English and Politics

Introduction Orwell is an individual who was concerned about the correct usage of English language in politics and other areas of life. He notes with a lot of concern some very common mistakes that are made by politicians, professors and other people who use English in public. He particularly notes that most of the times, the politicians use sub standard English because they want to conceal something and therefore end up using vague language.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on English and Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In an attempt to reduce and eventually eradicate the incorrect usage of English grammar in both spoken and written works, Orwell suggests some set of rules that one could use. He however states that, even with the rules, it is still possible that one can make some mistakes but the mistakes would not be very bad compared to those that were made by some people in the texts that he us es as the sample of incorrect use of English language. Orwell’s standards In the first rule, Orwell says that one should avoid the use of common phrases for example metaphors which have been overused and other clichà ©s. Phrases that have been used in various written works for a long time are especially discouraged. He also warns people to refrain from using long words and instead, try to look for shorter words which can serve the same purpose. The long words make the text unnecessarily complicated when it can be simplified by use of other words with the same meaning. Another rule is that one should choose their words carefully and use only the necessary words. If a word can be left out, then one should not include it in their writings or speech. By doing so, one is able to avoid being unclear because of including such words. The other common mistake that people make in language use is overuse of foreign or scientific terms when one can get other simpler words of the same me aning in English. Orwell says that such words should only be used when there is no other option, otherwise they should be omitted in any good specimen of English. Orwell also warns against the operators or verbal false limbs. He explains this as the unnecessary conversion of a single verb or even a conjunction to a phrase consisting of several words. It can also be used to describe the tendency to follow a certain pre-existing ending format of a sentence instead of one being creative and coming up with their original endings. Many people make this mistake when they are writing or speaking In his last rule, he gives people the discretion to break any of his rules other than say something that will not make sense. Orwell says that if people would adhere to these rules, cases of bad language usage would reduce significantly and eventually be eradicated. Conformity of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech of 1960 to Orwell’s standards This is one of the speeches that have bee n praised by many people in history. It is particularly applauded because of its impact on the listeners and also the various artistic structures employed (Humes 207). It has bold declarations made by John F. Kennedy during his inauguration as president.Advertising Looking for research paper on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example, he promises to do everything to protect the democracy of the country and also speaks several statements directed to the enemies of his country. He also calls upon the citizens to be occupied with what they can do for the country instead of just waiting for the country to do things for them. In this paper, the conformance of the speech to various rules set by Orwell meant to gauge a good piece of English text will be evaluated. Dying metaphors The speech is characterized by the use of metaphors to create mental pictures to the listeners of what is being said. Metaphors can be cate gorized into different groups for example; there are metaphors which have been overused such that they no longer play the role that a metaphor should play when used and are considered as dead metaphors. There are others considered as dying metaphors which have been overused but still have not lost their impact and finally there are those considered as living which are able to cause one to have a clear mental picture because they are fresh and probably have been used for the first time by the particular writer or speaker. According to Orwell, dead metaphors are to be avoided if the purpose for which that metaphor is being used is to be served. Dead metaphors lack the important quality of creating a mental image in the listener’s mind. Kennedy, in his speech tries to adhere to this rule because most of the metaphors he uses are not in the category of dead ones. For example, he talks of ‘iron tyranny’ (Bartleby.com 1). Although this is not exactly in the category of a dead metaphor, it is still a common metaphor that is overused by many people in spoken and written works. The metaphor however is still able to produce the mental picture intended in the listener’s mind. There are other metaphors too that he used effectively in conveying his message during his inauguration. In reference to the people who find themselves in danger that they could have avoided if they were wise enough, he uses the metaphor ‘riding the back of the tiger and ending up inside’ (Bartleby.com 1). He also talks of exploring the stars conquering the deserts metaphorically to pass the message to the people concerning their intention as a country to going for great things and overcoming all obstacles. These two metaphors still are able to create images in the mind of the listeners although they are not very new and also cause them to react in certain way because of the influence of the words that have been used. By using them, Kennedy is still on the saf e side when it comes to application of Orwell’s standards because the two are not wholly in the category of dead metaphors. He also talks of assisting the people who are still ‘struggling to break the bonds of mass misery’ (Bartleby.com 1). This is a metaphor that helps the listeners create a clear mental image of what he is saying.