Requesting a Reference Letter Years After Graduating

Its a common question. In fact, my students ask about this even before they graduate. In the words of one reader: Ive been out of school for two years now but am now applying to grad school. I have been teaching English abroad for the past two years so I dont have the opportunity to meet with any of my former professors in person and to be honest I never really cultivated a deep relationship with any of them. I want to send an email to my former academic major adviser to see if she can write a letter for me. I knew her through all of college and took two classes with her including a very small seminar class. I think of all my professors she knows me the best. How should I approach the situation? The faculty is used to being approached by former students who request letters. Its not unusual, so dont fear. The way in which you make contact is important. Your goal is to reintroduce yourself, remind the faculty member of your work as a student, fill her in on your current work, and request a letter. Personally, I find an email to be best because it permits the professor to stop and look up your records - grades, transcript, and so on before replying. What should your email say? Keep it short. For example, consider the following email: Dear Dr. Advisor,My name is X. I graduated from MyOld University two years ago. I was a Psychology major and you were my advisor. In addition, I was in your Applied Basketball class in Fall 2000, and Applied Basketball II in Spring 2002. Since graduating I have been teaching English in X country. I am planning on returning to the US soon and am applying for graduate study in Psychology, specifically, PhD programs in Subspecialty. Im writing to ask if you would consider writing a letter of recommendation on my behalf. I am not in the US so cannot visit you in person, but perhaps we could schedule a phone call to catch up and so I can seek your guidance.Sincerely,Student Offer to send copies of old papers, if you have them. When you confer with the professor, ask whether the professor feels that she can write a helpful letter on your behalf. It may feel awkward on your part but rest assured that this is not an unusual situation. Good luck!

Effects Of Birth Control On Children - 1719 Words

There are countless drugs in use today that are controversial. Many people believe that these drugs are useful and cause no harm to the person taking it, while others feel that they are harmful to the body and do more destruction than improvement. Examples of these controversial drugs include Accutane, flu shots, Prozac, and birth control. One of the most common of these drugs is birth control. Birth control is a drug that may be used in various ways. It is mainly taken to prevent pregnancy, make menstrual cycles lighter and more regular, and help prevent or treat certain diseases or conditions. Birth control may also cause women to encounter side effects like nausea, headaches, weight gain or loss, or mood swings. Despite these side effects, birth control is a very effective and beneficial drug that is used by countless women worldwide. Birth control, also named contraceptive, is a drug widely used to prevent pregnancy and other different medical issues within the female body. It uses the hormones estrogen and progestin to, â€Å"prevent a woman s ovary from releasing an egg during her menstrual cycle, which is called ovulation. They do this by changing the levels of the natural hormones the body makes† (medlineplus.gov). If the egg does not get released from the ovary then sperm cannot meet with the egg, thus preventing pregnancy. There are many forms of birth control that a woman may choose from. The most common forms are the pill or the shot. These forms are all efficient inShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Birth Control On Children1677 Words   |  7 Pagesasked my dad if he was okay with me going on birth control. Naturally he thought the worst, but that had nothing to do with why I wanted it. The reason that most female teens think about birth control is because of premenstrual syndrome -- a condition which causes migraines, cramps, and mood swings. Many people, like my father, disapprove of teens using birth control for moral and/ or religious reasons. Parents do not want their children to have birth control because they often feel that it is inappropriateRead MoreThe Effects Of Birth Control On Children1658 Words   |  7 PagesWhen focusing on the public’s opinion on the use of birth control, research and analysis of polls show that on average, the overall relevant public ranges from ages 15-19 or 18 and older, which would indicate that they are teenagers post-puberty or adults. Most of those surveyed were American females, which is likely because they are most directly impacted by birth control, considering that they are the ones taking it, receiving information about it at their doctor’s, etc. The relevant public alsoRead MoreThe Effects Of Birth Control On Children1921 Words   |  8 