“That which does not kill me, makes me stronger” Essays

â€Å"That which does not kill me, makes me stronger† Essays â€Å"That which does not kill me, makes me stronger† Essay â€Å"That which does not kill me, makes me stronger† Essay This quote is frequently heard and spoken in times of great pain and loss.   It tries to make sense of all the hurt the world has to offer.   What people want more than anything is the ability to make sense of all the things in life that go wrong.   Essentially turning a negative into a positive.   This is part of the great spirit of optimism that is uniquely American.   Unfortunately, there is no rhyme or reason to pain or loss.   No one is better off from being raped,   no one is made stronger by having been called names because of their race, or being beaten as a child.   I do not think that what does not kill me makes me stronger.   I do believe that hard things, bad things makes people realize what they are truly capable of, what they are able to recover from, and what they value. Four years ago my family suffered a terrible loss.   My 21 year old sister was killed in a terrible auto accident on March 7, it was the most devastating thing that ever happened to me and my family.   We are recovering, slowly.   As the years go by I miss her more but the pain is less.   I do not feel that I am stronger simply because my sister died.   I can guarantee my parents do not feel stronger for having loss a child.   It was through the loss of my sister that I realized how much I loved her and how important she was to all of us.   It was through her death that I valued my family more and refused to ever again take them for granted.   What did not killed me made me realize what I have and what I lost. For people who are already had their fair share of disappointment, what does not kill them can really mess them up.   Child abusers, alcoholics, drug abusers, the homeless are all examples of people who through their own personal bad experiences did not rise to the occasion.   They suffered and they continue to suffer.   They were not made stronger, they were overwhelmed and burden – essentially destroying their lives. I appreciate and admire anyone who has the ability to draw great strength from their own personal loss.   Optimism is always welcomed in a world full of bad surprises.   But I prefer a more realistic approach to life.   Bad things and good things in life – I expect both and I prepare for each.