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on English and Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The speech slightly deviates from the set standards because of the use of commonly used phrases like ‘friend and foe alike’ which is not recommended by Orwell (Bartleby.com 1). According to him, such overused phrases should be left out as they make one unable to be creative in speech and they can contribute to vagueness in the message that one intended to communicate The use of active or passive voice The speech is full of sentences in active voice as compar ed to passive voice. Most of the sentences have a subject as opposed to passive sentences which leaves out the doer of the action. However there is an instance where there is the use of passive, i.e., when he wants to says that the responsibility has been given to someone else, he uses the passive sentence: ‘the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans’ (Bartleby.com 1). In the rest of his speech, he uses sentences in the active voice. He commits himself to doing things that are his responsibility by using the active voice and first person singular pronoun instead of evading commitment by using passive. He uses sentences in the active voice to show people the reality of the imminent long struggle that they are going to face as a nation despite the fact that they have just come out of a hard period characterized by cold war (Clarke 9). He does not try to give the people false hope by using passive voice which is mostly used by people who are not straightfor ward in what they are saying. He also speaks to the enemies of the nation directly using the same sentence structures and points out the responsibility of both the state and the citizens directly instead of just assuming that each is aware of what is expected of them. Through the effective use of active speech, Schlesinger (165) notes that the young president, Kennedy, also commits himself to defend the country’s democracy by all means. Pretentious diction The speech also passes the test of pretentious diction as a standard of good English specimen proposed by Orwell. This is because Kennedy uses simple everyday language as opposed to some political speeches which are full of exaggerated foreign words and other uncommon words for example scientific words. Most of the words that he uses can be understood by ordinary people without much struggle. He uses short clear words and also sentences whose structure is simple therefore making the speech captivating and easy to understand (O’Brien 75). This has made his speech to be praised by many people and especially because of its simplicity to everyone who can understand English.Advertising Looking for research paper on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More His choice of words is good as he chooses words which are able to produce certain reactions in the people. For example, he tells the people not to negotiate out of fear or fear to negotiate. Most of the text is written in simple words. It is only in the sentence where the word ‘belaboring’ is used where he seems to have used a complex word although it is possible to substitute with a more common word like ‘dwell on’ or others which are simpler and more common. Operators or verbal false limbs Here, one tries to avoid the task of choosing appropriate parts of a speech for example the nouns of verbs and tries to simplify the task by several means e.g. transforming a lone verb to a phrase with several words. The use of conjunctions is also altered by introducing other words in addition to the conjunction to make it a phrase. Certain sentence endings are also commonly used because one does not want to think of a different way that the sentence can end and theref ore opts for what is common. The speech in question lacks such operators or verbal false limbs. Most of the verbs and conjunctions are used correctly without adding extra words to make them phrases and the sentences endings are all unique and not just following a certain copied pattern. He avoids most of the phrases, either with verbs or conjunctions as listed by Orwell, which should be avoided in a good specimen of English. He uses single verbs and conjunctions and conforms to this rule in almost the entire text. Meaningless words Again, Kennedy’s speech avoids the use of meaningless words which at times crowd a piece of English text making it hard to understand and also unnecessarily long. The speech is relatively short and is devoid of such words which may not make any sense when used. He chooses his words carefully and joins them together in a way that they cause the reader or listener then be persuaded that he means every word he says in the speech (Wills 62). Like many political writings, there are some areas in the speech where there is vagueness. He says, for example, that they are going to help those in poverty to get out of it. He does not say precisely what they are planning to do to help these people who he says live in abject poverty. It is also not clear the specific people he is addressing because, globally there are many people who are struggling to break free from the chains of poverty. Also the words, ‘to convert our good words into good deeds’ (Bartleby.com 1), seem not to have a definite meaning because the word ‘good’ is relative and can mean different things. It becomes hard for anyone listening to such a speech to clearly understand what good words or good deeds the person is talking about. Conclusion Although John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech breaks a few of Orwell’s rules, it is still a good specimen of English because it observes