The Olympic Games Essay Example for Free

The Olympic Games Essay Introduction: The Olympic Games is one of the earliest Pan-Hellenic festival as well as its modern revival. The Games as held today, is the largest showcase and competition of the world’s best athletic skills and sportsmanship. It embodies and promotes nationalism, politics and commerce among competing nations. The coming together for participation promotes unity among nations while national pride upholds the competitive spirit. The existence of such opposing elements during Olympic Games can be found not only today but could also be traced during its early versions. Their high ideal, as opposed to commercialism and politics has been observed even from its ancient celebrations. The origin of the early games is obscure but the date of the first festival is traditionally 776 B.C. at Olympia. This was the year from which the Greeks dated their chronology in Olympiads and about the same year that Homer was born. Thereafter, the festival was held in quadrennials in celebration of each new Olympiad (or every after four years). The festivities were closely related with religious rites but it also includes athletic contests, oratory, music, poetry, and other art forms. It was during the late 19th century that the Olympic Games were revived as an international athletic contest, retaining the ideals of the original Olympian festival and some of the events in its modified form. Although its initial revival was successful, it was not spared from a few hurdles. Over the years, the Games continued to attract international participants. About 203 countries are now involved in the Olympics, as compared to 14 participating countries way back in 1896. The current numbers of participating countries are markedly higher than the recognized 193 countries by the United Nations. Reason of which comes from the International Olympic Committee’s regulations, which allows nations that had not been duly recognized by the United Nations to participate and compete. Consequently, colonies of other member nation are allowed to organize their own Olympic teams and make representations even though their athletes hold the same citizenship of another competing nation. Taiwan for example, used to compete as â€Å"Republic of China†, causing conflict with the People’s Republic of China, which refused to participate until 1980. Taiwan thereafter, competed with the official name â€Å"Chinese Taipei†. In fact, the next Olympic Games will be held in 2008 at Beijing. China is now busy in its preparation as 2008 Olympics host. Countries vying to host the Games have to accommodate large numbers of athletes, tourists, and journalists. The growth of the number of people involved in the Games’ celebration is one of the major concerns that organizers continually face. Nevertheless, the Olympics are one of the most awaited and popular major world events today. Ancient Olympics: As the world looks on with anticipation as the years draw nearer (and with great preparation) for the coming of the next Olympic games, one cannot but help to look back from its origin. Despite its popularity, its ancient origins had been shrouded in obscurity. The ancient festivities are quite different compared to the modern version of the Games. It had lesser number of events to compete on.   Foremost criteria for athletes are having the ability to speak Greek, and that only free men were allowed to compete.  Ã‚   Olympia is the official site of every festivity of the ancient Olympic Games, in contrast to the current practice wherein hosts countries differ from every celebration. Despite the accepted tradition that 776 B.C. marked the first Olympiad, it seems reasonably certain that the Olympic Games were instituted prior to that time. But there are various stories about the origin of the Olympics. It is probable that the Olympian festival developed from the custom of holding athletic contests in honor of a god or dead hero. Some believed that the Games might have been closely associated with funeral rites, such as those at the funeral of Patroclus, as described by Homer in the Iliad. Achilles, Patroclus’ best friend, held games for  Ã‚   Patroclus’ honor as part of the funeral service. It included boxing, wrestling, a chariot race, and footrace. Later, they may have been held at regular intervals to honor all who had died within that period. According to the poet Pindar, in the 15th century B.C., Heracles instituted the Olympic Games as a celebration for his victory over Elis and killing King Augeas. Another legend has it that when dissension ravaged Greece, Iphitus was ordered by an oracle to restore the Games. Pausanias, a Greek traveler, tells of a bronze desk in the Heraeum at Olympia, inscribed in the rules of the Games and with the names of Lycurgus and Iphitus. Pausanias also relates that according to ancient archives of the people of Elis, the Game’s founder was attributed to Idean Heracles and was responsible for giving the name to the Olympian contests. The Games started when he challenged his brothers to a footrace at Olympia. Another account, according to Pausinias, relates that Zeus himself initiated the first Olympiad when he contended with his father Cronus for the sovereignty of heaven and control of the world; and that Zeus