Insatiable Emptiness free essay sample

This is a short read, and I have set twenty minutes aside to work on it. I could probably read this in five minutes but I am setting an extra fifteen minutes to re-read and take notes along the way. 2. The Title, â€Å"An Insatiable Emptiness† The title may suggest that the author will be talking about how much she enjoys revering in her misery. The title can be way of saying that she is struggling deep down inside psychologically. The title may suggest that she is writing about her desire for more of what she knows is bad but has a deep need for whatever it may be. It can also mean that she is depressed and suicidal, perhaps even a drug addict. Does this mean that she weathered the storm and is now better today? 3. The author, Evelyn Lau Evelyn Lau is a writer who was born in Vancouver. She has done work such as written poetry, books, short stories and even autobiography’s. We will write a custom essay sample on Insatiable Emptiness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lau is an acclaimed writer whom has won awards such as the Milton Acorn Poetry Award and nominated for the Governor’s General Award. Her first book, Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid (1989) was a Canadian best seller and was made into a CBC-TV movie. Her latest book, Inside out: Reflections on a Life So Far, was published in 2001. Her small biography shows her to be a woman who is strong willed and has been through a lot. This may be an indicator as to what I will be reading, which may be an autobiography about her and perhaps her struggles with drugs. 4. The source of the article This is one of Evelyn Lau’s personal journals which appeared in one of her novels: Georgia Straight (1995). 5. Visual Cues to meaning There were no bold or italic words throughout the whole article, so, I read the first paragraph for visual cues. Through the first paragraph I see that Lau will be talking about her battle with bulimia and how it all started and what the results of her making critical decisions are now. I also see that she learnt how to make herself vomit easier by reading it in a woman’s magazine. This could suggest that the woman’s magazine played a hand in making her a full fledged bulimic because before she read it she â€Å"inexpert† and having troubles making herself throw up. Since this essay is an example of a cause and effect essay I believe that through reading the first paragraph that the author will likely be going through the process of her becoming a bulimic and the effects of it now. 6. Create a road map for your reading? Who did she hurt by doing this to herself? What were the causes and effects of her actions? Where did she go for help, if she did? When did this all happen to her? Why didn’t she get any help before it all got out of hand? How did she deal with her illness?

Identifying and Controlling Powdery Mildew on Trees

Identifying and Controlling Powdery Mildew on Trees Powdery mildew is a common disease that appears as a white powdery substance on a tree  leaf surface. The powdery appearance comes from millions of tiny fungal spores, which are spread in air currents to cause new infections. Powdery mildew attacks all kinds of landscape plants, including trees. Fortunately, although the disease is disfiguring, it rarely kills a tree.   Almost any tree species can be affected by powdery mildew, but the most common are maple, basswood, dogwood, lilac, magnolia, crabapple, catalpa, and oaks.   Identification Powdery mildew disease  is caused by many different species of fungi, with Erysiphe cichoacearum reported to be the most common culprit.   According to the University of Minnesota:   Powdery mildew appears as superficial growth on plant surfaces and is seen as white to gray powdery spots, blotches or felt-like mats on leaves, stems, and buds.Infected plants may appear to be sprinkled with baby powder or covered in cobwebs.The disease is often most severe on young leaves, water sprouts, and green shoots.Once severely infected, leaves may turn yellow and fall prematurely during the growing season.In some plants, leaves turn purple to red around the infection.In late summer/early fall, tiny round orange to black balls form within white fungal mats.Most prevalent when outdoor conditions consist of cool temperatures with high humidity; however, it can be seen in warm, dry conditions as well.The disease is most severe on plants or plant parts in shaded areas with poor air movement (interior or lower branches). Biology of the Fungus Some powdery mildew fungi survive winter inside structures known as chasmothecium, which contain the spores. In spring, the chasmothecium rupture to release spores that are then spread by the wind. Other species of powdery mildew survive the winter as a dormant fungus in the infected buds or shoot tips. In spring, these spores start new infections on new plant growth. As the growing season progresses, news spores are produced and transferred to new plants on the wind.   