Marquette Essay free essay sample

Marquette would be a fantastic spot to proceed with my advanced education. I live in the northwest rural areas of Chicago, and I have consistently longed for living in the city. The city of Milwaukee offers temporary positions, culture and that's just the beginning, and I feel like this would be an incredible city in which to live the following four years of my life. I plan on studying advertising with a minor in brain science. With that degree, I couldn't imagine anything better than to turn into a confirmations advisor at a college and in the end work my way into graduated class relations. Marquette offers chances to increase proficient experience before understudies graduate with the necessary entry level positions, and that is extremely speaking to me. Secondary school has been a position of development. I went from being a bashful green bean to an active and included senior. First year I didn't know anybody and presumably appeared to my companions like a quiet. We will compose a custom paper test on Marquette Essay or on the other hand any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page I strolled with my head down to my classes and once in a while lifted my hand to respond to an inquiry in class. Notwithstanding, my association in various games and clubs constrained me to escape my customary range of familiarity and become a viable communicator. First year I played volleyball in the fall and have been playing from that point onward. Through volleyball I have had the option to get vocal and venture up and be increasingly more of a pioneer every year. Sophomore year I joined the school paper, The Prospector. My first year I was only a staff author, yet every year I stirred my way up to an increasingly official position. A year ago I was a component and inside and out manager, and this year I am the official feeling editorial manager. This year, I even was granted a decent notice for duplicate and inscription composing for clubs at the national reporting show in St. Louis. Being a columnist constrained me to go out into the school and meeting individuals I didn't have a clue. It likewise constrained me to get powerless against my peers’ studies and furthermore to have the option to scrutinize my editors’ work and impart in a successful organization. From the start, reporting was a course I used to improve my composition and relational abilities, yet it had gotten quite a lot more. Composing and conversing with individuals is my obsession, and that is the reason I need to keep on utilizing the abilities I have learned and placed them to use in a profession. All things being equal, I am a dependable and eager understudy who will be a resource for the Marquette people group.

The Effect of Incentive Plans in attaining the Organizational Essay

The Effect of Incentive Plans in accomplishing the Organizational Objectives - Essay Example Fundamentally the authoritative destinations are planned by gathering of individuals who have a place with the association. The motivating force arranging is one of the methodologies of the associations. The motivating force is a kind of gainsharing, which is advanced with the intension of empowering the representatives so they broaden their collaboration and work. The motivator is only sharing a specific measure of benefit to the workers. This is required to help arriving at the hierarchical targets. Let us think about a model motivator arranging. The aggregate sum chose to be shared as motivation every year is 1 million dollar. This ought to be paid as a pay for the work done by the representative. This may incorporate a gathering or group that has been considered under the reward conspire. The over all rate that has been left to be conveyed among the chose gathering or group would cover some 10% from the absolute benefit. Motivation ought to be partitioned by the obligations conveyed by the worker. The representatives who merit the motivating forces are chiefs and center administrators, under whom they control a gathering of workers. For instance directors of different offices, for example, accounts, showcasing, creation, upkeep and so on are required to arrive at the key level, so as to do that they deal with the gathering of laborers who work in their concerned office under them. Individuals from the association remember these targets and work in like manner. A motivating force arranging help the target prop up in its manner continuous by any sort of break in running the association. The motivation could be characterized at the end of the day as proposing a cutoff time for the concerned representatives, anticipating that them should arrive at explicit or given achievements in the specific region or office.

All Hail the Working People

All Hail the Working People My rest relaxation days ended in the beginning of July. After waking up at 10:30 AM everyday to nothing but enjoying sunshine, pointless TV, and the company of old friends, I was definitely not looking forward to the alarm ringing at 6:45 AM. I drive an hour to work â€" which begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This would be my first taste of the working life. (P.S. One of my favorite moments of the day is seeing all the people in western business attire standing beside the lonesome bus stops in the middle of nowhere, waiting for the suburban Coach bus that will take them to work. Inspiring!) I’m interning at ETS â€" the Educational Testing Service, a.k.a. producer of the SAT, GRE, TOEFL, AP Exams, etc…Yeah. Anyways, I’m not working on the previously mentioned exams, but rather, a newer test called the TOEIC â€" Test of English for International Communication â€" a.k.a. English for the business setting. So…..my job is basically developing test questions for the TOEIC. And for confidentiality reasons, I think that’s pretty much all I should be saying about that. I can’t talk about what goes on exactly, but I will say a couple things I realized about my job and ETS. 1) This is really serious â€" People take the TOEIC to get jobs, seek promotions, make their lives… 2) This is really hard… a question is not just a question. Now I’m just thinking how in the world the SAT â€" which has nearly 200 questions â€" is put together… D: 3) Essentially, ETS may seem like a big blackbox (hahaha first learned this word in 8.02 ), but nothings arbitrary. :P Remember the Sketchbook Project mentioned in my last post? Several people I know have also hopped on the wagon â€" it’s a movement! So…. I’ve worked on a grand total of…dun dun dun… 1 page. :X I know, Im ashamed. I didn’t want to doodle any old thing, so I was waiting for thorough ideas to just come to me. But thankfully, one Sunday morning, I just decided to start something. This one’s about how jaded I am about buying things…or just generally, the saturation of material goods all over the place or the fact that youre almost expected to spend after a payday but really theres nothing that tempting. Or maybe too many things. O..KAY Anyways, It’s hard to believe tomorrows August! There’s still a whole month until MIT begins once again, but for some reason, I’m homesick already. It’s not that MIT is not exciting â€" on the other hand, its probably a little too exciting. Everything is new and everything is your decision. Everything is A LOT. I just wish there would be more minutes in between to “miss home” and remember where i came from. Dont know if that made any sense. But this is the growing-up weve been asking for. Well, soon enough it’s on to the next world: MIT. Is anyone (ever) ready? Like in a Sketchbook, its gonna take a certain dose of courage to start marking on every new page.

The Anti Aging Plans And How Your Immune System - 754 Words

You were born with all the defenses your body will ever need. It s called your immune system. And if you keep your immunity strong you never have to worry about any disease. But sadly, your immune system declines with age. That opens the door to chronic diseases and other conditions linked to aging. These include everything from infections to cancer. That s why one of the best anti-aging plans I use with my patients is boosting their immune systems. In a minute, I ll show you how you can flip the switch on your immune system. But first, let s talk a little bit about how your immunity operates. Your natural immune system relies on an army of defenders. These guards are made up of various kinds of white blood cells. They include: CYTOKINES: Interleukins Interferon Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ÃŽ ±) These chemicals send messages between cells. They regulate immunity, inflammation, and the production of white blood cells. There are dozens of different types. Each type target different cells. The most important are interleukins, interferon and TNF-ÃŽ ±. PHAGOCYTES Neutrophils Macrophages These cells surround and destroy foreign invading cells. They have short lives so your body has to keep replacing them. LYMPHOCYTES B-cells T-cells B-cells attack invading bacteria, viruses and toxins. T-cells destroy the body s own cells that have been taken over by viruses or become cancerous. NATURAL KILLER CELLS NK cells are aShow MoreRelatedMental Health Occurrences That Affect An Individual1120 Words   |  5 Pageseducational influences (Mosby, 2009). Depression is a disorder that is burdensome to an individual. It is meddling to a person in focusing, enthusiasm, and other daily routine activities. It is a mysterious disease involving body systems of a human body that includes the immune system. It interferes with the sleep pattern, eliminates appetite by gaining or losing weight. Some scientist has some evidence that diet may influence the depression disorder (the entrails and its group of bacteria [Psychology TodayRead MoreGenetic Engineering: Humanities Saving Grace or the End of the Human Race?1215 Words   |  5 PagesAnd yet, the controversy has only arisen in the past decade or so. Those who support this specie of scientific advancement and those who wish to uphold their organic roots are butting heads with more passion than ever. Essentially, every aisle of your local grocery store is stocked with genetically modified foods. Many crops have been altered for enhanced nutrition and virus resistance. With a changing climate and mass poverty, finding a way to feed the Earth’s seven billion people is a constantRead MoreHealth Of The Organ Systems And Determine Areas For Improvement Essay1661 Words   |  7 PagesPhase One Objectives Assessment of the health of the organ systems and determine areas to improve function Before entering into a detoxification protocol, it’s important for each of the organ systems to be assessed to determine how well they are functioning and if they are prepared to endure a detoxification protocol. It may be necessary to focus on strengthening specific areas before introducing detoxification strategies. Identify dietary direction and determine areas for improvement During phaseRead MoreDietary And Physical Activity Is Essential Parts Of The Human Body1736 Words   |  7 Pagesessential parts of the human life. But the real questions are, what foods should we eat to help our bodies to work the best? how much physical activity is needed it?. A site released back in 2011 by the first lady Michelle Obama to remain the community to build healthier choices. In this site, we are able to find different tools including a Super Tracker which â€Å"can help to plan, analyzed and track diet and physical activity†. My file includes my name Johana Fernandez, 108 pounds, 5.2 feet, BMIRead Moreall about juicing4305 Words   |  18 Pagesï » ¿Introduction Juicing is a great way to integrate fruits and vegetables into your diet, especially if you do not like to eat whole fruits and vegetables. It can help you meet the daily recommendations for these foods as well as allow you to consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in a tasty way. Juicing is usually done with a machine which turns raw fruits and vegetables into liquid and pulp. 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Importance to my readers: Cancer can affect anyone, so you can gain something from this speech by being informed about cancer, and how to prevent it Thesis Statement: Cancer is a serious disease that needs to be acknowledged , and using various treatments and preventions , it can be prevented and cured. Overlook : I will discuss what cancer is, ways to prevent cancer growth, andRead MoreSpeech Inform Health Benefit of Coconut7894 Words   |  32 Pagesalso been recommended for facial massage and is reported to be good as a wrinkle remover 7. Coconut oil is also good for the scalp and hair and makes hair dressing unnecessary. 8. Intake of at least 2 Tbsp. of Virgin coconut oil per day can lessen your Vitamin E requirement. 9. Coconut water is good for kidney and urinary bladder problems. Other Interesting Articles †¢ Vegetables Fruits and Its Nutritional Values Health Benefits of Carrots Health Benefits of Cucumber Health Benefits of PapayaRead MoreIce Cream Dessert6274 Words   |  26 PagesThe edible tuberous root’s flesh color ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple. Sweet potato has potent antioxidants, such as Beta-carotene and Anthocyanin, which remove harmful free radicals in our system. It has anti-inflammatory and blood sugar-regulating properties that provide protection against hardening of the arteries, arthritis, diabetes, and other chronic metabolic and degenerative illnesses, and even against cancer. Sweet potato has glycosides thatRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms2188 Words   |  9 Pagesmentioned and described to counter weigh the negatives. There will also be a look into the use of hormones in farm animals and the negative outcomes from them and how the use of the hormones usually gets tied in with the Genetically Modified substances. The kingpin of the GMO world, Monsanto will be researched to provide insight into the plans of the company and the things they are doing to better the crop situation. Starting with a definition of Genetically Modified and an explanation of where they

