Why People Should Read Books Essay Example for Free

Why People Should Read Books Essay It is a disappointment that people read books less often in these days of widespread technological reliance. Books were the primary source of intellectual entertainment just a hundred years ago, but with the invention of radio, television, cinematography, and the Internet and computer games, it seems that reading books is no longer a popular leisure activity. However, I believe that books are an irreplaceable part of our lives, and the role that masterfully-written books play on the personal growth and development of a particular person throughout one’s life is a remarkable one. Books directly expand our consciousness of how we live and where we live, enrich our power to express ourselves, supply us with inspiration in a way that other mediums cannot compete with. Books expand our knowledge and conception of the world around us. One may argue that films and TV documentaries do that too, but I believe that books are a much better alternative, since they allow each reader to experience the same story using one’s own imagination. When a hundred people watch a film or a TV show, they see the same content – whatever the director and the producer wish to show. Books are different. The experience achieved through reading is richer and more personal, since the same description and the same word choice will result in as many different interpretations as there are readers. We are all unique, and books allow us to experience whatever is narrated in the light of our own personal values, through our ideas and our imagination. In addition, books enrich our vocabulary, introduce us to new notions and offer a wider choice of words to us. With every book we read, we become more intelligent. Even reading one seemingly more primitive pulp fiction book per month can enrich one’s personal vocabulary with dozens of new words, help us build more concise sentences on our own and express oneself better, make one’s speech more intelligent. Watching certain TV programs and documentary films can also widen one’s vocabulary, but hardly as effectively as books do, since reading operates with both more sophisticated visual and audio (if reading aloud) receptors. Moreover, our imagination reproduces mental pictures of what we are reading about, so a new word automatically links to a certain image and a particular feeling that it relates to. Therefore, reading books is a wonderful tool when it comes to learning and developing one’s vocabulary at any age. Books are a fantastic source of inspiration. Unlike fine art, architecture or travelling, books help us create our own mental illustration for what we read on paper. In a way, books make us all artists and creators of our own mental cartoons, movies or illustration collections. Every image we create ourselves is automatically allotted a certain emotion, whether a simple or a more complicated one. Every mental image that a written word projects is vibrant with feelings and emotions. This is what makes books powerful and memorable. Books are an endless source of inspiration and motivation to become a better person. I am certain that creating a system of symbols and eventually an alphabet, words, and books was the greatest series of inventions of humankind. The books I am talking about are classics, those that do not have an expiration date and will be priceless for any generation. They will continue sparking new ideas, inspiring new deeds and enriching the lives of every generation to come. I am positive that books will eventually regain their popularity with today’s youth, since unlike the popular kinds of entertainment in fashion today, books are those roots to which people will go back, in search of the motivation, inspiration and aspiration, to find the true meaning and value of life.

