Analysis Of The Poem The Waste Land - 891 Words

The first lines of T.S. Eliot’s poem, The Waste Land, proclaim, â€Å"April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain† (lines 1-4). 1-4) This stanzaese ilines invokes a strange mix of hopeful images, layered with words of despair.veiled beneath words of despair . Many would agree there is a clear feeling of hopelessness throughout the poem; however, through poetic allusions to redemption, glimpses of optimism are seen in Eliot’s work, suggesting all may not be lost. His references to the redeeming hellfire of â€Å"Dante’s Divine Comedy,† and transformation through tragedy in â€Å"The Story of Tereus and Philomela,† show that Eliot perhaps holds onto a glimmer of hope for society’s despondent state.fordespondent state . Eliot calls to our attention the degradation of society using the theme of lust throughout The Waste Land. In â€Å"A Game of Chess† and again in â€Å"The Fire Sermon,† he describes how sex has become an act devoid of meaning and emotion. The speakers in these sections show how society has separated sex and love, stripping it of its significance. However, in â€Å"What the Thunder Said†, Eliot points the way to redemption. He quotes Dante stating, â€Å"Poi s’ascose nel foco che gli affina† (line 427) which translates to, â€Å"Then he hid himself in the fire that refines them.† The purifying fire he speaks of comes from Canto 26 of Dante’s â€Å"Purgatorio†. In this passage, Dante is traveling through terrace sevenShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem The Waste Land Essay1714 Words   |  7 PagesEnvoking T.S. Eliot’s poem â€Å"The Waste Land†, the â€Å"Valley of Ashes† depicted in The Great Gatsby ser ves a multitude of symbolic functions. It primarily provides significant contrast to East and West Egg. This contrast is not simplistic, as Fitzgerald guides the reader into understanding that the areas are inextricably linked in terms of the American dream and moral corruption. Furthermore, the Valley of Ashes is a physical manifestation of the theme of death and mortality constantly being threadedRead MoreAnalysis Of Eliot s Poem The Waste Land 1401 Words   |  6 Pagesboth the United States and England, is the twentieth century s touchstone author. Thomas had a problem with religion, as noted by his poem â€Å"Journey of the Magi,† and eventually converted from Anglicanism (â€Å"T. S. Eliot: His Religion, His Poetry, His Roles†). First published in 1922, T.S. Eliot s poem The Waste Land is a major work of modern literature. His poem is written in the aftermath of the First World War, and it describes the disorganization and collapse of the society. One major the me thatRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Waste Land By T.s. Eliot819 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Waste land,† by T.S. Eliot, is a complex masterpiece with many incredible symbolic relationships occurs throughout the entirety of the poem. Eliot uses reliable comparisons between life and death, to depict how the seasons change within a given year. His simple yet extreme changes and exaggerations of ever so slight changes between months can help explain the tightly knitted connection we have, and what links the earth and seasons together. At times, the earth can be dismal, harsh and even consideredRead MoreAnalysis of The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot1571 Words   |  7 PagesEliot’s â€Å"heap of broken images† eagerly embraces its fragmented and alienated (post)modern counterpart. The message this phrase bears, resonates throughout the entire poem: from its title, â€Å"The Waste Land†, to its final mantra â€Å"Shantih shantih shantih†. All words, phrases and sentences (or just simply images) which make up this poem seem to, in Levi-Strauss’ words, â€Å"be a valeur symbolique zero [and the signifier] can take on any value required †, meaning that the images Eliot uses do not have oneRead MoreI Am A New Writer1406 Words   |  6 Pages but about to convincing essays with strong evidence and analysis. I finally understood the title of this class – Intro to Writing and Rhetoric. I started to doubt my question that whether I am a new writer, because this class redefined my understanding of the term â€Å"writing† and â€Å"writer†. The reading material â€Å"The Waste Land† is different from anything I read previously. I’ve read poems for few times before, and the importance of the poem seemed to be overwhelming to me. The first thing I did wasRead MoreAnalysis of the Symbolic Journey in Weirs Way Back and Eliots Waste Land963 Words   |  4 PagesAn Analysis of the Symbolic Journey in Weirs Way Back and Eliots Waste Land Aside from the obvious symbols of water and fire, birth and purification, in T. S. Eliots The Waste Land, there is the overall symbol of journey first implied in the opening stanza: Marie, hold on tight. And down we went. Peter Weirs film The Way Back may also be described as a work at the center of which is a symbolic journey. While Weirs film recounts the survival of a group of escapees from the Soviet GulagRead MoreEssay about Modernism in T.s. Eliotss the Wasteland885 Words   |  4 Pagescontaining complex, and often contradictory, allusions, multiple points of view and other poetic devices that broke from the forms in Victorian and Romantic writing, as can be seen in T.S. Eliots The Waste Land (Levanson). The varied perspectives or lack of a central, continuous speaker uproots The Waste Land from previous forms of poetry; however, it is not simply for the sake of being avant-garde, but to espouse the modernist philosophy, which posits the absence of an Absolute and requires the interpretationRead More Waste Land Essay: Journey Through The Waste Land1542 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   T. S. Eliot drafted The Waste Land during a trip to Lausanne, Switzerland to consult a psychologist for what he described as mild case of nerves. He sent the manuscript to Ezra Pound for editing assistance. Between them the draft was extensively edited and published in 1922. As a modernist poet, Eliot struggled to remove the voice of the author from his work but the work is still a reflection of the author’s interpretation. He paints the picture as he sees it for the readers to view and interpretRead MoreThe Waste Land By. Elliot1775 Words   |  8 PagesIn the Waste Land are seve ral themes, techniques, allusions, and characters that have been stated clearly by T.S. Elliot. However, the poem has also been interpreted differently and similar in certain aspects in the Waste Land by critics such as Cleanth Brooks, Jr. â€Å"The Waste Land: An Analysis†, F.R. Leavis â€Å"[The significance of the Modern Waste Land]†, Robert Langbaum â€Å"The Walking Dead† and Maud Ellmann â€Å"A Sphinx without a Secret.† From these critics is the ability to find key evidences on how eachRead MoreThe Waste Land By Eliot1870 Words   |  8 PagesThe Waste Land, less clear that what we hear is the voice of someone.’ Discuss. In this essay, I am going to argue that in T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, we do hear many voices, but they are not the voice of an identifiable person, and that is entirely clear. Furthermore, it is not problematic that the reader is unable to identify a single speaker, as the distance that is created between the poem and the reader is a stylistic choice made by the poet. One of the sole functions of The Waste Land is

Learning Organization, People-Centered Approach, Intellectual Capital, and Knowledge-Based Management Free Essay Example, 4250 words