Important Solutions for Report Writing Help in Step by Step Detail

Important Solutions for Report Writing Help in Step by Step Detail The Fundamentals of Report Writing Help You Can Learn From Beginning Immediately To start with, it's important to conclude which sort of reports is required for a specific function. You may find out information that's lacking in your information so as to publicize your argument. The absolute most essential information ought to go first. Reliable info, the credibility of details, and exceptional format will always make a long-lasting impression. Use a book aSometimes it can be useful to obtain another book and your class textbook, especially if you are going to be referring to it in future classes. Our book report writing service delivers professional help to students for many years. If you don't need to fall behind in your academics, it's vital that you submit perfect assignments. Grammar plays an essential role whilst writing a text as grammatical error is not only going to alter the meaning but will also m ake a terrible impression. The author of the book, the time once it takes place, the place where the story occurs, the names and a succinct description of each one of the characters you'll be discussing, many quotations and examples from the book to back up your opinions. It is essential that you read the book thoroughly and mark the critical points, clues and anything which you feel will be an intriguing fact. With our book report aid, you can find more of such practical ideas and advice which can help you enhance your document to a large extent. For example, the author may have used foreshadowing in order to provide you insight on how the book would end. For instance, to compose a business report you want another set of skills that isn't related to technical design report. Reports function as a kind of written assessment to learn what you've learned from your reading, research or experience and to supply you with experience of an important skill that's popular in the job p lace. Life, Death and Report Writing Help You may, for example, count how many sprints each ticket wasn't resolved, but should you actually need to find the range of unresolved tickets each sprint it's simply better (and easier) to track it on a normal basis. In just a couple minutes you could assess the issues plaguing your website, even without having any distinctive advertising and marketing knowledge. Our writers are prepared to help you immediately through assignment help services. You can be certain that if you choose to approach a web-based report writer from our team, you aren't going to back off from your decision because of high prices. The researchers must devote the crucial time to learn resources depending on your research work. An excellent research report wants a past-tense approach because you're recording what you did. Conducting a thriving experiment isn't equal to saying that you'll effortlessly succeed in writing your lab report. Our report writing hel pers offer report writing help at the most economical prices! The sentences should be short, unambiguous and offer the reader with a transparent comprehension of any upcoming action to take. It is possible to use our report writing samples for fast reference. Our report writing helpers may also help you have the proper report writing format. Also, ensure that you provide all the needed documents and proofs to support your claims. Our qualified writers know about the academic rules and standards and know just what professors wish to see in 1 report. Our lab report writers are always here to assist you out. The Start of Report Writing Help There's no minimum word count. Thus, the essay for our staff it is simpler than ever. Actually, prior to making an order it is possible to find a price quote on your essay. As you begin with your book file, you need a very clear objective in mind why it is you're writing it. It's possible to ask for as many changes as you need and we'll make them all up to the point at which you're content with the copy you've got. Give it a go, and possibly our custom made report writing service will change your life! If you are now looking for aid with your report writing, and have stumbled upon us, you need to understand that you've come to the proper location. These steps contain all you want to learn about the way to use the typical report writer option in Micropay.

Autobiography Family and Blake Austin Summers Free Essays

My name is Blake Austin Summers. I am 14 years old and in the 9th grade and go to Wayne School of Engineering. I have brown eyes with short hair. We will write a custom essay sample on Autobiography: Family and Blake Austin Summers or any similar topic only for you Order Now I am white and half Asian. I have a family of four, mom, dad, brother, sister, and also have two pets. My birthday is on Septet 5, 1998. I was born and raised in North Carolina in a town named Goldberg. I used to live on Seymour Johnson Air force Base. https://donemyessay.com/italian-facial-features/ When my dad retired we had to move. I currently live in a two story house, and have been there since 2005. I have been to many places in the United States before. I have a lot of relatives from both sides of my parent’s. They all live in different states. My favorite color is blue and my favorite type of food is Italian. I have two best friends named Vive and Katie. The things I like to do on my free time is listen to music, hang with my friends, go outside to walk, and get on my computer. I am currently in karate as a black belt in two styles. I am really good with computers and most technology. The school I’m going to offers better academics and I plan on achieving my goals there. Those goals are to graduate with a high diploma and associated degree, which will help me and have me a step forward. When I become older I want to be a psychologist because I love to help people with their problems. How to cite Autobiography: Family and Blake Austin Summers, Essays