Pagesthirteen and eighteen be allowed to receive birth control and contraceptives without the consent of their parents? This is a question commonly asked and also extremely controversial. Birth control is a sensitive subject to many people because many are against the issue and some are for minors having the right to consent to their own reproductive health care. There are a lot of different views on this subject and many different beliefs as to whether birt h control should be available to teens under 18 yearsRead MoreBirth Control Essay1297 Words   |  6 Pageslowered. I am interested about how birth control has evolved, and the effects it has had on women socially and economically. The research begins before the 17th century; the primary purpose of contraceptives was to prevent disease, not pregnancy. During this time the Catholic Church in Europe does not recognize birth control aside from abstinence, causing citizens to break away from the church. By the 18th century doctors in France were educating men about birth control, and contraceptives were usedRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy : A High Risk, The Effects, And The Prevention Of Teen Pregnancy1242 Words   |  5 Pagesthe second highest. Teenage pregnancy is a social and economic problem; it is not good for our country. This essay, will discuss who is at a high risk, the effects, and the prevention of teen pregnancy. Some people are at a higher risk of getting pregnant at a young age. There are many factors that can make a person at a high risk. Most children that grow up in foster care have problems. These problems can vary from self-esteem issues to drug and alcohol problems. Teenagers that have self-esteem issuesRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy Is Becoming A Problem921 Words   |  4 PagesPregnancies, it states â€Å"When teenage girls have babies, they are in danger. They more likely will suffer serious health problems than mothers in other age groups and more often will drop out of school and become stuck at low-income levels for life. Children of these teens also navigate a tough road. They are prone to health and behavior trouble, tend not to do well in school and frequently become teen parents themselves† which gives us evidence that it is not healthy for a young girl to get pregnantRead MoreExaminig the Effect of Human Population Control Essay examples1730 Words   |  7 Pagesesta blish population control policies. Population control is defined as ‘a policy of attempting to limit the growth in numbers of a population, especially in poor or densely populated parts of the world, by programs of contraception or sterilization’ (according to dictionary.reference.com). Some famous laws include China’s One Child Policy introduced in 1978 and Family planning in Iran and India, causing some tensions between womens health activists and population control advocates. This reportRead MoreMaking A Change : Margaret Sanger1713 Words   |  7 PagesChange: Margaret Sanger’s 1925 Speech Margaret Sanger’s, The Children’s Era, exudes knowledge on how contraceptives and birth-control will create a better world for the children. This paper conducts a Neo-Aristotelian analysis of Margaret Sanger’s 1925 speech. It contributes to rhetorical theory by advancing knowledge of how rhetors create a consensus on the use of birth-control and contraceptives. The paper proceeds first by establishing the context of the speech, which will include the target audienceRead MoreThe Importance Of Birth Control1349 Words   |  6 PagesShould birth control be accessible to women? Should birth control be covered by insurance? There are many public debates covering the topic of birth control. Some of these debates cover which methods of contraception are the most effective ways at obtaining couple’s reproductive plans, while other debates include whether or not insurance should cover the cost of contraceptive, also the short and long term effects, how to increas e use of birth control among sexually active individuals, and there areRead MoreTeenagers and Birth Control1208 Words   |  5 PagesTeenagers should have access to birth control devices. The most compelling argument against this thesis is the idea that they are not emotionally mature enough to be having sex at all, in that it is a meaningful commitment that should be only taken up by adults who have the ability to consent fully and understand the consequences of their behavior. Additionally, sexual behavior contains a lot of risks of many different natures. There is the emotional risk of engaging in such intimate activity

Study Abroad England Free Essays

