outpouring of personality essays

outpouring of personality essays We are one of a kind! That was made us special... Many things, letting us know how wonderfully and creatively God made you and me. God given assets to distinguish that we are UNIQUE. We have different drives, abilities, and personalities and we cant be treated as the same. We are all born with our own set of strengths and weaknesses, and no magic formula works wonders for all of us. We start with our own set of inborn traits. Some of our qualities are beautiful with strains of gold. Some are blemished with fault lines of gray. Our circumstances, IQ, environment and parental influence can mold our personalities. No wonder we didnt get along! Yes. Each one of us is unique. We started out with a combination of ingredients that made us different from others. We cant imitate someone else... for we are opposite in personalities and interest in life. As we understand ourselves and become true to our own natures, we automatically develop a new acceptance for those people who dont see things our way and who wish to live in a style contrary to our perceptions. And it did happen to me when a thing does not work out in the way I want it to be. It causes us to accept others and ourselves realistically, and it shows us to anticipate problems and handle them before they happen. Circumstances come on my walk exploring life. I cannot tell you how many times I have been really hurt by friends. In each one of us are good and bad we have traits that produces negative responses in others. Quite often the same characteristics can be both a plus and a minus, according to degree, that positives arrived to extremes becomes negative. But even if how much you try just to be pleasing with them and sometimes you already go with the flow, yet it is not enough and still you are being misinterpreted. I know, each one of us has a hero blood wit hin our veins, and how excit...

How to Recognize Common Figures of Speech

How to Recognize Common Figures of Speech Of the hundreds of figures of speech, many have similar or overlapping meanings. Here we offer simple definitions and examples of 30 common figures, drawing some basic distinctions between related terms. How to Recognize Common Figures of Speech For additional examples and more detailed discussions of each figurative device, click on the term to visit the entry in our glossary. Whats the difference between a metaphor and a simile?Both metaphors and similes express comparisons between two things that arent obviously alike. In a simile, the comparison is stated explicitly with the help of a word such as like or as: My love is like a red, red rose / Thats newly sprung in June. In a metaphor, the two things are linked or equated without using like or as: Love is a rose, but you better not pick it. Whats the difference between metaphor and metonymy?Put simply, metaphors make comparisons while metonyms make associations or substitutions. The place name Hollywood, for example, has become a metonym for the American film industry (and all the glitz and greed that go with it). Whats the difference between metaphor and personification?Personification is a particular type of metaphor that assigns the characteristics of a person to something non-human, as in this observation from Douglas Adams: He turned on the wipers again, but they still refused to feel that the exercise was worthwhile, and scraped and squeaked in protest. Whats the difference between personification and apostrophe?A rhetorical apostrophe not only animates something absent or non-living (as in personification) but also addresses it directly. For instance, in Johnny Mercers song Moon River, the river is apostrophized: Wherever youre going, Im going your way. Whats the difference between hyperbole and understatement?Both are attention-getting devices: hyperbole exaggerates the truth for emphasis while understatement says less and means more. To say that Uncle Wheezer is older than dirt is an example of hyperbole. To say that hes a bit long in the tooth is probably an understatement. Whats the difference between understatement and litotes?Litotes is a type of understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. We might say litotically that Uncle Wheezer is no spring chicken and not as young as he used to be. Whats the difference between alliteration and assonance?Both create sound effects: alliteration through the repetition of an initial consonant sound (as in a peck of pickled peppers), and assonance through the repetition of similar vowel sounds in neighboring words (It beats . . . as it sweeps . . . as it cleans!). Whats the difference between onomatopoeia and homoioteleuton?Dont be put off by the fancy terms. They refer to some very familiar sound effects. Onomatopoeia (pronounced ON-a-MAT-a-PEE-a) refers to words (such as bow-wow and hiss) that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. Homoioteleuton (pronounced ho-moi-o-te-LOO-ton) refers to similar sounds at the endings of words, phrases, or sentences (The quicker picker upper). Whats the difference between anaphora and epistrophe?Both involve the repetition of words or phrases. With anaphora, the repetition is at the beginning of successive clauses (as in the famous refrain in the final part of Dr. Kings I Have a Dream speech). With epistrophe (also known as epiphora), the repetition is at the end of successive clauses (When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child). Whats the difference between antithesis and chiasmus?Both are rhetorical balancing acts. In an antithesis, contrasting ideas are juxtaposed in balanced phrases or clauses (Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing). A chiasmus (also known as antimetabole) is a type of antithesis in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first with the parts reversed (The first shall be last, and the last shall be first). Whats the difference between asyndeton and polysyndeton?These terms refer to contrasting ways of linking items in a series. An asyndetic style omits all conjunctions and separates the items with commas (They dove, splashed, floated, splashed, swam, snorted). A polysyndetic style places a conjunction after every item in the list.Whats the difference between a paradox and an oxymoron?Both involve apparent contradictions. A paradoxical statement appears to contradict itself (If you wish to preserve your secret, wrap it up in frankness). An oxymoron is a compressed paradox in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side (a real phony).Whats the difference between a euphemism and a dysphemism?A euphemism involves the substitution of an inoffensive expression (such as passed away) for one that might be considered offensively explicit (died). In contrast, a dysphemism substitutes a harsher phrase (took a dirt nap) for a comparatively inoffensive one. Though often meant to sh ock or offend, dysphemisms may also serve as in-group markers to show camaraderie. Whats the difference between diacope and epizeuxis?Both involve the repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis. With diacope, the repetition is usually broken up by one or more intervening words: Youre not fully clean until youre Zestfully clean. In the case of epizeuxis, there are no interruptions: Im shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! Whats the difference between verbal irony and sarcasm?In both, words are used to convey the opposite of their literal meanings. Linguist John Haiman has drawn this key distinction between the two devices: [P]eople may be unintentionally ironic, but sarcasm requires intention. What is essential to sarcasm is that it is overt irony intentionally used by the speaker as a form of verbal aggression (Talk Is Cheap, 1998). Whats the difference between a tricolon and a tetracolon climax?Both refer to a series of words, phrases, or clauses in parallel form. A tricolon is a series of three members: Eye it, try it, buy it! A tetracolon climax is a series of four: He and we were a party of men walking together, seeing, hearing, feeling, understanding the same world.Whats the difference between a rhetorical question and epiplexis?A rhetorical question is asked merely for effect with no answer expected: Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution? Epiplexis is a type of rhetorical question whose purpose is to rebuke or reproach: Have you no shame?

