proposes that a more expansive understanding of jus ad bellum is necessary in the case of barbarians, defining just cause in terms of identity and the natural law, balanced by humanitarian ends such as saving the innocent and spreading the natural law. Las Casas illustrates the dangers of Sepulvedas position and offers an alternative framework of jus ad bellum that focuses on injury and warns against including humanitarian benefits in the just cause criterion. Las Casas ultimate wisdom lies in arguing for the restriction of jus ad bellum in the face of those who make compelling arguments, draped in moral universals and humanitarian imperatives, for its expansion. (Todorov 151-167). Todorov considers Duran and Sahagun, two chroniclers of conquest. They are remarkable – Sahagun in particular – for their â€Å"success†(Todorov 218) on he epistemic axis. Both were deeply committed to learning about the other. Duran repeatedly states that â€Å"to eliminate paganism successfully, it must first of all be known thoroughly†(Todorov 202). Duran is remarkable, in Todorov’s estimation, because of his hybrid identity as a Spaniard who moved to Mexico at a young age. His intimate acquaintance with Aztec cult ure is permits â€Å"a rapprochement with the object observed†(Todorov 217) and it is this positioning of himself in relation to the other that places Duran just barely on the positive side of the praxeological axis. However, as Todorov points out, â€Å"Asserting his own hybrid identity in confronting the beings his is trying to describe, he no longer succeeds in his project of comprehension, since he attributes to his characters thoughts and intentions which belong only to himself and to the other cultural hybrids of his time†(Todorov 217). True identification of self with the other is rare, as Todorov indicates, though Gonzalo Guerrero, the shipwrecked Spaniard, comes the closest (Todorov 195) and the wonderfully named Albar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca identifies â€Å"incompletely†with the Indians after he too is shipwrecked (Todorov 198). Duran occupies a similarly ambiguous position on the axiological axis: few people would likely agree that he loves the Indians, but he is forced to believe in their equality in order to make his putatively anti-syncretistic conversion possible (Todorov 207). Sahagun is similarly successful in his acquisition of knowledge of the other: even more successful than Duran, Todorov argues (Todorov 240). It is for this reason that he is so highly positioned on the epistemic axis. Todorov writes that Sahagun â€Å"does not to any degree renounce his way of life or his identity †¦ yet he learns the other’s language and culture in depth †¦ and ends †¦ by sharing certain values of those who at the start were the object of his study†(Todorov 240). Although he occupies the same position as Columbus on the praxeological axis, Sahagun is distinct from the latter in that his position is a result of the ambiguity of his identification, rather than complete disinterest as in the case of Columbus. Todorov notes that, like Las Casas, Sahagun â€Å"adheres to the Christian doctrine of the equality of man†(Todorov 239), but it seems that Sahagun goes a step further: â€Å"The replacement of Aztec society by Spanish society is therefore a two-edged sword; and after having carefully weighed the pros and cons, Sahagun decides, more forcefully than Duran, that the final result is negative†(Todorov 237). For this reason, Sahagun is farthest to the right on the axiological axis. This would appear to contradict Todorov’s later assertion that the axiological axis ranges from equality to inferiority, though Todorov notes on page 165 that â€Å"this inverted distribution of values, incontestable proof of his generosity of spirit, does not lessen the schematic of his vision. †Sahagun is considered a Franciscan â€Å"linguist†, not part of the aristocracy or high ranked religious  who despised having to lower themselves to learning Indian culture and language, so he learned the language  Nahuatl  and learned to live together with the â€Å"Indians. He was a professor of Latin grammar in the Franciscan college of Tlatelolco dedicated to forming the Mexican elite from the former nobility. In order to propagate better Christianism he projected to write the history of the ancient Mexican religion. His Historia general de las cosas de Nueva Espana would occupy him for forty years. However, his project was also dedicated to develop knowledge of and preserve the Nahuatl culture. In order to do so, he chose to report faithfully the testimonies he collected with a translation, instead of replacing them by it. This translation constitutes more an interpretation from the original text. His interventions in the text are not only rare, but clearly separated from the rest. They are characterized by an intention to avoid moral judgments and attempt to explain from other known civilizations such as Ancient Rome. Obviously, however, the knowledge is organized in a European way through answers to a European-made questionnaire. Sahagun saw the terrible consequences of the replacement of the Aztec civilization by the Spaniards. He dreamt of the creation of an ideal state that would be Mexican and Christian  a city of God. Todorov categorizes Sahagun in his â€Å"typology of relationships to otherness†as a believer of the Christian doctrine of equality between men. However, even if he learns the language and the culture of the â€Å"Indians,†he