proclaimed the Games after his victory. Another legend states that the Games was established after the Greek hero Pelops won against King Oenomaus in a chariot race in a bid to marry Oenomaus’ daughter, Hippodamia. Although it is uncertain as to who is truly responsible for the initiation of the Games, Olympia had always been the consistent site where the Games’ events were held. This is not surprising since even before 776 B.C., Olympia had been the site of cult worship for Zeus. It is located far from human residences, majestically overlooked by a hill, and the River Alph flowing through it (a river considered sacred by the Greeks). It was held in midsummer at Olympia in the northwest part of the Peloponnesus where a stadium and a temple to Zeus were built on the eastern and northern banks of the rivers Alpheus and Claudeus. During the Hellenic era this sanctuary became the symbol of the Greek’s devotion to physical beauty and the training of mind and body to the highest state of coordination. The ancient Olympics had four types of races. First type of race requires runners to sprint the full length of the stadium, about 192 meters long. This is called a STADION. The second type is called a 2-STADE race, about 384 meters. Then there were races, which entail its competitors to run wearing armor in 2 or 4- STADE. It is good to note that a standard armor at this time could weigh as much as 50 to 60 lbs. Though this might seem ridiculous for modern standards, but the Greeks were particularly concerned with improving its chances over battles. Greeks have made use of the Games as an opportunity to help build the speed and endurance among its men when they are called to render military service (â€Å"Ancient Olympic Games†). By 724 B.C., diaulos was introduced. Later, the dolichos was added which require 12 laps. Perhaps one of the major reasons for emphasizing running in the events could also be related to the Greek’s idea that excellent soldiers possess good speed and stamina. An all-power race, called Pancreaton, combines all kinds of physical attack. The tremendous importance of the Olympic Games dates from the sixth century B.C. when Sparta attained preeminence among the Greek states. At first Pisa, a city-state was in control of the Olympic Games, but Elis, a neighboring city-state to the North, had usurped control by 572 B.C. In time, Olympia became the center of a federation, and the Games began to achieve a more than local significance. Powerful Sparta formed an alliance with Elis; and thus it came about that Elis controlled the religious aspects of the Olympic festival, while Sparta was the official â€Å"protector† of the Games, spreading its own fame and prestige. It was the political supervisor, enacting and enforcing the â€Å"sacred truce†, which even during wars permitted Hellenes to come from all parts of Greece and the Greek colonies to compete in the great Olympic Games. The Games came to constitute the one international bond that held through all wars and differences. From 776 to  Ã‚   721 B.C., the list of the victors included only the names of Eleans and their neighbors. Later, Megarians, Corinthians, Athenians, and others appear as winners. Religion The ancient Olympics always had a religious element; not only that a myth considered Zeus as the initiator of the Games every festivity was held in his honor. Moreover, Zeus was believed to have a hand over the results of the Games: those he favored were believed to become the victors while athletes who did not will ever have any chances for winning on the competition. Pindar’s victory-ode credits victory among champions to their talents and through the unseen influence of the gods. Cheating and bribery were not alien even those early times, and so those that were caught were fined. The money goes for building projects such as a cult statue of their chief god, Zeus. Grand celebration in Zeus honor is done all throughout the Games. The people would offer sacrifices and Zeus is petitioned to keep off flies from the meat, Zeus being considered the â€Å"averter of flies†. While burnt offerings were given, the temple priest would examine the sacrifices. The priest pronounces great oracles in Zeus honor and continues to give ambiguous prediction of the things to come. Athletes base their chances of winning over the competition through these oracles. As an expression of the Greek’s idea, the Olympic games continued to thrive as a Pan-Hellenic institution. While it would seem distant for modern man how a religious festivity came to be expressed through athletic competition, it must be remembered that Zeus was honored by the Greeks through the harmonious blending of mind and body. Surviving the independence of the Greek states, they continued through Macedonia and Roman times. Cedrenus, a Greek writer of the 11th century, declared that the Olympic festivals ceased to function after A.D. 392. The Tempe of Zeus was destroyed by the Christians or Goths during the reign of Theodosius II, early in the fifth century, being rebuilt as a fort. The statue of Zeus was carted away to Constantinople, where it was ruined in the fire of 476. Prizes The prizes awarded to the victors of the events in Olympic games the crown of olive and the palm branch. These were only of symbolic value. The victors