How 9/11 changed people’s life in the USE

How 9/11 changed people’s life in the USE A devastating event that would forever alter our everyday lives. On September 11, 2001-a day that will never be forgotten- the United States experienced one of the worst terrorist attacks. 19 radicalist associated with al-Qaeda carried out a suicide attack at the world trade center, pentagon and pennsylvania killing approximately 3,000 people. (9/11 attack) Out of the three attacks, the planes that flew into the twin towers at the world trade center in New York City was the most destructive. The whole nation was in a state of shock as many watched the horrific event happening on live television. The smoke coming out of the buildings, people jumping out of windows in desperate hopes of escaping the fire, and people crying on the streets as they watch everything happen. It called for a time of togetherness and support for one another. Although it is its 16th year anniversary, we can still see its effect today. Americans perspective changed on muslims, creation of homeland security and the constant war on terror are some of the long lasting effects the 9/11 attack had on America. It’s no question that 9/11 changed Americans perspective on muslims in a negative way. According to Ohio State University’s nation poll, about 20% of americans said they are unwilling to have a muslim friend (Sirota). It increased by more than double from previous poll which was 9%. They have also concluded more Americans are likely to oppose restrictions on muslim Americans. Although the dictionary definition of terrorism is â€Å"the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims, its connotation has changed. Now people think of terrorism as a violent act that is committed by muslims. For example the travel ban, also known as the muslim ban, is a bill that allows the president to stop â€Å"certain groups of people from six majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States† (Lind). According to Jennifer Williams, â€Å"Between 2001 and 2015, more Americans were killed by homegrown right-wing e xtremists than by Islamist terrorists†,( Lind) This shows that we automatically associate muslims with terrorists activities but when an American does a horrific act we usually oversee it as a mental issue. According to polls conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, with nearly a majority of the poll, 49 percent â€Å"strongly† or â€Å"somewhat† agreed with the ban, while 41 percent â€Å"strongly† or â€Å"somewhat† disagreed and ten percent of them were undecided (Giaritelli). More people decide for it than against it which shows Americans view on muslims and their civil liberties. Like the travel ban, the U.S has many agencies and bills that help with the overall safety and security of the country. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are amongst the 22 agencies under Homeland Security which was created in 2002 under president Bush. Homeland security was created as a direct aftermath of the terrorist attack. These agencies have become a part of an everyday American lives when traveling, dealing with cyber security issues or simply a natural disaster. According to Homeland security’s yearbook of immigration statistics, after 9/11 deportation doubled, from 200,000 before the attack to 400,000 (Green). The transportation Security Administration has changed the way people traveled forever. Before 9/11 and homeland security was created, liquid was allowed on flights and full body scanners were like science fiction. Now, we have occasional pat-downs, full body scans, thorough search on people and their belongings. That used to be done by private companies of the airport but now that is a federal responsibility. Now it has grown so much that not only do they try to prevent terrorist attacks but they also prepare for any man-made or natural disasters. The most important long lasting effect of 9/11 is how the war on terror affected the country in many aspects. In 2001, same year as the attack, President Bush declared war in Afghanistan to find justice on Osama Bin Laden. A year later, he declared war on Iraq for mass destruction. This has been one of the longest wars as it only came to an end in 2011. According to a study by â€Å"The Balance†, U.S economy section, the cost of the two wars for homeland security is approximately $1.146 trillion under Bush, 807 billion under Obama, and budgeted 156 billion under Trump (Amadeo). In total it was $ 2.126 trillion, a big increase in spending, which resulted in the U.S debt crisis increase. This war on terror is still an ongoing fight as terrorism seems to be never ending. In may of 2011 the leader of the Al-Qaeda group that was behind the attack, Osama bin Laden, was confirmed dead. The U.S SEALS six team under President Obama, were able to successfully find and kill the terrorist leader. The countries deep involvement in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq have created an even bigger problem like ISIS. ISIS stands for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The creators of ISIS focused mainly on the unwanted involvement of the U.S in the middle east. They have made propaganda videos saying just that and have been able to recruit many including American citizens. According to research from the New America foundation, ISIS has claimed 7 attacks in the U.S that lead to 82 deaths. The director of counterterrorism, Nick Rasmussen, expressed his concern about the growing number of recruited ISIS American members and stated according to the U.S intelligence â€Å"150 American citizen and residents have traveled or attempted to travel to Syria’s foreign fighters†(Alfred). It’s not only people who travel to Syria that have become a concern but especially those who living on U.S soil and fully support the beliefs of ISIS. Myre of the two-way breaking news stated â€Å"Virtually all the deadly attacks since Sept. 11, 2001, have been carried out by homegrown extremists†. N ow the effort is not just war on terror in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq but also to stop Americans from joining or committing such an act. One thing we can’t forget, the soldiers. Because of this long war on terror, there have been thousands dead and many suffering physical or mental issues. In total, there were 2 million deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. According to U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations, 6,000 soldiers were dead and 44,000 were wounded. (Green) From those 18% of them suffered from Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) and about 20% suffered from Traumatic brain injury(TBI). The war on terror would not just affect the veterans but their families too. Many would have never imagined that the 9/11 attacks would still affect everyday lives 16 years later but it surely is. President Bush handled the attack well by taking action and creating Homeland Security and declaring war on terror in efforts to protect the country in the future. Security has become so much tighter at so many places especially when traveling. Many places around the country have emergency preparedness plans in place for all types of disasters because of the agencies under Homeland Security. A big accomplishment was made on Bush’s war on terror when the SEAL 6 successfully killed Osama Bin Laden under president Obama. The war on terror has been ongoing ever since the 9/11 attack and will continue until terrorism is stopped. The war on terror affected the economy negatively, changed America’s perspective on muslims and caused physical and mental injuries to many soldiers. The biggest problem it created is ISIS which doesn’t like U.S involvement i n the middle east. Although 9/11 had many negative impacts, it did not break the country but unite and make it stronger.