Argyris, Chris, Schon, David, (1995) in their book Organizational learning II: Theory, method, and practice tell us that the last twenty years has been marked by impressive growth of interest toward the issue of organizational learning and management, the concepts learning organization , intellectual capital , people-centered approach or knowledge-based management . Unfortunately, the majority of publications dedicated to this aspect of organizational studies is heavily academic, very abstract, and lack perspective and practical applicability. In a successful attempt to close this gap, authors of Organizational Learning II take the most relevant and up-to-date findings in the area of organizational learning and management and show how these help modern organizations effectively adapt to the turbulent business environment. The practical approach adopted by co-authors of Organizational Learning II differs substantially from the excessively theoretical and abstract approaches taken by the majority of other experts in the field. Particularly, Argyris and Schon do not limit themselves to the mere description of the nature, specifics, and methods of organizational learning. Instead, they proceed with a comprehensive explanation of how the theoretical basics of learning can be practically applied in modern organizations. In order to support and properly substantiate their argument, the authors analyzed the patterns of learning adopted by several well-known US companies such as General Motors and Intel. We will write a custom essay sample on Learning Organization, People-Centered Approach, Intellectual Capital, and Knowledge-Based Management or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Essay Cloning Madness - 2399 Words

Cloning Madness Cloning, a topic that has recently caused mayhem all over the world, is possible, but will it be here to stay? The astonishing news that scientists had cloned a sheep a couple of years ago sent people into panic at the thought that humans might be next. Cloning is a radical challenge to the most fundamental laws of biology, so its not unreasonable to be concerned that it might threaten human society and dignity (Macklin 64). Since most of the opposition is coming from the pure disgust of actually being able to clone species, it makes it difficult for people to get away from the emotional side of the issue and analyze the major implications cloning would have for society. To better understand this controversial†¦show more content†¦Society should not rush to make up its mind about cloning; it should wait and see if the good outweighs the bad. It is obvious that cloning raises many serious issues that will be hotly debated all over the world. Scientists Urge Senators Not to Rush to Ban Human Cloning by Gina Kolata, is another interesting article that lets us see what the politicians are doing concerning the cloning issue. The article discusses how scientists and ethicists urged congress not to ban research on the cloning of human beings because society might rush to the wrong decision. There is no immediate crisis...since...methods...would need to be made more efficient before they could be tried on humans. Cloning research holds glittering promises for medicine, and many scientists fear that a hastily enacted ban might inadvertently halt research that could cure disease and save lives. ...Society should not lose the opportunity to develop new treatments based on cloning techniques. (Kolata) The scientists in this article bring up many good points. This article made me wonder, would society be protecting itself from future cures to disease, as well as the possibility of many lives being saved? I agree with the scientists in saying that we should wait until enough evidence is available to see if cloning will be beneficial or detrimental in our society. The Age of Cloning by J.Show MoreRelated Human Cloning: Science or Madness? Essay1173 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Cloning: Science or Madness?      Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite evidence that nearly all cloned animals are plagued by significant genetic abnormalities, two scientist groups have announced their plans to impregnate women with cloned embryos, each proposing to create the worlds first cloned human being.    Clones are created by injecting genetic material from a single cell of one person is into an egg cell that has had its genes removed. The cell is then stimulated to act like a fertilized egg andRead More The Reality of Cloning Essay732 Words   |  3 Pagesclones cannibalized for spare parts. Protesters chanted on the streets to immediately ban human-embryo cloning. The cover of Newsweek had images of babies in beakers, and the debate concerning test tube babies resurfaced. LOsservatore Romano from Vatican city stated these procedures could lead humanity down a tunnel of madness. And many other groups and individuals expressed their horror of cloning humans. Professor Hans Bernhard Wuermeling, a medical ethicist at the University of Erlangen, calledRead MoreAnalysis Of Leon Kasss The Wisdom Of Repugnance811 Words   |  4 Pagesthe dangers of cloning and why we should not pursue the idea of it. Kass starts out by stating that Joshua Lederberg, one of the major contributors to the idea of cloning, has an amoral view to â€Å"this morally weighty subject†( Kass 17). We have been softened up on the idea of cloning because of how cloning has made its way into our daily lives; although it may be subtle, it can easily slip into our minds and soften us up to see cloning is moral when it is amoral. We have taken cloning so far that itRead More Ethical Complications of Genetic Engineering and Eugenics Essay3142 Words   |  13 Pageswho could afford it (Hawking). Both Stephen Hawking, the Nobel prize-winning physicist, and Aldous Huxley, author of   Brave New World (1932), have provided insights into the dangerous and fearful possibilities of genetic engineering, particularly cloning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Stephen Hawking, manipulation of DNA to rid humans of hereditary diseases will be fairly easy to figure out. However, he says that once we have removed diseases, nothing will be able to stop people from trying to figureRead MoreHarajuku Fun Madness Essay1758 Words   |  8 PagesIndependent Novel Study 1 Date: May 13 Chapters: 1-4 Harajuku Fun Madness In this chapter we find out that Marcus and Darryl are very smart and very good at technology. Marcus and Darryl sneak off to play in a videogame tournament, Harajuku Fun Madness and while they are going to the tournament terrorists attack. They were underground and someone stabbed Darryl and they go up to get help but the officers take them as prisoners. They are placed in jail under questioning because they wereRead MoreThe Historical Origins Of Modern Eugenics2168 Words   |  9 Pagesno good reason as to why this was happening to them, the German eugenicist believed Jews were not a desirable race. For decades, Hitler s bloody regime, The Holocaust and World War 2 would be perceived as merely the outgrowth of the unfathomable madness and blind hatred of one man and his movement. Hitler took the ideas that American eugenicists had created and turned it into pure evil and hatred. No one ever could have thought that this was going to happen because of the ideas that were createdRea d More Science: Friend or Foe? Essays2049 Words   |  9 Pageshowever, is still under much conjecture. This cultivates peoples apprehension about the unknown, and science certainly seems ready to take those treacherous steps. Numerous questions still abound: Is it right to reconstruct the human genome? Is cloning the act of playing God? Should people without the natural ability to live be kept alive by artificial, technologically advanced machinery? The humane and moral aspects of these questions seem to know no boundaries. Mary Shelley, while examining theRead MoreEmbryonic Stem Cells Research, A List of Topics and Sub-Topics2153 Words   |  9 Pageswithout a cost: a human embryo.† (Introduction) CM: In order for embryonic stem cells to work as they are meant to, an embryo is required and has to be killed each and every time, and the process cannot be reused or reversed. b) â€Å"For each successful cloning event there are usually hundreds of failed attempts.† (Chapter Preface) CM: Not only are there hundreds of failed attempts, but there are thousands of scientists world-wide are experiencing hundreds of failed attempts. c) â€Å"In particular, sacrificingRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pages Michel Foucault, 1926–1984 French philosopher, psychologist, social critic. Born in 1926 in Poitiers, his father was a surgeon who wanted him to follow in his footsteps. In 1960, he published his first landmark work, Madness and Civilization, in which he argued that madness as we know it is an invention of the Age of Reason. Starting in 1970, he was a professor of history of systems of thought at the College de France. Foucault’s major works include The Order of Things (1966), The History of