were treated as heroes on their return home; statutes were erected in their honor both in the Altis at Olympia and at home, and they were given a place of honor at all public spectacles. Athletic champions of today are still treated with great honor in their own country as well as earn the respect of others. Pindar of Thebes composed odes in honor of victors, giving adulation even to the point of bringing them close to divine level. Though statues may now be fewer in number, but commercialism of the Games had substituted statues with billboards, magazines, television, and print images of celebrated athletes. They occupy a special place of honor in society and adoring fans ‘idolize’ them. Origin of Prizes Pausanias relates, in his Itinerary of Greece, the origin of the prizes at Olympia: â€Å"In the marketplace, which is in shape very like a brick, is a temple of Aphrodite called the Brick Aphrodite, and a stone statue of the goddess. And there are two pillars, on one of which are effigies of Antiphanes, Crisus, Tyronidas, and Pyrrhias, who are held in honor to this day as legislators for Tegea, and on the other pillar Iasius, with his left hand on a horse and on his right hand a branch of palm. They say he won the horse race at Olympia, when Hercules the Theban established the Olympian Games†¦A crown of wild olive was given to the victor at Olympia†¦Most games have a crown of palm as the prize, and every where the palm is put into the right hand of the victor†¦When Theseus was returning from Crete, he instituted James, they say, to Apollo at Delos, and himself crowned the victors with palm. This was, they say, the origin of the custom, and Homer has mentioned the palm in Delos in that part of the Odyssey where Odysseus makes his supplication to the daughter of Alcinoǘs.†   (â€Å"Olympics†). Politics:    Ancient and modern Olympics have the main purpose of promoting peace, unity among the people of different nations. Messari, an Olympic historian, that the games had played an important role in attaining more unity among nations (D.K. Tandon, noted it. â€Å"The Politics of the Games and the Games as Politics†). However, such good intentions are marred by politics. Politics continue to creep into the Games, even during earlier times. As the Greeks struggled to keep politics out of the Games with little success, so do current Olympic organizers. While the Games was purposed to bring an end or ceasefire all over Greece, and allowing competing participants to travel safely, this was usually not the case. Thucydides gives an account in 420 B.C. when Spartans broke a truce when they attacked a fort and sent off hoplites. The Spartans were castigated by being banned from competing in the Games. During the fifth century, the Sicilian dictators were said to have boosted their political grip by participating in the equestrian event of the Olympic competition. Athletes would try to gain media mileage by commissioning well-known poets to recite odes in their honor, recounting their victories (Dr. S. Instone. â€Å"The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern†). When the Arcadians and Pisatans conquered the Altis, they took it upon themselves to be in charge for the 104th Olympiad. But it was proclaimed invalid by the Eleans when they regained control. Pantarces of Elis was credited not only for winning in horse-race but made a peace treaty with the Achaeans and Eleans, seizing the opportunity to negotiate the release of prisoners on both sides of the war. Herodotus also relates how a wealthy but exiled aristocrat bargained his way back in to his homeland and property by giving his victory over the displeased ruler. Cultural Achievements Through the Games: The Greeks celebrated the excellence of the fusion of mind and body, a reason why ancient Olympics contain not only events whereby participants try to outdo one another through physical strength. Ancient Olympics gave opportunity for Greeks to create long-lasting cultural achievements in various fields such as poetry, sculpture, architecture, and mathematics, a contribution in which the world will always be indebted. Early Greeks had designed and built magnificent structures, which still continue to inspire present-day builders. One of the largest Doric temples in Greece was the temple of Zeus. Designed by the Greek architect Libon, he attempted to create the right proportions between the temple’s height and the distance between columns. This ‘ideal ratio’ can be found in the book Elements, by Euclid. Since part of celebrating Olympic victories usually done by erecting statues of champions, Greek sculptors honed their craft. Their works depicted the natural shapes and muscles of the body in motion. The Discuss Thrower is one of the famous statues made showcasing athletic activity. Poetry flourished through the Olympics as poets express their own admiration towards victors or as some were commissioned to do. Popular poets during this period were Pindar, Simonides, and Bacchylides. Amazingly, the poems outlasted the sculptures and its inscriptions. The poems were recited over and over the passing generations, allowing past victories to be known and remembered (â€Å"The Context of the Games and the Olympic Spirit†). Transition:    The Olympics had ceased to be a religious festival. Originally