Personal Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Narrative - Essay Example At that time, I was stationed in Manhattan, KS and had to choose between Manhattan, Salina, and Topeka. Topeka and Manhattan were testing on the same days and as fate would have it, I decided to give Manhattan a try. Having no navigational skills in the city, I was first challenged in finding the testing site for the physical agility test. When I arrived at RCPD range were the recruitment was taking place, I was shocked to realize that I was going to be put up against other forty people who were competing for five or six slots. Once I got out of my truck and started talking to other hopeful applicants I became worried about the chances of success through the hiring process. I was confused on what would be my next step if I was not successful and was unable to secure a chance in the police department. I felt as though I was under qualified after finding out that 60%- 70% of the applicants had degrees in Criminal Justice. I thought for sure that college would be a major hiring point. I was determined to prove my ability and advantage over the graduates who lacked professional experience. The air was thin and cold on this particular day, making just breathing a chore. Gazing out at the course the towers were tall and a long climb, the walls were high with steep drops to the other side. For the agility test, the recruits were expected to run through tires and drag a 170 pound dummy had to a safe zone. I felt confident since I was still in the Army and was in the best cardiovascular condition in my life. The lieutenant introduced himself to the crowd and began explaining the course, at the end of his explanation and demonstration he asked for volunteers to go first. In my mind I thought it would be good to volunteer, but I had learned early on in the Army not to volunteer for anything. I held my ground and stayed back to gauge the motivated people stepping to the front. I watched several individuals run through the course until it was finally my turn. Once I stepped up to the starting line my adrenaline ran high and I felt unstoppable at that point. I had heard the fastest time was 2:09 through the course on this day and I was determined to beat it and set a new record. I took off up the steep flight of stairs and down the other side simulating a chase. I felt like a wild animal closing on my prey as I hopped the fence and dropped to the other side. Next I ran through a makeshift neighborhood setting and to a high wall I had to climb. Once at the top I ran down the steps and around the turnaround point. It was then that I realized how fast I was moving, I was flying through the course and hurting badly inside. Despite the difficulty, I knew I had to hold on for the next 30 seconds and I would have achieved my target. I ran to the shooting simulation and picked the bad guy out of the standup targets, ran to the dummy drag the 170 pounds 20 yards like a dog carries a flea on a daily basis. Once I was at the end of the line I heard the scorer yel l â€Å"2:03†, I had done it. On the finishing line, I felt proud to have achieved my target and was convinced that I had already secured the job. My score got beat by a fraction of a second later in the day, but I was still proud that I was able to overcome the pain to get to the finish

Stock and Commodity Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stock and Commodity Markets - Essay Example With globalisation, MNCs began to explore the markets outside there domestic grounds. Stock and commodities market too are being made attractive by respective governments, which is also resulting in wealth creation for the citizens and companies alike. If used judiciously, 'Stock and commodity trading' greatly helps in tapping resources for developmental projects, welfare schemes and other such nation building exercises. In order to leverage the economies of scale at different locations, such companies try to set up some of their operations at different locations. Moreover, with the advancement in ICT, global distances have tended to become smaller while the world is gradually being seen as a global village. Bracken (2004) underlines that it was since early 1990s when the term 'Globalization' became a catch phrase as it started entering into all walks of life even in developing economies. Libya doesn't have a well defined stock market as Colonel Muammar Qaddafi thought it against the vision of applied socialism and popular democracy (CountryWatch, 2007). But now with the emergence of his son Seif al-Islam on the horizon, there are talks of a new vision. Libya has the largest reserve of crude oil, but despite such a great wealth and a population of just about 6 Million the country could not progress much during all these years (The Economist, 2007). A well regulated trading as such helps in stabilizing market prices for both buyers and sellers. For example a farmer growing mango crop can enter into a contract with a juice making company or a retailer prior to the growing season to pre-sell his mango crop at an agreed-upon price. This way the farmer is also assured of a minimum price for his crop, whatever the circumstances are, in the coming months. On the other hand the juice making company is also assured of a minimum level of supply for the company which helps in preparing long term plans and pricing strategies. Similarly if a listed company requires money fo r expansion or diversification, the company can tap the stock market for borrowing enough money. The borrowed money in turn earns some interests for the lender, which helps in creating wealth for the lender. Stock markets provide an opportunity even to individual and smaller investors to lend their money this way and thus they are also able to create wealth. The wealth created this way helps in encouraging the consumer market as demands for goods and other commodities increases subsequently. Therefore, the cycle helps in boosting the morale of investors and financial institutions, which in turn helps the economy of the nation. Examples of fast developing economies like India and China together with well developed markets like US and UK are good examples of the role of stock and commodities markets in nation building. Middle East and North Africa too have been identified as potential growth oriented zones on account of sweeping reforms in some countries of the region. Except Libya an d Syria the European Union has recently concluded bilateral association agreements with all states bordering the Mediterranean (Euromonitor, 2007). Dissertation Objectives The dissertation in general aims to; i. Establish a well studied relationship between the stock market trends, the commodity markets and the economies of nations. These effects have become of particular significance in view of the fast spreading effects of