Prevention Powdery mildew is rarely a tree killer,  but it can disfigure specimens in the landscape. It is a product of moist conditions and is usually seen in the wetter spring and fall seasons. In many  areas, powdery mildew is virtually unavoidable during the most humid parts of the period from spring through fall. Once dryer weather returns, the fungus usually retreats. It may not be necessary to treat the fungus at all, but certain measures may prevent it from becoming prevalent. This humidity-loving fungus can be controlled only if moisture can be controlled. Dont plant trees in heavily-shaded areas and provide plenty of space for air movement and growing room. Prune trees and shrubs to improve air movement between the branches. Additional methods for controlling powdery mildew: Choose disease-resistant varieties whenever possible. Mildew-resistant cultivars are available for many plants.Do not overcrowd plants. Adequate spacing improves air circulation and reduces powdery mildew infection.Prune the tree or shrub to increase light penetration and improve air circulation throughout the canopy. But avoid excessive pruning of infected plants- do your pruning during inactive periods.  Avoid fertilizing trees and shrubs when they are suffering from powdery mildew. Fertilizing stimulates new growth and may hasten the spread of the fungal infection.  Do not compost infected branches or leaves. The spores will remain in the compost and may infect other plants.   Controlling Powdery Mildew Commercial fungicides will kill powdery mildew, but many experts advise using these toxic chemicals only on specimen plants that are highly prized since the fungus rarely kills trees.   Chemical fungicide treatments that kill powdery mildew include : Thiophanate methylChlorothalonilSulfur (but not for sulfur-sensitive plants such as viburnum)Potassium bicarbonate Sulfer is perhaps the most common fungicide for powdery mildew. Spray wettable sulfur onto affected leaves at the recommended rate specified by the label. Sulfur may injure tender foliage, especially in hot weather, so be careful. Do not use sulfur on walnuts, as injury may occur. Where important plants have a history of powdery mildew infection, treat them preemptively, before the fungus appears.   A somewhat effective non-chemical treatment is to spray the plants with a mixture of household baking soda and water.

Issue in contemporary auditing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Issue in contemporary auditing - Essay Example Governance Reporting Reporting is a vital way of sharing financial information. Therefore, it will be our responsibility to report to you on whether the financial accounts have been arranged according to the accounting strategies as stated by you. Furthermore, we would report according to auditing process undertaken by us, on whether anything has emerged to our consideration for specifying that the revenue figure described in financial reports has not been appropriately extracted from book of records, or book of records do not record and clarify the transactions, with respect to the understanding of activity. Scope of Work Our auditing process will include those activities we consider essential to allow us to report on the aspects of financial reporting and will comprise evaluating information and descriptions provided to us for conducting such investigations about the managers as we believe essential. It is to clarify you that we are not liable for the maintenance of bookkeeping rec ords of the business, however we shall be pleased to advise on these aspects if required. The financial statements will have a declaration for your approval for having every relevant accounting record. As a consequence of our tasks, we can be capable of providing suggestions on improvements that can be made to the accounting records. Nevertheless, our work must not be dependent on the disclosure of misdeeds. However, if an examination is required particularly to detect misdeeds, it can be independently conducted on request (The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland, 2003). Applicable Legislation The engagement letter will be administered by and construed according to International Standards on Auditing (ISA) 540 and pertinent national standards and practices. ISA deals in duties of auditors with respect to fair value bookkeeping and associated financial disclosures. These standards necessitate that we plan and perform the audit in order to attain practical assurance r egarding if the prepared financial statements determined to be are free from misstatements or not. Restriction on Audit Liability Due to the characteristics of audit and other inherent restrictions, there is always inevitable risk of financial mistreatments to remain undiscovered (Financial Reporting Council, 2012). Agreement on Terms We will look forward towards complete collaboration with your employees and we believe that they will provide us whatever we require to accomplish our tasks. The fees will be based on the time required for addressing the required tasks along with other additional expenses. Once these terms are agreed, the letter would be effective until it is changed. Please confirm us about your agreement with the provided terms by signing this letter and returning to us. Yours Sincerely, Loughran and Shrives Chartered Accountants Acknowledged on behalf of Land Securities Group Plc by Signature: Date: Ethical Issues Leaflet The leaflet deals in legal and ethical impli cations of audit. It provides the standards to which we are committed to maintain utmost professional and ethical standards in order to assist our clients about quality auditing. Integrity The first ethical issue is integrity. It states that we will undertake the auditing tasks and responsibilities with the utmost level of intelligence and integrity. Our work will be

