St. Francis Of Assisi Essays - Christianity, Religion,

St. Francis Of Assisi Saint Francis of Assisi Francis was born at Assisi in Umbria in the early 1180's. His fath er was Pietro Bernadone, a very wealthy cloth merchant. His baptized name was Giovanni but it was changed to Francesco. Francis received a decent amount of schooling as a child although he did not show much interest in it. He was very spoiled and did not want to go into his father's business. He had high status, was handsome, wore fine clothing, and was very well known with the people of Assisi. His city often had brawls with the rivaling city of Perugia. This was unfortunate,yet fortunate for Francis. He had gone along to join the fighting and was defeated and taken as a prisoner. It was unfortunate in that he was held captive for over a year and had gotten ill. It was fortunate because he began to think about great glory, which is the beginning toward his golden years. When he had been released he was eager to take on a miliitary career. He was ready to face the emperor of the Neapolitan States along with a friend. It was then that he had a dream. He saw a hallway with armour hanging on the walls that had the cross on them. He heard a voice that said ?These are for you and your soldiers?. In 1205, he continued on his quest but was struck by illness once again. During the course of this, he had another dream. He heard the same voice he had heard in his previous dream and this time it told him to return back to Assisi. When he returned, he gave up everything he owned. It disgusted him. In fact he got rid of so much that he left naked. Soon after, God had called on him to rebuild his church and so Francis ran and got enough money to have the church repaired. Upon his return to town, he was called a madman. It certainly did appear that he was. He had gone from being very wealthy to choosing to live a life of poverty. Francis then lived a life of charity which included nursing lepers. His life influenced many people and some even decided to follow him. One of these people was St. Clare. These followers of his became known as Friars. Francis lived a life of helping others which he summed up with three vows for others to follow. These vows were obedience, poverty and chastity His service to the Lord was rewarded by receiving the stigmata. Francis died Octobed 3, 1226. Saint Francis was a very unique saint. He began by living a very wealthy life to taking the vow of poverty. This saint teaches Christians to lose their desire for material things. One can be more happy if he is helping out those who are less fortunate. It is the those three vows that say it all, obedience, poverty and chastity. If one would want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, this is it how it can be done. This saint means alot to me because Francis was a young man with charisma and destined for a wealthy future but he gave it up for his religion. This makes me want to re-examine myself because I am young and hope for future success, almost like Francis. This is why he means so much to me because I can relate more to him than other saints. Religion

comparison between Un and EU essays

comparison between Un and EU essays The purpose of this paper is to make a general overview of the main differences between the United Nations and the European Union. According to this aim, this essay will be divided into five parts: after a brief introduction, Im going to deal with three aspects in which these two entities differ, namely their Origins and the relationship with the Sovereignty of the member states, the means to implement decisions in the Security field and the decision-making process within the bodies of the two entities. Then I will try to make some conclusions based on the areas compared. The most important international organizations in the world today are the United Nations (UN) and its affiliated bodies, and the European Union (EU). Both of them were born in the aftermath of the second World War, in order to avoid new massacres and destructions. However they have different origins and have developed different aims and structures. On the one side the United Nations officially came into existence in 1945. The aim of this Organization, as the preamble of the Charter claims, is to prevent the future generations from the burden of War. In addition Art.1 of the Charter provides four main purposes, namely to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations; to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems; to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. As far as sovereignty is concerned it can be said that the United Nations is an INTER-GOVERNAMENTAL Organization made of independent sovereign states. Thus the UN Charter is one of the strongest guardian of sovereignty, enshrining that principle as one of its central pillars. However most of the problems the world faces today are of such complexity that they cannot be addressed by any single nation acting alone. Therefore the UN is a global forum where countri es come together to address c...

Description of Company Operations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Description of Company Operations - Assignment Example The assignment "Description of Company Operations" presents the description of company operations in such companies as Biolea, Evian, Gulf Craft Inc. and Ircon International Limited. Biolea is a company that has been in existence since 1817 and is family-owned. The company produces a wide range of organic olive oil products using millstones and presses. Production and bottling of the Biolea’s product take place exclusively at the estate. In the pursuit of excellence, the company combines innovation and tradition, maintained environmental accountability, and promotion of sustainable tourism. Examples of variable costs include labor required in millstones and presses, and the costs required to increase the output of the organic olive oil. Fixed costs of this company include salaries and wages to employees and equipment maintenance costs. Mixed costs to this company include fuel costs to the machine and insurance fees. Established in 1982 out of a passion for the sea, Gulf Craft has continued to exist and operate on three pillars. The pillars include love for the sea, being passionate about building, and an unmatched belief of UAE’s success depending upon and around industrial productivity. The company’s productivity revolves around these three pillars since its inception. The company specializes in boat construction, shipyard operation across 40 different countries. Its strategic location of proximity to the traditional yacht market provides an opportunity for market expansion and dominance.