Business week 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business week 7 - Essay Example The role of the delivery can be judged by the fact that failing to deliver the presentation correctly can ruin the overall presentation though the subject matter may be excellent. Delivery styles and their importance is highlighted before the presenter even starts making a presentation and the delivery style needs to be decided in advance. Adaptation to the audience is one of the major aspects that need to be kept in view while delivering an informative presentation. The general idea is to keep the audience attentive towards the presentation. In any case adapting to the audience helps a lot in many ways. The idea that the audience is not interested in what you are saying is quiet correct hence to develop their interest, the presentation should include subject that might be of interest for the audience. This can be achieved with different methods and the starting point is to adapt to the audience. The three categories of adaptation include; The knowledge level of the audience has to be acknowledged by the presenter and than alter the course of his or her presentation. Usually the presenter knows how well informed is the audience about the subject he or she would be talking about hence terms and sentences or the subject matter should be set accordingly. The presenter can only analyze how interested the audience is in what he or she is discussing while the person is presenting, hence the most important aspect while presenting is the interest of the audience. The presenter than needs to include material or activities that might improve the interest level of the audience. The level of acceptance is generally known before the presenter starts his or her presentation according to the topic. The acceptance level basically is the attitude of the audience towards the topic that is being discussed. This needs to kept in mind even before the presentation is being prepared and

