Make Love, Not War Essay -- Social Studies

Life on Earth constantly swings between peace and war, even though human kind is famishing for happiness. Bliss does not derive from war and violence, why then humanity cannot live without the burden of wars? We are likely pursuing the culture of death. Maybe violence is inscribed into our DNA, our ancestral reptile brain, somehow, is dominating over our intellectual reasoning and emotional intelligence, the same brain that helped us to survive in hostile environments of a primitive world. How could man make this world a better place? Could love change this status quo? Leslie Marmon Silko writes in Ceremony: â€Å"Tonight the singing had come first, squeaking out of the iron bed, a man singing in Spanish, the melody of a familiar love song, two words again and again, â€Å"Y volverà ©.† Sometimes the Japanese voices came first, angry and loud, pushing the song far away, and then he could hear the shift in his dreaming, like a slight afternoon wind changing its direction, coming less and less from the south, moving into the west, and the voices would become Laguna voices,† (6) Y volvere, in Spanish means returning, coming back, these words belong to a â€Å"familiar love song† (6) and they can evoke nostalgic feelings in the heart of a soldier in war. A Love song, how can love feelings survive in a war situation, where a soldier in battle likely does not have the right to be compassionate and human? The angry enemy voices are "pushing away the song" (6). Hate and violence are wiping away love; probably there is no space for love in war."And the voices would become Laguna voices" another place, another situation but the same struggling story. Human beings denied of their freedom, dignity, history, traditions, and storytelling.... ...iolenza† (Dottrina della resistenza passiva). Periodi storici e tematici Storia in network â€Å"Cronologia† Copyright One Italia 2010. Web. 06 of April, 2012 http://cronologia.leonardo.it/storia/biografie/gandhi2.htm Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York. Pag. 6. Print Mario Rigoni Stern. Il Sergente nella neve-ritorno sul Don. â€Å"In Guerra, quando sembra che tutto debba crollare e morirre, un gesto, una parola, un fatto e’ sufficiente a ridare speranza e vita.† (Einaudi tascabili di Mario Rigoni Stern. 1 gennaio 1969. Pag.51. Print Mark D. Tooley is president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy and author of Taking Back the United Methodist Church. Viewpoints on war and pacifism. Web. 06 April 2012 http://0-ic.galegroup.com.library.lanecc.edu/ic/ovic/?userGroupName=laneccoll&

Philippines in Global Competitiveness Essay

As the Philippines currently indulge its current economic achievement, being included for the first time in the top 50% of world ranking, it makes me ask the question, why only now? What took us too long to be globally competitive? According to Guillermo Luz, the co-chair of the Philippine National Competitiveness Council (NCC), the Philippines registered improvements in 11 out of the 12 categories, from the aspect of government institutions, infrastructures, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training; goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation. It felt like a breath of fresh air! From all the news of bus hostage tragedy, unresolved issues in the RH Bill, China in Spratly’s and the recent impeachment of the Chief Justice Renato Corona, a new positive and uplifting headline was shown to our television screens and newspapers. It’s a great indication that despite of all the negative issues that we deal with everyday, there is still some delightful news that proves that our country is still determined to be placed on top along with our neighbor Asian countries like Singapore and Hongkong. The Philippines’ competitiveness is improving significantly in some aspects of our economy. We can say that businesses around the world are more confident now in investing in our country. Kudos to the people in the government who are truly exerting efforts to provide us with more tangible results rather than the blah blah promises we used to hear every day. But despite of this current triumph, I totally agree to what Ramon Del Rosario Jr., (Chair of the Makati Business Club) has said, that there is still a lot of work to be done to help ensure that the Philippines reach its new goal to be included in the upper third rankings in 2016. This recognition would show that though we are improving in some areas, there are still a lot of weaknesses that are waiting to be focus on. Examples of these are the infrastructures, floods during rainy season, rights to education for the less fortunate, health problems such as dengue and HIV, unemployment, graft and corruption and a lot more. So are we Really  improving? How can we brag that we had improved our economic competitiveness and yet feel that our countrymen are still deprived and poverty-stricken? As a business student, it felt good knowing that the performance of our economy is much better from the past two years. From a double digit improvement in ranking since then, it makes me think that if this trend goes positively, I will have a bright future in my chosen career. But in behalf of a lot of Filipinos currently living, striving and struggling to have a better life in this country, this improvement may not be as convincing as it ought to be. One basis for this would be that the lives of the Filipinos two years ago were not that different from what it is today, and such progress is rarely seen and felt. In addition to this, the only â€Å"development†(?!) that Filipinos had felt from the two years that has passed was the increase in prices of pandesal and jeepney fare. And yes, I’m sorry, that is sarcasm. I also agree to Mr. Ernie Cecilia, that quality human resources can drive global competitiveness. We have different views from the quality human resources who are leaving our country, brain drain anyone? That we didn’t realize that, our own people, is the MAJOR factor that can help our country to do better. Knowledgeable and competent Filipinos are leaving the Philippines to work abroad in search of greener pastures. But no one can blame them! Their stumpy salaries are not sufficient to provide for the ever growing desire to improve the quality of life of their families. They leave the Philippines because of poverty, and the Philippines remain in poverty because they all left. It’s a vicious circle that will never end, like a dog chasing its own tail. It won’t conclude until it straightens up its act and chose the right way. Mr. Cecilia’s approach is really informative and I got to learn a lot of things. But I just to want to express my disagreement on his snarky remark that while Singapore sells anything and everything and Japan and Korea sells high value items, we sell bananas. It astounds me for a second†¦ then asks, what’s wrong with that?! Is there something wrong in selling bananas? Or exporting mangoes, durian, coconuts, woodcrafts and furniture’s? It may amaze him if he knew that even dried fish have a great demand in the international market. These are our countries major exports and while other countries can sell a lot of things, we have our own uniqueness and advantages in exporting our own products too. It may not be as big as petroleum, diamonds, and heavy machineries but a little bit of something is much favorable than nothing at all. In conclusion, and to relate this topic to the lessons that I have learned in the four corners of my classroom in Management 8, I have realize that the Philippines is just like large conglomerate. Like a multinational corporation, it needs the proper structure, competent people and clever strategies to achieve its mission, vision, objectives and goals. It needs to line its strategies according to the changing demands and other factors to attain satisfaction and improvement. Our country, like a corporation needs to analyze its strengths and use them to compete in this fast changing world. Identify its weaknesses and address it, turn threats to opportunities, and maximize the opportunities for greater prospects, not only to improve its current status but also to uplift the life of its people. We may be far from being number one; we may not know where we’ll be next. But with every little step forward goes a long way. It may take us too long, but with determination, proper administration and guide from Above, I know we will get there.

