income :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the average American having a disposable income of $28,277, it is no wonder America has become the consumer nation that it is today (census.gov). In the past nine months American economy has shown an economic growth of 5.6%. Improvements in work industry are providing higher-paying, more permanent jobs than before, with less than 10% of new jobs created in 2005 being temporary (economist.com). With better employment opportunities and steady economic growth, America will become even more of a consumer culture than it is today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mark Hertsgaard observes a more compassionate side of America when he describes consumer spending post 9/11. â€Å"But the attacks also engendered a new seriousness among the American people, a turning away from self-indulgence and material things in favor of spiritual values and services to others† (Hertsgaard 40). The 9/11 attacks left Americans with feelings of sympathy and remorse, as well as a feeling of unity that was shared throughout the country. Hertsgaard stated that after the attacks, the consequent drop in consumer spending turned the economy into an outright recession (Hertsgaard 40). While the economy itself unarguably suffered an obvious and drastic decline, Americans did not waste much time before they used the attacks on the World Trade Center as a means to make a profit. Millions of products advertised as 9/11 memorabilia were suddenly being sold everywhere. These items were announced as apparent ways for American’s to show their un ity and patriotism, as well as their loyalty and support for their country. Sweatshirts, posters, coffee mugs, and just about anything that could somehow display images or messages were applicable to be sold as keepsakes from the tragic event.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While a day as disastrous and devastating as 9/11 left most of America with feelings of grief, especially for those who had lost loved ones, the â€Å"American Dream† was far from being forgotten. The American Dream holds different meanings for different individuals, depending on their own opinions and perceptions. Despite the fact that this phrase holds not one particular meaning, and is a somewhat varied idea, it’s accepted interpretation includes achieving prosperity through hard work, courage and determination   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Naturally, American’s strive to be the best they can be, regardless of what it is they are doing. It is normal for a person in any profession to desire a promotion, which is a direct route to their actual goal: a higher salary.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lee Price, of the Economic Policy Institute, holds an opinion which contrasts Hertsgaard’s idea that the 9/11 attacks were completely responsible for the economic decline.

Memory, Learning and Our Virtual Brains :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Clearly, education has an immediate and definite purpose in my own life. As a student, I have been exposed to events that have had a profound impact on the development of my interests, talents, values, or what some may call intelligence. My own approach to problem solving has inspired me to frame the question of the interplay of intelligence, human behavior, learning, and experience in the language of neuroscience. Neuroscience is appealing to me because it offers an explanation for the micro and macro-level processes that operate to create my complex and unique approach to problem solving and response to the world. In this way, the alignment of neuroscience with biology and psychology offer a convincing general plan for the framework of stimulus and response. That is, neural cell development impacts upon external stimulus reception that, in turn, directs cognitive processing and eventually elicits a behavioral response. This course has indicated to me that the neural circuitry invol ved with such systems of stimulus and response are not linear, but complex and interdependent. What follows is an integration of brain-based theories on internal representations of experience and memory for the purpose of providing perspective, and ultimately improving the conditions for learning and development in a progressive way. The term intrinsic variability has been drilled into our brains. No doubt, my dendritic spines have stretched, etching a special "intrinsic variability" path extending from deep in my hippocampus to the folds of my neocortex. When I recall this phrase, a furious stream of chemical spills and reactions is ignited. In my brain, this stream passes through neurons that code for other phrases that have become important to me throughout this course, for example, learning, memory, intelligence, and feedback. But like the term implies, this is my own stream. In my final web paper I will guide you through the landmarks of my path. What follows from intrinsic variability is the idea that the brain is plastic, or impressionable. It seems there is a stability-plasticity trade-off where our brains are hardwired to retain function, yet malleable enough to learn, create memories and, in some cases, compensate for functional damage (1). With each moment that passes, a particular exchange with the ex ternal world rearranges some piece of neural circuitry, yielding unique and diverse neural patterns for each individual(2).That no brain ever looks the same from one moment to the next makes the job of understanding brain function inherently difficult.