most of them as discussed in the paper. For example, the s peech is devoid of foreign or scientific words which are misused in most written or spoken works. He tries to use simple, everyday language which can be understood by many people. He puts forth his points clearly using only the relevant words and leaves out any unnecessary words. The speech also avoids the use of clichà ©s and long words which can be replaced by shorter and more common words. It is so easy for anyone who reads this speech to understand it. It is written in ordinary English that does not need a lot of in depth understanding of vocabulary. The ideas in it flow well. According to Giglio (2), his speech seems to represent what he truly believes in because it lacks vagueness which is mostly used by politicians who do not want to be clear in what they are saying to the public. Such politicians use this tool to be dishonest and cause confusion among the people on what they actually intended to pass across. What he intends to do for the nation and also what is expected of the people is clearly stated. He urges the people not to focus on what they want the country to do for them but on what they too can offer to the country. Works Cited Bartleby.com. John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address. London: Bartleby.com, 2011. Retrieved from https://www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html Clarke, Thurston. Ask Not: The Inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the Speech  that Changed America. New York: Henry Holt and Co, 2004. Giglio, James. The Presidency of John F. Kennedy. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1991. Humes, James. My Fellow Americans: Presidential Addresses That Shaped  History. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1992. O’Brien, Michael. John F. Kennedy: A Biography. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005. Schlesinger, Arthur. A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House.  Boston,MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1965. Wills, Garry. The Kennedy Imprisonment: A Meditation on Power. Boston, MA: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1981. This research paper on English and Politics was written and submitted by user Kaitlin Howard to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Legalization of drugs misc10 essays

Legalization of drugs misc10 essays The legalization of drugs in America could have many benefits along with many a few potential problems. Marijuana is at the top of every list ready for debate on whether or not it should be legalized. Pending the legalization of marijuana, crime associated with drugs would decrease, bringing the State and Federal penitentiaries population down to an acceptable level. A vast number of medical uses could also more easily be found. The process leading to the tests becomes long and tedious when dealing with an illegal substance. This may discourage many doctors from testing. The entire country could benefit from this drug. Government sales would skyrocket, bringing in millions of dollars that before was spent on useless police taskforces. The economy would rise; money would be saved, potentially making this country a little safer to live in. Medical uses for marijuana are known but have not been tested on a wide range of diseases. Marijuana has helped people with chronic pain live a more normal life. One example of this is the use of marijuana to help people with Cataracts Syndrome a disease that effects the eye. Marijuana has been proven to relief pain in the eyes and other areas of the human body when smoked like a cigarette. Though it is known to help people it is rarely used due to the hassle of prescribing the drug. Patients must fill out papers stating that the marijuana is theres and will not be distributed to others causing a process that is time consuming and tedious. If the drug were legal the process would be simple and doctors might recommend its use more frequently. Prison population in the United States is at an all time high and continues to climb. Many inmates are imprisoned for reasons no other than having a small amount of marijuana on them at the time of arrest. Some of these men were marijuana dealers or users who are no ...

Explain how the Current Justice Model has Replaced the Medical Model Research Paper

Explain how the Current Justice Model has Replaced the Medical Model of Earlier Years Relative to Corrections - Research Paper Example All efforts of the society should be directed to arrest one’s downward march to destruction to be replaced by an upward march making one a worthy individual and citizen. The question is, how do we do this? What sort of circumstances and mind-set pushes an individual onto the track of self and societal destruction? How an individual can free himself from the evil tendencies and negativities? How to lead a criminal to the path of willing acceptance for shaping as a lawful citizen? Normally an intensely shattered personality lies within the prison environment and one’s psyche needs constant care. The society does not easily allow the friendly assimilation of an acquitted or reformed prison inmate. Whether guilty or not guilty, the prison stamp remains forever. One important question incidentally—does the reformation measures bring rich dividends for the jail administration and contribute to the improvement of prison discipline and create a relaxed atmosphere amongst the prison community? How to mitigate the most systematic suppression caused to the spirit and freedom of an individual from the day of capture, and in the course of his encounters with the police, administration and the slow-moving justice system? Moreover, all laws, just because they are the laws of the land, are not faultless aphorisms. A difficult law implemented in a worst manner is the ultimate calamity for the prisoner. Any method, any procedure, must aim to change the criminal thought process of a prisoner. The wise saying goes, when the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed; when the mind is changed, the man is changed; when the man is changed the society is changed. Society created a bad individual and sent him to the prison; the ultimate gift to the society is a reformed individual, who will not revert to criminality again! Harsh punishments can never usher in an era of a crime-free society; dedicated reformation and rehabilitation measures,

