Abstract
The writer argues that from the opening line of the essay Pilate reveals himself as the antithesis, or opposite, of truth. The paper discusses the moral stance of Bacon in 1625 when he wrote essays requiring readers to look more deeply into history.

From the Paper
"Considering the opening line itself, it should be no surprise that Pilate is jesting when he asks, "what is Truth?" Having asked this question of Jesus, disregarded truth, and chosen instead "the wickedness of falsehood and breach of faith" (6), Pilate must be facetious because his embracing a lie has resulted in the pleasure of a "corrupt love of the lie itself" (6). More than that, however, Pilate's fickleness in approaching the subject of truth and then leaving reflects the delight of Skeptics in intellectual fickleness. Of course Pilate does not stay for an answer; to listen to Bacon's (or anyone's) thoughts on truth would point out Pilate's failing as a man of God as well as a citizen, for "clear and round dealing is the honour of man's nature" (7)."

Tags:Jesus, history, falsehood, skeptics, intellect

Abstract
The paper argues that "Lara Croft" may seem like an empowering role model for some women because of the way she triumphs in an apparently male-dominated world. However, Lara merely comes across as an object designed to inspire male fantasy as demonstrated by her clothing, demeanor, and relationships, all of which beckon for attention from a predominantly male audience. The paper argues that Lara's haughty behavior and demeanor not only broadcast the false message that a woman needs to be improper to succeed, but are also used in a way to shamelessly draw male attention. Finally, the fact that Lara doesn't have any men in her life at first gives the impression that she is a strong, independent woman. Though, as this paper explores, she is actually quite dependent on her father, while the absence of a male by her side invites the male viewer to occupy that empty space in his imagination.

From the Paper
"Thus, male clothing becomes synonymous with victory over males, and Lara ostensibly becomes a symbol of female empowerment as one who transcends the overwhelming obstacles set forth by a male dominated society - all with the aid of her attire. In actuality, however, Lara's victory-by-apparel suggests that if a woman is to succeed in a male dominated world, she must wear a man's clothes, which ultimately disassociates her with her feminine identity, despite the feminine features her clothing may accentuate. Instead of signaling empowerment, Lara's clothes acknowledge that one must possess male traits in order to excel in an openly male-dominated world."

Tags:butler, sexual, tension, independence, emancipation

Abstract
This essay opens by outlining three distinct categories of euthanasia: active (where a life is taken through positive action such as injecting a patient with a lethal substance); passive (the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining medical treatment from the patient, thus resulting in their accelerated death); and assisted suicide (when the patient by his or herself commits the last act necessary to cause his/her immediate death, but is actively assisted by another in the process). Each category is then discussed separately with the conclusion raising the issue of whether euthanasia should be considered a medical act at all. The writer concludes that whilst there exist several key arguments to suggest that active euthanasia, which is akin to an act of murder, does indeed appear to be entirely inconsistent to the practice of proper medicine, this is clearly not the case as regards passive euthanasia.

Outline:
Abstract
Active Euthanasia
Assisted Suicide
Passive Euthanasia
Conclusion

From the Paper
"A further argument in support of the contention that active euthanasia should not be legitimised on the basis that it represents the antithesis to proper medicine arises in relation to the submission that it is a 'lazy option' to the use of proper treatment and care. This the argument of Dr. Patrick Dixon, who points out that, whilst countries such as the UK have developed a considerable hospice system for the terminally ill, with around 160,000 people per year being visited by home care teams, this is not the case in the likes of the Netherlands, where hospice care is relatively poor and where, of course, euthanasia is widely practiced . An additional argument following this line of reasoning suggests that palliative care in general will not continue to develop under a regime of legalised euthanasia, precisely because the latter will always be taken as an alternative to the former."

Tags:patient, death, treatment, suicide, suffering

Abstract
In "The Scarlet Letter", Hawthorne does an admirable job of expressing the true nature of his characters. Nowhere in his story is this more obvious than in his portrayal of the children. This essay contrasts the uncensored innocence of Pearl and the other children in the novel with Hester Prynne and the puritanical society that surrounds her.

