The Tough Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Tough Life - Essay Example She appears embittered about â€Å"lost beauty.†The woman lives in abject poverty, endures racial discrimination, suffers from mental illness, and feels abandoned. She is also depressed and lonely. The image of the woman reflects on the life experience of Native-Americans, secluded from their culture and entangled in cyclic poverty. For the woman, a mother of three, suicide seems to be the only avenue through which she can escape the harsh life in Chicago. As the author asserts, the woman speaks out for the other women watching her dangle from the window on the thirteenth floor. The squalid health of women becomes evident. Her only comfort is the memory of the good life she experienced as a child, which is nothing but a dream at the moment. The woman lives in a cruel world, surrounded by people who seem to care less even if she jumps to the ground. Her life is basically separated from death by a very thin thread. She is unable to speak about her despair, and attempted suicide seems the only sure way through which she can drive her point home. Cross-cultural issues appear the most significant problem in the poem. The woman hangs from a window in the 13th floor, which is often associated with bad luck and avoided in most buildings, where floor numbering usually jumps to fourteen from twelve. From personal experience of life away from one’s culture, I can attest what might have led the woman to think of attempted suicide. In New York City, I have also endured a very tough life relative to the one I lived back in my native country. Unlike in my homeland, I have to collect my laundry and wash away from my home. Also, I am forced to take the subway to the university, which takes a long time and thus very tiresome. Further, here in New York City, I have to walk a lot, while back in my country, I have my own car and a driver. Life has become so stressful

Computers Essay Example for Free

Computers Essay Books will never be completely replaced by computers. Computers can crash, and all information will be lost. If the power goes out in your house, you cant read on your computer, but you can pick up a book. What you read on a comp. is just light or something on a screen. A book is is a permentent physical printing. If computers replaced books, wed all have serious eye problems. The joy of reading would be lost. Id hate to have to depend on a machine for my relaxing reading time. Books are forever, computers are until it breaks down, and everything will be lost. Books can be taken care of, as can computers, but there are books that are a hundred years old, I havent heard of anyone with the same computer for even 10 yrs. see more:essay on computer I guess comps are getting new and better, but books are still better to read. However, on the up side for comps, 1 comp, can store probebly over a hundred books, sort of like an i pod. But if the 1 comp breaks, that a hundred books too. Computers are good, and should store that kind of stuff, but I dont think it should completly replace the book. That would really suck. You cant haul your computer everywhere you go, like the bus, waiting rooms, the lunchroom, bed, etc. Too large, awkward and unwieldy. Even laptops. You cant just throw a laptop in your purse. I take books with me everywhere I go so I have something to kill the time with when Im waiting. I read everyday on my lunch hour. I read before I go to bed. Sitting in front of a coputer to read makes my eyes, butt and back hurt, because you have to sit up to do it and the computer screen is too bright. Plus, books dont need batteries. I think its okay for kids in school, and Im sure that there are other instances, but I highly doubt that books will ever become obsolete.f a book from reading an actual book instead of a screen. . Finding good novels or non-fiction would be more difficult because of the volume of all kinds and qualities of same. A computer, even a notebook, will never replace a pocket-sized paperback you can stick in a purse and read anywhere. Books dont need batteries, service, defragging or any of those things. Like many aspiring authors, Im excited by the possibilities posed by on-line publishing, but I have some serious reservations about what could happen if there is an unchecked volume of materials placed out there. Also, collecting royalties could make writing for profit even more of a challenge than it is today. Intro Science has made4 mch developments during the recent decades. It has developed many gadgets for our comfort but in my opinion they cn never replace the traditional things and ways. One of the greatest invention of technology and sciences is computer