Saint Bernadette Soubirous :: essays research papers

Saint Bernadette Soubirous The Soubirous family lived in the far north of the little town of Lourdes, in the Lapaca district. A large stream flowed there, and on this stream there were seven mills; one of them known as the Boly Mill, and this had been the residence of the Soubirous. Francois Soubirous leased the mill from relatives of his wife, Louise. In many ways, it was the trade of the miller that had brought the couple together. They had married on the parish church on 9th January 1843. By 1855, the family income had decreased drastically - trade was not good at the mill, and the Soubirous were not the best of business people; often filled with pity for the poor of the local people, they would tell their customers to pay when they were able to, and they never refused credit. And of course there was the family to raise, which further drained their resources. No longer being able to pay for the rent of the mill, the Soubirous were forced to quit their dwellings, give up the millers trade and take on whatever work they could find for themselves. Francois Soubirous recalled that another relative owned a building in the Rue des Petits Fossà ©s - this building was the former Lourdes jail. The old jail was locally known as "the Cachot". The Soubirous were allowed to remain there rent-free. Each evening, the family gathered around the old fireplace for family prayers. This concluded with the recitation of the Rosary - often led by one of the Soubirous girls, Bernadette. BERNADETTE The marriage of Francois Soubirous and Louise Casterot produced six children. The eldest of these was Bernadette. She was born on 7th January 1844, and was baptized the next day by Abbà © Forgues in the old parish church, being given the name of Marie Bernarde. Because of her small stature, she was always referred to by the diminutive form of the name, Bernadette. Six months later, Louise was expecting a child; because of this, Bernadette was entrusted to the care of a woman in near-by Bartres, Marie Aravant, who had just lost a baby boy. She stayed there for 15 months. From her birth, Bernadette was a weak child, suffering even then from the asthma which would cause her so much suffering that later, in the convent, she would beg the nurses to tear open her chest so that she might breathe. Because of her delicate constitution, her parents would attempt to give her little bits of food not available to the other children, such as white bread instead of black.

Ordinary Magic Essay

The story, Ordinary Magic, was written by Malcolm Bosse is about a boy who was born and bred in India. Jeffrey also recognized as â€Å"Ganesh† faced a lot of difficulties at a very young age. These difficulties that forced him to be mature included his father’s loss of life, his way of adjusting and bonding with the American culture and when his ancestor home was going to be demolished. Jeffrey’s maturity develop when his father, Mr. Moore, died and he was obliged to manage and handle everything, including paying for his deceased father’s funeral. Since his father’s death, the village people were starting to act towards him as a foreigner and not as one of them. They even told Jeffrey to pay as soon as possible for the house rental and for the funeral. All these happening changed Jeffrey’s life. He learned to be independent and that forced him to learn to be responsible. It shows that Jeffrey was forced to be mature at a very young age due to all his unfortunate happenings. Overtime, Jeffrey’s maturity enhanced when he had to move to America alone to meet his aunt and his way of fitting into to a new environment. Jeffrey did not want to go to America before but he knew he has the responsibility of fulfilling his promise to his father that he will go to America. The children in his new school was making fun of a mantra that Jeffrey taught to one of the girl in the school before, but Jeffrey did not mind it at all. He understood that those kids just did not understand how sacred the mantra was. This means that Jeffrey was mature enough to understand why the kids did not show respect to the sacred mantra and that he was mature enough to take responsibility of keeping his promise to his father. Jeffrey became more mature when he found out that their ancestor’s home was going to get demolished. He had to do everything he could in order to save it. He managed to form the Satyagraha and took full responsibility upon each individual that has decided to join the Satyagraha with him. Jeffrey fought the government through the Satyagraha where all of the members went on a hunger strike until the government have heard their plea. Jeffrey was mature because he learned to stand up for his beliefs and he stood up against the government. Overall, Jeffrey’s adulthood resulted from all of his unfortunate happenings that occurred to his life. Whether those forced him to be mature or not, he certainly was developing maturity throughout the whole story. In the end, Jeffrey’s circumstances that forced him to grow into a maturity person has helped him blend and mix in an Indian culture and an American culture that made him fit in.

