Mormonism in Tony Kushner's play Angels in America Research Paper

Mormonism in Tony Kushner's play Angels in America - Research Paper Example The relationships between Louis and Joe are in focus while talking on the contradiction between Judaism referring to Louis and Mormonism relevant to Joe. There is something more interesting in the play which designates the place of Mormon religion. Tony Kushner was accurate in choosing these two religions reflected on the reactions by two characters in the play. The question is that the religion of Jews is among the oldest on earth whereas Mormonism was created and established by Joseph Smith at the early ages of the American sovereignty. This is why it is a so-called controversy between the tradition and an isolated devotion toward something new. That is to say, homosexuality is opposed to the mainstream ideas. It is well illustrated on how Louis reacts on Joe’s confession in that he is a Mormon: â€Å"I cannot believe I have spent a month in bed with a Mormon† (Kushner 201). This is where the conflict starts and where it has all chances to progress in the future. A gr eat contribution by Kushner is that he once had realized the potential of the contemporary social issues and concerns. Then he incorporated them into the realistic and unique talk on the problem through the art of drama, as the â€Å"lines between gay and straight become very blurred† as of today (Meyer 1249). Thus, the way in which the play signifies the lives of two couples and how they interact is all about the realistic picture of people’s anxiety in their search for real identity. It is well supported by the idea of being gay among cruel individuals around. Back to Mormonism, it is necessary to note that it has less popularity among the privileged Catholic and Protestant churches in America. This is why there is a straight-forward connection to how the society perceives the idea of close relationships between two men especially when one of them abandons his wife for a new male-partner who, in turn, abandons his boyfriend for the sake of such union. Thus, in its se paration from the larger society, Mormon religion is symbolically set by Tony Kushner so as to lay emphasis on its American decent notwithstanding less popularity. It is the same for homosexuals. Along with their sexual prerogatives, homosexuals are not void of the rights and freedoms once proclaimed by the Founding Fathers which follow the genuine standards of a democratic society. Furthermore, Kushner masterly embodies the â€Å"national themes† with the idea of status, race, gender, sexuality, and political affiliation of the characters. Once again, Mormon religion is set to demonstrate why people become closeted or latent in their likes and priorities in life. Joe tried to find out a good moment to confess before Louis, but it was in vain, as the national stereotypes seem bigger in minds of individuals, even though they are of minor sexuality. The liberated gay movement got through the tremendous change due to the advent of AIDS and them to be automatically listed in the risk group (Longolius 3). It is another motive to speculate on why gay relationships suffer. Louis would never abandon Prior, if everything went great. Judging from Louis’s impulsive state of mind, religious preferences of Joe, as a

Newspaper article about possible war with Iraq Essay Example for Free

Newspaper article about possible war with Iraq Essay The newspaper article I have written is about the possible war in Iraq which expressed my opinion. It is an article that is totally against war and is to inform the readers the main objections by persuading them that it is right not to have another war. Im sure I am not the only one opposed to war in Iraq! The newspaper was aimed at teenagers and students alike. I felt that it was much easier to aim at this age group because I am a student myself so its like talking to your friends instead of addressing for example an older generation. The main points I want to get across were the American push for war in Iraq is illegal without UN backing, the Iraqi people have suffered enough, and the last thing they would want is another war. In this article, I am sometimes asking the reader a rhetorical question. Questions like Why would the training be so intense if there wasnt a war? It seems a bit obvious answer of yes because there were around 150,000 soldiers in the region at the time. As you read throughout, it seems like I ask the readers some question. I ask these questions because I want them to think about certain topics like America. For this topic I asked Would you believe them? when I was referring to America is saying Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. The article was aimed for teenagers and students so most of the articles language was easy to read and understand. The sentences were short and words were basic because if I put it too technical, they might not carry on reading it. I am a teenager myself so writing something aimed at them was easier than if I was writing for say a middle aged audience. You could say