Tularemia Essay Example

Tularemia Essay Name: Course: Lecturer: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on Tularemia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Tularemia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Tularemia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Tularemia Introduction Tularemia is a highly infectious disease, which affects humans and animals, caused by the bacterium francisella tularensis. The disease affects humans through various means such as skin contact with the infected animal, taking contaminated water, inhaling contaminated dust and aerosols, bites from ticks such as dog ticks, lone star ticks, and wood ticks, bites from deer flies, exposure in the laboratory, and as an act of bioterrorism (CDC). The bacterium is highly contagious, and a small number can cause the disease. terrorists can use it as a weapon, in form of inhalation, and this would increase the number of people susceptible to the disease. Pneumonic tularemia tends to be more severe. The disease causes severe pain and it could be fatal. Mosquitoes also carry the disease, and they can spread them to humans. The bacteria enter the human body through the skin, mouth, eyes, lungs, or throat. About one hundred animal species can carry the infection (Siderovski 12). This is in additi on to birds, arthropods, and fish, which can also carry the disease. Animals such as rabbits, hares, cats, muskrats, and rodents are more likely to get the infection. In cases of outbreak, the animals die in large numbers. There are no known cases of person-to-person infections. Farmers and hunters are at high risks of getting infections. Description and Classification Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative non-molatile bacterium with two biotypes, tularensis (biotype A) and palaearctica (biotype B). It is in capsule form with pleomorphic cells, which appear as short rods. It is an intracellular pathogen, able to live in ticks for a long time. the bacterium can survive in cool conditions for a long time but the cells are sensitive to heat. The bacterium can survive in water, as well as dry land. It also survives in soil, hay, decaying animal carcasses, and straw. Biotype A is limited to North America and it is highly virulent. Biotype B is found in North America, Europe, Asia and Americas, and it is less virulent. There are four known subspecies, and they include tularensis, holarctica, mediasiatica, and novicida. mediasiatica and novicida have low virulence subspecies tularensis is exclusive to north America, while subspecies holartica is present in Europe and north America (Suckow et al., 341). Signs and Symptoms The symptoms of the disease are varied, and they depend on the mode of infection, although all humans affected by the disease experience a high fever. A person infected with the disease normally experiences the symptoms after a period of 3-5 days, although the symptoms can range from 1-21 days. Other than fever, other symptoms include chills, headaches, muscle pain, eye irritation, sweating, diarrhea, dry coughs, weakness, and joint aches among others (CDC). A person with the infection develops a lesion at the site of entry of the bacteria. The sore is often red, with a ribbed rim and a punched-out center (Siderovski 36). The person develops inflammation of the lymph nodes in the affected area (Suckow et al 342). When the bacterium enters the bloodstream, it causes bacteremia, and this enables the infection to spread to other body organs such as kidneys, spleen, and liver (Siderovski 36). Animals infected with the disease often die, but they exhibit symptoms such as depression and an orexia (Suckow et al 342) Forms of Tularemia Some of the main forms of the disease include glandular, ocuglandular, oropharyngeal, ulceroglandular, and pneumonic. The bacteria in the ulceroglandular form of disease spreads to the lymph nodes at the point of entry. The ulceroglandular form of the disease is the most common. It occurs when the bacterium affects the person through the skin. A person with ulceroglandular develops a lesion, which develops into an ulcer. The ulcer heals after one week, and it is relatively painless (Oyston 921-930). The location of the ulcer in the body can help to determine the mode of transmission. Ulcers on the upper extremities on the body indicate that the person was in close contact with an infected animal. Ulcers on the lower extremities, abdomen or the back of the body indicate that the person got the infection from arthropods (Goddard 106). Glandular tularemia is similar to ulceroglandular, expect that the infected person does not develop an ulcer. The eye is a possible route of infection, and when this happens, the person develops ocuglandular tularemia. A person with this form of disease has swollen eyelids, and he or she develops conjunctivitis. Oropharyngeal tularemia develops when a person eats infected meat or drinks contaminated water (Oyston 921-930). It can also develop when a person puts infected fingers in the mouth (Siderovski 41). This form is also known as gastrointestinal tularemia. A person with this form of disease develops pharyngitis, swollen cervical lymph nodes, and ulcers. Diarrhea is a common symptom in this form of disease, and it ranges from mild and persistent diarrhea to acute diarrhea, which is often fatal. The infected person develops an ulceration of the bowel. He or she experiences nausea and vomiting. A person develops pneumonic or respiratory diarrhea through inhalation. A person with this form of the disease becomes delirious. He or she develops a non-productive cough, chest pain, and dyspenea. The bacteria replicates quickly once a person inhales it. The person might require assistance in breathing. Testing and Diagnosis Tularemia is a rare disease, and doctors find it hard to diagnose the disease. This is because the disease symptoms resemble symptoms of other diseases. Doctors look for symptoms such as swelling lymph nodes and ulcers on the skin to make their diagnosis (Siderovski 48). The patient can help the doctor, by pointing out any chance of exposure with an infected animal. Physicians can identify the disease by examining secretions and biopsy specimen using gram stain or direct fluorescent antibody. Examination using the fluorescent antibodies is quick, and the physician gets the report after a few hours but it is not always possible to guarantee the accuracy of the results (Dennis et al 2763-2773). When testing for the disease, it is important to alert those working in the laboratory, so that they can take the correct preventive measures. There have been several cases of people getting infections because of laboratory exposure. The most efficient way of confirming the disease is by growing it in culture, although it is often difficult to do so. One can grow culture using sputum or pharyngeal washing. For a person with inhalation tularemia, the physician grows the culture from fasting gastric aspirates. The culture has to contain cysteine, and the physician places it in an environment rich in carbon dioxide. It takes about four to six days for the culture to grow (Hepburn Simpson 231-240) Prevention and Treatment People can minimize their chances of infection by adopting several measures such as not handling carcasses since one does not know whether the animal had the diseases, and using gloves when handling infected animals and carcasses. People should not take water if they are not sure of its safety. Contaminated water is one of the easiest ways of acquiring the disease. People who take wild meat should ensure that they cook it thoroughly. Tularemia often affects wild animals, and people should be careful when consuming such meat. People in endemic areas should use repellants to get rid of arthropods, and reduce their chances of infection. They should treat their clothes with repellants, as this will help them to avoid insect bites. Worry about terrorists using the bacterium as a possible weapon has compelled researchers to develop a vaccine. There have been several attempts at this, and the live vaccine strain (LVS) seems to have been the most successful. The vaccine is successful in prov iding protection against small doses of a virulent strain. Governments have not licensed the vaccine because of its reversion to virulence, variable immunogenicity, and mixed colony morphology (Oyston 921-930). The disease can be fatal in humans, if not treated. The mortality rate for untreated tularemia is 30%. Treating the disease reduces this rate to 1% (Goddard 106). Doctors use antibiotics to treat the disease in human beings. Doctors use antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin to treat the disease (CDC). These are the most common antibiotics, although other antibiotics such as tetracycline and chloramphenicol are in use (Goddard 106). Treatment depends on the type of medication used and stage of the disease, though it takes 10-21 days. The use of antibiotics has increased the chances of the patients’ recovery, and most patients treated usually recover from their illness. Works Cited: CDC. Tularemia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. Web. 12 July 2012 Dennis, T. David et al. â€Å"Tularemia as a Biological Weapon.† The Journal of American Medical Association 285.21 (2001): 2763-2773 Goddard, Jerome. Infectious Diseases and Arthropods. New York, NY: Springer, 2008. Print Hepburn, J. Matthew and JH Simpson. Tularemia: Current Diagnosis and Treatment Options. 2008. Web. 12 July 2012 Oyston, C. F. Petra. â€Å"Francisella Tularensis: Unravelling the Secrets of an Intracellular Pathogen.† Journal of Medical Microbiology 57.8 (2008): 921-930. Print Siderovski, H. Susan. Tularemia. Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print Suckow, A, Mark et al. The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents. Waltham, MA: Academic Press, 2012. Print