The Investigation Of Police Corruption

The Investigation Of Police Corruption One cannot separate police corruption from police abuse of force. Whenever an officer uses force, that officer needs to be able to justify the use of force. Law enforcement ethics go far beyond an officer choice to accept a cup of coffee, or a free car wash. The fact remains that whenever an officer lowers the ethical, and morals standards it affects every area of police operations and adversely affects the ability of law enforcement agencies to perform the mission that the community has entrusted them to do. When police misuse their power, and authority it lowers the departments professional competence; and at worse it spreads corruption through the department. Tract: The job of a law enforcement officer can be tough. Law enforcement officer are sometimes plagued with situation that test their ability to enforce the law and maintain order. Law enforcement officers today face a constant battle to establish and maintain higher ethical standards for police personnel. This mission becomes tougher each day when one considers the importance of fighting terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, and many other major issues. In the last few years, ethical issues in law enforcement have been affected by three critical factors-the growing level of temptation stemming from the illicit drug trade, the challenges posed by decentralization, and the potentially compromising nature of the police organizational culture. These factors make managing for ethics today far more different and demanding than it was in the past. How can law enforcement fight the war on crime and maintain personal liberties? One can examine the social stigmas and stereotypes that either further or reduce police corruption to help develop a better understanding of police corruption. Finally what is the solution to effectively control police corruption, enforce proper ethics, and ensure law and order? Terrorism is a new issue for law enforcement personnel today. Terrorism has had a great impact on the police mission here in the United States. Experts now are debating the proper way to address terrorism in America without creating ethical dilemmas. Can federal law enforcement hold all suspected terrorist within the United States in jail until they are cleared? Not legally. Would it be ethically okay to arrested terrorist, and allow them to be tried within the United States without legal counsel? No. Can the federal Government issue wire tapes on citizens phones without creditable evidence. No. What is the correct way to handle the issues on terrorism? The Police Executive Research Forum has outlined key ways to handle the war on terrorism. First, in order to prevent terrorist acts on U.S. soil the public must understand that Federal Law enforcement cannot do it alone. State, and Local law enforcement along with the general public must work together to gather intelligence on suspect ed terrorist. Local Law enforcement can use the community policing method to establish citizen engagement, partnership, trust, information sharing, and collaborative problem solving. With a relationship developed with the community, police can better identify potential suspects, and become proactive in the war on terrorism. Law enforcement can ethically address the war on terrorism. The problem is that social stigmas can play a key role in either furthering police corruption or reducing it. Social stigmas impact the way police perform because police sometimes use social stigmas to be proactive rather than being reactive to crime. For example, an officer may approach a young man walking around a suburban community with his hat turned to one side, and his pants below his knees. The office may see the social stigma of a thug, someone who is considered to be up to no good. When police use social stigmas in this way, the community will view it as good police work. However the use of social stigmas can also bring on police corruption. Some officer may violate human rights, with racial profiling, or just mistreating someone because of their outer characteristic. For example, whenever an officer sees someone with big rims and loud music he assumes they sell drugs. So the officer pulls the young man over and treats him like he is a criminal. First the officer ask for identification, then removes the young man from the car and performs an illegal search of the car and finds drugs . Now the officer will be forced to falsify reports, which is a form of police corruption. Social stigmas are no better than stereotypes; one person may fit the stereotype or social stigma, but one should never conclude that a stereotype or social stigma applies to everyone. When officer begin to apply a social stigma to everyone, they can easily fall into police corruption. With that being said, citizens should not apply social stigmas to all police officer. One can conclude that some police officers are involved in police corruption but not all. The ethical issues seen in police corruption can also be seen in police abuse of force. One cannot separate police corruption from police abuse of force. Whenever an officer uses force, that officer needs to be able to justify the use of force. Law enforcement ethics go far beyond an officer choice to accept a cup of coffee, or a free car wash. The fact remains that whenever an officer lowers the ethical, and morals standards it affects every area of police operations