Legality of Drone Strikes by US Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Legality of Drone Strikes by US - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that the war on terror continues to bring about heated debates among most of the citizens of America, and in fact, the world. It is a wonder why the American government continues to preach for/ on a democratic front at home, and yet do the complete opposite when it comes to other nations, especially in the Middle East. The fact that America chooses to play big brother to nations that have problems of their own still remains a mystery. The wars America has been involved in over the last few decades have led to the loss of lives on both fronts  and has even led to the questioning of the financial strain the wars are causing. Recently, the U.S. has been called out by some of the many nations on the use of drones to target alleged Al-Qaeda territories. This has, however, not deterred the Obama administration from continuing their assaults on these foreign lands. The U.S. drone wars have affected regions such as Yemen and Pakistan, where the d eath of an unprecedented number of people has risen over the years. This has led to a public outcry, both at home and in the Middle East, as people are losing their lives over a war they feel is unwarranted. Al-Qaeda strongholds are the reasons for these attacks on the Middle East regions, where the Obama administration believes that they are responsible for rooting out the cause of all that is terror-related

Self Liberation Passive Resistance And Active Resistance History Essay

Self Liberation Passive Resistance And Active Resistance History Essay The earliest form of forced labour in the West Indies was the encomienda which utilized the Neo-Indian) people and resulted in the near decimation of their entire population. This was followed by the system of white indentured labour which brought immigrants from Ireland, England and Wales. This did not last very long because of the fact that the Europeans were not accustomed to the tropical climate of the West Indies and did not survive in such harsh working conditions. This was then followed by African enslavement which brought millions of people from the coast of West Africa From the outset one notes that systems of slavery existed and predated their imposition in the Caribbean region. There were different concepts as to the duties and responsibilities of both slave and master- concept of slavery always present in almost every recorded human civilisation ( e.g. Greece, Rome, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, Africa ) but each differing from the other. In the British West Indies the slavery system was referred to as Chattel Slavery. This was a system whereby the slaves and their offspring were enslaved during their lifetime and were the sole property of the owner. The slaves were be bought and sold as commodities. This therefore meant that conditions were very inhumane and psychologically destructive to any human being. From the 16th Century until Emancipation in 1834 this form of slavery was made legal and supported by the British government and was implemented in their colonies. The causes for the Emancipation of slaves in the British West Indies can be interpreted in many different ways with Self Liberation (Resistance and Revolts) being at the forefront, the changing Economic climate in England at the time and The Abolitionist Movement. Each of these played an important role in the Emancipation of slavery but it was the incessant revolts which impacted the most and in the process gained recognition from entire the British population. 1.0 Self-Liberation-Passive Resistance and Active Resistance From the inception of African slavery there have been records of many forms of resistance. From the time of capture to the plantation there were forms of resistance by the African slaves. The slaves did not passively accepted slavery and it conditions. It showed that they were determined to fight for their freedom no matter what the cost was. Almost every year there was some form of revolts on the plantation in individually or in groups. There were many daily disruptions the by the slaves as forms of protest and resistance. Slave Resistance can be looked in two ways. Passive Resistance which includes the following: Running Away Most Significant form of non-violent resistance. Easy to do (Physically) A destination however was needed (Sometimes not to be found). Jamaica, Trinidad, St. Vincent, and Guyana were good territories to run away in. The Maroons were runaways who stayed runaways. They set up their own communities apart from the plantation society. The Jamaica Maroons fought two major wars with the British and won which forced the granting of their freedom with a signed treaty. In the treaty they agreed to return all runaways to their masters. Many resources were spent by the plantation owners to catch the runaway slaves. They therefore had to discourage others from trying to do it. It contained many risks trying to recapture runaway slaves. Starvation Slaves starved themselves to death. To lessen their workload. This resulted in a decline of production in the plantation and also caused the owner to lose money if the slave died. Faking Illnesses Not being able to work. Most instances the master did not care but in instances where he thought it was