Abstract
This extensive study investigates the role of the Virgin Mary in today's Protestant churches. The writer examines whether there currently exists an identifiable Protestant liturgical theology of Mary. The author further examines the most significant contemporary developments in Protestant Mariology. The author states that since this investigation seeks to uncover how everyday Protestants view Mary's role in their religion, the scope of research extends beyond scholarly texts. The author considers information from mass media resources like magazines, and less traditional media sources, such as websites to be a reflection of the popular view of Mary. According to the author, untraditional sources provide insight into how modern lay Protestants view Mary, if they honor her, or if they believe she should be honored. The paper further examines how church officials approach devotion to Mary, and if they desire pro-Marian changes in Protestantism. The potential controversy surrounding Mary in the Protestant church is also considered. The author hopes that information from a broad variety of practitioners will yield a suggestion about the modern state of Mary in the Protestant church and whether her role should change.

Outline:
Proposal
Introduction
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Traditionally, at least in recent history, the Virgin Mary has not played a very large role in the various Protestant faiths. In fact, many modern Protestants only recall celebrating Mary during Christmas, and those celebrations were strictly limited to Mary's role in the birth of Christ rather than celebrating Mary's prophecies prior to Jesus' birth or the role that she played as Jesus' day-to-day parent. The Protestant attitude towards Mary contrasts starkly with Catholic and Orthodox attitudes, which celebrate Mary in several different ways. To Catholics, Mary was chosen to be the mother of God's son because she was an example of a devout and loving Jew, so that her spiritual greatness actually preceded the events that are traditionally associated with her. However, to Protestants, prior to the visit from the angel Gabriel, Mary led an unremarkable life, and her sole claim to significance in Christianity is the fact that she was chosen, more or less arbitrarily, by God to be the mother of his son. Furthermore, many Protestants not only refused to share in the Catholic and Orthodox reverence for the Virgin, but have actually reacted vehemently against it, associating respect and reverence for Mary with the some type of idolatry."

Tags:Virgin, Mary, Protestantism, Christianity, devotion, Mariology

Abstract
Since humankind first began to write, the great poets have devoted themselves endlessly to exploring the idea of "love" in all its manifold profundities. In the English language, no writer is greater than Shakespeare - and no writer has ever come as close as Shakespeare to defining what exactly "love" is. In his sonnet, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds," Shakespeare outlines what true love means with an elegance that is unsurpassed in the English canon. With this in mind, the following essay will look at how Shakespeare addresses the concept of love - and how successful he actually is at doing so. For this analysis to be successful, semiotics and structuralism will both be employed; the initial body paragraph of this paper, in fact, will describe each in brief. From there, each quatrain of the poem will be explored utilizing the inter-related perceptual tools given us by semiotics and structuralism. In the end, Shakespeare provides his readers with an excellent description of how his notion of true love is unchanging, timeless and unconditional - which may not be all that different from the larger western conception of love that has persisted for eons.

From the Paper
Structuralism and the Semiotics of Love in Shakespeare's "Let me not to the marriage of true minds" Since humankind first began to write, the great poets have devoted themselves endlessly to exploring the idea of "love" in all its manifold profundities. In the English language, no writer is greater than Shakespeare - and no writer has ever come as close as Shakespeare to defining what exactly "love" is. In his sonnet, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds," Shakespeare outlines what true love means with an elegance that is unsurpassed in the English canon. With this in mind, the following essay will look at how Shakespeare addresses the concept of love

Tags:shakespeare, semiotics, structuralism

Abstract
The paper asserts that despite being a dedicated and concerned President, Lincoln managed to spend some quality time with his family, and possessed a deep love for his sons. The paper describes Lincoln's sorrow after the death of his young son and his strong marriage. The paper shows how Lincoln was a very devoted father and husband despite being President of the United States.

From the Paper
"In the summer of 1860, Jeriah Bonham, a newspaper editor from Springfield, Illinois, paid a visit to President Abraham Lincoln, staying at the Illinois State Capital building on some important business matters. Mr. Bonham relates that during this visit, he witnessed Tad and Willie, two of Lincoln's young sons, playing games on the floor of the Governor's office. Tad was apparently having some problems with spinning a top properly, so his father bent down and helped him with the toy. After this, Lincoln told Mr. Bonham that he was "having a little season of relaxation with my boys which I cannot always enjoy as so many callers occupy my time" (Randall, 126)."

