Visit Jocelyn’s provocative, interactive essay on assisted suicide and dying with dignity. The theme was based on the novel, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures by Dr Vincent Lam.
Category: Essay
Essays written for various purposes
Changing Our Lives – An Interactive Essay
The twenty-first century, era of technology. Technology has been changing and evolving for thousands of years, but never at the pace it is now. Now, we have realized that nothing is impossible if we put our minds to it, so we invest more time, more money, more effort into developing more. We must admit that our lifestyles are also changing along with technology, in ways both good and bad.
Here is an interactive essay about how the changing technology is changing our lives: Changing Our Lives – Interactive Essay by Nowmy
Revenge is Justified
Revenge is a notion that an individual feels circumstantially. The idea of revenge is often associated with justice, which brings you to a place where you are equal with those who harmed you; however, the fact that they did wrong you implies that you are more moral, and therefore ‘better’ than they are. Nevertheless, individuals’ interpretation of revenge and the justice that it provides differs substantially when taking into account their knowledge and interpretation of the law and media influence.
The state develops laws and regulations to protect its citizens from harm. The Hammurabi Code is a well-preserved Babylonian law code, dating back to about 1772 BC. It is an early law book built upon the ideas of vengeance, where “eye for an eye” is the legal para-phrase for the laws. The way an individual interprets the Hammurabi Code in regard to revenge allows for a sense of justification. Although the Hammurabi Code is an ancient law-book that is no longer binding, there are modern day countries that follow similar doctrines. This is exemplified through the idea of capital punishment in many States in the USA, such as Texas. The State of Texas believes that if an individual commits the crime of murder, than the punishment will be capital punishment. The State of Texas believes that capital punishment is justified in order to keep its citizens feeling safe and for crimes rates to decrease. Through the doctrines of the Hammurabi Code and the idea of capital punishment, it is evident that if somebody is wronged, there are legal means to ensure that the person wronged will be left better off, than the one who committed the crime. This to some people is justified revenge as it provides a sense of satisfaction that the perpetrator has felt the pain that they have. The methods in which the Hammurabi Code and Texas State laws are interpreted provide victims relief, when the person responsible for the crime “pays his dues”. Furthermore, the idea of revenge is embedded into our minds constantly by the media.
The media is a source that everybody in this country is subjected to whether it is directly or indirectly. The idea of revenge and the sense of satisfaction that it brings are demonstrated through the media’s involvement with the Osama Bin Laden coverage. Osama Bin Laden was the most wanted man by the USA military. The media’s coverage illustrated a picture that was filled with the idea of revenge, which was justified by the USA. For example, following the killing of Bin Laden, the United States president Barack Obama reported to the American people by advising that “… Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children.” This proves that the USA sought revenge and killed Bin Laden and it was justified as the president advised the citizens with a sense of pride. However, the media portrayed this event as if they had won a victory over al-Qaida, which in turn provides satisfaction to the American people and provides justification for the murder.
All in all, this principle of people believing their actions are justified is seen when interpreting the Hammurabi Code, and doctrines of capital punishment. Lastly, media has psychologically taught our minds to think about revenge as a pleasing emotion. This is exactly how President Barak Obama illustrated the murder and assassination of Osama Bin Laden.
WORKS CITED
“Ancient History Sourcebook: Code of Hammurabi, C. 1780 BCE.” Internet History Sourcebooks.N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/hamcode.asp>.
Bowden, Mark. “The Death of Osama Bin Laden: How the US Finally Got Its Man.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/12/death-osama-bin-laden-us>.
“Code of Hammurabi.” Code of Hammurabi. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://www.commonlaw.com/Hammurabi.html>.
“Texas Execution Information – History.” Texas Execution Information – History. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://www.txexecutions.org/history.asp>.
“Texas Execution Information.” Texas Execution Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://www.txexecutions.org/>.
To Tell a Story
Sometimes it seems that the only thing I know how to do is tell a story. When I’m bored at work, I watch customers going about their business, and I make up stories about what their lives might be like. I imagine their pasts, design their futures. Where did they come from? Where are they going? Ever since I was young, I’ve loved to create stories. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted to be a writer. Nothing has ever seemed more natural to me. Now, I write all the time – to relieve stress, to stay stimulated, and most of all just to tell the stories that I need to tell.