maintains his identity, and even idealizes the â€Å"Indians. †What is interesting in his work for Todorov, is the massive knowledge that he accumulated without perpetrating any qualitative judgment. His work can be qualified as â€Å"ethnography†as he is just collecting information without interpretation, and making only a timid comparison with Ancient Rome, but without being comparative. For him, cultures cannot be hybrid nor should they be; cultures stay in their own rights untouched. Nonetheless, Todorov sees there the embryo to any future dialogue between civilizations that we today experience. At the end of the book, Todorov closes with a discussion of â€Å"Las Casas’ Prophesy†concerning the wrath that â€Å"God will vent†not only upon Spain but all of Western Europe, because of its â€Å"impious, criminal and ignominious deeds perpetrated so unjustly, tyrannically and barbarously. †Todorov overlooks not only the generally religious framework of Las Casas’ prophesy, but also the particularly Western concept of justice.
Monday, December 2, 2019
What Do Christians Believe About Ghosts Essay Example For Students
What Do Christians Believe About Ghosts? Essay The idea that the dead remain with us in spirit is an ancient one, and one that offers many people comfort; who doesnt want to believe that our beloved but deceased family members arent looking out for us, or with us, in our times of need? Most people believe in ghosts because of personal experience; they have seen or sensed some unexplained presence. We dont think you can necessarily totally prove ghosts are real, but you also cant just dismiss them out of hand. Especially when theres so many pieces of evidence that prove ghosts are real â€Å"and heres just ten of the most compelling. Were ready to believe them! If you ever see a ghost, you can be assured it is not the deceased person you are seeing or someone who died that was unbeknownst to you; it is positively an evil spirit that is imitating the dead person. We will write a custom essay on What Do Christians Believe About Ghosts? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now There are wicked spirits in high places that are under the sway of Satan, who is called the Prince of the Power of the Air. These spirits have no power over the believer in Christ but they are a present threat and danger to those who are not saved. So truly, there are no such things as ghost as we commonly think of them. They are fallen demons and nothing to mess around with. If you have not been saved, you are still in the realm of a fallen world, however if you choose to become a believer in Jesus Christ today, there is nothing in this world that can harm you. You are under the divine protection of God Almighty and greater is He that is within you than he (Satan) that is in the world (I John 4:4). In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost (sometimes known as a spectre (British English) or specter (American English), phantom, apparition or spook) is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. You always get what you concentrate on and you concentrate on what you believe. In other words, in death as in life, you still create your reality. If you die believing that life is good, then the death experience will be a good one. If you believe in Jesus, the disciples and prophets, you will be greeted by same. If on the other hand, you believe in devils, Satan, hell, and the lake of fire, you will experience all of those. Now, it should be evident to you that in both cases, you will be dealing with very real hallucinated realities, but their effects will be experienced as real to you for some period of time. This period of transition can be pleasant or traumatic, and again, your beliefs at your time of death are paramount and the information that you learn here will be of vital importance on making the death transition understandable at the time and less disorienting. The best position you can hope to be in is having an open belief system and realizing that you will see what you think you will see. All lives, all worlds, all universes have a mental foundation, in other words, they existed in thought before they existed in matter. Matter happens because of thought, desire and expectation, and if those ancient consciousnesses had never expected manner, the first atom would not have broken through into physical mass. Physical matter then is a result, not an inherent reality. Because you dont perceive them, does not mean that their reality does not still exist. People living in past times had different beliefs, and their beliefs in these little people  made them somewhat perceivable to the people of those days. .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 , .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .postImageUrl , .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 , .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14:hover , .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14:visited , .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14:active { border:0!important; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14:active , .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14 .