Colonial Representations of Natives - the Indian :: Essays Papers

Colonial Representations of Natives - the "Indian" At the outset, it should be noted here that the use of the term "Indian" to describe the aboriginal peoples of North America is somewhat contentious. As is well known, its use derives from Columbus's mistaken belief that he had arrived in the East Indies; and this situating of Natives within an already existent European discourse is in many ways paradigmatic of what was to follow during the centuries of colonisation and settlement. For it should be made clear that the "Indian" is a European invention, and that there has always been a great deal of slippage between the representations of this figure and the realities of the lives of Native North Americans. In fact, the Indian has always represented as much about European fears and concerns as it has about actual Natives. Add to this the fact that the popular image of the Indian has in large part been shaped by commercial considerations - give the audience what it wants to see - and it becomes clear that we are dealing with a very comp lex set of relationships. For this reason, the purpose of this page is principally to outline some of the characteristics of the Indian as he has been created by Europeans, and not to consider the lives of real Natives. Now, the most obvious problem with the term should be that it lumps together all the various nations, ignoring the wide differences which exist between the diverse cultures which originally inhabited the continent. But the masking effect of the stereotype runs deeper than this. As is often the case with Western encounters with alien peoples, the representation bifurcates. What we tend to find is either the "noble savage" or the barbarous, bloodthirsty primitive. The first term here was coined by John Dryden, and conveys the idea of man in a state of nature, untainted by the perceived evils of civilisation, such as avarice or ambition. It is a projection of the fear that somehow the Western way of life has become corrupt, and is in need of redemption. Traces of this view of the Indian are still apparent in the twentieth century, when many people believe Natives to have a kind of spirituality connected to a universal harmony and a balance with the natural world. In the nineteenth centu ry the Canadian poet Charles Mair wrote a long poem called Tecumseh, which included the lines:

Theater Review: No Child

In 2001 President George W. Bush proposed the No Child Left behind Act which forced schools to take action with the below average test scores. Due to this act schools are required to have their students take tests and have a certain percentage increase in grades every year otherwise there would be consequences from a school being labeled as a needing improvement to the extreme of having it privately run or shut down. The play â€Å"No Child† written by Nilaja Sun acts as a direct commentary for the need of the No Child Left behind Act. In this play the characters and their actions have such a strong correlation to the real problems that students in under privileged societies in America face as well as the need for reform in the education department. (No Child Left Behind) The setting of the play is the school that seems unfit for children to be going to receive an education. The janitor describes the school â€Å"The building fallin apart, paint chipping, water damage, a whole in the fourth floor ceiling that aint been fixed since 87, all the bathrooms on the third floor, they all broke. The school is also described by the janitor as having â€Å"one hundred thousand dollars' worth of security system which includes two metal detecting machines, seven metal detecting wands, five school guards and three NYC police officers. All armed†. (Sun 5) These descriptions of the school itself appear that education is not the primary focus of the leadership in the school district. It seems that the funding that the school is being given is not being utilized to its full potential for the benefit of the student's education. In public schools across the nation this is the actual setting of how the school can be described. With the No Child Left Behind act schools are pushed to make education the primary focus in order to give students an equal chance at life afterwards. (No Child Left Behind) As stated earlier the characters have a strong correlation to students and educators in real life. Being a teacher is described as being â€Å"underpaid, unappreciated, and underpaid job in this crazy universe. (Sun 6) The tenth grade class in this play is group of disrespectful, hopeless kids that are just pushed around all day and treated as if they are convicts themselves. It seems that in this story every person who is in a position to make a positive change whether it be the parents or the teachers push it off on someone else to do. The first teacher that the audience encounters is a woman named Ms. Tam who is underpaid and unappreciated as well as blatantly disrespected by her students and has no control over them. It gets to the point that Ms. Tam actually ends up leaving because she cannot handle the students. Prior to the No Child Left Behind act new teachers were only required to have bachelor's degree, be fully certified and to have a subject matter knowledge generally through tests. After the act was implemented, the standards for all teachers were required to be highly qualified which is different in every state regardless if they are new or have reached their tenure. The act also makes it so the teacher's salary could be raised or dropped depending on how the students performed on their tests. By doing this teachers are required to take responsibility for their students which requires them to go above the bare minimum. (No Child Left Behind) The next teacher that the audience sees interaction with between the students is Ms. Sun. Right off the bat the audience sees that she is someone that not only cares about what she is teaching but about the students that she is teaching. She lays down rules about being in class on time, eating in class and being respectful to everyone. She gets the students to actually care and want to take part of the play that she was hired to be in charge of a play that the students previously scoffed at. By getting the students to take part of the play actually gives them a greater hope for their future that they don't have to end up hopeless, a characteristic that society has already label them as being. These are the teachers that the No Child Left behind act is instituting, teachers that have the ability to push their students to have an equal chance that privileged and well educated students have. Ms. Sun is not here to do the bare minimum required; she is here to make a change in students who just need guidance. (No Child Left Behind) The