Abstract
The paper discusses Dudley Randall's poem, "Ballad of Birmingham," with an emhasis on the irony in the poem.

From the Paper
"In Dudley Randall's poem "Ballad of Birmingham" he actively portrays the life and death of one young girl in the space of eight quatrains. Martin Luther King Jr's church in Birmingham, Alabama was actually bombed by white terrorists. Four little girls died in the explosion. This poem is based on the real life events of that attack."

Tags:dudley randall, balad of birmingham, irony, martin luther king

Abstract
"Ballad of Birmingham" is a poem written about a mother that tells her daughter to not march in the streets and allows her to go to a church. Sadly, the girl is killed at the church. This actually happened in Birmingham in 1963.

Abstract
The paper compares and contrasts Randall's "Ballad of Birmingham" with Cofer's "Quinceanera".

From the Paper
"One of the subjects that is often addressed in poetry is the rite of passage between childhood and adolescence, the literal and figurative period in which the individual comes of age and assumes some of the responsibilities of adulthood. Two poems that deal with this issue, although from different perspectives, are the focus of the present analysis. The first poem is Judith Ortiz Cofer's "Quinceanera" which describes the sixteenth birthday celebration of a Hispanic girl and its meaning both practically and psychologically. The second..."

Tags:Judith Ortiz Cofer, Quinceanera, Dudley Randall, Ballad of Birmingham

Abstract
This paper looks at the use of rhetoric in King's "Letters from a Birmingham Jail." The paper discusses the major elements of appeal to logic, emotion and ethics, with detailed examples to support each style. This paper other further mentions other rhetorical elements in the context of supporting these basic elements.

From the Paper
"In Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," he writes to his fellow religious leaders, ministers and clergymen who had written an open letter asking him and his fellow civil rights activists to stop demonstrating. He writes using incredibly powerful language and demonstrating elegant and precise rhetorical skills. King uses a wide variety of rhetorical techniques, primarily taking the form of an Aristotelian deliberative oratory. His focus is examining the question of whether or not civil rights activists should discontinue their direct actions of civil disobedience for the sake of maintaining order and the status quo, or whether they had an obligation to God and justice for all to continue. King, of course, argues that not only is he right for doing what he has been doing, but that there is a civil, moral, logical and ethical imperative to do so."

Tags:king, rhetoric, birmingham

Abstract
The paper describes the friendship between the characters George and Lennie in John Steinbeck's short novel, "Of Mice and Men".

From the Paper
"Central to John Steinbeck's short novel "Of Mice and Men" is the relationship between George and Lennie, with the former, the dominant partner and the latter, a mentally handicapped man whose inadvertent violence leads to manslaughter and then murder. George is clearly Lennie's protector but this is not a role that he always finds comfortable. 'Well we ain't got any ' George exploded. 'Whatever we ain't got that's what you want God a'mighty if I was alone I...""

Tags:John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, friendship

Abstract
This paper attempts to discuss the case of Terri Schiavo in the context of her sensationalized death. The end-of-life issues between her husband and her family were not shared in the sense that the former may have learned to accept her death as a person while the latter were in denial, that her life was probably left unfulfilled. The issue of brain death and the implications it had on the Schindler family are discussed.

From the Paper
"The case of Terri Schiavo's is unusual in that it reflects the veracity with which humans defy death. We associate death with the cessation of our own existence; some believe it is a transition into a different type of life, leaving the previous one completely. However, in spite of the latter, we generally remain reluctant to face death and end-of-life issues, as it is probably the only unknown that is left to explore. Losing family or a spouse suddenly may not be much easier to deal with than watching a loved one linger indefinitely in between living and passing on. However, the latter may have..."

Tags:death, end, of, life, issues

Abstract
This paper analyzes the political makeup of a U.S. congressman or
congresswoman. There are many aspects surrounding the career of a congress-person, most of which the public is generally unaware of. The writer of this paper delves into the rarely spoken qualifications needed to obtain the support of a particular party which include: Financial backing, proper education, desirable religious beliefs, race and age. This paper details the daily life of a congress-person which is extremely demanding. If the representative is truly honest and qualified, it may be even more difficult than for those representatives who are simply going with the flow of the system. The writer of this paper also discusses the lack of black or Hispanic members in the House of Representatives as well as the Senate. This paper also examines the impact of the media on the effectiveness of elected government officials.