and adversely affects the ability of law enforcement agencies to perform the mission that the community has entrusted them to do. When police misuse their power, and authority it lowers the departments professional competence; and at worse it spreads corruption through the department. Although only a few officers may be involved in an act or corruption or abuse of force; the community will perceive all members of that department as incompetent, corrupt, or brutal. It is important to know that a few incidents of corrupt or brutal police behavior can overshadow or even negate years of efficient and honest po lice service, and cause long-term damage to an agencys reputation. Illegal and unethical acts by police officers, create community increased antagonism toward what appears to be an unappreciative or even hostile public, less citizen cooperation, more friction in police-citizen interactions, more invitations to corruption, and more confrontations that may lead to the use of excessive force. It is a classic vicious cycle, with worsening community relations, an increase in hostility between police and citizenry, and a concomitant growth of public contempt for the police all generating a downward spiral that far too often ends in tragedy. Many ethical factors that are behind police corruption can be found in police abuse of powers, and excessive force. Police corruption is sometimes motivated by an officers desires for money, respect, and power. Likewise, the use of excessive force can be used to ensure and officer receives money, maintains power, and respect from the community. Many officers who are involved in corrupt activities will often use force to maintain and protect their corrupt activities from reaching the public or media. In addition to that, officers who are under a lot of stress can fall into corruption, and are more likely to use excessive force. When police use excessive force, or fall into police corruptions it only hinders the overall mission or law enforcement. The only way to prevent corruption and police abuse is to train officer in ethical standards to strengthen the foundation of police ethics. To strengthen ethical standards officers need to be trained in the correct ways to change moral standards of contemporary society. The world today has lowered the moral and ethical standards of citizens, and police alike. The lack of moral standards, has allowed the community, and law enforcement to take justice in their own hands. Secondly, police need to know and respect the organizational expectations of the police. Society has certain perceptions, images, and expectations of the police. Some of the expectations that the community have of police may not be accurate or realistic. Misinformed or conflicting perceptions of the proper role of the police and conflicting expectations about what is or should be expected from the police often contribute to an environment of confusing built on mixed or even conflicting goals and objectives. As a result , the working environment of police, their morals, and their susceptibility to corruption and brutality are closely watched by the public and the media. With this in mind, police can better handle situation that propose ethical dilemmas. For example, officer now know that the community expects police to be corrupt, and to abuse their powers, so if a officer does the complete opposite, he or she can help raise the standard, and avoid some of those ethical factors that are behind police corruption, and police abuse of powers, and excessive force . Formal training programs can help to ensure that officers understand their departments code of ethics and related expectations Elevate the importance of ethics throughout an agency Underscore top managements support, and Provide specific assistance in areas directly related to ethical behavior (e.g., stress management, use of force, violence reduction, and behavioral science classes). Although more study is need- ed in this area, some empirical evidence supports the contention that formal ethics training fosters improved ethical behavior. One recent study found that officers specifically trained in anger management had fewer incidents of excessive force in making arrests. A distinct but related topic is whether higher education promotes ethical behavior. Clearly, advanced formal education enhances the maturity and professionalism of police officers. The question is whether those positive attributes spill over into the ethical arena.Some research suggests a positive relationship. Adva nced formal education appears to reinforce previously established ethical values in individuals. At the organizational level, one study identified a commitment to learning as one of the three most prominent characteristics common to highly ethical organizations. In conclusion, police corruption anywhere, hurts police everywhere. Police are held to a higher standard by the citizens, and the media. Police officers need to be aware of the social stigmas working against them. Law enforcement Officer need to be trained, and educated on how to hand ethical situation. If the law enforcement community seeks to change the image of police in American they must first become aware the ethical problems and avoid them. Secondly, Police with the help of education one maybe able to avoid the use of excessive force, and corruption. Lastly, law enforcement must correct, their attitude toward those who may fit a certain social stigma. Resource Page