A Collection of History Quotes

A Collection of History Quotes The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people. Quote by Dian Fossey, Gorilla Researcher Non violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. Quote by Mahatma Gandhi All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesnt hurt. Quote by Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip Ive learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Quote by poet and author Maya Angelou If we do not succeed, then we run the risk of failure. Quote by former Vice President Dan Quayle A lifetime of training for just ten seconds. Quote by Jesse Owens, who ran the 100-meter dash at the 1936 Olympics in just 10.3 seconds There is still no cure for the common birthday. Quote by astronaut John Glenn I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best. Quote by artist Frida Kahlo All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath. Quote by author F. Scott Fitzgerald We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist. Quote by Queen Victoria, in regards to the Boer War Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave. Quote by Indira Gandhi, prime minister of India To Joseph Stalin: Stop sending people to kill me! Weve already captured five of them, one of them with a bomb and another with a rifle... If you dont stop sending killers, Ill send a very fast working one to Moscow and I certainly wont have to send another. Quote by Yugoslav leader Josip Tito At the end, the acquisition of wealth is ignoble in the extreme. I assume that you save and long for wealth only as a means of enabling you the better to do some good in your day and generation. Quote by business leader Andrew Carnegie â€Å"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Quote by child actress Shirley Temple Im nobody. Im a tramp, a bum, a hobo. Im a boxcar and a jug of wine, and a straight razor if you get too close to me. Quote by convicted criminal Charles Manson I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Quote by J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of the Manhattan Project â€Å"I know that, like every woman of the people, I have more strength than I appear to have.† First Lady of Argentina, Eva Peron If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success. Quote by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller Do you think when two representatives holding diametrically opposing views get together and shake hands, the contradictions between our systems will simply melt away? What kind of a daydream is that? Quote by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev I have a lifetime appointment and I intend to serve it. I expect to die at 110, shot by a jealous husband. Quote by Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice I have had a lot of adversaries in my political life, but no enemies that I can remember. Quote by U.S. President Gerald R. Ford A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. Quote by John Steinbeck, author of The Grapes of Wrath I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies in a fight. But my friends, my goddamned friends, theyre the ones who keep me walking the floor at nights! Quote by U.S. President Warren Harding Follow your own passion not your parents, not your teachers yours. Quote by oceanographer Robert Ballard, the man who found the Titanics wreck The best time to plan a book is while youre doing the dishes. Quote by crime writer Agatha Christie I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse. Quote by Walt Disney History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. Quote by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill There are some oligarchs that make me want to bite them just as one crunches into a carrot or a radish. Quote by Eva Peron, former first lady of Argentina For most of history, anonymous was a woman. Quote by writer Virginia Woolf What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant intelligence of the child and the feeble mentality of the average adult. Quote by psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud â€Å"(World War I) was the most colossal, murderous, mismanaged butchery that has ever taken place on earth. Any writer who said otherwise lied. So the writers either wrote propaganda, shut up, or fought.† Quote by author Ernest Hemingway in Farewell to Arms Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant. Quote by actor Cary Grant We dont know a millionth of one percent about anything. Quote by inventor and scientist Thomas Edison The one thing I do not want to be called is First Lady. It sounds like a saddle horse. Quote by First Lady Jackie Kennedy A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives. Quote by baseball player, Jackie Robinson There can be no great accomplishment without risk. Quote by astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon For some years, I have been afflicted with the belief that flight is possible to man. My disease has increased in severity and I feel that it will soon cost me an increased amount of money if not my life. Quote by Wilbur Wright When you see something that is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it and argue about what to do about it only after youve had your technical success. That is the way it was with the atomic bomb. Quote by J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of the Manhattan Project Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world. Quote by Jane Addams, social reformer Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us. Quote by Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose honest arrogance and have seen no occasion to change. Quote by Frank Lloyd Wright, architect During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for. But, my lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. Quote by Nelson Mandela, South African civil rights activist Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Quote by Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life. Quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States and delegate to the United Nations My chief task has been to conquer fear. The public sees only the thrill of the accomplished trick; they have no conception of the tortuous preliminary self-training that was necessary to conquer fear. No one except myself can appreciate how I have to work at this job every single day, never letting up for a moment. I always have on my mind the thought that next year I must do something greater, something more wonderful. Quote by Harry Houdini, magician [Women] must pay for everything.... They do get more glory than men for comparable feats. But, also, women get more notoriety when they crash. Quote by Amelia Earhart The sounds of people drowning are something that I can not describe to you, and neither can anyone else. Its the most dreadful sound and there is a terrible silence that follows it. Quote by Eva Hart, Titanic Survivor The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder. Quote by Alfred Hitchcock, The Master of Suspense The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall. Quote by revolutionary Che Guevara I am neither a fanatic nor a dreamer. I am a black man who loves peace, and justice, and loves his people. Quote by Malcolm X All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl. Quote by silent-screen actor and director Charlie Chaplin May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine. Quote by actor and singer Frank Sinatra The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them. Quote by Queen Victoria I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Quote by Booker T. Washington, educator and author For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing. Quote by Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets. Quote by actress Marilyn Monroe The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression. Quote by W.E.B. DuBois Pilots take no special joy in walking: pilots like flying. Pilots generally take pride in a good landing, not in getting out of the vehicle. Quote by astronaut Neil Armstrong, talking about his famous moonwalk All music is folk music. I aint never heard a horse sing a song. Quote by famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all. Quote by Queen Elizabeth II You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when youre a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen. Quote by baseball player Joe DiMaggio Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Quote by musician Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones I am among those who think that science has great beauty. A scientist in his laboratory is not only a technician: he is also a child placed before natural phenomena which impress him like a fairy tale. Quote by scientist Marie Curie A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits. Quote by former U.S. President Richard Nixon Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guys playing blues like we play, hes in high school. When he starts playing jazz its like going on to college, to a school of higher learning. Quote by B. B. King, blues singer and guitarist A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be. Quote by hockey player Wayne Gretzky An onion can make people cry but theres never been a vegetable that can make people laugh. Quote by comedian Will Rogers A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. Quote by U.S. President Harry S. Truman It is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. It matters little who wins. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do. Quote by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines. Quote by Frank Lloyd Wright, architect People always say that I didnt give up my seat because I was tired, but that isnt true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in. Quote by Rosa Parks, civil rights activist If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then thered be peace. Quote by John Lennon, musician I am a typed director. If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body in the coach. Quote by Alfred Hitchcock, movie director There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted. Quote by Henri Matisse, painter While the State exists, there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State. Quote by V.I. Lenin, Russian revolutionary I knew, as everyone knows, that the easiest way to attract a crowd is to let it be known that at a given time and a given place some one is going to attempt something that in the event of failure will mean sudden death. Quote by Harry Houdini, magician If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. Quote by Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature. Quote by John D. Rockefeller, oil tycoon If I were invited to a dinner party with my characters, I wouldnt show up. Quote by childrens author Dr. Seuss It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think thats pretty important. Quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past. Quote by Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross If Im going to Hell, Im going there playing the piano. Quote by Rock n Roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis How I Love Lucy was born? We decided that instead of divorce lawyers profiting from our mistakes, wed profit from them. Quote by actress Lucille Ball If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine. Quote by revolutionary Che Guevara The painter should not paint what he sees, but what will be seen. Quote by artist Paul Klee I was an ordinary woman who was called onstage at an extraordinary time. I was no different once I became first lady than I had been before. But, through an accident of history, I had become interesting to people. Quote by Betty Ford, wife of U.S. President Gerald R. Ford Once upon a time my political opponents honored me as possessing the fabulous intellectual and economic power by which I created a worldwide depression all by myself. Quote by U.S. President Herbert Hoover I prefer to stay alive and be criticized than be sympathized. Quote by Gold Meir, Prime Minister of Israel A man can be destroyed but not defeated. Quote by Ernest Hemingway, author Man, of all the animals, is probably the only one to regard himself as a great delicacy. Quote by Jacques Cousteau, ocean explorer Better to live one year as a tiger, than a hundred as a sheep. Quote by Madonna, singer Whenever you feel like criticizing any one...just remember that all the people in this world havent had the advantages that youve had. Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for youll be criticized anyway. Youll be damned if you do, and damned if you dont. Quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, social activist and wife of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt I love Mickey Mouse more than any woman I have ever known. Quote by Walt Disney Im not a dictator. Its just that I have a grumpy face. Quote by Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet Are we to paint whats on the face, whats inside the face, or whats behind it? Quote by Pablo Picasso, artist I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Quote by Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. Quote by Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. Quote by Albert Einstein I am a friend, comrades, a friend! Quote by Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, after he had landed on a farm and was mistaken for an alien I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot... when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result. Quote by Michael Jordan, basketball player We need to be the change we wish to see in the world. Quote by Mahatma Gandhi Being a princess isnt all its cracked up to be. Quote by Princess Diana I arrived in Hollywood without having my nose fixed, my teeth capped, or my name changed. That is very gratifying to me. Quote by Barbra Streisand, singer and actress It matters if you just dont give up. Quote by theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved. Quote by Jane Goodall, chimpanzee expert What kind of man would live where there is no daring? I dont believe in taking foolish chances but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all. Charles Lindbergh, aviator Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas. Quote by Joseph Stalin, former dictator of the Soviet Union People think that I must be a very strange person. This is not correct. I have the heart of a small boy. It is in a glass jar on my desk. Quote by Stephen King, horror fiction writer I am sorry to say that there is too much point to the wisecrack that life is extinct on other planets because their scientists were more advanced than ours. Quote by John F. Kennedy, President of the United States Ive learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Quote by Maya Angelou, author You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. Quote by Al Capone, Chicago crime boss during the 1920s All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary. Quote by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action. Quote by Fidel Castro, dictatorial leader of Cuba Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard. Quote by John Steinbeck, author of The Grapes of Wrath Hollywood is a place where theyll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul. Quote by actress Marilyn Monroe I have a lifetime appointment and I intend to serve it. I expect to die at 110, shot by a jealous husband. Quote by Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American member of the U.S. Supreme Court Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster. Quote by Theodore Roosevelt Never interrupt someone doing something you said couldnt be done. Quote by Amelia Earhart If youre going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy. Quote by Charles Manson None of us wanted to be the bass player. In our minds he was the fat guy who always played at the back. Quote by Paul McCartney of the Beatles But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret. Quote by Ronald Reagan A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life. Quote by Muhammad Ali I have drove Fords exclusively when I could get away with one. Quote by Clyde Barrow Love is a fruit in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Quote by Mother Teresa Every strike brings me closer to the next home run. Quote by Babe Ruth I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done. Quote by scientist Marie Curie We are all worms. But I believe that I am a glow-worm. Quote by Winston Churchill We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. Quote by Martin Luther King Jr. Ive learned one thing: you only really get to know a person after a fight. Only then can you judge their true character! Quote by Anne Frank