Love And Marriage In Shakespeares The Tempest - 1681 Words

Love and Marriage in The Tempest William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest (1610-11) includes two important themes: love and marriage. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays love as a force that brings people together, but also as a thing that people take advantage of. Prospero is the main manipulator of love in this play. By using his daughter Miranda’s feelings and having her marry Ferdinand, he manages to strengthen his own political power. Also, most of the instances of love in this play are not examples of true love. The two marriages that either happen or are mentioned in the play are both good examples of the game-like nature of dynastic marriages in the 16th and the 17th centuries. Most dynastic marriages were arranged and the†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, Prospero has no idea of what sort of a person Ferdinand is; for all he knows, Ferdinand could be a psychopathic axe-murderer. However, as Melissa E. Sanchez says in her essay, Miranda did enter the marriage completely willingly, so it is not right to place all the blame on Prospero. Even though it was just what Prospero wanted, Miranda disregarded her father’s orders completely and carried on with the relationship. (Sanchez 66) The love between Ferdinand and Miranda is as superficial as a crush between two 12-year-olds. Sure, it is fierce and feels deep at the time, but true love needs time to blossom. This relationship is purely sexual. Even Alonso questions the deepness of their love by saying: â€Å"What is this maid with whom thou wast at play? Your eld st acquaintance cannot be three hours†.(5.2.183-184) Miranda’s reaction upon meeting Ferdinand is just too exaggerated to be deep, true love at first sight: â€Å"I might call him a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble.†(1.2.417-418) She would be stunned by any man she would meet at this point: Miranda has not seen any other men in her life, apart from her father and the savage Caliban. Also, in normal circumstances, two people falling for each other at first sight is highly unlikely, which further proves my point on it being just two people who want to have sex with each other. Moreover, as Miranda is the only woman on the island, Ferdinand mightShow MoreRelated A Comparison of Romantic Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night1505 Words   |  7 PagesRomantic Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night In all of Shakespeares plays, there is a definitive style present, a style he perfected. From his very first play (The Comedy of Errors) to his very last (The Tempest), he uses unique symbolism and descriptive poetry to express and explain the actions and events he writes about. Twelfth Night, The Tempest and A Midsummer Nights Dream are all tragicomedies that epitomise the best use of the themes and ideologyRead More The Genre of The Tempest Essay952 Words   |  4 Pages The Genre of The Tempest The Tempest is customarily identified as the William Shakespeares last piece. These marginal issues aside, The Tempest is the forth, final and finest of Shakespeares great and/or late romances. Along with Pericles, Cymbeline and The Winters Tale, The Tempest belongs t the genre of Elizabethan romance plays. It combines elements of Tragedy (Prosperos revenge/Loss of a royal son) with those of romantic comedy (the young lover Ferdinand andRead More Conflict and Harmony in The Tempest Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesConflict and Harmony in The Tempest   Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeare describes a utopic world saturated with supernatural images and ideas which works to create the mysterious island where The Tempest takes place.   This is one of Shakespeares best examples of how a natural harmony reveals itself through the actions of discourse and confusion.   To illustrate this idea best one must examine the historical context upon which The Tempest is based.   Because this play was published in the early 1600sRead MoreResearch Paper on Love in the Tempest1590 Words   |  7 PagesLove Throughout the Storm In the Tempest, by Shakespeare we see the love of family, love of country, and personal love dominate The Tempest and inform nearly every significant action. Caliban loves the island, Ariel loves natural freedom, Prospero loves his daughter, Alonso his son, and so on. But the traitors Antonio and Sebastian are also defined by love, or really the lack thereof. They are in love with power, or the potential for it. In this play, each player is on a quest for some kind ofRead MoreShakespeare: Magic and Supernatural Occurances Essay1705 Words   |  7 PagesMagic and supernatural occurrences in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, and The Tempest are used to create a surreal world to confuse and resolve conflicts in each play. Magic provides the audience with an escape from reality and the comfort of the play’s unrealistic nature. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a love potion from a magical flower is used and misused to provide comic relief and resolution to love’s difficulties, supernatural ghosts are used to condemn a horrific murdererRead MoreEssay on Poem Analysis – Sonnet 116762 Words   |  4 PagesPoem Analysis – Sonnet 116 ‘Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds’ Study the first 12 lines of the poem. Discuss how Shakespeare makes a statement in the first and second lines, and then use lines 2-12 to give examples which supports his viewpoints. In the first two lines of the poem Shakespeare writes, Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments: love is not love The first line shows that he thinks you should not marry unless you are faithful. He says ‘letRead MoreThe Tempest: Beginning and Closing Scenes 1221 Words   |  5 Pagesthe entire story away in the first scene. The opening lines explaining the entire story, giving away the ending along with it but, the point being how the story progresses from point a to point b. William Shakespeare’s dramas did not differ from this Elizabethan custom. In his 1610 play â€Å"The Tempest† the beginning scene and epilogue are crucial to the significance of the play in its entirety. Through the dissection of the Milan court system in the explosive opening scene, and its concluding superiorRead MoreClose Reading of Sonnet Essay example1391 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Sonnet 116† written by William Shakespeare is focusing on the strength and true power of love. Love is a feeling that sustainable to alterations, that take place at certain points in life, and love is even stronger than a breakup because separation cannot eliminate feelings. The writer makes use of metaphors expressing love as a feeling of mind not just heart as young readers may see it. To Shakespeare love is an immortal felling that is similar to a mark on a person’s life. This sonnetRead More A Comparison of Ignorance in The Tempest and Sonnet 93 Essay936 Words   |  4 PagesIgnorance in The Tempest and Sonnet 93      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ignorance has been said to be bliss.   To equate appearance with reality is a facet of ignorance, and leads to a part of the bliss.   Many of Shakespeares characters find the bliss of ignorance and revel in it, and some end up coming to terms with their gullibility.   Some few are unwilling to abandon their ignorance even when they can see real truth.   All are experiencing different stages of the human cycle.   Coming into the world, we are equippedRead MoreRacism In Othello And The Tempest By William Shakespeare1145 Words   |  5 PagesRacism in Shakespeare or Absurdity? Is there racism in Shakespeare’s works or is this notion absurd? Shakespeare may not be racist, but two of his plays do contain racism. One may argue that Shakespeare does not openly speak of racism in his plays, but Shakespeare does write with the idea of racism in mind, because his characters do make comments that can be considered racist. In Shakespeare’s plays Othello and The Tempest, the underlying idea of racism is present in these works, and his audiences

