To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay The reason behind the title of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds are considered innocent and selfless creatures. In Chelsey Philpot article The Long Life of a Mockingbird it stresses the importance of a mockingbird and the impact it has throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee’s definition of a mockingbird is seen continuously in the novel. It is that a person may be compared to a mockingbird if he is virtuous or without fault. Tom Robinson is an innocent man falsely accused of a crime and forced to defend his character. The false accusations that were forced upon Tom Robinson’s innocence reveal him as the greatest example of a Mockingbird in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird. Firstly, a citizen of Maycomb County, Miss Maudie, thoroughly explains what a mockingbird is and what it means saying, â€Å"Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy†¦Thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird†(Lee 119). To fully realize the mockingbird in Tom Robinson, the reader learns quickly that he is harmless. Adam Smykowski explains in Symbolism and Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird by saying, â€Å"A mockingbird symbolizes Tom Robinson, and underprivileged black people in general. They are innocent, and would never harm anyone. † Tom Robinson is a hardworking, African American. He lives with his wife and six children in a simple home in Maycomb County. An accident that occurred when Tom was young left him with absolutely no use of his left arm whatsoever. Laurie Champion explains in an article called Lees To Kill a Mockingbird that, â€Å"Toms left arm hung dead†. Even with the disability of his arm, Tom is a great example to his six children considering what terrible hardships had been placed on him throughout his life for no reason. The way that Tom conducts himself not only in private but also in public reveals his good character and genuine love for other people no matter what race or social class. Furthermore, Tom Robinson’s status as a mockingbird is seen through his kind and attentive actions toward others regardless of race. Tom’s actions toward Mayella Ewell reveal his status as a mockingbird. On his way to work, Tom frequently is asked by Mayella, a low class white woman, to come in and help her with chores and errands around the house. Just like a mockingbird expects no payment or reward for singing, Tom would not accept any payment at all for his kindness and help towards Mayella. She intern misinterprets Tom’s kindness and puts him in a difficult situation where she tries to seduce him. Tom immediately refuses. As a result she falsely accuses him of raping and assaulting her in order to hide her inappropriate sexual advances towards him. Moreover, Tom Robinson represents a mockingbird when he endures being verbally abused and harassed on the witness stand even though he is an innocent man. During his testimony, his handicapped arm is brought to the attention of the court while he is on trial. This proves that it would be impossible for him to have committed this crime due to the fact that her bruises from the assault where made by a man that, â€Å"led with his left hand† (Lee 177 ). Tom Robinson was proven innocent on many accounts. However, after a deliberation by the jury, he is convicted and will be killed in a futile attempt to escape from prison. In conclusion, Heck Tate summarizes Tom Robinson’s mockingbird symbolism when he compares Tom’s death to the â€Å"senseless slaughter of songbirds† (Lee, 323). Just like it is wrong to kill a mockingbird, it is wrong for the citizens of Maycomb to have killed Tom Robinson. The loss of his innocence is the reason he is the greatest example of a mockingbird in Haper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

Philip Tompkins Organizational Communicatin Imperatives :: essays research papers

Philip Tompkins' Organizational Communicatin Imperatives INTRODUCTION In the book Organizational Communication Imperatives, by Philip K. Tompkins, we are introduced to a chapter that deals with an organization that is held under high prestige by not only those who are employed by it, but by a country as well. This American organization is NASA, (National Aeronautical Space Administration), and although a very prestigious place to work, it is not free of its share of wrongdoing and counter productive ways. Ten years ago (1986), NASA was faced with its biggest catastrophe, The Challenger Explosion. This preventable event , which claimed the life of a crew of seven, left many questioning the ability of communication throughout NASA. The idea that a crucial element of the space shuttle, O-Rings, would pass inspection, although many scientists doubted the success of these, would be the ultimate cause of the crew's demise shortly after lift off. It seems these scientists' doubts were overlooked by a higher authority who gave the go ahead knowing the risk at stake.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States Army, well known for its maintaining of order and conduct, has fallen into a most peculiar and shameful predicament due to lack of communication. The New York Times brought its readers to the attention that all was not right in the military. An organization that shares a similar prestige to that of NASA, an organization who has exemplified its leadership time and time again by becoming a force, so powerful, that it is sometimes considered to police the world, has fallen into a sex abuse scandal. It seems that several women have come forward to proclaim their mistreatment from various acts ranging from rape to verbal harassment instilled upon them by members of the military. These women feel, had there been a genuine form of organizational communication, the study of sending and receiving messages, they would not have fell victims' to such hideous crimes. Senator Barbara Boxer stated (New York Times 11/96) that the complaints made by the women who came forward immediately were lost somewhere along the line in an attempt to reach a higher authority, signifying a need for some type of restructure. STRENGTHS In the minds of many people today the United States Army Is considered to have one of the best structured organizational communication networks. This is based upon the specified code of conduct that the Army is underlyingly ruled by. This is upheld by the specific chain of command which is easily distinguished by rank and uniform. Strict punishment is carried out upon those who violate rules and conduct, commonly accepted by this organization. The authority figures, in the Army, set tasks, and relay a common purpose to all