contagious the slave would get rest. Again this disrupted the daily activities in production and the slave still had to be fed. Go Slow This was difficult to succeed. Most times there was a potential for the slave to be whipped. It was high risk to the slaves. In a way the slaves took risks of being punished at the same time trying to form resistances against being enslaved. Sabotage Damage equipment in the factory. Burn sugar cane crop. Kill Animals This was all extremely dangerous but was accomplished. It was highly effective because it resulted in the owner losing money making production of the crop to decline. They were times slaves were put to death if found out. Cultural Retention A vested interest by the slave masters was to take away their culture resulted in dehumanizing the slaves. A practice of drumming which the slaves was an important activity in African culture and religion. It was as type of identity for the slaves. However some of the slaves still practiced it. In removing culture and religion of the slaves, other cultures developed such as a mixture of the African religion with Christianity. By doing this it showed a form of resistance by the slaves. In doing so the slaves maintained form of communication unknown to the masters which enabled their revolts to be started. Educating Oneself It was felt to be most dangerous if slaves were able to read and understand what was communicated by the masters. Being knowledgeable was considered to be dangerous to the slave master because other slaves could be educated as well. By being knowledgeable the other slaves would be informed of what is taking place such as the news of the Haitian Revolt by slaves. Most slave societies had laws banning teaching slaves to read and write. Active Resistance which includes the following: Suicide Slaves killed themselves rather than have to live in such horrible conditions. This resulted in the slave masters to lose money on their investment. . Infanticide Even though the women protected their children they were prepared to save these children from the life they lived and had endured. This meant killing their infant instead of them being born as slaves. Poisoning Most revolts were started by women slaves who tried to poison their masters. Many slave women had knowledge of poisonous plants and used it against the owners. It was always on the minds of owners being poisoned by slave women who cooked for them. Open Revolt and Rebellion It must be noted that the only successful slave revolt was in Haiti in 1804.However many revolts were attempted in the British West Indies. The slave owners controlled how things were done in the plantation the way of life of the slaves but they could never have controlled the minds of the enslaved individual who only thought was freedom. The Major Revolts in the British West Indies Barbados Rebellion in 1816 In 1816 a major rebellion broke out led by an African born slave Bussa. It was spread across one third of the island and included seventy plantations. It was properly organized by the slaves wanting their freedom and a better way of life. By the time the revolt was over a quarter of the sugar cane crop was lost. It resulted in the execution of 214 slaves and the displacement of others who were sold off or shipped out. However it did accomplished a tremendous loss of income to the plantation owners. The Demerara Rebellion in 1823 With sugar prices down slaves were pushed harder in the sugar cane fields so as to increase the production levels. This resulted in a major rebellion in 1823 in Demerara organized by Quamina and Smith. It involved about 9000 slaves. It resulted in the death and injury of many enslaved people. It must be noted that no plantation owners or their families were hurt as in previous rebellion. The Jamaica Rebellion in 1831 The island on Jamaica had a numerous rebellions a total of 16 from 1655 to 1813.However the largest one took place in 1831. It started when enslaved people demanded payment for the work been done. It was led by Samuel Sharpe and it involved 20,000 slaves who took control of over 200 estates and seized a vast amount of land. It was eventually controlled resulting in the loss of live of 200 slaves and 14 British planters. This rebellion lasted several months and took the effort of the British troops and local militia to suppress it. The impact of this rebellion made the British realised the dangers and cost of continuing slavery because this rebellion dealt a very severe blow to the economic value of the plantation system in Jamaica. Thus it can be seen the main reason more and more historians are holding firm of the view that the slaves were themselves responsible for their own freedom. The slave population had vastly outnumbered the Europeans at that time. In number there is strength and the slaves were not going to tolerate being enslaved and dehumanized without putting up a fight. Most important the plantation owners had begun living a life of fear by the high number of revolts which placed their lives in danger even though more slaves died during and after any rebellion than whites. Therefore the threat of more rebellion caused the British to change its position of continuing slavery and whether it was economically viable enough to continue with the plantation system. 