students are probably the most important characters in this play in correlation to the No Child Left Behind act. The audience gets to see the transformation that begins to take place in the students after a teacher who goes above and beyond what her peers are doing with their students. In the beginning of the play the students proudly characterize themselves as the worst class ever. Mrs. Kennedy later on refutes this claim by saying, â€Å"Look, I understand that they consider themselves the worst class in school. News Flash – they're not even close. (Sun 21) It is this statement that the audience can understand that although this class is pretty horrible there are worse classes which shows that it is the school as a whole that is failing at their job. Towards the end of the play the students have done a complete 180. Not only are they wanting to take part of the play but they are doing what they need to for class such as showing up on time, not eating in class and not being disruptive. One of the students who were initially the leader of not doing the play actually says that he is looking forward to taking part of it next year. All that it took was a determination of the teacher to push past the expectations of failure of these students and found a way to reach them. At the end of the play instead of every student being a failure as originally thought some go on to Harvard while others make proud livings for themselves. The play was a strong motivator that provoked emotion and the responsibility to help the cause. The play was more than direct commentary in one's opinion, and more a piece of propaganda to move the audience to join the fight. The play shows the horrors of reality and a resolution that leaves the children and audience with hope. The bottom line is to show the audience that these children are not hopeless or lost causes and they need people to have hope and believe their fate is not sealed with the circumstances they were born into.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Essay

â€Å"As he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck; a blinding white light blazes all around him with a sound like the shock of a cannon—then all is darkness and silence†. Ambrose Bierce has a unique way of captivating reader’s attention and it is perfectly shown in his short story â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge†. The story tells about a man in southern Alabama during the Civil War, which is about to be hanged by a group of Union soldiers. This man to be hanged is identified as a gentleman named Peyton Farquhar who attempted to destroy the Owl Creek Bridge, the same one they are standing on. Suddenly, the rope snaps and he falls into the river where he somehow manages to swim ashore in order to escape from the Union soldiers. As he pulls himself ashore, he now starts the long journey home. After walking all day and night without feeling â€Å"the roadway beneath his feet† he arrives home and as he is about to hug his wife, he feels a strong pain in his neck and hears a loud noise. Farquhar was now dead by hanging, and all of his escape was just a dream of his. It is set in the Owl Creek Bridge in Alabama where Peyton Farquhar is about to be hanged early in the morning. The whole story happens just in one day, even though the author mentions flashbacks of Peyton’s past. On one side of the creek there is forest and on the other is a group of Union Soldiers. There is a cannon hiding in a line of trees and the soldiers are preparing to execute Farquhar with a rope around his neck. There is only one main character in the story and three secondary characters. Peyton Farquhar is a plantation owner who comes from a wealthy family from the south. However he is a strong supporter of the Southern cause. He is arrested and is to be hanged by the Union soldiers because he attempted to destroy Owl Creek Bridge so that the Union soldiers wouldn’t pass by his hometown. There is also Mrs. Farquhar, Peyton’s wife who was a small but significant role in the story. She is the one who alerts Peyton of the arrival of the Union soldiers to their town. The groups of Union soldiers include executioners, a Lieutenant who gives the final orders; there are sentinels, officers and also soldiers along the shore. There is also a Union Scout, which is mentioned in one of Farquhar’s flashback, who is a soldier that rides onto Farquhar’s plantation asking for a glass of water wearing Confederate gray. He later on turns out to be the one who warns the Union soldiers about Farquhar’s plan to burn down Owl Creek Bridge. The story is divided in three parts. None of them are written in first person. Most of the story is told in a third person point of view. The storyteller can observe events but cannot enter the mind of ant character and cannot change ant of his or her thoughts. However in some parts of the story, the narration changes to omniscient third person point of view. We know this because the author takes the reader inside Farquhar’s mind to show how his mind interprets reality. When it comes to talking about the theme, Peyton Farquhar denies reality. He avoids it. This is why he enters into the delusional state of mind. While being hanged he dreams that he escapes after the weight of he’s body breaks the rope and he swims to safety, and long after he returns to his home. Even though this dream lasts only seconds, in Farquhar’s mind it lasts the whole day. This could be a way of the author to say that Farquhar refuses to accept the reality that is going on during the civil war, where even gentlemen like him who support the Southern cause can be victims of what the barbarous Union soldiers can do. The story was published in 1891 right after the civil war in the United States of America. Bierce tries to express how the cruelty took place during the years of the Civil war, how slaves were treated and condemned. By Farquhar’s character Bierce expresses how anybody who opposed the Union to support the Southern cause was seen as a rebellious person no matter his social position. There is a controversy between critics when it comes to categorizing this short story into a literary form. Some critics say that the story is a narration: it has a beginning, a middle and an end. However some critics believe that because of the ending, the story is more of a thriller, suspense or even mystery. Bierce uses a unique way to shift from different tones during the story. He changes from an authorial realistic voice, to a fantastic tone in order to immerse into Farquhar’s mind. â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† is a very interesting story with a surprising twist. Ambrose Bierce uses many different techniques to show the reader how brutal and savage the Civil war was like and how people was treated. This short story changed the American culture.