The Farm Bill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Farm Bill - Essay Example It is revised after every five years under the supervision of Congress. This paper aims to critically analyze The Farm Bill and its relative impact on biotechnology. Additionally, the effect of government policies on the overall performance and production of farms shall be discussed. The Firm Bill is broadly defined as an omnibus legislation program which is based on multi-year authorization of farm production. It is typically designed to govern agricultural production and farmers through different food programs along with financial and legal support (Johnson & Monke, 2013). In USA the agricultural policies are part of some other major laws and therefore they are created and altered by freestanding legislation. However, the Farm Bill gives a forecasting opportunity to policy makers in order to expansively and sporadically addresses the issues of agriculture and food sector. It is therefore renewed approximately after every five years so as to meet the challenges of the modern world a nd also to play its vital role in the development of biotechnology (Johnson & Monke, 2013). It was initially implemented in USA somewhere in 1930 (Johnson & Monke, 2013). At that time its primary motive was to ensure commodity prices of rice, cotton, wheat, corn, soybeans and diary. Moreover, it was programmed to extend maximum income support to the farmers. However, later on due to the advancements in biotechnology and the changing political and economic dynamics few order things were included as part of the Farm Bill. For instance, currently it is responsible to assist nutrition and conversion, bio energy programs and horticulture in addition to insurance, credit, extended financial support, research and rural development (Mayrand, et. al., 2013). Following is a brief description of the functions and provision of The Farm Bill 2008 (Johnson & Monke, 2013): Commodity Programs: As per the commodity programs, farmers are provided extensive financial support which is also termed as th e ‘safety net’. It gives the required training to the farmers to enhance their disaster management skills and enable them to securely manage production risks, market fluctuations etc. Moreover, it includes a detailed description of government purchases. Conservation: It encourages management of farmlands and other natural environment through different working land programs. It protects and safeguards the resource material, tools and other equipment used in the progress of agricultural products. Primarily four broad programs are part of this category i.e. Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Quality Incentive Program (QIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Trade: It typically deals with the export program of USA. It has to be consistent with the international trade policies while performing its functions as per the instructions of World Trade Organization. Market access program is one of its major concerns. Nutrition: Households a nd individuals have varying nutritional demands and therefore this program is designed to care for the food needs of general population. It has introduced the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program which ensures the availability of quality food in schools and children associations. Credit: It defines the loan policies and the financial support planned by the government. Farmers can easily avail credits in order to increase their production while maintaining superior quality. Rural Development: Progress