What were the main features of Russian economic backwardness Essay

What were the main features of Russian economic backwardness - Essay Example The more backward the economy is the higher level of production and enterprise is; the higher the dependence on borrowed instead of indigenous technologies is; the higher the prominence of the production of producer groups compared to consumer goods is; the higher the emphasis on capital-intensive rather than labor-intensive production is; the bigger the dependence on productivity growth is (Gerschenkron 1962, p.6). In approaching the economics of Tsarist, Russia one encounters two remarkable and entirely opposite features of the Russian economy at that period, namely: a) the industrial â€Å"boom† of the 1880s and (2) the economic backwardness of 1914. Economic historians attest to the fact that in the period ranging between 1891 and 1900 Russian economy did grow (Spulber 2003, p.33). This period details the period of industrial boom within Russia and featured the period at which the industrial output of Russia rated among the highest. During this period, majority of the indu strial areas were growing speedily whereby the â€Å"Tsarist empire, Europe’s biggest economy has by 1900 displaced France from 4th position within the world iron production and had raked 5th position within steel output (Goldsmith 1961, p.441). The railway system rose in mileage by 87% in the period 1892-1903 while oil extraction tripled in the period 1887-1898. These were evidently significant achievements of Russian economic planning, especially the Russian finance minister of the time. At the period, from 1892-1903, the finance minister attempted to do his best to improve Russia in both fiscal and industrial capacity to be at par with other European powers and the entire government awarded support in this endeavor. Russian government was eager to foster industrialization since (1) the market featured deep control from the state (2) the expansion of heavy industry enabled a speedy catch-up, speedily covering the gap that manifested within the country’s economy, and (3) the industrialization enhanced the overall military capability of Russia. Nevertheless, the massive project demanded enormous investments. The investments demanded entailed: (a) the capital resource investments, (b) workforce investment, and, (c) knowledge capital investments. With regard to capital investments, Russia was unable to avail capital investments in adequate quantities and, as a result, foreign investments were broadly encouraged. Ultimately, some of the industries fell into the hands of the foreigners (Goldsmith 1961, p.442). By the start of the Crimean war, Russia featured as the world’s largest debtor nation. The war can be regarded as one of the core obstructions that hindered the progress of Russia economically. This detailed one of the core reasons for Russia’s further incapability to keep the pace of the â€Å"boom† given that significant energy and finances directed towards supporting the war against Britain and France (O'Brien 1998, p.2 27). With regard, to workforce investments, the rapid pace of industrial development owed much of its accomplishment to the common working people, frequently regular peasant who went to the cities to seek new industrial jobs (Gregory 1973, p.486). The flow of the labor force from the villages to the cities yielded a highly unbalanced economy. The Russian economy at this period cannot be likened to a plan of a system. As Alexander Gerschenkron outlines it, this economy of industrialization was fundamentally a â€Å"powerful spur† out of backwardness (Gerschenkron 1962, p.5). The Main Features of Russian Economic Backwardness The economic successes that Russia experienced then (after 1914)were practically unsustainable owing to a number of reasons, namely: (1) originally, the full-scale Russian industrialization

