Are diamonds taken out of context today Essay Example for Free

Are diamonds taken out of context today Essay In todays society, we [as people] take many things out of context. For example, diamonds. A diamonds, is a naturally occurring gem that has become prized for an unknown reason. They have no absolute value, except the price man delegates them to be valued. Humans discovered diamonds over four thousand years ago. Since its discovery, the diamond has been the hardest natural substance on the earth. Along with its hardness, it is also the purest and most rare of all gems, making it both functionally and culturally valuable. With this combination of qualities, it is easy to see why it has been an object of obsession, ever since its discovery. However, I have come to believe that throughout our recent history of the gem, its cultural significance out weighs its functionality. Since, their discovery, diamonds have meant many things to many people. It has always been of the same beauty as it is today, but it started out as an evolutionary tool. The supreme hardness of the diamond makes it a fundamental industrial material that affects everyday life. According to the Museum of Natural History, It has three primary roles in industry: it is used as a cutting tool, it is imbedded in another material and used as a tool or abrasive, and it is also turned to powder or paste for grinding and polishing. It is selected for such use where its hardness and resistance to abrasion its long working life and fast cutting action outweigh its cost(AMNH). For any type of stone or masonry, as well as all types of metal that requires drilling, shaping, or polishing, diamonds may perform the task. In fact, diamonds are in such demand that, four times the amount produced naturally is grown synthetically for industry alone. That amounts to over 500 million carats or 100 metric tons (AMNH). As you can see, there are many functional uses for diamonds. They have created options, never thought possible, with previous technologies. Some of these things include; shaping eyeglasses, other gems, computer chips, and even blades used in critical surgeries. Record needles have used diamonds in for producing music for about fifty years. Unfortunately, due to ruthless marketing and advertising, the diamonds path soon changed. [As I stated above] Diamonds have always contained the same beauty. However, before 1938, the value of diamonds derived primarily from their worth as a rare stone. In 1938, the New York advertising agency of N. W. Ayers(r) was hired. Their job was to change the public attitude about diamonds. A company you might have heard of, DeBeers(r) the largest controller and harvester of diamonds in the world hired the agency. These two companies wanted to transform diamonds from a financial investment, to a symbol of committed and everlasting love. Finally, in 1947, an Ayers(r) advertising copywriter came up with the slogan a diamond is forever and the rest they say, is history (IBC). DeBeers'(r) new slogan revolutionized the diamond market. With their new symbol of love and faith, the diamond came to represent many different things from earlier days. Today the diamond symbolizes wealth, durability, status, and peerless quality. Across time and cultures, diamonds have also been associated with invulnerability, lighting, magic, healing, protection, and poisoning (AMNH). In the past, this beautiful nearly flawless gem was an extraordinary technological gain. However, today the combination of their beauty and near imperfection, makes the diamond the most sought after gem in the world. Due to advertisement and DeBeers(r) new slogan, diamonds became the cultural icon that they are. You see diamonds today in many forms: Earrings, necklaces, rings, watches and any other piece of jewelry you can imagine. I have even [personally] seen diamonds on a persons teeth. With all of these new places to put diamonds and the ever-growing demand to own them, it seems the views have changed. Besides the status symbols diamonds deliver they also represent longevity. By pairing an intimate personal commitment and a gem that lasted forever, they gave the notion that this was the only gift that can symbolize commitment. The pressure for a man to buy his new bride a symbol of their eternal love and loyalty for each other is extreme. It almost seems absurd, in this day and time, that a man would not buy a diamond to offer a woman for her hand in marriage. There is even a diamond guide: The four Cs. This guide helps a person understand these things: Cut, Color, Carat and Clarity of diamonds. This guide allows magnified inspection to prove purity of the gem. This also allows retailers to increase prices on gems that reach higher standards. Well, at least they last forever! Unfortunately, although a diamond lasts forever, after time companies suggest an upgrade to larger gems that represent stronger love. With this staggering support of logic, the diamond industry will forever boom. They have helped lead our culture, as well as many others, into almost idolizing the diamond. In my opinion, human desire for diamonds shows how advertisers have done their job. We have allowed a company to decide what we think is valuable. The ads for diamonds appeal to our inner desires to have something rare and precious. It seems to be in us all, to want nice things, but diamonds have coerced us to want more. They symbolize power and success and for some, diamonds represent quality of life. They are our cultures only remaining treasures; with the help of DeBeers(r) and other diamond retailers, it will remain that way until the end of our time.

How John Lennon Made the Beatles More Popular than Jesus Essay

The story of the most legendary group in the history of popular music began in 1960, in Liverpool, England. The Beatles, were an English rock band, whose most well-known lineup, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, is considered by many as the most innovative, emulated, and successful music group of the twentieth century. John Lennon was largely responsible for the development of the band, since he, together with Paul McCartney, wrote most of the music for the Beatles. Lennon is largely responsible for the Beatles being considered the first rock performers who were truly considered groundbreaking artists in their own time, and years after the band broke up, with his lyrics, â€Å"Beatlemania†, and the controversy that he caused the band. John Winston Lennon was born in Liverpool, England on Oct. 9, 1940. His father abandoned the family when John was a baby, and his mother, Julia (after whom Lennon titled a song on the ‘Double White Album’ in 1968) could never bring herself to settle down to parenthood, leaving her son to be raised by her sister, Mimi Smith, and her husband. Growing up in a working class family provided John with a typical upbringing and exposure to current music. As a teenager, while studying at art school in Liverpool, Lennon decided to follow his passion for music, and started the group, The Quarrymen. In 1957, Lennon met Paul McCartney, who became a member later that year, when the group first played at The Cavern, a local jazz club. In early 1958, McCartney introduced Lennon to another guitarist, George Harrison, who was accepted as a member of the group without hesitation. The Quarrymen continued as before, with Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison joined by other young ... ...The Beatles. Avonmouth: Parragon Book Service, 1994. Print. Gopnik, Adam. "A Point of View: Why Are the Beatles so Popular 50 Years On?" BBC News. BBC, 15 June 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Hogan, Randolph. "He Love They Take and Make: Beatles Beatles Bibliography." The New York Times 5 Apr. 1981: 9. ProQuest. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Lennon, John, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. "Beatles Chicago Press Conference #1 - 8/11/1966 - Beatles Interviews Database." Interview. Beatles Interviews Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. "Lennon of Beatles Sorry for Making Remark on Jesus." The New York Times 12 Aug. 1966: 38. ProQuest. Web. Turner, Steve. The Beatles: A Hard Day's Write. New York: MJF, 1994. Print. Urish, Ben, and Kenneth G. Bielen. The Words and Music of John Lennon. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2007. Print. The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection.