Geggus, David Patrick. Haitian revolutionary studies. Essay Example for Free

Geggus, David Patrick. Haitian revolutionary studies. Essay After the 1695 Ryswick Treaty between France and Spain, France took control of St. Domingue (Willie 2001, p 36). The legal rights bestowed upon the French gave them the jurisdictional capacity to reign over the western region of Hispaniola. Government officials from France took care of the administrative and governing bodies of St. Domingue. The Ryswick Treaty paved way for the French to colonize St. Domingue and take preeminence in virtually every fundamental aspect of the region. The social, economic and political realms of the people of St. Domingue were largely defined by the French colonial systems in place (Willie 2001, p 36). The weighty colonial systems of the French in St. Domingue led to a stratified social system, dividing the people into social classes. The Les Grand Blancs were the superior whites who consisted of the planters and royal officials of the colony. The Les Petit Blanc, considered as the lowest group of whites consisted of the artisans, shopkeepers and bookkeepers in St. Domingue. By 1789, the total umber of whites in St. Domingue was 30, 000. The Mulattoes or free coloreds, numbering 28,000 by 1789, consisted of children fathered by white French men with black women (Willie, 2012, p 38). Emancipation of the free coloreds gave them an opportunity to own slaves as their white counterparts. They possessed one third of the real estate in St. Domingue. The slaves, who numbered 450, 000 by 1789 were the least in the social ladder (Ghachem 2003, p 4; Willie 2001, p 38). They literally owned nothing and were devoid of any degree of liberty compared to the other social classes. The social stratification structure in St. Domingue resulted into social, economic and political disparities that constantly caused friction among the social classes in the social ladder. Every social class sought to defend its rights and freedoms; the quest for justice and liberty was deeply engraved in each of the social classes (Geggus 2002, p 14). A critical analysis of the perceived economic and social injustices experienced by the groups is ultimately significant in understanding the causes and aims of the St. Domingue Revolution. Indeed, a critical evaluation of the social ladder in the French colony is imperative in comprehending the causes and aims of the St. Domingue Revolution from 1791-1804. The economic demography of St. Domingue in the late 18th century               Ã‚  One cannot talk about the St. Domingue Revolution (1791-1804) without expounding on the economic demography of the then, largest French colony. Dominated by agriculture and trading relations, the French colony was indeed export motivated. The colonial economy maximized on sugar, coffee, cotton and indigo plantations. The colony had 3000 coffee plantations, 800 sugar plantations, 800 cotton plantations and 2950 indigo plantations (Willie 2001, p 36). The expansive plantations placed St. Domingue strategically among the French colonies; in fact, it was the richest plantation colony of the French. The second half of the 18th century saw St. Domingue expand to become the largest exporter of coffee and sugar in the world; this placed France at a strategic place in the world economy (Willie 2001, p 36). The increased growth and demand in the colonial economy in St. Domingue triggered the colonialists to continually restructure the plantation systems. A constant increase in the number of slaves in the colony by the colonialists fueled the destabilization of the social balance in St. Domingue. In a bid to maintain a robust and thriving colonial agricultural economy, the colonialists subjected the slaves into hard labor, which consequently eroded their state of freedom and liberties. The lowest social class in the French colony experienced social and economic deficiencies that exacerbated their poor living standards. The poor living standards meant that the mortality rate of the slaves, sky- rocketed and necessitated the capture of more slaves for the further expansion of the colonial economy. The complicated economy in late century St. Domingue saw an increase in the number of slaves, which led to slave insurrections prior to 1791(Marsh and Nicola 2011, p 21). The desire of the slaves to attain freedom and liberty precipitated the St. Domingue revolution that historians claim changed the landscape of world affairs, and contributed to the demise of slavery. Hence, the social imbalance created by the economic demography of St. Domingue led to the inception of the revolution. The economic and social disparities of the social groups               Ã‚  Economic and social disparities were at the height of the causes and aims of the St. Domingue revolution (Geggus 2002 p 14). The social classes often clashed with one another in a bid to secure their social, economic and political justices. However, this was not an easy endeavor; hence, precipitating repeated crises that brought social and economic imbalances in the colony. The colonial masters sought to maintain the colony’s economic valor, and for this to happen, the relentless friction among the social clashes continued inevitably. Certainly, the social ladder triggered disparities that heightened the imbalances in the colony. The Les Grant Blancs who were born in the colony expressed feelings of discontent against the whites born from France, their motherland. The whites from France took charge of the most important government offices in the colony. The whites born in the colony (creoles) expressed dissatisfaction because they wanted to participate effectively in the government (Geggus 2002, p 6). The inability of the Les Grant Blancs to have a greater autonomy in the running of the colonial administration affected their social status in the colony. The group perceived that being on top of the social ladder deemed it right to have autonomy over the affairs of the colony. The planters and wealthy members of the group perceived that the ceremonial positions they were given in the assembly was not tantamount to their social status. The reduction of their status to minor aristocrats precipitated their desire to command more grounding against the European-born colonialists. As a result, there was a social stru ggle and imbalance as the group sought to gain the legal rights of controlling the colony. The Les Grant Blancs also wanted to have the freedom of trade. As the plantation owners, they wanted to have more economic autonomy from the proceeds of their produce. Apparently, the colonialists controlled the produce from the island, which was its major asset because of the strategic economic benefits associated with it. The French government introduced the Exclusive trade system, which ensured that the control of goods had to come exclusively from France. Moreover, the high taxation levied on the colony did not auger well with the group. The white plantation owners continually sought to have economic independence from the French government and the colonial administrators. The economic struggles between the Les Grant Blancs and the royal French colonial administrators brought economic imbalances that often threatened the integration of the groups. The white planters saw that the economic advances were creating injustices that needed to be addressed. According to Willie (2001, p 39 ), the Les Grant Blancs believed that the colony officials wasted St. Domingue’s resources. Therefore, the plantation owners and members of the assembly constantly attacked the executive officials from France. It was widely