Tags:sons, marriage, wife

Abstract
In this article, the writer outlines the controversial topic of aerial spraying or fumigation in Colombia as it pertains to efforts to destroy the country's illicit drug trade. To really understand the issue, however, the writer discusses the lengthy history of narcotics in Colombia, the history of the American war on drugs and the types of drugs that appear most prevalent in Colombia. From there, time is devoted to looking at the issue of aerial spraying, why it seemed like a good idea when first conceived, and precisely what impact it has had upon Colombia. In the final analysis, the writer maintains that aerial spraying seems superficially to be an effective means of thwarting the drug trafficking problem in Colombia, but it may simply be a needless distraction diverting resources and expertise away from worthwhile alternatives.

From the Paper
"The history of the war on drugs is a long and important one, but it is necessary first to place it within the context of the even longer history of Colombia as a major international distributor of illicit narcotics. To begin with, marijuana cultivation in Colombia first emerged during the initial decade of the twentieth century. By as early as the 1930s, some cultivation was taking place among the Costeno black population on Barranquilla and urban criminals located in this territory were routinely smoking marijuana. Additionally, during the course of the Second World War, hemp cultivation muscled its way to the forefront courtesy the growing demand for large-scale fiber production as one part of the much larger war effort. Finally, by the latter part of the 1960s and by the early 1970s, marijuana production in Colombia became a fairly huge and lucrative industry in response to a growing demand for such a good in the United States."

Tags:fumigation, aerial, spraying, marijuana, cocaine, narcotics

Abstract
This paper first analyzes how Michelangelo's lack of attention in his childhood led to elements of homosexuality in his artwork. The paper then analyzes Michelangelo's religious devotion plays out in the painting, "The Last Judgment" (c.1535-1541). The paper uses MLA style footnotes but does not include a works cited page.

From the Paper
"These paternal and maternal struggles Michelangelo faced undoubtedly left him with a feeling of abandonment, self-hate and possibly led to his homosexual tendencies. It has been suggested that through analyzing Michelangelo's letters, poems, and artistic depictions that Michelangelo had a series of homosexual relationships; "A great deal has been written and even more omitted about Michelangelo's homosexuality." Being that Michelangelo's childhood lacked in affection, it appears that he developed a great love and adoration for the sexuality of young men, specifically Franceso de'Bracci (called Cecchino) and Tommaso de'Cavalieri. Michelangelo wrote several poems about and to these two men. For Tommaso, Michelangelo once gave him a Ganymede drawing (c.1533) (fig.3). In the drawing, aside from the actual subject matter itself, there are overt homoerotic elements including oral incorporation as well as the appearance of anal penetration by the eagle to Ganymede. In the case of Cecchino, he appears to have been the sexual companion of Michelangelo and the subject of much adoration by him. When Cecchino died at a very young age, Michelangelo designed a tomb for him. In both cases, it appears that Michelangelo cherished the feeling of being loved and being subjugated to another person, in an almost erotic, sadomasochistic way; "These [elements] help us understand Michelangelo's self-hate, self-torment, relationships and homosexuality." This struggle with homosexuality is also linked to feelings of depression. Historian Christopher Ryan suggests that in his later years, Michelangelo's poems were much more religious than erotic in nature, most likely indicating repentance and feelings of remorse for his homosexual activities. Paul Wolf (M.D.) also concludes that Michelangelo showed many signs and symptoms of depression, manic-depression and even bi-polar illness, and that his paintings on the Sistine Ceiling (1508-1512) mirror his depression. Wolf also explains that manic-depression and creativity have often been linked to go hand in hand. Michelangelo's homosexuality and adoration of the male figure plays out most clearly in the Ignudi (1508-1512) of the Sistine Ceiling and in his unfinished sculpture, Dying Slave (1513)."

Tags:sculpture, paintings, homosexual, maternal

Abstract
The paper shows how despite a similar emphasis on loyalty, the way that this value is celebrated in "Beowulf and "The Tale of the Heike" is very different. The paper explains that the hero Beowulf demonstrates his prowess through individual struggle and excellence while the good warriors of the "The Tale of the Heike" collectively show their greatness through their loyalty to their lord. The paper clarifies further that the negation of the self shown by Beowulf is demonstrated by putting the lives of others before his own to make a better community while the negation of the self in "The Tale of Heike" is shown in unswerving devotion to a lord above all other things and showing ruthlessness in battle towards the enemy that opposes the lord.