observed as an honor to Zeus by giving of dedicatory offerings, the people have moved their focus from religious practices to honoring Zeus through athletic feats. There are several factors attributed to this change. One of which is the growth of Greek city-state or ‘polis’. As city-states emerged in various locations, each polis wanted to prove their excellence over the others and consequently, would send their own representatives to prove their supremacy. Such attitude prevailed up to this day as national pride. Countries send off their athletes, and their victories are considered as bringing great honor to their own people. Another cause for the transition is closely related to military training. The Games motivated the men to be physically fit. Furthermore, the Greek’s traditional view that the gods have a hand in helping the victors; the Greeks were claiming the supremacy of their own god, Zeus.    Modern Olympics The reinstitution of the Olympics in modern times is usually attributed to Baron Pierre de Courbertin of France. He proposed the modern Olympic Games in 1892 and in 1894 had helped organize the International Olympic Committee, which has governed the Games ever since. Courbertin became the first secretary-general of the organization. The first modern Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. During the first modern Olympics, medals were awarded to only the top two finishers: a silver medal to the winner and a bronze medal to the runner-up. The winner also received a crown of olive branches, and the runner-up a laurel crown. Competition was in nine sports, and all the athletes were male. In 1900 in Paris the Games were part of the Universal Exposition festivities. For the first time, women took part in the competition, with 11 of the total field of 1,330 athletes. Women competed only in golf and tennis. Britain’s Charlotte Cooper won the tennis singles to become the first woman top medallist. Pres. Theodore Roosevelt used his influence to have the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis to coincide with its World’s Fair. Very few foreign athletes competed because of the difficulty of travel towards the city host. Other than the inaugural Games in Athens in 1896, those in St. Louis drew the smallest number of competitors in modern Olympic history. In 1906 a special tenth anniversary of the modern Olympics was held in Athens, Greece. The large crowd helped bolster the enthusiasm of the host country. However, the Interim, or Intercalated, Games, as they were called, was later declared unofficial, and the results were not retained in official Olympic history. The 1908 Games in London were marred by controversies. It was the 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm, Sweden, which was the most successful in renewing the prestige of the Olympics. The 1st World War interrupted the Games but was reinstated by 1920 in Belgium. Countries that were enemies of Belgium were not invited to participate. Nazi leader Adolph Hitler orchestrated the 1936 Summer Games amidst protests from other countries, especially the United States (â€Å"Olympics†). The political overtones of the Olympics did not lessen with the fall of nazi Germany. In 1956, Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon boycotted the Melbourne Games to protest the Anglo-French seizure of the Suez Canal, and the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland boycotted as well to protest the USSR’s invasion of Hungary. In Mexico City in 1968, two American black used the victory pedestal to publicize their disdain for U.S. racial policies. In Munich in 1972, Palestinian terrorists massacred 11 Israeli athletes. And in 1976 in Montreal, 33 African nations, to be presented by about 400 athletes, boycotted the Games to protest South Africa’s apartheid policies. The most serious disruptions to the modern Olympics, however, came in 1980 and 1984. Under strong pressure from the Carter administration, the U.S. Olympic Committee voted to boycott the Summer Games in Moscow to protest the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. About 40 nations followed, including West Germany, China, and Japan, depriving the Soviets of the chief athletic competition and raising doubts about the future of the Olympic movement. Post September 11 attacks had also created greater security problems that organizers and the United States had to contend with. This would entail stricter measures of checking athletes, spectators, and the media as they gather at the event. The Secret Service has employed a tactic of pairing off a local law enforcer with a federal secret service. Local officers would be in-charge of disciplining local troublemakers, while the secret service agent is responsible for looking out for terrorists (B. Howell. â€Å"New Security After 9-11†). As one views over the history of modern Olympics, it is easily noticeable that as the Games bolstered national pride, it also helped to foster politics. The two elements had become inseparable from affecting the Games. References: â€Å"Ancient Olympic Games†. http://www.wucho.com/Ancient%20Olympic%20Events.doc â€Å"Olympics†. Cited in Collier’s Encyclopedia. Vol. 18. 1990. Tandon, D.K. â€Å"The Politics of the Games and the Games as Politics† http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011118/spectrum/main2.htm Instone, S. â€Å"The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern†. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greek_olympics_01.shtml â€Å"The Context of the Games and the Olympic Spirit†. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/spirit.html â€Å"Olympics†. Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 20, 1994. Howell, Brennan. â€Å"New Security After 9-11†. Tiger Times. Issue Five. http://www.chagrin-falls.k12.oh.us/CFHS/newspape/m02_issu/metro/metro18.html