ENGL 378H/ IS 305H and ENGL 378/ IS 305 The Celts: Leprechauns, Braveheart, and Harry Potter Professor: Janet Morgan Haavisto, Ph. D. Course Description: This course is designed to encourage a clearer understanding of the influence the Celts (particularly the Irish and Scots) have exerted on the world and on themselves through their attempts to define their culture. We will write a custom essay sample on Study Abroad England or any similar topic only for you Order Now We will examine the characteristics that the Celts have traditionally prized and validated. These characteristics have led the Irish from pre-St. Patrick, into their difficult relationship with the English, into Home Rule, and finally into the European Union. These characteristics have led the Scots from the Roman built Hadrian’s Wall to William Wallace (Braveheart) to a still resented union with England as part of Great Britain. Through literature and cultural studies, we will examine efforts to redefine â€Å"Celtishness† for the twenty-first century, along with the issues that must be addressed by all of the constituents in the enterprise in this still divided cultural entity comprised of the British-ruled six counties of Northern Ireland and the free Republic of Ireland, as well as the nationalistic Scots with their justice and educational systems independent of England’s. Beginning with Joyce, Yeats, Synge, Swift, Harry Potter (J. K. Rowling), Stevenson, Scott, and Burns, we will examine the characteristics that have led the Scots through centuries of uneasy interaction with England and into the devastation of the clans and the diaspora resulting from the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden and the Highland Clearances. Likewise, we will examine the centuries of distress the Irish have endured in their relationship with the English. Contemporary Scots, however, live in a very different world—one in which they have moved from a position of perceived superiority in a time in which Hadrian built a wall to contain the â€Å"savage to the north† to a world in which their economy is still linked to England’s and their cultural makeup includes the many groups (Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Indians, Asians, Africans, and yet more) who have entered the UK and who see themselves as â€Å"British. † The same situation presents a challenge for the Irish. This diversity is a far cry from the Celtic prototype of earlier centuries. Through literature and cultural studies, we will examine efforts to redefine â€Å"Scottishness† and Scotland as well as â€Å"Irishness† and Ireland. At the end of the course students will be able to: 1. discuss the issues involved in the effort to define â€Å"Irishness,† â€Å"Scottishness,† and â€Å"Celtishness†; 2. define â€Å"devolution† and discuss the impetus for it as well as the ramifications of it for the parties involved and engage in the debate about the efficacy of it; 3. discuss the likely impacts on the Irish and Scots of their definitions of themselves as a result of the Republic of Ireland’s and the United Kingdom’s entry into the European Union; 4. istinguish among terms, such as, â€Å"Ireland,† â€Å"Scotch Irish,† â€Å"United Kingdom,† â€Å"Great Britain,† â€Å"England,† â€Å"Briton,† â€Å"British,† â€Å"Celtic,† â€Å"Anglo-Saxon,† â₠¬Å"Irish Gaelic,† â€Å"Scots language,† â€Å"Scots Gaelic,† and â€Å"Erse†; 5. explain how early legends helped define the characteristics commonly attributed to the Irish and the Scots; 6. discuss the impact of cultural diversity on the inhabitants of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland and how such cultural diversity complicates effort to define themselves and their cultures; 7. iscuss the issues of racism plaguing Ireland and Scotland and the difficulties racism causes in the effort to define themselves and their cultures; 8. distinguish among such terms as â€Å"Britishness,† â€Å"Englishness,† â€Å"Welshness,† â€Å"Scottishness,† â€Å"Irishness† and discuss why distinctions are made among such terms; 9. discuss the significance of â€Å"orange† and â€Å"green† and tartans, harps, and bagpipes; 10. discuss some writers and their literature and the perspectives they shed on the issues of â€Å"Irishness† and â€Å"Scotchness† on attempts to accommodate Irish and Scots of many national and ethnic backgrounds; 11. iscuss the history and extent of Irish and Scots immigration and its effects on the development of the U. S. A. ; 12. explore why in the effort to redefine themselves both strong identification with the United States and anti-Americanism figure into the Irish and Scot effort to position their cultures in the world of the twenty-first century. Texts: Required for students taking this course for Honors credit (strongly recommended for all others): Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization. ISBN-10: 0385418493 ISBN-13: 978-0385418492 Herman, Arthur. How the Scots Invented the Modern World. ISBN-10: 0609809997 ISBN-13: 978-0609809990 Webb, Jim. Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America. ISBN-10: 0767916891 ISBN-13: 978-0767916899 Required readings for all students: †¢ The Harry Potter series of 7 novels (You do not need to bring them all on the trip. Just read them before you come. ) †¢ Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Kidnapped http://www. online-literature. com/stevenson/kidnapped/ †¢ Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe (any edition) http://www. online-literature. com/walter_scott/ivanhoe/ †¢ Robert Burns’ poetry http://www. poetry-archive. com/b/burns_robert. html  ¬ â€Å"Auld Lang Syne†  ¬ â€Å"Bannockburn† â€Å"O My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose†  ¬ Tam O’Shanter (Burns original side-by-side with a standard English translation: http://www. worldburnsclub. com/poems/translations/446. htm) Online Selections Selections from The CAIN Project. University of Ulster Quote from the website: â€Å"Th is site contains information and source material on ‘the Troubles’ and politics in Northern Ireland from 1968 to the present. There is also information on Northern Ireland society. New material is added regularly and there are also frequent updates, so information on particular pages may change. † http://cain. ulst. ac. uk/ The How to cite Study Abroad England, Essay examples

Services Marketing for Yamaha Musical Corporation - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theServices Marketing for Yamaha Musical Corporation. Answer: SWOT Analysis of Yamaha Musical Corporation: Strength: Huge variety of instruments-They offers instruments such as recorders of all sizes from small to large, bass recorders as big as furniture, keyboards such as pipeorgan, piano and celesta, classical guitar andone hand recorder having a key system like saxophone and flute. Some other products include percussions such as drums, timpani and marimba. Long-standing and reputable corporate history-Yamaha is an expert in assembling musical instruments. Yamaha has remained yardstick in production of pianos and they are the only integrated manufacturer of musical instruments. Product quality is renowned worldwide Current market share and standing in market-The global market size of musical instruments stands at approx. 840 billion and the market share of Yamaha Musical Corporation stood at 23% (Yamaha Singapore 2017).Therefore, it can be said that Corporation hold a majority of shares of market and this is regarded as one of the competitive advantage over their competitors. Successful advertising campaign-Advertising and sales promotional expenses of Yamaha has been increasing year-on year. Yamaha has launched a new campaign along with a television advertising campaign. They participated in international in musical instruments international campaigns. All these contributed to making products successful Strategic Alliances- Several strategic alliances was conducted by Yamaha and is a part of organizations strategy to make worldwide expansion. They intends to provide solution having comprehensive solution in amplifiers and speakers. High amount of foreign investments-Yamaha is continuously expanding its presence in world by making investment in several countries. In Indonesia, Yamaha has built a new musical instrument plan and a new subsidiary. Corporation in many other countries endorses a range of musical instruments. Weakness: Poor service recovery-Recovery service of Yamaha Musical Corporation is poor as the staffs are not efficient enough to handle the students and they do not respond to cal in event of any queries. They do not make any effort to teach students as sought by their guardian (Music Lessons For Children In Singapore 2017). Environment of reception is very bad Poor enrolment screening- Implementation guidelines of enrolling students in reference to expulsion by Yamaha was questioned. For ensuring accuracy, it is required to conduct more research and while enrolling students there are no proper scanning done n part of organization (Yamaha Grade Examination Syllabus 2017). Competitive capabilities- The competitive capabilities of Yamaha is weakened due to inefficiency in several fronts such as incapability to manage its people and numerous competitive disadvantages faced by them (Yamaha Contempo Music School Apologises For Cancelling Flute Lesson Because Of Boy's Autism 2017). . Lack of technical expertise in company-Instructor at Yamaha are not willing to teach autistic boy as they were of the expertise that they did not had the ability and experience to manage such people. Yamaha Corporation does not have technical staff to deal with specific circumstances (Yamaha Music Apologises After Flute Instructor Refused To Teach Autistic Boy 2017). Opportunities: Strong corporate and capital background-Yamaha brand has been produced as a sound professional and with time, styles of doing business have evolved. They always intendto make higher capital investments and there has been significant increase in capital investments of musical instruments that has led to the creation of new musical schools. Furthermore, they have an additional paid up capital Research and development team-Original technologies are implemented by Yamaha in the field of acoustic musical instruments based on sensitivities about sound creation and seasoned production skills.An epoch making electronic technologies has been developed by Yamaha that helps in offering new ways of enjoying music and creating new values. Research is conducted for analysing the musical