Does history teach us lessons Give examples Essay

Does history teach us lessons Give examples - Essay Example We are often told, that history teaches us lessons, and that terrorism is the notion, towards which these historical lessons and knowledge are to be applied. Simultaneously, there is a widely-spread opinion, that looking back at our past we see that there were the possibilities to prevent famous dictators from coming to the power and causing irreversible effects. The past cannot be changed, but it can and should be learned; however, what we face at present is false interpretation of the historical events and the desire of the historians to represent certain historical events in the light which is better for their personal needs and strivings. In fact, any historian plays the role of the intermediary between the past and the present - his main aim is to make the public familiar with the events of the past based on the evidence he has at his disposal; what we see now is that many historians have gone too far, trying to become the people, who have the right to interpret this past, often distorting it. I would agree, that history gives us lessons to learn, but due to the general lack of understanding of the historical events, we often have to rely on what famous historians say; their opinions often appear to be contradictory and misleading. As far as we don't really tend to go deep into history for finding our own proofs for this or that historical assumption, we mostly believe in what we hear about the lessons from history, and how they should be used. 'Because history is a world of detailed, specific events, the idea of 'general laws' of history is self-contradictory. Of course, historical actors should be understood as obeying the general laws independently derived by other disciplines, such as the law of gravity or the law of diminishing marginal returns. But history itself can generate no such laws, since they would involve abstracting away all of the details of events, in other words, abstracting away the very subject matter of history.' (Durant & Durant 1997, p. 49) What I wanted to say by this quotation is that history in general cannot be reduced to some generalizations, as it is often done. If there are any real lessons we have to learn from the past, these lessons should be tied to specific events, and not to some general assertions. We can't say that wars are the most important lessons to learn not to make new wars happen - each war is different in its essence, and each should be considered separately, in order to learn the lessons and to apply them to the requirements of the modern time. There is often a confusion between the historical past and the practical past - historical past is merely a statement of the events which took place in the past, while practical past refers to the question of 'what do these past events mean to me right now' (Fink 2001, p. 236) This is about what we talk here, and about what we have to make a reasonable conclusion. I would agree that the skills of the professional historian would give him enough knowledge to judge the events of the past, but I can

Personal Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Personal Narrative - Essay Example That is when I decided to take the journey towards fitness so that I could lose weight and transform myself. The family supported me in the changes I made in my diet that included swapping the foods that were too fatty for lower-fat options, reducing the sizes of the portions and taking regular family walks. I enrolled in a program that was ran through a website that organized camps for big people as well as offering resources and tips. This was an inspiration to me and I met other people who were dealing with the same problem. Meeting with other people who were having the same problem greatly assisted in my efforts to change my lifestyle and become healthier. There has been an increase in the rate of obesity particularly in children and I make sure that I encourage other people who may be in the same situation that I was in to embrace more healthy living for their own sake. The statistics are overwhelming since approximately one in every three children between the ages of ten and seventeen living in the US is considered overweight or obese and Georgia is second after Mississippi in the country as far as obesity in children is concerned (Johansen 25). Living an inactive combined with a relative ease of access to fast food has been the main cause of obesity for the population. People, especially children spend most of their time watching television and on their computers and phones and very little time exercising. The path towards renewed health is the conviction to make the change and believing that it can be done. The person deciding to change his or her lifestyle must be determined to do it since if one is forced to do it, there is a high chance that when the person will find himself alone, he will fall along the wayside. After being determined that you can take the steps towards healthier living, one will need to take single small steps at a time. It greatly helps to begin by taking water in place of soft drinks and soda and trying things