Table of Contents:
Outline
Congress Does Not at all Represent the American Population
Requirements of a Congressperson
Some Congressmen and Congresswomen are Genuine
Thesis
A Look at Congress
Footnotes
Works Cited

From the Paper
"Some of the requirements of congresspersons make logical sense for the profession, while others simply do not. Sufficient political experience is a sensible requirement of a candidate, but it must be weighed with the cost of electing representatives that are past their prime, bought into the status-quo, disillusioned, or even senile. One journalist described witnessing congressmen who were obviously too old to be competent in this job. The WASP requirements of congressmen are illogical in this desegregated, supposedly enlightened post-suffrage and civil rights era; one's gender, ethnicity, and religion have little or nothing to do with how well one can perform in Congress, apart from the fact that each representative will have to overcome all of the prejudices held against them."

Tags:political, career, finance, election, senate, house, of, representatives, minority

Abstract
This paper describes the Pilgrims experience in the new world as reflected in the writings "Of Plymouth Plantation" and "The Mayflower Compact." The paper discusses William Bradford's journal, entitled "Of Plymouth Plantation," which presents the detailed story of the first 30 years of Plymouth Colony. The paper highlights some of the more notable occurrences that Bradford recorded. Additionally, "The Mayflower Compact" is examined as a precursor to the American Constitution. The paper further questions the Pilgrims as loyal citizens of England or early supporters of American Independence.

From the Paper
"The Mayflower Compact is actually considered by some unofficially as first legal and social document that set out guidelines and rules for the original Plymouth settlers to follow. Some scholars allude to the Mayflower Compact as the foundation to the U.S. Constitution. The journal Of Plymouth Plantation is "the single most complete authority for the story of the Pilgrims and the early years of the Colony they founded," according to Pilgrim Hall Museum (www.pilgrimhall.org) (PHM) which is located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Historians consider the Bradford journal "...as the preeminent work of 17th Century America," PHM records reflect. It hung in Boston's Old South Church Library in the 1760s, then disappeared, to be rediscovered in the library of the Bishop of London in the 1850s. In 1897, it was returned to the State Library in the State House in Boston, where it is available to the public."

Tags:Pilgrims, Mayflower, Compact, Of, Plymouth, Plantation, William, Bradford, Thanksgiving

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s response to criticism from the Birmingham clergy in "Letter From Birmingham Jail." The analysis focuses on the appeals used by King Jr. to demonstrate the injustice of laws in Birmingham.

From the Paper
""Letter From Birmingham Jail" is Martin Luther King Jr.'s response to the local clergy who encouraged King Jr. to abandon his protests for civil rights in Alabama, viewing them as unlawful and promoting violence. King Jr. argues in his letter that the Church and clergy have been lax in coming to the aid of justice and he will remain in Birmingham as long as injustice is there. Because the unjust laws that undermine the rights of African Americans..."

Tags:racism, morality, civil law, disobedience, protest, civil rights, African Americans

Abstract
Dr. Martin Luther King was one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century. His pursuit of justice for African-Americans and humanity was unparalleled. On various occasions, Dr. King was imprisoned for his beliefs and his position on civil disobedience.
This paper examines Dr. King's letter to clergymen from the Birmingham City Jail. It examines why the letter was written and why King was in Birmingham. It also discusses Dr. King's stance on direct action, timing and just and unjust laws. Finally, the paper examines why Dr. King was dismayed by the conduct of some Blacks and the church during the civil rights era.

From the Paper
"Dr. King wrote this letter to the clergymen of the city in response to criticism that he had received about his presence in the city. (King) Many of the clergy thought that the protest that King was engaging in was "unwise and untimely" King sought to explain to the clergymen why he felt that he actions were both necessary and unavoidable. (King) He seemed to hope that this letter would aid the men in understanding his actions.

In the letter, King explains that he was invited to Birmingham by an affiliate organization called the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. (King) King explains that as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference it was his duty to share staff, financial and educational resources with the affiliate organizations. In addition, King had come to the understanding that there were certain injustices being perpetuated upon Blacks in the city. He felt that these injustices needed to be examined and dealt with."

Tags:Alabama, Christian, Movement, segregation