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud2716ae475f78ac0d2136ad0ff9bcf14:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Bhavnath Case Solution EssayThey did exist and they still exist, but because you dont believe in them, you close off your inherent abilities to see or interact with them. Matter comes in spectrums, intensities and density just as color and sound comes in spectrums, and there are many spectrums of matter that you cannot perceive. Your consciousness is precisely tuned into one frequency vibrational pattern of matter and this intense focus, closes out other aspects of structures that co-exist with your own. The existence of other viable beings sharing the same space as your planet is pervasive and you dont have the whole place to yourselves. Its not that you cant see other realities that exist; its that you have not given yourself the freedom of perception to include them into your field of what is real to you. You, of course, assume that which you cannot perceive is not real and does not exist, and that is a big mistake because there is much more that exists outside of your reality than what seems to exist in your one cozy little universe. The existence of ghosts is highly unlikely. There is no known mechanism which would allow them to exist as described through personal testimony. The brain is what allows thought and consciousness to exist. It has never once in the history of mankind been demonstrated that thought and consciousness can exist without the brain, and that is what the existence of ghosts asserts, that thought and consciousness can exist without any physical body. There is no evidence whatsoever for such a claim.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Free Essays on The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory It is always a mystery about how the universe began, whether if and when it will end. Astronomers construct hypotheses called cosmological models that try to find the answer. There are two types of models: Big Bang and Steady State. However, through many observational evidences, the Big Bang theory can best explain the creation of the universe. The Big Bang model postulates that about 15 to 20 billion years ago, the universe violently exploded into being, in an event called the Big Bang. Before the Big Bang, all of the matter and radiation of our present universe were packed together in the primeval fireball-an extremely hot dense state from which the universe rapidly expanded.1 The Big Bang was the start of time and space. The matter and radiation of that early stage rapidly expanded and cooled. Several million years later, it condensed into galaxies. The universe has continued to expand, and the galaxies have continued moving away from each other ever since. Today the universe is still expanding, as astronomers have observed. The Steady State model says that the universe does not evolve or change in time. There was no beginning in the past, nor will there be change in the future. This model assumes the perfect cosmological principle. This principle says that the universe is the same everywhere on the large scale, at all times.2 It maintains the same average density of matter forever. There are observational evidences found that can prove the Big Bang model is more reasonable than the Steady State model. First, the redshifts of distant galaxies. Redshift is a Doppler effect which states that if a galaxy is moving away, the spectral line of that galaxy observed will have a shift to the red end. The faster the galaxy moves, the more shift it has. If the galaxy is moving closer, the spectral line will show a blue shift. If the galaxy is not moving, there is no shift at all. However, as astronomers observed,... Free Essays on The Big Bang Theory Free Essays on The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory It is always a mystery about how the universe began, whether if and when it will end. Astronomers construct hypotheses called cosmological models that try to find the answer. There are two types of models: Big Bang and Steady State. However, through many observational evidences, the Big Bang theory can best explain the creation of the universe. The Big Bang model postulates that about 15 to 20 billion years ago, the universe violently exploded into being, in an event called the Big Bang. Before the Big Bang, all of the matter and radiation of our present universe were packed together in the primeval fireball-an extremely hot dense state from which the universe rapidly expanded.1 The Big Bang was the start of time and space. The matter and radiation of that early stage rapidly expanded and cooled. Several million years later, it condensed into galaxies. The universe has continued to expand, and the galaxies have continued moving away from each other ever since. Today the universe is still expanding, as astronomers have observed. The Steady State model says that the universe does not evolve or change in time. There was no beginning in the past, nor will there be change in the future. This model assumes the perfect cosmological principle. This principle says that the universe is the same everywhere on the large scale, at all times.2 It maintains the same average density of matter forever. There are observational evidences found that can prove the Big Bang model is more reasonable than the Steady State model. First, the redshifts of distant galaxies. Redshift is a Doppler effect which states that if a galaxy is moving away, the spectral line of that galaxy observed will have a shift to the red end. The faster the galaxy moves, the more shift it has. If the galaxy is moving closer, the spectral line will show a blue shift. If the galaxy is not moving, there is no shift at all. However, as astronomers observed,...