What Made Amitaba Buddha's Pureland Speical to Sentient Beings Essay

What Made Amitaba Buddha's Pureland Speical to Sentient Beings - Essay Example However, Pureland Buddhism exalted the idea that even people who had no special knowledge could eventually one day reach the purelands if they had the desire to reach them. Pureland Buddhism stresses that â€Å"†¦ordinary beings are not born in a land of [a buddha in his body of] glory [because they have not ... can earn this distinction if they take refuge in the Vows of Amitabha Buddha and aspire for Birth in his Pure Land†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 1 This is a revolutionary concept because usually it has been necessary for someone to devote his or her life to religious practice before one can become an arhat, or person who is a foe destroyer. A foe destroyer is basically a person who has cleansed himself of all delusions, any hatred, and any greediness. Once the person becomes an arhat, he or she is enlightened and has reached the pinnacle of his or her spiritual practice. What is so amazing about Pureland Buddhism is that one can reach the stage of nirvana in Pureland practice, without h aving to be an arhat. This is significant because it was previously thought, in many situations, that a person would have to dedicate his or her entire lifetime in order to attain the worlds of the purelands available. However, it is now known that one need not be anyone special or revered in order to attain buddhahood in Pureland Buddhism. Simply the desire to want to have that knowledge grants the person to reach the purelands. Any ordinary, feeling or â€Å"sentient† beings have access to the Purelands if they so desire. That leads one to the next point. As long as someone had not committed one of the five inexpiable sins in Buddhism, reaching the purelands was possible for an ordinary person. These five inexpiable sins—which are basically sins that cannot be atoned for—include the following: 1) killing one’s mother; 2) killing one’s father; 3) killing an arhat (foe destroyer); 4) drawing blood from a tathagata (a buddha’s body); and 5) c ausing dissension within the sangha (the spiritual community). These are sins that cannot be forgiven. As long as none of these sins have been committed, the person is still able to achieve getting to the level of navigating any purelands through which the person desires to travel. Sentient beings, feelings beings, therefore, must not commit any of the five inexpiable sins in order to be able to attain the level of entering into the purelands. Anyone who had right intentions as a sentient being also was able to access the purelands with his or her own mind. Multiple worlds lay just beyond the reach of the ordinary person whose heart was in the right place. As such, that is how Pureland Buddhism differs from other branches of Buddhism. â€Å"[T]he most important statement of the buddha's covenant with sentient beings [was] promising to bring them to his Pure Land if they have the right attitude†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 2 In Pureland Buddhism, what is most essential is a person’s intentio ns. If the seeker has the right attitude, and he or she has a pure and good heart—it is much more likely that the seeker will find what is being searched for, which are the purelands. In search of the purelands, it is thought that anyone who sincerely has the desire to attain them will indeed be able to access them—not including those people who have committed any of the five inexpiable sins. In order to have proper intentions, it is important that the seeker purify his or her mind and make sure that his or her heart has only good and true intentions. That means that he or she is honest with everyone in every sense of the word. Some people are truthful but they are emotionally

Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Argument - Essay Example This paper will examine the perception towards slum tourism through literature exploration (Eveline & Rivke, p 113.) In the slum, setting there is nothing that is called garbage. Everyone in the slum wants a better life, Critics argue out the slums are exploitative, and they do not have a place in ethical travelers` itinerary. Professor David Fenell, at Brock University in Ontario, questioned the fact that the tourists visit places to take pictures and observe the lifestyles of the slum residents. He believes that the main purpose of slum tourism is to make the westerners feel better of their lifestyle in comparison to the slum habitants. They feel lucky on their life situation in comparison them. However, the proponents of slum tourism argue that ignoring poverty will not take it away. Slum tourism helps them to understand what poverty means. The big issue is how to conduct it (The New York Times, 2008) There conceptual ambiguity in slum tourism is based on a failure to set specific goals of tourism. The exact thing that attracts people during the tour in the slums and favelas is not precisely known (Manfred, p. 421). The use of poverty tourism indicates that poverty is the reason for the visits. The critiques argue that tours on the human wretchedness, infirmity, and unworthy living conditions should not be termed as a tourist attraction aspect. This issue has been largely fuelled by the mass media who present the pictures of such conditions. However, the proponents suggest that the word poverty tourism demonstrates the anticipated situation that propels them to go to slums (Eveline & Rivke, p 114.) Many organizers of slum tourism encourage active role-playing of the participants aimed at helping the residents. A church group in Mexico runs a tour of local garbage dumps where the scavengers collect trash to earn a living. In the tour, they make sandwiches and provide water in bottles for the scavenger.