Laws and Legislation Essay

Main principles: The Act sets out the general guidelines that employers have towards employees, and employees have to themselves and to each other . These guidelines are set in the Act by the principle of so far as is reasonably practicable. In other words, an employer does not have to take measures to avoid or reduce the risk if they are technically impossible or if the time, trouble or cost of the measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk. This also includes and mandatory training that must be completed before commencing in the work place i.e Moving and handling. Influence in my own job role: In my job role I refer to this act daily as I continually risk assess any type of situation and ensure I adhere to this act at all times by ensuring that I do not put myself or others at any risk. With new staff members, I ensure that they are allocated a place on the next Moving and Handling course and ensure that they are not working with any tenant that may include using hoists etc. Control of substances hazardous to health regulation 2002 COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that may be hazardous to health. This can be prevented by finding out what the health hazards are by contacting the company of any cleaning product etc and gaining a data sheet for this. deciding how to prevent harm to health by completing a risk assessment for each cleaning product as per the Data Sheet. providing control measures to reduce harm to health. After completing the risk assessment, decide whether to used the product. making sure they are used by including ways to prevent i.e skin contact with a hazardous substance and ways this can be resolved if this does happen. Ensuring that all risk assessments are reviewed regularly. Influence in my own job role: Again I use this in my every day working life as I ensure that all cleaning products have data sheets and no product that has not been risk assessed is used. I also ensure that no bleach products are used in the tenants own homes. I also ensure that the risk assessments are reviewed every 6 months. RIDDOR regulations 1995 Main Principles: This regulation requires employers to report job related injuries that result in 3 or more days off work. Also the employer must report and outbreak of illness or disease in the workplace. This is in accordance with the Health and Safety at work Act 1974. This helps the Health and Safety Executive to investigate and find out ways of preventing workplace injuries. Influence in my job role: I use knowledge of this regulation all the time in my day to day job. As a senior support worker I ensure that any injury sustained in correctly written up and reported to the correct people. Personal Protective Equipment at work regulation 1992 The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 cover equipment intended to be used by a person at work that requires protection against health and safety risks. This includes protective clothing (e.g. overalls, weatherproof clothing, gloves, safety footwear) as well as equipment such as protective eyewear and safety harnesses. Influence in my job role. I use PPE every day in my job as I am required to carry out personal care on service users. This is to protect myself from any health and safety risks e.g slipping on floors, cutting myself, cross contamination. I also ensure that all support worker use PPE where applicable. The Data Protection act 1998 The purpose of the Act is to protect the rights and privacy of individuals, and to ensure that data about them are not gathered without their knowledge and are gained with their consent wherever possible. The Act covers personal data relating to living people. There are 8 main principles to this act which are: 1. Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully 2. Personal data shall be obtained only for a specified and lawful purpose or purposes, and shall not be further processed in any manner incompatible with that purpose or purposes 3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose or purposes for which they are processed. 4. Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. 5. Personal data processed for any purpose shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose 6. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under the Data Protection Act 7. Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken to prevent the unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and the accidental loss, destruction of or damage to personal data. 8. Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data. ( Taken from www.soac.co.uk) Influence in my own job role. I use this in my day to day job as I ensure that myself and all staff uphold confidentiality at all times. I ensure that records beloning to the service user are kept in their own homes and only them and any significant others have access to them. I also ensure that all staff including myself record any data regarding the tenant clearly and factually, and again this is kept in the tenants own home. SSSC Codes of practice. The Code of Practice for Social Service Workers describe the standards of professional conduct and practice required of social service workers as they go about their daily work. They describe that responsibilities if the employer towards the employee and the responsibilities of the employee themselves. Influence in my own job role I continually revise these codes of practice and adhere to them in my day to day life. I ensure that all support workers that I supervise have a good knowledge of these and also encourage them to continually revise them to gain a knowledge of these. My employer ensures that I have all the mandatory training that I need to enable me to carry out my job to the best of my ability and with the knowledge and skills to perform in an acceptable way. National care Standards. These are standards set by the government to ensure that all individuals in care are able to lead a fulfilling life. The 6 standards are: Choice Dignity Privacy Equality and Diversity Realising Potential Influence in my own job role I use these standards to influence the way I support my tenants. As I work in a supported living service, it is very easy to become insitutionalised by ‘doing everything’ for the tenant. By following the 6 main principles I ensure that the tenant can so as much as they can themselves. I support them to set goals for themselves and support them in their day to day life. The Disability Discrimination act 1995 The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 aims to end the discrimination that faces many people with disabilities. It now gives people with disabilities rights in the areas of: employment   education   access to goods, facilities and services, including larger private clubs and transport services buying or renting land or property, including making it easier for people with disabilities to rent property and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations functions of