Ancient Homosexuality Essay Example for Free

Ancient Homosexuality Essay The modern self is primarily built up of one’s history, body, religion, politics and entertainment – a Freudian composition of what identity is. And all of these things, the very factors that make the modern self the way it is, roots from the ancients. Cicero once thought that without the knowledge of the past, once shall remain a child, hence, Simon Goldhill’s Love, Sex and Tragedy: How the Ancient World Shapes Our Lives. With Cicero’s principle in mind, Goldhill wishes his readers to have a full understanding of who they are and how they came to be the way they are. Among the very controversial societal issues that Goldhill discussed pertained to homosexuality. Sexuality, in the time of the Greco-Romans, meant a love-affair with the phallus. They paraded it in the theatres, processions, public road, and even public memorials. The phallus was part of the classical man’s body, sexuality and sensuality – which, by the way, not only applies to men, but for females as well. The Greco-Romans had a profound relationship with sexual organs and acts, which, the modern man – apparently influenced by the rules of Christianity, might find obscene. A part of Simon Goldhill’s discussions on sexuality is the root of homosexuality. The Greeks had a particular fondness over a scenario where a bearded male desires a beardless lad. In today’s terms, this is the so-called pedophilia, as practiced through the inter-crural activity. This involves the placing of one’s penis between the partner’s thighs, may it be front or rear, followed by thrusting to attain sexual pleasure. Greeks from the seventh century, reinforced pederasty among men from the upper-class society, especially in their twenties, to acquire a young boy approximately aged 12 to love and nurture until he grows to marry at age 30, and later take a boy of his own. Practicing pederasty reinforced late marriage for these males, in the hopes of reducing the possibility of overpopulation, as well as to improve the education – initiation and instruction, of the ancient Greek youth. On Greek vases, one can find a picture of the bearded man – erastes, and the beardless youth – eromenos, as the erastes touches the eromenos’s genitals. The erastes takes the intiative as the eromenos remains passive. But, the ancient Greeks prohibited the relationship between a bearded man with yet another bearded man, and it was shameful that a bearded man becomes the passive one – or pathikos. The pedagogical pederasty is an illustration of a father-son relationship, where the erastes acts as a substitute father to help the young lad on his way to manhood, maturity, and to orient him to become a productive part of the society. The erastes demonstrates this affection by little presents ranging from a bottle of oil to money. The relationship was beneficial in both parties – the erastes provides education, protection, love and a role model for the eromenos – who offers beauty and admiration in turn. In modern theory, this is called sexual reciprocity. Gay does not necessarily mean one is less man or woman than a heterosexual. The ancient Greeks have never defined it in that way. Pedagogical pederasty and the sexual reciprocity that follows it are acts that only show the so-called love – in whichever form you wish to see it, may it be erotic or platonic. However, if we do know the origins of homosexuality, how does it actually affect us as individuals? We do obtain the full understanding of our identities in terms of our sexuality, and the understanding of others’ sexuality. This book simply implies the basic lesson of respect.

The Sea Wolf Essay -- essays research papers

The crew of the seal hunting ship the Ghost stood in disbelief as they gazed upon their recently departed first mate. Then a most unusual thing occurred. The captain began yelling at the dead man like a raging storm. Oaths rolled from his lips in a continuous stream. And they were not nice and thoughtful words or mere expressions of indecency. Each word was a blasphemy, and there were many words. It is this lack of remorse for others that defines Wolf Larsen, the antagonist in The Seal Wolf by Jack London.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From the beginning of the book you are introduced to the contrast of characters at hand. The feeble gentleman Humphrey Van Weydon, who is cruelly forced upon the voyage, and the devilish and somewhat divine captain Wolf Larsen. This combination of good and evil sets the stage for an amazing battle of wit and perseverance. But to understand the great battle between these two men, you have to understand the almost invincible nature of Captain Wolf Larsen. Wolf is a five foot ten inch, tan skinned brute. His height is not at all the most striking characteristic of the captain. His amazing muscular build and strength rival that of an enlarged gorilla. In fact, the author repeatedly compares Wolf’s immense strength with that of a wild animal. The name London gives him is perfect to describe his nature. It is this godlike ability to kill anyone with his bare hands that keeps the crew in fear of him. There is a scene in the book where the crew atte...

