The Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness - 1065 Words

The Declaration of Independence declares that human beings have certain unalienable rights, â€Å"that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.† Through slavery, these rights were systematically denied to a select class of people. George Santayana (1905) commented that, â€Å"those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.† Although abortion is legal in this country, the debate on whether it should be or not is far from settled. In November of 2014, Colorado Amendment 67 (The Personhood Initiative) initiated a state Constitutional amendment that would have included unborn human beings under the definition of â€Å"person† and â€Å"child† in the Colorado criminal code. The amendment failed. Unborn children are being†¦show more content†¦McPherson was asked, â€Å"If Lincoln were alive today, what position would [h]e take on abortion†¦?† (p. ix). McPherson responded: I do not pretend to know where Lincoln’s philosophy of liberty†¦would have led him on the abortion issue. But his ideas and actions on the subject of slavery, freedom, [and] civil liberties†¦are as interesting and perhaps as relevant today as they were a century and a quarter ago (pp. ix-x). How is freedom defined? What does it mean to be human? Is one class of people more important or more human than another? These questions relate directly to the issue of slavery and to the issue of abortion. McPherson (1988) points out that both sides during the civil war fought for freedom (p. vii). Both sides in the issue of abortion claim to defend freedom today. But how are freedom and liberty defined? Abraham Lincoln expressed this same this same thought: The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, 9 vols. (as cited in McPherson, 1991, p. 43). During Lincoln’s day, one side defined liberty as freedom for everyone. The other side defined liberty as the freedom to own slaves. Is the freedom to own slaves a freedom or a right for a select class of people? Does an individual or society have the freedom to take away the freedom of

President Gerald Ford Essay - 1433 Words

President Gerald Ford Outline I. Introduction II. Early Life III. Presidency IV. Conclusion V. Bibliography Introduction Ford may not be the most important president during his time, but he did more than some presidents did for the people. One of them was raising their spirits and hopes for the people to the government. He helped people gain confidence in their president again after losing confidence with Nixon. He set new records and started getting the United States on its feet again after having a very hard time in the past. He started his presidency with an oath on August 9, 1974 which he said - Our long national nightmare is over (4, page 422) which started his†¦show more content†¦He joined the Navy and was discharged as lieutenant commander. He married Elizabeth Bloomer Warren and entered the Republican primary in Michigan during 1948. November, he was elected to the House of Representatives and was reelected every two years till 1973. In the House, he was know to be a moderately conservative, hardworking member of the Republican Party. In 1965, he was the Republican House leader.(1,page1) While in the House of Representatives, he announced: A Republican of the Presidents domestic policies...Its going to be rough going for him around here. Congress will write the laws, not the executive branch. (3, page 29) Presidency After Agnew resigned, Ford was then nominated as Vice President from the House of Representatives. About six months later, The Watergate scandal forced Nixon to resign. Ford set records as the 1st president in history who had not been chosen in a national election as President or Vice-President. He soon pardoned Nixon for the crimes he might of commited during office. Ford wanted people to look ahead and stop worrying about Nixon and Watergate. As soon as he got in office, the country had an economic slump which had a recession combined with inflation causing a stagflation. He had other problems too, he had a running battle with the Democratic Congress. He had vetoed 61 bills and had 12 vetoes overridden. TheShow MoreRelatedPresident Gerald R. Ford736 Words   |  3 PagesNixon, because of the Watergate scandal (break-in of Democratic National Committee headquarters and the cover-up) and other issues, resigned in August of 1974. Vice President Gerald R. Ford became President. Ford Years (8/1974-1977) †¦ President Gerald R. Ford was not exactly an expert in the area of economic issues. Unfortunately, his advisors did not seem to be much better. Urging people to wear WIN buttons (win inflation now) was not exactly a serious attempt to improve the economy. StagflationRead MoreGerald Ford s President Of The United States943 Words   |  4 PagesDylan Marrone Weiss Research Paper Gerald Ford What makes a great president? Being the President of the United States is one of the most difficult positions to be in. 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Paradise of the Blind Essay Example For Students