Fermentation Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fermentation - Lab Report Example Maltose is a disaccharide which is composed of two units of glucose joined with an ÃŽ ±(1→4) bond. The enzyme maltase splits the maltose into simple glucose molecules which are further transformed by yeast into carbon dioxide and water. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is common yeast normally used in the baking and brewing industry due to the ability of this organism to ferment carbohydrates such as glucose and maltose to produce alcohol. This organism has been used since the ancient times. S. cerevisiae can be differentiated from other yeasts based on its growth characteristics and the physiological trait of fermenting individual sugars (US environmental protection agency n.p). In this experiment, the dependent variables were the concentrations of maltose while the independent variables were the temperature and yeast concentrations. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of maltose on the production of carbon dioxide during fermentation. The hypotheses formulated included: Four different flasks were each labelled in triplicates according to the concentrations of maltose used in the experiment. They were labelled as different concentrations of 10% maltose solution 5ml, 10ml, 15ml and water in triplicates. The corresponding concentrations of the maltose were then added to the flasks and mixed with yeast suspension, mixed and incubated. The respirometer was then prepared to take 3ml of the different solutions and 1ml of air. The syringes containing the solution were attached to a 1ml pipette and a droplet of water allowed into the pipette. This allowed for the carbon dioxide produced in the fermentation process to cause a rise in the water droplet which was measured after an interval of 10 minutes. The means of the data obtained from the readings were compared using students paired samples t-test. The results obtained indicated that the concentrations of carbon dioxide produced generally increased depending on the amount of time. Comparison of the

Response to No Reservations Saudi Arabia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response to No Reservations Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The video captures the Social status and traditional aspects through Danya’s explanation that indicates that not every place they can visit and find porches. The western culture is unacceptable for women in Saudi Arabia, which is indicated by the type of clothes worn by the people of Saudi Arabians. In addition, they depend on the old ways of transportation, which is the use of camels. Consequently, the country has engraved traditional ways of doing things. The video show the Saudi mall that is full modernized women clothes, which contradicts the rule women are supposed to cover themselves from head to toe. It is evident throughout the video that the Jeddah is about 95% desert and Saudi Arabians spend their time by trapping lizards to eat. Saudi Arabians have unique cultural practices and advocate for gender discrimination against women as shown from the video. The food taken, clothes worn and the lifestyle shown in the video clearly shows that the people of Saudi Arabia are far from modern western

The Concept Of Laicite In France

The Concept Of Laicite In France In France laÃÆ' ¯cità © has shaped the relation between religion and the State through enhancing a separation between them. This separation has been possible thanks to the existence of a legislation that has relatively succeeded in drawing the lines for both sides. However, the societal developments have influenced their relations and raised many questions about the States role in the face of the challenges on the ground. And so laÃÆ' ¯cità © in theory has been found to be incompatible with laÃÆ' ¯cità © in practice. How laÃÆ' ¯cità © has been challenged over the past years and how the State has reacted towards the influence of religion are major issues. Therefore, should laÃÆ' ¯cità © accommodate itself in view of the changing facts on the ground? The debate is now whether laÃÆ' ¯cità © is a rigid concept that refuses to change and recognize the role of religion and peoples rights to freedom of belief, or a dynamic concept that embraces multiculturalism and f osters religious groups rights without affecting the neutrality of the State. So this paper will answer the question about whether laÃÆ' ¯cità © is a rigid or a dynamic concept in view of the challenges facing the State. French laÃÆ' ¯cità © is taken as a case study in order to scrutinize to this question. The paper starts with a definition of laÃÆ' ¯cità ©, it traces historical facts about its evolution, highlights the challenges that it has encountered, identifies the new laÃÆ' ¯cità © forms before concluding on its capacity to adapt to societal developments. 