Essay about Against Capital Punishment - 1885 Words

The Death Penalty is, undeniably, one of the most controversial issues of our day. Emotional tensions are high between those who hold human life above justice and those who hold justice above all human life. The Death Penalty, along with all other forms of criminal punishment, is barbaric. This form of punishment, indeed all forms of criminal justice, truly shows the level to which society has sunk. When people stand outside prisons and cheer as prisoners are murdered, there is a problem. When personal bloodlust is held above moral ideologies, there is a problem. When human life is assigned a value and weighed against other alternatives, there is a problem. The state speaks of Justice, but this word is only a reflection of the confusion,†¦show more content†¦There is a large majority of Christians in this country, yet such a small number of them actually come up in opposition to the Death Penalty; oftentimes, in fact, they are its most avid supporters. How can this be? All t he teachings of Christ, save for those which have been horribly twisted by his followers, are opposed to any form of criminal justice. It seems that the modern Christian has begun to accept only those teachings which feel convenient. It is, indeed, sickening to see mock-Christians and self-styled christian conservatives speak in support of something that their religion expressly opposes. They speak of Justice, but what of morality? They speak of punishment, but what of forgiveness? They speak hatred, but what of love? How can they appoint themselves judges of another human being when they, themselves, are the ones who should be, supposedly, judged; how are they qualified to determine the fate of another mans life when their fate is still in question and their status undetermined? There is one stunning question that must be asked of these people: If you were standing before Jesus Christ himself, could you possibly tell him how and why you support the death penalty; do you think you c ould make Christ believe and support such ideals? Unfortunately religion is too often devoid of reason; that, though, is more often the fault of those who follow the religion than withShow MoreRelatedAgainst Capital Punishment1084 Words   |  4 PagesAgainst Capital Punishment If we look at the law, it says that murder is illegal. So is it right to be able to kill people because of a crime or because someone took another person’s life in the name of justice? Capital Punishment is not only morally wrong, but it is the ultimate inhuman punishment. Bryan Stevenson, an attorney for death row inmates states, â€Å"The reality is that capital punishment in America is a lottery. It is a punishment that is shaped by the constraints of poverty, race, geographyRead More Against Capital Punishment Essay1273 Words   |  6 PagesAgainst Capital Punishment What is the true value of a human life and how can one trade it for another? Isn’t it said repetitively in religion and government that each life should be treated equally? Then, how are we allowed to condemn a person to death? How can we make abortion illegal but capital punishment legal in certain circumstances? No matter what way you look at it capital punishment is murder. If each year there is about 250 people added to death row and 35 executed imagine how manyRead MoreEssay Against Capital Punishment2466 Words   |  10 Pageslong hall to the execution room and strapped in the electric chair. At 8:30 p.m. the first jolt of 1900 volts passed through Mr. Evans’ body. It lasted 30 seconds. Sparks and flames erupted from the electrode tied to Mr. Evans’ leg. His body slammed against the straps holding him in the chair and his fist clenched permanently. The electrode then burst from the strap holding it in place. A large puff of gray smoke and sparks pored out from under the hood that covered his face. An overpowering stench ofRead More Persuasive Essay Against Capital Punishment753 Words   |  4 PagesPersuasive Essay Against Capital Punishment â€Å"Kill. (Verb) To make someone or something die.† Does anyone really think they have the right to take another person’s life? Apparently yes. Perhaps we should give the judge a knife and tell her that if she has decided that the accused is guilty, she should stab him herself. Perhaps then she would hesitate. But if many people (hundreds or thousands who operate the judicial system) are involved, it spreads, or evenRead MoreAn Ethical Analysis Of Against Capital Punishment1392 Words   |  6 PagesEthical Analysis against Capital Punishment Introduction This paper compares and contrasts the two different ethical perspectives for and against Capital Punishment. Capital Punishment is a very sensitive subject because it touches on many important topics such as justice, costs, humaneness and religion. People have different perspectives on these topics so it’s hard for everyone to agree on what we think the right thing is. Justice Most people that are for Capital Punishment believe that â€Å"JusticeRead MoreSpeech: Against Capital Punishment Essay1185 Words   |  5 PagesSpeech: Against Capital Punishment MOTION: We believe that capital punishment is not needed in a civilised community. Imagine yourself in a small, isolated cabin waiting to be led to your execution. A small, scrawny man comes to collect you. Your whole life rushes past you as you take your few, final footsteps to the execution chamber. This is the thought 7,000 people have experienced in the last 18 months. These people were executed cruelly by capital punishmentRead MoreArgument Against Capital Punishment Essay1096 Words   |  5 Pageshappiness—that is unless youre on death row. In modern day America we are still faced with the antiquated ritual of capital punishment, a practice that interferes directly with the law of the land. The same forms of punishment used during