Abstract
This paper discusses how "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams presents the audience with a family that has been damaged by the departure of the father. The paper points out that each character is in his or her own way irreparably harmed by this event. The remaining parent, Amanda, perpetuates both her own and her children's pain by constantly reminding herself and her children of the missing family member, and creates for the entire family a dichotomy between the father figure as the nostalgic and hero-like character, and on the other hand as a faithless deserter whose example is not to be followed at any cost. The paper concludes that the father, even in his absence, continues to dictate the interactions within his family, and remains central to the events and choices in their lives.

From the Paper
"Despite this rare recognition of true reality, Amanda's grip on the true state of affairs does not last long. Instead, she pours her whole heart and soul into the projected success of ensnaring a husband for Laura, but like Tom's attempt at escape, the projected success of this attempt is also more purely fantasy than Amanda is willing to recognize. Tom attempts to warn his mother that a man might not respond favorably to Laura's physical and emotional defects. She also never bothers to thoroughly investigate the man that Tom brings to meet Laura, and therefore fails to take into account the possibility that Jim might already be connected to another girl. In the end, both her wild hope and Laura's emerging personality are completely crushed by the one revealed truth: Jim is already taken. In addition, the final representation of their hope vanishes with Tom's escape. Laura and Amanda are left to their own devices at the end of the play. Only Laura's image remains to haunt Tom, regardless of how far he travels to escape them."

Tags:family, abandonment

Abstract
This paper explains that canonization of sainthood for a Christian in antiquity was achieved either by living piously and being recognized as a holy person within the church after natural death or by leading a virtuous life though the Christian faith and consequentially being killed for those beliefs, which is known as becoming a martyr. The author points out that the early Christians were mainly martyred because of their refusal to perform actions that contradicted a Christian lifestyle and violated church doctrines such as St. Perpetua. The paper relates that, throughout the stories of the martyr's lives and the lives of the Desert Fathers, the essential designs are similar: The pious lifestyle leads to sainthood and heaven.

From the Paper
"In 303CE, the Emperor of Rome issued an edict, which called for the destruction of churches, the burning of scripts and the arrests and eventual deaths of Christians. The reason for the edict was not because of ritual wrong-doing, but to reorder the hierarchy of the population of Rome. The Christian faith had started to spread at a phenomenal rate (at one point reaching to almost 25% of the population of Rome), and started to threaten the bureaucratic stability. Using the provisions already in place, Diocletian used his military power to reorder the Roman socio-economic class to his liking."

Tags:canonization, lifestyledivine-intervention, perpetua, desert-fathers

Abstract
In this article, the writer examines the Gobi Desert, which is one of the most striking natural phenomena in the world. The writer explains that it is the world's northernmost desert and home to the world's southernmost glacier in the Gobi's Yol Valley. The writer points out that the Gobi Desert is situated across the border between Mongolia and China. The writer notes that despite the general conception of a desert as full of sand, much of the Gobi desert is only barren rock. The writer concludes that as students we can look to the Gobi Desert as a unique source of knowledge about geography in one of the most extreme environments in the world. The writer notes that the Gobi Desert can provide the thoughtful researcher with a wealth of information about how landscapes are shaped and manipulated by almost purely natural forces.

From the Paper
"Many of the geographical features of the Gobi Desert were formed because of the effects of plate tectonics over millions of years. At one time, the Gobi Desert region was at the convergence of two tectonic plates, a fact that helped shape the unique geographic features of the region. More recently in geological terms, the Gobi Desert region has felt the effect of the Indian subcontinent tectonic plate moving northward into Asia. While this movement has had the immediate effect of driving the Himalayas upward, the pressure of this convergence has consistently spilled to the east and west. It has fractured the Gobi landscape and helped drive much of the region up into higher elevations. When we consider the major geologic and geographic features of the region, plate tectonics must be seen as a primary cause in their formation."

Tags:sand, rock, mountain, winds

Abstract
This paper examines how environmentalist and desert-lover, Edward Abbey in his essay "The Great American Desert" warns readers about the perilous dangers of the American deserts while simultaneously stirring curiosity about these fascinating ecosystems. The paper looks at how Abbey both invites and dissuades his readers from visiting the deserts of North America through the use of humor and sarcasm. It also shows how he is rhetorically successful in arguing that the open spaces of the undeveloped deserts are sacred places in need of respect and protection through his clever use of pathos and logos.

From the Paper
"The main strategy that appears in this article is an appeal to the reader's logic. Abbey presents examples of the dangers of the desert from the sun to the wildlife, in order to discourage visitors to visit his desert and in a way protect it from them. Another strategy that Abbey almost reluctantly resorts to in order to convince the reader to protect the desert is to explain how one should go about visiting the desert if for some reason they do decide to visit. This is a strategy of acknowledging the opposition that still desires to visit the desert. He starts by bringing in more examples from personal experience. This time he brings in the examples of two friends, John Du Pay wearing only "J.C. Penny high-tops on his feet and a plastic pack on his back" and Douglas Peacock carrying "a ninety-pound canvas pannier on his back". "

Tags:ecosystems

Abstract
This paper will discuss the book "Edge of Taos Desert: An Escape to Reality" by Mabel Dodge Luhan and seek to understand why this author is so entranced with this geographic site. By revealing the people that lived there in the time that the book was written, we can see why the author used this book as a sort of return to her self in the scope of the desert. The scope of this paper will be to understand why she chose to see the desert as a home, rather than a barren and lifeless place.