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Tribute Speech Essays
Tribute Speech Essays Tribute Speech Paper Tribute Speech Paper I.       Introduction A.           Attention-getting statement: â€Å"Anyone who has lost track of time when using a computer knows the propensity to dream, the urge to make dreams come true and the tendency to miss lunch.†This is one famous quote of the person behind the phenomenal World Wide Web. B.           Thesis statement: Let me take this opportunity to talk to you about the great mind of Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, whose intelligence, creativity and innovation made the whole world unite through a unique medium called the World Wide Web. C.           Preview of main points: First, I will talk about Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s education and work background, second, I will let you know of his major contributions in the world of technology, and lastly, I will enumerate some of the great awards and recognitions he received from different bodies and organizations. Transition: Let us first talk about his background. II.     Body A.           Main Point 1: Background 1.      Sir Timothy â€Å"Tim†John Berners-Lee was born on June 8, 1955 in London, England from a couple who were both mathematicians. 2.      Sir Berners-Lee graduated from The Queen’s College, Oxford University, England. He took up Bachelor of Arts in Physics and finished the course in 1976. 3.      During his stay in Queen’s College, he made his first computer using only an M6800 processor, TTL gates, soldering iron and a television. 4.      In 1976, he worked at Plessey Telecommunications Limited with a role of a programmer. He then left the company for D. G. Nash Limited in 1978 where his main responsibility is to write typesetting software and a multi-tasking operating system. 5.      He also worked at Image Computer Systems Limited with technical design work before he took up fellowship at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1984. Transition: Now, let’s take a look at Sir Berners-Lee’s work and contributions to the world of technology. B.           MainPoint 2: Contributions 1.      When he was a consultant at CERN, he proposed a project based on the idea of hypertext for easy file sharing and updating among researchers, and built a prototype system which he named Enquire. 2.      When he returned to CERN as a fellow, he saw the opportunity to integrate his idea of hypertext with the Internet, thus the formation of the World Wide Web in 1991. 3.      The first web browser and editor called WorldWideWeb was designed and built by Sir Berners-Lee. He developed this browser on NeXTSTEP. He also built the first web server called the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol daemon or httpd. 4.      The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was established by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1994 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. W3C’s mission is to create standards and improve the overall quality of the Internet. nbsp; Transition: Last but not the least, let me tell you about the different awards and recognitions he received because of his great contributions. nbsp; C.           Main Point 3: Awards and Recognitions 1.      The first to recognize Sir Berners-Lee’s contribution in developing the World Wide Web was the University of Southampton. 2.      He was appointed Officer in the Order of the British Empire in 1997, was a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2001 and in 2002, received recognition from the Science and Technology Foundation of Japan. 3.      Also in 2002, he was given the Principe de Asturias award in the category of Scientific and Technical Research. 4.      In April 2004, Sir Tim Berners-Lee bagged a cash prize of one million euros when he received the first Millennium Technology Prize award of Finland. 5.      In July of 2004, Sir Tim Berners-Lee was awarded the rank of Knight Commander by Queen Elizabeth II. The rank is the second highest in the Order of the British Empire. nbsp; Transition: In conclusion†¦ nbsp; III.   Conclusion A.           In conclusion, I have just talked about a man who have made a huge impact on how people communicate today and made the whole world unite by his creation of the World Wide Web: Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee. B.           The things that I have told you about are: first, his education and work background; second, his great works and contributions; and third, the awards and recognitions he received. C.           Just think about how the world could have been today had the World Wide Web not been formed and widely used by every person across the world. Thanks to the excellent contribution of Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee! nbsp; References: 1.      World Wide Web Consortium [w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/Longer.html] 2.      Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee] 3.      Brainy Quote [brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/tim_bernerslee.html] nbsp; nbsp; 1. Why are you speaking? I am speaking to let my audience (my fellow students) know the person behind one of the greatest works in the history of mankind. I want my fellow students to know his background and work that he may serve as a role model for us. 2. How will you adapt to your audience (your fellow students)? My speech is plain and simple that talks about Tim Berners-Lee’s background, contributions and recognitions. The way I will be delivering it is simple and the topic is quite general that all my fellow students would understand. 3. Where and when will you be speaking? I will be speaking in a classroom setting. 