The History Behind the Ballad of Mary Hamilton

The History Behind the Ballad of Mary Hamilton A folk ballad, possibly no older than the 18th century, tells a story about a servant or lady-in-waiting, Mary Hamilton, at the court of a Queen Mary, who had an affair with the king and was sent to the gallows for drowning her illegitimate child. The song refers to four Maries or four Marys: Mary Seaton, Mary Beaton,  and Mary Carmichael, plus Mary Hamilton. The Usual Interpretation The usual interpretation is that Mary Hamilton was a lady-in-waiting at the Scottish court of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587) and that the affair was with the Queens second husband, Lord Darnley. Accusations of infidelity are consistent with stories of their troubled marriage. There were four Maries sent to France with the young Mary, Queen of Scots, by her mother, Mary of Guise, when the Scottish queen (whose father died when she was an infant) went to be raised there to marry the French Dauphin. But the names of two in the song are not quite accurate. The four Maries serving Mary, Queen of Scots, were Mary Beaton, Mary Seton, Mary Fleming, and Mary Livingston. And there was no story of an affair, drowning and hanging historically connected with the real four Maries. There was the 18th-century story of a Mary Hamilton, from Scotland, who had an affair with Peter the Great, and who killed her child by Peter and her two other illegitimate children. She was executed by decapitation on March 14, 1719. In a variation of that story, Peters mistress had two abortions before she drowned her third child. It is possible that an older folk song about the Stewart court was conflated with this story. Other Possibilities There are other possibilities that have been offered as roots of the story in the ballad: John Knox, in his History of the Reformation, mentions an incident of infanticide by a lady-in-waiting from France, after an affair with the apothecary of Mary, Queen of Scots. The couple was reported to have been hanged in 1563.Some have speculated that the old Queen referred to in the song was the Queen of Scots Mary of Guelders, who lived from about 1434 to 1463, and who was married to Scotlands King James II. She was regent for her son, James III, from her husbands death when a cannon exploded in 1460 to her own death in 1463. A daughter of James II and Mary of Guelders, Mary Stewart (1453 to 1488), married James Hamilton. Among her descendants was Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.More recently, Englands George IV, while still the Prince of Wales, is rumored to have had an affair with a governess of one of his sisters. The governess name? Mary Hamilton. But no story of a child, much less infanticide. Other Connections The story in the song is about unwanted pregnancy; could it be that the British birth control activist, Marie Stopes, took her pseudonym, Marie Carmichael, from this song? In Virginia Woolfs feminist text, A Room of Ones Own, she includes characters named Mary Beton, Mary Seton and Mary Carmichael. The History of the Song The Child Ballads were first published between 1882 and 1898 as The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Francis James Child collected 28 versions of the song, which he classified as Child Ballad #173. Many refer to a Queen Marie and four other Maries, often with the names Mary Beaton, Mary Seaton, Mary Carmichael (or Michel) and the narrator, Mary Hamilton or Mary Mild, though there are some variations in the names. In various versions, she is the daughter of a knight or of the Duke of York or Argyll, or of a lord in the North or in the South or in the West. In some, only her proud mother is mentioned. Select Stanzas The first five and the last four stanzas from version 1 of Child Ballad #173: 1. Words gane to the kitchen,And words gane to the ha,That Marie Hamilton gangs wi bairnTo the hichest Stewart of a.2. Hes courted her in the kitchen,Hes courted her in the ha,Hes courted her in the laigh cellar,And that was warst of a.3. Shes tyed it in her apronAnd shes thrown it in the sea;Says, Sink ye, swim ye, bonny wee babe!Youl neer get mair o me.4. Down them cam the auld queen,Goud tassels tying her hair:O marie, wheres the bonny wee babeThat I heard greet sae sair? 5. There never was a babe intill my room,As little designs to be;It was but a touch o my sair side,Come oer my fair bodie.15. Oh little did my mother think,The day she cradled me,What lands I was to travel through,What death I was to dee.16. Oh little did my father think,The day he held up me,What lands I was to travel through,What death I was to dee.17. Last night I washd the queens feet,And gently laid her down;And a the thanks Ive gotten the nichtTo be hangd in Edinbro town!18. Last nicht there was four Maries,The nicht therel be but three;There was Marie Seton, and Marie Beton,And Marie Carmichael, and me.

Does a government imposed price control provide an efficient market Term Paper

Does a government imposed price control provide an efficient market - Term Paper Example This effect is long-term as the elasticity of supply is high and the availability of the product is being rationed by price, eventually black market arises to compensate this shortage. This is a clear indication that the government intervention has reduced the efficiency of the market and created new market failure characteristics like the emergence of a black market where goods and services evade tax through smuggling in addition to violation of several other rules of the trade (Mises, 197-248). On the other hand, price floors raise the equilibrium price for they are set at minimum. These price floors are inclusive of reduced wages and agricultural marketing boards. On condition that the price floors bind, then they will definitely decrease the amount of goods in demand and increase the quantity which is being supplied. Eventually this will create a surplus in the market and thus lower the prices below the equilibrium price. Economists argue that lowered wage laws may subsequently result to increased levels of unemployment and this phenomenon mostly affects the youth as business units often offer high wages (Riesman, 35-78). A free market is a market where the equilibrium price is controlled by forces of demand and supply. When a tax is imposed on such a market; there emerges a difference between supply and demand prices and the equilibrium is disrupted and this results to a tax wedge. When a tax has been imposed on any transaction in then market, the resulting difference between the demand and the supply price is commonly referred to as the tax wedge. Taxes are mandatory payments to the government from the society and they have substantial influence on the normal market trends; basically of the buying and the selling price difference (Mises, 327-361). In a competitive market which is devoid of these price regulations from the government, the equilibrium price is

Market structure Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Market structure - Research Paper Example This implies that product differentiation exists and each one is capable of satisfying divergent consumer needs. Barriers to entry are few thus explaining why the competitors are many in number (Makiw, 2008). The oligopolistic market structure is one in which a small number of players operate, and they can control the market. Usually, these players are large enough and account for a substantial market share. They make decisions interdependently and are highly motivated by the need to cooperate. Therefore, players exert a degree of control over market conditions. Furthermore, this model is characterized by many barriers to entry. A monopoly is a market in which only a single producer exists. The person is therefore capable of exercising considerable control over the market. Products sold do not have close substitutes thus prompting consumers to stick to them. Normally, the monopoly thrives in water distribution, electricity and gas industries. Barriers to entry are also quite high. 2. Real life example of a market structure in my local city A Shell retail outlet is an example of an oligopolistic market in my city. The organization has relatively few competitors in the gas pump market. Retail outlets may be high in number but the number of companies controlling those outlets is relatively few. Furthermore, Shell is a large company that accounts for about 20% of the market share. This degree of concentration in the oil retail industry makes Shell gullible to collusions with its rivals. For a number of times, the company has been accused of setting artificial prices that do not relate to world oil prices. Regardless, the organization’s products are often sold for a price that is relatively close to market rates. In oligopolistic markets, this is typical for many organizations as competition based on price could lead to inefficiencies. Barriers to trade are also substantial as certain restrictions exist. Shell has control over oil as a natural resource. It is also a vertically integrated firm in which other aspects of oil production take place. The facilities and equipment needed to carry out this work are quite expensive. Therefore, new entrants would not have the economies of scale needed to make significant profits in the market. They would have to raise their prices in order to cover production costs, yet this would drive away consumers who would seek inespensice alternatives. Shell also enjoys large revenue streams from its elaborate business model. Therefore, it is likely that a competitor interested in entering the market would have difficulties advertising or matching Shell’s marketing expenditure (Frank and Bernanke, 2009). 3. How high entry barriers into markets influence long run profitability Entry barriers may come in the form of patents, government licensing, benefits that accrue from economies of scale or resource control. Industries with high entry barriers will not have many alternative suppliers. Therefore, mark et forces will be weakened. Profitability will mostly depend on the supply side of the equation. Usually, when a seller sets their prices, they normally do this on the basis of their costs. Marginal costs refer to those additional expenditures incurred when a seller makes an additional item. In markets with low entry barriers, sellers will price their commodities on the basis of