American Government Free Essays

Assignment 2: Current Events Research Paper By Tuesday, February 12, 2013, draft a paper that critically analyzes a current, domestic or foreign political issue of importance to the United States. Students will (1) identify a current political event to analyze; (2) research and summarize the different approaches to understanding the political issue selected; (3) provide a clear, personal analysis of the issue and an explanation of the core values and assumptions that informs their analysis. The student will be expected to support their discussion with primary texts and from pre-approved secondary sources (including, but not limited to the course text, online lectures, and a list of suggested online resources). We will write a custom essay sample on American Government or any similar topic only for you Order Now Your paper should be 6–8 pages in length and include proper APA citation. Submit your essay to the appropriate topic in the W5: Assignment 2 Dropbox. Remember, you should utilize information provided from each week of the course to complete your essay www. tradingeconomics. com/united-states/unemployment-rate United States Unemployment RateUnemployment Rate in the United States increased to 7. 0 percent in January of 2013 from 7. 80 percent in December of 2012. Unemployment Rate in the United States is reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Historically, from 1948 until 2013, the United States Unemployment Rate averaged 5. 81 Percent reaching an all time high of 10. 80 Percent in November of 1982 and a record low of 2. 50 Percent in May of 1953. In the United States, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United States Unemployment Rate. | | | United States Unemployment Rate at 7. 9%, Payroll Employment RisesBLS | Nuno Fontes | nuno@tradingeconomics. com | 2/1/2013 1:36:00 PM Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 157,000 in January, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 7. 9 percent. Retail trade, construction, health care, and wholesale trade added jobs over the month. The number of unemployed persons, at 12. 3 million, was little changed in January. The unemployment rate was 7. 9 percent and has been at or near that level since September 2012. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (7. percent), adult women (7. 3 percent), teenagers (23. 4 percent), whites (7. 0 percent), blacks (13. 8 percent), and Hispanics (9. 7 percent) showed little or no change in January. The jobless rate for Asians was 6. 5 percent (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier. In January, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was about unchang ed at 4. 7 million and accounted for 38. 1 percent of the unemployed. Both the employment-population ratio (58. 6 percent) and the civilian labor force participation rate (63. percent) were unchanged in January. The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons, at 8. 0 million, changed little in January. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. In January, 2. 4 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, down by 366,000 from a year earlier (not seasonally adjusted. ) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. Among the marginally attached, there were 804,000 discouraged workers in January, a decline of 255,000 from a year earlier (not seasonally adjusted. ) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1. 6 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in January had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities. | | | The dictionary definition defines unemployment as one who lacks employment. I define unemployment as a sign of the times. Every time you put on the news you hear of another company who is laying off employees. It started after 9/11 with the Airline industry, now it is the Auto industry and most recently Courier services such as DHL Express. During this presidential election, the major topic McCain and Obama have discussed is our economy. As the nation’s unemployment rate jumped to a 5-year high, the nation is now facing a recession. Since the beginning of the year 605,000 jobs have been lost says the labor department. During the summer the unemployment rate went from 5. 7% in July to 6. 1 % in August. Related Articles Denied Unemployment Benefits Online Loans for the Unemployed status Unemployment Benefits and Bankruptcy Filing Unemployment Claim Outsourcing is one of the major reasons for this problem in America. The outsourcing of American jobs to other countries has become a problem of epic proportion. A report cited on CNN and co-written by Kate Bronfenbrenner, who is a labor expert, documented approximately 48,000 U. S. obs. These jobs were outsourced from January through March 2004 to other countries or publicly announced as being scheduled for outsourcing. It is unclear how many accounting, engineering, technical support and other professional jobs have moved offshore in recent years. For example, if you have customer service questions for Toshiba Computers, you will be directed to an employee in India. S ome experts believe as many as 200,000 service jobs could be lost each year for the next 11 years. On the other hand, outsourcing is a reason that developing countries will not be able to gain economic freedom. The U. S. depends on these countries to provide goods and services at a cheaper rate. The developing country is so poor that they welcome the small amount of money for their goods and services. It is because of their dependency on us that will contribute to their inability to obtain financial independence and financial development. Boeing is one of the largest companies that sends more jobs overseas than any other company. Boeing isn’t only looking for cheaper labor; they are looking for countries that are in the market to buy planes. A Boeing spokesperson stated, â€Å"Officials are drawn to cheap labor, but sales are more important†. Thus if we want to lower the unemployment rate we have to lower the expense of our living. Ads by Google Government Assisted PhoneGet a Free Phone Monthly Plan. See if You Qualify for One Today! www. assurancewireless. com Unemployed Health InsuranceExplore Health Insurance Options for the Unemployed – Online! Unemployed-Health-Insurance. com Grants For Online SchoolsGo To School While Working. You May Qualify For Grants To Start School! ww. classesandcareers. com/schools Though experts say unemployment is going to keep rising, Congress is making an effort to slow the job loss down. For example, Congress is preparing an idea to help Americans out; it is the idea of Unemployment Insurance. For example someone who made $70 a week for three months before taxes will get $40, and someone who made $850 a week for three months before taxes will get the maximum $450. Some peo ple argue that illegal immigrants are causing our economy’s unemployment rate. Congress believes that the 12 million illegal immigrants that are working for $10 an hour are taking the jobs of American citizens. Immigration has reduced all workers wages by 4%. Between March 2000 and March 2004 the number of Americans unemployed grew to 2. 3 million; on the other hand the number of employed immigrants grew to 2. 