Outline the Theory of Natural Law

Natural Law is an absolutist and deontological approach to ethnics that gives us fixed moral rules based on an nature that is interpreted by human reason. Thomas Aquinus linked this with the Christian teaching, which reflected God’s plans to build within us, this concept is Natural Law. Thomas Aquinus was influenced by Aristotle’s writings. Aristotle had a view that we all have a purpose on this earth and in order to fulfill this purpose we must reach a state of eudemonia, which is the ultimate happiness and living in an ordered society.He also believed that reason is the only way in which eudemonia can be achieved. He believed that we should all live a life of reason. He also believed that natural laws are universal and unchangeable, which means it should be common within different cultures. Aquinus stated that there are three types of laws. Eternal law, which tells us how the universe was made, this is the law that controls our whole universe. Eternal laws are only se en as reflections, the influence all other laws in our universe. These laws work together rationally to give a structure in which we can reason logically.Divine law: this is the law that is known by only those who believe in God and those who they have been revealed to. The last law Aquinus stated is natural law: this is the moral law of God that is known by reason.. Cicero said, â€Å"True law is the right reason in agreement with nature. † The fundamental processes also known as the five primary precept of natural law are worship, an ordered society, reproduction, learning and education and lastly defending the innocent. God inscribes these precepts into us regardless on whether you are a believer or not.Aquinus believed that we are all naturally inclined to â€Å"do good and avoid evil†. Aquinus does not believe that humans’ purpose is eudemonia, but is perfection, for we are made in the image of God, so the Supreme good must be developing into this image of Christ. Aquinus also tells us about the two types of good deeds. Real good and apparent good. Real good is when an action is done from the goodness of one’s heart. Real good has to do with a pure heart and no bad intentions or thought. Working out a real good has to do with â€Å"reason†. Both the interior act and the exterior act of an action must be pure.An apparent good is when someone thinks what he or she is doing is good, meanwhile it is bad and a sin is being committed. An example is a man who is having an affair may believe that his relationship with another person is good; meanwhile in reality he is committing a serious offence. Secondary precepts are discovered when we apply the primary precepts to practical situation. This has to do with how we treat different situations when making decisions. Different situations have to be treated differently. Secondary precepts become more teleological.Reason and experience are needed to come out with the right outcome. A n example would be the primary precept to worship God ,the secondary precepts is to determine whether the way of worship is acceptable and proper. Unfortunately there are some circumstances when good intentions produce a bad outcome and vice versa. This was what brought about the â€Å"Doctrine of the Double Effect†. Although it is never acceptable to do something bad hoping for a good outcome, doing something good that produces a bad outcome is acceptable, as long as it was not done intentionally.For example a pregnant woman who has cancer may need to undergo chemotherapy as a good act to preserve her life. However, the bad unintended side effects could be that the foetus is killed. Aquinus’ Natural Law gives us an absolute set of rules to follow no matter your religion or cultural background. These moral rules can be reached ultimately depending on reason. Some of the strengths of natural law are that it establishes common rules that can easily be followed. The basic principles of preserving human life, reproduction, learning and living in a society are all common to cultures, so natural law is reasonable.It also does not dictate exactly what we must do; it gives us guidelines about what should be done in individual cases. Lastly, it concentrates on human character and its potential to flourish and goodness instead of the wrongness of the particular acts. A few weaknesses are that natural law is difficult to relate in complex situations in practice. It also gives people the idea to base their decisions on assumptions. If people don’t have this common sense then it could be difficult to make good judgments. Also it is not possible for a single human nature to be common to all societies.

U.s. Constitution And American Public Policy - 895 Words

America has come up with this predefined set of rules that everyone in our society must follow, Laws. Laws have been thoroughly discussed and picked to assure that the nation runs smoothly. Americans have their rights to certain aspects of life, but most of which are violated or misused by court officials or government officials. Many years ago, people decided they would find a way to govern America. They formed the U.S. Constitution, a form of government like no other by the people, of the people, and for the people. With The Constitution in effect, laws had to be made. American Public Policy explains how American Law in American Courts worked and why those laws were implemented. Americans have their constitutional rights’ which were not limited, but government officials always abused their power and tried taking the rights that we as American citizens have away. Those rights included: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press, Due Process, Right to Privacy , and Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The goal of all state courts was: no U.S. Citizen or resident should be denied liberties, rights and privileges guaranteed in our constitutional republic. The American law for the courts are needed to protect women and children because both are commonly known to be discriminated against. American laws are being promoted because the government wants to preserve the liberties of Americans. Americans are being ridiculed and lied to about their rights by foreign lawsShow MoreRelatedU.s. Foreign Policy Policies Essay1312 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican foreign policy relates to what is done in foreign countries by the United States of America. The foreign policies include controlling of the governments of foreign countries or setting some rules in those countries. The foreign policy of America has always been changing all through the US existence. 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