Abstract
In the paper, the author examines the similarities and differences between the US invasion of Panama (Just Cause) in 1989 and the US led war against Iraq (Desert Storm) in 1991.The writer contends that whilst both the operations had as their aim the toppling of a totalitarian regime, they differed in a number of aspects. In the course of the paper, the writer examines the military preparedness of US forces in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm, The root factors affecting the U.S. military readiness to perform its primary function during initial stages of the conflicts, and whether or not the U.S. military has overcome the fundamental obstacle to achieving force readiness prior to the commencement of combat operations.

Outline:
Introduction
Military Preparedness in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm
Root Factors Affecting U.S. Military Readiness to Perform its Primary Function During Initial Stages of the Conflicts
Whether Or Not The U.S. Military Has Overcome The Fundamental Obstacle To Achieving Force Readiness Prior To The Commencement Of Combat Operations
References

From the Paper
"We must also bear in mind that the operation was in collation with the armies of the other countries that also participated and was largely a combined effort. In contrast the operation at Panama - Just Cause was an all American Affair. Operation Just Cause demonstrated that the capabilities of the army were enhanced with training and coordination. The control structures and the training of personnel were proved to be flawless. However the planning and conflict strategy still needed refinement. The engagement was without use of very sensitive weapons and missiles and was an operation largely dependent on the maneuverability of the personnel. It was conducted by the US without any coalition presence all by its own resources. (Special Operations Association, 2005)"

Tags:iraq kuwait panama noriega, persian gulf, baghdad jordan army, air force, military invasion dictator, saddam hussein, terrorist

Abstract
This paper explores the youth and upbringing of Schwarzkopf, tracing his childhood and how most of his life revolved around the military (through his father's career). The writer examines Schwarzkopf's early military career which finally peaked in being the Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces during the Gulf War.

From the Paper
"General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. was born in Trenton, New Jersey on August 22 in the year 1934. He was named after his father, who was a West Point graduate and a decorated veteran of the Armed Forces, much like the younger Schwarzkopf has now become. General Schwarzkopf himself graduated from West Point in 1956 and has become one of our generation s most brilliant military leaders. He retired in the fall of 1991, shortly after successfully leading the Allied Troops into the Persian Gulf War earlier that year. "

Tags:army, military, troops, sadaam, hussein, iraq, desert, storm, gulf

Abstract
This paper focuses on the personal journey of a Muslim boy who, along with his family, faces discrimination after the 9/11 attacks. Written in the first person, the story is narrated by Mohammed as he is called a terrorist by his classmates, relocated to a mosque school by his father, and deserted by many of his friends. Mohammed learns about himself as he navigates the territory between his true, developing self and the person he believes his parents want him to become.

From the Paper
"At least he comes around--the only friend left from the public school to do so. At first, there were others: Robert the quarterback with ebony skin and a father who sang so well in a local band that he was offered a recording deal; John, the only Anglo, who had a football scholarship, and Maria. There's too much to say about Maria, so I had better say nothing at all. At first, they all still came by in the afternoons, and my mother would make them lemonade and cookies and we would all sit in the den and talk about reality TV or sports, or we'd go outside and kick the ball around. Not anymore."

Tags:terrorist, racism, profiling, Islam, Arab

Abstract
This paper gives a description of Edgar Allan Poe's life and the mysterious circumstances of his death. Poe's life and accomplishments are highlighted, such as his major works and his contributions to the literary movement American Romanticism. The paper also discusses Poe's experiences with loss, such as his father deserting him at a young age and the untimely death of his wife. Poe's eccentricities are also cited, with the author stating that for many, Poe was a literary genius who lived in a different world that he alone knew.

From the Paper
"Poe's psychological thrillers examined the depths of the human psyches even without the readings from Sigmund Freud, who founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology but was not yet even born during Poe's time. If he had read the works of Freud, he would have realized that his own life was marred by tragedies, beginning with the death of his biological parents when he was only three. His works contained glimpses into his inner feelings, a darkly irascible behavior, quietly obsessed with death and violence, yet restrained by his poetic genius."

Tags:American Romanticism, The Raven, Annabel Lee, poets

Abstract
This paper is a critical analysis of the portrayal of women in William Faulkner's, "A Rose for Emily" Using examples from the book, the writer discusses society's impossible ideal for women, and demonstrates of religious imagery in the story also serves to propagate this image of women. Some of the examples used include how Emily is presented to the readers and how she is transformed from virginal, to tainted once her affair is revealed. According to the paper, Faulkner was attempting to illustrate how unrealistic expectations and demands placed upon women, in this case, Emily, lead to loneliness, isolation and even murder.

From the Paper
"Emily takes compensation a step further by murdering Homer to prevent him from leaving her. Even though the townspeople suspect Homer's demise, they do nothing about it. The reason for this is touched upon (as well as the foreshadowing Homer's death) when they excuse her for trying to keep the decaying body of her father, "We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will." (Faulkner, 1992, 3)."

Tags:lonliness, isolation, murder, feminist, madness, homer, solitary, killing, desert, father, virginal, marriage, love, sexuality, religious, purity, tradition, misery, pedestal