that it is more of a tabloid newspaper than a broad sheet one, this article is free and would be handed out to students who could pick them up from the college library maybe? The main theme for this article is against another war in Iraq so this is why I used in big and bold letter that reads out Dont attack Iraq! I did this so that it can catch the readers attention too. For example if they walked past and saw the title, they would be more likely to pick it up and see what it is about! In order not to confuse the reader, I have split the article in sections, the main article is about Iraq but some of the other sections include other threats, real reason etc. This layout makes it more easy to read and easier to understand than if I put everything under one subtitle. Plus I want people to know that behind the scenes America is trying something which they may not know so this layout would suit me getting that message across. When I did the first draft and got it handed back, I realised I made some mistakes with me going off the point. The main point was not to attack Iraq but I sometimes talked about other countries. This might have confused the readers and one more thing is that on the title it reads Making you be heard but this isnt true as I am expressing my own personal opinions so I changed that title to Getting the Point Across instead. The article improved much from the first draft I did, the sentences were longer and had around 1600 for the last one which was way over the limit so now I have nearly halved it. I also made it more newspaper like because the last design I had lacked an attractive heading. The structure of this article was made to set out more like a newspaper as possible. I gave the newspaper a big title along the top, the writing was all in columns, some relevant pictures were included and so were the dates and price. I gave the reasons not to attack in bullet points at the beginning and rounded it all up with a conclusion which was called Real Reasons. The pictures used were there to make the newspaper look more colourful instead of having just text in there. One of the pictures was some soldiers but you could only see their shadows with rifles in the arms which look un-welcoming, another is a picture of Osama Bin Laden. He is the most wanted man on Earth and a lot of people recognise him so the article would stand out more. Word count: 772 without header and footer

History of Fireworks :: Chine Fireworks Explosives Essays

History of Fireworks The birthplace of fireworks is generally recognized as China, with the first explosive mixture found being black powder, during the Sung dynasty ( 960-1279 ). It is said that a cook in ancient china found that a mixture of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal was very flammable and would explode if enclosed in a small space. The first application of this technology was for entertainment. The Chinese are still the leader in the production of fireworks. Once the recipe for black powder was perfected, they found that it was easily used as rocket fuel, and they made hand carved wooden rockets in the shape of a dragon, in the sixth century. These rockets shot rocket powered arrows from their mouth, and were used against the Mongol invaders of 1279. The principle behind these rockets is still used in rocket powered fireworks today. Through adventurous explorers, the knowledge of making fireworks spread west, through Arabia in the seventh century. The Arabs called the rockets Chinese arrows. The Mongols are credited with taking Chinese rockets and gunpowder to Europe around 1241. The first record of their use in Europe are around 1258. Until the 19th century, fireworks lacked a major aesthetically essential characteristic: color. Pyrotechnicians began to use a combination of potassium chlorate and various metallic salts to make brilliant colors. The salts of these metals produce the different colors: strontium burns red; copper makes blue; barium glows green; and sodium, yellow. Magnesium, aluminum, and titanium were found to give off white sparkles or a flash. Even though China invented the fireworks, Europe surpassed them in pyrotechnic development in the 14th century, which coincides with the time the gun was invented. Shot and gunpowder for military use was made by skilled tradesmen, later called firemakers, who also made fireworks for peace or victory celebrations. During the Renaissance, two European schools of pyrotechnic thought emerged: one in Italy and the other at Nuremberg, Germany. The Italian school of pyrotechnics emphasized elaborate fireworks, and the German school stressed scientific advancement. Both schools added significantly to further development of pyrotechnics, and by the mid-17th century fireworks were used for entertainment on an unprecedented scale in Europe, being popular even at resorts and public gardens. In the mid-19th century fireworks became popular in the United States. Injuries associated with fireworks, particularly to children, eventually discouraged their unrestricted use. As a result, in many states of the U.