the middle ages are still in effect today, the same ideas that should have been abolished had the U.S. government revised its penology. Capital punishment is cruel as well as unusual and inadequate for our advanced society. The United States is known world wide as aRead MoreEssay about Speech Against Capital Punishment1672 Words   |  7 PagesSpeech Against Capital Punishment Good Afternoon, I am honored to be here, and I thank you for having me. Today I would like to speak to you about a very controversial issue- capital punishment. What do those two words mean to you? To most people they mean a murder victims family receiving justice for their deceased. Let me see a show of hands. How many people in the audience believe in the death penalty? I conducted a weeklong survey of two hundred people of all ages. The purposeRead MoreObjective Reasoning Against Capital Punishment736 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Alice in Wonderland.†1 Capital punishment has always been a controversial topic with proponents of both sides presenting numerous arguments to support their positions. A large portion of these arguments are of a moral or ethical nature. Defenders of the death penalty claim that it is the only just sentence for those who have taken a life, that such people do not deserve to live, and that it invokes fear in potential killers, to list but a few. Opponents of this form of punishment believe that vengeanceRead More The Case Against Capital Punishment Essays784 Words   |  4 Pagesstatistics and slewed arguments.   The basic fact remains that killing is morally and ethically wrong.   This fact does not disappear by simply changing the term murder to capital punishment.   The act is still the taking of a life.   On these grounds, the death penalty should be abolished. Proponents of capital punishment believe that killing criminals is a moral and ethical way of punishing them.   They feel there is justification in taking the life of a certain criminal, when in fact that justification

Essay on Russian Composers - 1830 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Russian composers are often mentioned in history as the most influential in the world. With style unlike any other, Russians are able to capture mood through a unique ability to capture exactly what they feel. Exactly how the Russians are able to do this is unknown, though through this, the greatest composers have turned out to be Russian. Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich are all able to write and portray the most detailed feelings and moods, and it is to them that we owe the advancement of all music. Tchaikovsky is one of the most beloved composers in history. An inspired craftsman of melody, orchestration and tonal color, he wrote in an astonishing variety of musical forms, from symphonies to†¦show more content†¦At the same time, he was coming into his own as a composer, writing his Fourth Symphony (1877) and other works. He also was starting to experience chronic depression. Many music historians say this was in response to hiding his homosexuality, while others point to a clinical conditional condition which was only exacerbated by his chaotic personal life (Sadie, 94). He wrote the magnificent Violin concerto in D in 1878, and endured its rejection by Leopold Auer, who deemed the work unplayable and followed with the Symphony No 6 and other legendary works (Mason, 70). Throughout the 1880s, his fame spread to Europe and America, and his financial position improved. In 1889 Madame von Meck suddenly, for unknown reasons, cut off her financial support, a blow from which Tchaikovsky never recovered (Mason, 70). In the same year he saw the premiere of Sleeping Beauty, a work which brought even higher acclaim to the now famous composer (Sadie, 94). In 1891 to 1892 he toured Europe and the United States, conducting concerts of his music and winning praises from the public as well as the critics (Mason, 70). Never a robust person, in constant strain from mental and physical disorders, Tchaikovsky died in 1893 under mysterious circumstances. Some believe he contracted cholera during a trip to St. Petersburg, while others believe he committed suicide or wasShow MoreRelatedRussian Opera Essay753 Words   |  4 PagesRussian Opera The seeds of a distinctively national art music in Russia are usually dated from the first half of the 19th century. The performance of the opera A Life for the Tsar (1836), by Mikhail GLINKA, is usually cited as the turning point for Russian music (Russias national anthem is taken from this opera). In this historical opera, as well as in his subsequent opera Ruslan and Ludmila (1842), the orchestral fantasy Kamarinskaya (1848), and numerous songs, Glinka successfully fusedRead MoreIgor Stravinsky, a Russian Composer559 Words   |  2 Pages Igor Stravinsky is known as one of the most important and influential composers of the twentieth century. Igor was born in Lomonosow, Russia on June 17, 1882 to Anna Kholodovsky and Fyodor Stravinsky. When Stravinsky was only three he witnessed a musician at a Russian fair singing, clicking his tongue, and making armpit noises. Igor was so excited to go try it at home. This was one of Stravinskys first memory of music. Igors chil dhood was not a good memory for him. He felt hated andRead MoreEssay about Music of the Romantic Period 1057 Words   |  5 PagesLudwig van Beethoven, the famous German born composer and pianist, composed the Romance in F major in 1798. It was likely first performed in that year, but was not published until 1805 in Vienna. It was originally written for violin and orchestra but the edition being performed today was transcribed and edited for saxophone and piano by Peter Saiano. During this period of his life, Beethoven was still known as perhaps the greatest pianist in existence and he was busy touring Europe as a performerRead MorePyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky568 Words   |  3 Pagesmasterpieces of Russia lore. To further understand Tchaikovsky’s influence, we will examine his personal life, his career, and his family life. Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840, in Vyatka, Russia. He was the second oldest and first son of his parents six surviving offspring. Although his parents hoped he would join the Russian civil service, he received a formal training in music and the arts, along with his other schooling. His mother, Alexandra, died of cholera in 1854Read MoreClaude Of Claude Debussy s Theory Of Russian Composers Of The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Century1993 Words   |  8 PagesClaude Debussy Claude Debussy also known as Achille-Claude Debussy has been one of the most influential composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Debussy was born into a middle class family being the son of a shopkeeper and a seamstress and the oldest of his five siblings. Debussy began his career at the Paris Conservatory at the very young age of 11. During his studies, he met the wealthy Nadezhda von Meck, a patroness of Tchaikovsky, who employed him to be the music teacherRead MoreGeorge Balanchine And Russian Ballet1058 Words   |  5 Pages As world has changed over the last century or so, the ballet world has been changing with it. There are many people who have helped shape that change. The changes in style were mainly influenced by George Balanchine. George Balanchine, a Russian choreographer and ballet dancer, also known as the father of American ballet, was the man who was said to have changed the style of ballet forever. Along with these changes in style came changes in visual design elements, inspirational figures, and changesRead More History of Ballet Essay1083 Words   |  5 Pagesis the Nutcracker, music w rote by non other than Tchaikovsky. In the 19th century, the ballet was regarded as the lowest kind of music. Famous composers did not write scores especially for ballets. A new phase in the development of the musical and choreographic culture of Russia and the world was started by Peter Tchaikovskys ballets. A brilliant composer whose music is the †emotion† of a ballet. The opera and ballet companies are famous the world over. The repertoire includes such classics as Tchaikovsky‘sRead MoreThe Russian Dance And Ballet1655 Words   |  7 Pages The history of Russian dance and ballet is extraordinarily complex. The Russians have always enjoyed dance; they were dancing for entertainment and ritual before they were even introduced to Christianity. However, the start of their most culturally significant form of dance, ballet, did not start until 1675 in a small town near Moscow (The Great History 11). Since its humble beginnings, ballet’s evolution in Russia ha s exploded. Most notably, its growth can be seen through two world famous theaters:Read MoreDmitri Shostakovich : The Greatest Composers Of The 20th Century And The Most Important Soviet Composer1567 Words   |  7 Pages Considered as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century and the most important Soviet composer, Dmitri Shostakovich created some of the most richly complex and experimental pieces of his time. His musical education and career took place entirely in the Soviet Union, where he created his greatest masterpieces including 15 symphonies and 15 string quartets. He forayed into several different mediums including compositions of concertos, ballets, motion-picture scores, and opera. In additionRead MoreEssay Tchaikovsky1429 Words   |  6 Pagesnot only one of the cornerstones of Russian musical society and world music . . . It is at the same time a creative and technical encyclopedia to which every Russian composer has reference in the course of his own work,@ commented Dimitri Shostakovich.1 This was a typical view held by Tchaikovsky=s contemporaries. He was well known and well respected, especially in his later years. In addition, Tchaikovsky was recognized as the most expressiv e Romantic composer in Russia.2 He was often idolized and

Andrew Jackson free essay sample

House of Representatives. In 1797 he was elected to the Senate. Then in 1798 Jackson was elected to be a judge of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Jackson served two terms. His first term was from 1829 to 1832. His second tee arm was from 1833 to 1837 In the first election John Quince Adams tried to make Jackson lose some of his popularity by slandering him. This was the first time that candidates really Sal needed each other. In the second term the national nominating convention was intro educed. Jacksons opponent in his first term was John Quince Adams.Jacksons upon .NET in his second term was Henry Clay. John C Calhoun was vice president during Jacksons first term. Martin Van Bur en was the vice president in the second term. Andrew Jackson was part of the democratic party. A. Veto of the Massively Road Bill(1830) Andrew Jackson vetoed the bill to use federal funds to build a road connecting Lexington and Massively Kentucky. Another issue demonstrating democratic intentions, but an undemocratic execution, was the removal of Native Americans from their homes.Jackson made their removal sound democratic by saying Americans needed to help these people before they became extinct, and they would do so by pushing them west into a land for just them (Doc 8). In 1830, Jackson secured the passage of the Indian Removal Act, which authorized him to exchange public lands in the west for Indian territories in the east. Indians from all over southeastern America were forced into the Indian Territory, which is today known as Oklahoma (Doc 10). The Cherokee Indians were forcibly removed to he new Indian Territory, and their journey is known today as the Trail of Tears.More than 8000 died in