acknowledged that the wealth of the French colonies was primarily meant to benefit France, but not the colonies. This brought mixed reactions in the colony, with the superior whites advocating for the abolishment of heavy taxes and a greater control of the colony’s trade relations. The Les Petit Blanc consisting of poor white men did not have good relations with their rich counterparts. The social disparities between the two groups caused sharp conflicts that often resulted into physical violence. The Les Petit Blanc did not like the fact that their rich counterparts had immense wealth, which they could only imagine. The privileges that the Les Grant Blancs enjoyed created a stratified social structure that made the Les Petit Blanc inferior. The Mulattoes or free coloreds were also inferior to the wealthy planters and civil officers. The interaction between the poor whites and the Mulattoes as well as the slaves made the rich whites to perceive them as less important in the economic status of the colony. The economic and social superiority of the rich whites resulted into strained relationships between them and the â€Å"Les Petit Blancs†. Undoubtedly, the strained relationships stemmed from the economic and social disparities of the colony’s stru cture. Of importance still, is the relationship between the whites and the Mulattoes/ free coloureds. The disparities between the social classes came because of the economic and social characteristics of the Mulattoes. The free coloureds were seen as extremely ambitious and a threat to the social and economic dominance of the whites. They were strong and showed great prospects of social mobility and capacity to compete with the whites. Additionally, most of the Mulattoes were highly educated; hence, posing challenges to the dominant whites. The whites did not like the fast-rising nature of the free coloureds; they wanted them to remain inferior to them and settle at the bottom of the social class ladder. The social and economic disparities between the groups caused numerous conflicts that destabilized the power of the colonial administration. Due to the massive influence of the Mulattoes/free coloureds, the colonial legislature introduced strict laws to limit their influence (James 1963, p 97). The enacted laws forbade them from holding public office, joining the colonial army, wearing European clothes, organizing social functions, marrying whites and residing in France. They were also forced to work for free for a certain number of days per year, according to the French law. The free coloureds were economically and socially deprived of their rights because of their race and their prospects of social mobility. The Mulattoes did not agree with the social and economic injustices committed against them; hence, they sought to find for their rights (Ott 1987, p 67). These factors caused tensions between the whites and the Mulattoes and consequently led to the intense fighting between the groups in 1791. The slaves, majorly from African origin were subjected to hard labor and deprivation of their rights as humans. They were the lowest in the social ladder, and yielded nothing in respect to their social and economic statuses. They experienced harsh conditions subjected to them by the superiors. The economic and social disparities between them and the other groups denied them the opportunity to enjoy their rights and dignity. In 1791, as the Les Blancs, Les Petit Blanc and free coloureds were fighting one another because of the prevalent social and economic disparities, the slaves maximized on the opportunity to start revolts in St. Domingue (James 1963, p 110). The slaves, favored by their numbers, fought against the whites and free coloureds because of the torments they faced as inferiors in St. Domingue. Undeniably, the social and economic disparities among the social classes in the colony contributed greatly in the St. Domingue Revolution. The Declaration of Rights of Men               Ã‚  The Declaration of Rights of Men of 1789 was an instrumental document of the French Revolution in the expression of human rights. The document played a vital role in the establishment of the fundamental human rights that have continued to influence the modern world. In the wake of the French Revolution, there was need for setting up of laws that recognized the basic human rights and the equality of all people before the law. The declaration came at a time when rights and liberties were highly violated at the merit of a few. The French Revolution sought to fight for liberty, equality and fraternity rights (Manigat 1977, p 420). Certainly, the Declaration of the Rights of Men played a dominant role in the start of St. Domingue Revolution. After the document brought the realization of human rights and universal laws in France, the social classes in St. Domingue sought to fight for their rights and privileges in a highly stratified colony. The Les Blancs wanted the right to makes laws, the abolishment of trading restrictions from France and wanted to have social equality with the French whites. They also wanted the scrubbing off, of royal bureaucracies in St. Domingue. The Declaration of the Rights of Men inspired the free coloureds to fight for social and political rights and the abolishment of discrimination. On the other hand, the slaves fought for their personal freedom from the oppression by the other social classes. Based on the discussion above, it is worth noting that the Declaration of the Rights of Men inspired the St. Domingue Revolution. Conclusion               Ã‚  In conclusion, it is notable to assert that the St. Domingue Revolution (1791-1804) was because of various factors. Social and economic disparities in the colony were a major factor in the start of the revolt that certainly ended slavery in the island. The social classes that lived in St. Domingue often clashed in respect to the economic and social factors defining them. The deprivation of rights and liberties among the social groups led to conflicts that often turned physical. The need for economic and social rights and the quest for justice in the late 18th century St. Domingue led to a successful slave revolt that resulted into the birth of the nation of Haiti. As historians put it, the St. Domingue Revolution was significant in defining the history of European colonialism. Indeed, the upheaval is significant in understanding the history of French imperialism. References Geggus, David Patrick. Haitian revolutionary studies. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2002.Ghachem, Malick W. Slavery and citizenship in the age of the Atlantic revolutions. Alfred, N.Y.: Alfred University, 2003. Print. Ghachem, Malick W. The Old Regime and the Haitian Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print. James, C. L. R. Parliament and Property. In The Black Jacobins; Toussaint LOuverture and the San Domingo Revolution. Second Ed. New York: Vintage Books, 1963 Willie, Doris. Renaissance and Revolt. In Lest you forget: a study and revision guide for CXC Caribbean History. Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica Pub. House, 2001. 38-65 Manigat, Leslie F. The Relationship between Marronage and Slave Revolts and Revolution In St. Domingue-Haiti. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 292, no. 1 Comparative P (1977): 420-438.Marsh, Kate, and Nicola Frith. Frances lost empires: fragmentation, nostalgia, and la fracture coloniale. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2011.Ott, Thomas O. The Haitian revolution, 1789-1804. 1st ed. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1987. Source document