Ideas to Reduce Corruption

To reduce the level of corruption in our countries, we, as the next generation, must take the lead to make our desire of change public to each government. At the same time community leaders must be used to spread the idea of a progressive change. As my first step to do so, I will convince my sector leaders to increase education in people, youth and childhood, starting from just a few and going up in the whole country. After that, work with the example to other countries and make the change visible and desirable.Corruption is such a major problem in our societies. For bad luck we are daily inmerse in cases where we have to face corruption and of course we will do it depending on the circumstances. Sometimes I think that we already live with corruption as a normal standard of living, how sad! Therefore instead of falling into the trap we should in first place think about what we are doing and the repercussions that my acts are going to have in a long term.The first step is to think if there is correct way to do things, maybe it is difficult but our problem is that we feel comfortable and we forget that we can think outside the box. We should start letting our voices out, and let them be heard, and of course even if it sounds as a utopia, the change starts with us and how are we willing to face this new challenges. It? not going to be easy and we are not going to be able to change it in one day, but slowly, with a noble heart, with passion and desire, small actions can do gigantic things. Last but not least in my particular case, if someday I become what I’m wishing for; Ministry of Agriculture of Ecuador from that position at least I will be able to give back a little bit to my community and to the agricultural sector, and I will try my best to do things right for my country.To reduce corruption is not an easy thing, it requires a lot of effort, but the change should begin by getting people to acknowledge that corruption is not something distant, allusive only to politicians or people in power; sadly, corruption is enrooted in the culture of our countries at all levels; it is like cancer that spreads slowly killing ethical and moral values of citizens. I think the only way to stop the vicious circle of corruption is to raise the awareness among people that corruption must not be considered a common practice, corruption is a problem and the solution is in the hands of each and every one of us.It is in us the responsibility to say no to corruption, to build a better and fairer society. What I propose is to make a social awareness campaign which encourages people to say no to corruption, starting with simple things, like respecting the lines, not offering or receiving bribes, respecting the traffic police, acting with empathy, etc. ; the idea is that this small wins in the day to day activities of people set in an environment in which the vicious circle of corruption can be broken. This campaign should frame its message in civic pride a nd the desire for improvement, something like: â€Å"I am Latin American, and I say no to corruption†.This has to be visual; I can imagine employees putting an emblematic sign of the â€Å"I say no† campaign in front of their desks just to let know others they are not willing to make bad businesses, or policemen wearing I say no badges to let know drivers they won’t accept bribes and posters of â€Å"I say no† in court rooms. Of course this campaign should be based on real actions, such as the improvement of laws, severe penalties for corrupt public functionaries, education in schools and colleges of ethics, improvement of public services, among others.Even though such movement can be sponsored by the government, an ONG, the private sector or any group, the most important is that it must get the support of all constituencies and the message must really get to touch the mind and hearts of people to achieve the impossible, to be part of something special, a nd to create an â€Å"I say no† culture. The best way to change Latin America is to supply basic needs in the communities. Until the basic requirements of healthcare, nourishment and safety are met the more complex building blocks that would inoculate the communities from corruption cannot be achieved.To do this we need to raise the wealth and more importantly distribute it fairly. A simple solution is not available, little steps must be taken to improve governmental entities, private sector, education with example and action. Tactics like micro financing can develop the most vulnerable communities and igniting a culture of respect for those well off individuals who do affect those communities in a positive way. Whenever the benefits of taking the corrupt road outweigh the costs of taking it, the propensity of corruption among public institutions will be present in a significant way.Today in Latin America most our countries are left at the mercy of the only effective deterren t for corruption we are able to find: ethics. And as effective as they are, history has proved us that relying on them is not only naive but kind of irresponsible. So in order to get rid of this awful disease, more is needed to generate change. Going back to the first idea, individuals make their decisions considering the costs and benefits of a particular path. So in order to influence such decisions, incentives must be created to increase the benefits or increase the costs.Either way would prove to be an effective way of influencing behavior. Then what we could do is try to increase the costs of corrupt behavior. How can a society do so? By modifying their current institutions, in order to create a set of rules applicable to everyone, and creating enough will power to enforce this rules. People talk a lot of the role of culture in the corruption dilemma. Nevertheless institutions also help to shape culture. In order to change culture we first have to change our institutions.Which institutions to change, and how to change them, goes beyond the scope of the writer’s intention, but an opinion is clearly defined towards changing institutions as a way of eliminating corruption in our countries. First of all we need to act as we talk; we need to really step up and act upon our words on a positive way. Secondly we need to rely on education and values for our society. We need to start positively influencing our inner circle (Family and friends) and start working our way out (Work ad society). Corruption is something that must be change with time.You cannot change it in one week or month, even one year. The Key is culture and institutions and strong competitive market. In order to eliminate corruption you have to prepare the coming generation with new values, habits and thinking so you begin to create an environment of respect for the society.. The second thing is that it is necessary to guarantee and strong State that applies the law, but also an institution that develop new way to be more efficient and respond to a highly demand society.Finally, it is need to create incentive for people, if the people's needs are not fulfill are not totally fulfill, t is likely to fall in corruption; one way to avoid this is with real competitive market, and if there is a unfair situation, the State has to react. Assuring this three ideas it is more probably you can have a better society in the future generation. To reduce corruption in Central America we all have to do our part. If you get to deal with a corrupt person, always do the following two things; first don't comply with the corruption. Then speak up. Don't keep it to yourself. If you keep quiet, the corruption will never stop. Doing these two things, one person at a time, will make this a better region for everybody.