World Trade Center Attack :: 9/11 september 11 patriotism essays

World Trade Center Attack Reactions to the events of September 11, 2001 run the gamut of human emotion and cognition. There cannot be any doubt of the crime's horrendous nature. Disgust and revulsion might be the best way to describe the sense one feels at the calculated murder of innocent thousands. What more, this was not an attack by another sovereign state. It was an attack by an organization in the shadows. In its aim, no one is sure. What does a terrorist organization gain by committing such acts anyway? In the confiscated tapes depicting Osama bin Laden, the violence surpassed his vision. The expected damage was to be far less worse. But it seemed as if the scale and scope of the onslaught did not faze him in the least bit. The martyrs were going to heaven. And the United States had a lot to say about that. Most denounced the terrorists as cowards, but there were a few, such as Susan Sontag and Bill Maher, who did not feel the same way. There was a sense of overwhelming patriotism, and to say anything otherwise, was foolhardy. And the American flag was everywhere. Even shoes came in the red, white, and blue. Defiling the flag seemed to become downright patriotic. Courage became debatabe, heroism standard. Soon both Sontag and Maher were denounced, even called traitors. What kind of new war was this? Albert Camus states that: By attributing too much importance to admirable actions, one ends up paying indirect homage to evil. For one leads others to assume that such admirable actions are so valuable only because they are rare, and that human activity is far more frequently motivated by nastiness and indifference. (The Plague) These words are full of implication. But to hone in on the media treatment of the events of 9/11 and the war on terrorism in general, one sees the role mass media plays in shaping today's heroism. It is difficult to turn to media and find information without some moral connotation. This after all, is not the proper role of mass media. Or is it? The over-saturation of images and commentary regarding the terrorist actions in the United States is potentially dangerous. This is not to say the issue be taken lightly. That would be delusional. But with recent news of a documentary detailing the events to air on network television, one is left to ponder the merits of this. World Trade Center Attack :: 9/11 september 11 patriotism essays World Trade Center Attack Reactions to the events of September 11, 2001 run the gamut of human emotion and cognition. There cannot be any doubt of the crime's horrendous nature. Disgust and revulsion might be the best way to describe the sense one feels at the calculated murder of innocent thousands. What more, this was not an attack by another sovereign state. It was an attack by an organization in the shadows. In its aim, no one is sure. What does a terrorist organization gain by committing such acts anyway? In the confiscated tapes depicting Osama bin Laden, the violence surpassed his vision. The expected damage was to be far less worse. But it seemed as if the scale and scope of the onslaught did not faze him in the least bit. The martyrs were going to heaven. And the United States had a lot to say about that. Most denounced the terrorists as cowards, but there were a few, such as Susan Sontag and Bill Maher, who did not feel the same way. There was a sense of overwhelming patriotism, and to say anything otherwise, was foolhardy. And the American flag was everywhere. Even shoes came in the red, white, and blue. Defiling the flag seemed to become downright patriotic. Courage became debatabe, heroism standard. Soon both Sontag and Maher were denounced, even called traitors. What kind of new war was this? Albert Camus states that: By attributing too much importance to admirable actions, one ends up paying indirect homage to evil. For one leads others to assume that such admirable actions are so valuable only because they are rare, and that human activity is far more frequently motivated by nastiness and indifference. (The Plague) These words are full of implication. But to hone in on the media treatment of the events of 9/11 and the war on terrorism in general, one sees the role mass media plays in shaping today's heroism. It is difficult to turn to media and find information without some moral connotation. This after all, is not the proper role of mass media. Or is it? The over-saturation of images and commentary regarding the terrorist actions in the United States is potentially dangerous. This is not to say the issue be taken lightly. That would be delusional. But with recent news of a documentary detailing the events to air on network television, one is left to ponder the merits of this.

Causes of the Civil War Essay

There were several reasons the Civil War began. The north and the south had completely different views on some very important subjects.The north believed that slavery was not needed, but the south had needed slavery in order to harvest the crops. Also, new territories were being settled. Lastly, Abraham Lincoln was elected president. The areas of the United States had different economies. In the North, the economy was based on factories and wages. Everyday people worked in the factories. The South had large plantations, which grew cotton. The plantation owners needed the slaves to pick the cotton. They didn’t receive wages, but they were provided food and shelter. In the Midwest, wheat was the number one cash crop. It was harvested by a machine, so they didn’t need as many workers or slaves. These different economies caused divisions in the United States. Also, new territories were being settled. The South wanted the new territories to be admitted to the Union as slave states. This was to prevent the slaves from escaping into free territories. The North wanted the new territories to be free. Some people thought the new territories should have the right to vote whether they wanted to be free or slave. This is called State’s Rights. An agreement was reached called the Compromise of 1850, which lasted for three years. In this compromise, fugitive slaves were ordered to return to their owners. The abolitionists thought that they shouldn’t have to follow that law. Next, Abraham Lincoln said that slavery should be abolished. He was elected president and South Carolina immediately seceded from the Union. Then, six more states joined South Carolina and formed the Confederate States of America (CSA). The South felt that Lincoln would abolish slavery and take away their economy or their way of life. They also felt that each state had the right to vote on any law. More people died in the Civil War than any other war. The reasons for the Civil War were different economies, state’s rights to vote on laws, and the election of Abraham Lincoln as president.