public bodies, for example issuing of licences The legislation requires public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for people with disabilities. It also allows the government to set minimum standards so that people with disabilities can use public transport easily (taken from www.nidirect.gov.uk) Influences in my own Job role: I continually adhere to this act in day to day life. I support tenants to gain employment and explain their own rights to them so that if they encounter any problems e,g gaining access to somewhere, then I will help them to take the steps required to change something and to be able to have easy access anywhere. The Mental Health act 2003 This act covers individuals with mental health problems who may need to be admitted to hospital due to health problems that may not be deemed as important to that individual due to their mental health problems. This can be done against their will if it in the individuals best interests. Influence in my own job role. As I work with a couple of individuals with mental health problems I have knowledge of this act and if that individual is suffering in any way, shape or form, I will ensure that I contact the relevant individuals to ensure the safety of the tenant is in my best interests. Adults with incapacity act 2000 This guide outlines who the Act can help and the arrangements that can be put in place to give others authority to act or make decisions for someone who lacks capacity to do so for him/herself. It explains what is meant by ‘incapacity’ and sets out the principles to be followed by everyone who is authorised to act on behalf of someone with incapacity. Influence in my job role I do not directly use this in my job role but I am aware of this as there are a couple of individuals who are deemed to not have capacity and they have family members who are welfare guardian and also financial appointees. I am aware the person appointed as welfare guardian can make decision about that individuals life, health etc over and above that individual as long as it is in the individuals best interests. Public services reform act 2010 This act ensures that all governed care companies are inspected by the SCSWIS to ensure that all rights of individuals in our care are upheld. Influence in my job role This influences me in my job role on a daily basis as, as a company we strive to better ourselves continually and work on improving our service that we deliver in adherence to the most recent inspection by SCSWIS. When there is an inspection I have involvement with this by either filling in staff questionnaires, supporting tenants to fill in service user questionnaires and also, if on shift, talking with the inspector.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

â€Å"Dr. King’s Call to Action† In Dr. King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† he shows that nonviolence is the way to get the positive attention that his plight deserved. He believed that to use violence was negative on a couple of points. First, violence always gets negative attention. Second, violence was the way the Klu Klux Klan went about their business. He wanted to expose unjust laws and do it in a fashion that conveyed his beliefs without causing other problems. In Dr.King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† he is trying to convince his â€Å"fellow clergymen† (566) that his fight for the civil liberties is a just one, and that the march was a nonviolent one and one that was surely needed. Dr. King stated, â€Å"we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny† (566). King is saying that it’s something that can no longer be ignored, that he can no longer sit on the s ideline and be an idle observer. The black man has to take it to the streets. In this letter, Dr. King showed that nonviolence, direct action, and the ability to stand by one’s convictions are the right path.In his quest for racial equality, Martin Luther King came to the conclusion that nonviolent resistance was the only way to achieve this goal. It was his belief that social justice could be achieved only by changing the hearts and minds of the oppressors. Violence would only distract from the main goal, cause bitterness between the opposing groups and shut down any possibility of reconciliation. His theory of nonviolent resistance meant that a protester could be as passionate as a violent one, but in rejecting physical aggression, the nonviolent protester leaves open the possibility of a transformation.The absence of violence lets the other person see issues from a clearer perspective, one that isn't clouded by the aftermath of a violent confrontation. Nonviolent resistanc e was the first step. Dr. King also stressed that direct action was needed for racial equality to exist. Dr. King and his followers would have no alternative but to â€Å"present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and national community† (567). Dr.King felt that direct action â€Å"is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation† (568). King felt that direct action was the only course to take because his hand had been forced this way by the unwillingness of southern society to take any action at all. Finally, Dr. King said that before anyone takes direct action, the protester first needs to â€Å"purify† (567) their soul so that he or she will have no regrets going forward. Taking direct action is the right path but, it needs to be understood that there will be consequences for those actions.Taking a stand has never been easy and can be extremely difficult, but for the f uture progress of the African American, it was necessary. The protester needed to possess a firm moral conviction that their cause was a righteous and just cause. By combining nonviolent resistance, direct action, and a firm conviction of their cause, King was confident that the oppressors would come to join him in the quest for equality. All other issues would fade away and the only thing left to see would be the true issue, a â€Å"good versus evil† perspective.The Letter from Birmingham Jail† was written at a time when America had little room for blacks and their customs. It was a white man’s country, and the white man wanted it to stay that way. If not for the courage of King’s convictions it might have remained that way. Dr. King should be seen as an American hero that had the where-with-all to follow through with what he saw as a total injustice. He accomplished this by adopting a plan of action that consisted of nonviolence, direct action, and the c onvictions of his beliefs. Letter from Birmingham Jail The struggle for civil rights and civil liberty by African American in the United States of America brought about some of the darkest days in American history. Till this day, majority of Americans regardless of race or color look back at that period with regret. Dr Martin Luther King, a prominent leader in the civil rights movement was persecuted by his oppressors but he persevered relentlessly in the fight for equal rights