Ideal Woman :: essays research papers fc

Does anybody know what the ideal woman is supposed to look like? Is this woman thin and tall or fat and short? Why are woman judged on how they look and how they dress, but males are not? Why are images of woman everywhere? Why do woman feel that they have to be gorgeous so society can love her? Believe it or not, society plays a big role in people lives. The biggest role it probably plays is how a female should look. For instance, if you look at the television, if you look at movies, and if you look in different magazines covers, most of the woman appears to look thin. Other woman sees this body image and they began to think they need to look like her. Most actresses today are becoming younger and thinner and some of them have an eating disorder in order to stay thin. Trying to keep the Barbie doll image is very dangerous to woman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is kind of hard to believe that some of our wants and needs are based on images, the Barbie doll look. According to Olds, 69% of woman said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape (Olds, 1999). The media send messages that if you are thin and beautiful then you will get whatever you want. According to a study by Health and Welfare Canada (1992), they documented that 37% of females age 11, 42% of females age 13, and 48% of female’s age 15 say they need to lose weight (National Eating Disorders Information Centre, 2000). Most women do not realize this but the media sends woman subliminal messages through television. The average woman sees about 400 to 600 advertisements per day (Dittrich), and by the time she is 17 years old, she has received over 250,000 commercial messages through the media (LaVoie). These messages from the media tells woman in order to be successful you must be attractive and thin, which is not really true. T oday beautiful young and thin woman sees everything. They sell products from alcohol to shoes, you see them everywhere. These messages tell woman that appearance is more important than character and personality. According to the Health Canada (1997), â€Å"In the western culture slim is promoted not only as beautiful, healthy, and sexy but self-disciplined and good. Attractive people are perceived to be kind, interesting, outgoing, and to have a variety of socially desirable character traits. Ideal Woman :: essays research papers fc Does anybody know what the ideal woman is supposed to look like? Is this woman thin and tall or fat and short? Why are woman judged on how they look and how they dress, but males are not? Why are images of woman everywhere? Why do woman feel that they have to be gorgeous so society can love her? Believe it or not, society plays a big role in people lives. The biggest role it probably plays is how a female should look. For instance, if you look at the television, if you look at movies, and if you look in different magazines covers, most of the woman appears to look thin. Other woman sees this body image and they began to think they need to look like her. Most actresses today are becoming younger and thinner and some of them have an eating disorder in order to stay thin. Trying to keep the Barbie doll image is very dangerous to woman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is kind of hard to believe that some of our wants and needs are based on images, the Barbie doll look. According to Olds, 69% of woman said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape (Olds, 1999). The media send messages that if you are thin and beautiful then you will get whatever you want. According to a study by Health and Welfare Canada (1992), they documented that 37% of females age 11, 42% of females age 13, and 48% of female’s age 15 say they need to lose weight (National Eating Disorders Information Centre, 2000). Most women do not realize this but the media sends woman subliminal messages through television. The average woman sees about 400 to 600 advertisements per day (Dittrich), and by the time she is 17 years old, she has received over 250,000 commercial messages through the media (LaVoie). These messages from the media tells woman in order to be successful you must be attractive and thin, which is not really true. T oday beautiful young and thin woman sees everything. They sell products from alcohol to shoes, you see them everywhere. These messages tell woman that appearance is more important than character and personality. According to the Health Canada (1997), â€Å"In the western culture slim is promoted not only as beautiful, healthy, and sexy but self-disciplined and good. Attractive people are perceived to be kind, interesting, outgoing, and to have a variety of socially desirable character traits.