3 million. Many businesses say that the immigrants just work the jobs that Americans don’t want, but now more than ever Americans need those jobs. There are many negative effects that come from unemployment. One being that those who are unemployed are no longer able to support the economy, because they no longer can afford to buy what they once did. It also forces people into poverty. If someone is let go in order to maximize profits, and they are no longer able to support themselves or their families, and are unable to find a job that can accommodate their needs, how are they supposed to live up to the standard of living? President Elect Barack Obama has given Americans hope for the future. He has spoken about extending the unemployment benefits for Americans that need it. He has spoken about outsourcing and providing companies an incentive for keeping jobs in the U. S. He has spoken about Universal Healthcare. The hope he brings to each American is that he puts them, their families, and their interests first. I believe, as other American’s believe, that President Elect Obama’s intentions are sincere. Only time will tell if he can do all of the things he dreams of. The state of this country’s financial affairs are so low at this point, the hope of the future sure looks good! www. articlesbase. com/business-articles/unemployment-in-america†¦ How to cite American Government, Papers American Government Free Essays I believe that there should be a degree of flexibility in making laws that would either permit or forbid certain rights and freedoms. Although democracy can be a wonderful thing with its tolerance of freedoms, liberties, equalities and rights, too much of it can be very unhealthy for a democracy, especially in times of emergency such as wars and calamities. It is during these adverse times that there is no time to be â€Å"democratic† as expediency must take precedence over debate or consensus. We will write a custom essay sample on American Government or any similar topic only for you Order Now This should give leaders extra latitude in doing what is best for society without being hamstrung by the argumentative nature of democracy without having to become an autocracy. This practice is nothing new as it dates back to the Roman Republic that came up with a similar measure in the form of a dictator which was given considerable power to do what was necessary to bring about order and stability BUT as a safeguard, it was only for a limited time only. The American government need not do this. There is already a provision in the Constitution that empowers the government, particularly Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper and this implicitly applies as well to the President who will be the one to carry them out and can also implement measures as well to do what it takes for the good of society. The bottom line here is that the Constitution is not a â€Å"suicide pact† where too much emphasis is placed on following the letter of the law, but more emphasis should be in keeping with the spirit of it which matters more. Lesson #2: Civil Rights In April 2010, the state of Arizona passed SB 1070, empowering law enforcement officials to ask anyone to produce proof of legal status in the U. S. Research the law, and then discuss it here. Is the law the equivalent of racial profiling, as some have indicated? Is the law a reasonable response to the problem of illegal immigration? Although America is a nation of the free where anyone has the right to come here and live their lives as they please in the pursuit of happiness, security is also a primary concern. The issue of race or racism is coincidental since the United States shares a border with Mexico and majority of its people, especially the illegal immigrants do not happen to be Caucasian. One of the problems with the critics of the bill is that they immediately jump to the conclusion that the bill is a pretext for racial profiling where any Hispanic is easily singled out for investigation or scrutiny on the suspicion that he or she may be an illegal immigrant. As mentioned before, race is coincidential. As most illegal immigrants apprehended and deported belong to that race. Besides, Hispanics, Asians too and numerous and repeated incidents have made authorities easily single out these ethnic groups for investigation and scrutiny. It is rather strange for liberals to defend illegals. While it is understandable that poverty is what drove them to come to the United States, they are taking away job opportunities due to its citizens and looking at it from a bigger picture, this would not be fair, especially if these aliens do not, voluntarily or not, take American citizenship to legitimize their right to stay in the United States or at least secure proper documentation as resident aliens. The bottom line is that the United States does not forbid aliens to live on its lands and not take American citizenship if they so choose. But it is necessary for them to follow proper legal procedures to legitimize their stay in the United States. Lesson #3: Public Opinion It is incredibly difficult to measure public opinion accurately. Why is an accurate measuring of public opinion important for a democratic government? Does public opinion matter in a democracy? One must take into consideration where the word â€Å"democracy† came from. It is derived from the (Ancient) Greek word, â€Å"demokratikos† which means rule by the people. Theoretically, America is a democracy and the sovereignty rests on its citizens. Government officials, elected or appointed, from the President of the United States to the low-ranking government clerk, all SERVE the people. The things they do depends on the needs of the American people since they are bound by the Constitution to serve them. Hence it is essential for them to be able to feel the â€Å"pulse† of the people to know what they want from their public servants. The most obvious way of knowing and measuring public opinion is through the use of surveys or polls. This is by far the most reliable though not perfect instrument in measuring public opinion. The reason why it is not perfect is partly due to the composition of American society. America is a diverse society and being a democracy, people can freely be who they are. It is a society that encourages individualism and diversity. Its relationship in public opinion is there is a likelihood that there will be no definite or absolute response and most of the time, it will be mixed or show ambivalence, a difference in opinion(s). This is the â€Å"flaw† of a democratic society. Despite these â€Å"flaws,† democracy still works in American society and it can be inferred that even though it is not perfect, have been able to make it work for over 200 years. Lesson #4: Political Participation In how many ways can people participate in politics? How have you personally participated in politics? What lessons did your participation teach you? One of the features of a democratic society is that anyone can get involve in politics without necessarily running for public office which is the most obvious form of political participation. Perhaps the most common and simplest political exercise ordinary citizens do is to vote, putting their desired leaders into office. There are also other ways to participate. Another is to talk to their elected representatives – their congressmen and senators for they (theoretically) represent them in government and as such, they are supposed to look after the interests and welfare of their constituents and communicating with them, whether by letters or â€Å"lobbying,† are other forms of political exercises. Other ways are extraconstitutional in nature, usually in the form of rallies and demonstrations as alternative means to air their grievances. I myself have done these exercises and whether the government responds or not does not matter. What matters the most is I made myself heard by the government since I for one, helped put them in office and they are obligated, by law to serve us, the citizens. Besides the given forms of political exercises, virtually anything we do is a form of political exercise though indirect such as paying income taxes and obeying laws. Doing these duties can also be considered a form of political exercise as it suggests not only compliance, but as our way of ratifying the legitimacy of the incumbent administration. In other democratic societies, protests are a sign of rejecting or refusing to ratify that legitimacy. Lesson #5: Campaigns and Elections What is the Electoral College? How does it work and why is it so important? Are there any changes you would make to the Electoral College? What are they, and why? If not, why not? The electoral college is a special (electoral) body that