for African Americans mainly because we were fighting for a just cause. The letter from Birmingham Jail is a response by Dr King to statements by eight Alabama Clergymen denouncing the use of street protests by Dr King’s organization in the fight for civil liberty. Critics of Dr King’s philosophy on civil disobedience argue that the actions of his organization are well against civil law but in his letter, Dr. King tries to persuade the opposition about the relevance of street protests or civil disobedience in the fight for equality for all people. He expresses his opposition to segregation from a moral perspective, logical perspective as well as an emotional plea to sway an audience into action in a quest to achieve civil liberty and equal rights for Black people. Although the letter was a direct reply to the clergymen’s statements, it served a broader purpose by also reaching out to the large middle class which was composed mainly of moderate white Americans. In his response, Dr King uses a subtle and persuasive approach in an attempt to sway critics of his philosophical views on civil disobedience. By writing the letter, Dr Kings intent was to sway individuals who held opposing views from his, bringing all together to share an understanding. Knowing that the middle class comprises mainly of moderate Americans who are opposed to extreme views and actions and very much inline with religious beliefs and values, Dr Kings utilized this avenue to challenge the conscience of the group. Evidence of this is shown in the letter where he writes: â€Å"Must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to â€Å"order† than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: â€Å"I agree with ou in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action†; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a â€Å"more convenient season. † Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering tha n outright rejection. †(M. L. K, 1963, April 16) This shows that he is in touch with the views of his audience giving him the ability to make a great impact on the reader. The opposition held the view that civil disobedience and street protest were unjust, simply because it was against the law. Laws are principles and regulations that are established in a community by some authority and is applicable it people. I believe that argument posed by Dr King’s opposition is that there is no justification to breaking a law. However, in my opinion there could be moral justifications in breaking a law depending on the nature of the situation. Hence, I concur with Dr King’s philosophical view on civil disobedience. â€Å"To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. †(M. L. K, 1963, April 16) The African American civil rights movement used civil disobedience as a means of getting their voice heard by the masses and opposition. Those protests are justifiable from a moral standpoint in that African Americans unjustifiably had their rights denied by their oppressors and used civil disobedience as a means to acquire their God-given rights. According to my beliefs, it is immoral to go against the rule of law without legitimate necessity but it is morally justifiable to do so in due cause such as the case of Dr King and the African American Civil Rights movement. Accordingly, there is also a logical perspective to civil disobedience which Dr King also uses eloquently in his letter. He addressed the statements made by the clergymen which called his actions â€Å"unwise and untimely†. Letter from Birmingham Jail In the â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†, written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the first three paragraphs tell the reader a lot about what is important to the author of the letter and what kind of purpose he had for writing this letter. In these paragraphs the most important aspects of what Dr. King was trying to convey can be easily identified and understood, giving us insight into a time and place that has become so important to American history for many reasons. In the introduction of the letter King describes his purpose for writing the letter, and what led him to feel that he had to write it in answer to the criticism of other clergymen who were judgmental about the actions that put him behind bars in the first place. In this paragraph we can clearly see that King is wishing to set the record straight about his actions and what his motivations were. He writes â€Å"If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day†, proving that while he is aware that people are judging him and criticizing him, he chooses not to listen to it usually because he feels that his time is better used for working towards his goals. The second paragraph is important to the rest of the letter because it establishes King’s place within Alabama and his affiliations to various organizations, all of which brought him to Alabama in the first place. He feels that his fellow clergymen were questioning his motivations for going to Alabama, as well as his purpose in being there. He wanted the clergymen to know that he had a reason to be there, saying â€Å"We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise.† Here, we see the intended audience of King’s letter, as well as the purpose and subject of his letter. All of these things are more clear because of this paragraph. The next paragraph is, in essence, is the thesis for this letter because it gives the readers a clear picture of what the rest of the letter is about. Here is where he puts, into simple terms, why he is in Alabama and why he feels compelled to do his peaceful protesting. King spells it out when he says, â€Å"Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their â€Å"thus saith the Lord† far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I. compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town†. He feels that this is a labor of love, something that is his duty, and for this reason he feels that to convey his passion about civil rights through this letter is imperative to his gaining the respect of others. The rest of the letter is set up in these three paragraphs.          