African American and Haitian Heritage Essay Example for Free

African American and Haitian Heritage Essay There are many different beliefs and values with the African American Culture compared to the Haitian Culture relating to child bearing and pregnancy. Both of the cultures have history of having large families in the rural areas, which was viewed as a necessary necessity because of the economic pressures each culture went though. The African American choice of birth control was oral contraceptives compared to the Haitians who used a variety of contraception methods such as the â€Å"birth control pill, female sterilization, injections, and condoms† Kemp (2012) states. The Haitians are mostly Catholic which makes them unwillingly to engage in conversations about pregnancy, and their fertility practices. Compared to African Americans who willingly to speak to older family members about their behavior during their pregnancy, or will help guide them with many of the practices and beliefs of a pregnant women. The African Americans view and belief on abortion is that many oppose abortion because of their â€Å"religious or moral beliefs†, and others oppose abortion because of moral, cultural, or â€Å"Afrocentric beliefs† WHO (2011) states. These beliefs will cause a delay in decision which makes abortions unsafe, compared to the Haitian Culture who does not talk about abortion openly, it is considered a women’s issue. Pregnancy is not considered a disease, or a â€Å"health problem, many Haitian women seek no prenatal care†, work fulltime until delivery, and celebrate their pregnancy as a time of joy. Haitian women also â€Å"do not eat spices†, but are encouraged to eat vegetables, and red fruits to increase the fetus blood Kemp (2012) claims. Compared to the African American women who seek prenatal care early in their pregnancy, also they respond to being pregnant as any other women in an ethnic group. Furthermore each one of the cultures has views, and beliefs that they follow during their pregnancy. The â€Å"Haitian women historically would walk, squat, or sit†, during labor, practice natural childbirth, but since migrating most Haitian women have adopted other practices. The fathers do not participate in delivery, but other female families members offer support Kemp (2012) states. The African American women have many beliefs or myths they believe in during their pregnancy. â€Å"Pica is the eating of a nonnutritive substance† such as soap, needles, dirt, and etc., this practice will help ease pain during delivery, and reduce nausea Galanti (2012) states. Furthermore African American women believe in many beliefs because it will cause harm to them and the unborn baby, during delivery they believe it is ok to be vocal. In addition during delivery African American women will have granny midwives deliver their unborn baby, and others will arrive at the Hospital in advanced labor to reduce the time spent there. Emotional support is provided by other women especially their mother, because men believe it is a private issue between women. The Haitian women believe that postpartum is a crucial period of childbearing, immediately after birth they will dress warmly to become more healthy, and clean. After delivery Haitian women believe that their â€Å"bones are open which makes them stay in bed 2-3 days postpartum† Galanti (2012) states so the bones can close. Another postpartum practice is the â€Å"three baths†, the first three days the mother will bathe in hot boiled water that will have leaves, bought or picked from the field. Then for the next three days the mother will bathe in water and leaves warmed by the sun. At the end of the third week the mother takes the third bath which is cold, Haitian women also avoid white foods during this period. Compared to the â€Å"African American women during postpartum period family support is needed to care for them six to eight weeks† after delivery Galanti (2012) states. Babies were not named until after they were known to survive, and the placenta has a spirit of its own which has to be buried after birth to avoid having a connection to the baby. Increased â€Å"vaginal bleeding is a sign of a sickness†, and tea is believed to have healing powers Kemp (2012) states. References Galanti, G. (2012) â€Å"Cultural Diversity in Health Care† African American. Retrieved on January 27, 2013 from www.ggalanti.org Kemp, C. (2012) â€Å"Haitians† Retrieved on January 27, 2013 from www.baylor.edu World Health Organization (2011) World Global Cultures† Retrieved on January 27, 2013 from www.who.org

Essay --

According to Laurence Sterne, â€Å"Nobody, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man’s mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, but obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time†. In Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the character Huckleberry Finn, also known as Huck, is one who can conceive this plague. Huck Finn’s ‘two projects of equal strength’ was the difficult decision whether to turn Jim, a black slave, over to his rightful â€Å"property† owner or to continue helping Jim escape to freedom. This inner conflict took place in Jim’s conscience of trying to decide what the right thing to do was. These two conflicting forces were the basis of how the story was told. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is told from Huck’s viewpoint, and it illuminated the quandary that Huck faces as he befriends Jim and helps him to freedom, as well as convincing himself talkimg himself into believing feeling . A part of Huck thought helping Jim was wrong because helping a black man escape to freedom was against society’s rules and went against everything that he had been taught and raised to believe. The other part of Huck saw Jim as a good person, a friend, and believed Jim should be free from slavery. It was a war between Huck’s conscience of not following society’s conventional laws and following his heart in what seemed right. Throughout the novel, Huck questioned whether he was doing the right thing. Even though he felt he was doing the right thing, he kept thinking about how he was going against society’s values and ideals. Huck also felt that he was betraying Miss Watson by taking Jim, her â€Å"property†, away from her. Miss Watson was always good to Huc... ... I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: â€Å"All right, then, I’ll go to hell†Ã¢â‚¬â€and tore it up† (Twain 317). At this point in the novel, Huck realizes that he would rather go to Hell for doing what he believed to be right even if it is wrong in others’ eyes, including God’s. Although Huck knew it was wrong to help a runaway slave, he also knew it was what he had to do, it felt right to him. The inner turmoil that Huck experienced within his conscience was a constant battle, but Huck made the decision to follow his heart. Huck learns, from his own life experiences of befriending Jim and his own moral conscience and intuition, that standing up for what seems â€Å"right† isn’t always easy to do, but it’s the right thing to do. Huck made the moral decision to go against what he had been taught was â€Å"right† and do what he knew was â€Å"right†.