From the Paper
"Both "Beowulf" and "The Tale of the Heike" relate military narratives of bloody, bitter conflicts in war-torn societies where human civilization is fragile and savage threats are common. Men and women must band together, just to survive. The heroic individuals that triumph in these early sagas of early Scandinavian and feudal Japan define the values of their early societies by the ethics and character they show during trying times. "Beowulf's" triumphs are physical, like his triumph over Grendel, as well as spiritual, and the warriors of "The Tale of the Heike," even when defeated win moral victories over their enemies because of the superior loyalty they show to their lord and to the emperor."

Tags:lord, self-negation, warriors, struggle

Abstract
The paper explains that Jewell Parker Rhodes' states that, when she came across a quote by Frederick Douglass describing his wife as "an old black log", she began to wonder about this faceless woman, damned to the ages by such an unflattering description and decided to tell her story as well as the story of the another woman, this one Caucasian, who also struggled for Douglass' elusive love. The author points out that Rhodes alternates voices, giving a few chapters to Anna, the wife, who clings to her Freddy believing that "love be true" and then a few chapters to Ottilie, the lover, who calls herself "the wife of his spirit". The paper relates that, although Frederick Douglass is never given a voice of his own in the book, his characterization is perhaps the most interesting in the book because the reader sees this famous abolitionist through the eyes of Anna and Ottilie, and their vision does not paint a very flattering picture.

From the Paper
"Although Rhodes certainly acknowledges the history that dictates the circumstances of her characters, her story is at heart a domestic one--a story of two very different women longing for the same unavailable man. That Frederick is indeed emotionally unavailable is highlighted at every turn. He doesn't do "little things" for Anna, nor whisper sweet words to Ottilie. In his speeches, he thanks neither woman for the help they have given him. "Who helped more than me?" Anna thinks as she hears her husband's first speech. "How come Freddy didn't mention me?" Later Ottilie, listening to Douglass speak years later, reflects, "I'd heard Douglass give this speech numerous times and each time I felt outrage. He'd never thanked me. Never mentioned me.""

Tags:voices, characterization, emotionally-unavailable, plot, abolition

Abstract
The Greeks were innovators in philosophy, mathematics and medicine, not to mention writing and the theater. The paper questions why, with such seemingly advanced knowledge - even at a time when there already was at least one monotheistic religion (Judaism) prevalent - did the Greeks continue to worship and believe in various gods, prophecies, witches and sorcerers and the inevitable interrelationship among them all with humans? The paper provides an overview of the main gods in Greek mythology.

From the Paper
"Mount Olympus, which would be home to the gods, was then constructed with twelve golden thrones for Zeus, his brothers and sisters, his children and Aphrodite, goddess of love. A quick overview of these various gods and goddesses reveals that Hera, often referred to as the queen of the gods, had a very dark side to her, immensely jealous of Zeus' power, and especially his dalliance with mortal women. He punished her from time to time, but they managed to co-exist."

Tags:Zeus, Europa, Poseidon, Helen, Mount, Olympus

Abstract
The exploration of leadership in the five articles selected covers a wide range of topics. Yet the diversity offered through these articles helps to demonstrate threads of commonality that can be used to influence management strategy in the workplace, where the leadership abilities of the individual and the management team can be better applied to the environment in which they function. This paper shall synthesize the five articles in a manner, which denotes their commonalities, as well as the impact that each article has upon potential leadership concepts.

Tags:leadership, exploration, different, articles

From the Paper
"The Brookings Institution was founded in 1916 as the Institute for Government Research, the first private organization devoted to public policy issues at the national level. In 1922 and 1924, the Institute was joined by two supporting sister organizations, the Institute of Economics and the Robert Brookings Graduate School, and in 1927, these three groups were consolidated into one institution, named in honor of Robert Somers Brookings (1850 1932), a St. Louis businessman whose leadership shaped the earlier organizations. The Institute is financed largely by endowment and by the support of philanthropic foundations, corporations, and private individuals. The organization is devoted to carrying out research and educational activities, and it also undertakes some unclassified government contract studies, always reserving the ..."