2 Definition of LaÃÆ' ¯cità © Quite a good number of researchers tend to use the laÃÆ' ¯cità © and secularization interchangeably in their works about the place of religion and the relation between state and religion. In fact the two terms hold different definitions regarding the connection between religion and state. Though in English the word secularization to describe the relationship between them, the French word laÃÆ' ¯cità © is used also in English to refer to the unique separation between religious institutions and the state. According to Olivier Roy (7-8: 2007) the two terms are dissimilar. On the one hand, secularization is a social phenomenon that does not require a political implementation and is not anti-religious and anti-clerical, and so the place is defined by the people themselves. On the other, laÃÆ' ¯cità © is a political choice that defines the place of religion in an authoritarian, legal manner, and so it is decreed by the state which organizes public space. Roy adds that it is a b ody of laws before being a system of thought (p.17). The term laÃÆ' ¯cità © was first used in the 1870s, as were its counter parts the verb laÃÆ' ¯ciser (to secularise) and the nouns laicisation (the action and the result of laÃÆ' ¯cità ©) and laÃÆ' ¯cisme (the doctrine of laÃÆ' ¯cità ©) (Jansen 476:2006). Moreover, the two terms are contrasted in this way à   la diffà ©rence du processus de sà ©cularisation mouvement qui sinscrit sur une longue durà ©e, la laÃÆ' ¯cità © relà ¨ve plutà ´t dune volontà © de la politique à ©tatique qui dà ©finit a la fois les institutions et une vie sociale conforme à   ses principes(Gà ¶le 77:2005). In this view, secularization is a social process that has evolved over a long period of time, while laÃÆ' ¯cità © entails a political decision on the state level. The historian Jean Bauberot has argued that laÃÆ' ¯cità © was the result of a condition in which the state had to destabilize religious institutions mainly Catholic- to assert its authority and ensure democratic liberties, whereas secularization should be viewed as a cultural transformation that has taken place mostly in countries with a Protestant culture (Caron 115:2007). Blandine Kriegel, president of the High Council for Integration, in an interview published in Le Monde defines laÃÆ' ¯cità © as follows: Tout simplement la neutralità © de lespace public qui permet à   une pluralità © de croyance et à   une multiplicità © de citoyens ayant des croyances diffà ©rentes de vivre ensemble de faà §on tolà ©rantes et respectueuses les uns des autres. 3 Evolution of LaÃÆ' ¯cità © After the Revolution of 1789, one finds two Frances. In one camp, there are those defending the notion of a homeland founded on the Catholic Church and the army, often being anti-Protestant, anti-Jew and anti-freemason; they are conservative, even reactionary, and often monarchist. In the other camp, one finds the defenders of the republican ideals of 1789 founded on Reason (not on Catholicism), freedom, religious tolerance, a strict separation between the public and the private domains (Brulard 176:2002. Moreover, a law that separated the Church from the State and abolished Le Concordat of 1801 was voted by la Chambre in July 1905 and by le Sà ©nat on 9 December 1905. Since then, France has had neither official religion nor a privileged religion (Brudy/Marcon 3:1995). The 1905 law complemented the 1901 law which forbade secular associations from having religious activities (Brulard 177:2002). It is important to point out that this law was not negotiated with the religious institutions since it was a legislative act; it is based on the principle of freedom of conscience; it is the implementation of the principle of laÃÆ' ¯cità ©; and it is however, not a creation of the State, it is fundamentally the realization of a long struggle for the human liberation and the secularization of the society (Scot 54-56: 2005). In order to protect the republican nature of the State, Republicans needed to develop an ideology that could replace Catholic Morality and that would spread the ideal of secular citizenship across the country (Jansen 477:2006). In a report titled Rapport sur la laÃÆ' ¯cità © et lobligation de là ©cole primaire the school is viewed as follows: Là ©cole devra donc à ªtre ce quon appelle en France laÃÆ' ¯que, en Hollande neutre, et dans les pays anglo-amà ©ricain unsectarian. (Journal Officiel de la Rà ©publique franà §aise, du 26 mai 1880) On 28 of March 1882 came the law known as the Ferry Law after the Minister of Public Instruction Jules Ferry, which effectively laicized public education (Fetzer/Soper 70:2005). In fact public education became crucial to prevent people from voting for an authoritarian (Catholic) regime (Jansen 477:2006). In 1946, after the trauma of war and occupation, the principle of laÃÆ' ¯cità © was enshrined in the constitution, and is one of the major characteristics of the republican state: France is an indivisible, secular, democratic, and social republic (Article 2 of the Constitution). In addition, the State does not subsidize the religious institutions according to Article 2 and guarantees freedom of worship according to Article 1. It is also important to mention in this respect that not only did the changes on the ground contribute to the shaping of the idea of secularism; but there were also the French Protestants, for whom, the cause of laÃÆ' ¯cità © was synonymous with that of freedom: their wish was to reconcile religion and freedom (Brulard 177:2002). The Protestants found refuge in laÃÆ' ¯cità © as it is the only guarantee for them as a minority to practice their religion without being discriminated against. As we have seen so far laÃÆ' ¯cità © was used, and is still used, to confront the influence of religion. Olivier Roy says that laÃÆ' ¯cità ©, historically a matter of dispute between the republican state and the Catholic Church is founded on anti-clericalism (18:2007). However, it aimed not to exclude believers but to define a space of neutrality (Roy 21:2007). 