Muslims And Islam Ecuador

Muslims And Islam Ecuador Scholarship about Muslims and Islam has generally been delimited geographically in the Middle East. After the 9/11 attacks, the renewed interest about Islam in general exposed the existence of a sizable Muslim population in the Latin Americas (Hallar). While the migration of Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians in the late 1800s accounted for the greater number of Muslims in Latin America now, new converts to Islam also characterize the Muslim population today. In Ecuador, where the Muslim population is a very small minority compared to the predominantly Roman Catholic group, not much has been written about them, their history, they way of life, and the different challenges they experience living in adherence to their professed faith. This paper traces the history and origins of Muslims in Ecuador, their contemporary experiences, contributions, and problems. In 2008, the Ecuadorian constitution recognized the megadiversity of the biological and economic species in the country, protecting it by making ecosystem rights or the rights of nature legally enforceable in the country (Central Intelligence Agency). Located along the Earths equator, hence the name, Ecuador is home to the famous Galapagos Islands and the most biologically diverse ecosystem in the world. Ecuadors megadiversity also applies to its population. Estimated at around 14,790,608, the country is the 65th largest country in the world in terms of population; it is also one of the most ethnically diverse (Central Intelligence Agency). Its majority group, the mestizos, were descendants of the intermarriage of the Spanish conquistadores and its indigenous people and comprise more than 65% of the population. Accounting for a quarter of the Ecuadorian population are Amerindians; the creoles account for 7%; and Ecuadorians account for 3%. Religion-wise, Ecuador is home to predominantly Roman Catholic believers which account for 95% of the population, with 4% following Protestantism, 1% Mormons, and a minority of nativists, Jews, and Muslims. The Pew Research Center (2009) estimates a Muslim population of roughly 500 individuals in Ecuador. Today, Ecuadorian Muslims are struggling to define their place and their identity in a world that has grown more aware of their existence. An inc reasing number of Ecuadorians are also discovering a new way of life as they embrace and convert to Islam. History and origins of Ecuadorian Muslims Thirty to fifty centuries ago, three Ecuadorian Indian cultures were dominant namely the Chorrera, Machalilla, and Chordeleg. Their religion involved worshipping the sun and the chief of the villages were believed to be sent by the Sun God. Part of their religious practices is the offering of young women who were virgins as human sacrifices as a gesture of gratitude for the bountiful harvest. These early Ecuadorians believe that the body will resurrect after death and because of this belief, they bury gold, spears, drinks, food, and many others that will prepare them in their journey in the afterlife. Years after, the Incas who defeated the southern Ecuadorian tribes almost shared the practices and beliefs as the other Indian tribes. When the Spaniards conquered the American continent, the transition to Catholicism was not dramatic. The Catholics merely had to change the Sun God to the statue of the half-naked Son of God nailed to the cross. One king of the Incas by the name of Atahualpa was burned alive because of his strong rejection towards Christianity. Forced by the Spaniards to denounce his ancient beliefs, the Inca king threw the Bible in protest. His defiance catapulted to his execution for blasphemy. Since this period, Roman Catholicism was the official religion in Ecuador. More than 100 years has passed, Protestantism penetrated Ecuador then other religious sects followed- Seventh-day Adventist, Latter-day Saints, Anglicans, Gnostics, Bahais and others. Indian and Far Eastern philosophies have attracted followers over the last twenty to thirty years. The Jewish people in Ecuador had no formal leadership until 2001 when a representative from the Jewish community in Argentina was appointed as their head. First Muslim Settlers The very first Muslims who settled in Ecuador were Arabians from Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon. Their emigration to the Latin continent was because of their search for peace and solitude from the ravages of World War I and II. With Turkish passports in possession issued by the Ottoman Empire, these Muslims have entered the Ecuadorian soil. Because of this, the first Muslim settlers were known throughout Ecuador as the Turks. The Turks first settled in Quito, the capital city and Guayaquil, the principal seaport in the Pacific Ocean. Some of these Turks went to the coastal areas in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Los Rios, and Manab. What attracted the Turks very much is the tranquility of the country. The family-oriented culture in Ecuador have probably reminded the Turks of their own homes in their respective countries. The principal economic activity of the first Ecuadorian Muslims was trading. In the beginning, the economy of Ecuador largely depended on barter trading or the interchanging of goods and products. During the first twenty to thirty years, the Muslims encountered numerous challenges in local trade and commerce. The distances they had to walk is very long, follow the post service through the mules back, and try to reach the most accessible community or village to do business. The first Muslims in this South American country were exposed to different customs, fashion, and gastronomy. They exchange their goods such as dates or Tamar, rose water or maiy zahar, mashed fried peas or falafel, and laborious sweets like basbusa and baklawa with the local wheat flour or pinol, herb water or agua aromatic, dark sugar cane or panela and banana. The Muslim Identity Since the aim of coming to Ecuador for most of the first Muslim settlers is to seek Dunia, they had a very poor background about their religion and consequently their identity as Muslims was overshadowed by the strong and dominant Roman Catholic religion. Very few of the early Muslims have settled with their spouses from their native countries while majority married with the locals. The earlier Muslim families in Ecuador were the Jairala, Becdach, Ariz, Shayyeb, Soloh, Dassum, among others. Unfortunately for some of their descendants, some opted to be converted to Christianity as their only religious option. Few of the Muslim families would have their children educated under an Islam-based curriculum in Muslim countries. By the later part of the 1940s, Muslims and Arab Christians were grouped as one due to their Arabic roots. The first organization of Muslims and Arab Christians is known as Lecla. Issues of their different religious orientation were not discussed. Then by the middle of the 1980s, a social organization emerged and this is known as the Arab Club. Approximately during this period, there was increased migration of Muslims to Ecuador. Roughly 20 Egyptian men were struggling to reach US shores without considering the risks involved. Dishonest travel agencies are using Ecuador as their gateway to the US. Eventually some of them left Ecuador while others choose to stay in the country. A minor migration involving Indian Pakistanis occurred in the early 1990 and majority have reached their migratory goals in Canada and the US and they leave no trace or indication of their religious affiliation with Islam. As the 20th century comes to a close, Muslim migrants came from countries in West Africa such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Liberia, whose internal conflict and civil disruptions have pushed them in search of the new place to rebuild their lives. The mid 1980s saw the embracing of Islam by the local Ecuadorian populace. Though the word Islam is unheard of, the locals were highly influenced by the piety of the Muslims while studying in the US and European universities. They have come to regard Islam as a religion for all therefore it is universal. Aside from that they considered the religion a brotherhood which brings people from all walks of life to work harmoniously to attain peace. Islam also offered teachings not found in the Catholic teachings. Despite the fact that these new Muslims enthusiastically propagated their religion in Ecuador, it was a struggle by going against the current. In the mid 90s, the number of Ecuadorian Muslim converts continue to grow. At present, every Friday marks at least a single Shahada. This growing trend came to terms with criticism and rejection every within their closest kin. There are roughly 500 Muslims living in Ecuador today. A Muslim Heritage Muslims in Ecuador and in Latin America in general derive a unique kind of heritage from the regions political history. This heritage dates back to 711 when the Muslim Moors led by Tariq ibn Zayid conquered Spain for 700 years. For seven centuries of Muslim rule, Spain became influenced by Islamic music, literature, and architecture. Religious tolerance as preached by Islam allowed the mutual existence of various religious denominations such as Judaism and Christianity. Unlike other conquerors, the Moors preached Islam but did not impose conversion to their religion. When the Muslim conquest ended by 1492, all Muslims were forced back into Christianity with the threat of exile or execution. During the heydays of the Spanish inquisition, the conquistadores started to ship off Muslim slaves to the New World and Africa and these Muslim eventually landed in Latin America. The forced migration of Muslim slaves as well as the migration of Muslim Arabs of the Ottoman Empire started the spr ead of Islam into the continent. Many Muslims in Latin America believe that Islamic conversion enables them to reclaim their true heritage. Muslim scholars assert that European influence came much later than African/Islamic influence. Evidence of this is in the Spanish language itself, literature, philosophy, and music. Latino culture then derives a large part from the contributions of the first Muslim settlers shipped off from the Iberian Peninsula. As Islam spread quickly, it became a profound influence on the Latino way of life (Vendan and Pervost 28). This assertion is contentious however because historical books and documents do not mention the contributions of Islamic heritage in Latino culture save for a few aspects. The educational system also does not teach about Islamic values and its impact on present Latino American culture. Some of the great contributions of Islam to cities in Latin American include the magnificent Islamic architecture that has built the cities of South America. Brazils old churches are designed with Arabic calligraphy carved by Muslim slaves brought to the continent from the Iberian Peninsula. Islamic art is also prominent in many Central American churches. Many churches all over South American also install mosque arches and domes, typically Islamic architectural styles. In Quito, Ecuador, Islamic art can be found in the Andalusian Spanish architectural style copied from Islamic architecture. Andalusian Islamic architecture is also visible in Quitos downtown area (Suquillo, Islamic Values in Latin Americ an Culture). Major and minor traces of the influence of Muslims in Ecuador occurred as a result of Muslim migration into the country. Aside from art, language, and architecture, Islamic values such as hard work, industry, affinity for trading as well as Arabic food form a great contribution to the diverse and beautiful culture in Latin America today (Vendan and Pervost 33). Aside from viewing conversion to Islam as a historical necessity, the younger generation of Latinos is attracted to Islam because of their disenchantment with Catholicism. Many Latino Muslims view Catholicism as an elitist religion which has historically disenfranchised many of the continents poor and indigenous populations. Many also view Catholicism as having been detrimental to the rights of indigenous ancestors. Among native Latinos who convert to Islam, there is a prevalent view that Catholicism has only served the poor in theory but not in practice. Today, Catholicism has not played a major role in improving the plight of the disadvantaged and have not defended their rights adequately as a church should. Instead of the elitist Roman Catholic Church, many view Islam as the true religion of the oppressed. This view seems to explain why Islam appeals to minority groups in Latin America and elsewhere. Most of the Islamic conversions belong to marginalized groups and those who are struggling for equality. Many activists and progressive thinkers have also found a more effective ally in Islam as the Quran does not only delve in religious issues but in political issues as well. In choosing Islam, some became became serious young men seeking to elevate ourselves within our society. We got this from Islam (qtd. in Viscidi). Some Muslim scholars hypothesize the Islams strong position on unity and racial equality is an appealing concept to minority and disadvantaged groups (Vendan and Pervost 34). This also explains why more and more African Americans in the U.S. have converted to Islam in the past decades. To many who decide to convert to Islam, it is a universal faith where people of all walks of life pray together. Religion unifies culture and enhances it (qtd. in Sanchez and Juan 33). Ecuadorian converts have also cited how Islam provides both material and spiritual support for its faithful. For instance, the track record of Muslim religious organizations indicates that it caters not only to the needs of Muslims but non-Muslims as well. Elsewhere in the world, Muslim organizations provide welfare services, education programs, clothing drives, training for women, and anti-poverty measures to ease the flight of the disadvantaged. However attractive Islam may be to many, Latino Muslims experience a conflict of identity because Catholicism has been so deeply ingrained in their culture. Some who are thinking of converting may feel that their conversion to Islam may be construed as being traitors to their Catholic heritage. Moreover, converts also face the difficulty of being accepted into the mainstream community. Being part of the other has a strong possibility of getting converts alienated or even disowned by their families or peers (Cook 4). Despite their many activities and their presence, Muslim organizations still find that many people have no knowledge or are ignorant about Islam. This is why Muslim religious organizations are striving to get people to know more about Islam and dispel wrong notions and biases about Muslims and Islamic doctrine (Suquillo, Islam in Ecuador). Muslim Religious Organizations The wave of migration to the Americas marked the influx of Lebanese and Palestinian immigrants to Ecuador in the 1800s. While majority of them were of Arab ancestry and remnants of the Ottoman Empire, some of them were Christians and some of them became assimilated into their new country as Christians. Nonetheless, some of them also remained Muslims. Historical records suggest that the earliest Lebanese immigrants came to Ecuador in 1850. They carried with them Islamic values, traditions, and culture an aspect that made life difficult for them initially. Majority of the Lebanese Muslims which migrated first were male and settled first at the countrys capital, Guayaquil. The women came later. Like most migrants, they found it difficult to adjust to the host country; they faced discrimination but were determined to make a prosperous life in Ecuador. Most of them became entrepreneurs and owned stores. Soon, some of the most important political players in Ecuador were of Arab ancestry: from Assad Bucaram