Cassius as Tragic Hero in Julius Caesar Essay -- Julius Caesar Essays

Cassius as Tragic Hero in Julius Caesar    William Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar around 1599. The role of the `tragic hero' is extremely important as many of the characters in Julius Caesar exemplify the `tragic hero' qualities. Marcus Brutus, and Julius Caesar, display all the qualities of the `tragic hero': they are great men, with character flaws, and as a result of a mistake in decision-making many people suffer. In Cassius one can see these same qualities. Cassius can be seen as another tragic hero in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.    Cassius is a talented general, and does not like the fact that Caesar has become `god-like' in the Roman people's minds (see above quote Act I, Scene ii). Cassius can be seen as a great man because of his standing and title; however, his role as conspirator is much larger, and shows his power over others. Thus, in the eyes of the audience, he is perceived as great. However, he has a flaw, as all tragic heroes do: it is obvious from where his power is situated that he lacks integrity. He is impulsive and unscrupulous; this is...

U.S. National Debt Essays -- Argumentative Economics Economy Papers

U.S. National Debt The U.S. national debt has reached an alarming proportion. As it steadily increases, it's effect may not be felt now, but it will be in the future. Paul Gregory and Roy ruffin, in their book entitled Economics, linked deficits with inflation in the long run (251). Demand-side inflation of this type fails to increase the GDP, but instead just increases prices. Continuous increases in prices do not benefit the country or future generations. Also entitlements, such as Social Secriuty and Medicaid, now engulf a large percent of the deficit. Figures from the article "The Entitlement Quaqmire" (http://www.europa.com/~blugene/deficit/entitlements.html) concluded that Social Secruity was the largest portion of the entitlements, which total to around one-half of the budget. While the older generations now benefit from this debt by paying lower taxes and receiving these entitlements, the younger generations will have to bare the burden of the debt run-up by these exha!ustive expenditures without recieving any benefit from them. With a future of inflation and indebtedness from which no benefit for the payee was received, demonstrates the debt will have an effect on the economy and not for the better. Some may argue that the Keynsian approach of increasing the AD by running a deficit is necessary. A liberal Democrat, Joe Schwartz in his editorial(http://comemac4.bsd. uchicago.edu/DSALit/DL/DL954#1) expre...

Essay --

The loss of innocence Any child under the age of eighteen that is supposed to wed is thrown into the category of child marriages. This practice is very popular in India, Africa, Latin America and Oceania but the biggest area is Yemen and Saudi Arabia who does not have a minimum age requirement and does not protect the women’s rights under any circumstances. International and domestic civil right activists are appalled at the rising number of illegal and underage child marriages in foreign and neighboring countries. The downfalls of these marriages are that they deteriorate the child’s physical and mental health and are one of the main reasons for uneducated women in the world. Local and government officials need to be taking action to put an end to this long time tradition. Firstly, these girls are usually a source of money or a dowry for her family. According to Webster’s dictionary, a dowry is property bought by a bride to her husband at the time of marriage (112). Following this even further, marrying to young can have serious and even life threating effects on their life. â€Å"Gi... Essay -- The loss of innocence Any child under the age of eighteen that is supposed to wed is thrown into the category of child marriages. This practice is very popular in India, Africa, Latin America and Oceania but the biggest area is Yemen and Saudi Arabia who does not have a minimum age requirement and does not protect the women’s rights under any circumstances. International and domestic civil right activists are appalled at the rising number of illegal and underage child marriages in foreign and neighboring countries. The downfalls of these marriages are that they deteriorate the child’s physical and mental health and are one of the main reasons for uneducated women in the world. Local and government officials need to be taking action to put an end to this long time tradition. Firstly, these girls are usually a source of money or a dowry for her family. According to Webster’s dictionary, a dowry is property bought by a bride to her husband at the time of marriage (112). Following this even further, marrying to young can have serious and even life threating effects on their life. â€Å"Gi...

Tarantella Poetry Commentary

The poem Tarantella is structured into two stanzas. The stanzas are unequal in length as the first stanza is longer than the second. The poem also consists of a chorus which is repeated 3 times. The chorus in the poem is â€Å"Do you remember an Inn? Miranda? Do you remember an Inn? †. Tarantella is about the memories of a specific Inn; â€Å"Do you remember an Inn, Miranda? †. The poem is set during war which is shown by the imagery used. The poem describes the bad experience of staying at an inn during war because of the â€Å"straw for a bedding† and the â€Å"wine that tasted of tar†. The tone of the poem is energetic which is created by the quick speed of the rhythm. The irregular lines of the poem are long or short which helps to create the quick speed. . The short lines also contribute towards the speed. In the poem, â€Å"And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers† is repeated as part of the technique used. Other techniques used in the poem include couplets and onomatopoeia. The poem has a fast rhythm. The effect this creates is an upbeat and energetic tone. The rhythm is created by the flow of the poem and the rhyming of the different lengths of lines. Tarantella can also be danced to as it is also a lively folk dance in 6/8 time. There are theories about the dance and one of those is that the dance is a cure for spider bites. Another theory is that when one is bitten by a spider, the victim would have the urge to dance uncontrollably. The poem rhymes irregularly in couplets or sometimes in the lines. An example of the poem rhyming in lines is â€Å"the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees. As Tarantella is a dance, the music of the dance also goes along with the poem. Tarantella has two metaphors which help set the imagery. The last stanza shows that the poem is set during war. This is shown by the two metaphors that are in the last stanza. The metaphor â€Å"Aragon a torrent at the door† shows that Aragon is â€Å"at the door† and ready for war. The other metaphor â€Å"Waterfall like Doom† is about the bombs th at are falling, and flowing like a waterfall creating a â€Å"boom†. In the poem â€Å"the feet of the dead to the ground† describes the victims of the war. The victim’s feet are on the ground meaning that they have fallen and died. The poem is alerting people that are going to experience war, about how it feels. This is shown by some of the negativity about the experience, as well as some of the good memories of it. Some examples include, â€Å"Straw for a bedding†, â€Å"wine that tasted of tar† â€Å"cheers and jeers†. The person that would be alerting people would have experienced war themselves.

