Abstract
This paper looks at the stories of "Beowulf" as a parallel to the values and attitudes within Medieval society, namely, the penultimate values of martial prowess, heroic action, courage, material goods, religious devotion, and most of all, loyalty.

From the Paper
"Medieval society was a violent one, necessitated by the constant warring between kingdoms. The nobility, created originally to defend those unable to defend themselves from the raiding tribes following the downfall of the Roman empire, prided themselves on their combat prowess and valued this above all else. We can find a parallel to the attitudes of Beowulf in the heroic age of Greece and the Homeric epics of the Iliad and the Odyssey in their emphasis on combat as proof of a man's worth and the preoccupation with violence in violent times. The Medieval period is one such era, characterized by the warfare and the heroes of the era, such as Beowulf. Beowulf would be the archetype, ideal warrior, especially in the exceptionally warlike Danish regions. These heroic tales give us a great deal of insight into the aspirations and ideas of those nobles and warriors, who would be the most likely readers of such tales."

Tags:ages, beowulf, critic, english, epic, literary, medieval, middle, poems

Abstract
This paper discusses the concepts and tenets of the Islam religion. The author gives a detailed analysis of the faith, prayers, holidays, holy sites and fundamental beliefs of the Islamic people.

From the Paper
"Islam is a religion based upon the surrender to God who is One. The name of the religion, Islam, in Arabic, means submission and peace. The message of Islam concerns God, who in Arabic is called Allah, and it addresses itself to humanity's nature. It concerns men and women as they were created by God not as fallen beings. Islam considers itself to be not an innovation but a reassertion of the universal truth of all revelation, which is God's oneness."

Tags:mecca, muhammad, muslim, koran, ritual, religion

Abstract
This paper discusses treatment of Native Americans' rights to their sacred sites under US Constitutional law. Three law journal articles are reviewed and utilized to form a thesis promoting the concept of communal religious rights. Historical background is provided also.

From the Paper
"The first clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."[1] However, throughout U.S. history, the federal government has deliberately restricted and prohibited the religious practices of North America's indigenous Native Americans. Rather than confront this severe blight on the country's human rights record, the various branches of the Euro-cultured U.S. government gloss over past transgressions of First Amendment rights, even as they attempt to justify new violations of Native Americans' religious rights."

Tags:american, amendment, constitution, culture, ethnic, first, indian, law, politics, religion, sacred, sites

Abstract
This is a research and critical review of China's one child population policy. It delves into the nature of the policy, the reasons for its implementation, the benefits and draw backs of the policy and whether it has been successful or not. The author looks at the problems with the policy with special reference to the way it effects society and proposes alternatives and solutions to the policy.

From the Paper
"The Chinese population policy is approaching its silver anniversary and the contentious nature of the strategy remains. Without question the one child per family policy has changed China's demographic landscape, but many individuals still question the success and ethical nature of the implementation. These strategies have also caused new problems that the country must address. Numerous people wonder if the positive decline of population growth can offset the negative effects of the policy."

Tags:child, china, chinese, histoy, one, policy, population, family, community, society

Abstract
The Kurds have had a long history of ethnic conflict in the middle East. This paper explores their history with a focus on attempts by other nations to self-assimilate them into different cultures. The paper also provides possible solutions to the struggles.

From the Paper
"Situated at the junction between the modern West and the traditionally Islamic Middle East, lies Turkey: a country in great transition, but also dire internal conflict. Turkey, unlike other predominately Islamic countries in Asia, is on its way to establishing a legitimate democracy, a strong economy comparable to those of the West, and possibly becoming a member of the European Union. But Turkey's internal conflict stands to jeopardize everything they've worked for. Like the majority of states in the world, Turkey is multinational. Yet, the leaders of the country have perpetually refuted this fact. They have denied the existence of any distinct ethnic group not falling under the classification of ?Turks.? Turkey is home to an entirely different subculture of peoples called the Kurds. The Kurds consider themselves Turks, but also maintain their own ethnic identity separate from the rest of Turkey. They have their own culture, language, and history. The Kurds in Turkey have struggled for almost a century to retain their individuality, while the country of Turkey has struggled to maintain an image of freedom, democracy, and domestic stability in eyes of the Western World."

Tags:turkey, culture, assimilation, acculturation, racial

Tags:ancient, chinese, customs, footbinding, tradition, culture, ceremony

Abstract
This paper is written mostly from a subjective viewpoint regarding racism in the United States. The author describes his/her brush with racism, and talks a bit about some of the history of and groups behind organized racist activity. Conclusions are drawn about some of this activity by the author.

From the Paper
"Racism has been a problem for hundreds of years. Has it gotten any better from what it used to be? A little, but it still plays a major problem in our society. I come from a small town, which is mostly white, so it's hard to still believe that the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is still up and going strong. My eyes were blinded by this stereotype I held. They are not just affecting people in the south, they have moved all over the states. Will it ever end, who's to say? My question I had before investigating this topic is: Does the KKK still have an affect on us this day in age? And if so, how far have they spread away from the South?"

Tags:kkk, klan, klansmen, klux, luther, martin, naacp

Abstract
Argumentative paper on whether the U.S. should be dropping food into the country of Afghanistan while at the same time bombing the country. The author argues that because the United States government is at war with the Taliban, there should be no good will gestures of dropping food over Afghanistan.

From the Paper
"On September 11 an unforgettable tragedy happened to the United States of America. A group of terrorist, whose alleged leader is hiding in Afghanistan, crashed two airplanes into the World Trade Centers, and one into the Pentagon. The United States is now in the process of retaliating against the Taliban by bombing the government, yet at the same time the U.S. is also dropping food for the people of Afghanistan."

Tags:aid, bombing, government, poverty, starvation, states, strikes, taliban, tragedy, united, war

Abstract
This paper presents an in depth examination of the death penalty and the racial influences on the matter. The author argues that the death penalty is administered in a racially disproportionate manner and provides proof of this accusation. Included is a brief overview of other debates around the topic such as moral grounding and fairness.

From the Paper
"It is hard to understand how anyone could not view the death penalty as morally problematic, although clearly many Americans do not view the practice as morally objectionable or there would not be so many advocates of the practice. One of the most problematic of all aspects of the death penalty as it is imposed in the United States is that is administered in a racially disproportionate manner. "

Tags:death, race, racial, black, white, ethnicity, prison, sentence, judge, jury, prejudice

Abstract
This paper shows why Elvis Presley rose to fame so quickly. It examines the social, race, political and youth issues of the time and explains how each one of these factors had a major influence on his success as a rock star.

From the paper:

"Though some like to recall it as a time of innocence, it was in 1956 that the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregation on buses and trains unconstitutional, and the year of the Montgomery boycotts. Elvis, as he once told an interviewer, did not just happen to ?come along at the right time.? There is a social and cultural context to his success. Elvis mirrored the contradictions of the South. According to John Reed of the University of North Carolina, ?Aside from the way he moved his lower body, hell, he was a gospel-singing mama?s boy.? Perhaps he also mirrored the contractions of post-war American youth seeking an identity apart from their parents."

Tags:rock, n, roll, music, social, war, expression