Death of a Salesman Essay

What techniques does Arthur Miller use to highlight the conflict between past and present in Death of a Salesman? How do these techniques also demonstrate his main themes? Death of a Salesman is set in a time when the capitalist system is changing. It is set in the late 1940s, not long after the Wall Street crash in 1929. Willy Loman is unable to adjust to these changes and therefore, there is conflict between the past, where his dreams were achievable, and the present, where he has fallen foul of the capitalist system and is no longer any use to the firm. These conflicts are personified in Willy, and Arthur Miller uses a number of techniques to highlight this. The techniques Miller uses represent Willy’s mind and they distinguish between past and present. These theatrical methods also help to demonstrate the main themes in Death of a Salesman. These theatrical methods include music, lighting, wall-lines, scenery, the use of leaves and also use of costumes. In my essay I plan to explain what each method conveys to the audience and show how Miller uses these methods effectively to highlight the conflicts. Music is used to highlight significant points and themes in the play. Also, the type of music sets the mood for a scene. It creates atmosphere and conveys to the audience the emotions of the characters. Also, silence can highlight a particular scene. The absence of music means that the audience focuses entirely on the conversation taking place. In Death of a Salesman, flute music is heard constantly throughout the duration of the play. It bridges the play, as it is heard both at the beginning and the end. The flute music evokes a faraway, idyllic world, representing the past. It also represents a contrast between Willy and his father. Willy’s father was a pioneer; he made flutes and sold his own products. Willy, on the other hand, has to sell other people’s goods to make a living. A good example of music being used to set the scene is at the beginning of the restaurant scene. The lights have blacked out signifying the end of the previous scene ‘Suddenly rollicking music is heard. ‘ This is setting the mood of the scene for the audience. It shows that the atmosphere is happy and lively. This is to show the mood of the present time. It is a contrast to the past. By having rollicking music, Miller is highlighting this contrast. This links to the theme of Happy and shows more of an insight into his character. Happy has chosen this restaurant and it shows the kind of life he lives, and this is a contrast to Willy.

How would you direct act 1 scene 3 of Macbeth? Essay

Through this essay, I aim to present my ideas as to how I would direct act 1 scene 7 of Macbeth. I will also analyse the text and explain what I think it means. In my play, the two characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth would be like nothing before. Throughout the play, the characters would distinctly change; in fact Macbeth and Lady Macbeth would practically switch rolls. For example, to begin with, Macbeth is soft, weak of mind, and it is Lady Macbeth who leads him and pushes him forward. Through this scene, she should appear to be wicked, even evil, and this should especially stand out in this scene. The point in the scene were I would make this very apparent, are between the lines 54 – 59. Here, lady Macbeth states her loyalty for Macbeth, when she says ‘I have given suck and know how tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dash the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.’ The way I would direct the actor through this is as follows. I would have her pause between the words ‘smiling’ and ‘in’ to show that the very thought of her child’s face really does have an effect on her, and that she is not all evil, although the insight into this side of LM would be so short the audience should wonder if they even saw it. Then, the phrase ‘dash the brains out’ she would mime a moment, as if she was performing the act. This is just one example of how I want LM co come across in the play; a wicked, scary and evil, but you should have the feeling that she isn’t all bad or perhaps, so wasn’t always this evil. Later though, when Macbeth kills the king he suddenly changes from weak one, to evil one, it should almost appear that LM and M switched characters as at that point LM breaks down, and becomes the weak one of the two. In 16th c, women had a very different role to the one they have today. My research shows this through several ways, but the major one is that if a man considered a woman to be a potentional trouble maker, he would accuse her of being a witch, there by having her killed. This meant that women couldn’t stand out in any way, leaving the responsibilities of gaining honour and power to the men. Through the play I want to show this clearly. I will do so by having LM aggressive while it is only she and M. but as soon as they are in other company, she is quiet and submissive only reminding M by shooting him glare after glare. The way people acted in the 16th c. should show through the play. For instance, honour in the 16th c. was a major part of society. This will show through M character in the play, especially at the beginning of act 1 scene 7, when M is making his soliloquy and telling LM of his decision (to not kill the king). I would direct the actor to strain his voice while making it appear as if he was trying to protect his honour when he says ‘he’s here, in double trust:’ and ‘I am his kin’s man and his subject’ then ‘as his host I should against his murder shut the door’. He should emphasize on the words ‘host’, ‘against’ and ‘kin’s man’. By doing this, the actor is showing that if he were to kill the king, then his honour would be tarnished. At the time the play was written, king James 1 was in power. For this reason I think the play, was written as it would greatly appeal to the king. – ‘The man who killed his fellow king, watch how his life is destroyed!’ I would want this to show through my play, as I want to keep the play as true to the original as possible in this respect, as it would give the play another layer of depth and therefore make it more interesting. My version of this scene would be set in a 16th c. city, during a large feast hosted by the Macbeth’s in the city centre. M is down a side ally when LM joins him part way through the scene. Throughout the scene M and LM are both tense as they are nervous about anyone walking in on them. The reason I would set it in the 16th c. is because honour was a major part of society which is one of my main themes of the play, along with King James being in power at the time. Also in the 16th c. community events involving the entire town/city were not uncommon, making my version of act 1 scene 7 perfectly viable. The reason I’ve chosen to set it in a city is to fit in with the story but to make it totally unique. It would allow for everyone to get drunk including Duncan’s guard, which intern allows the murder to take place in a unique way, with LM and M travailing out doors to reach the king’s quarters. The way this would work is as follows: the king would be down stairs in one of the houses bordering the city centre, with one other man (his guard). While everyone else is asleep, slumped over benches and of the like LM and M would silently make their way over the bodies to the city centre. I would create tension by the music which I would put in place and having some of the people stirring in and out of sleep as the Macbeth’s pass. Then when they finally reach the king’s quarters, a man is lying across the front door causing M to enter through the window. Then when M climbs through the window into the room where Duncan is asleep, the lights will dim leaving, a candle lit glow illuminating the room. When the murder takes place the dim orange glow would dramatically switch to a vibrant blood red. Simultaneously a white light will illuminate both of the Macbeth’s faces showing clearly their expressions. M has a faint grin on his face as he takes strength from the act, while LM shrivels and becomes by far the weaker of the two. This is the point in the play where their characters switch. I would want my play to stand out from the rest, and to do that I would update the language. I think this would help younger students, understand the play resulting in a far wider audience. However I wouldn’t want a very young audience, as it is not suitable. However to keep it in theme with the 16th c. ideas I would not be able to update all the language in the play. An example of this would be in act 1 scene 7 where LM states ‘he has almost supped, why have you left the chamber?’ this would translate into ‘the meal has almost finished, why have you left the feast?’ This still holds much of the original meaning but it is far easier to understand making it more enjoyable for some people. Apart from this, I wouldn’t change anything else in the play, as I think it would distract from the main story because I would be more focused on the alterations than the story line, thus distracting from the meaning of the play. Shakespeare uses this scene to explore several themes. The first of these is honour. I would display this strongly through M before he kills the king, and then after when he has no honour everything falls apart in his life. (What happens to him was written as a warning, to please the king). I would display the transition from honour to dishonour as described earlier. I would also have LM fearful when she realises that she and her husband have made a terrible mistake. This shows that honour is very important and without it you have nothing. The 2nd theme is the concept of people being two faced. This would radiate from LM in this scene. I have chosen this as one of my themes as I think I could get a lot across throughout the play based on this. It tallies well with LM’s character- evil (even though she reveals it to M alone). Through act 1 scene 7 I would have LM be very tense and conscience that someone could over hear their conversation. To emphasise the evil side of her I would not only have her speak slowly between the lines 48-59, but also between lines 35-44. I would have her layer her voice with malice and occasionally pausing for effect. This would create a contrast between the perfect LM and the ‘evil’ wife M. the final theme I will have is power and the need the Macbeth’s have for it. To make this theme stand out in act 1 scene 7, I would have LM labour on the words ‘wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,’ these words state, ‘do you not want the highest achievement?’ which is the highest achievement of power. This displays the greed of power and wealth that LM has and simultaneously appealing to her husbands greatest desire- power. In my version of act 1 scene 7, the two characters of M and LM will really show their ‘true colours’. At the beginning of the scene when LM hasn’t yet walked in, M starts off with his soliloquy. This soliloquy is the equivalent to what M is thinking. He states that he doesn’t really want to kill Duncan when he says ‘not bear the knife myself’ it is at this point that M fully decides he will not kill Duncan. After this, all he does is give reasons why it is a good thing he is not going through with murdering him. Through the soliloquy, M talks himself out of murdering his king and ‘kinsman’. He comes up with lots of reasons for instance the king is in ‘double trust’ and he is ‘his host’. This soliloquy should clearly declare the state M’s mind is in as he acts out his thoughts to the audience. The audience should clearly see that M is very unstable and is torn between power and the right thing. †˜But here upon this Blanc and shoal of time, we’d jump the life to come. But in these cares we still have judgement’. However simply reading the words out would not convey the depth of meaning I wish to convey. So I would have