Hero Definition Essay

How do you know when you’ve seen a hero before your eyes? Most likely in real life they won’t be wearing a cape or suit that identifies themselves as this well known hero. Realistically you’ve never or even possibly ever will see that kind of hero. Why is it that that kind of hero always seems to be the first thing that pops into one’s mind when the word â€Å"hero† is said; that stereotypical hero that always features in movies? We often forget that we’re actually surrounded every single day by heroes.Teachers, firefighters, you name it, are all considered heroes in one or more peoples’ eyes based on the things they’ve done. A hero not only goes beyond their needs and boundaries to help and encourage others, but also have a strong mind set. Heroes can be looked in the eye and show that they will not back down or give in to the defeat of something they’ve put their mind to. One important quality of heroism is stepping out from their comfort zone to help others in need, as they put aside their own demands.Often times a hero has a choice whether to go and help others or focus on themselves and pay attention to their only needs, but the fact that they put down their focus on themselves to help another shows how a true hero can be distinguished from amongst the crowd. For instance, an example of this quality can be found in the story Love Triumphs: 6 Year Old Becomes a Hero to Band of Toddlers, Rescuers by Ellen Barry.In this story, a little 6 year old boy named Deamonte Love takes on the responsibility of taking care of several other children, including his baby brother and cousins when they all were separated from their parents due to Hurricane Katrina. Deamonte â€Å"promised he’d take care of his brother† after seeing â€Å"his mother cry when he was loaded onto the helicopter† along with the other children to be taken to safety(SB 20). Even if Deamonte was scared, he took the l ead role in directing and watching over the children, putting his focus only on the children, encouraging and making them feel safe till they were all reunited again with their parents.This quality of heroism can not only be seen in boys, but also in girls, movies, and real life. Another example that shows this quality is from the movie Mulan. In this particular movie, a young woman, named Mulan poses as a young man and son of his (Mulan’s) father in order to save him from fighting in the war forcefully. Mulan then goes out pretending she is one of the many soldiers in the army and saves her father from serving. What Mulan did not only showed courage but also some determination as well.She had courage to pose as a man in order to save her father from fighting in the war, where also she placed herself in dangerous positions being in the army with no training at all. Doing that Mulan showed how she went beyond her own abilities to help her father. Mulan also showed some determi nation in how when she was in the army she wanted to prove to many of the other soldiers that she can be considered a real warrior. She also showed determination in which she impersonated a fake son of her father and continued out with her plan just so she knew that her own father with his old age and disabilities would be safe at home.As you can see, Mulan definitely went outside of her limits and surpassed her zone of security and comfort to help and meet the needs of her father. Heroism often calls for the hero to have a strong mind set. Having this quality in a hero means that they are able to change their outlook or attitude on something for the better so they can accomplish their goal. For example, this quality of heroism can be clearly shown in the poem A Man by Nina Cassian. In this poem, a soldier who loses his arm while fighting for his country must overcome his new challenge, continuing life with one arm.Undoubtedly, in the beginning of the poem the soldier recognizes in a very negative way how his life will forever be changed and impacted. Despite his sadness and physical limitations he rises above and looks at being positive, setting â€Å"himself to do everything with twice as much enthusiasm (line 15). † This soldier’s optimism is what helped him conquer the battles both physically and emotionally having to deal with just one arm. He decides to push through this challenge and enjoy life as it comes.His strong mind set was the determination and optimism of bouncing back from what he only thought of negative things and how he was able to change his outlook on his situation. Another example of this quality are the firefighters and policemen doing their job every single day. They portray this trait of a hero by how they have the certainty and bravery to go into any situation knowing that they are there to protect people from harm. One last quality of heroism is how a hero doesn’t give in to the defeat of something. An example of this characteristic of a hero is from October Sky.In this movie, a young teenage boy named Homer Hickman Jr. is expected to work in the coal mines after graduating from high school, just like all the other boys, but dares to refuse that job and instead pursues a passion for science. His passion all started when he wanted to build a rocket. Although nobody believed that he would actually build one, Homer goes on with no support in building a small rocket with the help of a smart classmate. Despite the first failure of his small rocket, Homer continued to chase after his dream of building a rocket until he finally does.His persistent determination and motivation to keep going after having no support in the beginning and having many fail attempts gets him to win a national science fair with a college scholarship. In the very beginning of the movie though, Homer had perseverance when he wanted to make the football team, even though the chances of him making it were clear that he wouldn ’t. Despite this though Homer tried and tried over again getting back up after each tackle he received on the football field knowing that football could have gotten him into college. Heroism can be identified and seen in multiple ways.A definition of heroism varies from person to person and can mean more personal to one that has actually identified a hero in their life. A hero not only goes beyond their needs and boundaries to help and encourage others, but also have a strong mind set. Heroes can be looked in the eye and show that they will not back down or give in to the defeat of something they’ve put their mind to. Even though a definition can start or end differently they all have one message that can interpret differently to several people. It comes down to the fact of how you look at the idea of a hero and maybe apply that to your own life.