4 Challenges Confronting LaÃÆ' ¯cità © Since the 1970s, immigration penetrated the public and political spheres as a social problem of ethnic / cultural relations. From guest-workers, factors of production, immigrants came to be perceived as objects of political controversy defined in terms of citizenship and identity (Inà ¨s 182:2002) The debate about laÃÆ' ¯cità © started in the school. The school system is described as a sanctuary for preserving the French laÃÆ' ¯cità ©. The new diagnoses related to the threats against laÃÆ' ¯cità © emerged in school (Bertossi 17:2006). In 1989, two girls in Creil came to class wearing Muslim scarves. This raised a legal challenge to laÃÆ' ¯cità © as there are no school uniforms in French state schools, and it was unclear whether there was an explicit rule preventing pupils from wearing religious symbols (Laborde 52:2008). Since the republican school was conceived as a microcosm of republican political society: within its walls, children would learn to become citizens, a shared public identity that transcend their local, cultural and religious affiliations (Laborde 49:2008) Consequently, any religious sign is considered as a threat to the particularity of the educational system, which is supposed to be neutral, and of course a threat to the ideals of the Republic . The legislation of 15 of March 2004 reversed the 1905 approach to laÃÆ' ¯cità ©; instead of being an abstract principle of State neutrality. It was converted into an identity principle; instead of being exceptional cases of proselytism, according to the 1989 State Councils decision, the interdiction became the common law (Bertossi 19:2006). As a result of this law, laÃÆ' ¯cità © is no longer a matter of the place of religion and its relationship with the State, but rather it is a matter of the French identity (17:2006). This has shifted the discussion about laÃÆ' ¯cità © from its being discriminating against religious minorities to a national issue that concerns every French. 4. 1 The Challenge of Multiculturalism In France multiculturalism is looked down upon because it is perceived to reinforce particularist and divisive identities that threaten the unified French identity. It is believed that associating laÃÆ' ¯cità © with multiculturalism and the recognition of identità ©s collectives is the emphasis of the religious identities, and this emphasis will lead to the fragmentation of the society and pose a threat to liberty since the radical religious people will keep making more pressure (Cohen 5:2007). In the French approach towards the cultural diversity, individuals are to adhere to the body of the nation; they have to adhere to the national values. This model is often referred to as assimilationist because it does not admit the others difference of cultural particularism (Inà ¨s 183:2002). In the 1970s, the concept of assimilation was challenged because it was found that the State did not have the right to erase the regional or ethnic differences. As a result, the term integration was introduced to refer to an open process in which the fundamental values of French society have to be preserved, but without incurring total renunciation of the immigrants original culture(Inà ¨s 183;2002). The efficiency of integration measures is somewhat doubtful, as politicians on the Left and on the Right keep advocating policies which are contradictory: integrating on the one hand and control on the other (183: 2002). Since laÃÆ' ¯cità © has been also associated with the national identity as I have mentioned earlier, it is endangered since there some minorities which have debated the national history and all the controversial issues during the period of the French colonization. Some of these cultural minorities which come from French-colonized countries raise other issues besides the one related to religion. And so, multiculturalism in this context is seen as a threat to the universal values of Enlightenment that was at the basis of all the advancement in France (Cohen 7:2007). 4.2 The Challenge of Religious Groups The diversity inside the religious groups brings up the issue of the contradiction between the States position based on the constitution which requires it to intervene in the religious matters lordre privà ©, and the right of the small religious groups to equality (Cohen 4:2007). For instance, in Islam women are not considered as equal to men, however, men and women are equal according to the French values. Therefore, should the State intervene in matters pertaining to internal religious issues? If the State is to be involved directly in such sensitive issues for a reason or another, the social pressure is building up to push the State to impose equality between men and women (Cohen 4:2007). Moreover, the problem of the sects in France comes to the surface whenever the debate about laÃÆ' ¯cità © starts, even when the attention is, as it the case most of the time, directed to Islam as an issue of