Letter from Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King, Jr. penned â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† in 1963 after being arrested for his participation in a non-violent demonstration against segregation. In his letter, King discusses the current societal problems of segregation and how best to demand change. King firmly believes that the best way to go about trying to enact change with regard to racial barriers is through non-violent means. Violence only breeds more violence, whereas non-violent protests and demonstrations allow for a peaceful protest that will force more change. Using a non-violent approach was the most effective way for the African American community to voice their opinions and reap the changes that they so earnestly sought. Non-violent action allows for the community to stand up and demand action through sit-ins, and other peaceful demonstrations in order to make governmental leaders and officials take note of the problem and attempt to address it. King notes, â€Å"Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue†. When a community at large believes that they are being treated in an unjust manner and demonstrates their opinions through marches or sit-ins, rather than riots or other violent means, it has a much better chance of forcing negotiations with governmental leaders than a violent approach. When a responsible citizen or a group of citizens act responsibly to force change, it is much more likely that they will be taken seriously. If a group of African Americans were rioting and using other violent means to take a stand against racial injustice, they would only be labeled as part of the problem rather than a part of the solution. Non-violent demonstrations allow for a community to let their frustration and discontent out through a creative outlet that does cause a setback in their goals. King compares his passion for equality between races to the same passion that Jesus had for love, or that Paul had a passion for the gospel. Comparatively speaking, both Jesus and Paul had profound effects on the society that they existed within, though peaceful and passionate means. King says of the oppressed black man, â€Å"If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat, but a fact of history†. By acting with passion, but without violence, the African American community is able to further their cause through showing that they only want to be treated justly. The non-violent approach that King and his followers demonstrated in their fight for social equality was the most effective forum for them to voice their opinions. Through sit-ins, marches, and other non-violent demonstrations, the African American community was able to come together and demand change without causing violence that would only hinder their cause. Had violent means been used in an attempt to gain equality, the African American community would have been labeled as part of the problem, rather than being taken seriously. A non-violent approach to the injustices faced by the African American community showed the governmental leaders that these oppressed peoples were responsible citizens, deserving of the basic rights they were being denied. However, violent demonstrations would have setback the attempts to gain equality.    Letter from Birmingham Jail The struggle for civil rights and civil liberty by African American in the United States of America brought about some of the darkest days in American history. Till this day, majority of Americans regardless of race or color look back at that period with regret. Dr Martin Luther King, a prominent leader in the civil rights movement was persecuted by his oppressors but he persevered relentlessly in the fight for equal rights for African Americans mainly because we were fighting for a just cause. The letter from Birmingham Jail is a response by Dr King to statements by eight Alabama Clergymen denouncing the use of street protests by Dr King’s organization in the fight for civil liberty. Critics of Dr King’s philosophy on civil disobedience argue that the actions of his organization are well against civil law but in his letter, Dr. King tries to persuade the opposition about the relevance of street protests or civil disobedience in the fight for equality for all people. He expresses his opposition to segregation from a moral perspective, logical perspective as well as an emotional plea to sway an audience into action in a quest to achieve civil liberty and equal rights for Black people. Although the letter was a direct reply to the clergymen’s statements, it served a broader purpose by also reaching out to the large middle class which was composed mainly of moderate white Americans. In his response, Dr King uses a subtle and persuasive approach in an attempt to sway critics of his philosophical views on civil disobedience. By writing the letter, Dr Kings intent was to sway individuals who held opposing views from his, bringing all together to share an understanding. Knowing that the middle class comprises mainly of moderate Americans who are opposed to extreme views and actions and very much inline with religious beliefs and values, Dr Kings utilized this avenue to challenge the conscience of the group. Evidence of this is shown in the letter where he writes: â€Å"Must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to â€Å"order† than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: â€Å"I agree with ou in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action†; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a â€Å"more convenient season. † Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering tha n outright rejection. †(M. L. K, 1963, April 16) This shows that he is in touch with the views of his audience giving him the ability to make a great impact on the reader. The opposition held the view that civil disobedience and street protest were unjust, simply because it was against the law. Laws are principles and regulations that are established in a community by some authority and is applicable it people. I believe that argument posed by Dr King’s opposition is that there is no justification to breaking a law. However, in my opinion there could be moral justifications in breaking a law depending on the nature of the situation. Hence, I concur with Dr King’s philosophical view on civil disobedience. â€Å"To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. †(M. L. K, 1963, April 16) The African American civil rights movement used civil disobedience as a means of getting their voice heard by the masses and opposition. Those protests are justifiable from a moral standpoint in that African Americans unjustifiably had their rights denied by their oppressors and used civil disobedience as a means to acquire their God-given rights. According to my beliefs, it is immoral to go against the rule of law without legitimate necessity but it is morally justifiable to do so in due cause such as the case of Dr King and the African American Civil Rights movement. Accordingly, there is also a logical perspective to civil disobedience which Dr King also uses eloquently in his letter. He addressed the statements made by the clergymen which called his actions â€Å"unwise and untimely†. Letter from Birmingham Jail â€Å"Dr. King’s Call to Action† In Dr. King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† he shows that nonviolence is the way to get the positive attention that his plight deserved. He believed that to use violence was negative on a couple of points. First, violence always gets negative attention. Second, violence was the way the Klu Klux Klan went about their business. He wanted to expose unjust laws and do it in a fashion that conveyed his beliefs without causing other problems. In Dr.King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† he is trying to convince his â€Å"fellow clergymen† (566) that