actually elects the President and vice President of the United States. This body is nothing new and dates back to the Middle Ages when it was created as means of choosing its leaders. Theoretically, the College is supposed to vote in accordance to the vote of the majority of their respective states. Despite the mechanisms in place, it is not perfect as there have been instances when the popular votes and the electoral (college) votes do not correspond and in the end, it is the latter that ultimately decides the winner even if the former decided otherwise; the most recent case underscoring this was the 2000 Presidential election which saw George W. Bush winning the electoral votes even though his rival former Vice President Al Gore won the popular votes. Although I could not guarantee that my suggestions are perfect, if there is one thing I would propose, is for the abolition of the College. The reason for its abolition is obvious as its votes sometimes do not jibe with that of the majority. In other words, the popular vote should be enough to determine who gets to be President and Vice President. The only catch here is the ground to cover as the United States has a vast land area and may be difficult to process votes with so large an area and population. Should the College be retained, the electors must vote in accordance to the will of the majority. Lesson #6: Political Parties When Ross Perot ran for President in 1992, he famously said, â€Å"There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between a Republican and a Democrat. † Was he right? Are there differences between Republicans and Democrat? If so, what are they? There is no definite or absolute answer if Perot is right. The difference between a Republican and a Democrat is the ideology they subscribe to. Republicans are by nature conservatives while Democrats are liberals. Their political agendas or platforms correspond to their respective ideologies. Where Democrats are isolationists, Republicans like to engage in foreign affairs; Democrats are pro-choice, Republicans are pro-life, and so on. Both parties present differing agendas which they feel are for the good of the American people and there is nothing wrong with that. However, in recent times, there is hardly any difference between Democrats and Republicans as both sides seem to advocate the platform or agenda of the other once they see it their way. This was shown by Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Bill Clinton and even John F. Kennedy when they engaged in military interventions when the ideology of their parties did not permit it. When interests of the American people are at stake, history has shown that America’s leaders are willing to overstep party ideology to do what is necessary to serve the people, even if it means subscribing to the other party’s ideas. Lesson #7: Interest Groups Two schools of thought seem to center on interest groups. One school sees interests as good representatives of the people and an added voice for the committed citizen. Another sees them as greedy bribers of elected officials, manipulating government for their own purposes regardless of what the people want. Do you agree with one of those approaches, or perhaps a different one of your own. Explain your choice. Yes. There is no absolute or definite way to label interest groups as good or bad. Both kinds of groups exist and like it or not, they are here to stay. How they function depends on the agenda of its leaders, giving it their raison d’etre. There are â€Å"legitimate† interest groups, sometimes called pressure groups or even cause-oriented groups. They exist because they are pursuing issues ranging from abortion to (anti)war. They provide an alternative venue for the citizenry, especially the marginalized ones, to be represented in voicing out their concerns to the government, which is supposed to serve them. The other group is driven by ambition and profit and they have the advantage of material resources used to leverage the government to lean in their favor in terms of financial rewards or political support whereas the former relies mainly on human resources. Another difference is that the latter represents a select few, they are the â€Å"oligarchs. † They make up for their lack of a majority with their wealth and influence. If there is one thing this shows, interest groups live up to their billing as groups looking out for their interests, whether it is for the good of all, or for self-serving reasons (unfortunately). Lesson #8: Mass Media Liberals tend to complain about a conservative bias in the media, while conservatives tend to complain about a liberal media. Do those two accusations of bias cancel each other out? Read a few news articles (not blogs, but traditional media sources like websites for TV networks or newspapers) and look for bias, either liberal or conservative. Link to the story in your post, and explain why you see bias (if at all) in the piece. Media is a neutral entity, it can be used as instruments of conservatives or liberals but more often than not, they tend to lean more on the liberal side where they tend to be very critical of the government and its policies. A liberal media also tends to be very expository, giving expose-type reports, thereby compromising national security in the name of the â€Å"right to know† and â€Å"freedom of information. † One recent example of how liberal the media could be is the recent leakage of classified military operations ongoing in Afghanistan. One such newspaper featuring is is the British newspaper The Guardian (http://www. guardian. co. uk/world/2010/jul/25/task-force-373-secret-afghanistan-taliban? intcmp=239). What is so â€Å"liberal† about this article is it is exposing classified military operations when it is not supposed to. In this particular case, the â€Å"right to know† cannot be applied because such exposes puts the lives of men in uniform in danger for their identities are revealed and serves the purpose of the enemy more. Liberal media becomes the unwitting ally of the coalition forces and uses their stories to further glorify themselves and vilify the supposed â€Å"good guys. † Lesson #9: Congress Watch one of my favorite video clips ever http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ Bill, the hero of the story, is trying to become a law. How tough is his job in reality? How likely is it Bill will actually become a law, and why? Should it be easier for laws to pass? Why, or why not? Becoming a law is no easy feat, especially in a democratic form of government. When Bill was â€Å"born,† in the Lower House Congress, not everybody welcomes his arrival and needs a lot of support, more than his sponsor could provide. His sponsor needs to be able to make his colleagues see things his way in order to agree to endorse bill. His passage will face rough sailing as lawmakers debate on the his merits and weaknesses which will take time. By the time he passes the Lower House, the next obstacle is the Upper House for further endorsement and the same â€Å"democratic† process of debating and filibustering. Once he gets through the Senate, it is off to the White House for the President to make him a law, if it does, he becomes recognized nationally as the law of the land. However, there is no guarantee it will happen all the time. The President can veto Bill by simply not signing it if he does not agree to the content but there is a way for Congress to get around it by overriding the veto by at least two-thirds vote and when this is accomplished, Bill becomes a law. One might wish there must be an easier way to make and pass laws, given that the â€Å"democratic† approach seemed tedious. But despite its â€Å"imperfection,† it is still an accepted system. This is what makes democratic systems different from regimes that practice rule by fiat where the word of the ruler alone is the law which may not sit well with the people for they were not given a chance to be heard. The â€Å"democratic† process ensures all concerns are addressed and interests are met. That is the beauty of the democratic law-making process despite its â€Å"flaws. † Lesson #10: President How much does public