this tragic movement. Both the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears sparked anger in Native Americans. Native Americans felt they were being treated unfairly, because they were being pushed off their own land and felt they had a right to stay without any interruptions (Doc 9). While Native Americans clearly saw this as undemocratic, white Americans benefited from their removal and gained land, causing them to see the Native Americans removal as very democratic.The spoils system used by Jackson, was another idea that had very democratic intentions to it, however, once in use it was not as democratic as it was proposed to be. Jackson felt that the duties of the public officers were so plain and simple than any average man could perform them. He felt that every four years the cabinet should be reappointed along with new presidency (Doc 6). Some saw this as very democratic, because it seemed Jackson was simply trying to give all people a chance, by saying anyone can handle these duties.Others, however, saw it as undemocratic and said he simply wanted his own chosen people and supporters around him. Martin Van Burden, Secretary of State, offered Jackson advice against the Jacksons chosen appointment of Samuel Squawroot, who had criminal tendencies. However, Jackson ignored him, and Squawroot absconded with over one million dollars (Doc 7). Jackson was so concerned with having supporters as his public officers that he didnt listen to other advice and consider what they said, which was rather undemocratic. Jackson had campaigned from 1824 to 1 828 by telling the people he would listen to them and do their will. During his presidency, he dealt with many issues; some democratically and some more undemocratically. Most of the matters during his presidency he had to carry out started with the most democratic intentions, however once put in place, their results indirectly became more undemocratic. Although, the individual issues did not always have the democratic results Jackson hoped for, overall he did start the country on a path to democracy.

I Will Always Swing free essay sample

Do you remember your old days when everything was new? When every day, even a rainy one, was a good day? Those days when there was always sun? I often catch myself trying to remember my old days. If Im depressed or sad or frustrated, I find it easier to look to the past than to deal with the future. My memories are my escape from my everyday problems, and my fondest are those of a boy I loved in kindergarten. His name was Rob, and when I was four, he was five (an older man). Well, I truly loved him. His dark hair and tan skin (which are now all I can remember) were beautiful to me. Every day I would hide in the bushes like a private eye, and watch him from across the playground. I knew everything about him: how he played kickball with his left foot, how much he hated dodge ball and hide and go seek, and how he created tiny masterpieces from sand. We will write a custom essay sample on I Will Always Swing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Some days I would create my own masterpieces using my dreams of our life together. We had six children (Bobby, Cindy, Greg, Marsha, Peter, and Jan), one dog (Scooby-Doo), one cat (Garfield), and we lived (at first) in a small white house with a white picket fence. By the end of first grade we were living in a mansion. For months I tried to get his attention. I did balance beam routines better than Mary-Lou, I drew like Escher, I painted pictures that shamed Cezanne, and I did stand-up comedy better even than Rosie ODonnell. In the end though, I didnt make the Olympic team, my sketches were never famous, I didnt get my own exhibit at the art museum, Stand-Up Spotlight didnt call, and Rob never noticed me. Another girl would always catch his eye. She was the one with Gap clothes, better toys, tie sneakers (instead of Velcro), pink ribbons in her hair; she would always laugh and smile when Rob was nearby. But, for me, Gap clothes were too big, my brothers old toys were fine, Velcro shoes were all I had (I didnt know how to tie shoelaces), my favorite color wasnt pink, and Robs jokes werent that funny. So, I gave up. I accepted the fact that we would never be together; Rob would never notice me, and I was destined to go to a different school. But then one day, as he climbed onto the swing set, I noticed an empty swing next to my Rob. I could not resist the temptation. I climbed on and started to swing, feeling lighter than air just knowing I was next to him. And then our swings were in sync, we began to swing together! I was amazed, thinking that maybe now I would finally be noticed. However, just as I gained this hope, we drifted apart; as his swing took its own path, I was left alone, swinging by myself. A few months ago, I was left alone again, swinging by myself. My most recent Rob moved away; he found someone in his new town, another girl who has better toys perhaps. Ive seen pictures of her, and she has those pink ribbons I could never force myself to wear. She dresses in the latest fashions (Versace, Mizrahi, and Klein) which could easily beat my T-shirt and blue jeans style down the run way. Her hair shines like the sun when mine barely shimmers, and her black 1996 BMW 325 could run circles around my 1991 Honda Accord any day of the week. They all say she is beautiful, but I say so am I. After all, arent I the one who can do gymnastics? Am I not the one who can draw like Escher, and paint better than Cezanne? Didnt I learn anything from that day on the swing? Yes, I learned that I can continue to swing alone. I can walk onto the playground, climb onto the swing set, and, even if my Rob doesnt notice me, I will always be balancing like a gymnast, I will always be creating beauti ful art, I will always be making people laugh, and I will always be swinging.