“Blueback” by Tim Winton Essay

Essay Question: How does Tim Winton use the elements of narratives to covey his theme? Have you ever read a story about a boy whose best friend is a fish? In Blueback by Tim Winton this is exactly what happens. Like in many of Winton’s stories Blueback is set in a seaside town in Western Australia. Winton uses the setting, characters, conflict and resolution to portray the message that we should protect the environment and not plunder the oceans for our own benefit. The main Characters in Blueback are Able and his Mum, Dora, who live in the sleepy seaside town of Longboat bay. Winton constructs Longboat bay as a peaceful quite place that belongs only to Able, Dora and Blueback, a place were they enjoy diving and were â€Å"Able swims with his mother in turquoise waters †. Winton constructs this setting to make the reader think of it as a healthy easygoing place to live away from the city. Winton makes Abel’s home sound like a very pleasant place to live being nestled between Longboat bay with its abundant marine life and pristine national park, with thriving wild life. Able and Dora enjoy the simple life and are very self sufficient and do everything from fixing motors to collecting abalone and selling the shells. Able and Dora take advantage of the land and go fishing and planting crops Dora Tells Able that â€Å"Able and his mother lived of the sea and land. Jackson had been living here like this for more than a hundred years†. Able is constructed as a strong willed character that does his best to help other people and the environment. When Able sees Costello â€Å"stripping the reef bare† he goes out to try and stop him and in the process saves Blueback, this to me shows that Abel is a very unselfish person. Another example of able being unselfish is when Longboat Bay is almost ruined by an oil spill, and Able rushes home from the city to try and help. Able and his  wife even quit their jobs to look after his mum when she gets sick. Winton constructs Able as a character that makes us think about the environment and other people more. One of the main conflicts in Blueback is when Able and Dora try to save Blueback from Costello. Able sees Costello taking all the fish and all the Abalone from the bay attempts to stop him. Able quickly boards Costello’s boat and throws the abalone back into the water hoping they might survive. Meanwhile Dora swims down to check on Blueback. Able swam down to his mother and realised that Costello was trying spear Blueback, Costello had already shot one spear that had missed Blueback my the narrowest or margins and was reloading. Unexpectedly Blueback swam away. On the surface Dora told Able that she â€Å"Biffed† the fish on in the head to scare it away. Winton uses this conflict to make the reader think about not taking to much from the ocean for your own benefit and preserving what we have. Costello is constructed as a mean selfish character who is only interested in doing something for his own gain. Costello is the complete opposite of Able and only thinks about himself and doesn’t care for the environment at all. Dora describes Able as a â€Å"hard case† and says there is nothing Able can do to stop him taking all the abalone from Longboat Bay. Even though Able does stop Costello taking more Abalone he still took many undersize fish and broke the law. When Able got on Costello’s boat he saw that, â€Å" the deck was awash with blood, Able had speared fish nearly every day of his life but he had never seen such slaughter like this.† Winton uses Costello’s character makes the reader think about being more aware of actions that may impact other people and the image of a deck awash with blood to make people feel disgust. Winton uses the setting, characters, conflict and resolution to tell his story and to give us the message that we must protect the environment. He does this by having two main settings in Blueback, the first is Able’s home, a peaceful tranquil bay and the second setting, the city which is constructed as a dull noisy place that Able describes as â€Å"hemmed in†. The main message in this novel is that we must preserve what we have.