Attempting to Understand Eliezer Wiesel’s Night :: Eliezer Wiesel Night

Attempting to Understand Eliezer Wiesel’s Night Night is a story about a young boy's life during the Holocaust. He uses a different name in the story, Eliezer. He comes from a highly Orthodox Jewish family, and they observed the Jewish traditions. His father, Shlomo, a shopkeeper, was very involved with the Jewish community, which was confined to the Jewish section of town, called the shtetl. In 1944, the Jews of Hungary were relatively unaffected by the catastrophe that was destroying the Jewish communities of Europe in spite of the infamous Nuremberg Laws of 1935-designed to dehumanize German Jews and subject them to violence and prejudice. The Holocaust itself did not reach Hungary until 1944. In Wiesel's native Sighet, the disaster was even worse: of the 15,000 Jews in prewar Sighet, only about fifty families survived the Holocaust. In May of 1944, when Wiesel was fifteen, his family and many inhabitants of the Sighet shtetl were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. The largest and deadliest of the camps, Auschwitz was the site of more than 1,300,000 Jewish deaths. Wiesel's father, mother, and little sister all died in the Holocaust. Wiesel himself survived and immigrated to France. His story is a horror story that comes to life when students in high school read this novel. Even though many students have not witnessed or participated in such horror, they relate to the character because Wiesel is their age. They cannot believe someone went through the nightmare he did at their age. This book focuses on many themes: conflict, silence, inhumanity to others, and father/son bonding. We see many, too many, conflicts this young man faces. Eliezer struggles with his faith throughout the story. He believes that God is everywhere, and he can't understand how God could let this happen, especially as Eliezer faces conflict everyday in the concentration camp. He also learns silence means. He says he says it is God's silence that he doesn't understand. He feels that God's silence demonstrates the absence of divine compassion. Another silence that drive confuses Eliezer is the silence of the victims. He cannot understand why they don't fight back, especially with the inhumanity that is forced upon them. It is because of this inhumanity that he loses faith, not only in God but also in men. He tells how at the beginning, the Germans were "distant but friendly." However, when they reach the camps, the soldiers are transformed from men to monsters.

Gay Marriage Opinion Essay

Mainwaring goes on to argue that because â€Å"Only a little more than 53%† of the signers were Republican, and the rest an assortment of parties, gay marriage is a â€Å"common, mainstream concern†, to be shared among citizens of all backgrounds. Mainwaring defends the signers of this petition, stating that because they signed an anti-gay marriage petition, their actions cannot be chalked up to homophobic motives. He says that â€Å"the vast majority simply view ‘marriage’ as an immutable term that can only apple to heterosexuals†, and that â€Å"’we’ shouldn’t mess with [the term marriage]†. I mentioned before that Mainwaring’s opinion on this topic is considerably unique. This is because he himself is, in fact, gay. It was not only the fact that Mainwaring decided to mention this, but also the juxtaposition of this statement that was mildly infuriating to me. To me, placing the fact that he is gay directly after his statements defending the people who signed the petition is a bit like an African-American saying â€Å"I think blacks should be subject to a lower standard of living than whites†¦and it’s okay for me to think this because I’m black!If a black person were to say this today, this would be considered socially unacceptable from nearly every person in this country, and it should be the same for Mainwaring and all other gays. It’s extremely difficult for me to even begin to wrap my head around how Mainwaring can even have this opinion. How he can blatantly undermine the oppressed minority he has categorized himself into, simply be cause â€Å"we should not attempt to force into an old construct something that was never meant for same-sex partnerships† is appalling. Mainwaring believes that simply because the term â€Å"marriage† has meant one thing for the past two hundred years, it simply cannot be open to interpretation, like many other dated laws. So many different sections of the constitution have been twisted and bent toward various opinions, just as the following should be. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The argument that Mainwaring is trying to make is ill-supported and weak. It is less credible that the late 1920’s â€Å"Separate but Equal† mantra, considering civil unions, which Mainwaring proposes for gays, are in no way even close to being equal to a â€Å"traditional† marriage. Before the Civil Rights Movement, many people were raised to believe that blacks were meant to be inferior. However, as awareness arose, people began to realize that this simply is not true; under the eyes of the law, there should be virtually no difference between a black person and a white person. Likewise, there should be no difference between a gay or a straight couple. A civil union is in no way a reasonable alternative for gays, and if us as Americans were to make that statement the new â€Å"traditional†, there one day in the future may be no limits on the term â€Å"marriage†.