support matter for the President? Does the President need public support to get things done? Reference real-life acts of the President and explain how the public was a part of that success or not. Theoretically, the President is the highest-paid public servant, being elected by majority of the people to office and given this fact, he needs the support of the people in order to legitimize his actions as well as determine the policies of the state. But in reality, this has not always been the case and there have been times when Presidents act without the need for public support most of the time. One example would be President Franklin Roosevelt when he passed the New Deal as a way of addressing the problems caused by the Great Depression. It was not popular or accepted and yet it came to pass. A recent example would be the case of President George W. Bush when he ordered the invasion of Iraq despite the large-scale opposition to it. The result of it was it made him more unpopular though the irony of it all was he got reelected in 2004 on the strength of his morality. If there is one thing these Presidents proved, what is popular is not always right and they would be willing to do what is necessary for the good of the country even if it may not be popular. Looking at it from the perspective of the President, they were elected not because they were popular, but expected to serve and run the country to the best of their abilities. Lesson #11: Judiciary The Supreme Court, and the two levels of federal courts underneath it, are not elected bodies. As a result, people are highly skeptical of the power the courts wield. So, how powerful should the courts be? Do the courts have too much power now? If so, what is that relative to? More power than Congress, the President, or its Constitutional grant of power? The Constitution guarantees a separation of powers between the three main branches of government – the executive, legislative and judicial. The rationale here is that it prevents one branch from usurping or dominating the other because, in the Founding Fathers’ minds, domination of one branch was an invitation to tyranny, something that has become anathema to democratic ideals. The idea of the separation of powers is to provide a check and balance and prevent such a domination. In the case of the judiciary, from the lower courts to the Supreme Court, they serve as legal arbiters, determining the constitutionality of actions taken by the executive or legislative. This is its â€Å"power. † In my opinion, this power will suffice for the judiciary. There are times when the executive and the legislative do not get along in terms of policy-making and there is a need for a mediator and that is the judiciary that decides who is right though not exactly in Solomonic proportions. What makes the judiciary a valuable asset are the people in it. Not everyone can be part of the judiciary. One particular qualification needed is wisdom and rectitude. The people who serve here as justices are the ones considered above reproach though not infallible and yet they are the go-to people when legal or constitutional are raised and they are the ones who resolve such issues though the powers they wield. Lesson #12: Bureaucracy Americans’ view of the bureaucracy is highly negative. Why is that? Is that a fair characterization of the bureaucracy? Refer to any interactions you’ve had with the bureaucracy for reference. Whenever one thinks of â€Å"bureaucracy,† negative connotations emerge. It is often associated with red tape and corruption; and members of the bureaucracy are often stereotyped as lazy, pompous or self-important or self-serving, if not corrupt people who like to make things difficult for the citizen in need of their assistance. In reality, this is the price to pay of a democratic bureaucracy. To the insiders, they live by a system of rules and procedures to follow to ensure a smooth and efficient flow of operations. The need of procedures is intended to give some semblance of control for without it, there would be chaos, especially when many people try to expedite at the same time. In fairness, one cannot blame bureaucrats who look so bored considering they do the same jobs every day and the routine gradually diminishes their zeal. But it would be unfair to accuse all of them as corrupt or pompous. Most of them know that public service is a public trust and they knew what they were getting into the moment they joined the government and could not abuse that trust. I experienced that when I got my license from the DMV. The process was tedious given there were many applicants but I did get my license in time because procedures have been followed and the staffers were anything but rude because that would be unprofessional. In reality, these â€Å"bureaucrats† are still public servants and as such, they are there to serve the public and they know that. Therefore, they forfeit the right to complain (needlessly) and what makes them different from employees in the private sector is their standards of professionalism are much more higher given their status as public servants and it is also fair enough that they deserve respect and our cooperation as much as we want them to respect us and serve us. 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Inventions and Discoveries from the Muslim World free essay sample

PenInventions and Discoveries from the Muslim World By Adnaan Idrees Have you ever noticed that all the books on science and technology somehow only seem to be filled with discoveries and inventions from the likes of Aristotle, Archimedes, Da Vinci and Thomas Edison but what about the Muslims? Where are all our discoveries? A period of a thousand years exists between these thinkers and when great Muslim men and women expressed their religiosity through contributions made to society and the sciences. So what were these contributions? And how many of these things are used today? MEDICINE: Masters of Ophthalmology: All the modern terms that your optician uses like conjunctiva, cornea, uvea and retina come from Muslim eye surgeons of the 10th to the 13th Century. They were conducting operations on diseases of the lids like trachoma, glaucoma or as they called it ‘the headache of the pupil’ back then but the greatest contribution they made to ophthalmology was developing a treatment for cataracts. Also known as al-ma’ nazul’ayn Ma’, which meant â€Å"the descending water onto the eye† (the water accumulating in the lens making it cloudy). Al-Mawsili in the 10th Century Iraq designed a hollow needle and inserted it through the limbus to remove the cataract by suction. This very same procedure is carried out to this very day. From his study and practice he wrote a book called The Book of Choices in the Treatment of Eye Diseases. Not a very good name for a book but hey the man was a genius when it came to diseases of the eye as the book discusses 48 different diseases! The manuscript of this book can still be found to this very day, in the Escorial Library in Madrid, Spain. Surgical instruments: The Muslim Surgeon named Abu Al Qasim Al-Zahrawi (10th century) known as Abulcasis in the West is truly the father of surgery. He devised over 200 instruments; his scalpels, bone saws, forceps and fine scissors amongst others are still used in their original form today! He is the author of Kitab Al-Tasrif (method of medicine)- a 30 volumes encyclopaedia on medical practices and his greatest contribution to medicine; this book includes symptoms and treatments of 100’s of diseases, descriptions of particular aspects of pharmacology and diet; and the last, most famous and influential volume about surgical practices. EVERYDAY INVENTIONS and DISCOVERIES Cheques: comes from the Arabic â€Å"saqq†. As a form of payment it is a written vow to honour payment for merchandise when its destination is reached. The cheque was created due to the possible dangers of transporting coins as legal tender. In promoting the concept of the saqq or cheque Muslims made the financing of commerce and intercontinental trade possible. In the 9th century it was possible to cash a cheque in China and then withdraw it in Baghdad. Can