Paradise of the Blind Essay In this extract from the novel, Paradise of the Blind, by Duong Thu Huong, the author explores the importance of culture and tradition within the text. The extract is set in the slums of Hanoi, Vietnam during the war and outlines the lifestyle of main character Hang, her mother and relatives at this time. Through first person narration, Huong details the personalities of and relationships between Hang and her relatives in particular, Uncle Chinh, mother Que and Aunt Tam, illustrating the struggles and hardships experienced by the Vietnamese to display the importance of family within Vietnamese culture. Using symbolism of material wealth and food as a means to show the expression of love that Que has for Uncle Chinh and Aunt Tam for Hang, Huong effectively portrays the customs and beliefs of Vietnam at the time of the book. The setting of the text is clearly established through numerous amounts of cultural motifs presented within the extract in order to accentuate the importance of tradition. The existence of a communist government alongside the celebration of Tet Vietnamese New Year, is highly significant in emphasising the placement of this text in Vietnam. The house, the clothes, the food. These people are incapable of tolerating even the slightest difference. So you see, a little bit more money, a nicer bowl its dramatic for them. (125) This remark made by peasant Neighbour Vi about communist Uncle Chinhs family displays the oppressive lifestyle and beliefs of the Vietnamese officials living under the corruption of the Communist Party. The unwritten laws that exist within their community, determining equal standards of living and conformity to group normalities are used by Huong to portray the suffocating attitude of the government party at the time. The inclusion of such suffocating traditions is contrasted with the beliefs of other characters in the book, displaying the differing values between the social classes in Vietnam. This divergence in beliefs is further implied through the separation of Uncle Chinhs family home in Commune Residence K from the residences of regular peasants such as Neighbour Vi, Hang and her mother. Listen to my advice. Wear the same clothes as your sister-in-law. Then see if she doesnt change her attitude. (125) Evident throughout the text, Uncle Chinh and his family do not welcome Ques visits to his house, as a result of the conformist community he lives in. Despite being family, Que must change the way she appears in order to be accepted by her own brother, emphasising her brothers str ong beliefs in the tradition of his communist community. Uncle Chinh and his familys prioritising of their shallow communist customs over their own blood relatives illustrate the meaning of tradition in the text, henceforth presenting the social setting of Vietnam. In addition to this, the significance of family in Vietnamese tradition is presented by Huong to lead the reader to see the importance of culture. Que makes a considerable effort to keep in contact and interact with her brother Chinhs family as it is her only other family. Similarly, Aunt Tam obsesses over her niece Hang, as she is the only family that she has left. She gathered me in her arms, stroking my hair. The older you get, the more you look like your father. Really, to each plant its own little slug. No doubt about it. (126) Aunt Tams actions of embracing and interacting with Hang within this extract are representative of the great amount of love she has for her, due to her being the only family that she has. To Aunt Tam, family is a number one priority and since the loss of her beloved brother; she constantly dotes on his daughter who reminds her of him. Her comparison of Hang and her father to a slug and a plant is a metaphor used by the author to further emphasise the bloo d ties between Hang and her father, and consequently also Aunt Tam. .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c , .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .postImageUrl , .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c , .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c:hover , .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c:visited , .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c:active { border:0!important; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c { 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; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c:active , .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .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; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1f6cd27144b76b044bc1c0f06202f44c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Compare and contrast the ways in which the directors of 'Mary Shelly's Frankenstein' 1994 and 'Frankenstein' 1931 EssayThe majority of interaction in the extract between Hang and Aunt Tam in the extract is contrasted to the amount of interaction between Hang and her mother in order to show the close relationship that Hang and her aunt share. As a result of Hang being well cared for by Aunt Tam, Que similarly makes it her duty to help her brother live with the basic necessities of life because he is her only other blood relation, showing the importance of family in the text. But a few days later she sewed herself exactly the same suit her sister-in-law wore. She put it on e very time she visited Commune Residence K. When she returned, she seemed more cheerful, more relaxed. (125) Ques sewing of a new outfit for her frequent visits to the commune residence where Chinh stays displays the amount of effort and consideration she gives in order to be accepted by his family. The distance between her home and her brothers are symbolic of the distant relationship they share, while her travelling and hard work to visit her brother is figurative of her efforts in closing the gap between the siblings. As shown through her happy mood after these visits in this new suit, her family and their approval are also extremely important to her, displaying the value of culture and tradition in the text. Throughout the extract, symbolism of food is used to portray the relationships between characters during the rituals of Tet, showing the value of culture in the text. Que does not feel that she is needed by Hang due to Aunt Tams obsessive concern for Hangs well-being and so in order to feel a sense of purpose in life; she directs her love towards her brother, who she feels needs her more. Que cares for and constantly seeks acceptance from her older brother and his family as shown through her sacrifice of her own savings and Tet preparations in order to supply food for her brothers Tet dinner. My mother had exhausted her savings for Uncle Chins Tet dinner. At home, all we had were a few New Years cakes and a pound of pork pate. (125) From this extract, it is clear that Hangs mother is struggling to make ends meet as the emotive language exhausted highlights, hence displaying her personality as selfless. Here, the contribution of food is used as a symbol to represent care, as while Que gives a great amount of food to Uncle Chinh, she gives little to her own daughter, Hang. She is portrayed as a suffering woman who endeavours as a single mother, to provide for her brothers family despite her own poor living conditions and little wealth as she believes that she must take responsibility for his family due to blood ties. The unconditional love given by Que is unreturned by her brothers family, showing the insignificance of blood family to them through their lack of care for Que and Hang, portraying them as inconsiderate characters in the book. Moreover, Ques small provision of food for her own daughters Tet is used by the author to represent her distant relationship with Hang while she relies on Aunt Tam to supply Hangs Tet banquet. Aunt Tams love for Hang is similarly represented through her provision of a great Tet banquet for Hang. She cares extensively only for Hang, looking after her health and spoiling her, allowing her to live a better standard of living than her mother. As for the young hens, these are for you, Hang. Youll have to steam them. Now that youre a teenager, you must eat right, round out a bit. (126) The symbol of food is once again used to represent Aunt Tams care for Hang, however no food is presented to Que, showing that Aunt Tam and Hangs mother do not share a close relationship. Aunt Tam addresses Hang as the receiver of her gifts and through this symbol of food during Tet, the author leads the reader to see Aunt Tams affection for Hang showing the importance of culture and family in the text. .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 , .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .postImageUrl , .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 , .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271:hover , .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271:visited , .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271:active { border:0!important; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 { 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; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271:active , .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .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; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271 .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf6559e6a43d14387c3918c46ec857271:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Journeys end is a play that has been successful for over 70 years EssayWithin this extract from the novel Paradise of the Blind, by Duong Thu Huong the author portrays the importance of culture and tradition. Through representations of relationships between Uncle Chinhs family, Hang and her mother, emphasis is placed on the significance of customs and beliefs. Using first person narration, the author positions the reader to see the relationships between characters Hang and her family in the text through the symbolism of food and material wealth, successfully emphasising Vietnamese tradition in the text.