2.0 The Change in Economic Policies in England Nearing the end of the 18th century the profitability of the plantation and the system of slavery was in decline. This in a way contributed to the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 which was no longer profitable. The Industrial Revolution had started in England at this time and the economy was moving to a capitalist system. Britain no longer needed good that had been produced under the plantation system and which had to be heavily subsidized by the government Factories in Manchester had begun producing and employing thousands of workers producing goods like cotton which was in heavy demand and very profitable. This rapid growth of Industrialization required huge capital and money from the slavery made was now invested heavily in new factories instead of supporting a now non profitable plantation system. Sugar from the British West Indies could not be sold on the open market in England for a profit and as a result warehouses were overstocked. This was because of the open market system which allowed sugar to be purchased from the cheapest source such as Cuba and Brazil. At the same time too France was producing beet sugar which was cheaper and of a high quality too. Previously the British had imposed heavy taxes on sugar not produced by the British plantation. In this capitalist environment it was difficult for the government to have continued with a socialist economy. In addition the constant threat of revolts by the slaves made the situation worse for the planters. The revolts which occurred resulted in loss of valuable properties such as factories and white human lives. They the plantation system were no longer important to the thriving economic progress which took place in England .The new manufactures and now middle class no longer felt obligated to support a system which no longer brought in a huge sum of money. This resulted in the plantation owners to lose whatever allies and support they had at home. 3.0 The Church, the Abolitionist Movement and Reformation in Government During this period the British experienced had a rebirth in their Christian faith and the thinking of every man being a brother of another. Therefore slavery was now thought of as being very un-Christian and resulted in the Church joining the Abolitionist movement to end slavery. This caused the Church to become actively involved in the emancipation process. The Abolitionist wanted to see the end of slavery as soon as possible and now had tremendous power in parliament with a two-third majority. The plantation now had no lobbying power in parliament. Their campaign included prominent figures such as William Wilberforce who was an MP in parliament and Thomas Buxton who succeeded him. There were also radical figures as Thomas Clarkson whose group mounted tremendous pressures on the British parliament and government. This campaign led to the passage of the Emancipation Act in 1833 and which became law on 1st August 1834. The white working class in cities such as Manchester had begun to get signed petition to end slavery. They began a campaign which soon spread rapidly joining with the Abolitionist movement. In a way these humanitarians efforts did in a way hasten the emancipation process. The average working class citizens had begun to realize that the African slaves were their brothers and started to adopt a more humane stance. It must be noted that the plantation owners were given a grant of 20 million which for compensation for the loss of property and for ending slavery. This helped to enable the plantation owners to keep their properties and control of power intact. The African slaves got absolutely nothing except their so called freedom. The now freed slaves had no money or land to survive making the process of actually having to survive extremely difficult. Conclusion

Assimilationism vs. Multiculturalism Essay example -- Assimilationism

Assimilationism vs. Multiculturalism In the words of Thomas Bray, "Should we "assimilate" to one standard, or should we "celebrate" diversity?" This is a popular question in America's classrooms today. America, known as the melting pot, is made up of many different colors, races, religions, and beliefs. American professors, journalists, and authors would like to know if multiculturalism has a positive effect on children in today's classrooms. Whether or not the student's way of life and personal experiences should be discussed in class is a major issue. Maxine Hairston, a Professor of Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Texas at Austin, writes of her experience with teaching in a multicultural classroom. Hairston is a strong supporter of children writing on their background, culture, and way of life. She feels that this enhances the classroom's atmosphere. Maxine Hairston writes, "Gradually their truths will change, but so will ours because in such a classroom one continually learns from one's students." Living in a particular way all one's life can cause views and opinions on certain subjects, but when put into a classroom with other students, it decenters one's ideas. Hairston wants the classroom to be designed around the students. She states, "These students bring with them a kaleidoscope of experiences, values, dialects, and cultural backgrounds that we want to respond to positively and productively, using every resource we can to help them adapt to the academic world and become active participants in it." Hairston wa nts students of every race, color, religion, and belief to learn about writing while learning about others. Thomas Bray, a Detroit News Columnist, writes an editorial on the California sch... ...guistics, and is a successful author. Looking at three different perspectives of multiculturalism I see how important it is to welcome new ideas and people into my world. Although, like most things in life there must be a line drawn somewhere. If sharing your personal experiences, ideas, and beliefs makes you uncomfortable then by no means should you be punished for it within a classroom. Every person has a right to learn no matter what their race, religion, gender, or belief. And for that our national meting pot should keep on melting together to form an educated nation. Works Cited Bray, Thomas. "Memorial Day and Multiculturalism." Detroit News 24 May 1998. Hairston, Maxine. "Diversity, Idealogy, and Teaching Writing." College Composition and Communication 43.2 (May 1992): 179-195. Tan, Amy. "Mother Tongue." Three Penny Review. 1990.

