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 paper questions how Mao Zedong managed to take control of the Chinese Communist Party, establish the Peoples' Republic of China and rule the most populous nation in the world with an iron fist until his death when he came from commonplace beginnings. The paper examines this question from the point of view of Freudian psychoanalytic theory. The paper explains that Mao dreamt of death and destruction as much as he dreamt of life and liberation, making him an extraordinary man. The paper maintains that this explains to some extent how this commonplace boy was able to change the world.
From the Paper "The only thing these two responses have in common is passion. Anyone who can inspire such very different responses is clearly a most remarkable person. Another authority refers to Mao's megalomania, his reckless fearlessness, and his "idiosyncratic self-assertion [which] became deeply ingrained in the collective experience of the CCP and ... profoundly shaped the communal awareness of the Chinese intelligentsia as a whole" (Wei-Ming, 1996, p. 156). Moreover, as we know, the CCP on which Mao stamped his personality was collectively responsible for millions of deaths, to the point that one authority sees the "destruction of lives, property, institutions, and values" as "a defining characteristic of modern Chinese history" (Wei-Ming, 1996, p. 149). As far as "motiveless malignities" go, Mao had Iago hopelessly outclassed."
Abstract This paper is an analysis of themes prevalent in Ernest Hemingway's novel, "For Whom the Bell Tolls". Themes included are loyalty, bravery, and gender roles. This novel , traces the life of protagonist, Robert Jordan for three days during the Spanish Civil War. Bravery is characterized by one's response when faced with death. Courage, trust, and sacrifice outline loyalty. As it is commonplace to focus attention on detailing language when reading Hemingway, one need read closely to conjure the gender-role issues underlying this novel.
From the Paper "Ernest Hemingway served the North American Newspaper Alliance covering the Spanish Civil War from 1937-38. Upon his return to the United States on his way to a 1953 Pulitzer Prize and a 1954 Noble Prize for literature, he traces the life of protagonist, Robert Jordan for three days during the Spanish Civil War in his writing of ' For Whom the Bell Tolls'. Through Jordan's interaction with other supplementary characters and the use of language, Hemingway addresses the importance of bravery (facing the fear of death/dying), loyalty (trust of others/self), and gender (roles/stereotypes). Bravery and loyalty are complementary and often intertwined characteristics as well as themes. The comprehension and acquisition of these thematic issues and traits is essential before one's sudden, last fatalistic day."
Abstract The paper discusses how, in an age where powerful corporate sponsors have come to inundate high school environments with fast food chains and high calorie snack foods, in cafeterias and vending machines, the need for healthier diets and healthier lifestyles amongst teenagers has never been greater. The paper shows how recent trends towards obesity in adolescence have reached a point of crisis, while the early onset of what has traditionally been referred to as 'adult onset' or 'late life' Type 2 Diabetes has become progressively commonplace. The paper studies the reasons behind these health issues and what can be done to prevent them.
From the Paper "In other words, despite the evidence for a crisis currently unfolding in the high schools, teachers, educational administrations, and governmental bodies alike have been slow to react to these trends. Nonetheless, their efforts remain essential in any attempt to counteract the devastating impact of eating disorders on today's youth. Those efforts could be productively channeled towards advertising campaigns, the development and distribution of important textual resources on the issues at hand, the cultural promotion of a healthy fitness regime, and even formal classroom instruction, all of which might work to better educate teenagers on the realities of eating disorders, and also the effects of these disorders on an individual's long-term physical and emotional health."
Abstract Today's society is highly dependent on the information gathered and stored in computers. From personal computers in the home used to track checking accounts and keep household inventories in databases to large supercomputers that control space missions and run the world's largest companies, computers have become commonplace performing a broad variety of tasks. The number of individuals who have access to the information on those computers has increased as the communications industry has undergone a revolution in recent years, and uncontrolled access to information presents a very real threat in most business and some government information
From the Paper "Introduction
Today's society is highly dependent on the information gathered and stored in computers. From personal computers in the home used to track checking accounts and keep household inventories in databases to large supercomputers that control space missions and run the world's largest companies, computers have become commonplace performing a broad variety of tasks. The number of individuals who have access to the information on those computers has increased as the communications industry has undergone a revolution in recent years, and uncontrolled access to information presents a very real threat in most business and some government information. Because of the highly significant role that computers play in modern life, there is a need to keep information on machines secure from tampering, from unauthorized dissemination, and from ..."
Abstract For many, automated teller machines (ATMs) are simply a way of life. There were introduced nearly 20 years ago and today, many bank customers never go into a branch after opening their account. But today's ATM cards can also be used to make purchases at retail outlets and even on the World Wide Web, another innovation which was not envisioned 20 years ago. The videophone has become video conferencing, and cameras which use film may be made obsolete by cameras which use a floppy disk for recording images. Electronic pagers, once the purview of doctors and others who needed to be notified in case of emergencies, have now become commonplace and are used to summon diners to their table.