the actor show unrest in the first few lines. Then as the soliloquy goes on M should become slowly more confident, then when he reaches his decision not to kill the king, he finally has the courage to hold his head high. This represents the battle going on inside his mind. Once the battle is resolved however M is confident and clear minded as he knows what he thinks he’ll do. Throughout the soliloquy all that can be heard is M talking as the audience are effectively hearing what is inside M’s head. The way M works the issue though his mind is by coming up with lots of reasons why not to kill Duncan, while totally ignoring his greed for power, resulting in a temporary decision. For example he starts of by saying, ‘first as I am his kinsman and his subject strong both against the deed’, then ‘this Duncan have borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office that his virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damnation of his taking off.’ Then he goes on to say, ‘and pity, like a naked newborn babe striding the blast, or heaven’s cherub s horsed upon the slightest couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shell drown the wind.’ Through these examples of M reckoning with himself, we can see an argument which first stacks his honour, ‘first as I am his kinsman and his subject’. And then how he would be effected. It says that the ‘cherubs would blow it in every eye’, and that ‘the wind would be filled with tears’. This shows that, if he does commit the deed, he will be discovered, as ‘angelic children’ watch over Duncan. Which basically means he is in Gods favour, ergo, with God against him, M cannot hope to win, and would surly be found out. When LM walks in at the end of the soliloquy, M tells her that ‘they will do no further in this business’. (That he won’t kill Duncan). When he tells LM this, h er immediate reaction is shock, (I would direct the actor to look taken aback when M says the line ‘He hath honoured me of late,’. It would be it that point because when M says ‘we will proceed no further in this business’ she isn’t quite sure what he means). This would be shortly followed by anger, ‘was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?’ LM then very quickly rallies on M and begins to brutally persuade him again to kill Duncan. First of all, she calls him a coward by saying ‘art thou afraid to be the same in thine own act and valour, as thou art in desire?’ She then goes on to say that he lacks ‘manliness’. However, the stroke that wins M back to her way of thinking is often interpreted as evil, (between lines 54 – 59). These lines show LM terrifying loyalty, and word wise, make her sound totally evil. These lines shock M (and the audience, especially at the time it was written) into going along with the plan. I would show this on stage, by having M shrink away from LM, and wincing at the key words. I think that Shakespeare wanted to have the effect of totally shocking the audience, and I would want to do the same. However, I think Shakespeare intended to shock his audience through the fact that the character is evil, I would, however, rely on modern society and the fact that most people would be horrified by the thought of ‘dashing the brains out’ of a ‘newborn babe’. I would also have the background noise of laughter and singing throughout these lines, to create an eerie silence. Lighting wise, I would have a harsh white light shining across the stage at them to wash out all colour and create a scene of death and evil. All this should have the effect of shock and almost disbelief on the audience as I would want these lines to be burned into their memories, because they are the most poignant lines in the play. They carry so many connotations that without them being remembered, the entire purpose of the scene would be lost. As soon as LM has finished this speech, M makes one final attempt to redirect LM by saying (feebly), ‘if we should fall?’ but LM sweeps the words away like the feeble attempt it was. From then on, the rest of the scene if dominated my LM as M is still in reprieve from what LM said; (As the audience should be). At the end of the scene, the characters of M and LM are finally in agreement. LM has convinced M to go through with murdering Duncan, his ‘kinsman’. So, at the end of the scene, LM is fully in command, but this will soon change. Throughout act 1 scene 7 are devices designed to make it stand out. The first one seen in this part of M is the soliloquy. Through this Shakespeare wanted to captivate the audience for the scene that would follow. I would make this device work by introducing lighting, sound, and directing the actors. Personally I would make the soliloquy work by firstly working on M. he would be wearing makeup, put on to make him look tired and drawn. M the scene on stage, with his head hanging low, He would begin speaking feverishly then as the soliloquy develops, he should become stronger and more confident, as described before. The turning point in the soliloquy is when M realises what he was planning was ‘wrong’ and that it was doomed to fail. Ergo, he decides not to kill Duncan. At this point M lifts his head and says triumphantly ‘he is here in double trust’. At this point the lighting would become lighter and warmer, both representing the revelation in his mind. This lighting will be effective, as it will be in total contrast to the previous lighting, which was a harsh white. If this were to be made into a film, I would place a heroic, but faint tune in the background, played by a brass band to add to the texture and connotations of the play. The second device used by Shakespeare is ‘violent imagery’. This device come through the play on several occasions, for instance, when LM displays her loyalty and depth of commitment while trying to bring her husband back on course. This device has major importance throughout the play. An example of how I would direct a section of this is between