instruments vibrations (Yamaha Singapore 2017). Expanding product lines-Product line of Yamaha is numerous, the sales are gradually increasing, and in current scenario, they occupy a number one position. In various categories of product, Yamaha has a leading position. Increasing market shares from competitors-Compared to its competitors, Yamaha is enjoying increasing market share ion each categories of products. Threat: Lower switching cost-In recent years, competition in lower price segments has become intense and in each segments of musical instruments, Yamaha confronts its competitors. They are subject to competition from lower priced products in segment of audio equipment and the current strong position of organization could be impacted by greater competition in terms of price. In relation to this, they have the possibility of losing customer base as they can switch easily to their competitors. Increasing players in market- There are many other musical corporations willing to compete with Yamaha and in making certain instruments, there is no specialization on their part. Some of the competitors such as fender and Gibson have a better chance of selling their musical instruments as against Yamaha (Yamaha Singapore 2017). Slow market growth-Market for products of Yamaha is growing but the growth in on slower basis. The competitiveness of products is being reduced that is hampering business growth. Entrance of new competitors-Fierce competition is faced by Yamaha is each categories of products. New competitor producing same products are entering market that is reducing the competitiveness of business. Conclusion: Yamaha Musical Corporation is an organization operating on global scale and they are facing competition while expanding on foreign scale. From the above discussion of SWOT analysis, it can be said that they are continuously arriving and upgrading. In some areas, it is required by organization to have properly developed strategies to place their musical instruments and other related product in market. There has been continuous increase in sales and operating income targets that has led to achieving operating income margin and scope of higher income in future. References list: "Music Lessons For Children In Singapore: Where To Learn The Piano - Honeykids Asia". 2017.Honeykids Asia.https://honeykidsasia.com/music-lessons-for-children-in-singapore-where-to-learn-the-piano/. "Yamaha - Singapore". 2017.Sg.Yamaha.Com.https://sg.yamaha.com/index.html. "Yamaha Contempo Music School Apologises For Cancelling Flute Lesson Because Of Boy's Autism". 2017.Asiaone.https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/yamaha-contempo-music-school-apologises-cancelling-flute-lesson-because-boys-autism. "Yamaha Grade Examination Syllabus". 2017.Sg.Yamaha.Com.https://sg.yamaha.com/en/education/yamaha_grade_exam_syllabus/index.html. "Yamaha Music Apologises After Flute Instructor Refused To Teach Autistic Boy". 2017.Channel Newsasia.https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/yamaha-music-apologises-after-flute-instructor-refused-to-teach-9125308..

Charles Manson Methods To The Madness Essays - Manson Family

Charles Manson: Methods To The Madness On the morning of August 9, 1969, three LAPD officers arrived at 10050 Cielo Drive (Bugliosi 7). The scene that awaited them was horrendous. In the driveway, in a parked car, the body of Steven Parent was found. He was shot four times and stabbed once. Laying about eighteen or twenty feet past the front door of the house, Voytek Frykowski had been shot twice, beaten over the head with a blunt object thirteen times, and stabbed fifty-one times. Also discovered on the lawn was coffee heiress Abigail Folger, stabbed twenty-eight times. Inside the home, in the living room, were the bodies of Jay Sebring and Sharon Tate. Sebring, a hair stylist, had been stabbed seven times and shot once, dying of exsanguination. Tate, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her death, was stabbed sixteen times in the chest and back (Fillmer par. 2). The following evening, in a seemingly unrelated crime, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were discovered in their home at 3301 Waverly Drive. Rosemary was found face down in her bedroom, a lamp cord wound around her neck, in a pool of blood; she had been stabbed forty-one times. Her husband, Leno, had a pillow case over his head, a lamp cord tied around his neck, his hands tied behind his back with a leather thong, and an ivory-handled, bi-tined carving fork in his stomach; he had been stabbed multiple times and had the word ?WAR? carved in his flesh (Bugliosi 55-56). The murderers were members of a group led by Charles Manson called the Manson Family. These people were completely controlled by Manson. He had them convinced that they were the chosen ones and that they were only carrying out the orders of a man they thought was Jesus Christ incarnate (Watson par. 3). They were willing to risk death and imprisonment to satisfy this man. Manson used borrowed ideas from