Absence of Evidence, or Evidence of Absence; A paper on...

Absence of Evidence, or Evidence of Absence? A paper on Animal Consciousness nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Consciousness is a difficult term to grasp; so much so, that many scientists will not even attempt to define the term, much less search for it’s evidence. Most however, do agree that consciousness must include certain aspects; specifically cognition, self-awareness, memory, and abstract thought. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lesley J. Rogers describes consciousness as, â€Å"related to awareness, intelligence, and complex cognition, as well as language. Consciousness may be manifested in self-awareness, awareness of others, intentional behavior, including intentional communication, deception of others, and in the†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In Dr. Pepperberg’s book, The Alex Studies, she taught the parrot to be able to recognize different objects by color, shape, and material. He was even able to eventually distinguish between concepts such as â€Å"bigger,† â€Å"smaller,† â€Å"same,† â€Å"different,† â€Å"over,† and â€Å"under.† When asked to identify objects, Alex correctly identified, on first try, 80% of all objects presented in over 200 tests (45). He was also able to correctly pair different labels together to fit a certain object; for example color and material. After only two years of traini ng, Alex was able to communicate with contextual and conceptual use of human speech. He could identify, request, and refuse a set of objects for play or food (50). Dr. Pepperberg also took precautions to ensure that she had not allowed for any â€Å"cues† to tip off Alex to a correct answer, as in the case of â€Å"Clever Hans.† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;These animals also demonstrated memory, another of the aspects of consciousness. Many behaviorists believe that animals act only on instinct, or on conditioned responses to stimuli. Others, like Lesley J. Rogers, believe that memories actually play an important part in an animal’s behavior. â€Å"The uniqueness of an individual is not simply encoded in the enormous diversity of our genetic code (our inheritance) but is established by our uniqueShow MoreRelated Definition Essay – Defining the Soul of Man1235 Words   |  5 Pagessocratically define Soul. More on this later: Soul, or Consciousness, is, without a doubt, tied up within the billions of curious things called synapses and cells, deep inside the brain. There are cases of people without consciousness, without the all important I. Usually this happens through the onset of a coma, or sometimes the hippocampus is damaged. (which is where short-term memory, a necessary component of consciousness, is located.) These people do not function properly, and are unawareRead MoreDifferences Between Object And Colour Essay1667 Words   |  7 Pagesenvironment! 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