controversy. The sects are weighed in the same manner like the radical and dangerous groups which tend to be violent. The challenge is that the as long as the sects do not resemble any of the known monotheistic religions or Buddhism or Hinduism, they remain unrecognized by the State (Gà ¶le 3: 2005). Therefore, the question is whether the State should intervene on one side to ensure that equality is granted to all religious groups and on the other, to control the groups classified as dangerous (like the sects and the extremist groups). When these two conflicting issues are addressed to the State in order to resolve them, it is confronted with the Law of 1905, separation between the State and the Church and the neutrality of the State in regard to internal religious affairs ( Cohen 2:2007). In other words Olivier Roy adds that the phenomenon of sects is troubling to the French society, and the temptation to legislate against them is as strong as in the case of Islam (Roy 6: 2007). The challenge is to give a place to religions in the public domain without running the risk of any of them becoming hegemonic and recovering their institutional authority on individuals conscience. While the conception of laÃÆ' ¯cità © confines religion to the private domain, the headscarf affair raised the issue of social dimension of religion and demonstrated that religion and the surrounding society are far more intricately interrelated (Inà ¨s 186: 2002). In the light of the ongoing changes in the demographic texture in the French society, changes linked to the growing influence of religious minorities on the one hand on their own members and on the other, on the State itself, which should be neutral towards religion. Since the sects are gaining a place in France, the State is in a position of either legislating laws against them or accommodating them within the French society. But the question is who is to be recognized, so some criteria are developed to legalize the sects. Again the State is facing the challenge of deciding which sect can be considered as eligible for its respect global de lordre public (Cohen 3:2007). Besides, the debate goes even further in relation to religion. Which religion is defined as a religion by the State? To this end, the State has to include or exclude some religious groups. In both cases, it risks losing its impartiality, a value enshrined by the constitution. To expound the previous point, the secular State has no competence when it comes to assessing the validity of doctrine. In the case of the Church of Scientology in 1997, the ruling of the court was based on the fact that freedom of belief is one of the fundamental elements of French public liberties expressed in Article of the 1789 Declaration of Human and Citizens Rights and that article 1 of the Separation Law ensures freedom of conscience and beliefs subject to observance of public order, and considering article 9 of the European Convention recognizing religious freedom for all persons. (Proeschel 14: 2008). The ruling stated that there is thus no point in wondering whether the Church of Scientology constitutes a sect or a religion, as freedom of belief is absolute, that to the extent a religion can be defined by coincidence of two elements, an objective element, the existence of a community, even a small one, and a subjective element shared faith, the Church of Scientology can cl aim the title of a religion and develop its activities in all freedom, within the framework of the existing laws, including its missionary activities, or even those of proselytism (Proeschel 14:2007). The Commission Stasi published a report on 11 of December 2003 in which it recommended the interdiction of religious signs in public schools as well as the fight against urban and social discrimination against racism and anti-Semitism, the appointment of Muslim chaplain in public institutions such as hospitals, prisons and the military and the creation of new public holidays. Only the first recommendation was finally implemented with 15 March 2004 and became a law. Yet, this law has been criticized over the compatibility of such ban with European Convention on Human Rights. In their turn official republicans point out to a number of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights which have recognized that a state like Turkey which is the only other laÃÆ' ¯que state in Europe may have a legitimate interest in preserving a secular public sphere (Laborde 59: 2008). Furthermore, the French State reacted towards the growing challenge of Islam by setting up a committee at the initiative of the Ministry of the Interior and Religions and chaired by Jean-Pierre Machelon who made a report in 2006. He came up with a plan to enable local authorities to make direct grants for construction of buildings for religious purposes within their boundaries (Proeschel 11:2008). Given the challenges facing the State, new laÃÆ' ¯cità © politics developed around two main issues. On the one hand, it focused on the so-called fight against collective ethnic and religious identities, what is referred to as communautarisme. On the other, counter- arguments emphasized the anti-discrimination agenda and used notions such as Islamophobia to describe the new context. The issue of gender equality appeared at the intersection of both lines of this debate (Bertossi 