From the Paper "Introduction
For many, automated teller machines (ATMs) are simply a way of life. There were introduced nearly 20 years ago and today, many bank customers never go into a branch after opening their account. But today's ATM cards can also be used to make purchases at retail outlets and even on the World Wide Web, another innovation which was not envisioned 20 years ago. The videophone has become video conferencing, and cameras which use film may be made obsolete by cameras which use a floppy disk for recording images. Electronic pagers, once the purview of doctors and others who needed to be notified in case of emergencies, have now become commonplace and are used to summon diners to their table. This research examines each of these technologies and considers how the impact of technology extends beyond its stated use."
Abstract This research will examine the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 in Massachusetts Bay Colony and set forth evidence from contemporaneous sources that they were politically motivated.
It is a commonplace of prerevolution American history that the Salem witch trials and executions of 1692 were an aberration of the general tendency toward shaping society in line with ideas of personal and political liberty. But that line of thought ignores the complexities of creating a new civil society in the wilderness.
From the Paper "This research will examine the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 in Massachusetts Bay Colony and set forth evidence from contemporaneous sources that they were politically motivated.
It is a commonplace of prerevolution American history that the Salem witch trials and executions of 1692 were an aberration of the general tendency toward shaping society in line with ideas of personal and political liberty. But that line of thought ignores the complexities of creating a new civil society in the wilderness. Further, it ignores the fact that those who built that society, namely Massachusetts Bay, were amalgams of their personal and group history in England. As matters turned out, by 1792 Massachusetts had achieved a political reputation associated with political radicalism and a progressive, liberal republican government. However, the evidence of the Salem trials and..."
Abstract The paper shows that historians have used mercantilism to measure the fairness of the mother country toward the American colonies. Surprisingly, the word was unknown prior to the late eighteenth century and the phrase "mercantile system" first become commonplace in the writings of Adam Smith. This paper explains how, in Smith's view, mercantilism was a ?commercial minority's scheme to gain a monopoly of the home market for manufacturers by regulation, trade and ostensibly to secure a favorable balance in the national interest.? The paper traces how mercantilism acquired popular usage and has since been widely disagreed upon between nineteenth and twentieth century writers.
From the Paper "An entire generation of Americans formed their ideas of the British mercantilist system on the basis of Bancroft's writings. Before he wrote, few mentioned the Navigation Acts in connection with the Revolution. But Bancroft insisted that British economic restriction had caused the break between the colonies and mother country. Indeed, in his second volume he stated, ?American Independence, like the great rivers of the country, had many sources; but the head-spring which colored all the streams was the Navigation Act.?"
This paper is a review of the book "Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War" by Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg and William Broad, investigative journalists.
1,220 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 41.95
Abstract This paper discusses the book "Germs" that reviews recent history and threats of biological or germ weapons. The paper states that biological weapons are an increased threat in today's world where terrorists are the likely enemy rather than recognized foreign governments and the risks of biological attacks are greater since knowledge of these weapons is commonplace and germ technology is an affordable alternative to nuclear weapons. The author concludes, given that we now live in the world predicted by the authors, the book seems redundant even though it was published in 2001.
From the Paper "Recent times have seen the increase in the virility and willingness to use biological weapons. Chapter one outlines the first use in 1984 of a biological weapon against Americans on American soil. An imported religious cult, who called themselves Sannyasins, poisoned townspeople in Oregon by spreading salmonella over foods in local salad bars. The following chapters outline how weapons programs in post World War II Russia and the United States developed biological agents of increasing power and potency. Technological advances in the understanding of DNA and genetic engineering took germ weapons to new levels of sophistication, each superpower trying to outpace the other."
Abstract This paper looks at how the justice system is designed to enact punishment on those who have committed a crime, but how for many women incarcerated in the United States the prison system is nothing less than a torture chamber. It examines how for these women, sexual abuse and gross misconduct at the hands of those who are supposed to protect them are commonplace. It provides statistics on women in U.S prisons, an outline of specific issues faced by female prisoners and why these conditions actually exist. It concludes with possible solutions to these problems and current investigations by groups such as Amnesty International.
From the Paper "Women are being sold as sex slaves to male inmates. (Ruggiero) If this was not deplorable enough, the guards themselves are using the women for their own sexual pleasure. The incidence of rape, defined as sexual intercourse with a woman by a man without her consent and chiefly by force or deception, (Webster's Online Dictionary) is a "fairly rare phenomenon". (Olson) This by no means belittles the unjust sexual relationships occurring. The officers are using their position of power to force the inmates to have sex with them so in effect that is rape."
Abstract Analysis of the January 20, 1961 speech. Discusses the setting, purpose, and components of the address. Choice of language and delivery. Use of commonplace vocabulary. Kennedy's argument that the rights of man were historically given by God. Relevance of speech to contemporary world in light of 9/11. Quotes significant passages.