What Made Amitaba Buddha's Pureland Speical to Sentient Beings Essay

What Made Amitaba Buddha's Pureland Speical to Sentient Beings - Essay Example However, Pureland Buddhism exalted the idea that even people who had no special knowledge could eventually one day reach the purelands if they had the desire to reach them. Pureland Buddhism stresses that â€Å"†¦ordinary beings are not born in a land of [a buddha in his body of] glory [because they have not ... can earn this distinction if they take refuge in the Vows of Amitabha Buddha and aspire for Birth in his Pure Land†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 1 This is a revolutionary concept because usually it has been necessary for someone to devote his or her life to religious practice before one can become an arhat, or person who is a foe destroyer. A foe destroyer is basically a person who has cleansed himself of all delusions, any hatred, and any greediness. Once the person becomes an arhat, he or she is enlightened and has reached the pinnacle of his or her spiritual practice. What is so amazing about Pureland Buddhism is that one can reach the stage of nirvana in Pureland practice, without h aving to be an arhat. This is significant because it was previously thought, in many situations, that a person would have to dedicate his or her entire lifetime in order to attain the worlds of the purelands available. However, it is now known that one need not be anyone special or revered in order to attain buddhahood in Pureland Buddhism. Simply the desire to want to have that knowledge grants the person to reach the purelands. Any ordinary, feeling or â€Å"sentient† beings have access to the Purelands if they so desire. That leads one to the next point. As long as someone had not committed one of the five inexpiable sins in Buddhism, reaching the purelands was possible for an ordinary person. These five inexpiable sins—which are basically sins that cannot be atoned for—include the following: 1) killing one’s mother; 2) killing one’s father; 3) killing an arhat (foe destroyer); 4) drawing blood from a tathagata (a buddha’s body); and 5) c ausing dissension within the sangha (the spiritual community). These are sins that cannot be forgiven. As long as none of these sins have been committed, the person is still able to achieve getting to the level of navigating any purelands through which the person desires to travel. Sentient beings, feelings beings, therefore, must not commit any of the five inexpiable sins in order to be able to attain the level of entering into the purelands. Anyone who had right intentions as a sentient being also was able to access the purelands with his or her own mind. Multiple worlds lay just beyond the reach of the ordinary person whose heart was in the right place. As such, that is how Pureland Buddhism differs from other branches of Buddhism. â€Å"[T]he most important statement of the buddha's covenant with sentient beings [was] promising to bring them to his Pure Land if they have the right attitude†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 2 In Pureland Buddhism, what is most essential is a person’s intentio ns. If the seeker has the right attitude, and he or she has a pure and good heart—it is much more likely that the seeker will find what is being searched for, which are the purelands. In search of the purelands, it is thought that anyone who sincerely has the desire to attain them will indeed be able to access them—not including those people who have committed any of the five inexpiable sins. In order to have proper intentions, it is important that the seeker purify his or her mind and make sure that his or her heart has only good and true intentions. That means that he or she is honest with everyone in every sense of the word. Some people are truthful but they are emotionally