17:2006) In a report for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights titled Civil and Political Rights, Including the Question of Religious Intolerance submitted in 2005 by Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, the Special Rapporteur has observed that the government may have contributed to a climate of general suspicion and intolerance towards those communities on the list created by the National Assembly in 1996, of movements and groups classified as sects (109). And the report adds [a] number of improvements à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦remain to be carried out to ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief of all individuals is guaranteed (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) (110). And in paragraph 97 in the report, the Special Rapportuer à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦considers that a thorough assessment of [laÃÆ' ¯cità ©s] application in the present context of religious pluralism is a necessary process in democratic society based on the rule of the law. 5 Forms of LaÃÆ' ¯cità ©s As a result of the controversies about laÃÆ' ¯cità © and the changes that have taken place in the French society; flow of immigrants with different cultural heritages and religions. The French State has found itself in a position where it needs to make decisions and respond to the rights of the religious groups. Two types of laÃÆ' ¯cità © have developed throughout past years; the soft laÃÆ' ¯cità © and the strict laÃÆ' ¯cità ©. The dichotomies between the two show the degree to which laÃÆ' ¯cità © is being challenged in the French society. Many of the supporters of soft laÃÆ' ¯cità © accuse the proponents of the strict form of trying to make secularist laÃÆ' ¯cità © the state religion in France (Fetzer/Soper 74:2005). In fact, Olivier Roy says that laÃÆ' ¯cità © is moving towards becoming a dogma (22:2007). A few defenders of soft laÃÆ' ¯cità © also lament that the strict version tends to sterilize the society of all cultural diversity and to strip public school students of all individuality (Fetzer/Soper 75:2005). In her book Critical Republicanism The Hijab Controversy and Political Philosophy, Cecile Laborde exposes the ongoing debate about laÃÆ' ¯cità © and identifies two versions of tolerant republican laÃÆ' ¯cità © towards the case for allowing religious signs in the schools. The first version, secular laÃÆ' ¯cità ©, it might be an appealing ideal, but on no plausible interpretation does it mandate that school childrens right to wear religious clothing be restricted. The second version of tolerant republican challenge goes further, and casts doubts on the laÃÆ' ¯que ideal itself (80:2008). She also adds in her criticism of the tolerant laÃÆ' ¯cità © the following: As separation is no more than a historical myth, and the French public sphere is far from neutral in the laÃÆ' ¯que sense, contextual fairness demands that privileges historically granted to Catholics be extended to minority religions such as Islam. Tolerant republicanism, therefore, substitutes pragmatic even-handedness between religious groups to abstentionist neutrality, and allows for the recognition of collective religious identities in the public sphere (80:2008). In addition to the two versions of tolerant republican laÃÆ' ¯cità ©, comes official republican ideal of laÃÆ' ¯cità ©, according to which, republican equality is best promoted through maintenance of secular nature of public sphere and non-interference by the state in religious matters. Finally, critical republicans in contrast to both official and tolerant republicans explicitly confront this complex question and believe that answering it would go a long way towards addressing the legitimate grievances of Muslims in relation to the existing practices of European State (Laborde 89:2008). Critical republicans tend to be fairly tolerant of the religious expression of ordinary citizens, but they adopt a less tolerant stance towards display of religious allegiance or support by the state institutions (86:2008). All in all, there are three attitudes that can be defined in relation to laÃÆ' ¯cità ©. Some, advocating an open laÃÆ' ¯cità © , are concerned with the free exercise of religion, but are also tempered by a revision of the 1905 law. Those favoring a laÃÆ' ¯cità © in movement are sensitive to social and religious change, but remain faithful to the history of the secular ideal. Finally, the more militant laics defend the French republican model by denouncing the dangers of communautarisme and calling for the strengthening of the 1905 law (Caron 117: 2007). 