lines 54 – 59. I would have LM act out the phrases ‘pluck my nipple from his boneless gums’ and ‘dash the brains out’. This is designed to help the audience visualise what she is saying, therefore having a larger, and deeper impact. Unlike before, even if this was made into a film, I would have no music underneath, as this might distract form the lines. The same goes for in the theatre; I would not place any music underneath, as the words are powerful enough! Act 1 scene 7 is a very important scene in the play ‘Macbeth’. It is during this scene that the most important decision is made. it was also during this scene that the most dramatic and most memorable lines throughout the play are said by LM,(her son â€Å"dash his brains out†).It is also the first time that M attempts to stand up to LM. In short, had this scene of the play been lost or forgotten the entire play would also have been forgotten, as this scene, is by far the most memorable scene, and makes it a classic. In my version of this scene, I would strive to make the audience pity M for his weak mind and be shocked by LM with her brutal ways. I would want this response because it would indicate that the audience had understood the meaning, and that I had directed it well. Out of everything that is said in this scene, I think that what LM said between lines 54 and 59 are the most pivotal and provocative because is at that moment in the play, that it becomes cl ear this story will last for centuries. And this essay is living proof. The audience are meant to feel sorry for M at the beginning of the scene, as it should be clear, he is in a mess. However, they should shortly feel resentment towards him, when they watch how LM manipulates him, (i.e. calling him a ‘coward’ and attacking his manliness). I am fairly sure that Shakespeare wanted the same, and therefore I want to achieve the same. My views on this scene are very similar to want I have directed throughout this essay. I think that M is very unstable and up until he kills Duncan has very little confidence. He relies heavily on LM to make many of the decisions and to motivate him. I think, on the other hand that Lady Macbeth is not evil. I think that she is a strong minded woman who craved power and had t o motivate her weak husband to get it for her. (A sign of the times). Later in the play, when Duncan is killed I think that M gains confidence with his new status and the ease with which he got it. In contrast LM realised the enormous mistake they had made and began to break down. As a whole, I think the play is packed with morals and at the time was written to please the current king. (King James 1). Amazingly, I think it relates to today’s society very well with one of the main themes being ‘you cannot read people by their outward appearances’. As in these days the world seems to over value and focuses too much on image. Therefore this plays still bears a powerful and very meaningful message, even today, 500 years later.

5 steps to becoming more optimistic

5 steps to becoming more optimistic Unless you naturally always see the glass as half-full, focusing on the sunny side of things may not seem like the easiest task in the world. (And even those natural optimists have their moments of frustration and doubt.) Positivity is a trait you have to work on, but it’s one worth cultivating- being optimistic is an asset in all aspects of your life, especially in your career. If you’re not confident and open, opportunities may pass you by. Here are some tricks to use when you need to boost your optimism and confidence.1. Note any negativity.When you first respond to something, is your instinct to see what’s wrong? Take a mindful approach to your thoughts and statements throughout the day. You don’t need to feel ashamed of the negativity you feel, just make a note of it and think about why that might be your default response. Think about the assumptions you make. What’s behind them? Is it fear? Anxiety? It’s going to be very difficult to ch ange your thinking if you aren’t putting much introspection into why you’re thinking negatively in the first place.2. Fake it ‘til you make it.When you have a negative thought, consciously add a positive one. Even if you don’t really mean it, or you don’t think it’s totally true, that’s okay. It might feel like you’re forcing it at first, but after a while you’ll find yourself automatically adding the positive to the negative- or even seeing the positive part first.3. Pick a positivity mentor.You probably know someone who’s routinely positive, or able to take a lesson from the bad things that happen. Make that person the little voice in your head (and they never have to know). How would she approach this situation? What perspective would he take? This is part of the mindfulness that can help you change your thinking and your behavior.4. Be kind to yourself.We’re usually our own worst critics- especially when things aren’t going very well. Changing your outlook starts with cutting yourself some slack. It might feel cheesy to (mentally) pat yourself on the back or cheer on your own decisions, but who’s going to know you’re doing it? Start by giving yourself positive feedback in everyday life like, â€Å"I did this poorly, but I did this other thing right,† or â€Å"I got lost, but I stayed calm and eventually found my way back to the road.†5. Be ready to commit.Changing how you see things (and how you react to things) is not going to be an instant process. And it’s not something you can set aside, say, an hour to practice on a Saturday afternoon. If you try to add kind of an internal review to your thoughts as often as you can, you’ll find that you’re tweaking your levels of positivity over time. You will also likely find that you’re feeling less anxious and stressed and more open to opportunities and possibilities if youâ₠¬â„¢re not dwelling on all the reasons it just won’t work, or why you don’t deserve it. You deserve happiness, so go find it!