Why Not to Use Plastic Bags

As everyone knows, the humble plastic bag has become an integral part of our lives†¦ In fact.. the plastic bag has become so common that we hardly notice their presence. Yet if you look around you.. you will notice that we are all in a swamp†¦. of plastic bags. They are everywhere. We use them to pack clothes, shoes, pens, tools, video games.. even fruits and vegetables. They are light weight, high strength, very flexible and come at a relatively low cost. Well All of this might sound wonderful. The plastic bag is an agent of air pollution, cancer and even some skin diseases. People who use these bags†¦ have made it into an environmental menace†¦ which has made many of our world's clean and glimmering metropolises into a†¦ pile of garbage. Did you know†¦ they are a slow poison in our daily life? When you use plastic bag do you know how they are made? If you don't lend me your ears†¦ Many of the plastic bags at the super market are made through recycled plastic; this means the old plastic is burnt at high temperatures and melted down. For this process †¦ a large number of hazardous chemicals are used.. which makes them a severe health hazard. When you use a plastic bag you could be responsible for giving your family members cancer, now your all wondering how this has come to be. When plastic bags and other plastic materials are burnt below 7,000 degrees they produce gasses which can lead to skin disease and some forms of cancer. Also when you bring your family products wrapped in polythene like fish, meat and vegetables they get can get infected by anaerobic bacteria, which is a germ responsible for skin cancer. Before you go ahead and throw away a plastic bag consider these true facts. Plastic bags end up in landfill. The bags are made of polymers and they are non- bio degradable (this means they cannot be broken down by the earth). Now you will ask why can't we just remove the polymers from the bag well the simple answer is.. Polymers are the same substance that makes the plastic bag a â€Å"performance material† get rid of them and your plastic bag will be as flimsy as a piece of paper†¦ Next time you go shopping and wonder why the prices of many fruits and vegetables have become more expensive†¦ consider this fact. The Plastic bags that are embedded in soil do not allow water to go into the earth. This becomes a huge problem for farmers and their crops. If their crops don't get enough water†¦ their crops will die and this is one of the factors that cause inflation in the cost of many fruits and vegetables. If you are one of the people who cares about animals.. you would like to know that humble plastic bag is also a health hazard to animals, especially in large cities where animals meet their end after eating.. a plastic bag. Even in places like zoos where animals are meant to be protected, many zoo keepers have found their animals munching away on plastic material that visitors and people like you have thrown away. Plastic bags that end up in our oceans and lakes†¦ have become a huge problem for the native wildlife. Many researchers have found the population size of animals such as the sea lion.. have de crease because of the plastic bags. These gentle creatures run into the plastic bag and it gets wrapped around their neck causing them to suffocate. The majestic sea turtle, which has been around from many millions of years are having their life drastically cut short by the plastic bags. When a sea turtle see's a plastic bag floating right past it, it mistakes the bags shape and colour for that of a jellyfish. The jelly fish is the sea turtles main source of food. So when it eats the plastic bag it also suffocates. So please†¦ don't be one of the people who are responsible for the extinction of the sea turtle! If you're a bird lover.. ou should know that even our flying friends are affected by the bag. Birds sometimes mistake the plastic bags for food but when they go to eat it the bag gets lodged in their beaks causing them to starve to death. The latest figures ravel that over 10million plastic bags are being used every day. All of this can be prevented†¦ by one simple solution. Next time you go to the super market look for an alterative to the plastic bag; this could either be a paper bag or a cloth bag. If you love your world.. and if you want to live in a cleaner environment†¦