Abstract This paper examines how Samuel Morison turns a personal life interest into a passion as he studies the life and journeys of Christopher Columbus in his book, ?Christopher Columbus, Mariner?. It shows that, while the modern view of Columbus has been rewritten and disfigured by multiculturalists into that of a greedy, slave-mongering, tyrannical despot, Christopher Columbus's journey and his exploits arose from his deep convictions, and these actions qualify him as one of the greatest explorers of all time.
From the Paper "His lack of actual empirical knowledge of the length of the journey, and not knowing about the continent which lay between Columbus and the Far East is one more of the factors which make his journey such a triumph of spirit and dedication to his chosen task. After long negotiations, Columbus was financed for his voyage by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and in the fall of 1492, three ships were prepared in the harbor Palos (p. 35). On August 3, 1492, the fleet left Palos heading westward, parallel of Gomera. The weather was good; ?like April in Andalusia,? as Columbus wrote in his diary."
Abstract This paper reviews Christopher R. Browning's "Ordinary Men," and its analysis of Nazi soldiers that murdered innocent civilians in the holocaust. The paper shows the methods used by the soldiers to rationalize their actions even though many of them were morally opposed to what they were ordered to do.
From the paper:
"It is understandably commonplace to refer to Hitler as a monster, as inhuman. It is also, by extension, equally commonplace to refer to the Nazis who obeyed him as monsters as well. Yet before the implementation of the madness that was the "Final Solution" in Germany and Eastern Europe, these Nazi soldiers were human beings like ourselves, individuals who lived in a world only a half-century or so before ours. They made ethical decisions on a day-to-day basis. They were ordinary men, according to Christopher R. Browning, who committed acts of extraordinary cruelty. The thesis of his book, appropriately titled 'Ordinary Men,' provides a less comforting view of the foot soldiers of the Holocaust than is tempting to take. But it is ultimately more ethically illuminating?these men were not monsters, Browning suggests, they were ordinary men who provide an example for us all how low we can sink if we are not vigilant in resisting the evil that exists around us."
Abstract The following paper compares and contrasts the themes, poetic techniques, choices of description and unique individual styles of the following poets and poems: William Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 29' and Christopher Marlowe's, 'The Passionate Shepherd to his Love', Michael Drayton's 61 and Sir Philip Sidney's 20,William Shakespeare's, Sonnet I and Walter Raleigh's, A Farewell to False Love,Sir Philip Sidney's 7 and William Shakespeare's, Sonnet 18,William Shakespeare's, Sonnet 55 and William Shakespeare's, Sonnet 71.
From the Paper "These two poems share one common theme, the happiness that their love brings them. But these two poems achieve this in very different ways. Marlowe's poem reads as a love poem. He is addressing his love and telling her how good life will be if she will be his love. At the same time he is also telling himself how much he needs her love. Marlowe does this simply by focusing on what life would be like. He focuses on all the pleasures that will come. In the first section he says that they will gather all the pleasures that are offered. He is referring here to how his life is not complete without her love and how everything will be more beautiful and more appreciated if she is there. He describes everything as perfect and calm. Phrases such as "melodious birds", "fragrant posies", "pretty lambs" and "silver dishes" all add to the feeling of contentment. The lines "a gown made of the finest wool, which from our pretty lambs we pull" is very meaningful. The fact that he describes the lambs that the wool will come from as "pretty" is interesting, as is the choice of the word "pull". Pull does not reflect the same contentment as it is a more forceful term....."
Abstract This paper discusses Christopher Marlowe, the famous playwrite, whose death is an unsolved mystery. It discusses the many different theories formed to explain his sudden death. The most likely possibility or reason for his death is explained in great detail.
From the Paper "Theatre is a very popular entertainment in today's world. Without the contributions of many phenomenal playwrights, theatre would not consist of what is does today. One of these great playwrights who greatly contributed to the world of theatre was Christopher Marlowe. Christopher Marlowe is remembered for not only his great works, but for his short life and sudden death. There is much debate over the death of Christopher Marlowe, and several theories have been created to try and explain the historic event. To fully understand and appreciate the impact of Christopher Marlowe's death, it is necessary to look at his life, death, and theories to explain his death."
Abstract This paper is written about comedy found in Christopher Durang works. In an effort to explore these three thematic elements within this playwright's work, two of his plays will be looked at very thoroughly. Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, a play first produced in 1979, will provide a look at these motifs in his early work; and Betty's Summer Vacation, a play that premiered in 1999, will balance this out with a look at his later work. However, examples from work throughout Mr. Durang's career will also be presented within the context of this paper.
Abstract This paper will compare and contrast (from the works in the text) the motivations of Christopher Columbus and William Bradford for coming to the new world and will show how these motivations shaped their attitudes towards the people as well as things they discovered. This paper will tell the extent to which they seem to have been driven by economics, religious beliefs or simply idealistic curiosity. It will show how these drives seem to have framed their vision of the new world and its inhabitants.