4. What ideas and information should you include? Since my speech is a tribute to a person who has done a great work that made an impact to the whole world, I am including relevant information about his education and work background to know how he started. His different contributions and awards are also included in the speech to prove how great his works are. 5. How should you arrange your content? The contents of the speech are arranged in such a way that there is organization of thought. Framing the speech first, meaning giving an outline of what is to be talked about will give the audience an idea of what they are about to hear and, more or less, give them an idea of how long the speech will take. The main points will be discussed in detail. These points should be arranged in chronological order so as not to confuse the audience. After which, a summary will be provided to repeat the main points and thesis statement of the speech. nbsp; 6. Are you believable? (i.e., What makes you credible to speak on this subject?) I have the credibility in speaking about this subject because I have a number of sources where I got all the information from and this is quite a general topic that anyone knowledgeable about the internet can talk about. 7. How should you deliver your speech? I should deliver my speech in a way that is not too formal since my audience is just my fellow students, yet not so casual also to still maintain my credibility as a speaker. The speech should also be delivered in a lively manner so the audience will not get bored listening to it. nbsp;
Thursday, November 21, 2019
LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION--- ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES Assignment
LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION--- ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES - Assignment Example The Court ruled upheld the petition. Unlike the EU Commission-led Article 258, Article 259 allows aggrieved Member States to petition the Strasbourg Court for direction. The latter provision was tested recently in Hungary v Slovak Republic Case C 364/10 (2012), where the Strasbourg Court ruled that Slovakia did not breach her duties under Article 21(1) of the TFEU requiring unhindered movement of EU citizens within the region. If the case was decided in favour of Hungary, appropriate sanctions would have been taken against Slovakia for limiting Hungarian President’s visit in the country during national holiday. The sanctions are usually binding, considering that any failure to conform to them attracts follow-up actions and penalties under Articles 260 of the TFEU. These responses show that the ECJ’s primary roles under the direct action are to enforce EU law by enhancing cooperation among Member States and slap punitive action where. However, delays in enforcement, which run into many years, are major set backs. Complimentarily, indirect actions under Article 267 of the TFEU usually enhance smooth cooperation between or among EU Member States. Under the latter platform, the Court can make decisions on the interpretation of various bodies of the EU law including the Treaty. As such, it accepts and determines cases referred to from national courts. In Foglia v Mariella Novello C 244/80 (1981), for example, the Court considered the verdict in Pretura di Bra, Italy and determined that the tax measures on liqueur wines were valid. In addition, purpose of procedure enhances collaboration between courts with EU in what is a key trigger of smooth administration of justice. The vertical relationship between the European Court of Justice and national courts through the principle of supremacy has created an effective arrangement where the courts work in synergy to resolve disputes arising from trade and movement of people and goods across the EU or
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Is business collaboration, rather than market competition, becoming Essay
Is business collaboration, rather than market competition, becoming the key to success Discuss in relation to two sectors - Essay Example Townsend and Shelley (2008) opined that, competition and collaboration exists in a business side by side and provides interdepartmental competition within the collaborative organizations. In many times it has been proven that, collaboration with the rival firms creates stronger business even with apparent competitor. In the current business scenario, getting away from the competition is quite tough. A business cannot resist itself from entering into a market competition. But collaboration is more active to inject aviation and fitness within an industry, more importantly in providing better experience to the customer. Organizations those are not able to form collaboration, are not much effective to encourage innovation towards the business growth and strategic capabilities. As businesses are becoming more close to the global world, collaboration is becoming increasingly important to ensure long term existence. The two industries where business collaboration can be experienced and observed in plenty are the IT industry and the Automobile industry. Collaboration among the IT industries has resulted to deliver IT based solution that are more flexible and tailored to meet changing business and customer’s needs. Examples of collaboration in IT sectors are Microsoft to Nokia, Google to Motorola etc. On the other hand, focusing on the collaboration technique, Auto mobile industries also gained high production capacity and margin to the high volume. Some major collaboration that already has taken place in automobile industry is general motor to PSU, Tata to Jaguar etc. Undoubtedly, collaborative strategy and dynamic is more effective in comparison to competition to provide innovation and business growth. Collaboration is more appropriate to competition in creating better future for a business. Ring et al. (1994) opted that, global competition may send a business to the outer space from the industry, but