The Chinese Voyages of Exploration

The Chinese Voyages of Exploration Succeeded by the non-Chinese Qing Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty is considered to be the last native dynasty to exist. The Ming Dynasty lasted from 1368 to 1644 and is known as the greatest era of social stability and organized government (European). Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty; he is also known as Hongwu, Taizu, and Ming Taizu. Hongwu died in 1382, leaving his grandson, Huidi, the next heir. However, Chengzu, or Yongol, created a military campaign to seize the thrown. This started a three year civil war, but Yongol overcame Huidi and took the thrown as emperor in 1403. Yongol wanted all other countries to fear his Dynasty’s power and see it as being the strongest (Asia). He created an expansion plan of China’s tribute system and as a result Zheng He was appointed to lead seven voyages (Europe). Zheng He, a muslim eunuch, was captured at the age of ten and was given the task of grouping boys to be castrated. During the time of the voyages, China’s technology was used to help build these massive ships that set sail. Known as â€Å"treasure ships,† these 400 feet long and 600 feet wide boats were equipped with nine sails, four decks, and armed with twelve cannons. There were also separate watertight compartments that had been recently invented. There were two major advantages of these compartments. One was if the ship was hit, it would not sink and the second was that it offered a way of carrying water for the passengers, animals, and fish. Another invention that was put onto these ships was sternpost rudders. Sternpost rudders were used to maneuver in crowded harbors and narrow channels and were easily attached to the outside rear (Asia). The Chinese would navigate by using a compass and sailing directions. Over the past 300 years, China had been strengthening its power in sea. A network of trade had been established in relation to their growing need for spices, herbs, and raw materials. Zheng He started his first voyage in 1405, which was made up of 317 ships with over sixty of them being treasure ships and almost 28,000 men. He began his journey first stopping in Champa, Central Vietnam and Siam, present day Thailand. From there, he sailed to Java, Malacca, and his main destination of Cochin, India making his trip last until 1407. Zheng He’s second voyage started in 1409 and lasted two years. Although he did not take part in the voyage, he organized sixty-eight ships to travel to Calicut to take part in the inauguration of the new king. From 1409 to 1411, the third voyage set sail. Zheng He took forty-eight ships and 30,000 soldiers to the same places that the first voyage went, but also included the Malay peninsula and Ceylong. In Ceylong, war broke out between the native’s and his men. So, Zheng He ceased the fighting and captured the King. He proceeded to bring him back to China where he was later released. The fourth voyage was much longer than the first three in distance. Lasting between 1413 and 1415, Zheng He, accompanied by twenty-five year old Muslim translator Ma Huan, stopped in many of the countries he previously visited. Yet, this time he controlled sixty-three ships and more than 28,000 men to Hormuz, which is located on the Persian Gulf. Starting in 1417, Zheng He’s fifth voyage headed to Aden, Africa, cities known as Mogadishu and Brawa, and Malindi. Many ambassadors decided to return to China with Zheng He. Again, it took two years to complete the expedition. The sixth voyage began in 1421, and only lasted a year. Zheng He visited the same countries mainly to return the ambassadors. In 1431, the seventh and final voyage took place. Due to Yongol’s death, his successor Xuande set forth the expedition. For two years, Zheng He visited places like the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Aden, and Hormuz. His fleet consisted of more than 27,000 men and over one hundred ships. He also visited Jidda by traveling up the Red Sea. In 1433, on his return trip to China, Zheng He died and was buried at sea (Asia). These expeditions created a line of communication between the Chinese and Southeast Asia. However, the voyages were stopped due to many reasons. One reason is cost. These trips were seen as a waste of money because during this time, China was campaigning against the Mongols and funding the construction of Peking (Europe). According to the court, Yongol used the Dynasty’s money in extravagant ways to promote land and sea expeditions. Also, his move of the capital from Nanjing to Beijing was very costly as well as his ordering of the construction of the Forbidden City, which involved greater than a million workers. His decision to widen the Grand Canal to allow more transportation was also cost effective. Another reason for the ceasing of the voyages was due to natural disasters. Epidemics in Fujian, lightening strikes ruining the newly designed Forbidden City, and the flooding of the Yellow River leaving millions without shelter and over 1000 acres infertile in 1448 were major money traps. Even though the Mongols had departed from Chinese borders, Pirates and smugglers became a major factor in the south (Asia). Zheng He’s voyages were supported by the Eunuchs and frowned upon by the Conservative Confucian court. In 1477, talk about another voyage had entered the courts. The vice president of the Ministry of War immediately took possession of Zheng He’s records stating that they are â€Å"deceitful exaggerations of bizarre things far removed from the testimony of people’s eyes and ears (Asia). † The Chinese were no longer interested in overseas affairs mainly because the Ming Dynasty’s major source of income was due to land tax and not trade tax. Thus, China did not become a maritime power and over time the non-Chinese ruled the seas (Europe). These voyages can be seen as the reason China fell behind in new technological advances as well as losing their dominance over the rest of the world. Work Cited â€Å"The Ming Dynasty's Maritime History. † The European Voyages of Exploration. Copyright 1997. The Applied History Research Group, Web. 3 Mar 2010. . â€Å"The Ming Voyages. † Asia For Educators. Copyright 2009. Columbia University, Web. 3 Mar 2010. .