All About Gargoyles and How to Use Them

A gargoyle is a waterspout, usually carved to resemble an odd or monstrous creature, that protrudes from a structures wall or roofline. By definition, a real gargoyle has a function—to throw rainwater away from a building. The word gargoyle is from the Greek gargarizein meaning to wash the throat. The word gargle comes from the same Greek derivation—so think of yourself as a gargoyle when you swish your mouth, gurgling and gargling with your mouthwash. In fact, the word spelled as gurgoyle was commonly used in the 19th century, most notably by British author Thomas Hardy in Chapter 46 of Far From the Madding Crowd (1874). The function of a gargoyle is to spit out excess water, but why it looks the way it does is another story. Legend has it that a dragon-like creature named La Gargouille terrorized the people of Rouen, France. In the seventh century A.D., a local cleric named Romanus used Christian symbolism to neutralize La Gargouilles threat to the townspeople—its said that Romanus destroyed the beast with the sign of the cross. Many early Christians were led to their religion by the fear of the gargoyle, a symbol of Satan. The Christian church became a protective haven for the mostly illiterate people. Romanus knew the legends that the townspeople of Rouen did not know. The oldest gargoyles have been found in present-day Egypt from the Fifth Dynasty, c. 2400 B.C. The functional and practical waterspout has also been found in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. Gargoyles in the shape of dragons are found in Chinas Forbidden City and imperial tombs from the Ming Dynasty. Medieval and Modern Gargoyles Waterspouts became more ornate toward the end of the Romanesque architectural period. The Middle Ages was a time of Christian pilgrimage, often with the pillaging of sacred relics. Sometimes cathedrals were specially built to house and protect sacred bones, such as those of Saint-Lazare dAutun in France. Protective animal gargoyles, in the shape of pigs and dogs, are not only waterspouts but act as symbolic protection at the 12th century Cathà ©drale Saint-Lazare dAutun. The mythical Greek chimera became a popular figure stonemasons used as gargoyles. The sculpting of the functional gargoyle became especially popular in the Gothic building boom across Europe, so gargoyles have come to be associated with this architectural era. French architect Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) extended this association to Gothic-Revival as he creatively restored the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral with many of the famous gargoyles and grotesques seen today. Gargoyles can also be found on American Gothic Revival buildings such as the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. In the 20th century, Art Deco style gargoyles can be seen atop the 1930 Chrysler Building, a well-known skyscraper in New York City. These more modern gargoyles are made of metal and look like heads of American eagles—protrusions that have been called hood ornaments by some enthusiasts. By the 20th century, gargoyle functionality as waterspouts had evaporated even if the tradition lived on. Disney Gargoyles Cartoon Between 1994 and 1997, Walt Disney Television Animation produced a well-received cartoon called Gargoyles. The main character, Goliath, says things like It is the gargoyle way, but dont let him fool you. Real gargoyles dont come alive after dark. In 2004, ten years after the first episode aired, DVDs of the animations were released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. To a certain generation, this series is a remembrance of things past. Grotesques As the functional waterspout aspect of gargoyles diminished, the creatively monstrous sculpting grew. What is called a gargoyle may also be called a grotesquery, meaning that it is grotesque. These grotesque sculptures can suggest monkeys, devils, dragons, lions, griffins, humans, or any other creature. Language purists may reserve the word gargoyle only for the objects that serve the practical purpose of directing rainwater from the roof. Care and Maintenance of Gargoyles and Grotesques Because gargoyles are by definition on the exterior of buildings, they are subject to natural elements—especially water. As slender, sculpted protrusions, their deterioration is imminent. Most of the gargoyles we see today are reproductions. In fact, in 2012 the Duomo in Milan, Italy created an Adopt a Gargoyle campaign to help pay for upkeep and restoration—which makes a lovely gift for the person who has everything. Source: Gargoyle entry by Lisa A. Reilly, The Dictionary of Art, Vol 12, Jane Turner, ed., Grove, 1996, pp. 149-150