Abstract This paper provides an analysis and positive review of Samuel Eliot Morison's book, "Christopher Columbus - Mariner". It discusses the perspective from which Morison wrote his book and summarizes its main points, noting the author's frequent allusions to God, to Jesus Christ, and to Christianity.
From the Paper "I choose this book because I have always been fascinated with the combined qualities of courage, intelligence, smart seamanship, leadership and unflagging optimism a man like Christopher Columbus was blessed with. Finding the "New World" by sailing west in relatively fragile vessels, with so many unknowns (do we have ample provisions; are the sailors adequately trained for the arduous and dangerous voyage ahead; will we be shipwrecked in a vicious storm; what reception will we receive from natives?), surely positions Columbus among the greatest adventurers and most accomplished visionaries in human history. And indeed, I believe Columbus's courage was far greater than the courage of a Charles Lindbergh, or a John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, or even Neil Armstrong's Apollo 12 flight to the moon and back: those men knew where they were going and something about what it was like to be on those missions, whereas Columbus was simply looking for the Orient with sails as power, the stars as navigational aids, and a burning dream, and was tossing the dice into the deep blue sea to find his way."
Abstract This paper explains that Christopher Byron, in his unauthorized biography of Martha Stewart, ?Martha Inc.?, describes how the girl from a blue-collar, dysfunctional family from New Jersey worked her way to star status by recognizing opportunities and knowing how to capitalize on them. The author points out that, with a mindset of unabashed determination, the book shows another essential quality that a manager must develop in order to have a successful career: working hard; Martha Stewart would not have built her empire without working hard. The paper relates that Byron's book shows the effects of Martha Stewart's egotism and her desire for success at any cost; Along the way, she cheated her friends, lost her husband, and became known for her unscrupulous business practices.
From the Paper "These management styles have put her at the top, but the final page has not been written. After Byron's book went to press, Martha Stewart found herself in the middle of an insider trading scandal. The press reports seem to back up the other stories in the book. She has passed blame to her broker; then to the broker's assistant. Her former business associates have not come forward to give accounts of Martha Stewart's integrity. Her management style and her treatment of friends and family have left her alone to fight the charges filed against her. If there is any one thing to take away from the book, knowing what has happened since its publication, it is not to burn bridges and to treat subordinates, partners and coworkers with respect. Not doing so could undo years of hard work and certainly come back to haunt you."
Abstract The name, early life, and family background of Christopher Columbus has always been a mysterious subject, one that has interested scholars almost since he first returned from the New World. However, it is only since the late 1800s that historians have seriously begun to investigate the hypothesis that Columbus was Jewish. This paper shows that their arguments range from cryptic, pseudo-scientific "proofs" to complex behavior analysis flavored with historical insights. As with many burgeoning theories, the search for Columbus' Jewish origins provides a wide array of enthusiastic mumbo-jumbo and a limited amount of compelling material which cannot be ignored.
From the Paper "On a related note, de Madariaga points out this strange contrast of Columbus' personality: he was not at all shy about his humble birth, yet he never discussed having come from Genoa, which may have portrayed him as a Spanish-born Jew whose family had fled the pogroms of the 1300s. Thus, at a time when "the Jewish race was passing in Spain through a crisis never equaled in history till the days of Nazi Germany," Columbus' reticence about his Jewish background "becomes immediately explicable.""
This paper explores the academic career of Christopher Jencks, the Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy in the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Abstract This paper examines the career and achievements of Professor Christopher Jencks, a specialist in social consequences of inequality and cognitive growth in adolescence. Jencks' recent publications scrutinize changes in the material standard of living over the past generation, changes in the influence of family background on children's economic achievement and welfare reform. This paper also focuses on Jencks' radical beliefs and various observations of society in America based on studies and research which prove his philosophy.
From the Paper "Jenks observes that most people think that single parent families have bad consequence on children, and there are plausible reasons for that. On the average they're poor, and most people think that paucity is not so good, and so if single parents or single mothers in particular, are poorer than married couples, there's going to be a pessimistic effect that just flows from the income disadvantage. But for some outcomes, there's also at least some evidence that the presence of two parents is an advantage, even if you hold income constant."
Tags: biography, author, perception, society, welfare, reform, social
Abstract The paper looks at the life of Christopher "Kit" Carson, an almost mythic character in American history. He played an important role in the United State's expansion as a major player in the government's war with the Navajo Indians, finally forcing them off their lands. The paper reports on Carson's childhood. As his father died when he was nine years old, the need to work prevented him from ever receiving an education. His story is remarkable because in his lifetime Carson played so many roles that aided in Westward expansion in addition to Indian fighter: mountain man, trapper, guide, and sheep rancher. Both during and after Carson's life, astounding stories were told about his bravery, great strength and heroic deeds he had performed. The paper concludes that the story of Carson reveals both the good and the bad; while playing an important role in the Untied States expansion, he participated in important ways in subjugation and mistreatment of Native Americans. He was an army officer who followed his orders, but today those actions are recognized as wrong. His life is an example of those complex times.