Elmhalim in 1916, to Guayaquils mayor in 1996 Jamil Mahuad Witt, and former Vice President Alberto Dahik Garzozi (Roberts 13). While many Middle Eastern migrants became assimilated into the Catholic way of life, a few of them remained adherents of Islam and strived to build their own community and follow their own traditions while respecting the dominant culture. Muslims in Ecuador belong to a tight-knit community of worshippers. During the middle of the 1900s, native Ecuadorians became converts of Islam and chose to live close to the Arab community. In order to perform prayers, they first rented a small apartment which later became a private apartment provided by the Egyptian Embassy. The Ecuadorian constitution requires all religious organizations to register in order to exercise freedom of religion. In Ecuador, the first and largest religious organization officially registered with the government is the Centro Islà ¡mico del Ecuador. Founded in 1994, the Center receives Muslims and non-Muslims alike and is a hub not only for religious purposes but also for socio-cultural and educational activities supposed by the teachings of Sunni Islam. Unlike many masjids, the Center is an independent entity that is built without any foreign financial support. The Center also serves to help to develop a genuine Muslim Ecuadorian identity guided and inspired by values of Islam (Suquillo, Islam in Ecuador). In its early years, the masjid occupied only the first floor of the Center. Soon, it was transferred to a residential area in order to make the masjid more convenient for residents. The Center serves as a gathering place of Ecuadorian Muslims and a venue from which non-Muslims could learn more about Islam and the Islamic way of life. Through the Center, misconceptions about Islam are resolved so that a better understanding of Islam is presented to non-Muslims. For Muslims, the Center educates young and old Muslims about the Holy Quran and the Arabic language. Moreover, it specially caters to women who comprise many of Muslim converts through lectures and a well-stocked library that offers books written in Spanish, English, and French. Part of the responsibility of the Islamic Center is the translation and publication of Spanish literature which tackle on various topics on Islam. The center has also translated five books to Spanish: What the Bible says about Muhammad?, Understanding Muslims and Islam, Tawheed, Muslim Christian Dialogue and The truth about Jesus. Spanish pamphlets were also published and they are entitled: Islam at glance, Mount Arafat Sermon, Do you know that (the Pope at the time of our Prophet Muhammad SAAWS, embraced Islam?), General aspects about fasting in Ramadan, Misconceptions about Jihad, Danger in dancing, Is Jesus really God?, You should know about this great man (Prophet Muhammad SAAWS), Who invented the trinity?, What is Islam?, Islamic Fundamentalism?, What Islam is not about, Muhammad in the Bible, Fire in your stomachs (about alcohol), and According to the Bible, Jews have no right on Palestinian land (Suquillo, Islam in Ecuador). There are two other Muslim religious organizations in Ecuador: the Centro Islà ¡mico Al Hijra and the Fundacion Islamica Cultural Khalid Ibn Al Walid. The Centro Islà ¡mico Al Hijra is also located in Guayaquil while the Fundacion is located in Quito, Ecuador (Islamic Finder). Worship in the Masjid Prayer is central to Ecuadorian Muslims. Worship in the masjid is the same for Ecuadorian Muslims as with all other Muslims anywhere in the world. It is mandatory to remove shoes or slippers when entering a mosque a practice that reflects respect for the house of prayer and its worshippers. The prayer halls in the masjid contain no benches or chairs, only carpets which are aligned to face Mecca, Islams holy city. Ecuadorian Muslims go to the masjid in order to perform salat, one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. Prayers are organized five times a day. The masjid in Ecuador is open one hour before the obligatory Fard prayers. However, the faithful can offer five prayers all throughout the day from their home: Fajr (before sunrise), Dhuhr (afternoon), Asr (midday), Maghrib (after sunset) and Ishaa (after dusk) (Islamic Finder). Ecuadorian Muslims can find out the proper prayer times throughout the day from the announcements posted near the masjid and even online (Islamic Finder). The Islamic weekly holy day is Friday. Prayers inside the masjid are performed by men but not for women. This tradition has been sometimes criticized as discriminatory for women. However, Muslim scholars have cited that the rationale behind this prohibition is to uphold the rules regarding the interaction of men and women as written in the Quran. Women can worship in the masjid from separate chambers where they can see the imam or the prayer leader. Most Ecuadorian Muslim women also prefer to pray from their homes. Before formal prayers, all are required to perform a ritual of cleaning called wudu where the ears, face, arms, hands, and feet are washed. The masjid has washrooms for men and women for this purpose. Worshippers step into the prayer hall with the right foot and say in Arabic Oh Allah, open the door of mercy for me (Asani). Two cycles of prayer are then performed, followed by a salutation (tahiyatul-majid) and the sequence of standing-kneeling-prostration. Reasons for Conversion to Islam Muslims in Ecuador have a unique experience as they practice their faith. Belonging to a community of faithful comprising less than 1 percent of the population, it is not unusual that many Ecuadorians are not aware that there are Muslims at all. Hence, educating non-Muslims about the tradition and practices of Muslim Ecuadorians is a challenge. However, the number of annual converts to Islam in Ecuador has surprisingly increased and the Muslim community is undergoing changes as a consequence. Yahya Juan Suquillo, Ecuadors imam or religious leader, states that the notion that Islam attracts few converts is untrue. In fact, the conversion rate among Christians is going at an accelerated pace. Suquillo, who was named one of the 500 most influential Muslim leaders of 2009, believes that Islams appeal in Ecuador as well as in Latin America comes at a time when the whole continent is in search of its own identity (The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre 24). The social problems that beset the continent have made its people look for spiritual change and Islam has a unique brand of spirituality that appeals to most people. Latin America is fertile ground for Islamic dawah and the transition from Christianity to Islam is not so difficult since Islamic influence is already inherent in Latino culture. However, Muslim religious organizations have fallen short in identifying the strong potential Latinos to accept Islam despite the predominance of Catholicism (Suquillo, Islam in Ec uador). Ecuadorian Muslims are also in search of their Islamic identity which they found at home and abroad. Some Ecuadorian Muslims are economically well-off and can send their children abroad to study Arabic and Islamic Studies. Some who have gone on to study in Cairo were descendants of the original Muslim settlers in Ecuador: My grandfather on my mothers side helped bring Islam to Ecuador, I belong to that family and it makes me proud (Delgado qtd. in Makary). One of the biggest challenges for the Ecuadorian Muslim population is how to integrate their increasing number of indigenous converts into the Muslim ummah. There are many aspects about Islam that attracted converts in Ecuador. Some have cited that the modesty and religiosity of Islam is what they admired most in the religion. Others have also cited the consistency of Islamic doctrine as opposed to Catholicism. Others have also cited the influence of a Muslim friend or colleague they admired (Rich). Some find that the record of Islamic communities in maintaining order and cleaning up neighborhoods of crime and poverty was the most admirable thing about the religion. Converts who have been exposed to crime, drugs, and prostitution find sincerity in the Islamic community to help them reform. There is also an attraction in what Islam offers: the return to traditional values (Sesin). Like many Latino converts to Islam, Ecuadorian Muslim converts also believe that Islam offers a new kind of spirituality than what they have been accustomed to. Others cited the that Islam offered a strictly monotheistic view compared to Catholicism which teaches the concept of the Trinity as well as belief in the Virgin Mary and Catholic saints. It also is surprising that instead of viewing Islam as repressive against women, female converts state that Islam provides a view of women with dignity and respect something that is not highlighted in other religions (Sanchez and Juan 26). Islamic doctrine is also one of the main attractions of the religion not only in Ecuador but in Latin America in general. Islamic principles are consistent with the tight and devout family values which characterize Latin American households. According an Ecuadorian Muslim: There are cultural similarities and family values inherent to Hispanics and Muslims. Typically, Hispanic households are tight knit and devout, and children are reared in a strict environment traits that mirror Muslim households (Guadalupe qtd. in Pick Islam) Moreover, in terms of doctrine, Islam resolves some of the issues that most people have with Catholicism. Islams absence of a papal hierarchy makes everyone equal in the presence of God. The definition of God in Islam is also less ambivalent, as there is only Allah unlike the Catholic Church which promotes the worship of Saints, and the Virgin Mary. In Islam, many feel that Everyone who prays before God is equal (qtd. in Viscidi). Other family-related values and close kinship ties are integral to Muslim communities; the same is true for Hispanic communities. There are several Islamic norms which mirror those highly valued by Hispanics such as respect for the elderly, child rearing, and the value/role of marriage (Sanchez and Juan 32). To many converts, Islam has helped them live a life of moderation and appreciation for family and motherhood (Pick Islam). Islam has also provided converts with a belief system that spoke of kindness, respect, and love for family. Some converts expressed that because Islamic principles consider moderation rather than competition or ambition as the norm, its believers were more grounded and in touch with real life than religions that value individualism (qtd. in Hallar). Challenges faced by Ecuadorian Muslims Converting to Islam poses several challenges. First, because Islam is a way of life and not merely a religion, converts brace with the difficulty of adjusting their once decadent lifestyle to suit the tenets of modesty and economy in Islam. Young converts expressed not being ready to give up parties as a great challenge for them (qtd. in Rich). For most women converts, the stereotypes that are often attached to Islam and Muslims became a great hindrance for them as they strived to be accepted by the Catholic families. Native Ecuadorian Muslims comprise more than half of the population of Muslims in Ecuador. Their understanding of the religion is best reflected in their manner of dressing. Almost all of the females don the hijab and long dress daily. A main issue for women converts is the mode of dress. Muslim women are required to wear the appropriate clothing, usually the headscarf or hijab. Many Catholics view wearing the hijab as an oppressive act and do not understand its need. T he younger generation of Muslim converts in Ecuador is also looking forward to a more progressive Islam one that is keeping up with the times but does not run contrary to the fundamental teachings of Islam and the values of the Islamic civilization itself (Sesin). Integration with a predominantly Catholic population has also subjected a few Muslims in Ecuador to harassment and discrimination. In a UN Commission on Human Rights Report, Muslim leaders alleged that Ecuadorian Muslims encountered discrimination when they apply for employment, loans, or housing. However, due to the small population of Muslims in Ecuador, discrimination is not societal and does not occur frequently (UN Commission on Human Rights). After 9/11, Muslims in Ecuador have also gone under careful scrutiny by the public and have been associated with terrorism. Concern on terrorist infiltration in Ecuador is low but it is still a concern that may have a detrimental impact on its Muslim population. The connections of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah is strong in several Latin American countries, and the sizable presence of Lebanese immigrants in Ecuador has made American and Ecuadorian authorities suspicious nevertheless. Islamic proselytism among native Indian populations have been viewed as an act that could allow militant preachers or activists to agitate people into supporting terror acts and groups (UN Commission on Human Rights). As a religious group, Ecuadorian Muslims have also faced challenges that threaten their presence and existence as devout Muslims with a distinct way of life and culture. The following are some of the difficulties that the Ecuadorian Muslim community faces (Hallar): 1. There is a lack of public awareness about the Islamic religion and way of life in general that may account for the discrimination that some experience as a result of their religious affiliation. 2. Maintaining a separate Islamic identity is troublesome and difficult for many believers. Many Ecuadorians practice Islam randomly and without a thorough understanding of Islam and its values, traditions, and principles. This is problematic for many converts because they are unable to develop and maintain a new identity as Muslims. Due to this crisis, they retain the traditions of the old religion and absorb the practices of the dominant culture which contradict Islam. 3. There is a scarcity of Islamic schools or madrasah and access to teachers who can provide adequate instruction on the Arabic language. Learning Arabic is crucial to the Islamic faith because the holy texts such as Quran and the hadiths are all written in Arabic. Well-off Ecuadorians are able to send their children abroad in Egypt or in Libya to acquire formal instruction in Islamic Studies and Arabic but those who cannot afford such an education have difficulty learning. 4. The lack of financial resources also hamper with the objectives of Muslim religious organizations in building masjids, facilities for schooling, and acquisition of religious texts to further Islamic education among Muslim youth and children. 5.There is also a lack of religious preachers who are able to speak Spanish and literate of the traditions and culture of Ecuador to be able to effectively spread the Dawah. Islamic proselytizing is less effective when preachers are unable to speak the language and to adapt to cultural practices. 8. There is also a lack of Islamic secondary schools to help Muslim youth and adolescents develop a solid Islamic identity. Educational resources available in mainstream school do not account for the historical contributions of Muslims in the Latin American continent. Misconceptions about Islam and Muslims are not adequately dispelled and resolved. 9. There is a lack of religious texts that are not translated into Spanish. This makes it difficult for converts to adequately understand and study by themselves the principles that Islam adheres to. 10. Coordination among different Muslim religious organizations is also hampered because of geographical differences which take ample amount of economic resources. There is a need to develop extensive networks within the Muslim population in Ecuador. 11. There are few opportunities for Muslims around the country to convene at confer