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Educator Resume Essay Example for Free
Educator Resume Essay EDUCATOR Sociology / Psychology / Human Services Goal-oriented Professional with an education in Social Services pursuing a teaching career at a local junior college in the areas of sociology, psychology, and human services. Currently completing a Masters Degree in Social Work and an Internship as a Group Facilitator at Brighton Rock. Prior professional experience includes 10 years with DePaul Medical Center and a part-time position at Sentara in the Healthcare Administration field. Dynamic Leader known for being caring and compassionate, who enjoys helping the community through case management, referrals, needs assessment, and goal setting.  Excellent communication skills with an ability to provide superior social services to individuals, families, and community organizations in a faith-based setting. In-depth knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and third-party payment plans. Technically proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Window’s Operating Systems. Functional Areas of Expertise                            Personal Assets  Fundraising Grant Writing Skills Psychosocial Assessments Program Development Support Group Facilitator Case Management Medicare / Medicaid Knowledge Community Outreach Programs Event Planning Office Management Customer Service Excellence Highly Organized Detail-Oriented Analytical Skills Hard Working / Reliable Self-Motivated Team Player / Positive Attitude Caring Compassionate Excellent Time Management Skills Oral / Written Communication Crisis/Problem Resolution Skills Excellent Interpersonal Skills EDUCATION Norfolk State University Masters Degree in Social Work, Graduating in May 2008 Bachelor Degree in Social Work, 2005 Tidewater Community College Associates in Applied Science in Liberal Arts, 2002 COLLEGE COURSEWORK Human Behavior in the Social Environment Social Work with Individuals Social Work with Groups+ Social Work with Families Fundraising and Grantsmanship Differential Assessment for Social Work Practice Community Mental Health Policy and Services Case Management in Social Work Advocacy and Social Planning Research Method Continue†¦page 1 of 2 INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE Brighton Rock, Inc., Portsmouth, VA                                                                                                           2007-2008 Social Work Internship Serves as Facilitator for Grandparents as Parents Support Group. Assists with fundraising and grant writing projects. Effectively plans conferences and workshops for grandparents. Sentara Norfolk General, Norfolk, VA                                                                                                          2006-2007 Social Work Internship Assisted in providing Psychosocial Assessments and Counseling for individuals with chronic illnesses and providing them with community resources. Evaluated, monitored, and assessed client outcomes and maximized the ability of families to move through the assessment process. Determined psychosocial stresses, coping mechanism and long term adaptation to chronic illness. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE  Gethsemane Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA                                                                                            2006-Present Director of Ministry Provides leadership development and oversight for ministry staff and volunteer services. Oversees the ministry programming and consults with ministry leaders in the implementation of a comprehensive ministry strategy. Recruits ministry staff and trains servant leaders in their specific area of ministry expertise. Develops community outreach programs. Transplant Sentara Norfolk General, Norfolk, VA                                                                                  2002-2006 Financial Coordinator Conducted the initial financial interview with patients. Screened and educated them on transplant process, policies, and procedures. Utilized established procedures for pre-certification, preauthorization, and letters of medical necessity. Coordinated the process for all transplant services. Maintained a comprehensive library of resource materials for patients, families and medical staff. Identified patients who qualified for indigent programs such as medications and charity care. Assisted patients with billing questions and collection notification.  DePaul Medical Center Rehabilitation, Norfolk, VA                                                                               1998-2002 Office Manager Managed all daily office activities, provided administrative support for the site Director, and prepared monthly budget reports. Created and implemented office administrative procedures. Effectively mediated and resolved patient complaints and problems. DePaul Medical Centers Clinic, Norfolk, VA                                                                                               1990-1998 Office Administrator Conducted interviews with patients to establish eligibility at Clinic. Provided educational materials for uninsured and underinsured patients. Significantly increased patient experience and provided administrative support to medical staff. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER SERVICE Norfolk Drug Court Foundation Norfolk Detention Center Advisory Board Member Second Chances Ex-Offenders Fundraising Campaign Norfolk State University Community and Outreach Program National Association of Social Worker Association of Black Social Worker, Norfolk, VA Gethsemane Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA Kinship Connection Inc.
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