Innocence in The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger Essay

One of the purist times in a person’s life is childhood, during this time life is easy and often romanticized. As a person grows older the innocence and naivety of childhood begins to fade into a hardness caused by the harsh realties of adulthood. Though the transition from childhood is hard, one most remember not to rush into adulthood savor your innocence . In Catcher In the Rye , by J.D. Salinger the main character Holden Caulfield is in the transitional stage, he finds it hard for him to grow-up and act like an adult. So instead of rushing in to adulthood, he finds slowing down the process and acting less adult like is better for him. Holden finds mature adult like subjects and qualities phony, but finds innocent child like subjects†¦show more content†¦But the two youngest members of the family are the main recipients of his praise and joy. When he talked about his brother Allie that passed away it is always good. The quote that sums up his feelings towards Al lies is, â€Å"he was a nice kid.†(Salinger 38) He relies on Allie when he has a problem or needs to think things through. When he was contemplating his leave and walking to give Phoebe her letter he talked to the ghost of Allie. The other sibling is Phoebe, Phoebe seem to be the apple of his eye. When he thought about leaving he only wanted and needed to say good-bye to Phoebe and no one else. The way he talks about D.B. is very different then the way he rants on about his younger siblings, he never talks bad or factious about D.B. he just doesn’t praise him as much. He views D.B. As phony and a Hollywood sellout. In many aspects the siblings are the same the only difference is their age and innocence level. He adores and admires the more innocent younger siblings, while he views the oldest one as being a fake. This just proves that Salinger thinks innocence’s should be captured and cherished. Holden seem to be weird and indifferent when it comes to females an d sexual relationships. He has a made-up sex life when in actuality he has yet to do anything. When the prostitute came to his room he chickens out byShow MoreRelatedThe Innocence of Childhood in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1262 Words   |  6 PagesThe novel â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye† by J.D. Salinger follows the endeavours of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old teenage boy who faces a point in his life where he must make the transition from childhood to adulthood. In an attempt to retain his own childhood, he begins hoping to stop other young children from growing up and losing their innocence as well. As indicated by the title, â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye† is a book that explores a theme involving the preservation of innocence, especially of childrenRead More Innocence In The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger Essay examples1412 Words   |  6 Pages In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In The Rye, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy, transitions from childhood to adulthood. The death of Holden’s little brother signifies the beginning his loss of innocence and growth of maturity. As he enters adulthood, Holden views society differently from his peers by characterizing most of his peers and adults he meets as â€Å"phonies.† Thus, Holden takes the impossible challenge of preserving the innocence in children because he wants to prevent childrenRead MoreChildhood Innocence is Everything in Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger770 Words   |  4 PagesEveryone’s mother always told them that childhood innocence is the best thing in the world, but for Holden it is the world. When reading The Catcher in the Rye some people disdain Holden, because they think he’s cynical and immature, but really he is a representation of us all. Unlike other books, the protagonist isn’t someone you want to be fr iends with, it’s someone you realize you are. 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The catcher in the Rye can be described in Holden’s perspective as a person, almost like a hero that helps childrenRead More salinger Essay843 Words   |  4 Pages LIFE AND PHILOSOPHY OF J.D. SALINGER J.D. Salinger is one of the most renowned writers of his time. J. D. Salinger is most known for his controversial in the Catcher in the Rye. Salinger is also known for many of his writings such as Franney and Zooey, Nine Stories, and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters. The summer of 1930 he was voted â€Å"The Most Popular Writer†. â€Å"Salinger is a beautifully deft, professional who gives us a chance to catch quick, half-amused, half-frightened glimpses of