Pepsi Co and Coca Cola Stock Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pepsi Co and Coca Cola Stock Analysis - Essay Example The report at the end presents the summary of what has been learnt in the report. COMPARING THE STOCK PERFORMANCE OF TWO FIRMS Historical prices of Pepsi co Adjusted closing price has been taken for the calculation of returns and risk. The average stock returns are found to be negative (-0.08) (Yahoo! Finance, 2013a) Historical Prices of Coca Cola Company STDEV 0.0101 The Adjusting closing has been taken for calculating returns and risk. The average returns are negative (-0.15) (Yahoo! Finance, 2013b). Dow Jones Industrial Average NASDAQ Composite Index The latest price at which the Pepsi co Philippines traded is 6.19, it is 10.03% below its high 52 week of 6.88. The listing of Pepsi co products are primarily on Philippines Stock Exchange (Financial Times, 2013). (Financial Times, 2013) Market closed at 40.81, which is 6.03% below its high 52 week of 43.43. The listing of Coca Cola Company products are primarily on NYQ. Interest Rates: For the last four years wages are being flat and there is no hint of an increase in inflation rate. In 1980s, women began to enter labor force, but still the work force participation is at its low rate. After the financial crisis the financial system has improved a lot, capitalization of the banks are managed in a better way, balance sheets are being improved by both the corporations and households and all these factors can positively impact not only the two companies but Dow Jones index as well as NASDAQ. Industry News: Despite the continuation of Fed with the policy of buying bonds and accommodation, stocks were more than expected rallied on Monday. The Dow industrials were at a positive sign for the whole day despite the sharp rise in Intel and Merck. With a success of key drug trial, Merck was up 3.8% while with the introduction of new processors of fourth generation, Intel was up to 4 %. The Dow industrial average was increased by 138 points at the closing with 15,254 and NASDAQ was up to 9 points with 3465. 545 million shar es were traded by NASDAQ; there was an increase in the volume on NYSE with 879 million shares being traded. Dow Jones industrials violated the moving average of 20 day. The support zone focused concentration on Monday with 15,115 from 15,000. The index of Dow Jones was on a lead till March. Therefore such factors can also impact companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi as they are also traded on similar stock exchange. Company News The Coca Cola Company has announced its investment in Myanmar on Tuesday 4th June. The production of the company will be in Myanmar with an investment of $200 million. This investment will lift its shares in the market and profits will be enormous. The coca cola company was given the investment permit for the foreign investment Law by Myanmar. It is the first production of Coca Cola in decades. The Dow Industrial Average secured an uneven recovery has led the 30 giants of America which includes Coca Cola Company, Microsoft etc to the most comprehensive event (E avis, 2013) PepsiCo has started its joint venture with the Theo Muller Group, established a new art-state manufacturing of yogurt plant in Batavia, New York. There’s an employment capacity of around 180 people. PepsiCo is the leader in food and beverages it has no less than $65 billion of net revenues. With twenty two brands in the portfolio PepsiCo enjoys over $1 billion to in each brand in a result of its annual sales. With the joint venture with the Theo Muller group Pepsi co enjoys expansion in stocks. PepsiCo due to increasing its price on Feb. 2013,

About Sovereigns and Tyrants Essay Example for Free

About Sovereigns and Tyrants Essay There is a great distinction between a sovereign and a tyrant, although oftentimes people are confused by the meaning of the two. A sovereign is a leader of state that acquired his or her position by being elected or appointed by the people. A tyrant, on the other hand, is a self proclaimed leader, assuming leadership â€Å"without election, or right of succession, or lot, or a just war, or a special calling from God† (Bodin, 1992). Under the circumstances of tyranny, it is lawful or permissible to kill the tyrant. The primary moral reason here, especially in a democratic state, is to bring back power to the hands of the people. However, there is an exception here. If, after assuming tyranny, the tyrant’s rule becomes ratified by election or permission from the people, then it is no longer permissible to kill or persecute the tyrant without a fair trial. See more:  The 3 Types of Satire Essay It is possible for a sovereign prince to become a tyrant. When this happens, some people who share authority over the state (such as senators, aristocrats, and the people themselves) have a right to eliminate the sovereign-tyrant in order to deliver the unjustly oppressed. This can either be done by means of law, or by means of force. A foreign ruler may also be rather fit to do this task than the citizens of the state. On the other hand, a true sovereign ruler differs from a tyrant in that he (or she) has rightful absolute power over the entire state and he doesn’t share it with any of his subjects. Monarchs of England during older times are good examples of sovereign rulers. They obtained their leadership by law and birthright, and thus they cannot be considered as tyrants. It is not lawful then, to unjustly kill, plot against, resist, or even think about hurting a sovereign ruler. Such an act is nothing less than high treason and punishable by death. Bibliography: Bodin, J. (1992). On sovereignty (J.H. Franklin, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press