The Root Of All Evil, Macbeth

G. R. Elliot once said, â€Å"wicked intention must in the end produce wicked action unless it is not merely revoked by the protagonist’s better feelings, but entirely eradicated by his inmost will, aided by Divine grace. † This statement can be directly applied to Macbeth’s descent into the darker recesses of human nature and what human weaknesses this classical tragic figure struggles with and finally succumbs to, causing his downfall. In William Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth is drawn to the murder of King Duncan, Banquo, and Fleance by his yearning for power. How could such a ourageous, gentle man such as Macbeth suddenly be transformed and drawn to do such evil? Surely he did not come up with such villainous thoughts of his own. His desire for control, authority, and jurisdiction was strengthened by evil sources, those from both the witches’ prophecies and his wife’s encouragement. In Macbeth it is very clear that evil begets evil. Shakespeare focuses on Macbeth’s courage early in the play. For example, Duncan and the sergeant both compliment Macbeth’s mental and physical bravery in Act I, Scene II. Macbeth â€Å"carv’d out his passage† until he and the enemy eneral were face to face. In the same act, the reader is told that Macbeth is brave because of his â€Å"disdaining Fortune. † In addition to his quality of courage, Macbeth is also a gentle man. Demonstrating his love and devotion for his wife, Macbeth refers to her as â€Å"his dearest partner of greatness† in Act I, Scene V. Lady Macbeth views his kindness as somewhat of a problem for their quest for power. She says that Macbeth is â€Å"too full o’ the milk of human kindness† to place them on the throne of Scotland as a result of murder. Macbeth realizes that Duncan is, n fact, a good and humble king, and other than to fulfill self-centered, uncontrolled ambitions, this is not reason to murder him. Macbeth is soon pressured into the murder of Duncan by both his wife and the three witches. The three witches are supernatural instruments of fate who predicted that Macbeth will become King of Scotland. In act I, scene III, the witches chant, â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter! When Macbeth hears this prophecy, many questions nstantly begin to run through his head. He begins to wonder, what are they talking about and how will I become king? Macbeth does not entirely trust the witches, for he does identify them with evil. The foretelling of the witches spark the plot of the murder. The spark becomes a flame when Lady Macbeth hears of the prophecy. Lady Macbeth is canny and masterful as she propels Macbeth to kill Duncan. She binds Macbeth’s attention to the throne of Scotland, but never to the severity of the crime. Lady Macbeth is clever when she constantly urges Macbeth to forget about his torments and the brutal death he has aused. Before the actual murder, Macbeth is shrouded with fear. Banquo can also see the fear in Macbeth, although he does not know about the plan of murder when he asks, â€Å"Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear/ Things that do sound so fair? † He ponders what would happen if he fails, and discusses this possibility with his wife. He struggles with fear in the presence of Lady Macbeth but she constantly reassures him that there is nothing to fear and that the murder will be for the better. This fear demonstrates that Macbeth does realize the difference between right and rong, good and evil, and the consequences, but the outcome, which is murder, proves he can be swayed in his beliefs and concerns. Macbeth was pressured to do a horrible deed which was driven by evil. The beginning of the evil was rooted in his wife and the witch’s but quickly spread into his mind and heart. Macbeth was soon contaminated by evil, although he realized what he had done was wrong. Macbeth says, â€Å"To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself,† meaning that committing such a vile act makes him uncomfortable. Evil drives Macbeth to later kill Banquo and Fleance for fear they know hat Macbeth was the murderer. One evil lead to another, for if he had not done evil by killing Duncan then he would not have done evil with the death of his best friend and his son. All the evil they committed to gain power, which was what they always wanted, led to great sorrow. They realized that the dead were much happier. While Macbeth and his wife were wracked with guilt and paranoia, Duncan was seen as the lucky in the eyes of Macbeth. He did not have any threats and was much safer than Macbeth who is feared losing his throne. Macbeth made these feelings clear when he said, â€Å"In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grace;/ After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. / Treason has done his worst; nor steel, nor poison,/ Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,/ Can touch him further. † Macbeth, soon killed by Macduff, now, too, can rest with worry. Lady Macbeth was also troubled by feelings of guilt. In her sleep she screams, â€Å"Out, damned spot! Out, I say! †¦/Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him. † Lady Macbeth is suffering from a dieses which she created from evil. Trouble and suffering have come into their lives in the place of power. Lady Macbeth ultimately kills herself, ending up in a state of peace without worries along with her husband. Macbeth is a basically good man who is troubled by his conscience and loyalty though at the same time is struggling with evils of ambition and murder. He is led to evil initially by the witches’ predictions and then by his wife’s goading, which he succumbs to because of his love for her. Lady Macbeth rids herself of any kindness that might stand in the way and fills that void with evil to achieve her ambitions. In both cases evil becomes controlling so much that both of there normal lives are ruined.