6 Conclusion In the light of the societal developments in the French society, laÃÆ' ¯cità © has encountered great challenges stemming mainly from the claims by the cultural and religious minorities. These minorities, and in particular, Muslims, have simply demanded that their rights to freedom of belief and expression be guaranteed by laÃÆ' ¯cità ©, but instead of granting them their rights, they have been confined to more restrictions in expressing these rights. Ironically, their requests have been estimated to be a threat to laÃÆ' ¯cità © and, of course, to the national identity. There is no doubt that laÃÆ' ¯cità © has evolved over the past years; an open form has come to existence as a result of the stagnation in the process of recognizing the religious groups rights More than one hundred years has passed since the 1905 Law, and the sects and other religious groups are still seeking the States recognition. Though laÃÆ' ¯cità © requires the State to be neutral in matters of religion as they belong to the private domain (lordre privà ©), it has practically failed to curb the States intervention in the internal affairs of the religious groups. Ingemund Hagg says in a paper presented in 2005 in Bulgaria that là ©tat laÃÆ' ¯que is an ideal but 100 years of French history shows that it is difficult to obtain, it has to develop in steps, and within new steps in accordance with societal development in each particular country Consequently, the fact that laicite is not perceived in the same way by its proponents; some believe that it is the only guarantee for freedom of belief and that the State instead of being neutral is abusing the rights of religious minorities under the pretext of protecting laÃÆ' ¯cità © itself. Therefore, laÃÆ' ¯cità © does not, as Claude Proeschel says in the end of her article French LaÃÆ' ¯cità © Confronted with New Challenges involve ignoring religious facts. It requires not mere tolerance on the part of the State, but active organization(15:2007). In that sense, it does embrace differences, but its implementation by the State that renders it rigid. As a result, laÃÆ' ¯cità © as a concept is rigid given the States practices towards the religious groups, but again it is dynamic regarding the controversies about it; different trends of laÃÆ' ¯cità © soft or open. Therefore, in theory, it is dynamic, but in practice, it is rigid. No. of Characters is 23 282.

Candide Essay -- essays research papers

CANDIDE   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Candide was a true believer in Pangloss’ theory that all was well in the world. â€Å"Pangloss proved admirably that there is no effect without a cause and that in this best of all possible worlds†¦things cannot be otherwise for since everything is made for an end, everything is necessarily for the best end. Observe that noses were made to wear spectacles; and so we have spectacles. Legs were visibly instituted to be breeched, and we have breeches.†(p.4) Even though these ideas can be considered illogical in real life. Candide and the rest of the people living in the Baron’s castle never questioned the validity of Pangloss’ philosophy. Maybe their conformity was due to a lack of experience, the belief at the time that doctors and philosophers were always right, or obvious but inconsistent truths like â€Å"The Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle possessed a door and windows†. Although it wa s obvious that the Baron was powerful, the doors and windows of his castle have nothing to do with the Baron’s power. Candide was obviously naà ¯ve, but so were most of the characters in the story, since they didn't bother to question Pangloss' philosophy either. Voltaire was not writing this story for the sole purpose of entertainment. It is obvious that Voltaire was also trying to make readers reflect on their own beliefs so that they might see their hypocrisy. â€Å"All is well in the world† could have referred to the mindset of the people living sheltered from the real world, such as the clergy and higher class. As the story continues, Candide finds out that all is not well in the world. The first event that Candide encountered should have been proof enough that all was not well in the world. Voltaire uses an Ironic approach when talking about the war. When Candide had been wondering the streets after getting kicked out of the Baron’s castle, two men came up to him and asked him if he was five feet tall, when he answered â€Å"yes, gentlemen, that is my height†, civilly they invited him to dinner. They said, â€Å"men were meant to help each other†. Candide was then trained in the Bulgarian army and forced to train to fight the Abarians in war. Candide’s belief in Pangloss’ Philosophy was tested for the first time. How can all be well when so much killing is going on around him? Candide was confused on why he couldn’t just... ... her, â€Å"She reminded Candide of his promises in so peremptory a tone that Candide dared not refuse her†. Just like Pangloss, Candide refused to go back on something he had believed in at one point and went ahead with the wedding even though he had not the least with to marry Cunegonde. Candide must have realized at this point that not all works for the best in this world. After leaving Eldorado, Candide thought that finding Cunegonde would make him happy. He now finds that nothing worked out how he expected. Pangloss said to Candide: â€Å"All events are linked up in this best of all possible worlds; for, if you had not been expelled from the noble castle, by hard kicks in your backside for love of Miss Cunegonde, if you had not been clapped into the Inquisition, if you had not wandered about America on foot, if you had not stuck your sword in the Baron, if you had not lost all your sheep from the land of Eldorado, you would not be eating candied citrons and pistachio s here.† To which he replies, â€Å"’tis well said, but we must cultivate our gardens.† Candide realized that even though things work out in the end, it’s not always for the best; there must still be some hardship along the way.