you say Kerching!? Fountain Pen: Before pens ever came into existence as we know them today, there were other writing instruments like Qalams or reed pens, which were used by the Arabs in the art of calligraphy. But the problem was the same, the ink always existed outside of the pen and it constantly had to make use of an ink-holder. An Arab called Qadi abu Hanifah al-Nu’man ibn Muhammed, who was a close companion to the Egyptian sultan al-Mu’izz, in 953 CE, wrote a book called ‘The Book of Audiences and Concurrence’ in which he recollects how the Al-Mu’izz ordered the commissioning of the fountain pen: â€Å"We wish to construct a pen which can be used for writing without having recourse to an ink-holder and whose ink will be contained inside it. A person can fill it with ink and write whatever he likes and the writer can put it in his sleeve and it will not stain nor leak. The ink will flow only when there is an intention to write. † The companion asked: â€Å"Is this possible? And the sultan replied: â€Å"It is possible if God so wills. † Sure enough a few days later the craftsman brought a pen which wrote when it was filled with ink, never leaked when turned upside down and did not require the use of an ink pot as it held its own. Unlike today’s fountain pens that leak all over the place, this writer sincerely agrees with the Sultans sentiments. Coffee: yep, you read that right, Muslims â€Å"invented† coffee. The first evidence found of coffee-drinking appears in Sufi shrines in Yemen where they would drink this beverage to be able to stay awake late into the night performing dhikr (something we can all relate to). Coffee spread quickly, in one century it has reached Africa and the whole of the Middle East; arrived in Europe through Italy and spread to the rest of Europe. In the 1600’s, sultan Murad IV decided to ban coffee! Some say it was because once, while patrolling his city in disguise, the sultan heard the coffee drinkers having deep and thoughtful conversations about the (sad) state of the empire while the alcohol drinkers were happily partying. Other stories say that coffeehouses had become meeting places for leisure and discussions instead of masjids hence why all coffeehouses were closed down and coffee banned. Whatever the reasons, somehow this bitter yet addictive drink is now found in every household. SOCIETY: Universities: In Islam, we are encouraged to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. Some of the very first Muslim schools were in fact mosques which served as both a place of prayer and learning. They taught all manner of subjects including sciences alongside religious studies which was a completely novel idea in comparison to the rest of the world. The oldest university in the world is the Al-Qaraouine University in Fez, Morocco which was established in 841 CE. It may interest all those parents who think girls shouldn’t go to university that the Al-Qaraouine University was established by a pious young Muslim woman called Fatima al-Fahra. She was the daughter of a successful businessman who spent her entire inheritance on building the university and as a result she spared no expense. Upon commencing the project she fasted regularly until the building was complete. On opening its doors the university was flooded with applications from not only the local people but from international students all the way from Iraq. And unlike today’s universities students did not have to pay fees. In fact financial support was part of the package, which was made possible by endowments from the royal families (at least they were once good for something). Its education included all subjects, but in particular the natural sciences. To quote Einstein â€Å"science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind. Weaponry: Military might was something that the earlier Muslims understood really well. One of the most influential book on military technology was The Book of Horsemanship and Ingenious War Devices by the Syrian scholar Hasan al-Rammah, written sometime in the 12th Century. It includes the schematics of the first rocket (a model of which is exhibited at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, USA today), cannons and grenades. Although the Chinese knew about Gunpowder, they only used it in fireworks as they could not get the proportions right for use in war nor were able to purify the potassium nitrate. Hasan al-Rammahs book was the first to explain the purification process of potassium nitrate and the recipe for gunpowder. The Muslim Armies in 1249 used gunpowder in war  resulting in decisive victories against the invading crusaders. In fact the invaders were so terrified of the devices that a French Crusader Army was disbanded and retreated leaving their king to be taken prisoner. An example of such a cannon made from Hasam al-Rammahs book is on display at Fort Nelson Museum in London which was a gift given to Queen Victoria by Sultan Abdul Aziz. Windmills: Ever see one of those environmentally friendly windmills? All across an entire fie ld generating energy from the winds themselves; ever wondered where such a contraption came from? In order to fuel any great society a constant supply of renewable energy is required; over a thousand years ago this energy was harnessed. In the towns, water-driven mills processed wheat but in the drier parts of Arabia, where water was scarce, they had to come up with an alternative. And the one thing that is plentiful in the desert is the wind! Blowing in the same direction all year round. So in 634 a Persian Caliph named Umar was approached by a Persian engineer claiming to be able to make a mill operated solely by the wind. Intrigued, the Caliph immediately ordered him to construct one. The first few windmills were constructed in the Persian province of Sistan and al-Masudi which was later described by one geographer as the country of wind and sand. Early mills had 6 to 12 sails covered with fabric. From this invention many new trades were born and it wasn’t long before these caught the eye of the crusaders who then introduced them to Europe in the 12th Century Ibn Al-Haytham and the Pinhole Camera: I know this doesn’t sound like the most exciting invention ever but bear with me a little. This man, Ibn (Son of) Al-Haytham is known as the father of modern optics, and not for bad reasons either! Back in the fifth century, it was believed that our eyes EMITTED light rays (superman style) and this theory was upheld all through famous Greek and Roman thinkers until the 11th century where our man, Ibn Al-Haytham, proved scientifically that we are not emitting rays but rather visible light enters our eyes and hence we can see. His greatest and irrefutable proof was the pinhole camera, the principle is simple, light rays enters a small hole and an inverted image is formed on a film at the back. The pinhole camera is still used today, the images produced are softer and they have a nearly infinite depth of field, check them out, they’re quite amazing! So you see, our amazing modern world isn’t all about Aristotle and Plato, no, our world was largely shaped by people who were not scared to tackle deep-rooted ideas or taken-for-granted theories, who, with their faith in Allah and Quran by their side, were able to make major breakthroughs and inventions in all aspects of Human life. Our brothers and sisters opened the path for us so what are we waiting for? Don’t be scared to challenge everything and anything, don’t be scared to let your imagination run wild, draw, create, invent, test, prove! Our beloved religion encourages us to do all this: Our Lord’s very first word to the Prophet (pbuh) was â€Å"IQRA† which means Read! Thus showing the importance of knowledge. Also, the prophet (pbuh) said: He who treads a path in search of knowledge, Allah will direct him to tread a path from the paths of Paradise. The Angels lower their wings for the student of knowledge in approval of what he does. All in the heavens and Earth and (even) the fish in the depth of the water seek forgiveness for the scholar, and the superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon at night over the rest of the stars.