Religion and Society Essay

Society is bound by codes of behavior and tacit agreements to live together in harmony. Religion plays an integral part in this code that society has created for itself. Every aspect of life, such as birth, death, marriage, and relationships, often have religious significance. Even though not all peoples in a society prescribe to the same religion, or any religion at all; religion is still deeply rooted in society and plays a part in everyday life. Religion gives people a moral code to live by; it gives life meaning and purpose, and it is prominent in the American government. Religion provides society with a moral compass for its citizens to live by. God provided Christians with the Ten Commandments and countless parables to help guide Christians to the path of righteousness; Buddhists adhere to the five percepts so that they may not stray away from the path to Nirvana, and Islamists follow a moral code outlined for them in the Quran that closely resembles the Christian Ten Commandme nts. These are all vastly different religions with different codes of ethics, but they are similar in the sense that they provide society with a moral code to live by. Although not everyone within society prescribes to a religion, religious influence is still present. Also, even though one may not follow the doctrine of a certain religion, that does not mean one cannot follow the moral code. All of society’s major religions have the same basic code; be a good person, don’t commit murder, obey the laws of society, etc. These guidelines are common sense, and anyone who knows right from wrong has a moral compass and a sense of ethics. With this in mind, although society has a basic understanding of right and wrong, religion takes it a step farther by demanding of its followers something more than just being a good person. Most major religions expect its followers to be moral leaders in society by helping those in need, and going out of their way to do good deeds for others. Thi s thirst to please some higher being or reach a different plane of existence gives mankind the incentive to keep to their moral code. This does not mean that people who do not have or believe in religion have looser morals or are any less than people who are religious; it just means that people of religious faith have extra incentive to live ethical lives. Religion gives life a transcendental purpose and meaning, and often a goal to aspire to at the end of one’s life. Christianity’s goal for its followers  is ultimately for them to live a life pleasing to God so that they may one day preside in Heaven, as well as to spread the word of God to all the people of the world. The goal of Buddhists is to end the cycle of rebirth by reaching nirvana. Goals such as these give the people of a society a purpose in life. Even those who do not prescribe to a religion can find meaning in their life by studying religion, or even by trying to disprove a religion one can find purpose; even though their purpose is antireligious, it is still influenced by religion. A purposeful life is essential; without a purpose or meaning in one’s life there is no reason to go on living. Religion provides people with a meaningful life, a goal to strive toward, and by doing such it allows society to find pleasure in reaching their goals on a spiritual and human level. Although the United States government has no religious affiliation, it is explicitly stated that t here is to be a separation of church and state in the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the United States was and still is based upon religious principles. While not all of the fifty-five founding fathers were Christians, most did have some sort of religion or belief system; for example Thomas Paine was a deist. The Declaration of Independence includes references to a â€Å"Creator,† and although it makes no reference to Christianity or any other religion, it is still has some religious affiliation. Presently only two percent of the United States Congress either does not prescribe to a religion or does not specify their religious affiliation. With ninety-eight percent of Congress prescribing openly to some form of religion, it is ignorant to believe that religion and the moral codes they believe in play no part in the making and passing of laws. This is not to say that all people of religious faith should be barred from being government officials, it is just an observation that church and state can never be fully separated. Religion still influences the lives of millions of people every day, whether religious or not, because the people who have been voted into these positions of power are the people who make and pass laws which affects everyone in American society. Religion is an ever present part of society. No matter if one is religious or not; religion abounds in everyday life. This is not necessarily a bad thing though. Religion provides society with a moral code to live by, and goals to strive for. Even those without religion are affected by these things, and can even  find their own goals and morals through religion without prescribing to a certain one. Religion is even present in the United States government. Although it is unequivocally stated in the First Amendment of the Constitution that there is to be a separation between religion and government, it is difficult to completely separate the two considering the majority of the government’s elected leaders are part of some religious affiliation. Religion is a perpetual part of society; whether one affiliates with religion or not, it affects society as a whole. On my honor, I pledge that I have neither given, received, nor witnessed any unauthorized help on this.