From the Paper "Christopher "Kit" Carson, who was born in 1809 and died in 1868, has become an almost mythic character in American history. He started out as an apprentice to a saddle-maker, but made his way to the West, where he became a fur trapper and guide. He started out enjoying good relationships with Native Americans and even married Native American women twice in his life. Eventually he was an officer in the Civil War, and he played a major role in the American government's war with the Navajo Indians, finally forcing them off their lands."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the life of Christopher Columbus, as he himself saw it, and recorded it in his journal. In this conception, Columbus was a man who embarked upon his mission with the intention of exploiting the native populace of the Americas for pure profit, or worse, to carry the white, European man's burden by colonizing the native residents and rightful owners of the land.
From the Paper "Upon his return from his first voyage Columbus stresses, not the mercantile reasons for the voyage, but the sense of personal investiture the King of Spain felt in the exploration, and his sorrow for the losses experienced by the crew: "On hearing the news, the king wept, showing great sorrow at our disaster." (92) To the king, Columbus portrays the native populace he meets with, not as brutal savages but almost as residents of a paradise before the Fall of Adam and Eve: "I assure your Highness there is in my opinion no better people nor no better land in the world...Both men and women go naked as their mothers bore them but your Highness must believe me when I say that their behavior towards one another is very good and their king keeps marvelous state." (92) The reference to the native king keeping a marvelous state reinforces the idea that these people are not savages, that these native have a government, and a form of government that a European monarch like Ferdinand would consider the most civilized--a government headed by a king kept in good state and treated with respect by his subjects."
Tags: expedition, Spain, Nina, Pinta, Santa, Maria, Christian, America
Abstract This paper reviews, discusses and compares the speech made by Christopher Reeves at the National Democratic Convention, and by Tom Hanks at Vassar College. According to the paper, the speeches are given nearly a decade apart, but both actors appeal emotionally to the audience for help.
From the Paper "Tom Hanks takes somewhat longer than Reeve to reach the thesis of his speech. After the opening humor, he begins his speech with a statistical claim relating to the "power of four". According to a study, only four percent of cars need to be removed from gridlocked highways to secure the free flow of traffic. Hanks uses this premise to appeal to his audience's sense of power. It is interesting to briefly note that Reeve's statistic is very similar: one in five people suffers from a disability; in other words, for every four people without disabilities, there is one who does. There are therefore four healthy people in five to whom Reeve is addressing his appeal for help."
This paper reviews the textbook "Primer for Positive Psychology" by positive psychologist Christopher Peterson, one of the founders of the discipline of positive psychology.
1,375 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 0 sources, 2007, $ 45.95
Abstract This paper explains that Christopher Peterson in "Primer for Positive Psychology" not only attempts to define positive psychology but also shows how it can be applied to a person's daily life and how it is instrumental in the understanding of happiness. The author points out that the initial purpose of Peterson's narrative is to explain how positive psychology evolved from the primary study of social and cognitive psychology. The paper relates that Peterson makes clear that, while traditional psychology has focused on illness, positive psychology takes a "longitudinal" approach to the examination of happiness and well-being.
From the Paper "Within Peterson's analysis he attempts to adopt a mediation and unity between the new field of positive psychology and social psychology. He specifically identifies several theories and relationships found in both fields. One of these fields is the understanding that "close social relationships are essential to well-being". Research into the field of human interactions and social dissonance has shown that social relationships are one of the strongest correlates to positive emotions. This is one of the primary mechanisms by which individuals can achieve a positive state of mind."
Abstract The paper examines Christopher Buckley's novel "Boomsday" and identifies the relevant policy windows and the solution put forward by the heroine Cassandra Devine. The paper analyzes how Cassandra's idea first got attention and how various influential constituencies and events affected the progress of that agenda toward real implementation. The paper notes that Cassandra failed in her ultimate objective to avenge herself against her father.
From the Paper "A policy window is a moment in political time and history where there is a unique confluence of an idea and an opportunity to enact change. The idea must also be fueled by public demand that something must be done about a pressing concern. The establishment of the Social Security system during the Great Depression, under the guidance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, when America was in a state of crisis and when Americans doubted the ability of capitalism to work might be seen as one example of a policy window. In Christopher Buckley's novel Boomsday, another policy window opens as a result of the failure of the Social Security system. This America of the future is embroiled in a war it cannot afford. It is facing the impending payout of entitlements to older Americans it cannot sustain in the long term, certainly not for the current generation still paying into the system so their elders can benefit."