From the Paper
"Pearl seems to realize early on in the book that Dimmsdale is her father, which accounts for her numerous pleas for him to "take her and her mother's hand" (Hawthorne 139, 194). Also, Pearl has a strange attachment to the scarlet letter. As a baby, she would reach out and try to grab it on her mother's breast (Hawthorne 87). She seems to innately realize that it has great significance, but when she confronts Hester about it, her mother lies to her, telling Pearl that she wears it because of its beautiful gold thread. This scene shows an excellent example of innocent curiosity from Pearl, and Hester's lying because of societal regulations (Hawthorne 164)."

Tags:Dimmsdale, Hester

Abstract
This paper uses the case of Florida to illustrate how ballot initiatives, while originally intended as a means to enhance the process of direct democracy, have instead become a process whereby those who can afford to spend more money have a greater chance of getting a ballot initiative through the process successfully or of derailing the process if they oppose the initiative. The paper also briefly examines other states that have experienced the same type of corruption of the ballot initiatives and concludes that, while the ballot initiative was originally conceived as a form of direct democracy, the process has become so corrupted that it now works counter to the interests of the people.

From the Paper
"Ballot initiatives have constituted a sort of shorthand for American democracy, in some quarters, since the late 1960s. It was then that Florida's new Constitution provided for the citizens of the state to be able to amend or revise the state's constitution by ballot initiative, which was also called direct democracy. Many observers make a distinction between a democracy and a republic, noting that a republic is government of the people exercised through their elected representatives, while democracy may be carried out through elected representatives or directly. Still, direct democracy sounds redundant and, arguably, the way ballot initiatives have been co-opted by large corporate entities and wealthy individuals with their own agendas, these days the term direct democracy is also inaccurate."

Tags:referendum, process, election, representative, government, signatures, petitioners

Abstract
This paper explains that, in Edith Wharton's novel "The Age of Innocence", flowers represent a man's relationship with May Welland and with Countess Ellen Olenska, who are two very dissimilar women. The protagonist Newland Archer, the author relates, chooses bouquets of lilies-of-the-valley because she represents the good in his New York society; however, for the Countess, the antithesis of this he selects flowers with a greater variety of color from orchids to violets because she is full of color and variety. The paper underscores that, through this symbolism, Wharton tells a story of a man's struggle between what society expects and what his own heart and character command.

From the Paper
"Arriving in such a scandalous manner as to arise more than her share of suspicion among the New York higher-ups, it comes as no surprise that Newland Archer soon becomes captivated with the atypical Ellen Olenska. Even after their first meeting, he is left with a lasting impression that he himself cannot fully comprehend. Wharton once again uses the implications of flora to serve her purpose: while Archer sees a spectacular arrangement of yellow roses in a florists' shop and considers buying them for his betrothed, he instead determines that they are "too rich, too strong in their fiery beauty" and elects to send them to the Countess."

Tags:lilies-of-the-valley, pure, constancy, antithesis, imagery, expectations

Abstract
This paper explains that the character Horatio in Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
is the one person whom the main character Hamlet trusts and is the only prominent character that finds himself alive at the end. The author points out that Horatio is the antithesis of two other characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's old friends upon whom he feels he can no longer rely. The paper relates that Horatio is the pure soul of the play, the herald of Hamlet's story whose behavior parallels Christian tenets because his honesty and goodness rise above the shadowy dealings of many other characters; they are punished and the good Horatio is rewarded. Several quotations.

From the Paper
"The reader senses that Horatio has never given Hamlet any reason to doubt his love and devotion towards him. The service of a true friend is something that is never forgotten and rarely questioned. Hamlet certainly seems sure of the worth of this true friend. Some may see Horatio as a simple "yes-man," which may be a valid argument. Surely, Horatio was never said to have brought grand insight to Hamlet's plan, nor an amazingly original idea. His worth comes from another source. His agreements with his friend are based on true sincerity. Certainly, Claudius recognized that sincerity and found Horatio not to be a worthy candidate for the recognizance work required."