From the Paper "Analysis of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address,
Delivered Friday, January 20, 1961
The Situation
President Kennedy beat out Richard Nixon by an extremely small margin, and the campaign was a bitter one. The nation was also at war in Vietnam, there was a strong Cold War going on with Russia, and there was also some fear that Kennedy, the first-ever Catholic president might create a non-secular government. On the morning of the inauguration, it was snowing in Washington, and many people wanted to cancel the outdoor swearing in. Kennedy demanded that it be held outdoors as tradition dictated.
The Speech
The Beginning
The first part of the speech was designed to acknowledge and embrace a ..."
Abstract Sidney Homer, in his 1963 seminal history of interest rates, argues that a history of often dramatic interest rate fluctuations provides an excellent summary of the success of some communities and the failures of others to develop effective commercial ethics and laws and suitable monetary and fiscal techniques and policies. While "credit" is considered a modern device (or vice), a brief survey of financial history in this paper demonstrates that credit was in general use in ancient and in medieval times, antedating industry, banking and even coinage. This paper examines selected issues related to the history of simple and compound interest rates, specifically loans and considers periods when high rates were commonplace in their historical context.
From the Paper "In this context, Gwartney and Stroup (1990) note that in Keynesian economic theory, the interest rate is linked to the supply of and demand for money. High interest rates have historically induced people to hold less money (i.e., to invest more), while low rates have the opposite effect. During normal times, the demand curve for money is like the demand curve for other goods; when the price (the interest rate) of holding money rises, the quantity of money demanded will decline. The Federal Reserve System, the U.S. monetary authority, often finds it necessary to intervene to "adjust" the interest rate to further "adjust" the monetary supply and demand curves and related activity."
Abstract This paper looks at the biblical character of Jezebel and how the pattern of events and what they reveal about Jezebel's motives, are relevant to modern perceptions of the biblical portrayal of women. It examines how the name Jezebel is embedded in popular imagination as symbolic of a brazen, vulgar, scheming and/or impudent woman and how the power of the name and symbol are such that the context in which that image emerges may be altogether overlooked. It is a commonplace of Judeo-Christian culture that Jezebel was evil, perpetrated the murder of the prophet Elijah and suffered a horrible death. It looks at the different references to her throughout the Bible and how overall, the fate of Jezebel functions as a more general warning against behavior that has the effect of putting the jealous God in the background rather than the foreground of experience.
From the Paper "According to Snaith (7), the overriding project of the Kings texts was religious, specifically to give an account of the extent to which the kings and kingdoms of Israel and Judah conformed (or did not) to the moral and behavioral guidelines for the people of Israel established by Mosaic law, articulated in some detail in Deuteronomy. The Kings and 2 Chronicles books explain the derogation of Jewish religious and moral practices, in particular their retreat to polytheistic idolatry, but also, as Snaith says, the very decision of the Jews to divide the kingdom of God's people into two kingdoms (Snaith 11). The fact that the texts return repeatedly to the importance of the relationship between the chosen people and their one God who chose them demonstrates that the moral and monotheistic content of human experience, not the sociopolitical content of royal administration, is the agenda of the recorders of kingdom activity."
Abstract This paper discusses how domestic violence and sexual assault are commonplace in a world filled with anger, abuse and neglect and how more often than not, the victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse very often grow up to be abusers themselves. It examines how W.I.N.G.S. (Women In Need of Gods Shelter) was founded as a comprehensive intervention program to assist women and families who are the victims of domestic and sexual abuse. In society today, there are more animal shelters than there are shelters for women who are the victims of violent and sexual assault. It evaluates how intervention programs, such as that offered by W.I.N.G.S., are one of the ways to end the pattern of abuse and offer women, children and families a chance at survival and emotional healing.
From the Paper "The services offered at W.I.N.G.S. are free and confidential. One of the most comprehensive services that W.I.N.G.S. offers women is their sexual assault service. This intervention program was established to aid women who are the victims of rape or other sexual assault, and offers "prevention education programs" for youths, in an effort to increase awareness of the frequency of this crime, and ways people can protect themselves from becoming a victim. The prevention program not only defines rape for youths, and addresses how to avoid it, but also teaches young adults skills necessary to help out a friend that may be a victim of a sexual crime."
Abstract The paper argues that the foundations of anti-Semitism are laid in financial and economic reasoning. It shows that though it is true that much anti-Semitic prejudiced is based on racial discrimination, the majority of anti-Semitic sentiment can be traced to financial foundations. The Jewish population has been persecuted since the dawn of time, for financial and economic reasons. Throughout history, during times of economic hardship, the Jewish people were seen as the cause of the demise many countries financial standing. The paper shows that Christians throughout the world believed that the Jewish people dominated or intended to dominate world finance and this sentiment became commonplace even in the United States as time progressed.
From the Paper "The U.S. promoted Anti-Semitism by not issuing bank charters to Jewish bankers during the Depression era (Ciechanowski, 2000). Despite the fact that only one Jewish owned bank existed at the time of the crash, and the fact that this bank was forced into bankruptcy after the crash, causing 400,000 Jews to lose their life savings, Americans continued to blame Jews for the economic hardships that had befallen the U.S."