prosperous cults of the 1960's to achieve a complete control over his followers. In June of 1960, Charles Manson was sent to prison for forgery, mail theft, and pimping (Bugliosi 192-193). There, he became involved with a cult called Scientology (195). Scientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard (?Cult? par. 45). It teaches that each human has a soul called a ?thetan.? Scientologists believe that, many years ago, the thetan was ?god-like? and that people fell from divinity and forgot their origins. People were then trapped on Earth in ?delusions of mortality (?Scientology? par. 12).? Hubbard claimed that he had found the spiritual way to finding the true way to man. He said that one must work through many levels of self knowledge and knowledge of past lives to ?awaken the primordial deity? until divinity is once again achieved (?Cult? par. 45). The highest level of awareness in Scientology is called ?theta clear.? Manson claims to have reached theta clear while in prison. He supposedly achieved this through many ?auditing sessions,? the method that Scientologists use to teach awareness, taught by his cell mate, Lanier Rayner (Bugliosi 195-196). Most likely, he picked up many of his methods of mind control from these sessions, along with ideas such as karma and reincarnation (635). The Process Church of the Final Judgment, labeled a Satanist cult by the media, was founded in 1963 by Robert DeGrimston, a former Scientologist. The basis of this religion was the book of Matthew of the New Testament, and it began as a mixture of Zoroastrianism and Scientology. The name ?The Process? refers to the ?changes necessary to avoid the end of the world with its associated judgment.? Processeans worship Jehovah, Lucifer, and Satan (?Process? par.17). Even though The Process fervently denies that Charles Manson was ever a member, many ideas from his philosophy parallel Process concepts. Both Manson and The Process taught of a violent and unavoidable Armageddon in which all but the few chosen ones would be destroyed, and both thought that motorcycle gangs would be the ?troops of the last days.? One Process pamphlet described the second coming of Christ as: ? ?Through Love, Christ and Satan have destroyed their enmity and come together for the End: Christ to Judge, Satan to execute the Judgment.' ? Manson believed that, when Christ returned, it would be the establishment that ?went up on the cross (Bugliosi 637).? Manson and The Process shared ideas on fear also; they preached that fear was the same thing as awareness, and that the more fear one

Free Essays on An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge

Peyton Farquhar’s thoughts before dying and the details described in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce are both believable and convincing. The last scene in the story is very appropriate from a psychological standpoint. Peyton is a gentleman with strong beliefs about his place in society. He is extremely devoted to the Southern cause. Peyton is a planter, slave owner, and politician, respected for his loyalty. The story begins as Farquhar is about to be hanged for trespassing on a blockaded railroad bridge. Although his crime may seem minor, there are no exceptions to the liberal military code. While Farquhar is thinking of how he might be able to escape this dangerous predicament, he suddenly falls into the water below and loses consciousness. He is dead. However, his thoughts of escaping continue in his mind: He is shot at from the bridge above him but manages to rise to the surface of the water and get onto the land safely. He starts to fall asleep while w alking and dreams about his beautiful wife. Just as he is about to hug her, he feels a sudden pain on the back of his neck. He has been shot. Reality resumes as his dead body swings gently beneath the Owl Creek Bridge. Peyton’s thoughts while hanging from the Owl Creek Bridge seem quite convincing. He thinks first of his wife and children, which any loving husband and father would do while in their last moments. After thinking of his beautiful family, he decides it is too soon to give up hope, so Peyton begins thinking of how he might escape and survive. However, his survival is indeed impossible. Peyton falls into the water below and his body loses consciousness. His mind is still alive, however, and Peyton imagines how he could have escaped. In Peyton’s mind, he does break free and manages to get away from the soldiers. Although he is so close to freedom, he is too weak to move on. Thoughts of his family begin to fill his head once again. He thinks of a p... Free Essays on An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge Free Essays on An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge Peyton Farquhar’s thoughts before dying and the details described in An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce are both believable and convincing. The last scene in the story is very appropriate from a psychological standpoint. Peyton is a gentleman with strong beliefs about