Tags:antithesis, rosencrantz, guildenstern, friend, christian

Abstract
The paper explains how because of the dynamic nature of international business, the world trade markets consist of countries that virtually have no borders. The paper shows that protectionist measures are sometimes appropriate for a nation to protect their own interests in the realm of international trade. The paper shows evidence of the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for Canada. The paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of trade agreements in general and for Canada in particular. The paper concludes that now more than ever, nations need to work together to achieve their individual and group goals for the good of the nations, their people and our planet.

Outline:
Thesis
Antithesis
Personal Views
Antithesis
Thesis or Antithesis?
Re-Presentation of Thesis
Re-Presentation of Antithesis
Final Thoughts

From the Paper
"Despite being the largest trade partner to its mega-neighbor to the south, the United States (McLaughlin), Canada has gotten the short end of many of the larger trade agreements that have emerged in recent years. In contrast, however, the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, has lived up to its promises to Canada that were made when the agreement was first authored in the 1990s (Howell). In an effort to gain some rights and benefits in the international trade agreements that have come to fruition over the past several decades, Canada, among other nations, has taken protectionist steps to preserve their own best interests, lest they be pressured by unfair trade reform."

Tags:NAFTA, tariffs, regulation

Abstract
The paper begins by offering an overview of the current debate over gun control and presenting the thesis that certain types of weapons, especially automatic weapons like machine guns, Uzis and AK 47's, should be completely banned in the United States. The paper also presents an antithesis that argues that the Second Amendment offers broad protection of gun ownership, and that non-discretionary concealed handguns are the most cost-effective means of reducing crime. The paper then attempts to synthesize these two positions and posits that although the Second Amendment provides for all law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, there is still the question whether the Founding Fathers intended to allow all citizens to keep deadly weapons at their immediate disposal.
The paper concludes that the U.S. must ban the sale and purchase of automatic and semi-automatic firearms and keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those who do not deserve the right to keep and bear arms as defended in the Second Amendment.

Outline:
Thesis
Antithesis
Synthesis

From the Paper
"As one of the most hotly-debated issues in modern American culture, gun control continues to fill the headlines and often becomes the focus of many discussions at the federal level via congressional investigations and efforts by senators and state representatives to either strengthen or weaken current gun control measures. Without a doubt as pointed out by Kleck and Patterson, "American society is steeped in a gun culture, dating back to the times of the American Revolution when the colonies were forced to defend themselves against the English Crown" (1993, p. 380), thus giving rise to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which gave Americans the right to keep and bear arms.
"Kleck and Patterson also relate that it has been estimated that more than 250 million guns are presently held by individual citizens, not including those held by law enforcement (1993, p. 380). With this in mind, it is clear that all gun control measures and laws, either enacted at the state or federal level and oftentimes at the city/municipal level, are bound to be the source of much dissent with some advocating stronger gun control laws and others insisting upon weaker gun control laws, based on subjective viewpoints and on the fact (at least in the eyes of some) that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to keep and bear firearms."

Tags:Second, Amendment, militia, firearms, weapons, crime

Abstract
This paper discusses potential causes of racial and ethnic health care disparities. It explores the antithesis that disparities are not insurance-related or related to a patient's minority status. The paper rejects this antithesis and then asserts and provides evidence that, indeed, racial and ethnic health care disparities are due to insurance-related factors and the minority status of the patient.

From the Paper
"Almost all industrialized countries in the world implement a health care system that is run on a national level thus providing health care equally to all citizens of the country. The United States is unique in that respect. The U.S. does not provide a federally run health care plan, and as a result, equality of health care among all citizens is not assured. In fact, an individual's access to health care often is correlated to one's socio-economic status, and in many situations, to one's race or ethnic background (Luhman 2002). As of 2002, over 400 clinical studies on racial and ethnic health care have provided evidence showing that across almost all medical areas, minorities generally receive a lower quality of care than do whites (Late 2003)."

Tags:HIV, HMO, diagnosis