his fight for the civil liberties is a just one, and that the march was a nonviolent one and one that was surely needed. Dr. King stated, â€Å"we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny† (566). King is saying that it’s something that can no longer be ignored, that he can no longer sit on the s ideline and be an idle observer. The black man has to take it to the streets. In this letter, Dr. King showed that nonviolence, direct action, and the ability to stand by one’s convictions are the right path.In his quest for racial equality, Martin Luther King came to the conclusion that nonviolent resistance was the only way to achieve this goal. It was his belief that social justice could be achieved only by changing the hearts and minds of the oppressors. Violence would only distract from the main goal, cause bitterness between the opposing groups and shut down any possibility of reconciliation. His theory of nonviolent resistance meant that a protester could be as passionate as a violent one, but in rejecting physical aggression, the nonviolent protester leaves open the possibility of a transformation.The absence of violence lets the other person see issues from a clearer perspective, one that isn't clouded by the aftermath of a violent confrontation. Nonviolent resistanc e was the first step. Dr. King also stressed that direct action was needed for racial equality to exist. Dr. King and his followers would have no alternative but to â€Å"present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and national community† (567). Dr.King felt that direct action â€Å"is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation† (568). King felt that direct action was the only course to take because his hand had been forced this way by the unwillingness of southern society to take any action at all. Finally, Dr. King said that before anyone takes direct action, the protester first needs to â€Å"purify† (567) their soul so that he or she will have no regrets going forward. Taking direct action is the right path but, it needs to be understood that there will be consequences for those actions.Taking a stand has never been easy and can be extremely difficult, but for the f uture progress of the African American, it was necessary. The protester needed to possess a firm moral conviction that their cause was a righteous and just cause. By combining nonviolent resistance, direct action, and a firm conviction of their cause, King was confident that the oppressors would come to join him in the quest for equality. All other issues would fade away and the only thing left to see would be the true issue, a â€Å"good versus evil† perspective.The Letter from Birmingham Jail† was written at a time when America had little room for blacks and their customs. It was a white man’s country, and the white man wanted it to stay that way. If not for the courage of King’s convictions it might have remained that way. Dr. King should be seen as an American hero that had the where-with-all to follow through with what he saw as a total injustice. He accomplished this by adopting a plan of action that consisted of nonviolence, direct action, and the c onvictions of his beliefs. Letter from Birmingham Jail â€Å"Dr. King’s Call to Action† In Dr. King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† he shows that nonviolence is the way to get the positive attention that his plight deserved. He believed that to use violence was negative on a couple of points. First, violence always gets negative attention. Second, violence was the way the Klu Klux Klan went about their business. He wanted to expose unjust laws and do it in a fashion that conveyed his beliefs without causing other problems. In Dr.King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† he is trying to convince his â€Å"fellow clergymen† (566) that his fight for the civil liberties is a just one, and that the march was a nonviolent one and one that was surely needed. Dr. King stated, â€Å"we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny† (566). King is saying that it’s something that can no longer be ignored, that he can no longer sit on the s ideline and be an idle observer. The black man has to take it to the streets. In this letter, Dr. King showed that nonviolence, direct action, and the ability to stand by one’s convictions are the right path.In his quest for racial equality, Martin Luther King came to the conclusion that nonviolent resistance was the only way to achieve this goal. It was his belief that social justice could be achieved only by changing the hearts and minds of the oppressors. Violence would only distract from the main goal, cause bitterness between the opposing groups and shut down any possibility of reconciliation. His theory of nonviolent resistance meant that a protester could be as passionate as a violent one, but in rejecting physical aggression, the nonviolent protester leaves open the possibility of a transformation.The absence of violence lets the other person see issues from a clearer perspective, one that isn't clouded by the aftermath of a violent confrontation. Nonviolent resistanc e was the first step. Dr. King also stressed that direct action was needed for racial equality to exist. Dr. King and his followers would have no alternative but to â€Å"present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and national community† (567). Dr.King felt that direct action â€Å"is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation† (568). King felt that direct action was the only course to take because his hand had been forced this way by the unwillingness of southern society to take any action at all. Finally, Dr. King said that before anyone takes direct action, the protester first needs to â€Å"purify† (567) their soul so that he or she will have no regrets going forward. Taking direct action is the right path but, it needs to be understood that there will be consequences for those actions.Taking a stand has never been easy and can be extremely difficult, but for the f uture progress of the African American, it was necessary. The protester needed to possess a firm moral conviction that their cause was a righteous and just cause. By combining nonviolent resistance, direct action, and a firm conviction of their cause, King was confident that the oppressors would come to join him in the quest for equality. All other issues would fade away and the only thing left to see would be the true issue, a â€Å"good versus evil† perspective.The Letter from Birmingham Jail† was written at a time when America had little room for blacks and their customs. It was a white man’s country, and the white man wanted it to stay that way. If not for the courage of King’s convictions it might have remained that way. Dr. King should be seen as an American hero that had the where-with-all to follow through with what he saw as a total injustice. He accomplished this by adopting a plan of action that consisted of nonviolence, direct action, and the c onvictions of his beliefs.