his place in society. He is extremely devoted to the Southern cause. Peyton is a planter, slave owner, and politician, respected for his loyalty. The story begins as Farquhar is about to be hanged for trespassing on a blockaded railroad bridge. Although his crime may seem minor, there are no exceptions to the liberal military code. While Farquhar is thinking of how he might be able to escape this dangerous predicament, he suddenly falls into the water below and loses consciousness. He is dead. However, his thoughts of escaping continue in his mind: He is shot at from the bridge above him but manages to rise to the surface of the water and get onto the land safely. He starts to fall asleep while w alking and dreams about his beautiful wife. Just as he is about to hug her, he feels a sudden pain on the back of his neck. He has been shot. Reality resumes as his dead body swings gently beneath the Owl Creek Bridge. Peyton’s thoughts while hanging from the Owl Creek Bridge seem quite convincing. He thinks first of his wife and children, which any loving husband and father would do while in their last moments. After thinking of his beautiful family, he decides it is too soon to give up hope, so Peyton begins thinking of how he might escape and survive. However, his survival is indeed impossible. Peyton falls into the water below and his body loses consciousness. His mind is still alive, however, and Peyton imagines how he could have escaped. In Peyton’s mind, he does break free and manages to get away from the soldiers. Although he is so close to freedom, he is too weak to move on. Thoughts of his family begin to fill his head once again. He thinks of a p...

The Effects of Biblical Violence on Readers' Behaviors Essay

The Effects of Biblical Violence on Readers' Behaviors - Essay Example Although studies from the American Academy of Pediatrics give a low rate on the effects of music on listeners’ behaviors, that lyrics are generally not given much attention or in the case of children, are not fully understood because of their limited understanding and experience, researchers are open to the idea that somehow songs suggest certain undesirable actions. In a world where violence abounds, it is not a wise action for a person to isolate himself or for parents to isolate their children only to avoid the evils of this world. It is then important for every individual to educate one’s self and others about the consequences of a certain thought or action. For instance, the last lines of the aforementioned psalm speak about revenge to those who have done the Jews harm. However if one examines the verse closely, it is not the Jews who want to avenge themselves but that there would be another who would stand up against their enemies. This reveals their belief in the golden rule, that those who have wronged them will get their just punishments somehow. Such understanding could lead people to avoid doing evil towards others. II Yes, the Liturgy of the Hours should include the end of Psalm 137 however; it should be with the explanation or interpretation like that of St. Augustine’s, Origen’s, St. Ambrose’s and the like. The Bible could be interpreted literally and figuratively so it could not be treated similarly to lyrics of modern music where promiscuity and violence are explicitly expressed. As it is always advised by professionals in the case of children, parents should guide their children in the choice of songs they listen to and clearly explain to hem what is good and what is not. Indeed, words have psychological effects on people so that even adults should choose their songs or meditate on the good implications of the songs rather than its evil suggestions. The Bible is actually full of stories of violence and promisc uity and surely, God did not like such stories to be exposed just for the sake of telling a story about a person rather have been narrated along with the consequences experienced by the people involved. They seem to be words from a parent saying, â€Å"Look, this is what happens to you if you do this and that.† This world is full of so many evils and that is just the way the God of the Bible wants people to look at it so that they would know how to prepare for the dangers they face each day. Therefore, preachers should do likewise, presenting all the truths and not just the things people want to hear from them. They have to send the people from the church to the world, armed with the necessary attitude and words of guidance that will keep them strong to avoid being involved in violent acts. III A group of students associated with campus ministry at CUA wants to have a liturgical service which includes a reading of Psalm 137, which they understand through the lens of St. Augus tine’s interpretation: Jerusalem represents the kingdom of God and Babylon represents the corruption of this world. Some students think the language at the end of Psalm 137 is too violent to be read or prayed, and point out that the Catholic Church has removed these verses from the Liturgy of the Hours.