White collar crimes

White collar crimes Introduction White collar crimes are increasingly rampant today and are getting more and more sophisticated each day. These are crimes that are committed by people in respectable occupations in the course of their work. Examples of such crimes are bribery, fraud, forgery, embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, insider trading, computer crime, medical crime, identity theft, counterfeiting, extortion, currency schemes, among others (Green 5).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on White collar crimes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This discussion will look at Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, whose revelation stunned many investors who had entrusted him with their savings. A Ponzi scheme is a white collar crime in which the perpetrator encourages people to invest in a business and promises high dividends within a short period of time. The perpetrator does not invest the money but pays dividends to the old investors with the n ew investors’ money. The perpetrator lies to the investors that the dividends are the profits generated from their investment. The scheme ends when there are no longer sufficient funds from the new investors to pay the old ones. The perpetrator may also end the investment and take off with the money when he feels that he has amassed enough funds. Discussion Bernie Madoff is an American white collar fraudster who swindled a lot of money from many investors through his Ponzi scheme. He owned the firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, which turned out to be a scam. He formerly worked as the NASDAQ stock market chairman and an investment advisor and stock broker. According to Sarna and Malik (147), Madoff’s Ponzi scheme was the â€Å"longest-running and most extensive† in history. Until his arrest, Madoff was the chairman of his firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, which he founded in 1960. He was reported to the authorities by his sons when he confessed to them that the firm was a Ponzi scheme. The 2008 financial crisis had hit his firm hard and he had no more money to pay to the investors. The estimated amount that he fleeced his investors is sixty five billion dollars. His victims were from all walks of life including celebrities, ordinary investors, banks and charitable trusts. Madoff pleaded guilty to his scandalous crimes in March 2009. The crimes included lying under oath, wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, mail fraud, making false statements, making false filings and theft from an employee benefit plan. He was thereafter sentenced to imprisonment. Bernie Madoff easily deceived his victims for a number of reasons. Firstly, his role in helping to establish NASDAQ stock exchange and his tenure as its chairman elevated his repute. In addition, his victims trusted him because they were able to withdraw their dividends without any delay whenever they wanted to.Advertising Looking for term paper o n social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 2000, Harry Markopolos made attempts to expose Madoff’s scheme when he suspected that it was a scam. He reported the matter to the Securities and Exchange Commission officials but no action was taken. He went back with the same claims in 2001, but no proper investigations were carried out. If investigations were done at this time, the Securities and Exchange Commission would have rooted out the Ponzi scheme before it defrauded more people of their hard earned savings (Kotz 61). Madoff confessed that he never invested his clients’ money but banked it in his personal account and he simply paid them out of the account when they wanted to withdraw. He also said he tried several times to go back to legitimate business but it was not possible to settle the investors’ accounts, and therefore exposure of the scheme was inevitable when he was finally unable to pay the investors. Madoff claimed that his investment had been legal since its inception, and that he started the Ponzi scheme in the 1990’s, a claim that the investigators doubted as all evidence showed that he started the illegitimate scheme in the 1970’s. Madoff was arrested on December 11, 2008 where he was charged of committing fraudulent crimes. He paid a bond worth $10 million and was consequently confined under house arrest in his apartment, under strict surveillance. On March 12, 2009, Judge Denny Chin annulled his bail and had him kept in remand at the Metropolitan Correctional Center because he feared that Madoff might evade justice owing to his immense influence, age, and affluence. Madoff’s attorney’s attempts to have his client released from jail until his sentencing, by filing a petition, did not succeed as the court rejected the appeal. The lawyer further sent a