Henry David Thoreau Essay

Transcendentalism is a very important movement that occurred not only in literature but in life as well. The transcendentalist movement was a movement that was basically the thought of everyone having an over-soul. The over-soul is the thought of a relationship between God, nature, and man. The movement had many different characteristics like individuality, feelings being priority over reason, the fact that nature was divine, and that nature held truths. Transcendentalists used the truths that they observed in the world and in nature to change the way society was and how people see themselves in the world. Although the idea of a utopia was not successful, the movement sparked a change in literature. Emerson and Thoreau are the two people most associated with transcendentalism. They both wrote essays about their experiences in nature and influenced many other writers to do the same (hence the transcendentalist movement). The transcendentalist thought is especially apparent in Walt Whitman and Emily Dickenson’s work. Whitman and Dickenson both show many traits of the movement, but the most apparent trait is individualism. Individualism is often portrayed in Emerson and Thoreau’s work as being equal. Everyone has a soul, inner truth is the only thing that matters, and fulfillment comes from knowing one’s self. In Emerson’s essay Nature, he describes man as being universal and related. In the quote â€Å" . . . that great nature in which we rest . . . that Unity, that Over-Soul, within which every man’s particular being is contained and made one with all other. . . . We live in succession, in division, in parts, in particles. Meantime within man is the soul of the whole; the wise silence; the universal beauty, to which every part and particle is equally related; the eternal ONE. † Emerson is saying that all men have souls and that each soul is a part of an even bigger soul, the universal soul. This is basically saying that we are all equal, but at the same time we are separated because we each have a soul of our own. In another essay, self-reliance, he stated â€Å"Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In this, he is saying that being misunderstood is being great. This also says that being misunderstood is forgetting what society says you should be or act like and doing what you want to do in order to find yourself and be your own person. By not caring about what others may think about your choices and decisions, you can be your own person and set an example for others to do the same. Not only was Emerson talking about being an individual, he was also adding a bit about your feelings being more important that reason. Thoreau also writes about individualism in his essays. In Walden, Thoreau writes about the experiences and life of his life. He writes â€Å"†¦ if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet success unexpected in common hours. † This is saying that you should live the way that you want to live and that your inner truth or inner desires are all that matter. Everyone has inner truth and desires and to live the life that you want to live then you should go for the dreams that you have always wanted to come true. This is a prime example of individualism because everyone has dreams and inner truths about the way that they want to live and it is completely up to them to live the way that they want to live. He also addresses individualism in another essay titled Civil Disobedience. He writes â€Å"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step towards obtaining it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In this, he is encouraging people to take a stand for the rights and respect they deserve. In a way, he is telling people to stop ignoring the unfair government and do something about the way you feel. This is showing again how everyone has inner truth and they should do something to change the way the world is to be better. Thoreau wanted the government to change and so he spoke about what he believed to be true. This is him showing his individualism and encouraging others to speak up as well about the truth that they believed. Like Emerson and Thoreau, Whitman and Dickenson have both used individualism in their works, but Whitman does a better job at portraying it. In Whitman’s poem ‘Song of Myself’, Whitman writes about everyone being equal and having equal opportunities. He states â€Å"I am of old and young, of the foolish as much as the wise, regardless of others, ever regardful of others, maternal as well as paternal, a child as well as a man, stuffed with the stuff that is course, and stuffed with the stuff that is fine †¦ † In this quote he is comparing total opposites to each other. This is a way of showing how even the opposites are the same. Regardless of others, ever regardful of others means that others mean nothing to you, yet others mean everything to you. It’s contradicting, but in a way that says although others mean nothing to you, they affect you in certain ways. Everyone affects you, but you are not everyone. You are simply yourself and that is what I get from what Whitman was describing. In another part of the poem, Whitman says ‘I am as bad as the worst, but thank God, I am as good as the best. ’ This quote stands out because it means no one is better than