Writing as stress relief or distraction from anxiety is a common practice for me. Much like when I’m reading, when I write I can get totally immersed in a story and forget what’s going on in the world around me. Sometimes I write directly about my concerns, just to get them out of my system, but more often I simply involve myself in whichever story has been most prominent in my mind. I might write random scenes about my favourite characters, I might work out plot plans and timelines for bigger projects, or I might just dive into a work in progress and carry on with a story. The important thing is that writing helps me forget about anything that’s been stressing me out or causing me to worry.
Writing is also great for keeping my mind stimulated when I’ve been bored. Whenever I’ve had too little to engage my brain, I can always clear out the dust by sitting down with a pencil or a blank Word document and starting to write. Often in these cases I’ll just jot down random bits of narration that have been running through my head, characters or scenes with no homes, stray thoughts that have been on my mind. Writing all the time also lets me vent creative urges – thus keeping me not only stimulated, but also generally happier. When I haven’t had any time to write, I get bored and restless. Writing can take as much or as little time as I want, while still being a great way to stay entertained.
More than anything else, though, I write to tell my stories. Since I was young, I’ve always had a plethora of characters running amok in my mind, each with their own adventures to be had. When I was really little, these characters and their stories manifested in the games I played with my friends or the personas I gave to my toys. As I began to grow older, teachers in school encouraged us to write stories, and suddenly I found that I was able to give my characters a whole new dimension of depth. As someone who’d always loved to read, it was incredible for me to learn that I could do with my own ideas what my favourite authors did all the time. Now, my stories are as real and precious to me as the real world, and there’s nothing that would make me happier than being able to share them with everyone.
In the end, whether it’s stress relief, mental stimulation, or just for the sheer joy of it, writing is one of the most important things I do with my life. I can’t imagine ever stopping – I don’t think I could live without it. With any luck, I’ll be able to spend my life telling stories. Writing is perhaps my most immense passion, and I am grateful every day to have it.
The Eye of a Teenager
Teenagers feel like they are sometimes set up for failure it seems. Females especially are very dramatic as it is, now add school, extra-curricular activities, and a job. Then add balancing all of those with friends and family. Seems almost impossible doesn’t it? I find it difficult to juggle these five particular aspects of life as a teenager, and the question is; do we gain anything from it? Putting into account the stress levels we receive in this chapter of our lives. Coming from an eighteen year old that’s struggling to graduate in grade thirteen, here is my point of view.
In school we have to keep up with deadlines, attend the “go-to” parties, try to find a partner and overall learn the responsibilities of an adolescent while we’re doing these tasks. If you think that sounds difficult, you have to earn money to participate in these desires. Therefore, you my friend need to get a job. In today’s society, teenagers choose only one of the two; employment or extra-curricular. This is very reasonable and appropriate because they both have their pros and cons. Sports help you stay physically healthy and may put you somewhere far in the future. However, it’s up to the individual to decide, do I love this enough to keep trying or give up and apply to an established business? This is one of the big questions teens have to bring upon themselves to start the process of responsibility and initiative.
When we become teenagers, we have to start thinking about what we want to do with the rest of our lives. There are pressures from our family, guidance counselors and anyone else who cares about us. Our loved ones, who are closest with us, are the ones who add the stress. I think stress levels in teenagers in the past were not as high as today’s. I think education has gotten more complex, just like the whole world has become more complex. Taking into the fact of technology and how expectations have been set high generation by generation. Adults think they understand us teens, but I don’t think they really do. Times have changed since they have been our age and it’s time for them to start realizing this difference. However, adolescences need to start showing more respect to their elders. It’s a two way street.
I think I’ve come to a place in my life where I can answer this major question; do we gain anything from all of this? Yes, because not only does it matter that we accomplish all of these tasks in life, we are constantly learning on the way. No matter how full your plate may seem, it could make your life ten times better in the end. If I had never had done dance, a job and school, I would feel as if there was so much for me to learn in these sections of my life that I didn’t. It includes responsibility, communication, inter-personal and so many more skills. I highly recommend that teenagers focus on whatever they can in these years because you take so much more than you think from everything. As long as you’re willing to put yourself out there and discover what life has to offer.
Digitizeme 