Impact of Baby Boomers on Today’s Workforce

Baby boomers are those born between 1945 to 1964, the boom of the US population. Data from the Department of Labor BLS, in 1998 indicate that there were 77 million baby boomers and this represented 37% of the country’s population. As of 2008, baby boomers make up 40% of US workforce. This percentage is expected to increase dramatically in the next decade and baby boomers will make up majority of the employees in many companies. (Department of Labor, 2008) Companies are now at a dilemma on the effects of this population boom of older workers. Human Resource Departments are torn between decisions to retain or terminate their services. At one hand, older workers have the experiences and technical expertise; many are valued employees. Retiring or terminating them may mean significant loss to many companies. On the other hand, many older employees have not kept pace with modern technologies; their skills have become obsolete. Older employees also are more expensive considering higher salary rates, pension and other benefits. An article from ABC by John Strossel and Frank Mastropolo, â€Å"Fired for Being Too Old: Unfair or Good for Business? † (2008) presented various age discrimination cases filed against companies. Like many, disc jockeys of 99. 7 KY Max Floyd and Tanna Guthrie were fired from work and without any warning. Though they were told that the company was changing formats, they knew that they were fired for being too old and they felt hurt and betrayed. Why couldn't they keep us? We've been there, been loyal with the company, and they didn't change the music a lot† (Strossel & Mastropolo, 2008, p. 1). They sought protection of the law for age discrimination and filed million-dollar lawsuit against the company. Sympathy may be given to baby boomers that end up being replaced with young, fresh talents. But in the competitive industry, businesses have to survive and be able to replac e their aging employees when needed.

Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau Introduction Henry David Thoreau, an American author and philosopher is known for his book, Walden which advocates for simple living. Between 1845 and 1847, he withdrew into the woods where he remained solitary for two years and two months reflecting upon his life and trying to awaken his soul.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Henry David Thoreau specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More His greatest conviction was rooted in the elimination of waste in ones life and discovering its true nature by avoiding the illusions that confuse real living. The following is an analysis of what Thoreau meant in this excerpt from Walden. â€Å"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor. †¦ To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. Every man is tasked to make his life, even in details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.† Thesis Statement In this paper, I will argue the fact that Thoreau was challenging us to be better than we already are. I will show how Thoreau intended us to understand his statements. What Thoreau is asking us to do? Thoreau is taking lead in advocating that people stop committing wholly to their usual stimulants e.g. a cup of coffee (Bode, 342), but rather looks inside of themselves to wake from within, to lift their spirits and make their souls lively rather than their physical bodies. He wants us to acknowledge the fact that the body may be up and about but the spirit remains down and still in deep slumber. He was an advocate of the simple way of life and spiritual awakening was a way he envisaged for the enjoyment of life’s deepest experiences.Advertising Looking for term paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thoreau mentions a dawn or a morning but he was n either referring to the sunrise we know of nor was he referring to the early hours of the day we call morning but rather he wanted people to change the way they view their activities and start a fresh, make a change for a different experience (Daily Philosopher 2). The hours of day are quantifiable but Thoreau refers to the depth of the human experiences that give greater joy that are not measurable. â€Å"Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me. Moral reform is the effort to throw off sleep. Why is it that men give so poor an account of their day if they have not been slumbering?† (Thoreau 142). Simply, after the spiritual awakening, comes the enjoyment of life and consequently a better quality life. The importance of spiritual awakening to our wellbeing Thoreau further claims that self awakening is something we owe ourselves. In order to be in a position to please others, one must take it upon himself to please his own self. He makes it sound like it is an obli gation we owe ourselves, a moral task (Daily Philosopher p. 3) that is the indicator of the quality of the life we live. He sees every human being as a masterpiece, a perfect craft and adds that it is we ourselves who are the artists of our own lives. Thoreau says that the value of a man is not in his skin, that we should touch him (102). â€Å"We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones. Any nobleness begins at once to refine a man’s features, any meanness or sensuality to imbrute them† (Thoreau, 165). The way we choose to live it is the way we turn out, a comparison with how an artist affects the quality of the art he produces. The way we awaken ourselves and become aware of the aspects life around us is the same way the quality of our lives changes. If we tend to our souls appropriately, giving them the nourishment they require, then we grow spiritually and this reflects in our day-to-day activities â€Å"There can no ve ry black melancholy to him who lives in the midst of nature and has his senses still† (Thoreau, 98).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Henry David Thoreau specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This means that when you are awakened spiritually, you find solace in the simplest of things. You could feel the same kind of spiritual satisfaction regardless of where you are, whether enjoying the breeze on a beach or cleaning the house. The circumstances we are in do not have to change for us to enjoy our lives. When we are spiritually awake, we get more meaning out of life and the details around us and it improves our experiences dramatically. â€Å"Individuals nowadays appear detached from the natural bonds† (Worley 81) since they have not awakened their spirits. The means by which we awaken spiritually In the excerpt, he refers to a conscious endeavor as the initial step necessary for the awakening to be reali zed. It is to look within ourselves, to realize that we are still alive and make a declaration that we must strive to awaken. The effort, he says, is meant to come from us and we must mentally commit ourselves to do what we feel we must in order for the change to come to us. â€Å"By a conscious effort of the mind we can stand aloof from actions and their consequences; and all things, good and bad, go by us like a torrent† (Thoreau, 101). The envisaged effort must not be accidental, nor must it be forced but rather deliberate, a willingness to change stemming from the realization that a vacuum exists. As human beings, we are predisposed to comfort, we always want to stay asleep as our mental strength is often overshadowed by our desire to rest. Therefore, in order to make a change and be awake, we must dissuade ourselves from the natural urge to resist change as the duality of our complex pushes us to want change but at the same time not be prepared to take the necessary lead to effect the change. â€Å"So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change† (Thoreau 20).Advertising Looking for term paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More We are happy to just laze around in contrast to being lively and active. The power held in our mind is huge, thus, if we set our minds to change, we inevitably affect it, but the process has to be gradual. The initial stage in the process involves the realization that we are not getting more out of life as we should be doing, we are not awake to the realities and experiences around us and we do not find pleasure in the small details. When we conclude the initial phase, Thoreau says that we apply a conscious endeavor. The power to commit lies within ourselves as it is so often replicated in examples of the life we lead on a daily basis. For example, when a person realizes that he is obese, he endeavors to stop taking junk food and starts eating healthy foods that will improve his condition. It does not mean that he will automatically fall out of love with the junk foods, on the contrary, he is constantly tempted by them but the strength of his resolve will be the determinant in the e nd. Such a person must in addition throw out all junk food from his kitchen and in turn stock it with healthier food. In the end, the person will develop a craving for the healthier foods and will forget the junk. The resolve that the person in the example has is the same that Thoreau is talking about. You decide you want to make a change and then direct your efforts to making that change happen. â€Å"Any prospect of awakening or coming to life to a dead man makes indifferent all times and places† (Thoreau100). Beyond the conscious endeavor On further reading, Thoreau seemed to suggest that the self awakening that he was championing had a limit it one’s mind. You could try hard but in the end, your imagination of what steps to take in order to make the change eventually becomes your limitation. â€Å"No man ever followed his genius till it misled him† (Thoreau161). He seemed to suggest that, albeit these limitations the brain sets, there seems to be a voice wit hin that points us in the right direction. This is the voice of the oracles. There is a higher power that guides and advices us on all matters and it comes from the connection we have with the spirit world. If we call upon the spirits, they help us build on our resolve and in the end we awaken our slumbering souls. Traditionally, oracles directed the activities of man and made known their intentions via signs that were often difficult to decipher and this task was left to the older generations who had the craft to unearth the hidden meanings. Thoreau suggests that we all possess the knowledge to decipher the direction the oracles point us towards and that what is needed is to be attentive and reflective. In a nutshell, Thoreau is telling us that if we try too hard, then the information we get from within ourselves is paltry, therefore another source of guidance is needed and that is from the spirit world. Every man is divine in his own way although he chooses to ignore the inner bei ng that constantly guides him. â€Å"How vast and profound is the influence of the subtile powers of Heaven and of Earth† (Thoreau 101) Conclusion Thoreau wants us to awaken our spirits in order to enjoy our lives to the maximum. In order to do this, he urges us to awaken our souls and become aware of the numerous experiences at our behest (Thoreau112). In order to awaken our spirits, he proposes a deliberate decision to effect the necessary changes coupled by the appropriate actions, however, he cautions against ignoring the supernatural voice within ourselves that will give the ultimate guidance. Bode, Carl. The Portable Thoreau, Walden â€Å"Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, New York:   Penguin Books, 1982 Daily Philosopher. Awaken Thyself. 2004, Retrieved from thedailyphilosopher.org/daily/000010.php Thoreau, Henry David. A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers; Walden, or, Life in the Woods ; The Maine Woods ; Cape Cod, Edited by Robert F.Sayre, ISBN: 094045027 5 Worley, Sam McGuire: Emerson, Thoreau and the role of the cultural critic. New York: State university of New York press, 2001. Retrieved from https://books.google.com./books?id=TmNuI7sM3G8Cpg=PA176dq=Worley,+Sam+McGuire:+Emerson,+Thoreau+and+the+role+of+the+cultural+critichl=enei=zS24TdT0EpDsrQfR09zNDQsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailredir_esc=y#v=onepageqf=false