anyone. Just because you don’t get in trouble doesn’t mean you are any less wrong or less bad. Just because you do good things doesn’t mean you are any better! Being good is simply being good and the same goes for being bad. No one is any better or worst. This means that everyone is equal and has equal opportunities. Dickenson also uses individualism as a theme in some of her works as well. In the poem ‘Heaven Has Different Signs—To Me’, Dickenson writes â€Å"The Rapture of a finished Day—Returning to the West—All these—remind us of the place, That Men call â€Å"paradise†Ã¢â‚¬  In this poem Dickinson is describing what heaven would be like. This quote refers to the end of the day for men. Individualism is living the way you want and reaching fulfillment. This quote shows how men are fulfilled in their lives and of what they call paradise. To me, I don’t think she is writing about heaven, I think she is writing about a utopia. She is writing about a place that everyone is equal and enlightened. Dickinson and Whitman both write about being equal and living the life that you want to lead. Even though they both write about individualism, Whitman portrays it much more and it is more apparent. They were both influenced by the transcendentalist movement, but Dickinson focuses on other traits like how nature is beautiful and simple and the relationship that nature, life, and death have. The transcendentalist movement may be over, but it left an imprint in literature. Many people speak of individualism and the name most associated with it in the movement is Walt Whitman. Works Cited Poemhunters. com. N. p. , n. d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. â€Å"Quotations by Author. † Walt Whitman Quotes. N. p. , n. d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. Thoreau, Henry D. â€Å"Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau. † Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau. Jone Johnson Lewis, n. d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. Thoreau, Henry D. Walden. N. p. : Jalic, 2003. Print. Whitman, Walt. â€Å"(1836)Nature. † Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Oregon State College, n. d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. Whitman, Walt. â€Å"Self Reliance. † Mrgunnar. net. N. p. , n. d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

Economic Structure of Opec - 968 Words

The Economic Structure of OPEC For: Professor John Zink BUS 610-0703B Economics for the Global Manager By: Maria A. Journiette August 31, 2007 Many companies operate under a monopoly which gives them an edge or a corner on the market. In this discussion we will focus on the differences between a monopoly, oligopoly, and a cartel. We will also look at what game theory is and its affect on monopolies and cartels and the welfare affect of each of the above mentioned. A monopoly is defined as, sole control of a particular line of goods or services in a given market or the means to control distribution and price.(Webster s, 2000) In a monopoly situation there is only one person with a particular good or service and because†¦show more content†¦Looking at these figures we can see that with the demand the prices continued to rise. Also the war in Iraq contributed to the increase prices. If we were to look at the price of a barrel of crude oil today it would top all of these prior years at $71.17 a barrel.(tonto.eia.doe.gov, 2007) The problem is that the prices continue to rise while the income and wages of the American w orker s remains the same. With the continued increase in the demand for oil, the financial future for OPEC looks very secure. So, what about the members, certain countries production will have to decrease while other foreign countries may have to increase their production. OPEC should continue to strive to look for ways to be environmentally friendly and ways to keep up with the demand without increasing the cost to the consumers. If things remain the same the price of crude oil will continue to rise to the point that the supply may be more than the demand as we continue to look for alternatives to crude oil. References Radcliffe, J. (2000). The New International Webster s Pocket Business Dictionary of the English Language. Trident Press International; United States of America. m-w.com Retrieved August 28, 2007 from, http://www.m-w.com Energy Information Administration. This Week In Petroleum. Retrieved August 29, 2007 from,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Understanding OPEC: An Economic Analysis1353 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstanding OPEC: An Economic Analysis In the last few months, much has been said of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Interestingly enough, one of Iraq’s motivating factors was economics. Kuwait provided Iraq with a pretext for war as it violated the economic policies of the Organization of Oil-Exporting Countries by exporting oil above its quotas. This is but one chapter in the complicated history of OPEC. OPEC is an international assembly of nations which co-ordinates and unifies the petroleumRead MoreThe Oil Embargo of 1972-19731247 Words   |  5 Pages that the war in Iraq was based upon an attempt of foreign control over the Iraqi petroleum resources. 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