letter to the judge urging him to give Madoff a 12 years’ sentence sin ce his lifespan was envisaged to be 13 years, a request that the judge turned down. Madoff was ordered to surrender his assets amounting to $170 million. His wife’s assets, worth $85 million were also ordered to be seized. On June 29, 2009, Madoff got a prison sentence of 150 years, from Judge Denny Chin; although his lawyers were pushing for a shorter sentence citing his old age (he was seventy one years old at the time of the sentencing). This long sentence ensured that Madoff could not be confined in a minimum security prison. After the sentence, Madoff asked for forgiveness from his victims, though he said he knew that his apology would not help them. Madoff’s firm has been liquidated under the direction of Irving Picard and the victims of the scam have started getting their money back. The recovered money is divided among all the investors though it is not likely for them to get all their money back.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on W hite collar crimes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Barlow and Decker (198), white collar and street crimes are similar in that they both cause harm, be it emotional, physical or financial, to the victims. However, they differ in a number of ways. White collar crimes involve the selling of lawful products through unlawful practices like misappropriating funds, bribery, among others. On the other hand, street crime includes robbery, murder, assault, theft, among others. In addition to that, street crimes are of a violent nature while white collar crimes are not. The perpetrators of street crime are usually of a low socio-economic class while white collar crime perpetrators are employed professionals usually with a glowing career reputation. Although white collar crimes are more costly, they are not as strictly handled as the street crimes. Some of the reasons include the fact that white collar crime perpetrators are wealthy and c an therefore hire the finest lawyers for their cases. In addition, very few agencies are concerned with investigating white collar crime. The society views white collar crimes as causing less harm than street crimes because the former are not violent. Perpetrators of street crime however use violence and brutal force, and sometimes even murder their victims. Normally, street crime perpetrators are confined in maximum security prisons because they are considered a serious threat to the safety of the citizens, while their white collar counterparts end up in minimum security ones. In addition, the penalties differ, with those for white collar crimes being lighter than those of street crimes. White collar perpetrators get light penalties such as fines, community service or probation, while street crime offenders get very harsh sentences. (Gonzales par 5). However, recently, white collar criminals are getting very severe sentences, like imprisonment for long periods of time. For instance , white collar perpetrator Bernie Madoff got a prison sentence of 150 years. Many felt that this was a well-deserved punishment since he fleeced many people and organizations of their life time savings. Conclusion White collar crime is a trend that is increasingly taking root in our society. It is a fairly hard crime to detect and this calls for investors to be exceedingly careful when investing their money, lest they lose it to blatant fraudsters. Signs to look out for in a Ponzi scheme include promises of high returns on a low investment, minimizing withdrawals with promises of even higher returns, and problems in paying proceeds to the investors when the investment slows down, among others.Advertising Looking for term paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Investors should be wary of investment schemes, especially ones that seem too good to be true. The above discussion has looked at the concept of white collar crime, and particularly at the Bernie Madoff’s case. Comparison has also been made between white collar and street crimes to establish whether these two crimes should be classified together or whether they are disparate. Barlow, Hugh, and Decker Scott. Criminology and Public Policy: Putting Theory to Work. USA: Temple University Press, 2010. Print Gonzales, Joe. â€Å"White Collar Crime Guide to White Collar Crimes Law.† Hg.org, 1995. 12 Oct. 2011. https://www.hg.org/white-collar-crime.html Green, Stuart. The Concept of White Collar Crime in Law and Legal Theory. Buffalo Criminal Law Review, Vol. 8, No. 1 (April 2004), pp. 1-34 Kotz, David. Investigation of Failure of the SEC to Uncover Bernard Madoffs Ponzi scheme: Public Version. USA: DIANE Publishing, 2010. Print Sarna, David, and Malik Andrew. History of Gre ed: Financial Fraud from Tulip Mania to Bernie Madoff. USA: John Wiley Sons, 2010. Print