Flood Types and Classifications in U.S

Flood Types and Classifications in U.S Floods that occur in the United States and abroad can be classified in multiple ways. Theres no steadfast rule for categorizing  flooding along a floodplain or after a tropical cyclone. Instead, broad types of flood labels are applied to any type of water inundation that results in damages. Flooding is one of the most dangerous types of all natural disasters. Flash Floods Floods can be most broadly classified as either river floods or flash floods. The main difference is in the onset of the flooding. With flash floods, there is often little warning that flooding will occur. With river flooding, communities can prepare as a river nears its flood stage.   Flash floods are usually the most lethal. Heavy downpours, often in mountainous highlands, can lead to surges of water that turn dry river beds or flood plains into raging torrents  within minutes. Local communities usually have little time to flee to higher land, and homes and other property in the waters path can be totally destroyed. Vehicles crossing roadways that are dry or barely wet in one moment can be swept away in the next. When roads and railways are made impassable, delivery of aid can become much more difficult. Slow Onset Floods   Slow onset floods, such as those that hit Bangladesh almost every year, can also be lethal but they tend to give people much more time to move to higher ground. These floods are a result of surface water runoff. Flash floods can also be the result of surface water runoff, but the terrain is a larger factor in the severity of the flood. They often occur when the ground is already saturated and simply cannot absorb any more water. When deaths occur during slow onset floods, they are much more likely to come about due to disease, malnutrition or snakebites. Floods in China displaced tens of thousands of snakes into neighboring areas in 2007, increasing the risk of attacks. Slower floods are also less likely to sweep away property, although it may still be damaged or destroyed. Areas are likely to remain under water for months at a time. Storms, tropical cyclones, and other maritime extreme weather can also produce deadly storm surges, as happened in New Orleans in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, Cyclone Sidr in November 2007, and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in May 2008. These are most prevalent and dangerous along the coasts and near large bodies of water. Detailed Flood Types There are numerous other ways to classify floods. Many types of floods are a result of the location of the rising waters or other environmental factors. FEMA has a broad classification of flood types as follows: Riverine floodsUrban floodsGround failures, such as dam breaksFluctuating lake levelsCoastal flooding and erosion In addition, flooding can result from ice jams, mine accidents, and tsunamis. Remember that there are no steadfast rules for determining exactly what type of flood may be associated with any given area. Getting flood insurance and following the guidelines for flood safety are critical to keeping yourself, your family, and your property safe during a flood event.

National Law being non-Codified but following principle of judicial Essay

National Law being non-Codified but following principle of judicial precedent - Essay Example On the other hand, uncodified constitutions, such as that of the UK permit considerable flexibility and scope for amendment or abolition of their contents.2 It has been contended by some scholars that the UK could not entertain a codified constitution, principally due to the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty. However, this stance has been challenged by other scholars, who are firmly convinced that parliamentary sovereignty and a codified constitution can coexist. 3 Precedent in the judicial context tends to deprive the judicial process of flexibility. There is an inordinate dependency on past events, which evolving social and political conditions tend to render irrelevant to the present. Similarly, what is decided under a particular set of circumstances today, would have to be complied with in the future, if a similar set of circumstances were to prevail. This is patently unjust and unreasonable. 5 From the above discussion it becomes very clear that any system based on precedent is not in touch with the contemporary situation. Society and politics are dynamic systems, which keep evolving continuously. Such inexorable and persistent evolution necessitates a flexible approach, which is signally absent in any system based on precedent. This makes a strong case for adopting and implementing a codified constitution in the UK. Blick A, (February 2011) ‘Codifying – or not codifying – the UK constitution: A Literature Review’ accessed 4 September